- Characters: the Manhattan Clan, Eliza Maza, Matt Bluestone, David Xanatos, Demona, Coldstone
- Enemy(ies) : Demona, Xanatos, Coldstone
Demona and Xanatos combine science and sorcery together to resurrect Goliath's rookery brother Coldstone, who blames Goliath for the deaths of the entire clan and goes on a city-wide rampage.
Demona returns in the Season 2 episode "The Mirror" and Coldstone comes back in "Legion".
This episode contains the following tropes:
- An Aesop: One that emphasizes The Power of Friendship in the form of the importance of community (in which Goliath decides that the whole of Manhattan will be his "castle" and pronounces that the Manhattan Clan will protect all citizens of the city from then on.) and the importance of finding a fulfilling purpose in life (see Living is more than Surviving below for details of the latter).
- Armor-Piercing Question: In response to Living Is More than Surviving listed below.Coldstone: [to Goliath] And what do you protect?
- Bittersweet Ending: Goliath goes through the emotional wringer, but the Manhattan Clan finds a true purpose.
- Broken Masquerade: Narrowly averted with the Manhattan Clan and Demona, Xanatos, and Coldstone moving their fight to another, less crowded area to avoid drawing as much attention to themselves as possible.
- Company Cross References: Bambi is mentioned by name to be the movie that the younger Manhattan Clan members are watching.
- Continuity Nod: Numerous references are made to prior episodes. These include:
- At the end of the preceding episode "Her Brother's Keeper", it started to snow. In this episode, the snow has covered New York City.
- The spell Demona uses to "reawaken" Coldstone is one that she stole from the Grimorum Arcanorum in "Temptation". Also in reference to that episode, Brooklyn sarcastically asks her if she had any spells to save her this time.
- The events of "The Edge" are subtly referred to. Goliath addresses Xanatos while the latter is in his exo-frame under the assumption that it is a red-armored Steel Clan robot that is being controlled remotely. It is not until Xanatos removes his helmet in the battle at the George Washington Bridge that the gargoyles discover the truth.
- Cross-Referenced Titles: With the pilot "Awakening"
- Heroic Vow:Goliath: This island, Manhattan, this is our castle. From this day forward, we protect all who live here, human and gargoyle alike.
- I Always Wanted to Say That: Once Coldstone reanimates:Xanatos: It's alive! ALIVE! (to Demona, grinning hugely) I've always wanted to say that.
- Knight in Sour Armor: One less notable character exemplifies this. Mr. Jaffe, an old friend of Matt's who is consistently robbed, continues to stay in business despite that difficulty. Goliath wonders why Mr. Jaffe doesn't leave, to which Elisa explains that providing his community with food is more important to him than hiding away. Goliath decides to follow Mr. Jaffe's example by adopting Manhattan as his "Castle".
- Living Is More than Surviving: Discussed in this exchange:Coldstone: You said that destroying my brother is the only way to survive. Is that all there is for us, mere survival?
Demona: Isn't that enough?
Goliath: No. Gargoyles protect. It is our nature. Our purpose. To lose that is to be corrupt. Empty. Lifeless. - Manipulative Bastard: Once again, Demona does this though this time she deceives Othello/Coldstone.
- No Name Given: Zigzagged. The light bluish skinned, horned gargoyle (voiced by Michael Dorn), as with other members of the Wyvern clan, had no name. He is given the name "Coldstone" by Demona after his resurrection, though he is referred to in the credits as "Othello". Revelations as to the constitution of Coldstone's being in the second season later present further complications.
- Rage Against the Reflection: When Coldstone sees his image in a mirror, he shatters it in disgust.
- Series Fauxnale: Given the unique nature of Gargoyles in comparison to Disney's other franchises, the creators were not sure what fate would befall this series and thus made this season finale in such a way as to be a potential grand ending in the event that it wasn't renewed.
- Shout-Out:
- A subtle Shout-Out to Shakespeare is made in the form of naming the newly introduced gargoyle as "Othello" and later makes more sense when the backstory for this character is elaborated on.
- As soon as Coldstone begins to lift himself up from the table, Xanatos quotes the line of "It's Alive!" from Frankenstein (1931) and then swiftly saying that he always wanted to say that.
- Taking the Bullet: Coldstone dives in front of Goliath when Demona opens fire.
