- Story Arc: The Labyrinth, Brooklyn's leadership
- Characters: Brooklyn, Hudson, Broadway, Lexington, Talon, Fang, Claw, Maggie, Xanatos, Owen
- Enemy(ies) : Xanatos, Fang
Brooklyn and Talon struggle with their doubts about their ability to lead the Manhattan Clan and the Labyrinth, respectively, when news reaches them both that Goliath and Elisa have gone missing. Knowing Elisa's unfriendly history with Xanatos, Talon is eager to take the fight to him, and Brooklyn leads the Manhattan Clan to accompany him.
After his fruitless attack on Castle Wyvern, Talon returns to the Labyrinth to find that Fang has usurped control. Maggie escapes and asks for help from the Manhattan Clan; with Brooklyn's leadership and cunning, they succeed in freeing Talon, capturing Fang, and banishing his human accomplices from the Labyrinth.
The Manhattan Clan next appear in "Pendragon." Xanatos next appears in "Cloud Fathers." The Mutates next appear in "The Reckoning."
This Episode contains the following Tropes
- Aside Glance: When Maggie shows her deep concern for Talon, Brooklyn (who so badly wanted to be with her) looks our way with a somewhat annoyed look on his face.
- Batman Gambit: With the fight proving too difficult, Brooklyn pretends to take Fang's offer to walk away but only if they can take Maggie, too. She refuses to abandon Talon, but Brooklyn yells at her while quietly slipping her the keycard he swiped from Fang. While Fang's distracted, a fully rested Talon is set free.
- Bring Help Back: After escaping, Maggie goes to the clock tower and waits for the clan to wake up.
- The Call Knows Where You Live: Maggie telling the clan what Fang has done convinces Brooklyn to step up.Brooklyn: Talon needs our help. Let's go!
Hudson: I thought you didn't want to lead us, lad.
Brooklyn: This has nothing to do with what I want. You'd better come along this time, Hudson. We'll need all the help we can get.
Hudson: Is that an order?
Brooklyn: Yeah, I guess it is. - The Chains of Commanding: The theme of the episode is those in leadership positions needing to assert their authority no matter how difficult that is. Talon refusing to do so led to Fang trying to assert himself instead.
- Coming of Age: The central theme of Brooklyn's part of this story: to finally accept his responsibilities as Number Two, regardless of what he desires.
- Continuity Nod:
- Back in the episode "Upgrade", Goliath decided that Brooklyn would be second in command of the Manhattan Clan. Now, much to Brooklyn's reluctance, Hudson repeatedly brings this up while Goliath (along with Elisa Maza and Bronx) has gone missing.
- While Owen is trying to hold off Talon, Brooklyn, Broadway, and Lexington, David Xanatos commends him making use of his handicap, of which is that one of his fists being turned to stone back in "The Price".
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: After looking through Xanatos' computer records, Lexington remarks on him making "the usual shady deals". To which he replies,"A man's got to make a living".
- Foil: Brooklyn and Talon have dual plot-lines here. While both struggle with taking charge as actual leaders, Talon is much more relaxed and idealistic that things will work themselves out. Brooklyn, however, angsts over filling in for Goliath and feels he's not ready. Likewise, Hudson and Maggie encourage these two to step up as leaders; Hudson as a wise old mentor and Maggie as a supportive girlfriend.
- Foreshadowing: Xanatos learns from his visit from Talon and the younger Manhattan Clan trio that Goliath, Elisa, and Bronx have gone missing. As they are leaving the Eyrie Tower, Xanatos pledges that he will look for them and would indeed cross paths with the missing characters in "Cloud Fathers".
- Guile Hero: Brooklyn snatches the card key from Fang without him noticing, and Maggie makes clever use of her wings to block his sight while releasing Talon.
- It Amused Me: Xanatos' reason for having his defense turrets open fire on Talon and the Manhattan Clan?"Do I need a reason to have a good time in my own home?"
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Talon and the Manhattan Clan (except Brooklyn) let Xanatos know that Goliath, Elisa and Bronx are missing when they confront him of being responsible for their disappearance. Brooklyn was right to guess that Xanatos may have nothing to do with it.
- Not Me This Time: Xanatos wasn't even aware Goliath, Elisa and Bronx were missing. Given that smirk he has when he learns this fact, it probably will be him next time. As he said, it was "an intriguing development".
- Nothing Personal: As Fang starts getting the upperhand, he says he's got no personal beef with the clan and offers to let them leave.
- Official Couple: If Talon and Maggie weren't this at the end of "The Cage" then they are definitely this now. It is acknowledged by both clans, denied by neither of them, and they are quite affectionate throughout the episode.
- Reluctant Ruler: Talon is reluctant to be in charge of the Labyrinth. Likely afraid he'll make mistakes, like when he trusted Xanatos over his sister. By the same token, Brooklyn chafes at having to take over as leader of the clan and passes the buck at various decisions.
- Resigned to the Call: Brooklyn and Talon both realize they have to be leaders to their respective groups; neither one can "escape" this responsibility.Brooklyn: I'll lead the best I can, but that doesn't mean we give up hope or the search. We'll find them. I swear to it!
Talon: Agreed, but our main responsibility is to protect those who are still here.
Brooklyn: Yeah. That's what Goliath and Elisa would want. - Ship Sinking: It was already a given that Brooklyn would never be with Maggie, but seeing her worry about Talon really puts it in perspective for him.
- Silent Snarker: Claw, when showing Fang the key card, waits for him to make a fool of himself before dangling it in front of him.
- Something We Forgot: The writers deliberately had Broadway bring Elisa's cat to the clock tower so that viewers wouldn't think the little thing would starve to death home alone.
- Suddenly Shouting: Fang does this while shaking down one of the homeless people and receives coins."COINS?! Take a look at me, Al. Do I look like the kind of guy who can waltz into a store and plunk down change FOR A PACK OF BUBBLEGUM?! WELL, DO I, AL?! DO I?!"
- That's an Order!: Hudson keeps trying to get Brooklyn to take charge, eventually asking "Is that an order, then?". He's visibly pleased when Brooklyn affirms that it is.
- Token Good Teammate: Claw is a good guy, who doesn't like Fang's Evil Plan, but obeys him out of fear. He releases Maggie at her plea so she can get help.
- Tough Love: Hudson isn't about to let Brooklyn off the hook and keeps "innocently" asking what the next move is.
- Trickster Mentor: Hudson spends the episode playing to this, as he nudges Brooklyn in the right direction and does his best to guide him.
- Xanatos Gambit: Fang goads Talon into confronting Xanatos about Elisa's disappearance knowing that his rival will either get killed during a fight or be exhausted from spending all night searching. When Talon does return in need of some sleep, Fang stakes his takeover.
