Pirates of Dark Water Rewatch: "Andorus"

Episode 6: Andorus

Original Airdate: October 12, 1991

Written By: Kristina Luckey & Laren Bright and Peter Lawrence

Directed By: Don Lusk and Paul Sommer (Supervising Direction by Ray Patterson)

The first of the shows to officially be called “Pirates of Dark Water” begins with foreshadowing the plot with the weight of a wrecking ball. So much is telegraphed to the viewer in the opener that very little is a surprise when it finally appears. In any event, the Wraith is anchored in a small island cove for repairs and resupply, with Niddler flying overhead, carrying a sack of soil for Tula. Some of the soil spills onto the freshly swabbed deck, irritating Ioz, who doesn’t see the need to pot plants on the ship. While Tula explains that fresh herbs are nothing to complain about, her hand starts to glow with a mysterious energy. Teron interrupts with interest, which Tula brushes off so she can change her dirty clothes. As she leaves, Teron watches a seedling grow quickly in one of the pots, surrounded by the same energy that was around Tula’s hand.

Konk and two other dagron riders sit nearby, watching from cover. Konk chooses to move off and plan an attack on the Wraith, while the viewer is left wondering when and how he got to be where he is.

Ren is prepping to leave the cove until Tula comes from below decks dressed in silks. The boys all gape at her as she explains her change in wardrobe. Niddler distracts everyone with some comic antics, drawing Tula away from the men. Ioz and Ren remark to each other how different Tula seems of late and we the viewer (and this re-watcher) feel that plot hammer strike hard.

Niddler and Tula gather fresh water from the island. While doing so, Tula’s hand starts glowing again, as she fills a skin. The fish in the stream surround her hand, drawing comments from Niddler. Tula is slightly shocked at what’s happening, more so when Teron appears to tell her she has the elemental fire of an ecomancer within her. Tula rejects this so-called “power to control nature”, having been trained a warrior.

Konk and his men, repositioned, spy on them. Konk would love to return Teron to Bloth, but his dagrons make enough noise to alert Tula. Niddler flies off with Teron with Konk following. The two other pirates charge Tula, who dismounts them quickly. She issues commands with her newfound ecomantic energy to the dagrons, and is amazed they listen to her.

As Konk chases Niddler and Teron, they are spied simultaneously by Bloth, on the rapidly approaching Maelstrom, and Ioz, on the apparently departed Wraith. Why the Wraith would set sail without three of their shipmates isn’t explained, but hey – who’s complaining? Tula arrives riding a dagron and bathed in her energy, surprising everyone. Ren and Bloth expound heavily how much Tula has changed (in the last five minutes of the show), where the plot hammer crashes down again, practically audible.

The air battle continues, showcasing all sorts of new abilities for Tula. After Konk’s defeat, Teron talks Tula and Niddler into flying to the nearby island of Andorus, a grey wasteland that Tula doesn’t even recognize as her home. Teron expounds on what was of Andorus, depressing Tula as she’s reminded of the reason of her mission to return the ecomancer to the island. Niddler is sent away so Teron can bring Tula to the Vivitree, a mighty plant that only supreme ecomancers are allowed to touch and use. Teron believes the two of them may be able to use it to revive Andorus, so they enter it, drawing upon their powers. Doing so, energy flows forth, making portions of the island green and living again, reviving the grey, dead areas.

Ioz and Ren finally arrive, commenting on the desiccation of the island, only to be trumped by Niddler dumping an armload of melons on to deck. Ren is confused as the compass starts to glow, though it doesn’t point to any specific direction. At that point, Konk is fished out of the drink by Bloth and subsequently sent back to search for Teron.

Ren is in disbelief as Niddler tells him of Tula becoming an ecomancer. Ioz is awed by the powerful forces at work. Niddler continues to eat as they all head inland. At the Vivitree, Teron continues to instruct Tula until she comes in contact with an evil presence that draws the life energy from her. She topples out of the Vivitree and into Ren’s arms, aged beyond her years. Teron explains she’s been attacked by the Blight, an old enemy of the ecomancers, long thought destroyed. He revives and re-energizes Tula, extrapolating that the Dark Water may have restored the Blight. He then surprised everyone with the fact that he was one of Primus’ captains, hiding the Third Treasure of Rule underneath Andorus. (Plot hammer… SMASH!) The compass isn’t pointing in any particular direction because the treasure has a protection spell on it, allowing only those with the blood of Primus to see and locate it when alone. Ren descends by himself into the underground caverns of Andorus to find the treasure, Teron and Tula return to the Vivitree to give mystic aid and above, Konk views the whole thing from his dagron.

Teron calls out to Ren as he discovers much in the way of death and decay, letting him know the two ecomancers are watching from above. Ioz and Niddler argue as they wait, helpless. They aren’t out of the action too long, as Konk arrives with Bloth to attack them.

Just as Ren remarks on Teron’s ability to hide things, he locates a doorway with a keyhole that fits his broken sword. Behind the door is the treasure and – SURPRISE! – the Blight. The Blight attacks Ren in the form of a lizard made of the blackened roots of dead Andorus. It sounds a lot like every nasty critter ever voiced by Frank Welker, since it is. Ren is having difficulty and calls Tula for help, since Teron has conveniently passed out. Tula uses her powers to trap the Blight and return Ren to the surface. Unfortunatley, he’s deposited right at the feet of Bloth.

Captured and caged, Ioz, Niddler and Ren are interrogated by Bloth as they hang from a cliff. He wants Teron badly. Ren won’t give up his location, so Bloth proceeds to cut the rope suspending their cage. Tula appears, challenging Bloth, who has his men attack her. As she distracts the pirates, Ren breaks out of the cage. Tula defeats the pirates soundly, showing off her prowess at swordplay. Soon after, she uses her new powers to drop all the pirates off the cliff and into the sea, shocking Bloth.

Teron sends the Wraith off with his blessing, as he remains behind to restore Andorus.

Noy Jitat! Quite a bit of the language of Mer in this episode, with Noy Jitat spoken most often. Chongo Longo is spoken for the first time by Ioz, as Niddler drops dirt onto his clean deck. It’s also used by Konk later, when he mentions Bloth. So, it can be used as a description or a complaint. Interesting.

Mutant Scum – While there is little new in ANDORUS, you’ll notice the ‘dagroth’ is now known as ‘dagron’. This actually started to occur in VICTORY, but I held off on replacing it until this episode. I’m curious as to what caused the change, though it could be postulated that it’s just another spelling of dragon. In the attack on Niddler by Konk, he uses a strange little octopus to grapple the monkeybird. It isn’t all that odd in appearance compared to earlier (and later) creatures, though I do believe we get to see it’s like again in future episodes.

When do we Get to Eat? Niddler… oh, Niddler. As the first of the episodes after the initiating story arc, Niddler gets dumbed down to cowardly, cringing, comic relief. His insatiable hunger is ramped up here, with the first mention of the minga melon. While his sneakiness and deviancy from the first five episodes were being replaced by his friendship and devotion to Ren, in this episode he becomes nearly pathetic, literally wringing his hands in the cage when captured. He wants to give up Teron to Bloth, which has Ren erupt in anger. A sad destruction of a character that has really grown. From here on in, Niddler is akin to Dr. Smith from LOST IN SPACE (the television series, not the film).

It’s all in the Art – Wow, do we get nothing new here. Andorus and the blight of her nature is something, but not really all that great. The animation is fair but not great or noteworthy. What can be seen is Mantus and Joat (more on him later) as two of the dagron riders with Konk, a mistake made worse when Mantus is seen two scenes later at the wheel of the Maelstrom.  Likely the best thing in the show is the interesting difference in the two ecomancers as they join with the Vivitree. Tula has a much more overt and pretty effect to her power compared to Teron’s attachment to the soil with roots grown out of him. Fun to watch, nevertheless.

ANDORUS is poor in the rewatch, getting two out of five minga melons from me. While Tula’s added power is nice and interesting, the jackhammer way it’s pushed upon the viewer is uncomplimentary.  As mentioned in the review, it’s all about the plot, less about development of the story or character. This could have been a great two-part story, with a bit more on the Blight, more interaction with Bloth and definitely more reasoning as to why Tula has these powers. From the standpoint I have now, it seems obvious that Tula needed something to be more interesting. Though that may be true, it’s handled far too quickly. Other flaws? Konk is now an idiot, as opposed to a clever unfortunate. So much of an idiot, he can’t even lead his own captain to where the Vivitree and Teron are. Bloth also has the Third Treasure after capturing Ren, never actually relinquishing it when he falls into the water. Meh, it’s okay, no one will notice. Will things pick up? You bet.

Pirates of Dark Water Rewatch will return next week. Until then, read this:  http://ctboom.com/for-ct-by-ct-in-defense-of-rob-zombie/

Pirates of Dark Water Rewatch: Episode 5 "Victory"

Episode 5: Victory

Original Airdate: March 1, 1991

Written by: Kristina Luckey and Laren Bright

Directed by: Don Lusk (Supervising Direction by Ray Patterson)

Continuing directly from BETRAYAL, the concluding chapter of this five part serial begins with Bloth congratulating Tula for bringing him what his own men couldn’t: the First of the Treasures of Rule. Tula and Bloth negotiate a price, after which she’ll turn over the compass as well. Ren and Niddler watch from below, in the Constrictus Pit. Ren refuses to believe Tula would throw in with Bloth and watches patiently.

From behind a nearby prison door on the main deck, the strange man called Teron, wide eyed and crazed, warns of coming Dark Water. Bloth calls to his lookout, a pirate in an elevated ball turret. With nothing to be seen, Bloth berates Teron, who claims only he has the vision to see the approaching Dark Water.

Behind Ren and Niddler, the Constrictus appears, chasing them from one end of the pit to another. Above, Konk begs to be released, now that Bloth has the treasure. Laughing evilly, Bloth drops Konk into the pit and Mantus repeats his standing bet on the survival of their fellow pirate. Ren assists Konk out of the pit muck, who is surprised, having thought Ren dead on Pandawa (see episode 3, BREAK UP). The Constrictus interrupts, tiny Konk attacking it without hesitation. Ren grabs Konk off the back of the creature and they and Niddler head down a smaller sewer pipe to escape. Exiting to an inner complex of smaller shipbuilding (or dismantling), the group is surprised as the Constrictus squeezes itself through the pipe and continuing the chase. Ren is receives a glancing strike from a poisonous stinger and Niddler flies in to defend him, distracting the Constrictus long enough for Ren to make a counterattack. A ship frame is dropped from above and the crane that held the hull captures the Constrictus, hauling it off the deck of the Maelstrom. Sneaky Konk locates another passage, with Niddler and a wounded Ren following after. Konk finds his way back to the main deck, though he gets stuck in a vent behind the pirates betting on his survival, around the Constrictus Pit. Konk gets an assist from Niddler biting his backside and he runs to Mantus to report Ren being below decks. Mantus isn’t listening and neither are his fellow shipmates, who assault Konk for ruining their bets. Mantus collects his winnings, extremely pleased in Konk’s survival but wholly uninterested in his beating from the other pirates.

In the Cramadorm, Avagon is trying to organize the other prisoners into a revolt when Niddler calls for help from within a nearby sewer grate. Avagon hauls a feverish, muttering Ren from the sewerway, recognizing the wound immediately. She applies a curative as Ren continues to talk feverish nonsense.

Teron, still in his cell, pokes at a globe of Mer and grumbles in parallel with Ren. Bloth shouts at the ecomancer through the cell door window, demanding favorable winds. Teron argues with Bloth, saying his meddling with nature is adding to the damage being done to their world. Bloth counters, explaining that with the Treasures of Rule, he can renew the planet, threatening to throw Teron’s bed of “Andorus soil” overboard if he refuses to follow through with the order. Outdone, Teron uses his staff to calm the sea.

Zoolie and Ioz (remember them?) wake from their slumber and run to the deck of the Wraith. They spot Tula aboard the Maelstrom and make a quick deal between themselves before heading to Bloth’s ship. Apparently, the gas has them forgetting they’ve already made a deal in the last chapter.

Ren enters a fever dream while clasping the Second Treasure in his fist. An image of his father explains the prophetic rhyme seen at the Abbey of Galdabar in THE QUEST, acknowledging that the creeping Dark Water must be defeated or all of Mer will be lost to it. It’s hinted that Bloth wants the 13 Treasures to control the Dark Water and that they can also be used to destroy it.

Avagon continues to plead her case to the other prisoners as Ren awakes, his fever now broken. They aren’t overly willing to help Ren, but finally are convinced and join as the heroes make their way through the sewers.

Bloth is in his cabin, excited to be getting the compass. He acts like a desperate bachelor, attracted by the beautiful Tula and her deceptive motives. Flirting heavily with her, Bloth even goes so far as to offer Mantus’ position on the Maelstrom to Tula! The creep factor is high, so after their exchange of goods, Tula leaves to count her gold. Nearby, Ren and Niddler have found their way onto the main deck. They spot Tula and follow her as she heads directly to Teron’s cell. Inside, Teron is resting on his bed of soil, feeding from it through root-like protuberances from his body. Tula has been sent to rescue the ecomancer, who recognizes her. She is also from Andorus and their homeland has been suffering from Dark Water decay and they need their ecomantic healer back. Sadly, Andorus has been swallowed by the Dark Water since Tula left their homeland, or so Teron tells her. He’s also just a bit miffed with her that she betrayed Ren when the Treasures of Rule can do more for Mer than one overworked ecomancer. Ren overhears the conversation and understands that his Quest has a bigger depth to it than he was aware of. Niddler knocks over a stack of food barrels, drawing a surprised Tula (and no one else, oddly) to them. She brings Ren to Teron, who wants to free him, knowing that Avagon’s people will soon start their revolt below decks. Tula plots how she’s going to regain the compass and treasure from Bloth just as the lookout announces spotting Dark Water.

Zoolie and Bloth board the Maelstrom while her sailors are distracted by the Dark Water. Mantus informs his captain of the sighting, where the pirate lord explains he can use the First Treasure as a deterrent. Ioz surprises them both with a barrage of arrows from a dragonbow, pinning them both to the deck. Bloth frees himself fairly easily and engages Ioz in combat.

On the main deck, Zoolie is defending himself against many pirates with little difficulty. Mantus spots him from the captain’s cabin and attacks. Zoolie falls back, admitting defeat to the aggressive first mate, but not before snatching up Mantus’ chest of gold and leaping overboard, chained servant still attached! True to a previous situation (in DISHONOR), gold still floats and Zoolie swims away with the chest, an enraged Mantus watching helplessly.

Ioz is defeated by a nimble Bloth, who has him captured and tied to a mast. Ren, Avagon and the other prisoners lay undetected nearby, waiting for Tula to flirt with Bloth – the plan she formed to retrieve the treasures. Ioz, incensed by Tula’s actions, breaks free from his bonds and attacks Bloth to get to his former shipmate. Their plan broken, Avagon and the prisoners attack the pirates of the Maelstrom. Ioz continues his attack, now focused on Tula until Ren steps in, surprising Ioz and ending his angry tirade. A quick reunion is all that’s needed to smooth over past deeds; Ioz and Ren press to regain the treasures from Bloth and Tula rushes to Teron’s cell, gathering up his special soil.

During the revolt, Avagon is pushed over the rail by Mantus. Ren rushes to save her, as the Dark Water is surrounding the Maelstrom. A surprised, angry Bloth attacks them both as they try to climb back on deck. Knocking Ren aside, he grabs Avagon to dispatch her, but drops her overboard when Ren sets Bloth afire from burning pitch. Avagon lands directly into the Dark Water and is consumed (mostly offscreen). Angry, Ren doubles his attack on Bloth, which is disrupted by the Dark Water grabbing the Maelstrom, pulling her into a heavy list. Ren and Bloth both tumble over the rail and into the Dark Water – or rather, onto it. They are both briefly able to stand upon the inky stuff, at least until it starts to grab at them as well.

Tula recovers both the compass and the First Treasure, dropped by Bloth as he went over the side. She wants to save Ren but is pulled away by Ioz, who believes he’s lost to the evil blackness. Oddly, the pirates of the Maelstrom seem to know more, throwing grapple lines to Bloth, rescuing him. Shortly after, the Wraith approaches, piloted by Zoolie. Ioz and Tula try to reach Ren but are not close enough as he starts to be drawn down by the Dark Water. Ren attempts to throw them the Second Treasure until Teron calls out to him to thrust it into the vileness. The power of the gem dissolves the Dark Water, leaving Ren to be picked up by the Wraith. Teron is lifted from the Maelstrom by Niddler, who head to the Wraith as the pirates are putting out a deck fire. Zoolie abandons the crew of the Wraith, leaving with his newly gained booty and wishing them luck.

The reunited crew of the Wraith has gained a new purpose and a new heading, a new ally and a lofty goal. Sailing off into the sunset, fair winds ahead, High Adventure continues.

Noy Jitat! Not many new words of Mer are brought up in VICTORY. Bloth says the curse once, as does Konk. A few new creatures are mentioned as insults, such as Ioz calling Tula a ‘dartha eel’, likely a slippery fish of dubious reliability. Niddler topples over a barrel of pickled goyja, which are a fish he seems to like. Regardless, when Bloth says noy jitat, you tend to think that when he says it, get the hell out of the way.

Mutant Scum – The story for the conclusion is dense, so there isn’t a huge amount of new critters, either. Avagon has a ‘dreem’ brought to her to heal Ren; a globulous creature with no eyes. It absorbs the poison from Ren, its skin color darkening as it does. It’s kept in a cage, so maybe it’s slightly dangerous, as well. The Constrictus gets a lot of screen time, size changing to fit the needs of the story. Konk also makes mention that it isn’t a single creature, there are more somewhere on Mer.

When Do We Get to Eat? Niddler shows quite a bit of bravery here. He defends Ren from the Constrictus in a great scene, against Ren’s wishes. He also doesn’t want to be left behind during the prisoner revolt, excited to be a part of the action. It’s likely that his actions on Pandawa have given him a higher purpose, but I’d like to think that he’s just that good of a character to begin with. That said, his stomach does fuel some of his character, as well. His desire to get at the pickled goyja fish gets them noticed by Tula (though no one else). He seemingly has made a deal with Teron for a year supply of a fruit for rescuing him from the Maelstrom, a point that does come up again in later episodes.

It’s all in the Art – Most of VICTORY is spent aboard the Maelstrom, so more detail is given to that rather large vessel. The backgrounds are amazing, as usual. The design of things on the Maelstrom is amazing, as usual. The animation is, like the previous three episodes, uneven in places. Tula seems to have gotten animated by whoever did Avagon in BETRAYAL, as she is fluid and gorgeously rendered. She stands out in places though, as Mantus, Konk and some of the other pirates are off-model at times. Most notable are the scenes in Bloth’s cabin, though. His decorations make for more than just scenery and really show the creativity being added to keep the animation from being static.

Ahoy, skarpango pirate! Officially welcome aboard, Teron. The ecomancer will be around for a bit, handled admirably in the position of sage and advisor by actor Dan O’Herlihy, a veteran of substantial pedigree, including being an Oscar nominee (in 1954, for THE ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON CRUESOE). Big developments are coming, so keep an eye on this guy.

Watching VICTORY again after such a long time had me recalling how much I liked it then. The death of Avagon was such a big deal to me the first time it aired, I didn’t remember it mostly happened off screen. Seeing it again, some large part of guilt could have been placed on Ren, as it was his action that caused Bloth to drop her into the Dark Water. Does this play out as the series progresses? I’m sure we’ll find out. Zoolie’s quick in-and-out was a bit overdone, as I believe I thought then. Why bring him in to just dump him so quickly? Well, he does make another appearance, so maybe there’s more going on for further plot development. The Quest is solidified, with the threat of Dark Water stressed more so here. It was a slow build from the first episode but we still don’t really have an idea of what it is. At least we have a better idea of what the Treasures of Rule are supposed to be, even if it isn’t detailed. It’s not a bad thing for a story of this nature. It’s ambitious and you can’t fault it for that. Few American animated series have ever tried something as intense and serialized as this, especially from Hanna-Barbera. For all the glaring holes this chapter has, such as the pirates of the Maelstrom being unobservant schmoes, Zoolie’s quick coming and going and the exact size and placement of the Maelstrom, it’s a good conclusion to the premise.

What really pushes the episode over the top though, is the amazing acting talent of Brock Peters. His incredible nuances and inflections just motivate every scene Bloth is in, particularly that of the meeting of the pirate and Tula in his cabin. Watching Bloth fawn over Tula like a horny bachelor, kicking a dead rat out of sight to keep up appearances is both hysterical and icky. Jodi Benson holds her own here, as well as the rest of the episode, as we get to the truth of what Tula has been up to since DISHONOR. I also think that when Brock Peters put his talent in there, everyone stepped it up to match. Not one of these actors is a slouch and I don’t know for a fact any of them recorded with each other but you definitely get the feeling they enjoyed the characters they were portraying. The accents, the inflections, the words given to them to speak elevated this show.

For an episode, I’m being generous and giving VICTORY four out of five minga melons. For the conclusion to the opening arc, I’m giving the first five episodes FIVE out of five minga melons. It’s not without flaws, but the ambition and creativity outweigh them by a long, heavy mile.

Pirates of Dark Water Rewatch "Betrayal"

Episode 4: Betrayal

Original airdate: February 28^th 1991

Written by: Lane Raichert and Bill Matheny

Directed by: Don Lusk

Continuing from the events of BREAK UP (and the two preceding episodes), Ioz and Tula chase Konk and the Lugg Brothers to Jandatown, a seaport of rogues and pirates. Tula claims “only the scum of the sea drop anchor” at Jandatown, which irritates Ioz who remembers it fondly. Ioz is pleased they’ll be able to recover the stolen items from Konk and then find the remaining Treasures of Rule, though this has Tula calling Ioz out on his greed, rather than his promise to finish Ren’s quest.

At the Maelstrom, where Ren and Niddler were swallowed up by the ship’s huge maw, dagroths fly by, one carrying a man by his leg. There are no harnesses, so it appears they are wild and not the trained creatures seen in THE QUEST, though this could just be an inaccuracy in the animation, considering later developments. Still covered in borca paste, a result of the wreck, Ren and Niddler negotiate the passages deep in the bowels of the Maelstrom. The interior of the ship conveys that it’s been made up of the bones or carcass of some long-dead, massive beast. Water flows through the base of the ship, with tunnels, catwalks and passages visible during the heroes’ progress. Niddler has some knowledge of the ship, having been Bloth’s slave before meeting Ren, though he gets confused when opening a door that just contains bones and skulls. Seconds after, both are grabbed by clamps that drop down from above, hauling them into cages that are then winched to the main deck. Greeted by the new jailer, the last having met his demise in THE QUEST, he hauls their suspended cages with gaff hooks to Bloth.

Mantus and Bloth are watching a pair of dagroths with riders, learning that Mantus is the man in charge of training new recruits. Hearkening back to earlier in the episode, these riders don’t fare so well, being thrown or dismounted in flight. Bloth is disappointed in the results, leaving Mantus to his work. He approaches a man in a cage hanging over the side of the Maelstrom that he calls Teron. Teron is waving a two-pronged staff over the water as Bloth is demanding clear skies from the prisoner. Is Teron a weatherman? A magician? Diviner? Discovering that will take another episode.

Mantus, having rejoined Bloth, and the pirate lord both notice the smell of borca paste, which must be a pretty foul thing indeed, if Bloth doesn’t like it. The jailer has approached Bloth with his two new captures and inquires to any need Bloth has of them. Ren and Niddler are virtually ignored by both Mantus and Bloth to make veiled threats to the new master of the brig. Quickly withdrawing, the jailer deposits both prisoners into the Cramadorm, a hold within the confines of the Maelstrom.

Remarking on their lack of discovery, Niddler licks some of the borca paste off himself, disliking it and redoubling the thought that it’s a foul substance, indeed. A creature from beneath a grate Ren stands upon tries to grab him, prompting Niddler to react quickly, hauling Ren away from the grate. He explains that he succeeded in surviving for so long during his last stay by keeping away from the sewerways.

Shouts and cries coming from nearby draw the pair to a crowd of prisoners standing around a makeshift arena. A mutant and a white-haired woman square off to fight, to the raucous calls of the other prisoners. Avagon, the woman, fights the mutant with a calm ease. Even so, Ren wants to intercede, though Niddler stops him, as it’s not his fight and he doesn’t understand the rules of the Cramadorm prisoners. Ren tries anyway and is restrained by a large woman with a bone through her nose. She thinks he wishes to challenge Avagon, who she’s rooting for.

Avagon has little trouble throwing the mutant around, which has him scrabbling in the trash on the floor after one such throw. He pulls out a large knife, obviously planted beforehand, to the surprise of the other prisoners. Metal weapons are apparently scarce in the Cramadorm. Ren throws his broken sword into the arena for Avagon to use, which she defiantly flicks away from her with one bare foot. With one last deft move, she defeats the mutant and wins the fight, retaining her leadership role amongst the prisoners. Ren tries to speak to her, amazed at her fighting prowess. She puts Ren into an arm lock and marches him to where his weapon landed. Calling him thief, she demands to know where he got it, unhappy with Niddler’s answer of “his boot”. Ren explains it was a gift of his fathers, interesting Avagon further. Leading the pair to a private chamber, she shows Ren a carving in the bulkhead covered with a cloth. It’s the symbol of Octopon, and Ren lowers his head in reverence. Now believing Ren is the son of Primus, she’s exultant, thinking the king is still alive and Ren was sent to rescue the prisoners. Ren tells Avagon that Primus is dead and while she weeps and steels herself to the knowledge, Ren peppers her with questions about the treasures, the compass, the quest and his father. Avagon shuts Ren up and tells the tale of Primus, the how and why he became imprisoned by Bloth, and more.

In a flashback sequence, a young Primus and Avagon hand over infant Ren to his caretaker, the woman seen at the lighthouse in THE QUEST, then set sail in four ships from Octopon. Also aboard are other people, Primus’ closest confidants in his search for the Thirteen Treasures of Rule, the power of which only he knew details of. Primus located the first seven of the treasures and the flotilla was headed into an unexplored region of sea to find the rest when they ran into Bloth and the Maelstrom. With three vessels destroyed quickly, Primus sends the treasures and away with his friends, delaying Bloth in the assault. Primus and Avagon were captured, allowing the others to escape and disperse the treasures.

Niddler is the first to remark on the story, now understanding why Bloth destroyed Octopon as well as his frustrated screams into the night about the treasures. Ren feels he was also held prisoner during that time, not ever knowing his heritage and working in the lighthouse. Avagon explains that Ren was kept safe, just so he could come to the point they were at, right then, which has Ren making a new vow on his fathers’ blood. Unfortunately, the only way out of the Cramadorm is through the sewerways, upsetting Niddler.

Since no one considers security inside the Cramadorm, none of our heroes notice that they’re being spied upon by Avagon’s recent conquest in the Arena. He’s relaying information to the brigmaster through a small hole in the bulkhead regarding Ren. The keeper is excited, thinking he’ll get a generous boon from Bloth, and heads to the Cramadorm with some troops. Just as Avagon opens a sewer grate for Ren and Niddler to escape into, the keeper and his men arrive, forcing Ren to push Niddler into the sewer ahead of him. Promising Avagon to return for her and the others, Ren jumps in, to the dismay of the brigmaster. A call from above has all head topside; Jandatown is in sight. The keeper decides to stay silent on Ren being aboard, believing he’ll likely die in the sewerways anyway. Avagon calls for a meeting of the prisoners to plan an escape.

Jandatown is a walled and protected harbor of ruffians, cutthroats and mercenaries; Mer’s version of Tortuga or Port Royal. At Game House, a large entertainment complex and tavern, a red-haired, genial rogue named Zoolie works the door, plucking weapons from pirates as they enter. Konk and the Lugg Brothers head into Game House, where Zoolie collects their weapons – Konk having his forcibly removed.

Tula and Ioz peer through the Game House windows, working out a plan to retrieve the compass and treasure. Tula enters the building and approaches Konk, who orders the Luggs to attack her. As she keeps them at bay, Ioz is crawling beneath the floor of Game House as part of their plan.

In the sewerways of the Maelstrom, Ren and Niddler try to find their way through the passages of low, brown water and even lower ceilings. Both this and the last scene is meant to convey a comedic element, with matching dialogue from Ioz and Niddler and similar commentary from Ren and Tula. Likely added to lighten the overall tone, it does little else but remind the viewer that this is a heroic cartoon and not just a dreary adventure of dark passages.

Continuing to distract the Luggs, Tula tosses a bag of coins over their heads, drawing a large group of sailors grabbing for the money. Just as Tula and Konk are to face off, Zoolie puts an end to the melee wanting them to take their disruption elsewhere. Unfortunately for the big plan of Tula and Ioz’s, Zoolie steps right on the floorboards Ioz is trying to push up from below. Ioz and Zoolie trade barbs as Ioz works the boards up. Konk uses the distraction to escape with the Luggs, once again spotlighting how new our adventurers are to working together. Tula is surprised to discover Ioz and Zoolie know each other, having shared some past ventures. Tula spots Konk has snuck out and she and Ioz begin chase, Ioz believing the treasures to be cursed. Ioz tosses out a goodbye to Zoolie, who stops the pair, showing that he has mysteriously snatched the compass and treasure. Explaining he took them as down payment on Konk’s bar tab – how and when is questionable – Zoolie offers himself up as a hand to Ioz, having “grown tired of civilization.” On their way out, Tula stops in the weapon closet and steals a pistol with a glass barrel, unbeknownst to Ioz and Zoolie.

On the Wraith, Zoolie, Ioz and Tula celebrate their new partnership, drinking the juice of a melon. Tula shocks the two men by pulling her pistol on them, exclaiming she has a plan of her own to follow. Pulling the trigger, a gas fires from the gun, putting both men down. Stealing the treasure and compass, Tula heads back to Jandatown, which is in the middle of a crisis. A nearby sailor tells her Bloth is on the hunt for new crew when asked, pointing at the approaching Maelstrom.

Ren and Niddler run afoul of the Constrictus in the sewerways, which Ren distracts by feeding it some other critter that lives there. Reaching a juncture point of the sewers, the pair hear and spot Bloth far above, who stands on the surface of another grate on the main deck. There, a large, muscled woman carrying a barrel offers Bloth the return of one of his belongings, dumping Konk out roughly. Her reward for the return of Konk is to be the newest dagroth rider recruit, something she didn’t expect and does not want. Konk tells Bloth that Ren is dead, killed in the revolt on Pandawa (in BREAK UP). Asked about the compass and treasure, Konk ashamedly reveals he lost them to Ioz and Tula, drawing Bloth’s ire. For his failure, Bloth intends to throw Konk back to the Constrictus, which draws a crowd of bettors from amongst the pirates of the Maelstrom. Ren is pleased to hear Ioz and Tula have regained the treasures as he and Niddler watch from below.

The betting increases quickly, more so when Mantus offers his chest of gold nuggets, carried by a dwarfish humanoid chained to it. Mantus bets on Konk’s survival, to the amusement of Bloth. Mantus feels it’s a safe bet, as only Ren and “most of Konk” are the only two to have ever escaped the Constrictus Pit. Bloth orders men to search for Ioz and is just about to drop Konk into the pit when Tula boards the Maelstrom. She tosses the First Treasure of Rule to Bloth, who releases Konk to the deck. She wants to do business with the pirate lord, which has Ren ominously commenting that she won’t live to see their business concluded. Behind Ren and Niddler, the Constrictus slowly emerges from the sewage water as BETRAYAL fades to black…

Noy Jitat! The language of Mer only lightly garnishes this episode, with the new jail master using quite a bit of the lingo. He calls Ren “Jitataboy”, which must be some derogatory term. Jitat is used in so many different ways it reminds you of the Smurfs. Smurf this, smurf that, that’s smurf, smurftastic… all that. Even so, it’s still a cool term that any good writer can play with. On this show, many do. Borca paste must have some deeper meaning in its description, too. The jailer uses the epithet, “By Borca!” when he discovers Ren is aboard the Maelstrom. Sadly, the series ended before learning what it really means. “Smool brains” is used a multitude of times this episode and Konk is called a “naja dog” by the woman who returns him to Bloth. Mer is a wonderful place for slurs, for sure.

Mutant Scum – Not a whole lot of new critters this time around. The mutant Avagon fights is the most prevalent, a hunchback with long, thin arms and legs. Not many of the pirates and sailors in Jandatown are all that different, but a good many of those in the Game House have a significant Ralph Bakshi feel to them, which is fun. There are the critters that live in the sewerways of the Maelstrom, two of which were new: the snake that attempted to grab Ren and the bugs that Ren feeds to the Constrictus. The feel of the alien world is still gaining ground, here. The character designs are enough for this episode to keep that going.

When Do We Get To Eat? Niddler has a great portion of BETRAYAL, having spent time aboard the Maelstrom before and trying to keep Ren from getting into too much trouble. I like the comfort level Ren and Niddler now share together, particularly strong now, after the events of BREAK UP. His most culinary dialogue comes when eating the borca paste, and most characteristic, in his introduction to Avagon: “Once a well-fed monkeybird.” Niddler is starting to be squeezed into a comic-relief character, but his size, ability and savvy shows through with the right script.

It’s all in the Art – The background artists of this episode when nuts in design. The interior shots of the Maelstrom are crazy big, with rib cages, vertebrae, and other large bones protruding out of every passage seen. It impressive and yet, still porous as a Star Wars prequel plot. Viewers get the impression the Maelstrom is HUGE in size at times, yet it makes no sense as to structure. Sewerways run beneath everything, then converge to the Constrictus Pit with no thought as to depth or ceiling height. The Maelstrom itself seems larger and smaller as the story dictates, which is the problem with animation of this style. It can’t be helped, mostly. The design of Jandatown escalates things, though. Its walled section that surrounds the bay and buildings along the mountainous island make it a place you want to see again. Also, someone loves strong women on this show. Avagon’s arena fight and subsequent characterization are so well drawn and animated, you can’t help but want this woman around longer. That and the large women seen in BETRAYAL makes you wonder if maybe the show was trying too hard to draw female viewers in – or to make boys see women as something more than fluff.

Ahoy, skarpango pirate! Welcome aboard the Wraith, friend Zoolie! Voiced by veteran talent Dick Gautier (correct me if I'm rong, please), Zoolie is a treat to see, as one of the more human looking pirates. Ioz’s hair makes him look so strange sometimes, it’s hard to remember he isn’t a mutant. The friendly banter between him and Ioz make him a welcome addition, even if his reasons for joining the crew are suspect. Jessica Walter (Arrested Development, Archer) takes a serious turn here as Avagon, putting her all into a brief and heavily emotion-laden appearance. Part of her performance is the reason you want to see Avagon again, which is a definite.

The plot just keeps hammering the viewer here, with even more being revealed to draw the eye and ear. While there are a few flubs in execution (just HOW did Zoolie grab the treasures, and WHEN), other mysteries are there for the exploration. With the knowledge that Primus had initially discovered the first seven of the Treasures of Rule, it’s just a matter of recovering the next five before heading into all new territory. What they do is still to be found out, as well as the other confidants of Ren’s father. A few are seen, one of which, the priest at the Abbey of Galdabar, we’re aware of. Who are the others? Maybe when Avagon is rescued we’ll find out! Excitement! Also, what’s Tula up to? Who’s this Teron fellow that seems to hold some power over the weather? How did Ren get the broken sword of his father when Primus is seen still holding it when captured? Ahh, you have to love sly reveals.

BETRAYAL moves quickly, feeds information at the precedent pace and the performances from all the actors is starting to hit a stride. I can’t get enough of Brock Peter’s enjoyment in his portrayal of Bloth. To hear him and Peter Cullen hash it out together on screen is ear candy of the first order. On a rewatch scale of minga melons, I’d have to give episode 4 three melons, partly because I know what’s coming and partly because I know what isn’t. Full disclosure with the final part of the first leg next week.