The Castle of Lions receives an ancient distress call from an impossible source. The Paladins end up finding an alternate reality where they meet two people named Sven and an alternate Slav who are trying to stop the Alteans. Allura is overjoyed by the fact that she and Coran aren't the only ones left, but these Alteans don't seem like the ones she fondly remembers.
Tropes found in the episode are:
- Alternate Universe: The Paladins come across a rip in space and after crossing it find themselves in another universe where Altea is still around and ruling everyone by force.
- Alternate Universe Reed Richards Is Awesome: Alternate Slav is way more of a badass. He's just as smart, but more combat capable.
- And I Must Scream: One of the "slaves" of the Alteans has a device that drains him of any desire to fight, leaving him to follow every command he's given.
- Ascended Fridge Horror: By the end of the episode Allura is in a Troubled Fetal Position not just about losing the comet to Lotor, but also learning that an alternate version of her created slaves out of others. She even says she now understands why her father sent away the lions ten thousand years ago and put her in a sleep state.
- The Bad Guy Wins: Lotor explains the two outcomes Voltron can have to his generals, and his first one ends up becoming true. As soon as Voltron returns to their reality, the Galra takes their comet.
- Big "NO!": Hira screams this as she watches Voltron fly off with the comet and her ship can't follow.
- Big "WHAT?!": Lance shakes his head when Pidge confirms that the comet in this reality was the same material Voltron was made out of.
- Dog Pile of Doom: Sven tells the others to dogpile onto the nearest Altean sentry and they do it without hesitating.
- For Want Of A Nail: The difference between the alternate reality and the canon one seems to be that Allura wasn't put to sleep and instead defeated Zarkon before the Galra Empire could form.
- Insistent Terminology: The alternate-reality Alteans most definitely do not have slaves, they have Noncogs. Slaves still have the free will to resist. Noncogs have implants to make sure they don't. They are also most definitely spreading peace and stability, not 'conquering the universe'.
- In Spite of a Nail: Shiro's alternate self Sven ended up in space, despite not being captured by the Galra.
- It's All My Fault: Allura is horrified that her hope to see more Alteans and to gain allies against the Galra nearly allowed her alternate self to "make peace" in other realities, and that despite them escaping it Lotor managed to steal the comet and create a weapon that could defeat Voltron. Keith tries to reassure her by saying that she couldn't have foreseen it.
- Knight Templar: The alternate Alteans seek to eliminate evil and promote peace throughout the multiverse... through literally removing the free will of entire races that they deem evil and taking control with an iron fist. As the episode goes on, it becomes clear that their moral high ground is more Moral Myopia, and that they're not much different from the main universe's Galra.
- Light Is Not Good: While the Alteans in our normal reality aren't seen as such, the alternate universe ones are a definite exception.
- Mythology Gag: The alternate reality version of Shiro is named Sven and has a Scandinavian accent, which was the name of Shiro's counterpart in the original Voltron series. He also needs to be taken to a space hospital at the end of the episode just like Sven.note
- New Powers as the Plot Demands: Allura unlocks the power to her bayard, and reveals that she has a whip.
- Perpetual Smiler: The Altean researcher is this.
- "Ray of Hope" Ending: The alternate evil Alteans have yet to be defeated, but alternate Slav points out that they're in a reality where everything works out for them. Even Sven, who would have apparently died from taking a bullet, just needs a hospital trip to recover.
- Sarcasm Mode: Ezor is annoyed when Acxa corrects her about Voltron being in another reality, and asks her question again in a more sarcastic tone.
- Scary Shiny Glasses: The Altean researcher becomes increasingly interested in the comet once he finds out it will allow the Alteans in this reality to spread their peace to other realities.
- Something Only They Would Say: Lance tries to convince the alternate reality Sven and Slav that they were friends, and how Slav always talks about alternate realities a lot. Sven nods in agreement.
- Stripped to the Bone: Lance finds the Altean messenger's body and lifts off his helmet, only to find his skeleton.
- Taking the Bullet: Just like the 80's version, Sven takes a hit for Lance. He survives and just needs a hospital trip, given that it's the reality where "everything works out" according to Alternate Slav. Plus it references how the Sven in the original series was killed off and replaced by a twin, whereas the English adaptation had him taken to a hospital.
- Tension-Cutting Laughter: Slav laughs when Hira threatens them, and he tells Lance the reason why was because this turned out to be the reality where everything works out fine.
- Throwing Your Sword Always Works: Keith throws his bayard that stabs an Altean sentry.
- Visionary Villain: The alternate reality Alteans do have a reason for doing what they've done, but it's been taken too far.
- Xanatos Gambit: Lotor crafts a fake distress signal that only Alteans know. This leads to Voltron entering the wormhole with the comet that Lotor wants. If they escape the alternate reality, Lotor has a chance to steal the comet. If they don't, Voltron is no longer a threat to the Galra empire.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: The Alteans in the alternate reality, who go to absolutely extreme lengths in the name of 'peace and stability'.
