Beyond the Valley of the Dogs

"**Beyond the Valley of the Dogs**" is the 10th episode of *Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts*and the final episod*e* ofSeason 1. It premiered on Netflix with the rest of Season 1 on January 14, 2020. It was written by Bill Wolkoff and directed by Kelvin Lee & Young Ki Yoon.

## Synopsis

It's a high-jumping, thirsty Mega Flea vs. the Mega Dogs as Kipo closes in on the burrow. But has she also brought home disaster?

## Plot

***Warning:** the following text contains spoilers about the plot or the series.*
Ten days earlier, when the clover burrow was invaded by the Mega Monkey, Lio Oak is one of the most proactive in trying to keep the denizens safe. Lio's interaction with the Mega Monkey implies he knows it and why it's attacking.

“ I know who sent you. This isn't you. ”
— Lio to the Mega Monkey
Lio gets away with a little help from his student, Troy. Thankfully, the burrow has a backup second settlement, Site B, unknown to anyone outside the burrow council so it could never be compromised. Unfortunately, because of that, Lio had pretty much sent his daughter out into the wild for no reason. While the burrow manager, Hoag, is unsympathetic, Lio promises to himself he'll get Kipo there.

In the present, Yumyan and Molly Yarnchopper meet up with Kipo's gang. While they aren't personally willing to brave the valley of Mega Dogs they are willing to lend Yumyan's pet flea, Pierre to them.

While heading to the Clover in the tall grass, Dave, recalling a superstition about blowing dandelions meaning good luck, blows on a giant dandelion. The dispersing seeds catch the attention of a Mega Dog leading them to start hopping for their lives as all the other dogs get in on it. The gang manages to land at the Clover, but Pierre, by nature a blood-sucking parasite, returns to the dogs.

Shortly after, Lio who'd come up to the surface tearfully reunites with Kipo. Lio warmly invites her friends along back as well and they all enter the underground. Unbeknownst to them, however, Scarlemagne was spying on them from above, and now knowing where the burrow is, makes a plan for a raid.

Lio gives them a slight warning that no one in their community has seen mutes or surface people before, so there will probably be a period of adjustment. Lio calls in for access back into the burrow proper through a walkie talkie. Hoag on the other side starts lecturing him, as it turns out the council wouldn't have authorized any trips to the surface until the burrow was secure. Regardless, the entrance is opened and the group moves in. Lio explains that the previous burrow went unbreached for 50 years, and Site B was only opened yesterday.

Wolf seems vaguely wary with the number of people around before they're welcomed by Kipo's burrow friends, Asher and Dahlia. They treat Wolf, Dave, Mandu, and Benson a bit like sideshow attractions in their enthusiasm. When Benson startles and trips back, his cassette player starts playing and Troy picks it up. They immediately connect over music and Benson is struck with a new crush.

Wolf begins to feel left out and insecure, but Kipo notices quickly and brings her into the conversation with her older friends. Things become a little tense once again when the Hoag tries to take Stalky away, though Lio defuses the situation handily.

Kipo also gives Lio back his lucky guitar pick, a gift originally from Song. Kipo, then on the verge of asking about her mute-ism, is interrupted by an attack from the surface. The ceiling breaks open from the Humming Bombers' explosive nectar, sending Kipo into a vision about her jaguar powers as her DNA triggers once again.

When Kipo comes back to the present it's to see she'd managed to protect her dad and the gang from a slab of rubble from crushing them with her furry muscular arm. Kipo is confused, but Lio seems to know what's going on.

“It's happening. Sooner than I thought it would, but it is definitely happening.”
— Lio
Lio promises to explain what's going on with her after they get everyone else to safety. The Flamingo Riders invade in full then, attacking and abducting people. The gang all do their part to try and protect and fight against Scarlemagne's forces, while Lio tries to distract them. Kipo decides that she has a weapon and she'll use it to protect her people.

But then, Kipo sees that the Flamingos have Lio in their clutches and Scarlemagne comes down to personally greet him.

>
> **Scarlemagne**: "*Now isn't this a surprise? My old pal, Lio. How are you? I do so miss your visits.*"
> **Lio**: "*Hugo. It's been a long time.*"
>

Scarlemagne tells Lio his intention of having the humans join his army. However, with Lio found he instead wonders about Lio's daughter. Lio fiercely tells Scarlemagne he'll never find her, which he only finds amusing. With Lio in his clutches, he calls for a return to his palace.

Kipo runs to try and catch her father, but ends up missing and caught by another Flamingo Rider. Wolf is devastated and falls to her knees in tears. The others comfort her, but Wolf stands, determined, and states they'll find Kipo.

“We're going to find her. No matter what.”
— Wolf

It turns out to be an unnecessary vow, however, because Kipo fights her way back, and takes control of the flamingo and returns for them. This time with her own affirmation.

“We're going after them.”
— Kipo

## Credits

* **Written by**
	+ Bill Wolff

* **Directed by**
	+ Kalvin Lee
	+ Young Ki Yoon

* **Storyboards by**
	+ Ben Li
	+ Adam Lucas
	+ Bridget Underwood

* **Cast**
	+ Karen Fukuhara as Kipo Oak
	+ Sydney Mikayla as Wolf
	+ Deon Cole as Dave
	+ Coy Stewart as Benson
	+ Dee Bradley Baker as Mandu / Mega Monkey / Pierre
	+ Jeff Bennett as Hoag
	+ Steve Blum as Yumyan Hammerpaw
	+ Sterling K. Brown as Lio Oak
	+ River Butcher as Asher
	+ Lea DeLaria as Molly Yarnchopper
	+ Giullian Yao Gioiello as Troy
	+ Matt Lowe as Easy
	+ Dan Stevens as Scarlemagne
	+ Fryda Wolff as Dahlia

## Transcript

The transcript can be found here: Beyond the Valley of the Dogs/Transcript

## Episode notes

### Featured songs

* "KOTD" by Tim Lynch & Johnny Ghost
* "Give It My All" by C4 & Daniel Ellsworth (Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes)
* "Purple Jaguar Eye"
* "Fight The War" by Kittie Harloe
* "Don't Stop Now (feat. Michelle Gonzalez)"

### Trivia

* Emilia is indirectly mentioned when Lio acknowledges he knows who sent the Mega Monkey.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Season 1E10 · Beyond the Valley of the Dogs. tunefind.