LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The series features openly gay characters, including Takashi Shirogane, who has a past male romantic partner (Adam) and marries another man (Curtis) in the epilogue. Additionally, two female Galra generals, Zethrid and Ezor, are depicted in a romantic relationship. Pidge (Katie Holt) initially presents as male for tactical reasons and maintains a non-gender-conforming appearance, leading to fan interpretations of queer-coding, though showrunners state she is a cis girl.
Takashi Shirogane's past relationship with Adam is revealed in a flashback in Season 7, where Adam is seen as Shiro's ex-boyfriend from before the Kerberos mission. In the series epilogue (Season 8), Shiro is depicted marrying another man named Curtis, shown briefly but clearly. The Galra generals Zethrid and Ezor are consistently shown in a romantic relationship, with their bond evident through their interactions and loyalty to each other, especially in Seasons 7 and 8. Pidge (Katie Holt) adopts the identity of 'Pidge Gunderson' and presents as male to infiltrate the Galaxy Garrison to find her family, before revealing she is a girl in Season 1. She continues to wear masculine clothing and keeps short hair throughout the series.
Violence
Voltron: Legendary Defender heavily features action and combat in an ongoing intergalactic war. Battles frequently involve giant robots, spaceships, and hand-to-hand combat with alien creatures and soldiers. While graphic gore is absent, numerous characters die, and themes of war and sacrifice are central, increasing in intensity in later seasons.
The Paladins regularly engage in large-scale space battles where Voltron and the lion vehicles destroy Galra fleets with laser fire and physical attacks. For example, Voltron is shown destroying entire fleets of warships and slicing colossal ships in half during major confrontations. Character deaths, though often not graphic, are significant plot points. Adam, Shiro's ex-boyfriend, is revealed to have died during a Galra attack on Earth in a Season 7 flashback. Princess Allura sacrifices herself in the series finale to save all realities, dissolving into quintessence, which is a powerful and fatal act.
Romance and Sexual Content
The series includes several romantic relationships, most notably between Lance and Princess Allura, which develops into a kiss and a confirmed relationship. Shiro's past and present same-sex romantic relationships are also depicted. The content remains non-explicit, focusing on emotional connection and mild physical displays of affection, such as hugging and kissing.
Lance's long-standing affection for Princess Allura evolves into a reciprocated romantic relationship, culminating in a clear on-screen kiss in the later seasons (e.g., Season 7, 'Kittens with Whips'). Shiro's marriage to Curtis is depicted in the series epilogue, showing a brief but explicit scene of their wedding and implied domestic partnership.
Profanity
The show uses a fictional Altean swear word, 'quiznak,' frequently throughout the series. The context and characters' reactions strongly imply that 'quiznak' functions as a substitute for a strong English expletive, such as the 'F-word' or 'S-word,' elevating the level of implied profanity beyond simple mild language.
The term 'quiznak' is used repeatedly by various characters in moments of frustration or anger. For instance, in early episodes, expressions like 'shut your quiznak' are used, with the reactions from characters like Allura and Coran underscoring its intended severity as a strong insult. Lance is particularly noted for his frequent use of 'quiznak' as an exclamation throughout the series, consistently positioning it as a stand-in for real-world strong language.
Witchcraft & Occult
Magic is an integral part of the science-fantasy universe. Characters, particularly the primary antagonist Haggar (formerly Honerva) and Princess Allura, wield significant magical powers derived from 'quintessence,' a mystical energy. Haggar's dark magic involves rituals, soul manipulation, and energy projection, resembling traditional witchcraft, while Allura's Altean magic is depicted as more benevolent.
Haggar (Honerva) is a powerful sorceress who uses dark magic to achieve her goals. Her abilities include projecting energy blasts, creating force fields, teleportation, casting illusions, mind manipulation, stealing life energy (quintessence), and conjuring magic circles for various 'witchcraft' spells, often with destructive intent. Princess Allura, an Altean, also develops formidable magical abilities, including energy manipulation and force field generation. She performs powerful magical feats like opening her 'third eye' to access deeper powers and eventually merging with the fabric of reality to restore balance to the universe.
Scary & Intense Content
The series contains numerous intense and suspenseful moments, particularly in later seasons as the stakes of the intergalactic war escalate. These include frightening alien designs, psychological trauma experienced by characters, and unsettling concepts such as cloning and existential threats. The overall mood can shift to quite dark at times.
Shiro, the Black Paladin, suffers from PTSD and experiences vivid, disorienting flashbacks to his past imprisonment and torture by the Galra Empire. These moments can be psychologically intense, showing him freezing up or struggling with his memories. The discovery in Season 6 of hundreds of Shiro clones kept in pods by Haggar is a deeply unsettling and intense reveal, introducing elements of body horror and existential dread regarding Shiro's identity and the manipulation by the villains.
Disrespect & Rebellion
The central narrative of Voltron: Legendary Defender is one of rebellion against the tyrannical Galra Empire. The Paladins, initially young and inexperienced, often question authority figures, including Princess Allura, though they generally learn the value of teamwork and mutual respect. Early seasons showcase rivalries and occasional snarky remarks among the team.
The entire premise of the series revolves around the Paladins and the Voltron Coalition actively rebelling against Emperor Zarkon and the oppressive Galra Empire, constantly defying their rule and fighting for liberation across the universe. In the earlier seasons, characters like Lance and Keith frequently engage in competitive banter and minor acts of defiance or backtalk towards each other and sometimes to the more authoritative figures like Princess Allura or Shiro, reflecting their youth and developing teamwork dynamic.
