Note: this is review covers the entire second season of Voltron: Legendary Defender, which is available to stream on Netflix now. I'll discuss basic plot and character details but avoid getting into spoiler territory.

Netflix is really on a roll lately with their original animation lineup. Last month they delivered 26 episodes of the thoroughly excellent Trollhunters , and now they're back with another 13-episode batch of Voltron: Legendary Defender. Now all we need is for the rumors to come true about Netflix hosting the upcoming third season revival of Young Justice

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Voltron was and still is a terrific update of the classic '80s toy property/cartoon. Season 2 has all the same strengths as the first, and even manages to improve in a handful of areas as the show continues exploring the ongoing battle between the five Paladins and the tyrannical Emperor Zarkon (Neil Kaplan).But that's to be expected, really. As Max Nicholson pointed out in his Season 1 review , the show is very serialized and binge-friendly, and each episode tends to flow right into the next. That trend continues as the new season picks up right where the show left off with "The Black Paladin" last year. Paladins Shiro (Josh Keaton), Keith (Steven Yeun), Lance (Jeremy Shada), Hunk (Tyler Labine) and Pidge (Bex Taylor-Klaus), along with Princess Allura (Kimberly Brooks) and Coran (Rhys Darby) have been scattered to various corners of the universe after their ill-fated confrontation with Zarkon. The focus in the first couple episodes this season is simply on reuniting these scattered heroes and allowing them to regroup and plan their next move.That really sets the tone for Season 2, one that prioritizes character development and adventure much more than plot progression. Plot-wise, Season 2 is pretty darned straightforward. The Paladins regroup, seek new allies and plan another attack on the Galra Empire. But this is definitely one of those cases where the journey is more interesting than the destination. Our heroes encounter all manner of bizarre alien civilizations, explore breathtaking worlds and even spend time hanging out in a seedy space mall. The Voltron universe felt a little barren and empty in Season 1, and Season 2 is better about opening things up and letting the characters have fun in this massive playground.That's one area where the show has improved, and the other involves the use of humor. I've always appreciated how the writers are so willing to inject witty banter and moments of slapstick into their scripts, preventing Voltron from becoming a dry and self-serious affair, but that approach tended to grow a little formulaic in Season 1. Too often it felt like every third or fourth line in a conversation would involve one character saying something stupid and the rest of the group responding with awkward silence. This time around, the writing deploys humor in more concentrated, organic doses. The premiere episode, "Across the Universe," is a great example of this trend. It features a running gag involving Coran becoming younger and younger as he's bombarded by the effects of a perpetual time loop. Over the course of 22 minutes, he morphs from competent lieutenant to headstrong ladies man to disaffected teenager to mustachioed toddler, with each new iteration being more hilarious than the last. Coran really is the show's MVP when it comes to amusement.And again, Season 2 is very focused on enriching the main cast and giving them clear, complex arcs. Keith benefits from this character-first focus more than anyone, as he continues to grapple with his mysterious heritage and the knowledge that one day he might be called upon to lead the Paladins. Where once he might have been best described as "the angry one," he's very much grown into a complex, three-dimensional character over the course of 24 episodes. But while he's the standout in this season, all the Paladins enjoy their share of memorable moments and growth. The slow, steady approach to storytelling allows the writers to break the cast into smaller groups and explore some of the one-on-one dynamics in greater depth. Even Allura benefits from that treatment. While still the squeaky clean princess in many respects, several episodes force her to confront her own ingrained hatred of the Galra and accept that she can't judge an entire race based on the actions of some.Sadly, Season 2 is little better than its predecessor when it comes to developing the villains. While several episodes build on the reveal that Zarkon was once the pilot of the Black Lion, there's still not enough focus on exploring the person beneath the fearsome scowl and hulking armor. At the end of the day, he's still pretty much your typical evil, deep-voiced space tyrant. The same goes for his right-hand woman, Hag'gar (Cree Summer). It's a shame, too, because there's a lot of missed potential in terms of the ideological conflict between Zarkon and Hag'gar. While the latter is fanatically devoted to the cause, the former becomes more and more consumed by his quest to reclaim the Black Lion.This season also shares one other unfortunate similarity to the first in terms of its abrupt ending. While the finale, "Blackout," is anything but short on spectacle or tension, it fails to give the season the closure it deserves. The dust of that battle barely has time to settle before the writers toss in a cliffhanger and bid viewers farewell until next time. I don't necessarily mind being left hanging (as long as Season 3 becomes a reality of course), but it would have been nice to see a bit more buildup to the cliffhanger.Thankfully, the new season also remains in line with the first when it comes to production values. As with Avatar: the Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, Studio Mir has an unparalleled knack for blending Japanese-style animation with Western sensibilities. The character animation and action scenes are incredibly fluid. Mir also has a knack for blending hand-drawn characters and cel-shaded elements together into a cohesive whole. Season 2 is never wanting for bold, epic action scenes, whether the Paladins are battling more inventively designed Robeasts or various other environmental hazards. The animators also know how to use Voltron itself sparingly and effectively. As with Season 1, the show might go multiple episodes without the Paladins combining their lions. Which is just as well, considering the recycled transformation sequence is starting to wear out its welcome (sort of like watching the same, canned summon animations in the Final Fantasy games over and over). The conflicts in Season 2 frequently test the growing synergy between the Paladins and their Lions and test their ability to respond with brains rather than brute force.The voice acting remains a huge asset to the show. The main cast very much embody the personalities of their Paladins, whether it's Josh Keaton's calm, confident Shiro, Jeremy Shada's self-absorbed Lance or Bex Taylor-Klaus' nerdy yet impish Pidge. Rhys Darby's Coran is also a hoot, contributing as much as anything else to the character's comedic brilliance this season. The lineup of guest stars is also impressive, including a bizarre but entertaining role for none other than "Weird Al" Yankovic.Finally, it's worth mentioning Brad Breeck's excellent musical score. The best way to sum up the appeal of Legendary Defender is that it appeals directly to the '80s kid in all of us without ignoring the discerning adult that demands more than a glorified, 30-minute toy commercial. The music, with its distinctive combination of orchestral arrangements, blazing guitar riffs and synthesizers, is absolutely essential in capturing that '80s throwback vibe.