Summary: While Simba gathers the animal leaders for a Savannah Summit, the Lion Guard learns of a plot against Twiga the giraffe.
This episode contains examples of:
- An Aesop: Not all bad guys will stay bad. If they genuinely want to redeem themselves, at least give them a chance.
- Aesop Amnesia: Paintings and Predictions had the Guard learn that jumping to conclusions causes a lot of trouble. For most of the episode the Guard believes Makuu to be causing trouble despite having no evidence: it's up to Mufasa to remind Kion to piece everything together before taking action.
- Armor-Piercing Question: Kion is at loss of words when Mufasa asks him if Makuu did anything to ruin the summit (he did nothing).
- Because You Were Nice to Me: Makuu has a change of heart towards the Lion Guard when they save him from falling into a Pit Trap, and for deciding to give him a chance when no one else would.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Twiga the giraffe, who came up with the plan to humiliate Makuu.
- Break the Haughty: For the first time, we see Makuu in a state of distress when he falls into a trap.
- Character Development: For Makuu. For most of the series, he was a villain who didn't really care for the Circle of Life and followed his own agenda. Here, he admits that he wants to become a better leader and hopes that he and the rest of the Pridelanders will be able to cooperate.
- Chew-Out Fake-Out: Makuu seems to call out Twiga and Vuruga Vuruga for attempting to humiliate him with a trap, only to state his approval of it.Makuu: I came to the summit to show I'm a good leader, to help my float and the Pridelands, but none of you gave me a chance. Instead, for my efforts, I get this. This plot... worthy of a crocodile. I couldn't have done it better myself.
- Darker and Edgier: This is a more serious episode of the series as it calls the heroes' actions into serious question since their paranoid desire to stop Makuu continuously makes things worse for the politics of the Pride Lands.
- Disappointed in You: Simba doesn't say the line to Kion, but Simba's tone of voice makes it clear that he thinks this when he tells Kion that he might have wrecked the Savannah Summit.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: Kion when he realizes that Makuu is actually the target of the trap rather than the one planning it.
- Faking the Dead: The Guard fakes Makuu's death after they rescue him to prompt a response from those responsible for attempting to humiliate him. Once Twiga confesses, Makuu reveals himself to be alive and forgives her.
- Foreshadowing: Makuu refers to Kion as "Cub", which he never called Kion before, and also seems to be genuinely stung by Kion warning him that he's not going let especially Makuu ruin the Savannah Summit. These turn out to be signs that he has decided to mature from his delinquent ways.
- Forgiveness: The Pridelanders, particularly the Guard, all forgive Makuu after giving him a chance to explain himself.
- Heel–Face Turn: Makuu, once the Lion Guard rescues him from a trap.
- Honor Before Reason: Despite being perfectly aware of Makuu's acts of villainy, particularly attacking his mate which would be a treasonous act, Simba insists that he participate in the summit as he's still one of the Pride Lands' leaders.
- I Am Not Weasel: Big Baboon refers to Mbeya the rhino as a "hippo with a horn". Mbeya is not amused.
- It's Personal: A major reason why Kion does not trust Makuu at all at the summit is due to the fact that he attacked Kion's mother. The fact that he also attacked the leader of the hippos (who also happens to be Beshte's father) for petty reasons probably didn't help.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Much mention is made of the dry season beginning, which is a way of acknowledging that a new season of the series has begun.
- Never Say "Die": When the Guard fakes Makuu's death, they simply tell the others he "completed his journey in the Circle of Life."
- Not Me This Time: The Lion Guard assumes Makuu is going to abuse Simba's hospitality to plot against Twiga the giraffe. As it turns out, it was the other way around and Makuu was just there on official business.
- Oblivious to His Own Description:Big Baboon: I was having a perfectly nice time when suddenly this... This hippo with a horn bumps into me.
Mbeya: Who are you calling a hippo? I'm a rhino, you baboon!
Big Baboon: Who are you calling a baboon?!
Bunga: (deadpan) You are a baboon.
Big Baboon: Oh. Right. - O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Makuu actually seemed hurt when Kion tells him he's not going to let him ruin the summit, walking off without as much as a protest.
- Pit Trap: The animals set one up for Makuu, filling it with rotten fruit.
- Properly Paranoid: Given Makuu's prior acts of villainy, the Guard and the Pridelanders are justifiably nervous about being around him.
- Reformed, but Rejected: Makuu arrives to the Summit to prove himself that he's worthy as leader, but the other Pridelanders sans Simba treat him with contempt due to his and float's prior misdeeds. Kion sums this up when he starts putting the pieces together.Kion: Makuu does have a lot of enemies here. But he seems like he wants to change that. But even if he's ready to change, that doesn't mean everyone else is.
- Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Deconstructed, as the episode reminds that crocodiles are still part of the Pride Lands, and Makuu is willing to change if it means helping his fellow crocs.
- Save the Villain: The Lion Guard rescues Makuu from a trap laid by the other animal leaders, leading to his Heel–Face Turn.
- Shaming the Mob: Makuu calls the other Pridelanders and the Guard out at the end for not giving him a chance to prove himself.
- Tempting Fate: When the Lion Guard tells Makuu they're going to protect him from danger, Makuu scoffs at how he could be in danger...right before falling into a hole dug by the other Pridelanders.
- Turn the Other Cheek: Despite constantly causing problems for his son (and the other Pridelanders) and once attacking his mate in "Never Roar Again", Simba shows no hostility towards Makuu and insists that he participates in the Summit as he's still a part of the Pride Lands and the leader of the crocodile. Likewise, the Guard instantly drops all hostility for Makuu when they find out he could be the victim of a plot as opposed to being the conspirator.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Simba scolds Kion for accusing Makuu of causing trouble without proof, which drove Makuu away from the Summit.
- Worthy Opponent: Despite nearly falling victim to a trap, Makuu commends the Pridelanders for their efforts, saying their plan was one "worthy of a crocodile."
- Wrong Genre Savvy: The Guard (and some of the other animals) becomes convinced Makuu came to the Summit to cause problems, given their past conflicts and how the other Pridelanders are wary of him. It turns out Makuu is genuinely trying to up his leadership skills.
