Season 4 of Voltron had...quite a few problems, many of which ended up taking away from it for me. Instead of just complaining like 85% of Tumblr, however, I've decided to rewrite it into being better, to validate my critiques and prove that it had fixable problems. I'll be sticking to a lot of the original concepts, such as the general storyline for each episode, and of course there'll only be 6 episodes/chapters with each one taking into account the 23 minute run time; however, the idea is to fix a lot of the issues that made Voltron's fourth season so lackluster to me. Below is a list of some of those issues that I'll be looking to fix:

- Character Development

Identifying the issue: Character development is the number one thing that this season failed at. They tried moving Keith out of the way to give the other characters room to have screen time, and yet still failed to give any of them meaningful development and failed to explore any of their character arcs. I really don't know what else to say; there's not any problems to analyze because there's nothing to analyze. There was just...nothing. The main reason for this is because the show in general follows a writing style that is more plot-centric rather than character-centric, and this season in particular really suffers from that. I won't go into it much here, but I'll eventually critique Voltron's general writing style on my blog.

My solution: Obviously, my solution is to explore the arcs of these characters while keeping the plot going, because believe it or not, it is possible to do this. It doesn't take a lot to show a step in a character's personal arc. All it takes is one scene or one line of dialogue to show a lot about a character. In this rewrite of season 4, I will explore Lance's character more, dive into Coran and Allura's characters and their development, and I will actually give Hunk a character arc, since the show has yet to even introduce one for him, and I'll do it all while taking their amount of screen time, that being 23 minutes per episode, into account.

- Plot

Identifying the issue: I already mentioned how how this season didn't deliver on the character focus, so that means it must've been plot focused, right? Well...not...really... The season ends up advancing the plot by quite a bit because they take back one-third of the universe and have a bunch of rebels with them in the fight against the Galra, but the season doesn't build up to it. We're just suddenly and randomly introduced to this plan to take back one-third of the universe in the final two episodes.

This season is all about forming the rebel alliance and then using those numbers to take back the universe from the Galra, and while the season does a fine job with building up the forming of the rebel alliance since that's a plot point carried on from season 3, their sudden assault against Naxcela comes out of nowhere, as if they placed it there just for a two part finale and didn't bother to properly build up to it. This really hurts the season because, while the fight is climactic, we start off episode 5 already having the fight all mapped out as if the audience is supposed to know what the quiznak is going on. We have to learn what the team is doing while they're doing it.

My solution: The natural solution is to build up to the big finale better. My episodes will showcase team Voltron preparing for the battle while also building the alliance, and the plot arc for the season will really feel like a through line so that the finale doesn't feel like it's coming out of nowhere.

- Operation Kuron

Identifying the issue: The Shiro in season 3 & 4 is a clone. He just is. There is no other explanation for "Operation Kuron". I'm not here to discuss that, though, so if you think otherwise, I'm sure there's a bunch of other blogposts and theories out there for you to read up on until you're convinced. Anyways, my issue is that Kuron/Shiro is an incredibly awful character. He's static, all-business, and boring, and they need to hurry up and pay off the clone Shiro plot line.

My solution: The clone Shiro plot needs some pay off, or at least needs to be explored. I know they're trying to hold off on it in hopes of keeping the audience in suspense, but this isn't the way to do it. You can explore/confirm it while still keeping the audience at the edge of their seats. I will give Operation Kuron a bit more exploration; not spoiling anything here, though, of course. You'll have to read.

- Keith

Identifying the issue: I actually think Keith was handled almost well in the actual show. The entire dynamic of "one paladin too many" is really intriguing, and seeing how it affects each of the characters is both heartbreaking and powerful. Having Keith be the one to really pull away in an attempt to almost force Shiro back into the role of Voltron's leader was a really interesting take on his character. Keith's arc revolves around him trying to find his place and trying to decide how he can be of use to the universe. The problem in the show, though, is that Keith just disappears completely. His choice to leave team Voltron doesn't seem like it's to further his character arc; it seems like it was just an excuse to get him out of the way so that he didn't take up so much screen time. They introduced an interesting development with Keith by having him leave for the Blade and never did anything with it in regards to his character. Basically, what they did with Keith was very interesting, but the execution was poor.

My solution: Keith's dynamic in the Blade of Marmora is a very interesting step for his arc, and it needs to be shown. I understand not wanting Keith to hog all the screen time, since that was the problem in previous seasons, but there's a very easy way to fit his character arc in while not having it feel like he's stealing the spotlight. Voltron as a show follows a simple structure in terms of screen time; there's always an A plot with team Voltron, and then a B plot with the Galra/Lotor. Since we want Keith to have screen time to show that his decision to join the Blades is a necessary step for his character arc while not being the center of attention, all we need to do is connect his arc to the B plot. Thus, the show becomes all about team Voltron as our A plot, and the B plot becomes the Galra/Lotor/Keith and the Blade of Marmora.

But what does his arc entail, exactly? Well, the entire purpose for Keith's arc of joining the Blade of Marmora is for him to further explore who he is and what role he can play in saving the universe. Basically, it's him finding himself, and the entire purpose of it is for him to hone his leadership skills outside of team Voltron so that he's eventually ready to lead Voltron again. Therefore, in this rewrite, we will further explore Keith's leadership skills, how he has a tendency to default to Voltron-esque strategies, and how he fits in (or doesn't fit in) with the Blade of Marmora.

- Kolivan

Identifying the issue: Who even is Kolivan? Do you know? Do I know? Do the writers know? Why is he so bland? Why is he so insignificant? Why isn't he an actual character? He can be summed up in one sentence: "The leader of the Blade of Marmora". However, that's what he does, not who he is. We don't know who he is. I'm going to fix that.

My solution: I have some very interesting things planned for Kolivan, and I won't spoil them here. You're going to have to read the story to figure out what I do with him. Basically, though, he's going to be an actual character with a past that ties in to the plot. He's the leader of the Blade of Marmora, for goodness sakes, he deserves to be an interesting character. Also, naturally, his role as the Blade's leader will directly tie in to Keith's character arc, which I'll be exploring much more than the actual season did.

- Lotor

Identifying the issue: Sigh...oh Lotor... Of all the characters that season 4 did wrong, Lotor's character took the hardest hit. His compelling antagonistic character was stripped of all power. He stopped being a threat and just became someone on the run, and even while he was on the run, his quintessence plan that we still don't understand completely flopped. He lost all credibility as a capable character, which was a huge 180 compared to his introduction. This isn't inherently a bad thing—having such a powerful character spun into a situation where he needs to adapt is very good, and I think the direction they took Lotor's character is how his character should go. The problem is that he didn't get enough screen time to build up to it, and his arc was SUPER rushed. They shouldn't have put him on the run until season 5. Here's the thing, if seasons 3 and 4 were originally one season, they technically introduced him as a capable antagonist and then stripped him of all power in the same season he was introduced. I don't know how this was considered a good idea.

My solution: To fix Lotor's character, I'm going to give him some real motivation. In the show, he just let Zarkon take the throne back without a fight, and his lines such as "I am the leader, but I am not my father" and "My father is on his deathbed, and I am in control" just makes him seem more like an angsty teen. In my rewrite, Lotor's main motivation will be his desire to prove that he can be better than his father. He will actively attempt to keep the throne, and there will be an actual power struggle within the Galra, unlike in the show where there was no power struggle and Lotor was just suddenly on the run.

I will also be keeping Lotor's plot line of wanting the comet ships in order to harness quintessence from the other reality. Lotor will not be reduced to an incapable overthrown prince; he will instead be a prince fighting for the throne and fighting for his worth. More facets of his character will surface, including his obsession with being in control and his perfectionist tendencies, and throughout the 6 episodes of the season, we will slowly see Lotor's character beginning to deteriorate under all the pressure so that it isn't rushed and so he can have more time in the limelight to shine as the brilliant antagonist that he is before eventually losing everything.

- Lotor's Generals

Identifying the issues: It should come as no surprise that, if Lotor's character suffers, so do the characters of his generals; and boy do they suffer. These characters are introduced as Prince Lotor's loyal followers, sticking by his side no matter what. They know that he's manipulating the crowd during his introduction in the gladiator arena, they know Lotor's dark side, but they stick by him anyways. This is what always made their characters intriguing; their fighting for Lotor and they're choosing to support him and stay by his side, and we don't know why. Season 4 tossed this aspect of their characters out the window when they turned on him. Their betrayal was just a chain reaction of Lotor being dethroned so quickly in the first place, so like I've said, a big reason for their issue is Lotor's fault and not theirs. I think them betraying Lotor is the direction their characters should take, but just like with Lotor's character, the show completely rushed it and didn't give them enough screen time to build up to the moment.

Also, don't even get me started on Narti's death. That was the thing that really catapulted the generals down the path they went down in season 4, and it was rushed as all hell. Narti needs more screen time.

My Solution: Since their issue spiraled from the issue with Lotor's character arc, keeping him in power a little longer will fix most of their problems in season 4. Additionally, having Lotor slowly and gradually derailing into losing it allows us to show the generals gradually losing faith in Lotor until their betrayal isn't so sudden. We also need to know more about their motivations and why they follow Lotor before the betrayal happens; particularly Acxa. I'll be properly building up their turn against Lotor by properly building up Lotor's character arc and showing their reactions to how he develops.

- Matt Holt

Do I think he should stay? Should he go? Should he live? Should he stay dead? Should he die later? You'll have to read to figure out what I do with Matt ^^

The Episodes

Obviously I'm not going to spoil what's happening in each episode of this rewrite, you'll have to read to find out, but I will take a moment to talk about them. As I stated earlier, I am writing these while taking into account that there is only 23 minutes for 6 episodes for this season, so the theoretical screen time in this rewrite should be about the same as the actual season while fixing all the issues I listed above and more. Additionally, I don't want to completely change the plot of the episodes or the overall season. You see, I am not rewriting the season into my personal fantasy; I'm rewriting it into fixing all the issues and making it something better. So while there will be some major changes to most of the episodes, the general idea of the season will be the same.

Every episode/chapter will be followed by an episode analysis, where I point out all the things I changed in an episode and my reasons for doing so and what my focus was to make each episode better than it was in the actual season. Also, let me just say now that I absolutely adore this show and I would never go through the trouble of rewriting this season if I wasn't super, super invested in Voltron. I just have a lot of critiques to give, but being critical does not by any means mean I love this show any less. Because I freaking love this show.

Episode 1 is probably going to be the episode with the least amount of changes since it sets up a lot of stuff for the rest of the season and Keith needs the screen time they gave him to build up to the end of the episode. Also, it's just one of the better episodes of the season, so it doesn't need much change. The most that I change about it is Lotor's screen time, go figure. Pretty much everything about Lotor is getting an overhaul in my rewrite of this season to make him better.

So without further ado, onto the first episode: "Code of Honor"!