The Lion Guard: Lions of the Outlands

So far, the Lion Guard has had a fantastic run with their episodes. With nineteen episodes released so far and this episode was being built up as my most anticipated of all the new releases. I've personally loved almost all the ones we've gotten so far. Even the ones I don't entirely love, every episode does have something I love in it. And so did this episode live up to all my expectations... yeah. It absolutely did. In my opinion, the Lion Guard: Lions of the Outlands is an absolutely incredible episode. It was everything I wanted it to be and far more and I loved every single second of it. I repeat, I loved every second of this episode. This may actually beat Never Judge A Hyena By Its Spots as my favourite episode. And, again, if you haven't seen this episode and you want to, watch it and then read this because I'll be talking about the full story spoiler filled. That's my small warning there. What's the story? It opens up with Kion and Bunga playing but then some animals get scared and say they see a hyena. Bunga goes to fight it but it's actually Jasiri. You know, the good hyena. She's come to the Pride Lands for help from Kion and both of them head to the Outlands because apparently some lions have taken over her family's watering hole. And watch this.

I was so happy when Kovu showed up again. Anyway, this gives Zira an idea. If you remember, she and Scar were together and he was once the leader of the Lion Guard and had the Roar but after using it for evil, he lost it. She and Kion talk about maybe teaming up and coming to the Pride Lands, and we even get a pretty cool song. Listen.

But at first she wants him to join her. But then after that fails, Zira and the other evil lionesses of the outlands attack Kion as a way to make him use the roar because she tricks him and makes him think that Scar lost the roar for using it against other lions and so she's trying to pressure him into using it against them to think he'll lose it but in reality, it's so he won't use it against them at all. And after that... well... watch this.

Oh yeah, there was also a scene where Kovu was trying to protect Jasiri against Nuka. And that's the episode. So firstly, what did I like here? Obviously the best part of it for me was seeing all these returning characters back again from the Lion King 2. Kovu, Nuka, Vitani and Zira. Especially Kovu. It was kinda sad though to see him get beat at the end when he didn't even do anything and he is a good guy. And the cast still amazing. The main five are of course still fantastic and Maia Mitchell is still amazing as Jasiri and returning actors are also incredible. Jason Marsdon as Kovu, Andy Dick as Nuka and Lacey Chabert as Vitani. Even they were happy to come back again. Watch this.

And the new actress they got for Zira does a great job too. Nika Futterman. She really nailed the personality of Zira and recapturing the original voice that Suzanne Pleshette gave her. Although I will say, Jason Marsdon does sound a whole lot different as Kovu. It isn't bad, it's really good, it's just kinda distracting but for he's still fantastic. And I like the story as well. It's super interesting and entertaining. And seeing the Lion Guard characters interacting with the old Lion King 2 characters is also great and a lot of fun. It's also nice to see Jasiri's family. We never saw or heard from them in the first episode we saw her and they were never mentioned and I actually thought that Jasiri was all alone. I thought she had no family from what we saw in the first episode with her. Especially after Janja said that she was all alone. But I guess he meant all alone at that moment, if you know what I mean. And seeing Jasiri back in this was also fantastic. Especially how she's one of my favourite side characters in the whole show. And, in case you're wondering, yes, there are some funny scenes. And like I said, that song in it I think is pretty cool. Not my favourite song, but I still like it and think it's cool. And even Zira is really despicable with both trying to seduce Kion to join her and then trying to make him use the roar when he's trying to avoid doing that. She's also really threatening like in the second  movie. The animation is also really fantastic again like the rest of the show. And overall, everything worked about this episode. I started watching it super excited and it did not disappoint. I was entertained from beginning to end and I can't wait to see it again and see the new episodes coming soon. Overall, this may be my favourite episode and I loved it. It was amazing to me and apparently to a lot of other people because when I checked out the thing on the Lion Guard Facebook page, a lot of people liked it too. And it's a nice ending in the sense that, if you've seen the second Lion King movie, which I'm still standing by as the best straight to video Disney sequel ever, you know what happens and that Kiara and Kovu's side win. Speaking of which, it was also kinda sad that we didn't see Kiara in this talking to Kovu again. I would have really liked that. So yeah. That's my review of the Lion Guard: Lions of the Outlands. It is a fantastic episode and maybe my favourite and I can't wait for the new episodes to come out. Thank you all for reading and please comment down below to tell me what you think.