The Lion Guard S1 E2

## Plot

While saving a hyrax stuck in a thornbush, Beshte gets dirty and decides to take a bath in Big Springs, explaining to the others that the fish there eat the muck and dirt off the hippos, including the food stuck in their teeth. Beshte's dad Basi says that when there's too many fish in the lake, the crocodiles eat the extra fish. The float's leader, Pua, accepts that there isn't enough fish for them yet. A young crocodile named Makuu doesn't want to listen to the hippos though. He thinks that Pua is weak and scared of them, but he says he's not scared of anyone. He calls for a mashindano. Basi tells the kids that it's a physical challenge that determines who will lead the crocodiles. Kion doesn't think a fight should determine who the leader is. Nala reminds him that Simba had to fight Scar to regain leadership of the Pridelands. He says that was different, and Makuu is just trying to pick a fight. He and Kiara ask Simba if he can do anything, but they have to respect the animals' different customs, even if they don't personally agree with them. All sorts of animals watch the mashindano, which Makuu wins because he's younger and stronger. Pua got in some good hits though. Simba declares Makuu the new leader of the crocodiles, and thanks Pua for his many years of wise and strong leadership. Since he's the defeated leader, he's banished from the float. Kiara tells the Lion Guard that a herd of giraffes has moved into the baboons' forest, and their parents can't deal with it because they're out hunting. The savannah that the giraffes normally live in is full of zebras and antelope. Their grazing grounds are overrun with elephants because their watering hole is full of hippos. It's all because Makuu and the crocodiles took over Big Springs. Kion asks them to leave, but they refuse unless he fights Makuu. Bunga, Beshte, Fuli, and Ono agree, but Kion tells them that fighting isn't always the answer. He starts to get angry when Makuu says he's afraid to fight him, but he leaves. If he uses the Roar in anger, he'll be as bad as Scar. He asks Pua to call for another mashindano. If he beats Makuu, he can lead the crocs again. He tells Kion that sometimes you have to accept when you're beaten. The best thing to do to avoid a fight is to just back down, and hope that Makuu learns to be a better leader. The Guard heads back to Pride Rock, and find out that the baboons have moved in. Kion thinks Makuu is a bully, and he asks Mufasa for advice. In the actual show, they have Gary Anthony Williams voice him, and he sounds a lot like James Earl Jones. Mufasa tells Kion that fighting is the crocodile way, and sometimes you have to back down. However, a true leader knows when to stand their ground even if it seems difficult. Standing your ground doesn't mean you have to fight either. It means you're not afraid to stand up to someone who you know is wrong, and show them you're not going to back down. Kion decides to give Makuu a demonstration of the Roar so he knows exactly what he's up against. He agrees to leave, and all of the animals go back to their natural habitats. Basi invites Makuu and his float to come back and eat the extra fish, as long as they ask from now on.