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The Five-Minute Rule: Vehicle Team Voltron (Voltron: Defender of the Universe)

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Greg Tyler

Although Vehicle Team Voltron is far less well remembered than Lion Force Voltron, one fact about the vehicle-based ‘bot that people seem to remember most is that it can operate for only five minutes.

What do actual episodes of Voltron: Defender of the Universe say — and show — about Voltron’s time limit, if there is one? Let’s find out.

In Search of New Worlds (#101)

In the first Vehicle Team episode, “In Search of New Worlds” (Production #101), Commander Steele reminds other Galaxy Garrison officers of Voltron’s power limits.

STEELE
…the Land, Sea, and Air Teams can combine to form the giant robot… but remember he has only five minutes of stored nuclear power. He’s our last line of defense.

Another officer in the room, called “Professor” in the script, replies.

PROFESSOR
We can only hope five minutes is enough.

Later in the episode, as Voltron battles a Robeast that Voltron: From Days of Long Ago: A Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration calls the Crush Crab Robeast, Hawkins mentions Voltron’s time limit.

HAWKINS
Voltron only has five minutes of stored solar energy. There’s not much time left.

Is it “stored nuclear power” or “stored solar energy?” We’ll think more about this later.

As Voltron continues to fight the Robeast, Jeff announces to the team:

JEFF
One minute left, team!

Fortunately Voltron destroys the Robeast less than a minute later.

A Temporary Truce (#111)

The next mention of a five-minute limit for Voltron is in “A Temporary Truce” (Production #111). Professor Page, the resident scientist of the Stellar Ship Explorer, mother ship of the Voltron Force, openly mentions it to Sandu, a young Drule soldier whom the Explorer crew brought aboard as a guest following the crash of his ship.

PAGE
The giant robot only has five minutes of stored thermonuclear energy, but that’s always enough to defeat any enemy.

Why Page would trust a Drule soldier — even one as seemingly friendly as Sandu — with such critical information is baffling. It’s also baffling that Voltron’s five-minute limit refers to yet another metric — thermonuclear energy.

The Red Moon People (#137)

The next reference to a five-minute limit is in “The Red Moon People” (Production #137), when a Drule robot (called a “hooded robot” in the script) announces:

HOODED ROBOT
Voltron has only five minutes of stored energy and most of it is used up. Now finish him off!

How did the Drule robot know about Voltron’s time limit? It seems certain that Sandu would have been debriefed after he was returned to the Drule Empire. Despite Sandu’s growing interest in peace between the Drule Empire and the Galaxy Alliance, Sandu probably would have told his superiors what Professor Page had openly told him.

Summary of Dialogue

Among all episodes of Voltron: Defender of the Universe, a “five-minute rule” is mentioned four times across three episodes:

Production #	Title	Reference
101	In Search of New Worlds	Five minutes of stored nuclear power (Commander Steele)
101	In Search of New Worlds	Five minutes of stored solar energy (Commander Hawkins)
111	A Temporary Truce	Five minutes of stored thermonuclear energy (Professor Page)
137	The Red Moon People	Five minutes of stored energy (Drule hooded robot)

Even ignoring the adjectives, “energy” and “power” are distinct, but related, things. According to Wikipedia, “energy is the quantitative property that must be transferred to an object in order to perform work on, or to heat, the object,” and power is the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit time.”

That said, the phrases “five minutes of power” and “five minutes of energy” can be thought of as stating the same thing — that, for a “typical” set of power-draining activities, Voltron can operate for about five minutes before depleting its energy reserves.

And now, the adjectives — “nuclear,” “solar,” and “thermonuclear.” The term “thermonuclear” refers to nuclear reactions at very high temperatures. In other words, “thermonuclear” is a more specific term than “nuclear.”

What about “solar?” The term “solar energy” usually refers to energy gathered from sunlight. On the other hand, the energy of a star itself comes from thermonuclear reactions, so if we streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch a bit, Hawkins’ “solar energy” reference can be thought of as a very loose description of thermonuclear energy.

To summarize, with a bit of hand-waving, as stated in episodes 101, 111, and 137, Vehicle Team Voltron’s “five-minute rule” is that the robot’s thermonuclear energy reserves can provide power for an estimated five minutes’ worth of a typical range of activities.

But is that the whole story? Let’s dive deeper.

Believe Nothing You Hear, and Only One Half that You See

Edgar Allan Poe is credited for having originated, in “The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether” (1845), the phrase “Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.” We’ve just examined all that we hear about Voltron’s power limits, but we haven’t examined what we see.

I used a video editing application to analyze how long Vehicle Team Voltron remains formed in each of the robot’s appearances in Voltron: Defender of the Universe. The goal to was to see how often, if ever, Voltron stays formed for longer than five minutes.

Caveats:

We almost never see Voltron form and disassemble in the same episode. Usually but not always, we see the Voltron Force actually form Voltron. Very rarely do we see Voltron disassemble. Since the robot must assemble after its 15 constituent vehicles launch from the Explorer, and the robot must disassemble before returning to the Explorer, these events must occur off-screen when they aren’t shown on-screen. In other words, Voltron does more in each appearance than is overtly shown in an episode.
Episode running time does not necessarily correspond to narrative time. For example, even though we might first see Voltron 16 minutes into an episode, and last see Voltron 21 minutes into the episode, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Voltron had been active for five minutes of narrative time. It might have “really” spanned more time or less time than what we see on the screen. Scenes shown sequentially might have “really” taken place wholly or partially at the same time, and more narrative time might have passed between scenes than running times would suggest.

For each of Voltron’s appearances:

I defined the “start time” as follows:
- If we see Voltron form, then the clock starts when the final assembly action ends. For example, in many episodes, the last assembly action is Ginger’s red jet attaching to Voltron’s chest. In some episodes, the last action is Voltron’s twin face plates opening to reveal the face.
- If we don’t see Voltron form, then the clock starts when we first see the robot.
I defined the “stop time” as follows:
- If we see Voltron disassemble, then the clock stops when Voltron breaks apart.
- If we don’t see Voltron disassemble, then the clock stops when we last see the robot.

If Voltron remains assembled across commercial breaks, then I didn’t count the breaks — or the bumpers, when Peter Cullen says “Voltron will return after these messages,” or “We now return to Voltron: Defender of the Universe.”

If Voltron makes an out-of-context appearance at the end of the episode, then this analysis does not include that appearance. For example, if after Voltron fights a Robeast, we see the Voltron Force back aboard the Explorer, followed by an end-of-episode appearance of the robot with a voice-over narration, then this analysis does not treat that appearance as a “real” appearance of Voltron, or an extension of an in-context appearance of the robot.

This analysis of Voltron’s appearances also does not include flashbacks of appearances from prior scenes or episodes.

(Robeast names are from Voltron: From Days of Long Ago: A Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration.)

Appearance #	Episode Production #	Episode Title	Appearance # in Episode	Duration (Minutes)	Comments
1	101	In Search of New Worlds	1	2.70	Voltron forms, fights the Crush Crab Robeast, then stands dramatically on the planet. Note: 1.47 minutes after forming, Jeff says, “One minute left, team!”
1′	101	In Search of New Worlds	1′	5.23	As with Appearance #1 (101-1), but assumes Jeff’s “One minute left, team” line begins exactly four minutes after Voltron has formed.
2	102	First Day on a New World	1	3.01	Voltron forms, fights the Titanic Tick Robeast, then stands dramatically on the planet.
3	103	Building a New World	1	0.67	Voltron forms and then flies away from a planet before it is destroyed.
4	104	Goodbye New World	1	3.80	Voltron forms, fights the Dragonoid Robeast, then stands dramatically while Hawkins communicates with Jeff, telling him to meet the Explorer at a newly sighted planet.
5	105	Try This World for Size	1	2.31	Voltron forms, fights the Crush Crab Neo Robeast, then leaves the planet upon Hawkins’ order to withdraw.
6	106	A Storm of Meteors	1	2.81	Voltron forms, fights the Antropoda Robeast, then disassembles to escape the Robeast’s rocket ropes. Voltron immediately re-forms (Appearance #7) to continue the battle.
7	106	A Storm of Meteors	2	7.13	Voltron re-forms immediately after escaping (Appearance #6) the Antropoda Robeast’s rocket ropes. Voltron fights the Robeast, then goes to the nearby Planet of Meteors and stands guard as the Explorer is repaired. When a storm of meteors begins to fall, Voltron uses its Blazing Sword against large, falling meteors until the Explorer leaves the planet. Voltron flies alongside the Explorer.
6, 7 (cumulative)	106	A Storm of Meteors	1, 2 (cumulative)	9.94	(Voltron had no time to replenish its energy reserves between Appearance #6 and Appearance #7.)
8	107	Help Not Wanted	1	1.31	Voltron forms and fights the Cannon Mantis Robeast.
9	108	Ghost Fleet from Another Planet	1	2.68	Voltron forms, fights the Mutant Sphere Robeast, then drives away Mongo’s attack fleet.
10	109	A Very Short Vacation	1	3.22	Voltron forms, fights the Barracudax Robeast, dragging it underwater. Note: 1.56 minutes after forming, Jeff says, “We don’t have much time!” After destroying the Robeast, Voltron flies back toward the Explorer, which prompts Zabor to retreat.
11	110	Planet of the Bats	1	2.78	Voltron forms, fights the Dread Sinistar Robeast, then stands dramatically on the planet.
12	112	Wolo’s Lost World	1	4.15	Voltron forms, fights Brak’s Robeast, then stands as Wolo remembers a lesson that his brother Kobal had taught him. (Note: FDLA does not unambiguously name this Robeast, due to errors in the book.)
13	113	Planet Stop for Repairs	1	2.90	Voltron forms, prpeares to fight Nerok’s Robeast, but does not strike, avoiding a battle. Voltron stands by as the Robeast and Nerok depart. (Note: FDLA does not unambiguously name this Robeast, due to errors in the book.)
14	114	A Curious Comet	1	2.08	Voltron forms and begins to fight the Cyberbug Robeast, which fires at Voltron, causing its right arm to separate and separate into Rugger 3 (Wolo’s ship) and Rugger 12 (Cinda’s ship). (Time between completion of assembly and detachment of right arm: 0.55 minutes.) Voltron’s right arm re-attaches, and Voltron continues to fight the Cyberbug Robeast. (Time between re-attachment of right arm and last instant of Voltron’s appearance: 1.29 minutes.) This sequence is considered a single appearance because Voltron remains (mostly) assembled.
15	115	In the Enemy Camp	1	4.36	Voltron forms, fights the Planet Smasher Robeast, then stands dramatically on the planet.
16	118	What’s on First	1	4.06	Voltron forms, fights the Hades Orb Robeast. Voltron then fights the Nightshade Berzerker Robeast. Voltron’s Wing Beam and a rogue tornado presumably destroy the Robeast, and Voltron escapes the tornado.
17	119	Great Stone Space Faces	1	1.57	Voltron forms and fights a Nightshade Berzerker Robeast — seemingly a different one than the Robeast fought in Episode #118.
18	120	Defend the New World	1	3.04	Voltron forms without its head. Krik commands the headless Voltron as it fights the Heavy Blazersect Robeast. Voltron’s head attaches 0.81 minutes after forming. Voltron defeats the Robeast, then stands dramatically on the planet.
19	121	Meanwhile Back at Galaxy Garrison	1	0.25	Voltron forms, then flies off to meet a support fleet.
20	122	Nerok Scores Big	1	2.36	Voltron forms, then fights the Arachno-Binder Beast, accidentally damaging the Explorer during the battle. Voltron then escorts the Explorer away from the battle site.
21	123	Hazar on the Carpet	1	2.08	Voltron forms, then fights the Rocket Sniper Robeast.
22	124	Hazar is Demoted	1	0.88	Voltron forms, then departs a planet with the Explorer to meet a group of space settlers.
23	125	Just Like Earth	1	3.37	The Steel Spacebug Rattler Robeast fires at Rugger 7 (Lisa’s ship) before it, Rugger 9 (Shannon’s ship), and Rugger 14 (Marvin’s ship) can form Voltron’s right leg. Voltron fights the Robeast. After Voltron’s right leg attaches, Voltron defeats the Robeast and destroys Zabor’s Drule battleship.
24	126	The Planet Trap	1	2.49	Voltron forms, fights the Wolf-Beetle Robeast, then destroys Brak’s Drule battleship before it can ram the Explorer.
25	127	Save the Space Station	1	9.26	After the Explorer and are repaired, Voltron forms and escorts the fleet near an asteroid field, where Voltron is ambushed by the Death Digger Robeast. Voltron fights the Robeast.
26	128	Planet of the Amazons	1	3.35	Voltron forms, fights the Dagger Toad Robeast, and then destroys the attacking Drule fleet.
27	129	Revolt of the Slaves	1	8.18	Voltron forms, protects the Explorer from Drule missiles, then fights the Twin Equinox Dragon Robeast.
28	129	Revolt of the Slaves	2	1.43	Voltron forms, then fights an attacking Drule fleet.
29	130	Raid on Galaxy Garrison	1	0.48	Voltron forms, then strikes a heroic pose.
30	131	Smashing the Meteor Barrier	1	13.63	Voltron, already formed, flies with the Explorer fleet toward a Drule command base. Then Hawkins orders Voltron to protect a support fleet from a Drule attack. Voltron fights a Robo-Golem Robeast, then helps the Explorer fleet and the support fleet to drive the Drule forces into an asteroid belt. On Hawkins order to return to the Explorer, Voltron disassembles.
31	131	Smashing the Meteor Barrier	2	2.97	Voltron, already formed, follows the Meteorbreaker and leads two Galaxy Garrison fleets through a dense meteor barrier and to a Drule command base.
32	132	A Man-Made Sun	1	3.31	Voltron, already formed, approaches a Drule base and destroys incoming Drule missiles, fights the Black Poison Robeast, and then separates to enter the Drule base.
33	133	Captain Newley Returns	1	5.23	Voltron forms, then fights the King Hydraxis Robeast.
34	134	Hazar Bucks the Empire	1	2.43	Voltron forms, fights the Razorface Robeast, disassembles, then escapes the planet before it is destroyed.
35	135	Letters from Home	1	1.82	Voltron forms, then fights the Death-Knight Crusader Robeast.
36	136	Peace! A Fish Story	1	1.89	Voltron forms, fights the Beachhead Robeast, then frightens the Drule fleet into retreating.
37	137	The Red Moon People	1	3.21	Voltron forms, then fights the Demon Bluegore Robeast.
38	138	This World’s for the Birds	1	4.06	Voltron forms, fights the Cyberai Robeast, then protects the Explorer from Twyla’s Drule fleet.
39	139	That’s the Old Ball Game	1	2.45	Voltron forms, fights the Repto-Boxer Robeast, then destroys Drule battleships.
40	140	Red Moon Rises Again	1	3.12	Voltron forms, then fights the Invincibeast Robeast, with the help of a buck.
41	141	Another Solar System	1	5.16	Voltron forms, fights the Doom Gladiator Robeast, then strikes a pose.
42	142	Whose World Is It?	1	9.08	Voltron forms, fights the Astroblaster Robeast, and then stands by as Hawkins convinces the Drules to conduct peace talks.
43	143	It’s Anybody’s World	1	2.41	Voltron forms, then fights the Planet Compactor Robeast.
44	144	Frozen Assets	1	1.83	Voltron forms, then fights the Bladebug Robeast.
45	145	Coconuts	1	2.01	Voltron forms, fights the Sentrius Robeast, then destroys Zutka’s Drule battleship.
46	146	It Could Be a Long War	1	1.67	Voltron forms, then fights the Blackstar Unicorn Robeast.
47	147	Color Me Invisible	1	1.19	Voltron forms, then fights the Krushborg Robeast.
48	148	Time Is Running Out	1	3.80	Voltron forms and is immediately covered with Magna Mines. Voltron fights the Monster Vultura Robeast and throws it at a Drule attack base, destroying both.
49	149	Zero Hour Approaches	1	5.50	Voltron forms, fights the Astronomax Robeast in an asteroid field, then destroys a Drule base with a full-power Electro-Therma-Blast.
50	150	The Drules’ World Cracks Up	1	6.50	Voltron forms, fights its way to the surface of the Drule homeworld, then disassembles during combat against three Robeasts.
51	151	The Drules Surrender	1	16.02	Beneath the surface of the Drule homeworld, Voltron forms and fights multiple Robeasts. When Voltron is approached by Drule civilians who wave a white flag of surrender and peace. Jeff tells the team that it’s time to return to the Explorer.
52	152	The End of Hazar’s World	1	0.78	As the already formed Voltron, already formed, stands before a group of Drule citizens, Hazar emerges from the crowd, asking Voltron to help the people to evacuate before the Drule homeworld explodes.
53	?	Fleet of Doom	1	8.16	Voltron forms, then fights alongside Lion Force Voltron against the Drule Voltron 2 Robeast. Afterward, the two Voltron robots stand side-by-side as their pilots reunite.

Summary of Appearances

Regardless of Vehicle Team Voltron’s “five-minute rule,” on 13 occasions (12, if we ignore Jeff’s “One minute left, team!” remark in “In Search of New Worlds”), the mighty robot is seen to be active for over five minutes of episode running time.

How can this be?

The likely real-world reason is that the Voltron writers invented the “five-minute rule” to increase the suspense in a given episode, knowing full well that most of the time, the robot would not be seen in action for more than five minutes. It should be noted that Voltron’s limited energy reserves were a purely Voltron invention. Such a limitation is never specified in Armored Fleet Dairugger XV, the anime program from which the “Vehicle Team” episodes of Voltron: Defender of the Universe were adapted.

In the context of the Voltron fictional universe, there are multiple possible reasons for the occasional, unexpected longevity of Voltron’s energy reserves:

One minute of episode running time need not equal one minute of narrative time. Perhaps a longer-than-five-minute appearance “really” lasted less than five minutes.
In some of Voltron’s longer-than-five-minute appearances, the robot spends portions of time flying casually in space, or standing still — activities that presumably require less power than active combat against a Robeast.
Perhaps Voltron’s limited energy reserves are used only during “surges” of activity, such as combat. For less-intensive activities, the robot might be able to tap other energy reserves that are adequate for low-intensity activities, but inadequate for combat.
Perhaps over time, Voltron’s energy reserve capacity was increased, perhaps just once, or perhaps incrementally. There is some evidence which might support the idea of such an upgrade or upgrades:
- Although a Drule robot mentions Voltron’s five-minute energy reserve limit as late as “The Red Moon People” (Production #137), the last time anyone from the Galaxy Alliance mentions this limit is in “A Temporary Truce” (Production #111), when Professor Page openly states this limitation to Sandu, a young Drule soldier who is later returned to his people.
  - Perhaps Voltron’s energy reserves were increased sometime after the events of “A Temporary Truce,” but before the events of “Zero Hour Approaches,” the first of the last four of Voltron’s lengthy appearances.
  - It is also possible that Voltron’s energy reserves were increased before “A Temporary Truce,” and that Professor Page fed misinformation to Sandu. It does seem unconscionable that the professor would volunteer such sensitive information to an enemy soldier – even one who seems open to peace.
- Prior to Page’s mention of the “five-minute rule” in “A Temporary Truce,” the only episode that references the limitation is “In Search of New Worlds” (Production #101) — the same episode in which Jeff tells the team that they have only one minute left — after which Voltron remains formed for at least 0.23 minutes of episode running time, plus the time needed for Voltron to separate off-screen. Maybe Voltron’s energy reserves were increased mere months, weeks, or even days after the events of this episode.

Conclusion

Vehicle Team Voltron’s “five-minute rule” is expressed four times in Voltron: Defender of the Universe, but based on episode running times, Voltron violates the rule as many as 12 or 13 times.

Maybe the rule was rendered “OBE” — Overcome By Events — through one or more upgrades to Voltron’s energy reserves. Maybe we weren’t supposed to notice Voltron’s lengthier appearances. We certainly weren’t meant to time the robot’s appearances with a stopwatch…or video editing software.

Whether Voltron can function for five minutes, five hours, or five months at a time, it has inspired the imagination for over 35 years, which is a remarkable time indeed.

“Go Together” T-shirt to Benefit Heart to Heart International

Posted on May 9, 2020 by Greg Tyler

The Voltron Store has opened pre-orders for an exclusive “Go Together” T-shirt. Proceeds from sales of the shirt will benefit Heart to Heart International, a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1992.

Here is Heart to Heart International’s mission statement, from the group’s website:

Heart to Heart International strengthens communities through improving health access, providing humanitarian development and administering crisis relief worldwide. We engage volunteers, collaborate with partners and deploy resources to achieve this mission.

Only 2% of the organization’s funding is spent on fundraising and general administration. 92% goes to international health initiatives, and 6% goes to projects in the United States.

Click here to pre-order the “Go Together” T-shirt.

The Nexus Perplexes (Voltron Force)

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Greg Tyler

One of many elements that distinguish Voltron Force from other iterations of our favorite Defender of the Universe is the Nexus. It’s kind of cool, but it’a also kind of confusing.

What Is the Nexus?

We first see the Nexus at the end of the feature-length premiere, “The New Defenders Trilogy.” In other markets, this feature aired as three regular-length episodes, and in that context we first see the Nexus in the third episode, “Defenders of the Universe.”

After the five Lions take a pounding from a Haggarium-powered Robeast, the Voltron Force decides that they’re ready to form Voltron. Keith gives the classic “Activate interlocks” preamble, and the Lions connect as Keith orders them to “form feet and legs” and “form arms and body.” Just before Voltron’s head is formed, there is a quick cutaway shot.

The star is a nod to Voltron: Defender of the Universe. In that program, inside each Lion’s cockpit, just above the slot in which the pilot inserts the Lion’s key, a display panel features a star comprised of six lights. The panel becomes visible and lights up just after the pilot inserts the Lion’s key, and when the pilot goes through the “Activate interlocks” routine in preparation to form Voltron.

The Lion cockpits in Voltron: The Third Dimension have a similar display panel.

The Stealth Lion cockpits in Voltron: The Third Dimension have a star-shaped display on a flat, touchscreen interface.

In Voltron Force, once the star is formed, the person in the “center Lion” tells everyone that he or she will form Voltron’s head.

This star is the Nexus — although this and other information about the Nexus aren’t revealed until the 13th episode, “Clash of the Lions,” which we’ll get to later.

The star is shown each time Voltron is formed using the “standard formation sequence.” We’ll probably explore the other formation sequence, “Flash Form,” in a future article.

The positions of the five “Nexus pieces” match the positions of the Lions when they are combined as Voltron, when viewed from the front. The upward point corresponds to the “center” Lion — the one that forms Voltron’s head and body. The upper left point and upper right point represent the “right arm Lion” and “left arm Lion,” respectively. The lower left point and lower right point represent the “right leg Lion” and “left leg Lion,” respectively.

Black Center

Red Center

Green Center

Blue Center

Yellow Center

In “Hungry for Voltron,” Blue Lion is separated from the others by a planetary force field, and the other four Lions are forced to form Voltron with a missing right leg. Correspondingly, the Nexus has only four of its five pieces. In the episode we see a four-Lion Voltron in both Black Center and Yellow Center configurations. We’re treated to a four-piece Black Center configuration of the Nexus. We aren’t shown the four-piece Yellow Center configuration of the Nexus, but we can assume it happens off-screen.

Four-Lion Voltron (Black Center)

Four-Lion Voltron (Yellow Center)

The episode “Clash of the Lions” finally reveals more about the Nexus. Sky Marshall Wade fires a Corite charge at the center of Voltron’s chest.

After Voltron is returned to the Castle of Lions, Pidge assesses the damage to the robot.

PIDGE
The Corite pierced something inside Voltron that we’ve never been able to crack before. The Lions each have one in their chest – like a heart-slash-hard drive – and they all come together when Voltron forms.

VINCE
Kinda like a Nexus!

PIDGE
Hmmm. Yeah. A Nexus. That’s exactly what it is. And now that there’s a hole in the Black Lion’s piece of the…Nexus, it’s releasing all kinds of strange data, things I can’t even begin to decipher. Whatever it is, access to this Nexus could change the entire way Voltron works.

In “Inside the Music,” Pidge explains more about his attempts to decipher the aforementioned “strange data.”

PIDGE
The hole Wade shot in the Black Lion’s piece of the Nexus has given me access to copious amounts of new data…but it all seems to be encrypted with some code so ancient, it’s…it’s almost like I need to create a new branch of science to understand it.

Later in the episode, Voltron battles a Robeast that can fire blasts of “Sonic Haggarium.”

KEITH
It’s like Haggarium is leaching in!

PIDGE
It must be penetrating the Nexus through that hole!

In “Rogue Trip,” in the hangar in the Castle of Lions, Pidge takes his research a bit too far.

PIDGE
I’ve been studying the Black Lion’s Nexus relentlessly, but I still can’t decipher the code. It’s based on ancient, but highly advanced, mathematical algorithm. If I’m going to have any hope of making progress, I’ll need to extract the Nexus and analyze it in the control room. Can you help me do some heavy metal surgery?

Hunk uses what looks like a blowtorch and cuts into Black Lion, but mere inches from the Nexus, Black Lion activates, roars, shakes Pidge and Hunk loose, and exits the hangar of the Castle of Lions.

The Voltron Force soon discusses Black Lion’s departure.

PIDGE
It’s as if Black sensed the Nexus was being threatened, and it triggered some kind of security response.

KEITH
But the Lions bond with their pilots, so how could they possibly consider us a threat?

PIDGE
I don’t know. But one thing is certain — the Nexus modules are far more important to Voltron than I ever suspected. I have to do more research.

The Voltron Force locates and approaches Black Lion. In response, Black Lion’s piece of the Nexus flashes — and this triggers the Nexus pieces in the other four Lions to flash. The other four Lions eject their pilots and side with Black Lion as they stare down their much smaller pilots. Keith later “tames” all five Lions by behaving like a new Alpha to which Black Lion submits.

In “Gary” Hunk and Pidge continue their repair efforts.

HUNK
All right, Pidge. Hopefully this will fix this hole in Black’s Nexus.

A Space Mouse takes Hunk’s torque wrench, interrupting his and Pidge’s work. Soon afterward a group of Garys does much worse. Several Garys enter Black Lion and began to take control of it. One of them discovers Black Lion’s piece of the Nexus.

Although Keith drives out the other Garys, the one near Black Lion’s piece of the Nexus remains inside even during Voltron’s subsequent battle with a Robeast-sized Gary.

The Voltron Force tries to form Voltron in its traditional, “Black Center” configuration, but before the formation sequence completes, Voltron forms Yellow Center. Pidge quickly realizes why this happened.

PIDGE
It’s the Nexus! It’s got one of those things in it! It must have… gotten into the Nexus through the hole in Black’s piece!

Voltron then forms Red Center, although Keith somehow regains control and forms Black Center.

The Gary in the Nexus continues to make Voltron unstable. At multiple times its arms and legs begin to pull away from the torso, as if the Lions are about to separate or change configuration again.

After the Garys are defeated, Hunk is more determined to fix Black Lion.

HUNK
All right, I think now we REALLY gotta figure out how to fix that hole in you.

The Voltron Force discusses its next step in “Five Forged.”

KEITH
Every time we mess with the Black Lion’s broken Nexus, bad things happen.

PIDGE
True, but even worse things are going to happen if we don’t do something. There’s Haggarium in there now, spreading like an infection. We’re leaking power at an alarming rate. If we don’t repair this Nexus soon, we could lose the Black Lion.

Vince tries to use his “finger wires” to hack into Black Lion’s piece of the Nexus, but Black Lion comes to life, frees itself from the finger-wires, and flees Arus — followed by the other four Lions. The Lions fly to the planet Ariel, where they stand just outside the entrance to what looks like a temple. The Voltron Force pilots and cadets arrive and pass a sequence of five challenges, after which five Krelshi converge above their heads, to be replaced by an apparition of a kind but tough-looking blacksmith.

PIDGE
You’re the blacksmith. The one who forged Voltron.

BLACKSMITH
I had my part, yes.

PIDGE
I have so many questions.

BLACKSMITH
I’m certain you do. But I’m afraid I have a very limited role. And to much time to do it in. I understand your Black Lion has a Nexus problem.

After the blacksmith uses some exotic tools, Black Lion stands and roars, and all is right with Voltron once more.

Interestingly, when the Voltron Force is in the workshop of the blacksmith, before the blacksmith appears, they examine artwork on the walls, but they don’t mention one that would let them know, beyond any doubt, that they were in the right place.

After Black Lion’s piece of the Nexus is repaired in “Five Forged,” the Nexus isn’t directly mentioned again for the rest of the program, although it is still shown each time Voltron is formed.

Unanswered Questions

When exactly do the five Lions’ Nexus pieces combine?

In a typical formation sequence, the Nexus pieces are shown to combine after the Lions combine, but before the operator of the “center” Lion announces that he or she will form the head.

On relatively few occasions, the Nexus pieces are shown to combine before the Lions combine.

I assume the Nexus pieces “really” combine after the Lions combine, but this isn’t entirely clear. I suppose it’s possible that each Nexus piece teleports from its Lion’s chest to Voltron’s chest before the Lions combine, but the Lions themselves aren’t shown to have teleportation capability, so this seems unlikely.

Where exactly do the five Lions’ Nexus pieces combine?

Do the Lions’ Nexus pieces always combine inside Black Lion, regardless of whether Black Lion is the center Lion?
Do the Lions’ Nexus pieces always combine in the center Lion?

What happens to the Nexus when Voltron reconfigures?

When Voltron reconfigures, such as from changing from Black Center to Red Center, a sequence of operations occurs:

Voltron’s limbs detach from the “old” center Lion
Simultaneously…
1. The “old” center Lion moves from head/torso position to its position in Black Center configuration, while transforming from head/torso mode to its mode in Black Center configuration
2. The “new” center Lion moves from its position in Black Center configuration to head/torso position, while transforming from its mode in Black Center configuration to head/torso mode
3. If Black Lion is neither the “old” center Lion nor the “new” center Lion, then it moves from the “old” center Lion’s position in Black Center configuration to the “new” center Lion’s position in Black Center configuration, while transforming from the mode of the “old” center Lion in Black Center configuration to the mode of the “new” center Lion in Black Center configuration
Voltron’s limbs attach to the “new” center Lion

Example: When Voltron changes from Black Center to Green Center…

Voltron’s limbs detach from Black Lion
Simultaneously…
1. Black Lion moves from head/torso position to left arm position, while transforming from head/torso mode to arm mode
2. Green Lion moves from left arm position to head/torso position, while transforming from arm mode to head/torso mode
Voltron’s limbs attach to Green Lion

Example: When Voltron changes from Blue Center to Yellow Center…

Voltron’s limbs detach from Blue Lion
Simultaneously…
1. Blue Lion moves from head/torso position to right leg position, while transforming from head/torso mode to leg mode
2. Yellow Lion moves from left leg position to head/torso position, while transforming from leg mode to head/torso mode
3. Black Lion moves from right leg position to left leg position, while transforming from leg mode to… leg mode
Voltron’s limbs attach to Yellow Lion

While all this is happening to the Lions, what happens to the five pieces of the Nexus?

Do they remain inside Black Lion the whole time, even if Black Lion isn’t the center Lion?
Do they move as a combined whole from the old center Lion to the new center Lion? If so, then when during the reconfiguration process does this happen?
Does each piece return to its Lion before the Lions separate, and then re-combine after the Lions re-combine? If so, then do they always combine/re-combine inside Black Lion, or do they re-combine in the new center Lion?

What happens to the Nexus when Voltron “Flash Forms?”

When the Lions “Flash Form” into Voltron, they transform and combine very quickly, bypassing the “Activate interlocks” preamble. During a Flash Form, the Nexus pieces aren’t shown. Do they also “Flash Form,” or do they combine at their regular speed, which is still pretty darn fast, although it might lag Voltron’s formation by a short duration?

What happens to the Nexus when Voltron is forcibly separated into the five Lions?

In the final episode, “Black,” Maahox’s Castle Doom Robeast wraps a tentacle around each of Voltron’s limbs and pulls it apart. Each part crashes to the planet below. In such a scenario, do the Nexus pieces similarly separate, with each piece very quickly snapping back into the chest of its respective Lion? Or do they remain stuck inside the “center” Lion? In “Black” the Lions are shown to fight after Maahox pulls them apart, which would suggest that each Lion got its Nexus piece back, but it’s not entirely clear.

In Closing

Like Voltron’s reconfiguration power, the Nexus is a fun aspect of Voltron that distinguishes the Defender of the Universe in Voltron Force from its incarnations in other Voltron programs.

Voltron Classic Lions Being Re-Released — GameStop Exclusive

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Greg Tyler

Playmates Toys’ “Voltron 84″ Classic Legendary Lions, which were originally released at mass retail in late 2017, are being re-released as a GameStop exclusive.

The five lions combine into a 16” Voltron. Black Lion features electronic lights and sounds. Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow Lion each include a variety of accessories.

Here’s how to pre-order online:

Voltron Classic Black Lion Figure Only at GameStop – $39.99
Voltron Classic Red Lion Figure Only at GameStop – $24.99
Voltron Classic Green Lion Figure Only at GameStop – $24.99
Voltron Classic Blue Lion Figure Only at GameStop – $24.99
Voltron Classic Yellow Lion Figure Only at GameStop – $24.99

As co-host of Let’s Voltron: The Official Voltron Podcast, I reviewed these lion toys for the podcast’s YouTube channel. Check it out here.

Here is a link to all Voltron merchandise at GameStop: Link

These are my all-time favorite toys of the 1980s Voltron lons that don’t carry pilot action figures. (Yes, I like them more than the Popy/Bandai Golion of the early 1980s, the classic Matchbox version in the mid-1980s, and the Bandai Soul of Chogokin GX-71 of 2017.)

Who is N-7? (Voltron Legendary Defender)

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Greg Tyler

In the Voltron Legendary Defender fourth-season episode “Begin the Blitz,” when Matt Holt joins Captain Olia in a rebel fighter that attacks a Zaiforge Cannon of the Galra Empire, Matt and Olia aren’t the only beings in the cockpit.

It’s unclear who or what this being is. Is it a humanoid in armor, perhaps like Iron Man from Marvel Comics? Is it a robot, like C-3PO from Star Wars? Is it a cyborg, like… Cyborg from DC Comics? (It should be noted that as late as in “Begin the Blitz,” Matt Holt is still flirting unsuccessfully with Princess Allura.)

The mysterious being speaks a single line in this episode:

“See if the Blades can use their cannon to take down the shield.”

The mystery being has a seemingly impassive, electronic-sounding, female voice.

At the end of the seventh season, in “Lions’ Pride Part 2,” Matt Holt returns to Earth, and he is holding hands with the being, so it appears that Matt and the being have fallen in love and are in a relationship.

In the eighth season, we get a glimpse of the being in “The Prisoner’s Dilemma.” In “Clear Day,” Matt playfully puts a miner’s helmet on the being’s head, and later the being poses with the Holts in a family photo.

In the eighth-season episodes “Genesis” and “The Zenith,” the Netflix subtitles reveal the being’s name: N-7.

I asked Lauren Montgomery to explain who N-7 is. (At the time I asked her about the character, I had forgotten that the being’s name had been given in subtitles.) Here is Lauren’s response, dated January 6, 2019:

Her name is N seven. I assume it’s a reference to mass effect though I know our writers don’t play video games so I’m not sure how they came up with it. N seven is a robot. Full on AI so she’s technically not a she, but Kimberly did the voice so we tend to just refer to N seven as a she anyway. But robots are generally genderless. It just seemed right that Matt, like Pidge, would fall in love with technology.

Lauren also pointed out that in the final episode, Pidge and Matt Holt are essentially building a robot “child,” Chip, further demonstrating Matt’s (and Pidge’s) love of technology.

Thanks to Lauren Montgomery for sharing this insightful back story for N-7!

VoltCon! (A Fan-Run Voltron Convention) – October 19-20, 2019

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Greg Tyler

VoltCon! — a fan-run, Voltron-themed convention, is coming to Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 19-20, 2019. More information will be revealed during the next Let’s Voltron: The Official Voltron Podcast, but registration has already started. Check out the VoltCon website (voltcon.org) for the latest information and to register.

Among the guests announced so far are The Shake-Ups — and Marc Morrell and I, as host and co-host of Let’s Voltron: The Official Voltron Podcast. Marc and I will present at least one panel at the convention. We hope to see you there!

New Book by Neil Ross – Vocal Recall: A Life in Radio and Voiceovers

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Greg Tyler

Neil Ross, best known to Voltron fans as the voices of Keith and Pidge in Voltron: Defender of the Universe, has written a new book called Vocal Recall: A Life in Radio and Voiceovers. As described on Neil’s website, NeilBook.com:

How does a kid who survives the rain of V-2 rockets on London in the waning years of World War II, end up in Hollywood announcing the Diamond Jubilee of Oscar? Veteran Hollywood voice actor Neil Ross tells the amazing story of his life, and fifty-plus year career, in two exciting, highly competitive professions in his autobiography: Vocal Recall A Life in Radio and Voiceovers.

Check out NeilBook.com for a full description of the book, plus sample pages. The book can be ordered as a paperback, a downloadable audio book read by Neil Ross himself, a downloadable eBook in Kindle format, and as a downloadable e-Book in PDF format. You can also order a custom autographed bookplate to personalize your book.

Ross’ many other Voltron voices include but aren’t limited to Jeff, Chip, Bandor, and Commander Steele from Voltron: Defender of the Universe, and Keith and Amalgamus from Voltron: The Third Dimension.

Voltron Legendary Defender’s Sixth Season Released – Fake Spoilers

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Greg Tyler

Today Netflix released the seven-episode sixth season of Voltron Legendary Defender! To celebrate, here are some of the fake spoilers that I tweeted on Twitter in the days and weeks leading up to the release. For all of these tweets, plus many more by many fellow Voltron fans, click here.

#FakeVLDS6Spoiler Varkon discovered to be Keith's great aunt. @Voltron @LetsVoltron @VoltronStore

— Greg Tyler (@LetsVoltronGreg) June 4, 2018

#FakeVLDS6Spoiler Lotor wins the lotor-ry. @Voltron @LetsVoltron @VoltronStore @AJLoCascio

— Greg Tyler (@LetsVoltronGreg) June 4, 2018

#FakeVLDS6Spoiler Hunk and Shay, plus a bit of gene splicing, produce #HayHay @Voltron @LetsVoltron @VoltronStore @TyLabine @EmilyEiden pic.twitter.com/oL52vmvYt6

— Greg Tyler (@LetsVoltronGreg) June 5, 2018

#FakeVLDS6Spoiler Blue Lion gets a pair of Blue Lion slippers. @Voltron @LetsVoltron @VoltronStore

— Greg Tyler (@LetsVoltronGreg) June 6, 2018

#FakeVLDS6Spoiler Castleship fuses with Haggar and a scaultrite-producing creature, and is renamed to the Castle of Lions, the Witch, and the Weblum. @Voltron @LetsVoltron @VoltronStore

— Greg Tyler (@LetsVoltronGreg) June 6, 2018

#FakeVLDS6Spoiler The new big bad is an astrophysicist who destroys non-spherical planets with rational thought. The big bad will be defeated by one loud swoosh of Voltron's Blazing Sword, in space, where there's no sound or oxygen. @Voltron @LetsVoltron @VoltronStore

— Greg Tyler (@LetsVoltronGreg) June 5, 2018

#FakeVLDS6Spoiler Citizens of the Galra Empire reveal what will *really* make them peaceful: infinite supplies of @evanescence . @AmyLeeEV @Voltron @LetsVoltron @VoltronStore

— Greg Tyler (@LetsVoltronGreg) June 12, 2018

The Shake Ups – Legendary Defenders: Voltron-Inspired Album Releasing June 1

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Greg Tyler

The Shake Ups, a band that specializes in pop culture-themed “power pop” music, is releasing a Voltron-inspired album on June 1, 2018. Entitled The Shake Ups – Legendary Defenders, the album features 15 tracks that cover Voltron Legendary Defender and Voltron: Defender of the Universe. The tracks cover a variety of topics in Voltron lore, from Shiro, Haggar, and even the Space Mice from Voltron Legendary Defender to the Voltron Vehicle Team from Voltron: Defender of the Universe.

In a Let’s Voltron: The Official Voltron Podcast episode scheduled to be released on June 1, Marc Morrell and I spoke with band members Patrick O’Connor and Savannah O’Connor about the upcoming album. The Shake Ups were kind enough to allow Marc and I an early listen to the album, and… well… it’s a lot of fun! There’s something to like in each of the tracks. My personal favorites are “Space Mice”, “Quiznak!”, and “Team Punk.”

If you like Voltron and music, you’ll like Voltron music — and you’ll like this album, so check it out!

Playmates Toys – No Pidge, Allura, Hunk Action Figures

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Greg Tyler

It has been reported on social media that Playmates Toys has decided not to produce Voltron Legendary Defender action figures of Pidge, Princess Allura, and Hunk. Although Playmates Toys released twelve action figures in its basic assortment, only three were of characters from the show — Shiro, Keith, and Lance. The other basic figures consisted of the five (non-transforming/combining) Lions, three Voltrons, and Robeast Myzax.

At various toy fairs, Playmates had teased figures of Pidge, Allura, and Hunk, as well as King Zarkon and Robeast Drazil. Zarkon and Drazil were not shown at the most recent toy fair, February’s New York Toy Fair 2018, which suggests that by that point, Playmates had already decided not to proceed with making those two figures. Other no-shows at NYTF 2018 that had appeared at previous toy fairs were a super-sized, non-transforming/combining Red Lion, which would have been bundled with an exclusive variant of the Keith figure, and a super-sized, non-transforming/combining Blue Lion, which would have been bundled with an exclusive variant of Lance.

This Voltron collector is saddened that only half the Paladins of Voltron are represented as action figures.

The link below is to the toy review video of Shiro, Keith, Lance, and Cannon Fire Voltron basic action figures, which I made for the Let’s Voltron YouTube channel.