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Season guide

Defenders of the Earth: Season 1

65 episodes Premiered Sep 8, 1986
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Season 1 Episodes

Episode Guide

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Season 1: Filler vs. Essential Canon

Filter episodes by narrative weight. Focus on essential mytharc and skip standalone side quests.

8%
92%
Mytharc (5): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (60): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
S1·E1 Mytharc

Escape from Mongo

Sep 8, 1986

When Ming the Merciless leaves Mongo to invade Earth, his old enemy Flash Gordon and the latter's son, Rick, join forces with six others - the youngest a pre-teenaged boy named Ksh

S1·E2 Core

The Creation of Monitor

Sep 9, 1986

Aided by Flash's Krell allies, the Defenders begin building their base. But Ming has learned of their existence and resolved to put an end to them.

S1·E3 Core

A Demon In His Pocket

Sep 10, 1986

Some boys try to pick a fight with Kshin so, rather than break the Defenders' Code of Honour, he reads up on summoning spells - against Mandrake's orders - and calls forth a demon

S1·E4 Core

A House Divided

Sep 11, 1986

When Africa suffers a sudden and unexplained climate change, the Phantom and Jedda head there to investigate. In the process, the Phantom learns that his estranged brother, Kurt -

S1·E5 Core

Bits and Chips

Sep 12, 1986

When the Defenders receive an invitation to pit Dynak-X against a chess-playing computer, they little suspect that it is part of Ming's plot to implant an electronic maggot into Dy

S1·E6 Core

The Root of Evil

Sep 15, 1986

Dr. Whitestead's plant food formula goes haywire--spilling on him and turning him into a plant! Ming seizes the scientist, the fomula, and his daughter. Lothar and Mandrake use th

S1·E7 Core

Cold War

Sep 16, 1986

Ming needs Rick Gordon's ring to complete a weather control machine, and having caught Flash in a battle, uses him as bait to lure the impulsive Rick to Ice Station Earth. It is u

S1·E8 Core

The Sleeper Awakes

Sep 17, 1986

Eaons ago, a giant robot crash landed on Earth. Ming learns of The Annihilator, which now sleeps beneath Central City, and distracts all but one of The Defenders long enough to act

S1·E9 Core

The Revenge of Astra

Sep 18, 1986

The vengeful space princess Astra creates an army of clay soldiers. The daughter of Princess Aura, Astra is convinced by Ming that Flash Gordon was behind her mother's death. She u

S1·E10 Core

The Hall of Wisdom

Sep 19, 1986

The incredible Hall of Wisdom pays its-2000-year, 24-hour visit to the Galaxy. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Ming to get his hands on the dreaded Quasar Weapon, with which h

S1·E11 Core

The Mind Warriors, Part I

Sep 24, 1986

Ming lures Kshin to Ice Station Earth by kidnapping Zuffy, then probes the dark side of Kshin's imagination to create fearsome warriors capable of destroying the Defenders. While t

S1·E12 Core

The Mind Warriors, Part II

Sep 22, 1986

The Defenders add a new twist to the Battle Simulation Room--a Thought-Transference Cap. It transmits the wearer's imagination directly into the simulation; Kshin loves to use it t

S1·E13 Core

The Lost Jewels of Tibet

Sep 23, 1986

Ming is seeking the Jewels of Power, but a female archeologist named Atuskedero is also after them and travels to Tibet with Lothar and Mandrake (the latter worked with her in his

S1·E14 Core

The Evil of Doctor Dark

Sep 25, 1986

Mandrake's old enemy, Damian Dark, and the latter's Psychic Warrior cohorts escape from jail and join forces with Ming's troops to search for the legendary Well of Essence.

S1·E15 Core

Diamonds are Ming's Best Friends

Sep 26, 1986

Ming enlists the aid of the ruthless Beastmaster to create an army of Crystal Soldiers, beings grown from diamonds and invulnerable to everything except an extremely rare mineral c

S1·E16 Core

The Men of Frost

Sep 29, 1986

For Ming's plan to blanket the earth with a veneer of frost to be successful, the satellite requires the strength of a Starblue Crystal, of which only three exist. During a ceremon

S1·E17 Core

Battleground

Sep 30, 1986

Ming's forces travel to the planet Grubor, where they use his freeze-ray weapon to capture six Cave Slugs- invincible alien creatures the size of semi-trucks who can and do eat any

S1·E18 Core

The Panther Peril

Oct 1, 1986

When the famous explorer Andrew Huxley encounters the wrath of Ming the Merciless while on expedition in Africa, he immediately calls in the Defenders. Ming kidnaps the Chief of th

S1·E19 Core

Fury of the Deep

Oct 2, 1986

Ming's attack on an oil platform, to capture a main computer containing the earth's entire energy network, is foiled by the Defenders, but all is not lost as he spots oceanographer

S1·E20 Core

Family Reunion

Oct 3, 1986

Ming captures the Phantom and Jedda as they return from the race against N'Dama (really the Phantom's brother Kurt Walker) for the Jewel of Zandoon. Once again his old self, Kurt W

S1·E21 Core

The Defense Never Rests

Oct 6, 1986

The Defenders fly into space to investigate a mysterious comet and discover, too late to break from the tractor beams dragging them toward the comet, that in reality it is an Ilyri

S1·E22 Core

Like Father, Like Daughter

Oct 9, 1986

Ming's estranged daughter, Aura, crash lands her ship on Monitor and informs the Defenders of her father's latest scheme to enslave the population of earth with his Mind Neutralize

S1·E23 Core

The Would be Defender

Oct 10, 1986

At the dedication ceremony for a new courthouse built in honor of our heroes, 13 year-old Earl Sump, bespectacled and dressed in a homemade superhero suit, captures two pick-pocket

S1·E24 Core

Doorways into Darkness

Oct 13, 1986

Deep in Africa Ming locates an anti-energy source enabling him to open the Nightgiant Doorway and unleash 7-story tall nightgiants to destroy the earth. Flash flies out to space to

S1·E25 Core

Deal With The Devil

Oct 14, 1986

While captives in Ming's jail, Rick and Jedda overhear Octon and Garax's plans to revolt against Ming. In exchange for their freedom, the Defenders offer to help in the scheme. Whe

S1·E26 Core

Terror In Time

Oct 15, 1986

After retrieving a vat of deadly mutant slime from Ming's laboratory, six of the Defenders (LJ and Kshin do not appear in this episode) are chased through a time warp and go back t

S1·E27 Core

Ming's Household Helpers

Oct 16, 1986

The household helper robot, designed by Ming the Merciless in another of his evil schemes, is the hottest selling item on the market, deployed in over one million homes worldwide-

S1·E28 Core

The Starboy

Oct 17, 1986

While transporting Starchild, a child-like alien who has landed on earth, through the woods around Monitor, the young Defenders encounter two alien scouts who attempt to destroy th

S1·E29 Core

The Gods Awake

Oct 20, 1986

When statues of ancient gods mysteriously come to life the Defenders are summoned to the Himalayas by Mandrake's old magic teacher, Theron. Our heroes learn that Ming and a mystic

S1·E30 Core

The Ghost Walks Again

Oct 21, 1986

When industrial tycoon/hypochondriac Kent Madden's plan to buy a magic health elixer from Partha, son of Chief Ajuna of the of r ican Fallu tribe, goes awry, he makes a deal to obt

S1·E31 Core

The Book of Mysteries

Oct 20, 1986

When a two-hundred square mile area of Morocco mysteriously disappears, the Defenders investigate- sans Kshin, who is instructed to choose any book from Mandrake's library for a bo

S1·E32 Core

The Future Comes But Once

Oct 21, 1986

While engaging Ming's roboships in battle over the North African Desert, Flash discovers the remains of an ancient pyramid, where he finds an obelisk that produces visions when tou

S1·E33 Core

Kshin And The Ghost Ship

Oct 22, 1986

While on vacation in Jamaica with the Defenders, Kshin sees a ghost ship; however, no one believes him. Determined to get proof of the ship's existence, Kshin rows a dinghy out int

S1·E34 Core

The Carnival of Dr. Kalihari

Oct 23, 1986

Dr. Kalihari's carnival is in town and the Defenders are on hand to see the show. What they don't know is that Dr. Kalihari has taken over the carnival from its owners and populate

S1·E35 Core

The Mystery of the Book

Oct 24, 1986

Dynak X picks up a bizarre energy transmission from Stonehenge prompting the elder Defenders to investigate. Kshin consults the book of enigma which shows him a blueprint of the an

S1·E36 Core

Flash Times Four

Oct 27, 1986

Ming knows that Flash Gordon is the only man alive who could effectively fly his state-of-the-art warplane The Scorpion, so he lures our hero to Ice Station Earth, where he has cre

S1·E37 Core

The Frozen Heart

Oct 28, 1986

Ming's forces kidnap LJ's girlfriend, Kate, turning her into a Frost Person, and have her trick LJ, Rick and Jedda into handing the Defenders' Space Station - now armed with a leth

S1·E38 Core

Rick Gordon, One Man Army

Oct 29, 1986

Rick Gordon's new friend at Central City High ! Carlotta Vallejo- requires his help when Ming backs revolutionary forces to dethrone her father from the Presidency of the tropical

S1·E39 Core

The Rites of Zesnan

Oct 30, 1986

While trying to prove their individual prowess during an obstacle course competition, Rick, Jedda and L.J. get a bit too serious, endangering themselves individually and as a flyin

S1·E40 Core

Audie and Tweak

Oct 31, 1986

Ming's computer, Octon, has created the ultimate trap- Tycos, a machine designed by a machine, completely devoid of human flaws- which the evil leader will use to destroy the Defen

S1·E41 Core

Return of the Skyband

Nov 3, 1986

When an ore transport ship in deep space is looted and notes are found announcing the RETURN OF THE SKY BAND, the Phantom is apprehensive. He recounts the story of his grandfather,

S1·E42 Core

Dracula's Potion

Nov 4, 1986

The Defenders set out for Transylvania to investigate the disappearance of John Harker, a young archeologist doing re-search in the area. Upon arrival, they are invited to the cast

S1·E43 Core

One of the Guys

Nov 5, 1986

Rick and L.J. accompany Kshin's class, which includes Marty, a wheelchair-bound boy, on a field trip to the Amazon where they encounter hostile natives. When Kshin and Marty are se

S1·E44 Core

100 Proof Highway

Nov 6, 1986

At school, Jedda is invited to a party by Eric, who freely admits that, "Everything looks better with a little vodka". At first a bit hesitant, Jedda eventually agrees- she thinks

S1·E45 Core

The Time Freezer

Nov 7, 1986

The Defenders attend an inter-galactic science convention in Monaco which coincides with a junior magician's competition that Kshin enters. Mandrake tells the boy the secret to ope

S1·E46 Core

The Prince Makes His Move (1)

Nov 10, 1986

Prince Kro-Tan reduces his father to nothing more than a microbe and seizes control of his empire, determined to conquer earth and destroy the Defenders himself....

S1·E47 Core

The Prince Triumphant (2)

Nov 11, 1986

Pursuing Kro-Tan to a small kingdom in india, Flash and Rick are astonished to find that Kro-Tan is revered as a benevolant and trusting being, deemed worthy of ruling earth

S1·E48 Core

The Prince Weds (3)

Nov 12, 1986

Continuing his power play, Kro-Tan's next step is to secretly attach miniature, mind-controled explosives to the Defenders and take Jedda captive. They arrive in Mongo, where he an

S1·E49 Core

The Prince's Royal Hunt (4)

Nov 13, 1986

Locked in the prince's palace, Jedda uses her gift to communicate with animals as a means of escape before the wedding. In a subterranean area, Kshin discovers a race of small, pea

S1·E50 Mytharc

The Prince Dethroned (5)

Nov 14, 1986

The witch who's aided Kro-Tan from the start manages to revive the original King of Mongo, and is revealed to be his Queen while having her youth restored. They lock Kro-Tan away a

S1·E51 Core

Lothar's Homecoming

Nov 17, 1986

The Defenders accompany Lothar to his hometown in Jamaica, where the new children?s wing of a hospital will be dedicated in his honor. While there, Dr. Barbeau informs then that a

S1·E52 Core

Suspended Sabotage

Nov 18, 1986

While Rick and L.J. test out Rick's new invention- a wave interference device that scrambles any signal transmitted through the air- Rick is kidnapped by Ming, who then places an i

S1·E53 Core

Call of the Eternals

Nov 19, 1986

Ming sends a look-alike Defender ship to provoke the Beacon of the Eternals- a computer operated ship searching for a long lost benevolent society- which thereby releases its three

S1·E54 Core

The Return of Doctor Dark

Nov 20, 1986

Ming sets out to rule the entire universe by stealing the first of the three shards of the Orb of Konos from the Yucatan rain forest. At Monitor, Mandrake picks up telepathic signa

S1·E55 Core

The Deadliest Battle

Nov 21, 1986

Rick feels the pressure that results from his efforts to live up to Flash's reputation, and all aspects of Rick's life are suffering- school, personal and Defender work. A "friend"

S1·E56 Core

The Necklace of Oros

Nov 24, 1986

As part of Jedda's coming of age, the Phantom takes her to the Skull Cave to choose a gift from among the family treasures. She is drawn to the mysterious Necklace of Oros, but an

S1·E57 Core

Torn Space

Nov 25, 1986

The fabric of the universe is weak and stretching under the stress of Graviton's bridge, and the evil alien must have the Necklace of Oros if he is to survive. When the reptile/hum

S1·E58 Core

Ming Winter

Nov 26, 1986

Flash receives a distress call from Prince Barin, summoning him to Mongo to save the planet from Ming's evil son Kro-Tan. Back at Monitor our heroes uncover Ming's plan- Kro-Tan ha

S1·E59 Core

The Golden Queen (1)

Nov 26, 1986

As Ming teams up with Queen Hadea of the Netherworld, elsewhere, Jedda suffers injury from an experiment intended to examine the Neckless of Oros. The Phantom takes her to a villag

S1·E60 Mytharc

The Gravity of Ming (2)

Nov 27, 1986

Graviton discovers that the neckless Jedda's wearing is a fake, and Ming vows to punish Hadea. The Phantom escapes from Hadea's palace with the real neckless and heads for Ming's f

S1·E61 Core

Flesh and Blood

Dec 1, 1986

The Defenders must fight a fanatic cult calling themselves the ""Leauge of Flesh and Blood"" who are opposed to the existence of robots, beleivng that they are crippling human inde

S1·E62 Core

Drowning World

Dec 2, 1986

Ming constructs a dam near the sea of Japan. This diverts the warm currents of the Japenease oceans towards the antartic, causing the polar Ice caps to melt, which results in major

S1·E63 Core

The Adoption of Kshin

Dec 3, 1986

During the court proceedings of Mandrake's adoption of Kshin, Hai, an old Asian man, enters with proof that he Is the boy's grandfather. Hai's return sparks Kshin's memory- he was

S1·E64 Mytharc

Street Smarts

Dec 4, 1986

In battle simulation with Jedda, L.J. refuses to take part- he thinks it is only "kid stuff". Flash transports Morlag, a lizard-like leader of the rebellion on Mongo to Monitor, wh

S1·E65 Mytharc

Ming's Thunder Lizards

Dec 5, 1986

The Defenders fly to Alaska to inspect a dinosaur alert. While following dinosaur tracks, Rick and L.J. discover that a long-dormant volcano, with an artificial dome placed over it

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