#drules

[nesonkin]

[voltronfandomhag]

What would you say are biggest differences between the Galra in GoLion and how they were written in Voltron? I know a lot of violence as edited out, like slaves getting ripped apart and stuff.

Yeah, GoLion’s Galra are way more brutal than their DoTU counterparts, the Drules. It’s not just a matter of editing out gore and violence either. In DoTU the brand of evil committed by the Doomites/Drules is more generic and vague, I guess? They invade worlds, enslave people…all that bad stuff. GoLion goes into a lot more gruesome detail about the horrors the Galra commit.

For example, let’s take a look at how the Galra treat slaves vs the Drule. Drules are cruel to their slaves, they whip them, force them to do hard labor, and have them fight robeasts in the arena. However, GoLion goes into much more detail. For example, the Galra butcher weak and sickly slaves into feed for Deathblack Beastmen (robeasts).

Again, in both Voltron and GoLion, the Drule and Galra force slaves to fight in the area against robeast/beastmen. However, there’s more going on here in GoLion. Slaves that are killed become beastman chow. However, slaves who survive in the arena are eventually transformed into Deathblack Beastmen themselves. I have to wonder if this inspired the plotline in VLD about Haggar modifying Shiro to make him a weapon of the Galra.

There’s also a lot of vampire and demon imagery associated with the Galra. Pretty much the only remnants of this in Voltron are all the horned skulls decorating Drule buildings and ships. But again, this is all much more explicit in GoLion. For example, the Voltron episode “Zarkon is Dying”, Zarkon has fallen deathly ill and the only thing that can save him is the juice from a berry that only grows on Arus/Altea. In the GoLion version of the episode, the cure for Daibazaals illness is the fresh blood of young human women.

Sincline (Lotor) also wants to drink Fala’s (Allura’s) blood.

Not only that, the Galra are quite fond of human flesh. In “The Mystery of the Ghost Castle” Honerva (Haggar) captures the GoLion pilots alive so she can cook them into human stew for Daibazaal.

This vampire imagery made into VLD with the Galra consuming quintessence, though it’s far less blatant.

There’s also a lot of imagery and dialogue that connects the Galra to hell and devils, something that was largely erased in DoTU. Like Sincline is referred to as the crown prince of hell. Honerva repeated talks about sending people to hell or guiding people to hell when she has killed, or is about to kill, someone.

But, yeah, that’s my take on the difference between the Galra and the Lion Voltron Drule. The Galra brand of evil is more specific and brutal and is intertwined with vampire and demon imagery.

[voltronfandomhag]

Drule Character Bios

I’ve discussed the Drules as a people  on this blog before but haven’t talk about the individual characters very much besides Hazar and Dorma. Therefore I’ve written some brief biographies about some of the Drules in the Vehicle Voltron season of Voltron: Defender of the Universe. Keep in mind this is not a complete list of all the Drule characters. There are A LOT of them, so I’ve narrowed it down to the ones who either played a major role in the series or who I personally found memorable. I might add more characters to this list later but for now I think I’ve covered most of the notable Drules.

Name: Emperor Zeppo

Dairugger Name: Emperor Corsair

About:  A greedy, power hungry schemer. He manages to avoid capture by promising Hazar he’ll give up his war making ways if the rebels let him go. However, upon escape he makes for planet Dema where he’s secretly building up a new army to resume his conquests.

Episode to shine: Zeppo’s role isn’t nearly as large as you’d think. He doesn’t get much screen time until late in the series.

Name: Grand Viceroy Throk

Dairugger Name: Supreme Commander Al Caponero

About: Throk is one of the most power hungry, prideful, and outspoken members of the Supreme Council. He’s vocally opposed any sort of cooperation with the Galaxy Alliance, seeing them as invaders out to steal planets that rightly belong to the Drule Empire. Not only that, but sees making peace with the Alliance as an insult to the Drule’s honor, something he ties strongly to their military might and conquests, and pride. He absolutely hates Hazar for his attempts at peacemaking and, it’s implied, is jealous of Hazar’s power. At one point Throk imprisons Hazar in his palace.

At the end of Vehicle Voltron he and a few other members of the council flee planet Drule and presumably joins Emperor Zeppo on planet Dema.

Episode to shine: Plays a major role in many episodes, but if I had to pick one I’d go with “It’s Anybody’s World.”

Name: Commander Hazar

Dairugger Name: Commander Socrat Teles

About: Is one of the highest ranking officers in the Drule chain of command at the start of the series. While he original hates the Alliance and wants the Drule Empire to dominate the galaxy, he gradually realizes the war is only further endangering his people by wasting time and resources. When he starts reaching to the Alliance in hopes making peace, the Drule command turns against him, leading to his exile and eventual imprisonment. At the end of Vehicle Voltron he leads the rebels in overthrowing Emperor Zeppo.

Episodes to shine: Plays a major role in most episodes.

Name: Captain Twila

Dairugger name: Captain Emma

About: Captain Twila is one of the Drule’s top scientist and the only female Drule officer in the series. She is stubborn, prideful, loyal, and determined to prove her worth as a military officer by any means necessary. At one point she’s injured and taken aboard the S.S. Explorer for treatment. Commander Hawkins attempts convince her to join him and help bring peace between the Alliance and Drules, but Twila doesn’t buy it. She escapes and, more determined than ever to prove her worth, almost gets herself killed trying to destroy Voltron and the Explorer.

Episode to shine: “This World’s For the Birds”

Name: Dorma

Dairugger Name: Sirk

About: A brave and passionate woman dedicated to liberating her people from the rule of the Supreme Council and bringing peace between the Drules and the Alliance. She also deeply loves and admires her brother Hazar. She was once a member of the Supreme Council but, unfortunately, the we never learn why she left the council. After repeatedly trying to convince Hazar to led a rebellion against the Empire to no avail, she ends up joining the Underground Rebel Forces (URF) herself.

Episode to shine: “Color Me Invisible”

Name: Chancellor Mozak

Dairugger Name: Home Secretary Socrat Tes

About: Mozak is Hazar and Dorma’s loving father. Wise, humble, and trustworthy, he’s also one of the very few Supreme Council members not blinded by paranoia or a lust for power. Because of this he’s ignored and undermined by his follow council members. Late in the series Dorma convinces him to assist the URF by pleading their case to the council.

Episode to shine: “Hazar is Demoted”

Name: Marshall Keezor

Dairugger Name: Commander Al Luciano

About: A scheming, nasty, underhanded weasel of a man with an annoying nasally voice. He’s a high ranking member of the Supreme Council and a continual  thorn in the side of both Hazar and the Galaxy Alliance. He’s also notable for his brief but significant role in the first Lion Voltron season where he orchestrates the coup to overthrow Zarkon and place Lotor on the throne of planet Doom.

Episode to shine: “A Man Made Sun”

Name: Captain Mongo

Dairugger Name: Captain Drake

About: Honorable, proud, and dependable, Mongo is one of the first Drules to open up to the idea of peace with the Alliance. He’s also Hazar’s best friend and remains loyal to him even after most of the Drule leadership turns against him. About mid-way through the series he goes into self-imposed exile after losing to the Alliance forces.

Episode to shine: “Hazar on the Carpet”

Name: Captain Nerok

Dairugger Name: Captain Lafitte

About: One of the most underhanded, nasty, deadly, and destructive Drule officers. He’s a backstabbing sycophant who’ll do just about anything for power. Seriously, no blow is too low for this guy. His only loyalty is to himself.

Episode to shine: “Nerok Scores Big”

Name: Bakki

Dairugger Name: Bakke

About: Bakki is the leader of the Underground Rebel Forces, which seeks to overthrow Emperor Zeppo and the Supreme Council. He’s deeply concerned for the happiness and well-being for his people, which is his driving motivation. Late in the series he convinces Dorma to join the URF and helps break Hazar out of prison.

Episode to shine: “Color Me Invisible”

Name: Captain Brack

Dairugger Name: Captain Barataria

About: Another paranoid and ambitious Drule officer who believes the Galaxy Alliance is a rival empire out to conquer the universe. He views himself as a patriot and at one point leads an unsuccessful mutiny against Hazar. His fate after the failed revolt is unclear.

Episode to shine: “Who’s On First”

Name: Sandu

Dairugger Name: Sim

About: Trained to be soldier since he was a child, Sandu is a young but loyal subject of the Drule Empire. However, after being injured and taken aboard the Explorer for treatment, Commander Hawkins convinces him the Alliance only desires peace. He could have served as a bridge between the two sides if the Drule command hadn’t labeled him a traitor.

Episode to shine: Only appeared in one episode: “A Temporary Truce”

Name: Lieutenant Antor

Dairugger Name: Captain Antonov

About: A young officer who was in charge of a major Drule supply base until it was captured by the Alliance. He warms up to the Alliance thanks to the kind treatment his men receive after being taken prisoner and their subsequent abandonment by the Drule command.

Episode to shine: Only appears in “That’s the Old Ball Game”

[voltronfandomhag]

Can you tell me anything else about Doomite culture? The Doomite royal family? PLEASE!

Sadly, there’s not a whole lot else to know that I haven’t already stated in previous posts. But I’ll try. Some of this leans into speculation territory, though.

For one, the concept of “might makes right” appears to be central to Doomite culture. There’s one episode where Lotor invokes “Right of Might” on Zarkon, which is the right of the royal heir to challenge the current ruler to a duel to the death for the throne.  There’s also an episode where Romelle tells Lotor he has no right to destroy Arus, only for him say that his power gives him the right to do so.

Zarkon mentions dark gods, implying Doomite religion is polytheistic. Haggar draws at least some of her magical power from entities she refers to as the Dark Spirits (which, according to her, rule the netherworld). However, these Dark Spirits might not be part of the Doomite pantheon, given how neither Lotor or Zarkon take her talk of them particularly seriously.

As for the Doomite royal family…uh..

Well, Lotor does mention have nephews. Since Zarkon states Lotor is his only son, maybe Lotor has a sister somewhere? 

But, yeah, WEP wasn’t big on world building. They did try creating some lore in the American produced season, but most of that centered around Arus or the wider galaxy.

[voltronfandomhag]

The Coup

I’ve mentioned in previous posts how the Drule Supreme Council from the Vehicle Voltron series backed a coup to overthrow Zarkon and place Lotor on the throne of Planet Doom. These events take place in the episode “Zarkon Becomes a Robeast.” The episode begins with Zarkon ordering Lotor’s imprisonment, stating that their laws demand all those who lose in battle be punished. Haggar points that the many worlds Lotor conquered might revolt if their conqueror is simply thrown in prison, so she suggests inviting the leaders of said worlds to the prince’s court marshal so they can see how fair Zarkon is and swear allegiance to him. And with that Lotor is locked up while Zarkon heads to Arus to conquer it personally.

The Supreme Council is shocked by the news of Lotor’s imprisonment and, at first, many members wonder if it’s true. Marshal Keezor, one of the highest ranking members of the council, arrives to confirm this turn of events.

Keezor: “Yes it’s true that King Zarkon has removed Prince Lotor from command of his forces and placed him prison. And it may be for the best. Lotor has failed time after time to capture minor planets and bring them into the Drule Empire. Now Zarkon is taking over and if he can do no better, it may be time to dispose of him as well.”

So it seems Keezor isn’t exactly a fan of either Zarkon or Lotor. However, after Zarkon is defeated by Voltron, he changes his mind about Lotor and it’s by his command Lotor is freed. 

Captain Nerok: “I’m afraid I bring you very bad news from Planet Doom.”

Keezor: “Bah! Nerok, when have we ever had good news from that planet?!”

Nerok: “Zarkon has lost.” Keezor: “I feared as much. And he tried to blame his son, Prince Lotor, on all their miserable failures.”

Nerok: “Huh?”

Keezor: “Well, Zarkon has had his chance and I now believe it’s because of him Lotor didn’t do better. Well, we’ll correct that. Have our agents on Planet Doom secure Lotor’s release. And when Zarkon returns, tell Lotor he must punish him in any manner that may amuse him.”

Mogor, the Doomite fleet commander, busts Lotor out of the slammer. When Zarkon returns to Doom, Lotor has him arrested and orders Haggar to craft a robeast fit for an ex-king.

The GoLion version of this episode “The Great Storming of Galra” doesn’t have this extra political intrigue. Daibazaal (Zarkon) orders Sincline’s (Lotor’s) execution. However, Honerva (Haggar) points out Sincline’s followers might revolt, so she suggests inviting the leaders of the worlds Sincline conquered to personally witness his execution, believing this will keep them in line. Daibazaal finds this suggestion very amusing and has Sincline locked up. While Daibazaal is away on Altea (Arus), Sincline’s followers free him.

I wanted to go into a bit more detail about this because it illustrates how much more how influential the footage taken from Dairugger was on the Lion Voltron series than the other way around. In Vehicle Voltron they make the occasional reference to places and characters from the Lion Voltron series, but that’s the extent of it. The may be because localizing GoLion was, really, something of an afterthought while Dairugger was what originally caught WEP’s eye.

[voltronfandomhag]

Oldtron People and Places: The Drules

The Drules are Voltron: Defender of the Universe’s equivalent of VLD’s Galra. However, as with many of aspects of DoTU, the original version of the Galra/Drules are very different from what current Voltron fans are familiar with. One of the greatest differences is, unlike the Galra Empire, the Galra/Drule Empire is not ruled by Zarkon, but rather is composed of nine vassal kingdoms, including  Zarkon’s, who ultimately answer to Emperor Zeppo and the Supreme Drule Council. They also aren’t a single unified race or culture. But the differences run deeper than that. How do the Drules depicted in Lion Voltron compare to those in Vehicle Voltron? What was the relationship between them like? What were the politics of the empire like? What problems did they face? To answer these questions, I’ll start by discussing Drules from Vehicle Voltron then move on to the ones in Lion Voltron.

Vehicle Voltron Drules

Appearance:

These Drules are a violet skinned race of people with blood red eyes and round, human-like ears. White is the most common hair color, but blonde, brown, blue, green, and red are also possible. Males don’t have eyebrows.

Homeworld:

The Drules in Vehicle Voltron hail from Planet Drule, the seat of the empire and the cradle of the Drule race. It is also dying. The surface is abandoned due to the effects of a transient sun, leaving behind only rusting cities. The population of this once beautiful planet now lives in vast underground cities. While the Drule elite enjoy comfortable existences, many of the common people live in squalor with starvation a serious threat as food supplies run low. Chancellor Mozak explains the situation to his son, Hazar, in the clip below:

Even worse, the planet’s core itself is unstable, plaguing the poor planet with earthquakes. It’s only a matter of time before the entire planet collapses completely. For this reason the Drules desperately seek an uninhabited planet to make their new home. At end of the series the Galaxy Alliance finds a world for them that apparently is just like Planet Drule in its prime.

Government and Politics:

Planet Drule and, by extension, the Drule Empire, are ruled by Emperor Zeppo. He is advised by the Supreme Council, who also oversee military campaigns and the search for a new homeworld. Vassal kingdoms pay tribute to the homeworld and can petition the Supreme Council for aid. The Council is not above meddling in the affairs of its vassal kingdoms. At the end of Lion Voltron’s first season, for example, they back a coup to overthrow Zarkon and place Lotor on the throne of the Ninth Kingdom.

It is the Supreme Council’s thirst for power and search for a suitable new planet that brings the Drule Empire in conflict with the Galaxy Alliance. The Alliance is also searching for habitable planets to help ease the overpopulation of their worlds, but does not desire war. The Supreme Council wants the galaxy to itself and, in its paranoia, sees the Alliance as a rival empire out to steal planets and resource that rightfully belong to them. In “Raid on Galaxy Garrison” they invade the heart of the Alliance, Earth itself, in an attempt to crush it. But average Drule citizens are frightened victims of bad leadership and don’t desire war. Eventually individuals in the Drule high command, such as Hazar, come to believe cooperation with the Galaxy Alliance is the only way to save the Drule people.

At the end of the series a rebellion comprised mostly of common tradespeople, lead by Commander Hazar and his sister Dorma, overthrow Emperor Zeppo and the Supreme Council. Peace is made between the Alliance and Drules, and fleets of Alliance ships carry the entire Drule population to their new home as Planet Drule explodes. Hazar turns down the title of emperor in favor of having the Drules elect their leaders from now on.

But not everything is rainbows and gumdrops. Zeppo and his supporters,unwilling to give up power, flee to Planet Deva to plot their return once the people are settled on New Drule. This could be a long war...

Lion Voltron Drules (or Doomites)

Appearance:

Drules from Planet Doom vary quite a bit in appearance. The most common phenotype is pointed ears, fanged teeth, yellow eyes, dark gray skin, and bald with a crescent shaped ridge on their head. However,individuals with fur, scales, blue or violet skin, and large fin like ears exist. White, blond, pink, and blue colored hair are also depicted.

The reason why Doomites look so different from their homeworld counterparts is because Lion Voltron and Vehicle Voltron were adapted from two completely unrelated anime series: Dairugger XV and GoLion, with the later being where the term Galra comes from.

Homeworld:

Planet Doom is a dark and barren world  populated by bloodthirsty evil creatures. Doomite culture is also more violent and hedonistic than that of Planet Drule, with bloody gladiator battles, lavish feasts, slavery, dark magic, and harems being staples of life there. Notable locations include Castle Doom and the Pit of Skulls.

Government and Politics

Planet Doom is ruled by King Zarkon and his court, which consists of his son Prince Lotor, his adviser and witch Haggar, his commanders, and various nobles. Relations between the Ninth Kingdom and the Supreme Council are very strained. The council dislikes Zarkon because his tributes are small and he has no interest in helping find suitable planets for Drule colonization, instead stripping conquered worlds of resources and transforming them into giant slave pits. It’s for this reason they reject Zarkon’s request for support troops in “The Summit Meeting”. Then, of course, there was that little incident where the council assisted Lotor in overthrowing his father.

This doesn’t mean they never cooperate with each other. Zarkon and Viceroy Throk, one of the highest ranking members of the Drule chain of command, join forces in “Fleet of Doom” to conquer the universe. But, like the true power hungry tyrants they are, each plans to betray the other once the Galaxy Alliance and both Voltrons are out of the picture.

Zarkon does try to forging alliances with other empires and fellow vassal kingdoms during DoTU, usually by trying to get Lotor hitched to some princess or queen. In “The Sleeping Princess” Zarkon arranges a marriage between his son and Princess Coral of Planet Demos, which has its own vast empire. In Lion Voltron’s second season Zarkon marries Lotor off to Queen Merla, the ruler of the Drule Empire’s Seventh Kingdom. Both of these attempts fail due to Lotor’s stubbornness and obsession with Princess Allura. In case you haven’t noticed, these conflicts between Zarkon and Lotor are at the heart of Planet Doom’s politics. 

[voltronfandomhag]

Captain Twila

Captain Twila is a recurring Vehicle Voltron character who appears in three episodes: “Hazar Bucks the Empire”, “The Red Moon People”, and “This World’s For the Birds”. Like Stride, I don’t expect her to appear in VLD, so I’m not going to make any speculations about a VLD version her of character. I’m writing this because I found her role in “This World’s For the Birds” an interesting one and want to write about it.

Also, if you’re completely unfamiliar with Vehicle Voltron, I suggest reading this post to learn the basics.

Twila is the Drule’s/Galra’s top scientist but she’s hell bent on proving herself as both a leader and warrior at almost any cost. This desire, along with her stubbornness, loyalty to the empire, and pride, shapes her motivations throughout “This World’s For the Birds” and nearly gets herself and dozens of others killed.

The episode opens with the Galaxy Alliance and Commander Hazar agreeing to a peaceful joint exploration of Planet Nestor, with Twila in charge of leading the Drule/Galra forces. However Twila and another Drule officer, Commander Borgam, have conspired behind Hazar’s back to attack the Alliance forces and put an end to Hazar’s peace efforts. Twila agreed to the plan hoping to prove her value to the empire once and for all.

Things quickly go awry when she’s badly inquired by the local wildlife and then abandoned by her own forces after fighting breaks out between the Drule and the Vehicle Voltron Force. After the Drules are chased off, the Voltron Force spot the wounded Twila and take her aboard the Explorer for treatment. Commander Hawkins attempts to convince her the Galaxy Alliance doesn’t desire war and that together they can make the first steps towards peace. When Twila demands to know how he can ask her to choose between her world and his, Hawkins tells her it’s not a matter of choosing one world over the other, but choosing peace over war. He then leaves her to rest and consider his words.

However, when Drule forces attack the Explorer, Twila steals a spacecraft and escapes. More determined than ever to prove herself and bring glory to the Drule Empire, she takes command of the forces battling the Alliance. Hawkins again tries to reason with her, asking her to stop fighting and join him in bringing peace to the universe. Twila ignores him even as her fleet and robeast are both destroyed by Voltron. In a last desperate attempt to claim victory, she sets her command ship on a collision course with the Explorer, fully intending to destroy the Alliance forces and die a martyr. Hawkins, realizing he has no other choice, orders Voltron to destroy her command ship.Thankfully Twila comes to her senses and escapes in the nick of time.

I wish there was more to her story but we never see Twila again because her DaiRugger counterpart, Emma, died. Still, I found her story a sad one and wish the dynamic between her and Hawkins could have been developed more.

[voltronfandomhag]

I know a bit of fanon I've heard for DOTU is the differences in the Drules of Doom & Planet Drule is due to the drule colonists intermingling with all the aliens on Doom, called Doomites, such as the guys in Zarkon's council or Mogor's rival, Karp. Personally I think its a fairly sensible explanation.

Yep. That was one of the theories floating around the fandom to explain why Doomites varied so much in appearance and, for the most part, looked so unlike homeworld Drules. 

Some people, though, question whether Doomites are actually Drules/self identify as Drule. While speaking to Throk in “The Fleet of Doom” Zarkon tells him “I hope you Drules can keep up your end of the bargain.” That’s an odd thing to say if Zarkon considers himself a Drule. It’s possible that the races composing the empire’s vassel kingdoms don’t consider themselves one people despite any shared Drule ancestry, but outsiders don’t realize this so they just refer to them all as Drules. 

Then again pretty much all the information put out by WEP has referred to Zarkon and pals as Drules, so who knows.