Voltron Season 6 Episode 1 Review: Omega Shield

This Voltron Legendary Defender review contains spoilers.

Voltron Season 6 Episode 1

I’m about to call out the executive producers of Voltron. No, this isn’t me about to bash them. Far from it. I’m just here to say y’all were LYING to me for YEARS and I am 100% okay with it.

You see, I’m a fan of the OG Voltron show. Not just Lion Force but Vehicle Voltron as well. Yeah, Vehichle Voltron. They had 15 cars and ships and stuff that formed into Voltron. You don’t remember it. That’s fine. The producers of Voltron told Den of Geek several times they weren’t big fans of it. Sure there’s been a few teeny tiny references here and there but the show has primarily drawn its influence from Lion Force.

Until now.

Joaquim Dos Santos. You can’t tell me there isn’t any Vehicle Voltron love in this show when the entire driving force of this episode felt exactly like a Vehicle Voltron tribute.

In season five we got the ramp up of Galra politics, especially with the episode ‘Kral Zera’. If this opening episode of season six is any indication we’re going to be getting a lot more of it. Various factions plotting against each other. How Voltron’s actions effect the empire. A huge focus on Galra backstory.

It’s just like the Drule’s in Vehicle Voltron. That show was almost slavish devoted to the Drule Empire and the political machinations of its sub commanders. We saw how the war effected its people and the series occasionally forgot the Vehicle Team were supposed to be the main characters.

Doesn’t that sound like what we got in this episode? I mean yeah, Hunk got some much-needed focus but this episode was really the Galra’s time to shine. It’s about their race and Lotor’s impact on it. There’s a wedge being driven between the empire. I hope, much like in Vehicle Voltron, we get some time to focus on the impact this has on the Galra civilians… if there are any.

Think about it, with what we learned of Galra society thanks to Hunk’s training it seems everyone is devoted to combat in some way. Even if they aren’t directly contributing to it (see Varkon) they all still dream of glory in combat. Makes you wonder if all the society does is conquer and the very idea of peace is a foreign concept.

These are the sort of questions and themes Vehicle Voltron always hinted at but never really got to explore in-depth because it was an 80’s show. Now it’s thrust into the forefront of this new Voltron and I am 100% here for it. I’ve never been more happy to have been lied to.

With all that focus on the Galra though let’s not forget about my boy Hunk. Hunk has been severely lacking in development the last few seasons. He exploded onto the screen in season one with a ton of focus, especially with the Balmera, but since then has sort of faded into the background. He had some nice moments but most of them were food related.

Now through Hunk is back in full force and not a single food reference in sight. Hell yes! This is the Hunk diplomat we were promised way back in season three. Hunk being the unexpected ambassador of sorts between the Voltron team and the Galra is everything I’ve always wanted. It gives him an important new role on the team and hopefully means he’ll be at the forefront of this still shaky alliance. 

There’s also everything with Haggar and Shiro going down. It’s all a little unclear but I’m incredibly intrigued. Did whatever Haggar do to Shiro create a two way street in their minds? Could Shiro provide our team with some intel? 

Also, did Allura bring Lance back from the dead?!?!?!?!

This is all a solid foundation for season six to build off. Hopefully it can balance the Galra politics with our main characters. As much as I’m here for the Vehicle Voltron love I know most of the audience really cares about the Paladins.

If it can use Hunk as a POV into the Galra culture and what’s happening to it, that would be one of the best things to happen to this.

But yo for real, is Lotor going to build his own Vehicle Voltron? DON’T LIE TO ME. Or perhaps… do?

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