I know Season 6 did a number on all of us, what with announcing that Shiro had, in fact, died in Season 2. I don’t think any of us expected it to end that way. But as a result I’ve seen a lot of posts that are outright dismissing Keith’s ascension to the position as leader of the team and the pilot of the Black Lion, that it was all Shiro’s doing from inside the lion.
Thing is, the show writers done a good job of pointing out to us that he is, in fact, leader material. Even in the first few episodes it’s apparent. Even at the reception on Arus, when Allura is speaking about the team she is looking in his direction. He speaks out when others dare not. And he takes the lead when things get hairy.
In fact, going back further we are aware that he is the one who has tracked down the location of the Blue Lion, save Shiro from the crash site, and he is the first to approach it when they fall into the collapsed cave.
When the team is assigned their lions more emphasis is placed on his than any others. The Red Lion is the right hand of Voltron, and important position. Theoretically it is given to the person who is “next up” as leader of the team.
We know that Shiro also wanted Keith to become the leader should the need arise. He reiterated this twice. This wasn’t just for Keith’s sake but also the audience’s. Foreshadowing is big in VLD and this is no exception.
We even have a sneak preview of Keith flying Black. He was able to fly a lion that had been severely damaged and grounded. Yes, it was to save Shiro. But as we’ve seen in previous episodes, lions are capable of saving their paladins independently. Black hadn’t awoken when Shiro was in dire straits.
Now we know he had some bumps in the road during the transition in Season 3, but we also see him pull through and work well with the team. It’s only the return of Shiro that puts him back in an uncomfortable position of being in his best friend’s seat.
However, we see his triumphant return in Season 6. Even though he’s been away for two years, he’s able to jump right back into the key position and fight Lotor’s ships effectively. When they open a wormhole to escape he executes an action that propels him into the hole before it closes.
Later– far from the team– it seems he won’t be able to get back to them in time to assist with the battle, yet the lion helps him unlock the ability to teleport to save them. We see Black face off with Lotor, whereas previously it faced off with Zarkon. That’s another hint of how the torch has been passed.
Back in episode 2 we see Shiro learning to “see” through Blacks’ eyes, which in itself is impressive. His eyes glow yellow to match the lion’s. Both are fueled by quintessence, which we’ve seen exists throughout the universe in every living thing.
But when his spirit is removed from the Black Lion it takes on a purple essence, as in the color of the astral plane.
Now when Keith is trying desperately to reach his teammates his hands glow purple, which means he’s either “borrowing” from Shiro, or it’s energy that he himself brought back from the other dimension. But let’s keep in mind that Shiro had trouble simply manifesting himself to Keith, so any energy he provided would be minimal. So while it might be a visual cue that Shiro is with him, it in no way indicates that Shiro himself is the reason the lion has this new capability.
We also see Keith’s face overlap the lions. In the past it had been a half and half shot, which indicates two separate halves of a whole. But by superimposing one over the other it gives the indication of two wholes as one. This would seem to hint at a complete connection, mind and soul.
Keith is the one shown piloting Black with every ounce of energy he has. He pushes it, and himself, as hard as is possible.
The other major point is that his eyes glow blue. When the comet that Voltron was made from lands we also see that same blue glow. So whatever the “magic” is that makes the giant robot tick is in Keith somehow. (*ahem* Altean Keith)
Much was made about Allura using Alchemy to remove Shiro’s essence from Black and put it in Kuron’s body. When she does so we see the purple light move through the ship into her body. But when she turns around her eyes are glowing blue, same as Keith’s. That is because of the power that she is using, the ancient Altean science.
We see that same knowledge transfer over to Voltron. After Keith’s return he recognizes that the ship can do more than they ever imagined– might I add these scenes were a great throwback to Defenders of the Universe! And those new capabilities all glowing a bright blue, not yellow as one would expect from quintessence. Keith and Allura together have made Voltron nearly unstoppable.
But, perhaps most importantly, is this scene. Since Shiro’s been back he hasn’t used his bayard, always relying on his Galra hand. Granted “real Shiro” never had possession of it longer than a few minutes, but Kuron could have used it had he so chosen.
During the fight between Keith and Shiro, Keith’s blade is locked by a sword formed by the Galra arm, not the bayard. However, once Keith hears that his teammates may have been killed the bayard forms in his hand. This is huge considering it was still in Shiro’s possession at that time.
Hopefully people reading this understand that this is in no way a knock on Shiro. I simply felt compelled to make this because I’m tired of Keith being kicked around by the fanbase then accused of being given preferential treatment. If you disagree that’s to be expected. Go make your own post. Do not add your hate to this one.
Let the boy have his destiny.
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