Thundarr the Barbarian

The wizard Kublai hires another barbarian, Zogar, to stop Thundarr while he searches for the Golden Scepter of Yantzee in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

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Episode Synopsis

The wizard Kublai floats above San Francisco’s Chinatown, looking for the Golden Sceptre of Yantzee.

He and his robot warriors blast buildings in their desperation to find it. Thundarr, Ariel, and Ookla hear the commotion and ride in to assist the fair people of Chinatown. They begin destroying Kublai’s metal soldiers through a variety of methods, mostly Thundarr chopping them with his sword and Ookla rolling a wrecking ball at them like he was bowling.

Once Kublai teleports away, Kwan, the elder of the village comes out to meet them. They dine with Kwan and he tells them that they have never seen the sceptre in their village, but it is where Kublai believes it to be so he attacks them. Ookla cannot figure out chopsticks. Instead of waiting for Kublai to come back and fight him then while protecting the village, Thundarr wants to surprise him by taking the battle to him. They leave at once.

At a local watering hole called The Blue Moon Grill, Kublai finds another barbarian named Zolgar who believes he is the strongest barbarian of all. He has heard of Thundarr and wishes to challenge him. Kublai strikes a deal with him that if he can destroy Thundarr, he will make Zogar rich beyond his wildest dreams. They shake on the deal.

Thundarr and crew ride at night and Ariel asks why they need to hunt wizards in the dark. Suddenly, Zogar attacks them with his trusty battle cat.

The cat takes out Ariel and he tackles Thundarr. Ookla tosses the cat aside and Thundarr grapples with Zogar, asking why he is attacking them. Ariel tries to zap him with magic, but Zogar uses his mechanical hand to reflect the magic back at her. She is knocked unconscious and Ookla and Thundarr trip and roll down a cliff. Zogar picks up Ariel and leaves as Thundarr and Ookla come to and start climbing back up the cliff.

Kublai watches the progress of Zogar on his magic monitor. He sees Zogar plant a piece of cloth on a tree branch to lead Thundarr into a trap.

Thundarr falls for it and heads in the direction indicated. Zogar has Ariel hanging over a slime pit by her hands. He moves a car to block the view of the pit as Thundarr rides into view. Ariel tries to warn him, but is too weak. Plus, Thundarr never listens to Ariel anyway. So he and Ookla jump over the car and are stuck in the slime. Zogar sets the ropes holding Ariel on fire.

As is the case with quicksand in cartoons and movies, Thundarr warns Ookla not to struggle or it will suck him in faster. Zogar and his panther watch them sink and the rope burn. Zogar tosses a large rock to Ookla and it makes him sink faster. Thundarr has Ookla throw the rock at a tree, smashing the trunk and making it fall across the pit. He escapes and they pull the horses out. The fire breaks Ariel’s ropes and Thundarr swings over to save her. He leaves her hands tied, telling Ookla to untie her because he has business with Zogar.

Zogar and his panther walk along a path between cliffs. Thundarr rides in and attacks him.Zogar sics his panther on him, but Thundarr tosses the cat aside and takes down Zogar. Seeing this, Kublai teleports Zogar out of there since he still needs him.

Ariel and Ookla ride up and tell Thundarr that Kublai will probably attack the village again, and Thundarr swears he will be there to stop it.

Kublai is making Zogar dance with laser beams as punishment, and Zogar begs for another chance, but only if he has a weapon like the Sunsword. Kublai gives him a magical trident.

Back in Chinatown, Kwan mentions that Kublai will not stop until he finds the scepter since it is the only thing that can destroy his powers. Zogar appears and Thundarr attacks. While Zogar keeps Thundarr busy, Kublai turns a building into a giant dragon and searches for the scepter. Thundarr bests Zogar and sends him off in a cart.

The dragon is wreaking havoc on the city, crushing buildings and opening fissures in the street. One is opened when it tosses Ookla away with its tail. Kublai realizes the scepter must be in the tunnels under the city and runs down a set of stairs he has discovered.

Ariel combines her magic with the Sunsword and Thundarr throws it at the dragon, stabbing it in the chest. It turns back into a building.

Kublai finds the scepter, but Thundarr grabs it and zaps him. The ruby in his headpiece stops working. It was the source of his power and he is now defeated. 

At dinner, Kwan gives them fortune cookies and Ookla opens one. It talks about his disposition and melodious voice. Everyone laughs and he breaks the table as they continue laughing.