Ep 9. Valley of the Man-Apes

In Thundarr The Barbarian season 1 episode 9, titled "Valley of the Man-Apes," Thundarr, Ariel, and Ookla find themselves in a valley inhabited by a tribe of intelligent ape-like creatures known as Man-Apes. The trio soon learns that the Man-Apes are being forced to work in a nearby mineshaft by a group of mutts - humanoid creatures with dog-like features.

Thundarr and his friends offer to help the Man-Apes, and they soon come up with a plan to infiltrate the mine and rescue the captive Man-Apes. However, their plan is complicated by the presence of a giant robot - the workers' overseer - who patrols the mineshaft and controls the Man-Apes through a device implanted in their heads.

Ariel uses her telekinetic powers to hijack the robot's control panel, allowing Thundarr and Ookla to destroy it from the inside. With the robot destroyed, the Man-Apes are liberated, and Thundarr and his friends prepare to leave the valley. But the mutts don't take kindly to their plans, and they launch a final attack on the trio.

In a thrilling battle, Thundarr and his companions manage to defeat the mutts, but not before one of them detonates a bomb, causing a cave-in that traps Thundarr and Ariel inside the mineshaft. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers wondering how Thundarr and Ariel will escape their predicament.

Overall, "Valley of the Man-Apes" is an action-packed and suspenseful episode of Thundarr The Barbarian that showcases the trio's bravery and resourcefulness in the face of danger. It also highlights the show's strong themes of friendship, loyalty, and standing up for what's right in the face of oppression and injustice.