Voltron Season 7 Episode 12 Review: Lions’ Pride Part 1

This Voltron Legendary Defender review contains spoilers.

Voltron Season 7 Episode 12

Before I get to my deep analysis I want to take a moment to give credit to the amazing team behind Voltron. Often in these reviews I talk about the writing or acting but that’s only one part of the creation of this series. The countless artists, animators, editors, producers, people I don’t even know the names of, they make this show what it is.

In every frame of this show they sell just how thrilling it is. They infuse it with life. The words are great but all of them take it and make Voltron something truly extraordinary. This last arc of episodes especially demonstrates how out of this world talented they are.

It’s nonstop action. That’s incredibly tough to get right, especially in animation. It’d be so easy to lose track of the flow of battle or to get overwhelmed with too much happening. The Voltron team though pull it off flawlessly. Not only is the action gripping but every shot helps tell the story.

Every look of pain on Shiro’s face. Every desperate attempt to get the Lions to stay in place. The entire Shiro and Sendak fight. This team deserves more than praise, they deserve recognition from every corner of the industry for the incredible work they put it into this series. It’s truly special and we should all cherish it. More shows could learn from the example it sets. 

We also continue the theme of bonds once again. I’ve written in the previous reviews about the power this team has thanks to their love for each other. Now compare that to Sendak. When he fights Shiro he cries out,

“Every ounce of my being will be directed to the destruction of you and your pathetic planet.”

Sendak doesn’t have a bond with anyone. All of his power is drawn from hate. Hate, motivated from something deep down within all of us. Fear. Unlike Hunk who embraces his fear and loves everyone? Sendak rejects it, choosing to be fueled by hate and not loving anyone. That’s his ultimate downfall. 

In the climatic battle where he faces off against Shiro once more (beautiful symmetry with season one) and ultimately fails. Why? Because Shiro has the support of his team. Even if they aren’t there in person they have their bond. That gives Shiro strength no matter where he is.

And man, I thought Shiro was gonna die for a minute there. THANK GOODNESS HE DIDN’T OR THIS POST WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT.

We’ve only got one episode left and the stakes have already been raised through the roof. Wherever it goes I know the Voltron team will deliver. I can’t wait to see how intense this’ll be.

Shamus Kelley is a pop culture/television writer and official Power Rangers expert. Follow him on Twitter!