Shadow Boxing

**"Shadow Boxing"** is the tenth and final episode of the second season of *The New Legends of Monkey* and the twentieth episode overall. This episode became available on Netflix on 7 August 2020.

## Plot synopsis

With the rebels scattered and the fate of the sacred scrolls still at stake, Monkey realizes he's his own worst enemy — in more ways than one.

## Summary

Hagfish tells the story of how centuries ago, he was the right hand of the Demon Queen Hakuru. Together, they were building an army of loyal servants to enslave mankind. But the Monkey King killed her. Shadow Monkey wants to meet with Monkey, who he refers to as his brother, but Hagfish doesn’t think he’s ready. When Shadow Monkey becomes insubordinate, Hagfish demonstrates how his life is connected to the shadow Scroll of Creation and forces him to obey. Hagfish then takes Shadow Monkey to attack a nearby village.

Monkey, Tripitaka, Sandy, and Pigsy discuss their next move. Monkey proposes they ask where to find the real Tripitaka. The scroll tells them to travel to where earth, wind, fire, and water meet. Tripitaka suspects that it must be the Burnt Sands. However, they find themselves near a village under attack by Hagfish and Shadow Monkey.

Monkey arrives on his cloud and challenges Shadow Monkey to a fight, but their moves are identical, making it impossible for there to be a winner. Tripitaka, Sandy, and Pigsy arrive and remind Monkey of their mission. Shadow Monkey has grown tired of taking orders from Hagfish and tries to attack him. Hagfish uses the scroll to hurt Shadow Monkey. So Monkey comes to his aid, allowing Shadow Monkey to gain control of the scroll and kill Hagfish. He now looks to Monkey to kill Tripitaka. When Monkey refuses, Shadow Monkey departs on his own.

Shadow Monkey returns to the Broken Temple and burns the head of Tripitaka’s doll.

Monkey, Tripitaka, Sandy, and Pigsy find Gaxin. Admittedly, he ruined everything. They tell him that he can redeem himself by leading them to the Scroll of Creation. But they’re going to camp out in the woods for the night and make way for Burnt Sands at day break.

Shadow Monkey finds Monkey in the woods. He now understands that Tripitaka is Monkey’s friend and that he shouldn’t have asked Monkey to kill her. They proceed to spar in the clearing. Afterward, Shadow Monkey tries to persuade Monkey into abandoning his quest and joining him, but Monkey refuses. So Shadow Monkey decides to get rid of Tripitaka in hopes it'll persuade his brother to abandon his mission.

Soon after the fall of Jade Mountain, a great tree sprouted. Gaxin suspects that’s where they’ll find the real Scroll of Creation. He even believes it to be the key to defeating Shadow Monkey. If they use the Scroll of Immortality and the Scroll of Creation in tandem, one could in theory raise the fallen gods. Tripitaka and Sandy are reluctant to raise a dead army. Gaxin apologizes for underestimating her and asks about their next move. Monkey explains that if they don’t kill Shadow Monkey, there will be no world left to save. That night, whilst everyone else sleeps, Monkey watches over Tripitaka. Monkey awakens the following morning to find Tripitaka, Sandy, Gaxin, and Pigsy eating around a fire.

Monkey, Tripitaka, Sandy, Gaxin, and Pigsy travel to the Burnt Sands, where they are greeted by Mycelia, who is said to be the Guardian of the Scroll of Creation. She reveals the scroll is beneath the tree. Gaxin crawls inside but he can’t reach the scroll. Mycelia traps Gaxin inside and declares that the scroll belongs to her. For 500 years, she’s tended to her garden and refuses to allow them to take it. If she hands over the scroll then she will perish. While Pigsy helps Gaxin, Monkey, Tripitaka, and Sandy fight off the fungal creatures and Timothee.

Shadow Monkey arrives at Burnt Sands and takes Tripitaka. Monkey follows him through the portal to the Broken Temple. With no powers, Monkey is forced to rely on skill, but Shadow Monkey is too powerful. When Monkey refuses to kill Tripitaka, Shadow Monkey offers to do it himself. Monkey tells Shadow Monkey to stop as he will join him. He claims that he owes the gods nothing and that Tripitaka will spend the rest of her days knowing she failed. He then pulls Shadow Monkey in for a hug, grabs the shadow Scroll of Creation and crushes it, bringing Shadow Monkey great pain. Before leaving, he tells Monkey he will return the favor and take his scroll.

Sandy fights off the fungal creatures while Pigsy tries to free himself as well as Gaxin. Shadow Monkey returns. Sandy warns Mycelia that he’s created from the corrupted Scroll of Creation and that it’s her duty to stop him. Monkey and Tripitaka arrive on his cloud. He tells Shadow Monkey to return to the shadows or else he’ll tear the scroll in half. Mycelia reveals that the only way to destroy the Shadow Scroll is to fly it into the sun. Monkey hands the Scroll of Immortality and Knowledge over to Tripitaka and flies away on his cloud. Tripitaka chants and performs the Headache Sutra to bring him back but he continues his journey. With the Shadow Scroll, Monkey flies into the sun and kills Shadow Monkey. Tripitaka pleads with Mycelia to give her the Scroll of Creation. Mycelia does so and dies. With the scroll, Tripitaka wants to bring Monkey back, but Gaxin warns Tripitaka of the consequences of her actions. He tells her that the world needs her much more than it needs him. He then chants the ancient language before dying.

On a mountain far away, Monkey emerges from an egg. Reborn anew.

As the Broken Temple collapses, the barrel of black goo Hagfish used to create Shadow Monkey falls onto Monica’s body, and within seconds, the Demon Queen Hakuru rises. As the demons chant her name, she says, "It’s good to be home."

## Cast

### Main

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

### Co-Starring

* Phoebe Borwick as Scared Villager
* Jayden Daniels as Gaxin
* Stephane Garneau-Monten as Timothee
* Chai Hansen as Shadow Monkey
* Rachel House as Demon Queen Hakuru
* Katherine Kennard as Mycelia
* Simon Prast as Hagfish

## Notes and Trivia

* This episode is the season finale for the second season.
* The episode title, *Shadow Boxing* refers to Shadow Monkey.