Ep 9. City of Stone (1)

As night falls over New York City, the stone gargoyles come to life once again to fulfill their mission of protecting the city while it sleeps. But this episode takes a dark turn as the reign of the human villain David Xanatos gives way to a far more ancient and sinister force.

In "City of Stone (1)," we are introduced to a captivating new storyline that delves into the history of the immortal beings who adorn the rooftops of the city. As the title suggests, the episode revolves around the city's most famous historical landmarks, specifically the gargoyles themselves, who were created in Scotland hundreds of years ago.

The plot begins with our hero Goliath, who after defeating Xanatos and his formidable army of robots, becomes increasingly wary of the humans who once sought to destroy his entire clan. This paranoia seems justified when he discovers that an old acquaintance of Xanatos, Macbeth, has set his sights on the gargoyles and is using dark magic to do so. As it turns out, this is only the beginning of Goliath's troubles.

Amidst the backdrop of Stonehenge in England, the episode takes us back to the year 984 A.D. where we meet a young Macbeth, fighting alongside the gargoyles in his kingdom, who are trying to defend their land from the Vikings. We come to learn that Macbeth is not at all the man we thought he was, but rather a noble and brave warrior, who is sworn to protect his lands and the gargoyles.

However, as we are transported back to present-day New York, the once trustworthy Macbeth is now a villain who is using his new found powers to seek revenge on the gargoyles by attacking them one by one. In order to do this he is calling on a powerful witch, who is able to turn the gargoyles to stone and leave them incapacitated for long periods of time. The storyline is brought to life with a series of flashbacks that show Macbeth's past, as well as the history of the gargoyles, which adds a layer of depth and richness to the episode.

The writing is top-notch, with gripping action sequences and an intricate plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. It's a great balance of new characters and old ones, and it's an intriguing concept that will leave you wanting more. The visuals are also stunning, with the city's architecture being brought to life in stunning detail.

Overall, City of Stone (1) is a must-watch episode of Gargoyles, and it's also a great entry point into the series. The story is cunningly designed to hook viewers and leave them eagerly anticipating the next chapter, and the characters are well-developed to the point where you'll become emotionally invested in their fates. The episode also sets up a purely epic conclusion that leaves viewers reeling.