Ep 6. Taking Flight

The episode Taking Flight is the sixth episode of the first season of the animated television series, Voltron: Legendary Defender. In this episode, the team is still reeling from their previous battle where they managed to form Voltron for the first time. Keith is particularly worried about their lack of training and experience while Shiro tries to reassure him. Meanwhile, Allura continues to teach the team about the lions and their abilities.

The episode starts off with the team trying out a new flight simulator to improve their piloting skills. However, things quickly go awry when Pidge accidentally activates an anti-gravity feature, causing the simulator to malfunction and resulting in some comedic mishaps. This sets the tone for a lighthearted episode that also manages to deepen the relationships between the characters.

When the team receives a distress signal from the planet of the Balmera, they jump into action, eager for a chance to prove themselves. Upon arriving on the planet, they discover that the Galra are using a massive ship to extract resources from the Balmera, causing massive destruction in the process. They quickly come up with a plan to take down the ship, but in order to do so, they need to gain control of the ship's defense system.

This leads to a thrilling sequence where the team splits up into groups to take on different tasks. Keith and Shiro are tasked with infiltrating the ship and taking control of the defense system while Pidge and Hunk attempt to sabotage the machinery. Allura and Coran, meanwhile, stay behind to coordinate the operation from the castle ship.

While the action scenes are certainly exciting, the heart of the episode lies in the quieter moments between the characters. For example, we see how much Pidge misses her family and how hard it is for her to be so far away from them. We also witness a touching moment between Hunk and Shiro, where Hunk admits that he's scared and unsure of what he's doing, leading Shiro to offer him some words of encouragement.

In the end, the team manages to take down the Galra ship and save the Balmera. However, the victory is bittersweet as they realize the damage the Galra have already caused to the planet. This leads to a moment where the team reflects on their responsibility as the new defenders of the universe and the challenges they will inevitably face.

Overall, Taking Flight is a fantastic episode that manages to balance humor, action, and character development. It provides a great showcase for each member of the team and establishes them as distinct personalities with their own unique struggles. It's no wonder that Voltron: Legendary Defender has become such a beloved series with episodes like this.