The Lion Guard S3 E19

## Plot

**Content Warning:** Brief mention of suicide when talking about Zira. Continuing where the last episode left off, the Lion Guard, Azaad, Jasiri, and Janja are racing through the Outlands to get back to the Pridelands to try and stop Zira and her pride. Speaking of which, did anyone notice that, just like in the beginning of the season, particularly when his scar was bothering him, Kion is in a hurry to get somewhere, but now it's for altruistic purposes. Madoa, Chungu, and Cheezi meet up with everyone, and they learn that Zira and her lionesses went into the Pridelands not long after Jasiri and Janja left. They don't know what happened after that. They've been hiding because they promised Jasiri that they'd stay away from Zira. Jasiri tells her sister that they did the right thing. If Zira and her lionesses are still in the Pridelands though, then something's up. Azaad, the hyenas, and even the vultures agree to help the Lion Guard return to the Pridelands and possibly fight Zira and her pride. Anga tells them that she sees a strange lion on top of Pride Rock. Jasiri says that's Kovu. He's alone. There's no sign of Kion's parents or his sister. They're confronted by Vitani and four of her lionesses… who identify themselves as the Lion Guard. They seem evenly matched with their counterparts. Vitani is the fiercest, Shabaha is the bravest, Kasi is the fastest, Imara is the strongest, and Tazama is the keenest of sight, who keeps watch from above and warns the others about incoming attacks. They think that Kion is evil because of his scar, and don't know that the Outlanders have switched sides just like they have. And yes, that makes this episode, and possibly the previous one, a glorious and long awaited sequel episode to the second film, which if you recall, is what I and many other people wanted this series to originally be. Even if it's just one episode instead of three seasons of follow up, I'll take it! We finally get to learn what happened afterwards! I'm so excited! That film is a year older than I am. Anga and Ono try to help Kion while the vultures distract Tazama. Before Kion can use the Roar on Vitani and her Lion Guard, Kiara shows up with Kovu and tells him to stop. She tells him that Kovu, Vitani, and the rest of Zira's pride have joined them. Vitani didn't recognize him. It's been years since they last saw each other, they didn't exactly interact a lot, and Kion looks different with a scar and a bunch of Outlanders behind him. Ironic, isn't it? Kion and Fuli even lampshaded said irony! And yes, Jason Marsden and Lacey Chabert reprise their roles from the second film and that season 1 episode. They tell Kion that Zira has "completed her journey on the Circle of Life." She drowned in a river, and in the original ending of the film, she did the same thing, but she was clearly committing suicide. Kiara tells Kion that they'll explain everything at Pride Rock. He thanks Jasiri for her help, and the two nuzzle each other. Aw! So cute! The hyenas and vultures leave. Kion reunites with Simba and Nala, who are both overjoyed to see him. He tells them that he'll always have his scar, but the venom is gone. Ono has his sight back. Simba thanks Azaad for bringing the Guard back to the Pridelands. They tell Rafiki that Makini decided to stay at the Tree of Life. Queen Janna was right. She was certain that Makini's rightful place was at the Tree of Life, just like Rafiki thought it was in the Pridelands. He takes them to the base of Pride Rock to show them what happened. After Kion roared them away, Zira devised a new plan to take over the Pridelands. She raised Kovu to believe that Simba was their enemy, but then he got to know Simba and Kiara, and he realized that she was wrong. Zira led an attack on the Pridelands herself, which Kiara and Kovu managed to stop. Kiara told Simba that "They are us", which is basically we are one, sisi ni sawa, something this season was all about. Kion and Kovu look like Scar, but they both chose not to be like him. Rani is the same as Kion, Bunga is literally the same as Binga, then there's Fuli and Azaad, Jasiri and Janja, etc. And it doesn't just apply to canon and implied romantic couples. There's also Makini and Rafiki, who now have the same roles, but in different places. They're all the same, and they're all one, no matter where they live or what they do with their lives. That's an amazing message. Also, Kion and Vitani are a lot alike. They're both second born cubs of a king of the Pridelands. The reason Vitani never inherited the Roar is probably because Scar was never the legitimate king, or because he lost the Roar when he used it for evil, or because Vitani was evil until Kiara made her have an epiphany at the end of the second film. Also, intentional or not, I love the subtle and clever foreshadowing of what happens towards the end of this episode, which you'll probably only recognize if you realize the similarities between Kion and Vitani. One day Kiara and Kovu will be queen and king of the Pridelands. Timon and Pumbaa reunite with Bunga, and Beshte reunites with his dad. The same song that played when the Guard left plays again as they reunite with everyone and spend some quality time together, like Anga meeting Hadithi again, Fuli and Azaad racing to a cliff and watching the sunset, Beshte reuniting with Mtoto, who has finally grown, etc. Mufasa even appears in the clouds in front of Kion, Kiara, Simba, Nala, and Kovu, although he doesn't say anything. Kiara talks to her brother when she sees him looking at the four stars that lead to the Tree of Life. He tells her about Rani, and she can tell that he has romantic feelings for her. She suggests that he could go back to the Tree of Life someday, and says that their parents would understand. When the Guard and Azaad enter the lair the next day, they find Vitani in there with her Guard. They both head out to deal with an emergency, but it turns out that Thurston is just stuck, and he gets himself out. Neither Lion Guard can help anyone if they keep arguing. Thurston tells them to have a competition to see who's the best. Everyone in the Pridelands comes to watch it. The five original members will compete in a series of challenges to see who is the best. The losing team will pick the next challenge. Ono, as the smartest, will be the judge, even though that gives him a bias in case things get tough to call. They never do, but still. He gives Vitani's team the first choice. Beshte and Imara have to push a rock across Chakula Plains with an elephant on top. Beshte may be stronger, but he has to go into the mud to cool off so he doesn't get sunburnt, allowing Imara to win. Fuli and Kasi have to race around a canyon. Kasi gets an early head start, but Fuli passes her after they loop around and head back. Anga and Tazama have to try and find Laini the galago in a dark cavern. Tazama wins because she can see in the dark. Bunga and Shabaha have to race through a thorn patch, then cross a river full of crocodiles, then climb up cliffs to get a baobab fruit at the top of the tree. Bunga wins because he's braver than Shabaha, who stops and hesitates at the river, even though she's faster and bigger than he is. The only challenge left is for the fiercest. Vitani calls for a mashindano. Kion tells her that she doesn't stand a chance because he has the Roar, but she says that she's fierce enough to lead the Lion Guard without it. Kion remembers what Askari said, and forfeits the challenge. Vitani's Lion Guard wins, so Kion gives her the Mark of the Guard… and *the Roar of the Elders*. This causes Kion, Bunga, Beshte, Ono, Fuli, and Anga's marks to disappear. They're a little sad and upset at first… and then Askari appears in the clouds and congratulates Kion, telling him that he's mastered the Roar. He asks why he would need the Roar if he's no longer the leader of the Lion Guard. He realizes that the Roar is also needed at the Tree of Life. This causes Night Pride marks to appear on everyone's right shoulders and wings. They all agree to head back to the Tree of Life, join the Night Pride, and help Queen Rani. Before they go, Vitani asks Kion what it means to have mastered the Roar, and he shows her and everyone else… *by using it to lift Pride Rock!* Oh! My! God! Some of the Pridelanders and their other family and friends, like the giraffes, elephants, hippos, zebras, antelope, and gorillas head to the Tree of Life, and everyone there witnesses Rani and Kion's marriage, and Kion being "crowned" King of the Tree of Life. Makini hugs her parents, and marks Kion as the king by painting a blue V shape on his forehead. The series ends as Rani and Kion roar, mirroring the end of the second film, and Mufasa, Janna, Askari, and the four generic lion heads appear in the clouds. I would've preferred it if Rani's parents could've shown up too, but it's fine. The final song is a short reprise of *Long Live the Queen*, but now a Long Live the King is added. Long live the Kings and Queens of the Pridelands and the Tree of Life. Wow. Just… wow. I don't really know what to say that I haven't said already. This series, and especially this season, was amazing. It's impossible for me to pick a favorite episode of season 3, or a favorite character. It's probably a three way tie between Kion, Fuli, and Rani for their personalities, designs, voices, and character development. Anga and Ono are honorable mentions for the same reasons. I liked the other characters, but they didn't go through as much development as I would've liked, particularly Beshte and Bunga, which is no one's fault. This was still a edutainment show aimed at preschoolers, so learning basic life lessons is ingrained into its DNA, especially in the lighter slice of life and non-serialized seasons and episodes, similar to Sofia the First, *Fancy Nancy*, or anything on PBS Kids. Besides, the more static characters can help service the character development of a more dynamic character. I feel like at least Ono has an implied series long arc about his self-worth and his place in the Guard, since the Keenest of Sight isn't exactly perceived as being as cool or even as useful as bravery, fierceness, strength, or swiftness. Atticus Shaffer also did an amazing job, especially during this season. I just wanted to hug Ono when he lost his sight. Seriously, all of the voice actors did a phenomenal job. So, at the season premiere, there were 31 voice actors for 32 characters. Kevin Schon voiced Chungu and Thurston. In this final episode, which is less than half the length of that episode, there were 34 voice actors for 36 characters. Kevin Schon voiced Timon, Chungu, and Thurston. And that's not counting all of the voiceless cameos in both episodes. Either way, it's amazing, and it reminds me of Sofia the First's series finale. It makes me wonder what Elena of Avalor's series finale will be like. I bet that one is gonna finally make me cry. For all I know, it could be the last Disney show I review, depending on when it ends compared to Tangled: The Series, and if all of these shows wind up on Disney+, Disney's new streaming service to rival Netflix and the DC Universe/HBO Max/Max. It will come out in two months. It's a lot cheaper than the DC Universe. Anyway, enough needlessly dating things. I'll hopefully see you all next time! Asante, and remember, sisi ni sawa.