25. Just Like Earth
Reviewed by Purrsia




Main Featured Characters: Jeff, Cric, Cliff, Hutch, Cinda, Commander Hawkins, Professor Page, (unnamed bald Drule Commander...possibly Brack)
Original U.S. Air Date: 01/07/1985*

Synopsis: The Drules' plot this time is to avoid the Alliance to give them a false sense of security. Keyzor has a plan to snare the Voltron Force in yet another "Planet Trap" of sorts. Phase one is to launch "decoy" missiles, which the Explorer scanners pick up.
Hawkins sends the air team out to investigate. They spot the incoming missiles and destroy them all. Jeff suggests they track down the base that fired them, and Hawkins agrees. The other teams are dispatched to help (I find it amusing that in one shot, the Turbo Terrain fighter is shown drifting beside the Explorer as Jeff reports but in the next scene, the Land team is launching from the docking bay!)

Of course, all this is exactly what the Drules want. The teams make short work of some missile silos on the planet's surface. Jeff is concerned no Drules seem to be manning any of the bases or otherwise can't be found. The Drules do leave one scouting ship to be discovered in the hopes that the Teams will keep their guard down - but the teams aren't quite going for it, still thinking it odd.

Cliff has the brilliant idea of getting out to investigate to get to the bottom of it. Meanwhile, professor Page clues Hawkins in to his analysis of the planet's atmosphere - it seems the lush plantlife is primitive and isn't producing enough oxygen to support humans. Hawkins is advised to warn the teams...but he's too late. The Land Team is already on the ground and walking about - without their helmets!

When they all start to have trouble breathing, Cliff orders them back to their ships. They all make it back to the ships and Cliff has enough energy left to speak to Jeff briefly, who advises the Land Team put their ships on remote control. However, two land units remain on the ground, apparently not able to go on auto pilot. It turns out to be Cinda and Hutch that haven't moved. Keeping their helmets on, the air team checks on the stranded vessels and find the occupants unconscious. To further complicate matters, the cockpits won't open from the outside, so they can't simply get in and put it on auto pilot for them.

Hawkins concludes too late that it's all been a Drule trap. Hawkins orders the air team to stay with the stranded Land ships while he brings the Explorer down. Just as he suspected, a huge Drule attack fleet is moving in to take advantage of their situation. A fellow Alliance commander warns Hawkins that there's no time to save Hutch and Cinda with the Drules closing in, but he can't leave them to die like that...so Hawkins risks a rescue.

A battle rages while the attempt is made to rescue the downed Land Team members, making their recovery all but impossible (Hawkins gets dummy award of the year for this line: "Why are they attacking our rescue unit?" Erm, possibly so they can't form Voltron? Gee, I wonder...). This battle has the Explorer and her crew in the toughest spot yet - especially when the rescue units are hit. Hawkins seriously weighs his options, including landing the Explorer which could lead to untold dangers for his whole fleet.

Meanwhile in sick bay, the three rescued members of the Land Team listen to reports of the damage the Explorer is taking over the intercom. Cliff, of course, wants to go help even in his weakened state.

To make matters worse, a robeast is launched. Things are looking bleak indeed, as Jeff confirms: "We've been in bad spots before, but this is the worst". While this is going on, Hawkins lowers the Explorer to the amazement of the officer commanding his support fleet. He urges Hawkins not to do it, but Hawkins refuses to abandon Cinda and Hutch. Just then, Cliff and the others launch to help - and fire at Cinda and Hutch. This is in hopes of waking them, which it does. Cliff urges them to put their ships on remote, knowing he can control them enough to unite into Voltron. And of course, they manage to pull the lever...it's go time!

The tide turns pretty quickly to the point where the Drule command vessel is a ball of fire. Supposedly, the Drule commander is going to escape in a pod (likely more U.S. editing heh heh) but before he does, sets his burning ship on a crash course for the Explorer. It looks bad, but Voltron dispatches the Robeast with the blazing sword and still has time to save the Explorer with a well-aimed toss of the spinning lazer blades.

This was a good ep except for the fact that those two would have been brain dead after going without oxygen that long. Who knew all you had to do was jostle someone with a little laser fire to rouse them from near-death...medical community, take note.

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