The Lion Guard S3 E13

## Plot

A few days after the previous episode, the non-injured members of the Guard are glad that they can finally relax now that they've made it to the Tree of Life. Kion has to wear a mud mask to help treat the venom in his scar, and he's finally allowed to wash it off. Baliyo introduces Bunga to his honey badger friend Binga. She's basically a pink (or purple), female version of Bunga, and yes, the two end up together in the future. Ono heads to the Tree of Life to have his eyesight healed. Makucha, Chuluun, and Ora are fighting with each other, but Mama Binturong tells them that she has a plan, and hers will actually work, because she's smarter than them. She's going to trick the Night Pride into letting her into the Tree of Life, and then she'll find out their weaknesses. And unlike the others, the Lion Guard won't recognize her, because they've never seen her before, except for Bunga, so she just has to avoid him and she'll be fine. Ullu hears her calling for help. Makucha, Chuluun, and Ora pretend to threaten her, and she's "saved" by the Night Pride, and claims that she couldn't outrun the predators because of her injured leg. Rani introduces her to Queen Janna. The Lion Guard is there to watch Ono's healing, except for Bunga, who left to challenge Binga to see who the best honey badger is. No one has ever seen an animal like her before. She claims that she's a ginterbong, a species no one has ever heard of, because she made it up. After all, if she tells them that she's a binturong, then the other members of the Guard might get suspicious. She asks Queen Janna for a tour, and finds out that she no longer has the strength to leave the Tree of Life, and that the Night Pride sleeps during the day. She leaves and decides to follow Bunga's scent. Binga seems to be better than Bunga at everything. They sing a competition song that seems to turn into a love song. They even have a *Lady and the Tramp* moment. Rani, Nirmala, Makini, and the Lion Guard watch in amazement as Queen Janna uses the Tree of Life to heal Ono's eyes. Ono is ecstatic that he can finally see things clearly again, but Janna tells him that his eyesight might never be as strong as it once was. He notices that Bunga isn't there, and Beshte tells him that he's with his new friend. Nirmala and Kion leave to continue his healing. Ono tries to find Bunga to tell him the good news, but Queen Janna was right, his eyesight isn't as keen as it used to be. This is actually surprisingly realistic about depicting serious injuries. When my brother was 23, he started slowly losing his vision for months due to a buildup of pressure in his eyes. My mom got him to a specialist in time to save some of it, but odds are that it will never go back to "normal" for him. Anga finds Bunga and Binga. Before Mama Binturong can take her revenge on Bunga; Ono, Anga, Beshte, and Fuli show up. While she's leaving, Ono notices that she isn't limping. He meets up with Bunga, who completely casts him and his healed eyesight aside so he can introduce Binga to everyone. And he skipped out on Ono's healing so he could hang out with his new crush. I think Bunga's kind of a jerk in this episode, albeit unintentionally, but still, it annoys me that he never apologizes to Ono or that anyone even acknowledges that what he did was insensitive and rude. Anyways, Mama Binturong is eavesdropping on them, and learns that Kion hasn't been feeling too well. As she's leaving for real this time, she takes Tuliza from a pika, which Ono sees. She tells Makucha, Chuluun, and Ora to take out Queen Janna so everyone will panic, while she causes a distraction for the Night Pride far away from the Tree of Life so they can get in. And it'll be at sunrise, when they're tired from patrolling all night. Kion and Bunga aren't with the rest of the Guard, so they'll be easy to take care of. At sunrise, the Night Pride and Ullu hear Mama Binturong calling for help at Ciso River, on the other side of the Tree of Life. They wonder how the bad guys got past them. They head to the river while Ullu gets the Guard to meet them there. She wakes them up and tells them what's going on. Bunga isn't with them. Anga sees Mama Binturong, but no bad guys. Chuluun could be hiding in the snow. Ono wonders how she knows Chuluun's name, and tells everyone that they're being tricked. He's never heard of a ginterbong, he's seen her climbing and walking without a limp, he saw her steal Tuliza from a scared pika, and she knows Chuluun's name. She must be working with Chuluun, Makucha, and Ora. Anga sees the three of them heading for the Tree of Life. Ullu leaves to tell the Night Pride while the Guard stops them. Now that Ono has his eyesight back, he can finally fight again. Makucha, Chuluun, and Ora decide to retreat. Mama Binturong tries to attack Bunga, but he just kicks her into the snow, which impresses Binga. She tries to tell the Night Pride that he and his friend attacked her, but Binga says she attacked them, and she runs away. Ullu tells the Night Pride that the "ginterbong" isn't who she says she is. Bunga says she's a binturong. He and Binga use their pheromones to get rid of her. Rani thanks Ono for figuring out Mama Binturong's plan. Even if his eyesight isn't what it used to be, he can still help. Kion tells him that he'll always be a part of the Lion Guard, no matter what. Oof, unintentionally harsher in hindsight series finale feelings. That hurts. Still, it's a nice sentiment, even if it's not realistic.