Voltron Legendary Defender Speculations

I might make this a new section in the blog like Speculations or something like that. I am more straightforward and up to the point.

Anyways, if anyone has seen that edit I made in my previous Voltron post, you would know that I really like this season and found it satisfying. Sure that are moments that could be put in there; for example, Keith giving the Red Bayard to Lance or Lance talking to the Red Lion before taking flight.

Anyone know that VLD takes elements from GoLion and the original Voltron to make a whole new narrative. Characters were redefined and new narratives are made. It's clear that the creators did see the originals and made their version with love. It's different from Teen Titans Go! and the Powerpuff Girls reboot. I mean those shows I mentioned were legit awful. There is a difference between making a well-written show (Teen Titans, Batman: The Animated Series) that respects the source material while making it their own and making a show that disrespects the source material (PPG reboot and TTG).

VLD is the former of the two and how glad I am for that. Sure there are storytelling issues like characters not getting enough focus or relegated to comic relief (shows do need levity while making sure that the seriousness of the situation is not downplayed; My Hero Academia does this well and VLD does humor well) and characters' relationships less shown and more implied even with all the filler, not focusing on the more important parts such as character interactions but it's still better than the other reboots I mentioned.

Anyway, let's get started.

The show is going to make their own story. Zarkon and Haggar are totally different from their counterparts. Lotor and his generals are different, considering his ladies are competent fighters in their own right. How about the originals of originals of Paladins? The creators even stated that they wanted to explore more of the paladins of old.

Considering that we are going to get Clone Shiro similarly like what happened in Young Justice, then you know that it's a play with the myth. Hell, it might be possible that Clone Shiro would actually be killed off because you know the original show supposed to have Sven and his equally doomed twin. The shows love Mythology Gags; for example, the latest season shows the original team in their suits with mismatched lions. Yes, Keith originally piloted the Black Lion in red armor, Lance the Red in blue armor, and Allura the Blue in pink armor. Not to mention, the first episode paid tribute to the dens the lions were hiding in as well as the world named Arus (another name for Altea in Voltron) and well the scar that Shiro has on his face, marking the same place where his counterpart was killed in Golion.

About the survivability of these characters, people are theorizing that Lance will likely die in the future likely as a result of proving himself. It would be a dark path for Lance and I could see that path happening but not so much death. Near-death experiences or nearly fatally wounded because a death makes little sense to his character arc. Taking drastic actions would be something that Lance would do probably in the future. Please think of a character development and how it should go. VLD might not have a lot of death on par with the original series but at least it has to make actual sense in terms of character development as well as the plot. I mean Shiro suffered from PTSD and would make little sense for him to die. How about defying the mentor occupational hazard and let the mentor live? My Hero Academia's All Might was foreseen to die a violent death but the narrative stated over and over again that All Might would defy it and will live. Why not subvert tropes and play with them? An execution of tropes is not bad considering that the superhero frenzy still plays up the original tropes, even anime based on homages.

These VLD staff made it clear it's between the barometer of ATLA and LOK. Netflix was hands-off as opposed to Nick. It's still a lighthearted show but they are still willing to go into dark areas. They even expressed happiness about exploring controversial issues that Nick wouldn't allow. Considering that Team Avatar and the New Team Avatar survived the entire series with rough edges and underwent massive trouble to get their happy ending, I can see that these characters need to earn their right for a happy ending after going through a death-defying epic war.

As for romance, there could still be potential. We still don't know which couple would be the endgame. There's still Kallura, the one couple that has been a fixture of the series since the eighties. GoLion seemed to prefer the different route altogether, making it ambiguous whether or not Fala ended up with anyone and suggested that she could end with other guys on the team preferably. However, this series is its own beast; it could take inspiration from the original series and GoLion to make it their own. Shiro is now the leader, Pidge is now a girl, the freaking Holts, the Quintessence. I don't hate the ship personally; y'all could ship it all you want. If they wanted a Kallura romance, they could at least draw it out with Keith being part Galra as a starting point and as of now, a romance would be forced especially how the story structured. We could still get romantic notions then and there like hints of interactions that Sterek did (there were lots of lines that pretty much stated that Stiles and Derek interacted outside of Scott's view) but none suggested that not even the Keith is Galra line. You could make the case when Keith went to Allura after Lotor stole the comet yet there's nothing romantic about that. I mean most relationships in VLD are underdeveloped (but the show is progressing even in the split-seasons) but the couple just doesn't feel right. Then there's Klance. This ship has potential to go from a rivalry-to-lovers ship and better yet, interracial gay. This show is different and has the potential to befit the progressivism that the world sorely needed. They could make it progressive and not go into something heteronormative. If the writers seriously wanted LGBT representation or at least explore controversial topics like sexuality, they have to make it central or draw the eye to it.

Look, I like Klance and more cautious if the writers ever chose to go down this route. Netflix might be a totally different ground to play opposed to telly but would they go the Korrasami route? The slow-build romance route? With slightly overt hints? Okay, people would love a canon couple there already in the show like Steven Universe and Glee did with theirs. There are shows out there that wanted a slow build romance on par of Scully and Mulder; there's Sterek, another mm couple that has that slow build that Jeff Davis desperately wanted to tell. It's really hard to get one's hopes up because shows are almost always hetero-normative while those who shipped same-sex couples rarely have that chance. I don't want to immediately say that Klance is canon now because it's lending too many expectations when the likelihood of the story already written, just that the writers needed to write it all out. Six seasons are enough to develop relationships, character development, plot threads, and avoid the pitfalls they had were previously criticized for. They have six seasons in total before Netflix decided to split up seasons a la Teen Wolf; I am just calling it S3b, okay. For all we know, these interactions might as well pave the way to a lasting friendship. Don't place too many expectations on the creators. The last thing we need is a repeat of Sherlock S3 where the show undoubtedly made the possibility of a romantic Johnlock null and void, leaving a heavily disgruntled LGBT fanbase.

I'm not asking anyone to ship Klance at all; you can have them as friends or brothers for all I care. I don't particularly care about those who don't ship USUK when I do ship USUK; I certainly don't care about FRUK romantically. I am trying to be logical about this. There is a difference between a couple I ship versus a potentially romantic canonical pairing. Think of the narrative and outside factors. Hetalia is a work that while I do have pairings I like, there could be a gigantic world orgy and I would care less.

I mean I am not a person to go for a rivals-to-lovers shipper at all. I shipped Contestshipping, Appealshipping, and Hinata X Kageyama but never will like RinHaru, Palletshipping and Comashipping. I have no freaking clue why I like certain rivals-to-lovers ships and my mind process to pick and choose which rivals to ships are strange. There is a difference between knowing that there is no way the couple I shipped would ever be canon and a couple that has the potential to be canon. I know that Contestshipping is the closest thing that is to an official canon couple by the narrative but I know that Appealshipping would never come to fruition in canon. This is all based entirely on narrative as well as outside factors. For example, did you know that Moreid from Criminal Minds was originally supposed to be a slow build canon romance but stomped out by executives in favor for a romance that went nowhere? Moreid did have factors earlier in their narrative before Davis was forced to forgo it. It's clear he really wanted a slow build romance between two men; one sexually abused older man named Derek with a younger and smarter man with parental issues. He is really close to it with Sterek in Teen Wolf.

The creators are major supporters of the LGBT and equality. There are potential there and Dreamworks had been vocally supportive. Gobber has confirmed homosexual after all. There is very few bisexual representation in the world. Even asexuality is more represented than this. Admittedly, there wasn't an array of the entire spectrum of LGBT representation. Fanfiction like Dalton has such an array while Glee struggled so hard and failed miserably. The latter was horribly biphobic when the show was supposedly about LGBT and openly accepting. And the writers didn't even try to hide their biphobia.

I'm getting off topic but yes there might be Klance as an official couple in the show with the probability of getting together at the end of the series or something. For all VLD is relatively faithful to the original series, it is still its own work. Let me tell you that the creators might go the Golion direction with Kallura being strictly platonic friends where the Allura counterpart have a much better narrative choices with the other Paladins. Remember that Kallura has been the Official Couple in every other incarnation but Golion. The writers, if they choose to do, could ultimately pick Kallura as their endgame just as their predecessors choose to do...with the exception of GoLion because surprisingly the love life of Princess Fala was ambiguous and seemed to push to the Paladins instead, especially Lance/Isamu. She actually kissed him on the cheek.

You guys can still ship Kallura if the writers chose the canon route of having an LGBT relationship between two major characters of the same sex like Klance. It's no different from what slash fans have to go through because comparatively, people who shipped same-sex couples never have the same hope it will ever come true that het shippers have. Look at Korrasami, PJO's Nico X Will and Steven Universe in comparison to Naruto or Tales of Graces. It's not an obligation for you to ship the most popular couple or the canon couple. In the HTTYD fandom, there are people who preferred to ship Hiccup with Heather or Camicazi instead of Astrid. In the Doctor Who fandom, you don't need to ship Rose with the Ninth or Tenth Doctor. In the FMA fandom, you don't need to ship Ed with Winry; you could still ship Elricest or Al X Winry all you want. You don't need to jump onto ship AlMei or RoyAi. In the Tiger and Bunny fandom, you don't need to ship Kotetsu X Barnaby. In Steven Universe, you don't need to ship Ruby X Sapphire or Rose Quartz X Greg. In the Pokeani fandom, you don't need to ship Contestshipping or Pokeshipping at all; you guys could still ship Orangeshipping or Comashipping. In Glee, you don't have to ship Klaine or Brittana. In the Hetalia fandom, you don't need to ship GerIta or SpaMano. In Supernatural, you don't have to ship Destiel or Wincest. You don't even have the obligation to ship either. There are people out there who either are rational about canonical ships based on canon hints or simply don't ship at all. I am heading to the latter direction for awhile now, even in the Pokeani where there are so many couples I could choose from. You could see Ash and his travel companions as best friends for life just as much as you can poly ship FACE, the Nordics, the Allies, and the Axis from Hetalia. Had I made my point clear by now? Or you want more? I shipped Shallura regardless because seriously one does not need canon to enjoy shipping. Nobody is asking you to. It's your choice. 

However, actors aren't that privy to the creative writing process. They were the script after all and interpret it with direction; if the creators chose to reveal spoilers to them that only they should keep so to adjust performance, then the actors are privy only in the minimal sense. They aren't in the writing room with the storyboards here, people. Alan Rickman, may he rest in peace, knew that Snape was in love with Lily. Actors can take the material in the script and make do with it. The MCU scripts have a lot of details that the actors worked with a lot. Zack Synder, I offer my condolences, didn't have much to offer in his movies to his actors. Even the worst actors would find little to work with in his scripts. Actors can try like Amy Adams and Henry Cavill so much... They can certainly try just like Keith is trying to be a leader and he is nicely developing into that. Actors can be privy when they can be such as making complaints about their characters. Benedict Cumberbatch did throw his friend, Steven Moffat, under the bus when he revealed that Moffat wanted a Gary Stu rather than a flawed character. The cast of PR Megaforce complained the writers only to be ignored. Sometimes some suggestions from actors would do a lot of good to a story, for the better or worse. They are privy to the story if they actually watched it and coupled with reading the script. Seriously why you think that Cumberbatch and the cast of Megaforce complained about their character in the first place?

I'm digressing again.

Just I am trying to think logically. For example, I don't think Lance would die literally; figuratively perhaps regarding his insecurities and the old goofball Lance into a mature soldier. Remember, die does not have to mean dead physically and make little sense for Lance to die narratively. Drastic actions yes and near-death experiences yes but surely not actual death. That will hurt the character development they would undergo. The show is raising stakes and likely going dark as it continued.

Why would Jeremy Shada spoil something major as death? I understand shipping because it is something that is prevalent to every fandom imaginable. He is allowed to love Klance just as much as everyone else is allowed to ship whatever two people they prefer. I don't trust creator's word much at all unless there is a consistent truth to what they are telling. J.K Rowling and George R.R. Martin trolled the audience just as much as Jeff Davis, Steven Moffat, Tetsuya Nomura, and Eiichirou Oda. As a result, I rarely ever see PR and prefer to watch the show and judge the creators' behavior if it is consistent with their show. I'm digressing but seriously for a professional actor, you would think that Shada would not reveal a major plot twist. And he had major roles before this. Is he excited for the info he was privy to and teasing the audience with it? He could've been more subtle than this. He's spelling out to everyone if anything he said is true to some extent.

I also have to say that the staff of VLD is tight-lipped of major spoilers and have an NDA contract. I mean did you see how almost all the leaks of S4 have been taken off the web although there are still remnants like Pidge and Matt kicking a** and seeing Matt and Shiro together in the same place. That contract is something so pivotal that there will be massive consequences for Shada if he revealed something as massively plot twist as Lance dying. Unless Lance dying is not as much as a plot twist at all and is something else altogether. Even his love and shipping of Klance is something that is no doubt actors can still partake in. Seriously, in a lot of fandoms, you could see actor shipping certain characters together like Martin Freeman with Johnlock and almost the entire cast of Teen Wolf with Sterek. Additionally, the creators wanted to explore something controversial things such as sexuality and LGBT and they were really vague about it. Please keep in mind of that actor and the staff of VLD is under the contract of an NDA. Hell, I don't think they ever deny or confirm Klance at all unlike how they denied Shaladin. They can confirm as vaguely as they want to be as long as they don't spoil something majorly plotty such as the Shiro we met in S3 is a clone; they can reveal that Lance has a spanning character arc and plot details that were thrown out like Shiro in the Space Mall episode was meant to park the castle spaceship with hilarious results. Even Jeremy Shada's infamous "space ranger partners" is vague enough to take either way. Admittedly, given his history about Klance, it's romantic in his terms.

Also, the Paladins would have to swing back to Earth sometime in the future either in the fifth or sixth season. Characters outright noted certain Garrison members so the Garrison must be important to the plot in some fashion.

I wonder if we are going to see the Paladins reunite with their families who have the misfortune, knowing their children are basically out in space, soldiers in an ongoing war, mature in a way they would not prefer. Honestly, their family would prefer to see them grow up, find someone, have a family, find a job that befitted their talents or interests, and just pay the bills? Growing up into adults without them seeing would be heartbreaking.

As for character development-wise, I'm pretty sure we are going to keep the current generation of Paladins as it is now permanently. I don't think it will be a simple transition though because of the multiple factors involved. It would be great for character development. I don't see Matt and Shiro becoming a Paladin again; rebels sure but not an actual Paladin. I don't think it would do much for character development if Shiro regained his status as the Black Lion pilot. It would be harmful to the much-needed character development for everyone else. Just look at how Clone Shiro returned to join and show that it is not good. It wouldn't do any good when the Real Shiro returned next season. I am always about the potential of a character/story so I am happy to see the growth and embracing themselves in their new roles. So yeah it had been a berserk button that they should return back to their original spots at the beginning of the show; look, I can see them return to their original spots for awhile but for how long is what I am asking here. I am always one that looks for character development so to know these guys' character development, it would not be a good option. Hell, we might even see Shiro temporarily take over the Blue Lion as a mythology gag that he was the original Blue Lion pilot before Allura took over. I think Shiro would be fine, stepping down, in the end, wanting his friends to be great.

Now consider these:

1. There will be six seasons in total, 78 episodes. We are currently in S3a and will be watching S3b in October. We're halfway through the series...not narratively but episode-wise. It might be S4 as it says but it's not really S4. 
1. So any discourse of Lance and Hunk not getting their character development is overblown. There is time. Jeremy Shada and Tyler Labine expressed satisfaction for their characters' arcs and role in the plot. Tyler Labine pointed out the obvious for goodness' sake. Any discourse about characters getting development when others didn't is stupid beyond capacity. Use your common sense, you stupid fandom! I am talking about the insane people in the fandom, rabid in their hatred towards the characters who get development, just because their fave didn't get the attention. Why don't you people just trust the showrunners and watch the whole thing? Understand there are six seasons in total? That the actors aren't complaining? 
1. I don't hear the complaints from actors because it's the actors who complain just as much as the fans, if not more. They are privy to the script thus the writing process. Considering S2 have been considered unsatisfactory, why aren't the actors complaining? The PR Megaforce Rangers' actors complained. You hear stories when actors did not like their characters or found them lacking because it wasn't written well or there are little character flaws. Instead, the VA's seemed pretty fine to the point that Jeremy Shada and Bex Taylor-Klaus seemed to tease spoiler-ific lines or details. They aren't complaining; in fact, they seemed pleased with their characters.
2. I watch the show/movie/whatever first before looking at the creators' words to know their intent. There is authorial intent versus the validity of multiple interpretation(s). I love Shakespeare for more than just the beautiful language. People have been judging what the creators say - which I remind you is vague teasing - and make that the final decision despite the show might contradict that view. Watch the damn show, you stupid fandom and don't make judgments so easily based on vague teasing. This stupid VLD fandom...
1. I would recommend people who want to enter fandoms to tread carefully. There are fandoms who are great (Pokeani, PJO) and those who aren't so great (VLD, SPN). I still feel like I am stepping on eggshells for having an unpopular and/or sane reaction to something the fandom blows out of proportion. 
1. Seriously, something as trivial as hair suddenly became a discourse sign in the VLD fandom. Let people have their headcanons and don't post yourself high up on a pedestal just because you have a different opinion. Headcanons are specifically don't contract canon so you are allowed tochoose and make up your own as long as it doesn't contradict canon. I headcanon Suyin as Tokka's daughter and you don't see me hate on people just not having the same headcanon as me. 
2. I want fandoms to calm down and use their common sense to not get caught up in their headcanons and fantasies. They can't seem to identify the difference between reality and fiction at all. The Pokeani fandom is quite laid-back, even with M20. Yes, there was debates and backlash but overall, the Pokeani fandom just lived with it. We are currently in happy mode with the return of Misty and Brock. 
2. Anything that came to mind like underdeveloped relationships or minimal detail on family/background will come in comic book form or in the show itself. Just wait. 
3. I want everyone (within reason of canon) to be happy. If it means the implications (Lotor will eventually take over the Galra empire and dismissed the claims on the worlds and with Allura, Team Voltron, the rebels, Voltron alliance, etc to maintain universal peace) and potential plot twists (Garrison is on with the Galra), then they have to earn their happy ending. EVERYONE. I see the writers and the showrunners would want these guys to earn their right for a happy ending.
1. Besides, this show is its own entity. If the show seriously aimed for diversity and representation, they should go for it. Even if older fans would be dissatisfied for shipping reasons (for example, the official couple could be Klance rather than Kallura) or something that didn't stay true to the original, the story can stand on its own. 
1. Yes, there is admitted flaws. The comedy can be childish/not well-integrated, certain characters don't get much spotlight when other shows like ATLA did theirs well, certain characters' value sometimes lowered for cheap humor, choppiness, probably deleted/missing scenes. The show is not ATLA but it's not Korra either. 
2. The writers and creators already made the story. They are the ones in charge, not us. 
1. We are in our fandom, sometimes cruel, sometimes dumb, sometimes civil. We can create whatever we want and that includes the most debauched. If you are unsatisfied with the story or characters, go to your computer and write up your fanfiction. 
2. I am not touching any discourse with a ten-foot pole, including the assumption that the cast could be interpreted as white. At least I am good to navigate my way through fandom's discourse, criticism, sub-fandoms and anti-fandom. 
3. Shipping is subjective. If you ship Shaladin, more power to you! If you hate Shaladin, more power to you! I found shipping wars and the way people try to police shipping awful. There is no obligation to ship canon and non-canon ships. One do not need canon to enjoy shipping. 

S3 is unpredictable so don't think those theories people throw around will be easy. Just keep in mind that there are multiple things that potentially hurt what you personally theorized. That does not make me in the right. There are too many factors involved to consider as well as consequences:

• Shiro and Zarkon are foils. We can even go as far that Shiro represented Zarkon when he was a gentle ruler. Black was their connection and we still don't know what Shiro would want. The bond with Black was such a focal point that we don't know what either Shiro or Zarkon will want now.
• Zarkon and Haggar's plans for the future. Now that Zarkon is awake, what will he do now that his connection with Black is cut? What will he want now? Now that we know that the couple has been consumed by Quintessence and thusly have their memory restored. Although Zarkon still has his old memories. Are they going to pronounce that the old Zarkon and Honerva is dead? 
• Lotor's own plans with his own Psycho Ranger Voltron. We still don't have a clue what he wants. He certainly trusts and respects his generals that we will know they will pilot the Dark Voltron.
• There's the probability that this guy might join Voltron and the rebels. We still don't know much about him but we can glean from what we were given. 
• Matt Holt and the rebels. What do the rebels think of the Voltron Coalition? What will Matt say about all this? His impact on the events? There's also the possibility that some of the rebels might potentially be descendants of the Altean escapees from their planet's destruction. Given how we kept seeing the possibility that Allura and Coran weren't the last Alteans in-canon, this could be awesome. That meant that all this time, the Alteans were kept on the down-low and likely been hearing of Voltron and Princess Allura. 
• Matt Holt's character arc. We have a couple lines on him so we can gauge his character. What will he impact on Pidge, just how changed he is? Did his eyesight healed? Because I would love that. 
• Where the fuck is Sam Holt? What is his importance?
• The potential of Garrison's involvement. Lance, Pidge, and Hunk noted Garrison officers after all in the prologue.
• Keith and Lance's developing relationship (with a surprising potential for romance if the writers chose to go down that route). Whether or not their romance would be an incidental part of their intertwining character arcs like Korrasami's, we also have to say that Keith is depending on Lance a lot. 
• The point was co-leadership. The pair must balance things out, coupled with the team allowing more brainstorming for ideas. Shiro would be so proud for his team to reach the potential he saw. 
• Keith's character arc. Do not forget that he is chosen by Black and have shown the potential to be the leader in his own goddamn right. Keith might be reluctant about his role as the team leader that thrust upon him but he is growing and does not ignore that just because Shiro is the better leader. Shiro is not a perfect leader. 
• Additionally, he was supposed to find his family. There were theories thrown around that Keith is alien...almost completely (Altean is another part that people threw around so that would mean he would be part Galra and part Altean) with a small part of human. Then we got the idea that Axca, my lady, is his half/twin sister. We barely got anything on his background. Unlike Pidge who is actively and have clues, Keith have no clue where to look.
• Lance's character arc. The creators will be spanning it across the seasons so...
• Hunk's character arc. Hunk hasn't been central to the series since S1. Yes, he's markedly confident in Shiro's absence. Is he going to be a well-rounded character a la Toph or Asami? Or he's going to get major character development considering we are seeing Lance here? He still hasn't let go of his scaredy-cat ways; while he grew a spine, he still hasn't fully enveloped himself in his potential just yet. 
• Pidge's character arc. We know we are finding her family and so far, we are meeting Matt in S3b. We also see more of her character development in S2 so I hope to see more to offer.
• Lance or Shiro potentially dying the future. We can say that something will happen to Lance due to his insecurities. Shiro though.... yeah there could still be red flags of a death in the future among the team.
• The Quintessence role of the matter. We know that the Galra Empire been gathering them but we don't know for sure what will do now.
• Keith finding his family. There's also the theories that Acxa is his sister, half or twin. We might even see his parents into the plot.
• Allura's character arc coupled with her bond with Blue. We don't know her stance on Lance or Keith potentially stepping down. However, Lance believed he is second best to everyone. I don't think Allura got that much character development when Shiro was around as leader; she certainly kicks a** and have an active role to play and she did have character development, just not as much as one would think. She certainly has her agency and the team knows best not to challenge her. She's the wild card of Team Voltron. 
• Whose lion is which? It will bite the team in the a$$ in future seasons. That is an issue, especially raised by Lance, the one who felt unnecessary and left behind by the talented people on board, feeling average. 
• Again I do think we will see the original formation in the future but for long I have no clue. 
• The new formation was definitely intended, not just because it's an adaptation/reboot, because of the hints that were given minimally in the previous two seasons and the character development. The writers made an explanation for the switches as well as the different color coordination. The previous formation was far too comfortable and did not allow those comfortable to stretch their wings. I am only talking about Keith, Lance, Shiro, and Allura here. Hunk and Pidge are doing fine and stretched their legs well with Yellow and Green. You guys can criticize that the reinstatement of the new formation may be wobbly or weak or just has deeply personal reasons for preferring other characters as the Black Paladin. You don't have to require to like it but please for the love of Alfor, it's not your vision. Like the non-Korrasami shippers, you are allowed to have your own opinions. Again, this is not your work. Just like Steven Universe was created for everyone instead of the SJWs parading it as their work when it's not theirs to own. 
• I do think we will see Lance briefly take over the Black Lion. Allura, not so much because she seemed indifferent when she sat inside the cockpit. Look at the difference between her reaction to Black, Red, and Blue. People seemed to think Allura should be the Black Lion pilot when there is stuff she could do be a more effective leader in the future like treating others as equals rather than expect to be followed. I want strong female characters but I also want well-rounded characters with faults. Let people have flaws, fandom. Just imagine her meeting Romelle if the latter ever appeared as the rebel leader. I really want to see Romelle appear as a rebel leader. 
• We might even see Shiro take over Blue when Allura is needed elsewhere. I'm pretty sure he will be fine, stepping down. Shiro wants his friends and family to reach their potential and if it means that stepping down, then it's fine. 
• The lions themselves. We still don't know their mindset but certainly their realistic outlook. They choose their paladins, not us. Hell, we don't even see much of their bond with the Paladin with the exception of Shiro and Black but even then that is notable because Black doesn't get to choose and still connected to Zarkon so Shiro was forced to bond with Black. Alfor outright stated they too are evolving so don't think it will be that easy for the original formation to come back or it's a soulmate thing. Remember there is only one case of Paladins before this and this is new territory for the current generation of Paladins. The lions are sentient and possess their own consciousness but certainly not as human as people depict it as. Even the aliens regarded them with awe, not just the humans. 
• The clone of Shiro. What will he do now? Will he die or will Shiro die? Considering that both Takashi and Ryou died... 
• Slav. He's an utter genius so he must have a role to play. He outright complained about the castle's tech and modified the teladov that it definitely saved the lives of Team Voltron and the surviving members of BOM. Heck, we don't even know where he is as of S3. These creators who previously worked on ATLA and LOK would at least make these characters they introduced come back in some way, whether as a callback, running gag, cameo, or an important role to play.
• Other potential characters from the original series have yet to make an appearance. Princess Romelle and Merla, for example, has not yet to make an appearance. The show has the potential to be even more diverse than it already is. 
• If they have the chance to make a canon interracial LGBT relationship, then they should grab it, not just for the revolutionary factor but also for the fact they could tell an honest-to-god LBGT romance in a kids show, telling kids that 'look at these paladins who saved the universe and they are in love with someone of the same sex. It's okay to love someone of the same sex'. When they took the chance to make Pidge a girl, then they gave female representation furthered with Allura and Shay; we just need more female representation though. 

Remember what Lance said to Blue: We don't always get what we want. I think that will be a theme from here on in VLD. This is the creator's vision, not ours. We can have our headcanons and beliefs in theories all we want. Just keep in mind predictions does not always mean right. I prefer the Klance co-leadership over Shiro's leadership narratively. Again, don't think it's an easy transition.

A thing of note: S3 showed that Shiro was their security blanket so the team rather stagnate; almost everyone goes to Shiro for advice or protection because he's their idol/older brother/leader. Yeah, as much as I love Shiro, he's stifling the potential of the team as the Black Paladin. Everyone is dependent on him rather than using their own talents; if they were using their own talents, it's for stuff they are used to like fixing stuff around the castle or remaining the jokester; while we can make the comment that Shiro praised Lance at Beta Traz, it's really hard to say whether or not he knew about Lance's insecurities. I don't think I see Hunk more confident in his abilities than S3. All the characters stepped up in the advent of Shiro's disappearance and I saw that as a good one.

I have criticism for S3 and I still find it satisfying since S1. For example, there is just not much focus on Hunk. Hunk as a character has grown a spine but still scared overall; we could have given him screen time by allowing him to interact with the new leader, Keith. He's perfectly peaceful with himself but he needs to be braver I suppose. We see the focus on how smart he is with alien technology. He and Pidge loved the alien technology they see in their travels. Both Pidge and Hunk were relegated to the comic in this season. We will see Pidge undergo some character development next season, judging by the S4 leaks about Matt. Matt Holt who can fight against the aliens when a year and several months he would have died.

It's really hard to critique an ongoing work. There is a reason why I prefer to watch even the worst pieces of media to the very end so I can properly critique it. Creators may or may not listen to constructive criticism or is well-aware but choose to go either their own pace or just ignore the constructive criticism. Just look at Steven Moffat who does not listen to constructive criticism. The VLD creators listened to their critics and tried to fix it or explain the details.

I'm not expecting a masterpiece like ATLA or Kung Fu Panda. I know it's flawed. Look I am a diehard FMA and Hetalia fan, but I understand and admit their flaws. VLD have the potential and I want it to do well.

Also, Sven's entire existence and his comment about a space hospital is perfection. I was laughing so hard. If anyone is doubting that the creators don't watch Golion or the original Voltron, then Sven would be the most obvious clue.

Also, Voltron fandom, let Shaladin fans have their fun. Shipping is meant to be fun and should not cause this much serious business; that is a major issue in every fandom that shipping is taken way too seriously than it should. If it makes you uncomfortable, then avoid it. I certainly don't care about any Shaladin ship that you guys seemed to push as pedophilia when it's non-existent. Ya don't seem to know the term pedophile at all; now, it's just all rampart hate and just stupidity. Ironically, the fandom I have been in for a long ass time, the Pokemon fandom, actually doesn't care about who you ship because there are far too many ships not just in the anime but also in games and manga. No chance is happening in the show and you should already know that just as much as those who shipped Shaladin. What you are doing is toxic to a fandom, not allowing people to just ship. You can make them aware of the problems the ship presented but don't think you are righteous enough for a fandom that you somehow have power over. You can be anti-whatever you like but you must have an understanding and respect to those who like the ship/media in the first place. Look at me, I don't like Frozen and I don't hate seeing my friends adore the film, even when my brother blasted some of the songs one day. There is a difference between nonexistent ships in canon (because Shaladin would never come true in canon in no reality; Klance, Kallura or Shallura have better chances than Sheith or Shklance any day. However, there's also no romances at all) and a problematic canon ship (for example, Twilight series' Bella X Edward and Frozen's Anna X Kristoff).

Remember you don't even need canon to enjoy shipping. Let people have their fucking fun. It is not fun for disrespecting others just for possessing a preference for something else. Don't dictate what people cannot ship. Be respectful. I do not like Wincest at all and support Destiel while others would see it the other way around. I know Destiel would never be canon as well as Wincest. Do you see me throwing me a fit whenever I see Wincest is just as popular as Destiel? Do you see me hating Wincest shippers just for possessing a different opinion? You do not decide what others cannot ship.

Please note that the tarot card selection is only based on the VLD counterparts. This is subject to change due to character development. Those here that have minimal character development are subject to change.

Character - Tarot

Shiro - Fool -> Death

Keith - Chariot -> Fool

Lance - Magician -> Chariot

Pidge - Hermit

Hunk - Empress

Allura - Priestess

Coran - Hierophant

Zarkon - Death/Emperor/Tower

Lotor - Tower/Emperor

Haggar/Honerva - Wheel of Fortune

Alfor - Hanged Man

Matt - Justice