DreamWorks Animation's Voltron Legendary Defender has enjoyed two stellar seasons on Netflix since the rebooted animated series' debut a little over a year ago. The good news for fans of the Paladins and their Lions is that 2017 will see the arrival of two more seasons: Season 3 debuts Friday, August 4th, followed by Season 4 this October. The great news is that Season 3 gets off to a fantastic start by picking up where the show left off, changing up the team dynamics, and introducing the villainous Prince Lotor (A.J. LoCascio), who should be a hands-down fan-favorite.

Starring Steven Yeun, Kimberly BrooksRhys DarbyJeremy ShadaBex Taylor-Klaus and Tyler LabineVoltron returns to Netflix for new episodes this Friday. I had a chance to check out the first two installments, which shake up alliances on both sides of the battle and introduce Emperor Zarkon's heir apparent in Prince Lotor. Fans are in for a real treat here, especially those who are familiar with the original 80s series. Some spoilers follow, but as long as you're caught up with Season 2, my review will be spoiler-free below!

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Image via Netflix

When last we left our Paladins and their allies, they had just dealt a crushing blow to the Galra Empire by defeating Emperor Zarkon in combat and basically sending him into a coma. The upside of this victory was that the Empire began to show cracks; its stranglehold on the vast, galactic system of planets and peoples began to loosen. The downside was that the Paladins lost their leader Shiro (Josh Keaton) in the process.

And that’s where we pick up in Season 3. Keith takes it upon himself to search for Shiro, who had chosen him as the one to lead the Paladins should Shiro fall, while the others continue their own pursuits. Pidge continues her quest for answers regarding her brother's disappearance by digging into video evidence of his escape from Galra captivity. Hunk and Lance, meanwhile, serve to protect nearby planets from Galra forces and liberate more potential allies so they may join the side of Princess Allura. Their Lions are all intact and working just fine save for one exception: The Black Lion is without a pilot now that Shiro is missing.

That very important conflict serves to set up the tension early in Season 3 on a number of levels. First, on a character level, Keith is dealing with not just the absence of Shiro or the mystery of his disappearance but also the former leader’s wishes for Keith to take up that mantle. As a loner by nature, this is the last thing Keith wants to do. That complicates things on the team level as the Paladins soon fall into arguing amongst themselves about just who should be in charge. Ultimately, like it was in the very beginning, it’s up to the Lions to decide.

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Image via Netflix

And that leads to the biggest wrench in the works for the team. Without the Black Lion in operation, it’s impossible for the Paladins to form Voltron. That’s bad enough considering that the entire Galra Empire is gunning for them and continuing to wreak havoc across the galaxy, but it’s a philosophical and political conundrum as well. The liberated lands believe in the promise and protection of Voltron; without the mighty defender, their confidence is shaken and their commitment to the rebellion becomes a half-hearted one. Keith’s hot temper and Allura’s lack of diplomatic experience don’t do the tenuous interplanetary coalition of alien representatives any favors, either.

While the Paladins are sorting themselves out, the Galra are looking for an answer to Zarkon’s defeat and the potential collapse of their empire. Some, like General Throk, seek to take control through strength of arms and a military coup. More, however, are loyal to the newly arrived Prince Lotor, whose charisma wins over the masses despite his progressive practices and deceptive intentions.

Lotor is going to be a fan-favorite this season. LoCascio nails the character, a born leader who knows which strings to pull to gain popular support while also a devious strategist who is unflinching when it comes taking down his opponents. Lotor doesn't just defeat his enemies, he takes them apart through careful consideration, study, and planning. Any retreat is a tactical one, and Lotor learns more and more from each successive battle.

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Image via Netflix

But much like the Paladins have each other for support, so too does Lotor have his own team. Cobbled together from so-called Galra half-breeds from across the empire, Lotor's all-female team (I'm presuming here since it's not explicit) is quite the capable one. Comprised of his right-hand woman, a masked mind-controller, a heavy-hitter who has a penchant for firing very big guns, and a colorful camouflage-capable scout, Lotor's team is very much up to the task of going toe-to-toe with the Paladins, perhaps more than even they realize.

The first two episodes of Season 3 merely set the stage for the five episodes that follow and I, for one, can't wait to see these two sides clash some more. Fans of the original series will likely be pleased to see how the new Team Voltron shakes out, as well. I was positively thrilled to see some of the reveals that happen relatively early on;  showrunners / executive producers Joaquim Dos Santos and Lauren Montgomery have done a bang-up job of setting those moments up. Fuel up, Paladin, because you're going to want to binge this season as soon as it drops this Friday!

Rating: ★★★★★ Excellent

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Image via Netflix