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- The legend reaches its final chapter.
- Netflix Spotlight: January 2019
- Verdict
By Jesse Schedeen
Updated: Dec 23, 2018 6:04 pm
Posted: Dec 23, 2018 6:00 pm
Note: this is a spoiler-free review of the eighth season of Voltron: Legendary Defender, which is available to stream now on Netflix. I'll confine all spoiler discussion to a marked section at the end of the review.
From the very start, Voltron: Legendary Defender has been one of the biggest guns in Netflix's arsenal of original animated series. The show has that winning combination of being a modernized update of a beloved '80s property and telling a story that appeals to adults and kids in equal measure. The prospect of Voltron reaching its end is definitely a bittersweet one. This feels like a series that could have lasted several more seasons, at least. But if it has to end now, at least it's going out in top form.
In past seasons, the Voltron Paladins defeated intergalactic tyrant Emperor Zarkon and his deeply misguided son, Lotor. But in Season 8, they face their last and greatest opponent in the form of Honerva, once known as Witch Haggar and now possessing a power that dwarfs even that of Voltron itself. This final season captures the show at its most dramatic, with victory looming so close yet the stakes climbing ever higher over the course of these 13 episodes.
Another major strength of Season 8 is the way it capitalizes on long-simmering plot threads and character arcs. Keith's story frequently satisfies, as we see him fully embrace the leadership role that Shiro always envisioned for him. Lance and Pidge also enjoy some meaty material in between their comedic relief moments. It would have been nice to see Hunk face more personal challenges and crises of conscience here, but he seems to be the one character fully comfortable in his own skin at this point.
Ultimately, Season 8 boils down to the conflict between Allura and Honerva, and it's those two characters with which the writers are most concerned. One wants to save the universe and honor the legacy of Altea, while the other wants to burn it all down. Allura's difficult journey is as compelling as anything else in Season 8. She's faced with many of the same challenges and temptations as Honerva before her, and the conflict really comes down to a question of whether she can resist the destructive temptations that once ruined Honerva. There are certain aspects of the Allura/Honerva rivalry that seem a bit rushed in the final episode, but not enough to diminish the ultimate impact of that conflict.
Thematically, this is a very rich season. The writers find a way to take a moral as cliched as "We're stronger together than apart" and still make it feel fresh and emotionally resonant. That goes hand in hand with the heavy emphasis on history and legacy in these episodes. As amusing as the early references to OG Voltron are, they also speak to a larger desire to reflect on the past and the many heroes that play a part in making the universe a safer, more just place.
Voltron remains a visual and aural stunner, to boot. Brad Breeck's score is always a treat to hear, with just the right blend of synth and orchestral music. The numerous battle scenes look fantastic, with fluid motion and an immense sense of scale. There seems to be a heavy Neon Genesis Evangelion influence this season in terms of the new mech designs, the flow of the battle scenes and just the general look and feel of the action. There's that same quasi-religious feel and hyper-kinetic sense of motion. The action scenes do have a noticeably more pronounced CG quality compared to past seasons, with the 3D elements standing out more than I'd really like, but it's a worthy trade-off for mech action that looks this good.
Note: the rest of this review contains spoilers for Season 8!
What truly sets Honerva apart from the rest of the show's major villains is that she's motivated not by a thirst for conquest, but a desire to reclaim what she threw away so many millennia ago. It's easy to sympathize with her desire to tear down reality and find a new home where her husband and child still exist. She's arguably even more sympathetic when she achieves her goals and realizes that she no longer has the capacity to be the Honerva of old. And at the same time, she's reprehensible in a way no other villain on the series has been, doing her best to obliterate all of existence when she realizes she can't recapture her lost family.
Minor storytelling quibbles aside, the final season of Voltron: Legendary Defender captures pretty much everything that has made this series great. The action scenes are fantastic. The story combines humor and character drama better than any season before it. These 13 episodes tie up nearly every loose end on a satisfying note and raise the stakes ...
Jun 11, 2016 · DreamWorks Voltron Legendary Defender delivers exactly the kind of show you've come to expect from the amazing creative team behind The Legend of Korra.
- Max Nicholson
Jun 11, 2016 · Netflix's 'Voltron Legendary Defender' is a worthy addition to 'Voltron' lore as it puts minor twists on tradition, but it not as ambitious as it could be.
- Dave Trumbore
Dec 16, 2018 · voltron legendary defender season 8 - Review. The legend reaches its final chapter. +. by Jesse Schedeen. Posted Dec. 16, 2018, 11:35 p.m. Note: this is a spoiler-free review of the eighth...
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Voltron: Legendary Defender honors its source material with beautifully expressive animation and impactful action. Read Critics Reviews
Jun 12, 2016 · Reviews. Voltron Legendary Defender is a Reboot Done Right. We form up and take an in-depth look at the new Voltron Netflix series. By Shamus Kelley | June 12, 2016 | | 0. This Voltron...
