The 2011 reboot of ThunderCats truly left fans wanting more. While fans and critics alike enjoyed the sleeker, edgier and more cinematic look and feel of the animated series, Cartoon Network canceled it after one season. Eight years later, fans still desire to see how the character arcs and stories would have been resolved.
In addition to what the creative team has revealed at conventions, art director Dan Norton recorded a podcast interview elaborating on how the story would have developed. Here are some of the developments in Lion-O and Tygra's story and how they affected the other characters around them.
The Struggles of a New Thundera
ThunderCats Season 2 would have skipped ahead a few years to when the balance of power on Third Earth is leaning in Mumm-Ra's favor, as he threatens to kill those who do not join him. The building of a New Thundera has begun. It's inclusive of all who oppose Mumm-Ra and upholds the Code of Thundera as Lion-O would have established.
There would still be similar social and financial inequality among the Cats, and those affected may feel overlooked by the new Lord. The other species would also have to choose between knowingly being enslaved by Mumm-Ra, or joining with the Cats, who they resented for generations.
Pumyra Dies Hungry for Vengeance, Power and Technology
Pumyra's rage and resentment toward the royals for letting her die and leaving the Cats to suffer after the Fall of Thundera is what led Mumm-Ra to resurrect her and use her to spy on and betray the ThunderCats. In Season 2, the writers would have explored the possibility of saving Pumyra from Mumm-Ra's control since both she and Lion-O would admit they saw greatness in each other. Lion-O was already attracted to her, and there were hints the feelings may have been mutual, even though she was used as a faux-romantic interest.
Pumyra's resurrection, thirst for revenge and hunger for power only Mumm-Ra could give her superseded the kindness and love shown to her by Lion-O and the ThunderCats. Thanks to the Power Stones and technology in Mumm-Ra's pyramid, a Black Mist was synthesized from sand, turning Pumyra into a mutant-insect monster. In her final battle with Lion-O, Tygra would have no choice but to kill her in order to save his brother, who was willing to die by her hand rather than harm her. This would ultimately lead to more strained relations between the sons of Claudis, as their ideologies would clash again.
Further Tensions Between Lion-O and Tygra
Although he loved them equally, Claudis shared more similar values and interests with his adopted son, Tygra, than with his biological son, Lion-O, causing tension and creating distance in their relationships. Though the brothers deeply care for each other, the clash of their ideologies would come to a head when Tygra kills Pumyra to save his brother.
Lion-O may have believed in Pumyra's redemption to the bitter end, but Tygra did not want his brother to die to prove a point to someone he considered a lost soul. Lion-O could have seen this as Tygra taking away another romantic interest, as Lion-O was also attracted to Cheetara.
Where the ThunderCats Would've Been 10 Years Later
To end the first half of ThunderCats 2011 Season 2, Lion-O decides he needs to go back into the Book of Omens for more training and stays gone for ten years. Meanwhile, Tygra and Cheetara take over as the de facto leaders of the rebellion, continue to build New Thundera and welcome a son, Bengali.
When Lion-O emerges from the Book, the events leading up to the final battle begin. They would defeat Grune in the Astral Plane to acquire the Spirit Stone and in turn, Panthro would also be able to get his arms back, which he sacrificed in a previous battle with Grune. The Thunderkittens would reunite after ten years apart; WilyKat is now a King of Thieves and WilyKit becomes Queen of the Elephants.
The reunited ThunderCats and the united Third Earth rebellion would engage in the final battle with Mumm-Ra, but Tygra dies saving his brother from being felled by Mumm-Ra with the sword of Plun-darr. After the defeat of Mumm-Ra and the restoration of peace on Third Earth, Lion-O assumes the throne of Thundera with a grown-up WilyKit as his queen. Norton also explains that they were unsure if the complete set of Power Stones would be able to resurrect Tygra. If they kept Tygra dead, Lion-O would have brought Bengali to a statue of his father, alongside the statue of the previous kings of Thundera. The podcast may have brought some closure to the fans of the show, but it also may have sparked more interest in seeing it being completed.