Lotor’s Plans: An Unlikely Theory
There’s no way this theory will end up being legitimate, but because Lotor’s proven time and time again that all of his actions have a purpose, even if the true purpose is masked, it seems like a theory worth considering. So, bear with me (despite the length).
Regarding Lotor’s plans, we only really know the basics. He’s seeking a method to enter the rift to obtain quintessence, likely for the good of the universe. Lotor is also ancient (and maybe possessed), so we can assume that he’s probably been working on this particular plan for centuries and revising it constantly to fit his circumstances.
At some point, however, Lotor would have realized that he couldn’t open the rift without material from the other reality, ie. the comet. He couldn’t obtain the trans-reality comet without Voltron, but if he could get his hands on Voltron, even for a short period of time, he wouldn’t necessarily need the comet.
So, Lotor ultimately needs Voltron for the success of his plan, but he doesn’t need to be the one to find the lions––Zarkon has already invested all of his time and resources in that project. Lotor just needs to patiently wait and prepare to form Voltron (and also plot out how he’ll double-cross his dad and steal the lions––an unfortunate inevitability).
Now, here the theory really begins. If you had to prepare to form Voltron, what would be the first step? To find pilots for each of the lions. And if you were Lotor and didn’t necessarily know that the lions were picky about their paladins and select them based on consistent personality traits, how would you reasonably assume paladins were chosen?
Furthermore, if you were the son of the original black paladin and felt confident in your ability to lead Voltron and realize your dreams, wouldn’t that reinforce your logic?
So, my unlikely theory is that Lotor selected each of his (ex-)generals not because they were female or because they were Galra half-breeds like himself, but because they were the descendants of the original paladins.
Sounds crazy? Let’s break it down: first, by appearance as an indicator of potential genetic match, and second, by overlapping personality features.
Red paladin: Alfor & Acxa
I highly doubt that Acxa is Alfor’s direct descendant, because Alfor doesn’t mess around with the ladies and Allura, obviously, never had any children. However, if Lotor believed that the Altean royal line had ended at his father’s hands, perhaps he decided that a distant offshoot would suffice. So, imagine that Axca is actually a descendant of (or is) Romelle (Allura’s cousin in DotU). This is a nice concept because it could lend a hand to explaining the weird archer Allura preview, and it doesn’t eliminate the possibility of Acxa and Keith being related. In fact, it makes it cooler, because it would also suggest that Keith and Allura are distant cousins.
Appearance-wise, look at Acxa next to Alfor. They have the exact same ear shape. They have similar bangs and jawlines. Even their posture is similar (and not just in these screenshots). Mix a little Galra into Alfor’s family line and Acxa is a totally reasonable outcome.
Personality-wise, Alfor was Zarkon’s right hand paladin and loyal friend, even when given great reason to doubt. Acxa was Lotor’s top general and his most loyal follower, even after he killed Narti. Both Alfor and Acxa are capable of acting independently, but prefer to follow a more qualified leader. Both of them are also capable “scientists” and are shown to have a good understanding of the power of the comet and the value/ risks of the other reality. Alfor and Acxa also act as the straight man stock character, at least in comparison to their teammates.
Green paladin: Trigel & Narti
Appearance-wise, Narti and Trigel have very similar mouth and nose shapes––in fact, their noses are identical and Narti’s mouth is just a scarier upgrade of Trigel’s. Beneath her hood Narti’s “hairline” of sorts creates a nearly identical widow’s peak to Trigel’s. They also share similar physical builds, and both lack eyebrows.
Personality-wise, Trigel, as the green lion, would have served as Zarkon’s “left hand,” and would have been third in the chain of command, after Alfor. Despite killing her in a moment of fear, Lotor uses Narti almost as often as Acxa and more visibly than his other two generals. He sends her on independent missions and selects her specifically to accompany him to Zarkon’s ship when he’s been called in, leaving Acxa in charge in his stead.
Blue paladin: Blaytz & Ezor
Appearance-wise, the “V” like facial marks on Ezor’s forehead mirror the shape of Blaytz’s, and they both have a form of antennae––the former’s is her one, long, ponytail-esque feature and the latter’s are his two swoopy, moth-like protrusions. Though their physical similarities seem to end here, we do see Blaytz flirting with a Galra servant in this very screencapped scene. If you take a second to consider the Galra’s appearance, you’ll notice that their ears are the exact same shape as Ezor’s. I ship Blaytz’s forbidden Galra love.
Personality-wise, both Blaytz and Ezor act as comic relief stock characters in roughly the same vein that Lance does, and they both push boundaries when it comes to interacting with others. Their personalities lend themselves to a flirtatious nature, and it seems they both enjoy toying with the emotions and reactions of other, though likely only to stroke their own egos.
Yellow paladin: Gyrgan & Zethrid
Appearance-wise, Gyrgan and Zethrid are extremely similar. Consider their physical stature as a starting point, but then look at their eyes. They have a glossier, rounder eye shape than most alien races we’ve seen. Furthermore, both of their facial marks consistently appear in symmetrical pairs and are focused around their eyes and cheeks. In fact, it seems they both have marks above their eyes in lieu of eyebrows.
Personality-wise, Gyrgan and Zethrid also act as comic relief stock characters, like the oft-unfairly depicted “Humorous Hunk.” Gyrgan has a blatant and absurd appetite for food and Zethrid has a blatant and absurd appetite for violence. Both of them also share a slightly wry sense of humor, and both are consistently genuine in the simplicity of their emotions. They also both stick to their beliefs––Gyrgan’s religion and Zethrid’s aggression.
So, I’m sure this theory sounds absurd at first, but just take a minute to mull it over. The original paladins in VLD all have obvious similarities to the modern paladins and intentionally so, but both groups of paladins share similarities with another group too––Lotor and his (ex-)generals––and understanding any one group helps us better understand the others.
Finally, I like this theory because it fits Lotor’s behavior, which often can’t be explained but is rarely happenstance. He’s gathered his potential paladins but he’s also helped them become great generals, so they serve a purpose either way. The discovery of and bonding with the lions by the new paladins would have definitely thrown a wrench in Lotor’s original plans, but we see him shift to manipulating the proper paladins almost immediately––if he can’t have Voltron, he’ll get the comet. His murder of Narti feels foolish if he needed her to pilot a lion, but less so when you consider that he’s already got (in theory), a way to enter the rift without Voltron. Plus, what does Lotor immediately do when his rift theories have been disproven and his team betrays him? He swoops in to win over Voltron, and returns to a version of his original plan.
What makes it all worse (assuming this theory is legit)? Lotor probably never told his generals who they were. He probably found them, in desperate need of guidance and purpose, and convinced them to aid him without fully revealing his intentions. His ex-generals probably still haven’t realized that they’re the descendants of the original defenders of the universe.
