The Voltron Legendary Defender seventh-season episodes “The Last Stand Part 1” and “The Last Stand Part 2” tell an entertaining tale of what happens on Earth between the departure of Shiro and his comrades, and their return as Paladins of Voltron, to defend their home from a Galra occupation. These episodes also suggest an alarming situation on Earth that predates the Galra invasion:
The entire planet Earth seems to be governed by the military.
In “The Last Stand Part 1,” Sam Holt has returned to Earth after having been gone for six years. Admiral Sanda of the Galaxy Garrison informs Sam that the joint chiefs want to debrief Sam, to learn about his intergalactic experiences.
We know nothing about the organization or authority of the joint chiefs on Earth in Voltron’s time.
According to the About page of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff official website, the Joint Chiefs of Staff consist of chiefs of staff of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, and the National Guard. During World War II, the Joint Chiefs of Staff had command authority over combatant commands. In later years, the Joint Chiefs lost their executive authority and began to serve instead as advisers, entrusted with providing advice to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council.
If the joint chiefs in Voltron’s future Earth were similarly empowered, then this would suggest the existence of a civilian government.
Or would it?
As of this writing — less than one month before the December 14, 2018, release of Voltron Legendary Defender‘s eighth and final season — no other evidence exists to suggest a civilian government on Earth. On the contrary, “The Last Stand Part 1” and “The Last Stand Part 2” suggest that Earth’s government might actually consist of the senior-most officers of the Galaxy Garrison.
In “The Last Stand Part 1,” Admiral Sanda seems to be the commanding officer of the entire Garrison. At the end of the episode, Sam Holt challenges her leadership.
SAM HOLT: Right now, the world needs a leader that’s not afraid to face facts, and you’re not it.
SANDA: And you think you are?
SAM HOLT: Yes.
Sanda then yields much of her authority to Sam. On the other hand, in “The Last Stand Part 2,” after Galra Commander Sendak addresses Earth and demands that Earth turn over the Voltron Lions, it is Admiral Sanda who replies as Earth’s representative. Whatever the case, there are no references in these episodes — or any others — to Earth having a president, a prime minister, a congress or parliament or governing council, or indeed any civilian political entities.
It’s possible that Earth does not have a central government, and that individual nations have their own governments, and that the Galaxy Garrison controls only Earth’s exploration of space, and planetary defense. On the other hand, if this is true, wouldn’t Garrison leadership advise the countries of Earth during the Galra invasion and occupation? The episodes don’t suggest that anything like this occurs.
It’s also interesting to note that the Galaxy Garrison is a military organization. Everyone seems to be a commissioned officer or a cadet. Sanda is an admiral, Sam Holt is a commander, and at the time of Shiro’s disappearance at Kerberos, he is a lieutenant. Regardless of whether the Galaxy Garrison controls Earth, why is the Garrison a military organization when, in episodes like “The Rise of Voltron” (“The New Alliance”) and “A Little Adventure,” Iverson and Shiro mention that the Garrison consists of astroexplorers? Why is a space exploration group organized like a military, and why is the group called a garrison?
“The Last Stand Part 2” mentions that humanity experienced a third world war. After World War III ended, did the people of Earth decide to create a military organization charged with exploring space, defending Earth, and oh, by the way, governing all of humanity? Is Admiral Sanda, and later Sam Holt, a benevolent dictator?
Maybe the eighth season of Voltron Legendary Defender will reveal just who is in charge of Earth and its people. I’m hopeful that it isn’t the Galaxy Garrison.