Written by: Kevin Berge
I am still waiting for the White Paladin to come in and steal the show just like the White Ranger, who is and forever will be best Power Ranger. (Image Courtesy of: whats-on-netflix.com)
Quick Take: Voltron: Legendary Defender Season 6 serves almost as a series finale, wrapping up one of the most tense and exciting stories of the series. It is powerful, emotional, and surprising in a way the show built up impressively over recent seasons.
Voltron: Legendary Defender Review: Season 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
***This review will contain spoilers for the entire sixth season of Voltron: Legendary Defender with an expectation the reader has seen up to the end of the season. If you have not, read ahead at your own peril.***
Is there anything more satisfying than a worthy end to a TV series you are invested in? Not much. Voltron: Legendary Defender Season 6 ends the series with a bang. Wait, what? There's two more seasons? How?
Jokes aside, the fifth and sixth season are the biggest seasons of the series. They bring an end to the two biggest stories in the franchise as Lotor defeat Zarkon and took the throne in the last season. In this one, the group finally sees the full scope of Lotor's plot.
These seasons are short and impactful, but they leave so much hanging that it can often feel the story rushes to a finish. This was the best paced and focused season to date because it was able to wrap up so much loose hanging threads.
However, Lotor's story still felt a bit rushed. A few more episodes developing Lotor's relationship with Allura and the other Paladins would have made the ultimate betrayal more satisfying. This is the main reason the show still needs more time. Hopefully, there is a plan to expound on certain stories that rushed to the finish.
At the end of this season, it is not entirely clear what Lotor truly believed. He manipulated the Paladins, but it may have genuinely felt he was making the right decisions. He was born of the madness of Zarkon and Honerva, but it seemed like he was genuinely empathetic.
In the final showdown, the quintessence, which has been the focus of Lotor and Allura in attempting to change the galaxy, turns Lotor evil (same as his parents), and the universe is almost torn apart at the seams in the ensuing battle. It feels a little cheap to boil Lotor down to bad guy goes crazy though in his final moments.
***This review will contain spoilers for the entire sixth season of Voltron: Legendary Defender with an expectation the reader has seen up to the end of the season. If you have not, read ahead at your own peril.***
Is there anything more satisfying than a worthy end to a TV series you are invested in? Not much. Voltron: Legendary Defender Season 6 ends the series with a bang. Wait, what? There's two more seasons? How?
Jokes aside, the fifth and sixth season are the biggest seasons of the series. They bring an end to the two biggest stories in the franchise as Lotor defeat Zarkon and took the throne in the last season. In this one, the group finally sees the full scope of Lotor's plot.
These seasons are short and impactful, but they leave so much hanging that it can often feel the story rushes to a finish. This was the best paced and focused season to date because it was able to wrap up so much loose hanging threads.
However, Lotor's story still felt a bit rushed. A few more episodes developing Lotor's relationship with Allura and the other Paladins would have made the ultimate betrayal more satisfying. This is the main reason the show still needs more time. Hopefully, there is a plan to expound on certain stories that rushed to the finish.
At the end of this season, it is not entirely clear what Lotor truly believed. He manipulated the Paladins, but it may have genuinely felt he was making the right decisions. He was born of the madness of Zarkon and Honerva, but it seemed like he was genuinely empathetic.
In the final showdown, the quintessence, which has been the focus of Lotor and Allura in attempting to change the galaxy, turns Lotor evil (same as his parents), and the universe is almost torn apart at the seams in the ensuing battle. It feels a little cheap to boil Lotor down to bad guy goes crazy though in his final moments.
Why, Lotor? Why couldn't you just be the kind gentle hunky guy that everyone on Team Voltron was crushing on? Even Lance definitely had a thing for him. (Image Courtesy of: manoanow.org)
This season has the most exciting and nerve-wracking moments the show has ever pulled off, and a little more time and focus could have solidified this series as great. This is certainly really good, but it lacks that final push to true greatness.
Voltron is first and foremost about the relationship between the Paladins. The "power of friendship" is a tired cliche, but Voltron makes it work by avoiding ever going too corny. The very idea of Voltron as a combination of everyone in lions combining together work well enough to convey that main message.
This season sells that sense of belonging and trust through how hard it is to take betrayal and rejection. Lotor turns on the Paladins. Shiro finally turns on the group as his true spirit was trapped in the Black Lion while Haggar has been controlling him. Shiro's betrayal leads to his near death and transformation in rebirth.
Perhaps most interesting was how Allura was handled in this season. She and Lotor grow close, clearly falling for one another before the betrayal. Meanwhile, Lance has finally truly begun to have feelings for Allura, and she cannot reciprocate. Despite the tension, Allura and Lance remain close.
Voltron wants to show how friendship and love can blind us, but it is important to never let them go. The series is wonderfully direct with that message despite avoiding stating it word for word like other media aimed at a younger audience.
This sixth season is likely the best the series will ever get. It was tight, focused, and tense. It took the weight of the previous seasons and delivered on all expectations. Even if it could have been tighter or used more time, it still delivers in spades.
Voltron may not truly need two more full seasons, but I am still gripped by the show season after season. I will give it all the time it needs to tell its story.
Voltron is first and foremost about the relationship between the Paladins. The "power of friendship" is a tired cliche, but Voltron makes it work by avoiding ever going too corny. The very idea of Voltron as a combination of everyone in lions combining together work well enough to convey that main message.
This season sells that sense of belonging and trust through how hard it is to take betrayal and rejection. Lotor turns on the Paladins. Shiro finally turns on the group as his true spirit was trapped in the Black Lion while Haggar has been controlling him. Shiro's betrayal leads to his near death and transformation in rebirth.
Perhaps most interesting was how Allura was handled in this season. She and Lotor grow close, clearly falling for one another before the betrayal. Meanwhile, Lance has finally truly begun to have feelings for Allura, and she cannot reciprocate. Despite the tension, Allura and Lance remain close.
Voltron wants to show how friendship and love can blind us, but it is important to never let them go. The series is wonderfully direct with that message despite avoiding stating it word for word like other media aimed at a younger audience.
This sixth season is likely the best the series will ever get. It was tight, focused, and tense. It took the weight of the previous seasons and delivered on all expectations. Even if it could have been tighter or used more time, it still delivers in spades.
Voltron may not truly need two more full seasons, but I am still gripped by the show season after season. I will give it all the time it needs to tell its story.
