|
|
|||
|
J Larry Carroll Reviewed by: Purrsia  Mumm-Ra begins by chewing the Mutants out for failing against the Tcats again. When the Mutants whine about the Eye being too powerful, Mumm-Ra summons a spirit to show them "real power". The spirit emerges from the cauldron in a somewhat humanesque form and informs Mumm-Ra that he'd done the mummy's bidding and, while scouring the surface of New Thundera for the treasures, managed to locate the Totem of Dera. Basically, it's a fancy golden wand with a perty jewel on top. Scary. Mumm-Ra asks the ASOE to fill him in on exactly what the Totem can do. They explain it has legendary healing powers, which doesn't impress mumsie all that much. But, they go on to tell him that with his dark powers, he can channel the energies in the Totem to bring inanimate objects to life and create demons to battle the Thundercats. However, Mumm-Ra is wary of using the Totem, fearing the inherent danger. So naturally he enlists Vultureman to use the item in one of his weapons in the hopes of getting what he wants while taking none of the risks. And Vultureman isn't one to argue with dead guys who know dark magic. Back at the Lair, WilyKit is trying to teach Snarfer how to fight like a Thundercat while Lion-O looks on. Snarfer lands on his head and whines that he'll never have what it takes (bonus points to my lion for sitting on his duff rather than catch Snarfer as he was falling lol!). Lion-O explains that he just has to believe in himself and use the talents that he has and he'll always be a valued part of the team. Awwwwww The smarmy speech making is cut short when the emblem on the Lair flashes, which apparently means trouble - that's a new one! Lion-O and Kit get Lynx-O on the telescreen, and he informs them that Mutant activity is detected in the are of the Baleful Swamp. Lynx-O also suggests they don their cat suits - you know, those outfits they wore for the caverns of cold - to protect themselves. *shrug* Thermal underwear vs. deadly mists/waters boggles me too, but hey - Lion-O looks hot in that get-up so I'll overlook the stupidity of the concept ;) At any rate, the trio of Lion-O and Snarfer set off in the Thunderclaw to investigate, with Kit following on her space board. As the Mutants lie in wait in the swamp, Jackalman worries that Mumm-Ra will make good on his threat to finish them if they fail. Vultureman gloats that he'll just dispose of Mumm-Ra with the Totem as well, which one might think old Mummsie overlooked when avoiding risk and trusting a Mutant. However, old bone bag is spying on the Mutants in his cauldron and overhears the boast. Apparently, he expected this as all Mutants are treacherous. He seems confident that he can step in and get rid of the Mutants if they prevail (which, if they have something powerful enough to rid the world of the Tcats, I dunno how he figures that but whatever!) As the Thundercats close in, Monkian flashes a distress signal. And although they suspect a Mutant trap (duh, they were already told Mutants were in the area), they feel they have to go in for a closer look. This is Vultureman's cue to animate part of the swamp into a huge snake-like monster. It rises up out of the dense fog and smashes Kit's spaceboard, plunging her toward the deadly waters below. Lion-O catches her using the wing of the Thunderclaw. But they're not safe yet. It seems the Thunderclaw wasn't a ship built for three, so Lion-O is forced to land in the swamp. Before he can land, the snake knocks the Thunderclaw out of the sky and into the swamp, while the Mutants cheer. Lion-O carries Snarfer and Kit above his shoulders as he wades through the water to shore, but he sinks too far at one point and swallows some of the water as a result. They get to shore, but Lion-O quickly falls ill and unconscious. Kit and Snarfer freak out immediately. Meanwhile, Mumm-Ra sees this as his cue to transform and finish the job on both the Thundercats and Mutants. By the way, the statue idols actually stepping down off their pedestals to the cauldron is a neat effect to add to the transformation scene. Back at the swamp, Jaga tries to appear to Lion-O but he's too out of it. So, Jaga chooses to try to reach Snarfer, who still can't see him, but somehow can sense Jaga's thoughts. Jaga tells the young snarf about the Totem and that Vultureman has it. Its healing powers are the only thing that can save Lion-O. Snarfer babbles all this info at Kit, who thinks he's a bit off his rocker, then runs off into the swamp leaving her and Lion-O behind. Before Kit can make sense of Snarfer's ramblings, the Eye at Lion-O's side signals danger which puts her on alert. She notices the Mutants before they see her, and somehow manages to drag Lion-O off hoping they won't find them. Snarfer, in the meantime, catches up with the Mutants and while Vultureman shows off the totem's power again, realizes that must be the item he needs embedded in Vultureman's weapon. Bravely, he leaps out and grabs at it. And instead of just blasting the little furball, the dumb-as-a-load-of-firerocks Mutants let the little stinker get his hands on the Totem. Snarfer finds Kit and Lion-O but also leads the Mutants right to them. Kit had taken out the Sword of Omens for protection and it's the only thing between her and the Mutants. While she does her best to hold them off, Snarfer tries to heal Lion-O. But then realizes he doesn't know how to use the Totem. While lamenting their cruel fate, he accidently points the Totem at Lion-O and it does its glow-y, heal-y thing. Lion-O is instantly back to normal and ready to send the Mutants packing. They run without so much as a fight. But then Mumm-Ra shows up to crash their celebration party. He takes the Totem from Snarfer and uses it to summon the demon of the swamp. Lion-O sends up the signal immediately, and Cheetara, Panthro and Tygra get moving. The demon is basically a blob of mud with teeth, and the Sword doesn't do much damage against it. When the Tank arrives with the other Cats, those weapons are of little use, too. Lion-O thinks that if they divert the waterfall, they can disolve the monster. But because the falls are so far away, they all lay hands on the Sword to increase its power and range to bring victory. Mumm-Ra also gets swept away in the deluge and the Totem of Dera, dropped and lost within the swamp forever. Which is just as well - the last thing this story needs is another super-powerful magical cure-all. Vultureman: "It's the Eye of Thundera, Mumm-Ra. It's too powerful!" Mumm-Ra: "Power? Power? I'll show you power." Monkian: "You better know how to use that Totem, Vultureman, or I'll have your gizzard." "I've done all I can do. It's up to Snarfer now." - Jaga, to a deliriously sick Lion-O. Perhaps this is what all Thundercats hear before they die ;) "Don't just stand there, Mutants. After him!" - Vultureman...while they're all *sitting down* heh heh "Well, well. An itty bitty Thunderkitty." - Vultureman to Wilykit. Monkian: (following a speech by Lion-O about what cowards Mutants are) "Are we gonna let him talk to us like that?" Vultureman: (after a moment of consideration and before running for the hills) "Yes." "You'll rue the day you crossed swords with Mumm-Ra the Everliving." - Mumm-ra's parting words to the 'Cats. According to Mumm-Ra, *all* Mutants are trecherous. According to Jaga, the Totem of Dera is the most magical and ancient of the Thundercat treasures. For those keeping track, this is another episode where the Tank gets utterly demolished. The Baleful Swamp, and unpleasant place with deadly-if-ingested waters and mists. azmom2624: Is there an echo? LOL. I do have a theroy on this. There have been many incidents of Thundarians or Lunatacks in the past on Third Earth that perhap some of them saw the Third Earth swamp and it was so similar to the Thunderan Baleful Swamp that they gave the Earth one the same name. Just a theory. Capt Shiner: It looks like the old 'Acid Lake' to me
-
- Good episode, and good to see the mutants without Slithe leppardra: To be honest, I don't particularly enjoy this tale. A magical object that heals cannot bring an inanimate object to life; it can only heal. If its powers are that great, the 'Cats could used the Totem to repair the ThunderTank or any of the vehicles they have. It could also help Tygra fix up Cats' Lair when it needs it. It could even turn those things into living creatures if it had to; imagine any of the ThunderCats' vehicles or even the Lair itself coming to life to attack an enemy. In fact, if the item is that multi-talented, then why have Lion-O bother with the Sword of Omens? He can carry the Totem of Dera around with him, though it would be a little hard for him to summon the ThunderCats with it. leppardra: And I also have to ask. How sensible is it to go traipsing through a swamp in parkas and snow-boots? Not every, if you ask me! Once again, just how stupid can the writers make the Cats? To the point where they can't tell the difference between a swamp and a snowy landscape? I'm sorry, but I have to object to that. Lion-O accidentally swigs a bit of toxic swamp water? No problem. But if I had written this story, the Cats would have worn water-proof clothing, or at least something more appropriate during this adventure. leppardra: One more thing. It's not possible for the Totem of Dera to be lost forever; it's part of the Treasure of Thundera, making it too valuable and too powerful an object to stay missing. The Cats can use the ThunderScope to find it. Then maybe Lion-O can command the Sword of Omens to retrieve the Totem of Dera from wherever it is, after which it can be put under tight guard in the Cats' treasure room. 5 of 7 comments (part 1) [ » ] [ * ]
|
|
The Show
