1. Temporal
(Time) Problems
1.1 Mumm-ra and Grune's
purported ages
In various episodes, Mumm-ra is claimed
to be an Egyptian mummy-priest, apparently from the period of time when
the Pyramids were constructed (circa 2000 B.C.). His
age is sometimes suggested to be 2000 years in quite a few episodes. Therefore,
if Mumm-ra is actually an Egyptian mummy-priest, and is 2000 years old,
then that means that the Thundercats universe exists around 1A.D.
Since there are robot bears with freewill, and space travel, we can logically
assume that either Mumm-ra's age has been miscalculated, and/or
he is not an Egyptian mummy-priest.
Corroborating this statement is the fact
that around 1A.D. there were a few large human societies,
including the Romans. Certainly these groups should have shown up.
Hower, Mumm-ra has fought Wiz-ra, apparently
in Ancient Egypt. Since it is said that Wizz-ra can only resurface every
7000 years, Mumm-ra could be at least 7000 years old. Mumm-Ra's age is
-never- directly stated only vaguely hinted at; in fact the best indication
is that Mumm-Ra is at least 7,000 years old. This age is based on
Mumm-Ra's telling of his last battle with Wiz-Ra. This battle resulted
in Wiz-Ra being sent to the 7th dimension which, of course, Wiz-Ra can
only escape from once every 7000 years. This would then prove that Mumm-Ra
himself must be at least that old and is likely even older.1
However, it is not really likely that this period of time (given that any sort of genetic engineering would have surfaced around the present day, leaving only about 2000-3000 years to both produce a new genetic strain, and then move that new race to a far-flung planet in the next galaxy, with warp drive and such not being feasible.
Then, we have the problem of Grune (the Ghost warrior)'s age. In the episode Ghost Warrior, it is stated clearly several times that Grune terrorized people centuries ago (making him hundreds of years old). Also, Jaga fought Grune, and, they were once friends. We shall now set some ages for time reference:
Jaga (who fought Grune at one time).......±60
..............(when fighting Grune)....±45-50
Claudus and Jaga are the same age, by the way...
To disprove that Grune actually terrorized
people centuries before the time of the Thundercats, we should compare
the features of Jaga and Grune, who fought at one time. Jaga was already
showing signs of aging (gray hair, etc.), while Grune was still shockingly
young. In fact, Grune would appear to be around 30 years old.
What confuses this entire point is that
the current Thundercats have no recollection of Grune, even though Grune
apparently fought Jaga in their time (logically, then the eldest Thundercats,
Lynx-O, Tygra, Panthro, and Cheetara should know at least of Grune).
Therefore, Grune has been the victim of
a miscalculation of age. With the evidence before us, there should
be no way that Grune could live hundreds of years (especially when he was
a mortal being up until his exportion to Third Earth). If Grune were hundreds
of years old, that would make Jaga hundreds of years old, as well as Claudus
(who is the same age as Jaga). Claudus then would logically not be able
to father Lion-O.
1.3 Lion-O's mysterious
aging in the suspension capsule [Exodus]
This one has puzzled a lot of fanfiction
writers, and viewers of the show. How is it that Lion-O aged so dramatically,
while his companions did not noticeably age? There are two major possibilities:
a. Jaga purposely did not include enough
suspension gas within Lion-O's capsule, so that Lion-O could age and be
old enought to lead the Thundercats on Third Earth.
b. The suspension capsule malfunctioned,
and caused some gas to leak out, not allowing Lion-O to slow down his aging.
As far as we can tell, these may be the
only two logical explanations of the aging. Adding to this problem is the
fact that there is a lot of confusion regarding Lion-O's age. The Toonami
(Cartoon Network) bumpers give his age as 24, yet since he was 8-10 when
Thundera exploded, and roughly 5 years were spent on Third Earth (plus
the 10 in suspension), that would make Lion-O about 23.
1.4 The Mutants' vs.
the Thundercats' arrival times on Third Earth [Exodus]
The Mutants are clearly shown attacking
the Thundercats before the destruction of Third Earth (and, in fact, boarded
the royal cruiser in an ill-fated attempt to steal the Sword of Omens).
After the Thundercats enter suspension, Lion-O mysteriously ages (see section
1.3) and Jaga dies from old age, they land on Third Earth where the SAME
mutants attack them, without any aging whatsoever. From this, it would
seem that the Mutants can cover vast amounts of distance without suspension
(for an idea of how far apart Thundera and Third Earth are, see section
2.1). This is highly unlikely. One suggestion might be that many of the
mutants are cloned somewhat or share the same characteristics.
1.5 Hammerhand's Resurrection
Hammerhand and the other Berzerkers died
at the end of the episode "The Terror of Hammerhand" and sunk to
the bottom of the ocean. This is strenghtened by the fact that Mumm-Ra
summons Hammerhand's ghost to possess the Panthro clone's body in the later
episode "Spitting Image". However, somewhere between then
and some later episodes, like the "Thundercats HO!" miniseries and
"Together We Stand", the Berzerkers are present and definately alive,
yet these episodes also definately take place after the ghost episode.
The only explanation I can think of is that they did not actually die,
and what we witnessed in "Spitting Image" was astral projection
of some sort, and not actual ghostliness.
1.6 Problems with
Hachi-man
Hachi-man was originally introduced in
The
Thunder-Cutter as a Samurai that Mumm-Ra summoned from Third Earth's
distant past. In Hachi-man's Honor, according to Jaga, Hachi-man
is sentback to his own time. So how did Hachi-man return to the present
to play his role in The Jade Dragon?
6 hours is 1/1460th
of a year.
So 2,000,000 LY trip in 6
hours is 2,000,000/(1/1460)
= 2,000,000 X 1460 = 2,920,000,000 or 2.920 X
109 times the speed of light
or about warp 233 in ST:NG terms.
That should be patently improbable, since the energy required to create enough power to provide that propulsion would be quite enormous. We have to work with the principle of conservation of energy, and we need energy to make energy. There is probably not enough energy in existence to create that amount of power. But again, this is all in theory.
Patrick Schulz writes:
Speaking on the Distance problem between Thundera/New Thundera and Third Earth, I must say that it is possible, but not probable.
A wormhole (The linking of the quantum singularities at the core of black holes) could explain the extremely short time range. This need never be shown on the show, because if such a wormhole existed, and a ship traveling Warp 6 (In ST:TNG Terms) entered it, the wormhole would be torn appart by the subspacial shockwave of a ship at high warp passing through. The ship would make it out the other side, but the passage behind them would rupture, destroying the link and creating a blast wave that would destroy the ship in question, if it did not immediately kick to Warp 9.5 to clear the estimated 2.5 light year range of the blast in time.
Another explanation is that the show is set so far forward in time that this section of the multiverse (Our crystal sphere of existence) has begun the collapse section of it's galactic oscillation. This is also not really a good explanation, because if it closed that quickly in 5 years, so that a trip could take only a few hours or days (The trip could be as long as 4 days with the supplies they show.), the entropic nature of matter would have intensified, and universal breakdown might have started. At Warp 7, a trip of four days would take them a short distance from the galactic border. Now, in theory, they could be using another wormhole, but even then, it would seem that they would show that.
The ship could be using a quantum charge to generate a "Quantum slipstream" where travel is decidedly faster than warp flight. However, the stresses and unique look of the "slipstream" would be more than noticeable.
One final possibility is that they are
at a point in space-time that the galaxies are now above each other.
Leaving the galactic plane, and taking a curved flight path could account
for the time differences. The first path was straight, while the second
path was a parabolic curve. (Like an ICBM flight path.) which hopped through
the universal void. See ASCII Figure below.
)
)
)
)
)
)
Galaxy 1 (Milky Way)
[Oh, and as a note, warp travel (Travel faster than c) is possible through the warping of subspace. There is a small theoretical area of physics, warp physics, which combines astrophysics and quantum mechanics. However, since it is still all theory (We cannot at this time generate enough power for even Warp .5) there is little study of it.]
- from Patrick Schulz
Nevertheless, when the avalanche formed, it spread outward from the mountain,
crossing several different biomes (environmental areas), including a tropical
forest, a savannah (where Cats' Lair is located), an agricultural field,
and a desert. (figure 1) The snow seemed to travel a great distance, one
of over 500 km.
3. Physical/Biological
problems
3.1 Respiration in
space (as well as the apparent presence of air pressure)
This problem has been a constant one with
Thundercats, especially within the later episodes. For example, Hachi-man
and Mandora are able to breathe in space. Not only are they able to breathe
in space, but they are also able to venture into space without breathing
apparatus or pressurized suits. Since space is a vacuum, and there is pressure
from the blood and fluids of any creature, then anybody venturing into
space should experience internal boiling, and the rupture of capillaries
and small blood vessels. This is because of the lack of air pressure. Assigning
the value of 1 atmosphere (6.8 kg/cm2)
to a living organism, and the value of 0 atmospheres to space, the following
relationship can be ascertained in the accompanying diagram. And, of course,
an aerobic (air-breathing) creature cannot survive where there is no air,
hence, a vacuum. Death in this case would be either by suffocation or the
bends.
3.2 Lion-O being able
to walk inside a volcano [All That Glitters]
This incident also showed that Thundercats
hve a resistance to intense heat. By studying the flow of heat in a volcano,
we can determine that as soon as Lion-O entered the side vent of the volcano,
he would have been burned beyond recognition by the heat from the volcano,
which is undoubtedly over 2500°C.
Lion-O walked into the central magma chamber,
of all places, and actually climbed out through the top!! Since heat travels
upwards, Lion-O should have been blasted with the most intense heat from
the volcano, and consequently burned beyond recognition. Nevertheless,
Lion-O was able to function quite well, and was able to move in the volcano's
core.
3.3 The Luna-tacs
being encased in lava for many years, and surviving.
This is very hard to believe, because
if one is encased within lava, there will be no more oxygen. Besides that,
the Luna-tacs would be incinerated completely from the intense heat. This
one does not take much to dispute.
3.4 Pumyra's ability
to drain a flood of lava, etc.
This is one of the more puzzling plotholes
of the show. In Mummrana's Belt, Pumyra crossed a desert of lava
geysers. When some erupted, filling the desert floor with lava, Pumyra
climbed to safety onto a rock column (which did not melt, obviously). Pumyra
then drained the lava back below the surface by hurling one of her
explosive marbles at the ground. We shall now use a diagram to show how
this should not be possible.
Referring back to section 3.2, we all
know that heat travels upwards. Therefore, Pumyra should have also been
incinerated when she first encountered the lava. And even if she wasn't
above the lava, there is a field of intense heat surrounding hot lava,
which would certainly be fatal.
From point P in the diagram, Pumyra hurled
an explosive marble at the ground, which created a hole in which the lava
drained back down. This is patently impossible, because the lava emerged
from a hole in the ground, suggesting a magma chamber underneath!! Therefore,
creating another hole would do nothing to stop the flow of lava, and would
in fact increase the flow sometimes. Needless to say, it was quite awkward
to see this. Basically, lava cannot be drained by a hole in the
ground.
3.5 The Thundercats'
lack of genitalia and nipples
This is the show's first ever plothole...the
Thundercats appear nude in the first episode [Exodus]. And, they
seem to be missing certain objects common to both humans and cats (from
which Thundercats are descended)...external genitalia and nipples.
This aberration is shown in a few choice
shots, including a nude Cheetara and Lion-O. Of course, all creatures have
genitalia, so obviously they are hidden for reasons of modesty. (The entire
reason is explained in the Weird Stories Flame Page.) Some have postulated
that the genitalia are hidden inside a sheath, while the nipples are covered
with thick fur. The nipple theory can hold water, but a sheath should be
visible, which means that the artists drawing the characters were too modest
to show the genitalia. Needless to say, the Thundercats were never really
shown naked again.
3.6 Grune's Thundranium
Immunity
It is established in Ghost Warrior
that Thundercats (and in Thundercats Ho! and other episodes, all Thunderians)
become weak when they handle Thundranium. Why then, does Grune, who was
both a Thunderian and even a Thundercat while he was alive,
forge a club out of Thundranium. He says that it is to weaken his Thundercat
enemies, but since he's Thunderian, wouldn't it weaken him as well? One
could argue that Grune might be immune to the
effects of Thundranium because he's a
ghost. If this is the case, however, why is it that Jaga, who is a ghost
as well, is weakened by Grune's Thundranium club while Grune himself is
not?
3.7 Warrior Maidens
The series shows us in many episodes that
the Warrior Maidens of the Tree Top Kingdom is a society comprised of women
only. Nowhere does it ever show a man among them. In fact, there are only
two human men that appear on Third Earth to my knowledge: Dr. Dometone
and Safari Joe, neither of which meet the Warrior Maidens anyway. So how
do the Warrior Maidens reproduce without men? It is possible that their
society has men living with them but in a
very submissive role, perhaps to the point
of being domestic slaves who are not allowed out of the house and are used
basically only for reproductive purposes. It is also possible that the
Warrior Maidens reproduce with males of other tribes of humans (not shown
on the show) and send their male children to live with them, or kill them.
3.8 Chilla
A walking biology plothole: Two points
we'd like to make about Chilla.
3.8b How people survive
being frozen by Chilla
We'd also like to point out that is impossible
as well, at least if the victim is frozen for more than a few minutes.
If any living being was coated by ice longer than that, then it would be
dead. Encasement in ice, at least how it is shown on the show, clearly
shows the victim's mouth and nose covered, therefore breathing would be
impossible. The argument that the cold temperature induces suspended animation,
allowing the bodily processes to slow so they can survive longer, can be
brought up, but that is unlikely as well. First of all, the temperature
that being frozen in ice (< 0°C) is at least 25°C below
most warm blooded animals' body
temperatures. Therefore, anyone who did
survive such a freezing would most likely have irreparable brain damage
(from lack of oxygen) and severe frostbite. They would not be able to stand
up and walk away!
According to Bruce Grubb, cryrogenists
have shown that if a subject is frozen quickly enough large ice crystals
that would have damamged or destroyed cells do not form. The most
popular substance for doing this is liquid nitrogen at 77 K (-196°
C). The problem has always been in thawing out the subject: unless the
subject is quickly and evenly thawed out the large ice crystals form and
cause tissue damage.
Not only does Chilla have a problem thawing
out her victims, but it is impossible for a living being to generate the
intense cold needed for humanoid suspended animation. Ironically
well above the cryrogenic tempature range at -78° C is an alternative
to water ice - frozen CO2, better known as dry
ice. Unfortunately, Chilla's ice does not show the fog that always
accompanies dry ice which seems to eliminate, though it is cold enough
to bypass the problems that water ice has.
3.10 Absence of spots
on Jaguar Thunderians
The two Jaguar Thunderians we see (Jaga
and Jaguara) have no evidence of spots on their bodies. However,
if the theory that thunderians are evolved cats with human essence (by
this, I mean that, for some reason, Human genes intergrated with Cat genes)
is true, then Thunderians evolved from the spotted jaguar should have spots
at least somewhere on their bodys. My guess is that a group of Jaguars
seperated from the clan of pure Jaguars and mixed with Lion Thunderians,
forming a new clan. As of now, we have yet to see pure, spotted Jaguars.
4.1b The capture
of Plundarr's moons
Plundarr, apparently, resides in the same
planetary system as New Thundera, so when the planet reformed, the intense
gravitational field from the Sword of Plundarr attracted the moons of Plundarr,
bringing them into orbit around New Thundera. Either the gravitational
pull is greater than that of a star, or Plundarr and New Thundera are extremely
close to each other. Either way, the loss of moons (which control ocean
tides and such) would probably be disastrous for a planet, as severe gravitational
disruptions would result, undoubtedly causing cataclysms and the like.
4.1c The effects
of those same moons on concentrated places
When Plundarr's moons migrated to New
Thundera, they orbited (or hovered) in specific, concentrated places. Therefore,
the moons each had their own effect on a specific part of the surface.
This would suggest extreme closeness to the planet, and could eventually
result in the moons colliding with the surface, and/or the destruction
of the moons from the opposite forces of gravitational pull.
4.3 The Third Earth
Ocean Plug
In the episode Dr. Dometone, it
is told that a plug exists in the floor of the ocean to prevent the oceans
from draining into the interior of the planet, and conceivably putting
out the heat within the planet. Several problems arise with this assumption.
Even though oceans comprise 70% of Third
Earth's (Earth) surface, in relation to the rest of the planet, they are
a mere fraction of the entire planet's mass. Furthermore, the average temperature
of 10°C or so for water compared with the average temperature of the
molten core of the Earth (2500°C) would instantly vaporize any water
coming into contact with the molten mantle. A sufficiently large hole could
result in a large steam explosion. Therefore, the proportionately miniscule
amount of water present on the earth's surface could not put out the heat
within the core.
Secondly, the water would not drain into
the hole, because density increases as you descend into the core of the
earth, so the water would either remain in place, or would be violently
evaporated.
Also, the heat present within the mantle
and core of the Earth would melt any artificial plug put above it eventually,
if one could be put in over a hole exposing the molten mantle of the Earth.
The intense heat and pressure from the mantle would also make construction
impossible.
Therefore, a plug in the floor of the
ocean to prevent draining is patently impossible.
Conclusion
By outlining some of these plotholes,
we have actually raised more questions!! But not only that, we have discovered
that certain characters (i.e. Mumm-ra) are actually not as old as they
are claimed to be, and that certain creatures in the show have an innate
ability to breathe in airless vacuums.
However strange these plotholes may be,
the Thundercats cartoon is still one of the most exciting and original
concepts out there. And, by finding these plotholes, we can challenge ourselves
to find new and better ways to write fanfics based on the show.
Comments? Questions? E-mail Seth Triggs or Tracy Butler