ThunderCats (2011 series)/Tropes P-S

Tropes for ThunderCats (2011), P-S
"Wilykit: Why waste time picking out a key? Wilykat: When you ?"
 * Panthera Awesome: Lions and tigers and plenty of other big cats, oh my!
 * Parental Favoritism: Played with:
 * To Tygra, Lion-O is the favorite, due being a less able warrior, immature and irresponsible, yet getting every advantage due to bloodlines.
 * However, in Lion-O's eyes, Tygra is the favorite, being seen better than him at pretty much everything and more like the heir Claudus truly wanted.
 * Pendulum War: Battles between Cats and Lizards are usually shown with the odds heavily weighted in favor of one side, only for the tide to turn dramatically in favor of the other.
 * Perfect Pacifist People: Deconstructed with the Ro-Bear Berbils. A race of Cute Machines programmed as builders and helpers, their villagers are regularly abducted and enslaved by The Conquedor due to their inability to fight back. Panthro must train them to build a village defense system.
 * Pig Man: Encountered in the Swordsmans' Town, one a miserable failure at a sword contest, the other a crony of the Duelist.
 * Plant Aliens/Plant People: The Petalars
 * Please Spare Him, My Liege: Reconstructed when Lion-O doesn't so much plead for as demand the release of two stockaded Lizard prisoners whose lynching was narrowly avoided by Claudus' timely arrival. Though skeptical, Claudus takes Lion-O's Sudden Principled Stand as an illustration of Lion-O's leadership, and pardons the Lizards.(Besides, he still has plenty in the dungeons.)
 * Plot Tailored to the Party: Features in "Journey to the Tower of Omens". To whit,
 * Plunder:
 * The Lizards loot Thundera, and the Thunderkittens, in turn, help themselves to their takings to acquire new clothes.
 * Captain Tygus procures the Warstone for his Commander as spoils of war.
 * Pointy Ears: The Cats, many of whom have ear placement and shape that is more Elfin than purely animal.
 * Politically-Incorrect Villain: The Cats of Thundera. Alley Cats like beating and mugging hapless Dogs, and festival goers like yelling at beggar children and tormenting and lynching stockaded Lizards.
 * Portal Cut:
 * Powder Keg Crowd: At a festival, one of these merrily harasses and physically threatens a pair of stockaded Lizards, until Lion-O attempts to shame them out of doing so. Things go rapidly downhill from there.
 * Powered by a Forsaken Child:
 * The Sword of Plun-Darr and its gauntlet were forged by the blood of a star which
 * In a surprising twist,.
 * Power of Loyalty: How loyal the Cats are to Lion-O influences if their eyes flash when he calls them.
 * Power of Trust: Lion-O wins over in "Forest of Magi Oar" by trusting in the Sword of Omen's judgement and tosses away his weapons as  charges him.
 * Power Trio: Lion-O, Tygra, and Cheetara are the base trio of the Five-Man Band.
 * Praetorian Guard: Jaga's Clerics are referred to as the Guardians of the Crown.
 * Pragmatic Adaptation: The two-part "The Trials of Lion-O" adapts the original series' five-episode Anointment Trials arc, where Lion-O earns the right to lead the Thundercats by defeating each of them at what they're best at. Since the reboot's twenty-four episode order and Stern Chase plot don't allow for the other Cats to challenge him, Lion-O's trials are incorporated as Spirit Stone-induced Adventures in Coma Land where he's challenged by spirits in the forms of his friends,.
 * Produce Pelting:
 * In "Omens Part 1" Some boys do this to stockaded Lizards, only for Lion-O to shoo them away.
 * In "Song of the Petalars" the Thunderkittens do this to defeat Khamai's Invisibility Cloak.
 * The Promised Land: The Garden is the ancestral home of the Petalars, which they've been separated from for generations, ever since a great wind blew them into the Briar Woods. They travel in search of The Cliff of Winds, a location in the woods that will mark the way back to the Garden.
 * Prophecies Are Always Right: So far, Jaga's allusions to to prophecy in the Book of Omens have been correct. It's misremembering the past that gives the Cats trouble.
 * Prophecy Twist: Ahmet warns Lion-O that he will feel betrayed by his brother as the evening bell tolls. In the Astral Plane, Tygra almost but not quite betrays Lion-O, seemingly proving the vision wrong. Then, just as the evening bell tolls...
 * Protective Pressure: A tremendous amount is released when Grune forces open a door.
 * Proud Warrior Race: The Cats... much too proud.
 * Psychic Powers: The Sword of Omens grants its user the power of "Sight Beyond Sight," both general Clairvoyance and Precognition.
 * Punctuated! For! Emphasis!:
 * In "Omens Part 1" During Lion-O's Rite of Passage, Claudus delivers the bulk of his Lecture as Exposition with the bellowing emphasis of a Drill Sergeant Nasty.
 * "Thunder... THUNDER... THUNDERCATS, HOOOOOOO!!!"
 * Punctuated Pounding: "These bears *clang* are not *clang* your property!" (Cuts Conqedor's weapon in half)
 * Claudus continues his lecture while sparring with Lion-O.
 * Puppy Love: Invoked in-universe with Tygra's quasi-courtship of Cheetara when they first meet as children.
 * Put Down Your Gun and Step Away: In "Into the Astral Plane," Grune orders the Thundercats to drop their weapons, or his troops will open fire on their Elephant hostages.
 * Pyrrhic Victory: Leo's rebellion against his Commander freed the enslaved Animals, but at the cost of the loss of their homes and great loss of life.
 * The Quest: Find MacGuffins to facilitate Big Bad Mumm-Ra's defeat.
 * Ragnarok Proofing: If Lost Technology is so lost, why does it look so brand spanking new?
 * Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: Discussed. Panthro views the Thundercats as being this, and wonders how they got as far as they did without him.
 * Rain of Arrows: The Cats employ this tactic during The siege of Thundera.
 * Rape, Pillage and Burn: Mercifully confined to the latter two, this being a children's show, the Lizards are shown sacking Thundera's smouldering ruins.
 * Rapid Aging/We Are as Mayflies: Inverted:
 * Rearrange the Song: Though lyricless and heavily truncated, what remains of the Thundercats theme (including its Fanfare and Epic Riff) has been given a dramatic Orchestral Version, with an Ethereal Choir voicing.
 * Really Dead Montage:
 * "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Panthro delivers one to Grune in "Old Friends" that points out that Grune's treachery hasn't gotten him any closer to being king.
 * Recycled in Space: "Ramlak Rising" is Moby Dick... ON THIRD EARTH!
 * Recycled Title: Over 25 years later, its still just ThunderCats.
 * Red Oni, Blue Oni: In their better days, Grune is the deeply motivated, ambitious go-getter to Panthro's levelheaded, rational loyalist.
 * Red Sky, Take Warning: Red swirling clouds and lightning mark Mumm-Ra's Big Entrance as he gears up for his first attack.
 * Reimagining the Artifact: So, the enemies of the original Thundercats were called "Mutants." That's surprisingly demonizing, actually, since they look beastly too, moreso than the heroes. The whole thing smacks of some kind of Internalized Categorism or caste system, Fantastic Racism, even. Aren't they all just Animals? Well, yes. And so the worldbuilding begins...
 * Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Justified, while the Lizards are violent and aggressive, they're responding to generations of marginalization, oppression and enslavement fueled by the Cats' Fantastic Racism.
 * La Résistance: The Cats turned on their former commander
 * The Reveal:
 * Nobody can say they were not at least a little impressed by Mumm-Ra's entrance(s).
 * The legitimately surprising Meta Twist
 * The Thundercats and Mumm-Ra had an ancient connection that led to their current rivalry. The twist?
 * Ridiculously Cute Critter:
 * The little Petalars
 * The Robear-Berbils, which Panthro explicitly notes as a reason to distrust them.
 * Baby Tygra. Sweet mother of cute, Baby Tygra.
 * Riding Into the Sunset: The Drifter gets to do this, finally becoming his archetype as he sets off to travel from place to place
 * Ring Out: In Thundera's Fictional Sport Gladiator Games, it serves as a Visual Pun, as the tree that serves as the arena is surrounded by water... fairly humiliating, for a Cat.
 * In "The Trials of Lion-O Part 2," Lion-O has to
 * Rite of Passage:
 * Lion-O "fails" his test of kingship when he hides the fact that he's seen a vision in the Sword of Omens.
 * The Petalars have one where they gather and sing when one of their number is born, or dies.
 * Roar Before Beating:
 * A lion's roar concludes the Theme Tune.
 * Lion-O and Claudus tend to do this when angered, regardless of whether or not they manage to beat their attackers.
 * Roaring Rampage of Rescue: Claudus elects to Ditch the Bodyguards to pursue Grune into The Thunderdome, where he holds a hostage
 * Robo Speak: As before, the Berbils.
 * Rock Beats Laser: Oh my, no... Magic does considerably better than medieval weapons mind, but that just doesn't cut it against the full extent of the Lizards' Lost Technology Superweapon Surprise.
 * Rocket Punch: The Berbil-upgraded Thundertank is armed with a pair.
 * Roof Hopping: Or rather, tree hopping, which Cats do for sport (to a fantastic degree) in Thundera's Gladiator Games.
 * Room Full of Crazy: Downplayed. Lion-O covers the walls of his room with diagrams of his Black Box acquisitions, much to Tygra's irritation.
 * Rousing Speech:
 * In "Omens Part 2" Claudus performs one to psych up his troops during The Siege.
 * In "Song of the Petalars" Lion-O performs one for the Thundercats when he's decided to face down the entire Lizard army.
 * Rubber Forehead Aliens: A few are scattered among the crowds of Humanoid Aliens and Petting Zoo People in the Swordsmans' Town, the most notable being the Duelist.
 * Rummage Fail: Artful Dodger Wilykat has to try a few times before fishing coins out of a Lower Class Lout's pocket, "Ewww, what does he keep in here?"
 * Run or Die:
 * In "Omens Part 2" this prompts the Thundercats' escape from The Siege of Thundera, as Mumm-Ra, Grune and the Lizards' Lost Technology-fueled military might is too much for the city to withstand, much less a few protagonists.
 * In "Song of the Petalars" Lion-O first wisely elects to retreat from the pursuing Lizard army, only to later confront them head on in a grief-fueled fit of Honor Before Reason.
 * Running on All Fours: Cat competitors run up a tree this way in Thundera's Gladiator Games.
 * Samurai: The Wood Forgers.
 * Sand Is Water: The Sand Sea in "Ramlak Rising," a literal sand ocean with waves, storms, sea monsters and pirate ships, that has islands of water. Landlubbers are screwed either way.
 * Scenery Gorn: "Ramlak Rising"'s opening scene, a leisurely look at the ruins of Thundera.
 * Scenery Porn: Lots of it! Detailed (and spoiled) here.
 * Schematized Prop:
 * Seen in the show's model sheets here, for example.
 * In-universe, Lion-O actually makes an effort to diagram the Black Box he purchased from his Friend in the Black Market.
 * Schizo-Tech: Once technology's reality is established, it's a total free-for-all based on Rule of Cool. Standard Ray Guns? Got 'em. Flying Steampunk pirate ships? Fair game. Futuristic Pyramids with Tron Lines? Fits right in.
 * Schmuck Bait:
 * "Ramlak Rising" The Thundercats find food. Just floating on the surface of the Sand Sea. They're really hungry.
 * "Journey To the Tower of Omens" The Thunderkittens see gold in a Temple of Doom!
 * Screw This, I'm Outta Here: The Lizard army has so little loyalty to Mumm-Ra -- not that he deserves any since he doesn't care one bit for them -- that squads are all too willing to accept Lion-O's offer of co-existence and abandon Mumm-Ra to go back to their homes.
 * Secret Test of Character: Turns out
 * See the Invisible: In "Song of the Petalars," Khamai's Invisibility Cloak is thwarted by the Thunderkittens' Produce Pelting.
 * Shades of Conflict: White and Grey vs. Grey and Black. Well-intentioned Thundercats Lion-O, Cheetara and Jaga work with grey-shaded pickpockets the Thunderkittens, hardened cynic Panthro, and Noble Bigots Claudus and Tygra; and all come from a classist, racist culture. Evil Overlord Mumm-Ra has Selfish Evil Dragon Grune, while the Lizard army is reacting to generations of the Cats' oppression, and its General Slithe has internalized the Cycle of Revenge.
 * Shaming the Mob: Inverted. Lion-O attempts this with a Powder Keg Crowd harassing stockaded Lizard scavengers, but his assertion that "they don't deserve this" is interpreted as a call for a Vigilante Execution, creating an Angry Mob. Lion-O's left with no choice but to demand they Go Through Me.
 * Shining City: Thundera, in the Epic Tracking Shot and the subsequent Establishing Shot... until the downward Tilt reveals the slums below.
 * Ship Tease: Lion-O has had several with Cheetara, but now there's the matter of Tygra's attraction...
 * As of her second episode  And the episodes following it throw in a lovely dose of Belligerent Sexual Tension, culminating in   in "Recipe for Disaster."
 * Shoo Out the Clowns: In the "Curse of Ratilla" which dealt with slavery and many deaths of the slaves, Kit and Kat were not to be found.
 * Shoot the Rope: Tygra uses his new Ray Gun to shoot the wrappings binding Jaga.
 * Short Run in Peru: Ireland began airing new episodes while the series was still on hiatus in America.
 * Shoulders of Doom: All Clerics wear huge, white, rounded pauldrons on their All Encompassing Mantles.
 * Shout-Out:
 * When Wilykit and Kat eat dinner they loudly munch "OM NOM NOM NOM!"
 * The Thundertank looks an awful lot like the Batmobile.
 * Tygra kicks Lion-O into a seemingly bottomless well.
 * Mumm-Ra's Electric Torture of Lion-O is straight out of Return of the Jedi.
 * Tygus is wearing a Dragon Ball-style scouter.
 * Leo's mane heavily resembles the hairstyle of one Asch the Bloody.
 * A suit of armor appears that strongly resembles the gold cloth of lion of Saint Seiya
 * The sword competition Lion-O participates in is suspiciously like the Trial By Stone
 * "Come on beast! For Hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee!"
 * Per Word of God, Mumm-Ra's gauntlet is a nod to the Infinity Gauntlet.
 * The motorcycles in "Sight Beyond Sight" look suspiciously similar to the original Tron lightcycles.
 * The magic words to use the forever bag seem to be Rankin-Bass.
 * In "Recipe for Disaster", when fighting Mumm-Ra's giant dragon beast, Lion-O does the classic somersault animation sequence showcased at the end of the 1980s intro.
 * In "Recipe for Disaster" Mumm-Ra manages to transform himself into a giant energy blasting lizard that is defeated by a giant benevolent butterfly with magic wings.
 * In "Recipe for Disaster" Mumm-Ra uses the bones of a Sycorax, an ancient powerful being. Is the creature a beast of another powerful magic user or another alien entity? Knowing the crew in charge it's entirely possible that it's both.
 * In "The Soul Sever", Tygra's robotic body looks suspiciously like a certain Autobot leader.
 * In the same episode Soul Sever himself is trying to revive his dead family's souls in mechanical bodies like his, this is all fine and dandy until you realize he's voiced by Jeffrey Combs.
 * Shrine to the Fallen: During Grune's homecoming festival, Panthro's painted portrait and a stand holding his nunchucks receive a place of honor at the royal family's banquet table in their amphitheatre.
 * Wilykit and Wilykat's father gets a portrait drawn by his children hung up in the family home after his death.
 * Sibling Rivalry: Lion-O suffered from cultural ostracism and is jealous of the success and favoritism adoptive older brother Tygra enjoyed both with their people and their father. Tygra sees Lion-O as a Cloudcuckoolander and Just a Kid and resents Lion-O's right of succession by bloodline. Then there's the fact that they both like the same woman...
 * Sibling Team: There are two sets in the series: brothers Lion-O and Tygra and the twins Wilykit and Wilykat.
 * Sibling Triangle: About the only interest Lion-O and Tygra share is their attraction to Cheetara. Foreshadowing implies that Tygra may betray him because of it.
 * The Siege: In "Omens Part 2" Slithe and the Lizards launch a devastating attack against Thundera, breaking out multiple Forgotten Superweapon Surprises as a Higher-Tech Species with a Turncoat Grune and The Dreaded Mumm-Ra bolstering their ranks and spearheading the final stages. It's a Curb Stomp Battle. Thundera doesn't even stand a chance.
 * Simple Staff: The Clerics' main weapon. (with the exeption of head cleric Jaga's crosier)
 * Slave Collar: Present on the chain gang of Lizard slaves forced to haul Grune and his giant geode since he's Too Important to Walk.
 * Slave Liberation:
 * In "Omens Part 1," Lion-O successfully pulls a Please Spare Him, My Liege, securing the release of two Lizard scavengers.
 * In "Legacy," La Résistance
 * In "The Curse of Ratilla," the heroes go after Ratar-O's mining operation to free his Thunderan prisoners.
 * Slave Race:
 * In "Omens Part 1" any Lizard scavengers caught by the Cats are taken as prisoners of war and Made a Slave. Dozens of these arrive chained and hauling Grune and his geode. No one sees anything wrong with this.
 * In "Legacy" which reveals the historical context of Mumm-Ra's vendetta against the Cats, we see Mumm-Ra has
 * Sleep Cute: Tygra and Cheetara in "Berbils", much to Lion-O's annoyance.
 * Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism: The Cats run the gamut between Beast Folk and Petting Zoo People. This relative variance is itself the basis of their Fantastic Caste System, with tailless Beast Folk as nobles. Most other races on Third Earth are Petting Zoo People or lower, which also serves as a pretext for the Cats' Fantastic Racism.
 * Slow Motion Fall: After his stabbing, Claudus falls from the top of the The Thunderdome's tree into the water below.
 * Small Secluded World: Thundera, thanks to its cultural dominance, insular nature and Wall Around the World.
 * Smooch of Victory: Cheetara's First Kiss, is this, a thank you and reward for his help as well as a Relationship Upgrade.
 * In "Recipe for Disaster," Lion-O gets one of these courtesy of.
 * Soft Water: The water surrounding the tree in Thundera's amphitheatre is a very long drop from the tree's apex, yet the fall itself doesn't kill any competitors or Claudus.
 * Soiled City on a Hill: Thundera, corrupted by the Cats' own bigotry and Pride, and destroyed by the Lizards in retaliation for generations of oppression.
 * Someday This Will Come in Handy: Discussed. After discovering the purpose and interface of his Black Box, Lion-O reflects that the effort he put in and all he's gone through for the sake of his Chekhov's Hobby "is finally going to pay off."
 * Soul Jar: Afterwards,
 * Space Amish: Deconstructed. The Cats fancy themselves the keepers of a "fragile peace" in a "world of warring Animals" but their lack of technology utterly undoes them.
 * Space Elves: The Cats: Type 1: Elves in Space.
 * Space Romans: The Cats wear no togas, but they are a Proud Warrior Race that has lavish Blood Sport spectacles and extravagant feasts in a huge amphitheatre and take conquered races as slaves. And of course, they do love themselves some Lions... Everyone's armor even has a six-pack like the articulated armor of Roman Legionnaires.
 * Speed Blitz: A tactic of the Clerics, who have the gift of Super Speed.
 * The Sphinx: Part of Thundera's Bright, Big Fancy Castle, wearing a huge red cabochon Chest Insignia. It's decapitated after The Siege.
 * Spikes of Doom: In a Temple of Doom, they sit below a narrow walkway that ends in a Lock and Key Puzzle with hundreds of keys suspended from the ceiling. If the wrong key is used...
 * Spotlight-Stealing Squad: Lion-O has received the lion's share of Character Development so far.
 * Sssssnaketalk: Present with the Lizards, but comparatively underplayed. They stress their sibilants (the "s" sounds), but don't heavily prolong them.
 * Stab the Sky: Done during Lion-O's Battle Cry.
 * Stairwell Chase: In "Journey to the Tower of Omens" the Cats and Mumm-Ra race to the tower's top to get the Book of Omens.
 * Starfish Aliens: In "Journey To the Tower of Omens"
 * Staring Through the Sword: The method by which Lion-O receives his vision from the Sword of Omens.
 * Starts with Their Funeral: "Ramlak Rising" opens with Claudus Viking Funeral.
 * Stating the Simple Solution: Lock and Key Puzzle with hundreds of keys in a Temple of Doom? "Leave this to the masters!"
 * Starts with Their Funeral: "Ramlak Rising" opens with Claudus Viking Funeral.
 * Stating the Simple Solution: Lock and Key Puzzle with hundreds of keys in a Temple of Doom? "Leave this to the masters!"


 * Stern Chase: The Thundercats are always pursued to some degree, but the Lizards are hot on their heels in "Song of the Petalars," prompting Lion-O to order his followers to flee into the Briar Woods.
 * : What Lion-O's Black Box turns out to be, a real Grail in the Garbage, which he uses to save Claudus and Tygra during The Siege.
 * Stock Footage: During The Siege of Thundera, the same "arrows fly, Lizards shot at, Lizards run" sequence was used at least twice, quite close together, which is particularly jarring. The Internal Homage to "Thundercats HO!" has already been reused, even in an area with no cliff.
 * Mostly averted with Mumm-Ra's Transformation Sequence, however: as of May 12, 2012, Mumm-Ra has transformed four times on-screen, and three different sequences have been used.
 * Stock Punishment: Played for Drama. Two Lizard scavengers are stuck in stockades, and they don't just suffer Produce Pelting from those who have Come to Gawk, but physical threats by a Powder Keg Crowd, who rapidly get out the Torches and Pitchforks and demand a Vigilante Execution.
 * Stock Scream: One of the sailors in "Ramlak Rising" does a Wilhelm scream when dragged overboard by the Ramlak.
 * Stock Sound Effects:
 * The Berbils make little squeaky toy sounds when they bounce.
 * Eating Candyfruit causes Wilykit and Kat to go hyperactive with a little video game power-up sound.
 * Sudden Principled Stand: Lion-O makes one when he tries Shaming the Mob harassing the stockaded Lizards and demands his father Please Spare Him, My Liege. It pays off when his father grants them pardons, though his people brand him a Category Traitor and a Zombie Advocate, and his father considers him an Unwitting Instigator of Doom when the Lizards invade the next day.
 * Sugar Bowl: The Ro-Bear Berbil tribe initially seem to live in one, complete with color-saturated pastoral scenery and ultra-cute inhabitants. Then the slavers turn up...
 * Superweapon Surprise: Bigger Brothers subtype. The Lizards, a newly Higher-Tech Species, have Lost Technology galore and conceal their benefactors, Turncoat General Grune and Mumm-Ra, The Dreaded ancient enemy of the Thundercats, within their ranks to spearhead the final stages of The Siege of Thundera.
 * Suspiciously Similar Song: Kevin Kliesch has been pretty upfront about getting inspiration for the shows soundtrack from Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. The lullaby Wilykit plays on her flute in particular is inspired from a piece in Return of the Jedi.
 * Swirling Dust: The first indicator of the Clerics' Super Speed Dynamic Entry.
 * Sword Almighty: Even given the prevalence of Lost Technology, the Sword of Omens is a legendary weapon.
 * Sword Beam: The Sword of Omens can shoot an energy bolt for its chosen wielder, by pointing it at the intended target and screaming "Hooo!"
 * Sword Fight: Several, naturally.
 * In "Omens Part One" King Claudus has a sword fight with Lion-O to show off the Sword of Omens' power.
 * In "Legacy", Leo has a sword fight against his commander, both using their respective Cool Swords.
 * In "The Duelist and the Drifter" there are multiple fights against Master Swordsman The Duelist.
 * In "Between Brothers" Lion-O and Tygra have a sword fight both using the Sword of Omens, one the real version, one created in the astral plane.
 * Sword Sparks: Frequent, lightning-like arcing and sparking when the Sword of Omens strikes a target.
 * Sympathy for the Devil: Lion-O finds himself affected by a Lizard prisoner's Screw You, Elves speech, enough to make a Sudden Principled Stand, and try Shaming the Mob harassing them, successfully arguing with his father for their pardon and release.