The Real Tripitaka

**"The Real Tripitaka"** is the eighth episode of the second season of *The New Legends of Monkey* and the eighteenth episode overall. This episode became available on Netflix on 7 August 2020.

## Plot synopsis

The scrolls foretold of only one Tripitaka ... but when Monkey and friends reach Lion Heart Rock, they discover that might not be so true.

## Summary

Monica comes upon a monk in the mountains. He’s tried for the last six weeks to give Gaxin, a fellow fallen monk, a proper burial. He asks that Monica do it for him.

Dreglon, Borja, and Moggoth inquire about Hagfish, who they presumed to be nothing more than Gorm’s servant. Borja falls behind and is taken captive by Sandy. Moggoth goes looking for her, but he is taken down by Pigsy, and another by Kaedo. Monkey takes out the final guard and finds himself face-to-face with Dreglon. However, they are joined by Monica, who believes that Dreglon is worth more alive than dead. She’s come for Tripitaka and takes them to Lion Heart Rock.

Tripitaka meets with Gaxin, the real Tripitaka. He tells her that nothing is impossible despite seeing her die. Gaxin wants to take over the quest, and with Monkey, gather the remaining scrolls. Gaxin shows Tripitaka drawings of the guardians of the scrolls. Mycelia is among them. Tripitaka calls her a false guardian as Mycelia created a decoy scroll, which is corrupted. Gaxin takes the scrolls and insists that he can handle it.

Monica informs the others that the solstice is just four days away and that the demons will attack then. The first of Gorm’s demon scouts have already reached them. Monica wishes to escape, but Gaxin returns with Tripitaka and explains that he wants to stay and fight. He’s certain that with Monkey, Sandy, and Pigsy on their side, they will win.

Dreglon is tortured for answers regarding Gorm and his impending attack. He reveals that Gorm keeps the scrolls with him at all times. When Tripitaka asks about Hagfish, Dreglon simply refers to him as a parasite. He explains that they can’t win without taking out Gorm.

Tripitaka tells Monica that Gaxin is wrong. Dreglon tried to convince her to throw all their force at Gorm, but he’s lying. Hagfish is the real mastermind. Tripitaka fears that Gaxin will get them killed, but Monica tells her to know her place. Kaedo, who Monica refers to as "bounty hunter," has come to collect his payment. As it turns out, he was hired to bring Tripitaka to Lion Heart Rock.

Tripitaka confronts Kaedo for lying to her. He claims that it was simply business. She accuses Kaedo of knowing that Gaxin was planning on taking Monkey, Sandy, and Pigsy away from her, which is true. He reveals that the demons offered him a bigger bounty, which he considered until he actually met Tripitaka. And then he changed his mind.

Gaxin takes Monkey, Sandy, and Pigsy before the rebellion and prays for them to be led to victory. Monkey then begins training the rebels who have little to no fighting ability.

Gaxin inquires about Sandy’s unique ability to affect water. Given that the human body is mostly made up of water, she is capable of doing great things. Gaxin asks that she close her eyes and tells her to picture flowing water and her instructing its actions. In following his instructions, Sandy causes all the rebels to cry.

Pigsy joins Monica, and together, they plan their battlefield strategy. Each of her plans seem to involve Pigsy taking on Gorm’s army single-handedly.

Gaxin plans his attack with the rebels, but Tripitaka reveals that Gorm doesn’t have the scrolls and that he is, in fact, Hagfish’s servant. He controls Gorm like a doll, but Gaxin and Monica doubt that she’s correct. Tripitaka reminds Gaxin that they don’t have enough weapons to fight Gorm’s army, but Gaxin has used the Scroll of Creation to make weapons. Tripitaka warns him that the weapons will turn on them. However, both Monica and Gaxin remind her who the real Tripitaka is.

Monica hires Kaedo for another job — to take Tripitaka to Palawa. She gives him her key to her tavern in Palawa and instructs him to give it to Tripitaka, but she doesn’t want it. A fight ensues, but Kaedo is superior. He tells Tripitaka that they leave at first light. Unbeknownst to Kaedo, Tripitaka stole his compass during the fight.

After taking Kaedo’s compass, Tripitaka glues one of Hagfish’s pins to the back of her neck as if she’s under his control. With Sandy’s help in diverting the guards, Tripitaka puts a tracker in Dreglon armor and sets him free. She claims to be Hagfish and tells Dreglon to return to him. Sandy and Pigsy accompany Tripitaka as she tracks Dreglon. Monkey joins them and Kaedo parts ways.

## Cast

### Main

* Chai Hansen as Monkey
* Luciane Buchanan as Tripitaka
* Josh Thomson as Pigsy
* Emilie Cocquerel as Sandy

### Co-Starring

* Fasitua Amosa as Dreglon
* Jayden Daniels as Gaxin
* Zane Fleming as Moggoth
* Richie Gryzb as Rebel Scout
* Rachel House as Monica
* Sam Jellie as Teenage Monk
* Atticus Iti as Kaedo Zef
* Natalie Samy as Borja
* Sara Stone as Rebel

## Notes and Trivia

The episode title, *The Real Tripitaka*, refers to the return of Gaxin.