Summary: When a crocodile named Makuu takes over as leader of the crocodiles and his aggressive antics send the Pride Lands in chaos, Kion questions whether to intervene or respect animal traditions.
This episode contains examples of:
- An Aesop: It's important to respect other cultures' ways of life. Also, there's a difference between starting fights and standing up for yourself.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: The crocodiles determine their leader by fighting. This causes problems for The Pride Lands, because the wise old leader gets booted out by a stronger crocodile that is not near as wise or considerate.
- Brick Joke: Bunga's honey badger musk and Ono's attempts to mask it become this.
- Brutal Honesty: Pua doesn't mince words when Kion asks him to re-challenge Makuu for leadership, the old croc pointing out that Makuu already defeated him once and that sometimes the best thing to do is back down.
- Bullying the Dragon: For literally anyone else in the Pride Lands, smacking a cobra to get it to spit out its lunch would be this. But Bunga don't care.
- The crocodiles driving the hippos out of their territory, full stop. Realistically, this scenario should have ended with a lot of dead crocodiles.
- Chekhov's Gun: Subverted. Bunga's natural, stinky musk seems to be setting up as one of these, as the B-plot focuses on Ono's attempts to cover up Bunga's scent. He succeeds in doing so, and as a result, Bunga's musk is not available to him at a critical moment during the climax of the story, when he really could have used it.
- Chick Magnet: Beshte gets some appreciative wolf whistles from a couple of lady hippos while washing himself at Big Springs.
- Crowd Chant:
- The animals chant "Ma-shin-dan-o!" shortly before Makuu and Pua's fight.
- The crocodiles chant "Makuu! Makuu! Makuu!" after Pua has been defeated and Makuu becomes the new leader of the crocodile float.
- Combat Commentator: Bunga during the croc fight.
- Dented Iron: As old as he might be, Pua still gives Makuu a heck of a fight. But being older means he tires quicker, and the younger, fitter Makuu is able to eventually triumph.
- Didn't Think This Through: Bunga suggests that Kion use the Roar to clear out some thorns, not thinking about what would happen to the hyrax trapped in them.
- Fantastic Racism: Kion doesn't like how crocodiles resolve their issues through violence and prefers to use diplomacy to solve problems. Part of the episode's Aesop is him learning to respect the crocodile traditions without compromising his beliefs.
- I Owe You My Life: The hyrax really appreciates Bunga saving him several times.
- Might Makes Right: Discussed. Makuu believes that a real leader uses force to solve any problem, which clashes with Kion's preference for peaceful diplomacy. Mufasa advises Kion that there is a difference between using force and standing your ground, and that you don't need to resort to fighting to show that you aren't weak.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Ono says this almost word-for-word after he realises by getting rid of Bunga’s stink, he got rid of one of his most useful abilities.
- No-Harm Requirement: Kion resolves to get Makuu and his float out of the hippo pond without resorting to violence.
- Oh, Crap!: Makuu is shocked speechless after he sees Kion use the Roar on some trees.
- Pre-Mortem One-Liner: Not a fatal one, but Makuu says this before Pua gives up.Makuu: Where are you going, Pua? NOWHERE!
- Pride: This episode is about the problems that result when an arrogant young upstart takes over the crocodiles, though the episode's Aesop is more about not resorting to violence as the answer and not being afraid to back down than about not being proud. Pua, the former leader of the crocodiles, seems convinced that Makuu will become more humble with age and experience.
- Proud Warrior Race: The crocodiles. Fighting is said to be the crocodile way, and they determine their leader in a ritual battle known as the mashindano. When a leader is challenged and loses, he is exiled.
- Reasonable Authority Figure/Tyrant Takes the Helm: The animals of the Pride Lands regard Pua and Makuu, respectively, as these.
- Reptiles Are Abhorrent:
- Subverted. The episode's problems are caused by an arrogant young crocodile, but none of them are portrayed as evil, and the old leader, Pua, is even portrayed as being wise and kind. He politely asks the hippos if there is enough fish for the crocodiles to eat in their lake, and when told there isn't, they peaceably leave to find food elsewhere instead of raising a ruckus or even being rude.
- Played unfortunately straight with Ushari the cobra. He tries to eat a hyrax and gets manhandled by Bunga quite viciously for his trouble. Although this is maybe because their species are natural enemies.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Makuu decides not to take his chances, and leaves Big Water Springs after seeing Kion use the roar on some trees.
- Two Lines, No Waiting: The primary plot revolves around Kion's struggles to resolve the issues caused by Makuu's takeover while still respecting their traditions. A sub-plot involves Ono trying various ways to get rid of Bunga's stink.
- Weapon for Intimidation: Kion uses the Roar of the Elders as this in order to convince Makuu to move his crocodile float out of hippo territory. Notable, as earlier, Bunga had tried to get Kion to use the Roar as a Mundane Utility to clear some brambles.
