This week’s Thundercats resonated on so many levels. It was equal parts cute and emotionally moving, and I had to hold back tears by the end. It’s really a testament to the show that they can introduce a character and make you feel for him in just one episode. I’m also loving how the morality tales each week mirror back to the team’s own journey.

In “Song of the Petalars,” the Thundercats are on the run from an army of lizards when they come face to face with a tiny race of plant people called the Petalars.

Thundercats (s01e04): Song of the Petalars

Lion-O: What’s the point of it all? Are we even around long enough to make a difference?

If you only had one day to live, what would you do with it? Would you make it count?

It’s a question Lion-O is faced with this week as he’s still playing the ‘woe is me’ card and frustrated by the overwhelming odds against them. (He’s quite an emo teenage king-to-be.) Cheetara tries to reason with him in a sweet moment between the two, the triangle with her, Lion-O, and Tygra is gaining steam, but Lion-O ends up learning his lesson the hard way through his new friend, Emeric.

Emeric is part of the Petalars, a race of tiny plant people whose individual lifespan encompasses merely a single day. But despite what could be seen as an impediment, the Petalars are inspiringly full of hopes, dreams, and know to live life to the fullest. And most importantly, they’re darn cute.

For Lion-O and his team, on the run from the Lizards, the Petalars are exactly what they need to see. Through witnessing Emeric and the Petalars’ courage to find their home again, Lion-O and his team are able to gain their own strength and fight Slithe and the wave of Lizards following them. It all ends with a big surprise, too. Panthro is back with the ThunderTank and helps them finish the last ones off. It’s an episode not to be missed. The team is now back together!