In “Search for the Starsword,” a volcanic eruption rocks Sagar, and monstrous Lavalocks -- fierce minions
of the Overlord – emerge to steal the Star Sword, interrupting a picnic between
Mara, Klone, Blackstar and the Trobbits in the process.
The Lavalocks attack
the Trobbits and get the sword, but Blackstar isn’t out of the game yet.
We learn a bit more
about the characters and world of Blackstar (1981) in this second
episode of the series.
For instance, John
Blackstar is categorized as a “rebel who
stands against the Overlord,” suggesting that the Overlord represents
established authority. The Overlord is
not merely a factional leader of outcast from society (as Skeletor might be
described on He-Man.) Rather, he is the Establishment; the real power on Sagar.
Another scene also
suggests this fact. We briefly see the
Overlord in a room surrounded by a menagerie of creepy life-forms or
aliens. These are his retainers, one
might conclude, and he is holding court.
We also learn that the
Overlord’s over-arching quest seems to be to unite the two pieces of the Star
Sword – Power and Star. If he does so,
we must assume he would become incredibly powerful.
We see, as well, in “Search
for the Star Sword” that one of Mara’s many powers involves “the power of prophecy,” to see what is
bound to happen. She is very reminiscent of Ariel on Thundarr: The Bararian (1980
– 1982).
This episode also finds
a lot of action for the Trobbits, and the little red-skinned, white haired
denizens of the planet. It is intriguing to realize that The Smurfs (1981-1989)
were introduced on Saturday morning the same year as were these little tree
hobbits, but that the Smurfs took off in the pop culture. Blue gnomes won out over red ones!
Next week: “The Lord of
Time.”
No comments:
Post a Comment