Voltron: Legendary Defender (Re)Watch 8.8, "Clear Day"

Read the previous entry here!
Read the next entry here!

A seeming excursion covers darker deeds as Voltron: Legendary Defender progresses towards its end.

---

8.8, "Clear Day"

Written by Erik Bogh
Directed by Rie Koga

Synopsis

It remains something bad to see...
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Following up on the breakthrough of the previous episode, Allura interviews one of the suborned Alteans. He presses for haste against the possibility of Honerva's realization that he is offering information about her and her machinations--and, indeed, her power makes itself felt quickly. Allura is able to extract the mechanism of control from the other Altean, however, and it is contained at some cost and peril. Allura divines its purpose and devises uses for it quickly, though Sam Holt cautions her against invoking or exploiting it.

It's sweet. It clearly has to be doomed.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

On the bridge of the Atlas, unusual telemetry comes in from a world not necessarily friendly to the Coalition. The decision is made to provide security for the world's celebration, and the Coalition forces proceed thither. As they travel, Allura notes to Lance that she is not feeling well and will not be participating in festivities. Lance offers to remain with her; she tells him to have fun.

The Atlas arrives at the planet, and much of the crew draws light-duty security work that will allow them to enjoy the festivities while they work. Keith remains vigilant as the other Paladins engage in recreational activities; Shiro and Coran also make their way to the fun. Allura, however, is drawn towards the dark energy she pulled from the other Altean as she hallucinates Lotor and others, to her horror.

All the while, the other Paladins and Shiro enjoy themselves at the festivities. Shiro manages to find himself engaged (winningly, ultimately against the warden from an earlier episode) in an arm-wrestling contest, and Coran (also winningly) in an animal-calling competition, while Pidge, Hunk, and Lance eat and play. Keith embarrasses himself in his rigidity before being roped into taking a saccharine ride with Hunk--that soon breaks. And the usual carnival shenanigans ensue.

Allura struggles with the decision to take into herself the dark energy she had pulled from the suborned Altean, ultimately opting to do so. When, at length, the crew returns to the Atlas, they find her incapacitated.

This will not end well.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Discussion

In keeping with the present season's tendency to refer back to and close off thread from earlier episodes, the present episode refers back to "The Voltron Show," with its own extensive referentiality. It is an interesting bit of metanarrative and entertaining, as is much else about the episode.

Such is to the good, because the episode does not do much to add to the medievalism that has pervaded the series. Even the evilly inspired hallucinations, which suggest medieval dream-visions as antecedents, are reiterations of already-established tropes in the series. As has been noted with other, earlier episodes, though, it is not necessary that a work drawing from medieval and medievalist sources do so at all points; there are other references the series can and does make, and it is also the case that the present episode is late in what is remarked as being the final season of the series. It is a bit late to be introducing new materials to the show, although it remains a good time for it to refer back to itself, as it clearly does.