The Rise of Voltron

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The Rise of Voltron is the first three episodes of Voltron: Legendary Defender. It introduces five cadets from Galaxy Garrison—Lance, Pidge, Hunk, Keith, and Shiro—who are sent by Princess Allura to find five robotic lions that can form Voltron, a powerful robot.

A year before the main events, Shiro and two others are captured by the Galra Empire during a mission to Kerberos. On Earth, Shiro escapes and a rescue plan brings the team together with Keith, a talented but reckless pilot. They learn the Galra are searching for a weapon called Voltron.

The team finds the Blue Lion in a desert, and it selects Lance as its pilot. The five travel through a wormhole to the Castle of Lions on Arus, where Allura awakens after 10,000 years in cryostasis, along with her adviser Coran and four space mice. Allura names the five as Voltron Paladins, gives them armor and weapons, and tasks them with finding the other Lions.

Lance and Hunk retrieve the Yellow Lion, while Shiro and Pidge search for the Green Lion. The Red Lion is on a Galra ship approaching Arus. To get it, Keith, Shiro, and Pidge infiltrate the ship; Keith finds the Red Lion, and Shiro and Pidge free prisoners, learning more about Shiro’s missing Kerberos crew, including his father and brother.

With the four Lions found, the Black Lion chooses Shiro as its pilot. The five Paladins unite their lions to form Voltron and defeat the Galra ship, becoming the Defenders of the Universe.

Reception:

Critics praised The Rise of Voltron as a strong, fast-paced origin story with great animation and a good mix of action and character moments. Some noted changes from earlier versions, but most agreed the setup works well.