Kingdom
"Kingdom" is the thirty-ninth televised episode of the series Gargoyles, and the twenty-sixth episode of Season 2. It originally aired on February 5, 1996.
| Crew | With the Voice Talent Of |
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Contents
[hide]Summary
The Story
Previously on Gargoyles
- Recaps: ("Avalon" Part One, "Upgrade", "The Cage")
Act One
Brooklyn and Lexington return to Clock Tower, with Hudson watching from its balcony. Under the full Moon, Hudson asks the two if they've had any luck, and Lexington shares there's been no trace – Brooklyn adds that he's been up the east side and down the west of Manhattan and there's just no sign of Goliath or Bronx. Hudson notes how uncharacteristic it is for Goliath to disappear for nights without telling the rest of the clan. Just then, Broadway returns from his search, sharing that the mail's been piling up at Elisa's Apartment and that her cat Cagney doesn't appear to have eaten for days. Cagney meows and Hudson takes the cat into his arms. Hearing Broadway's report, Lexington wonders if Elisa might also be with Goliath and Bronx. Hudson admits that is a good question, but offers another. Turning to Brooklyn, he asks, "What do we do know?" Lexington and Broadway turn their attention to Brooklyn as well. Perplexed, Brooklyn responds, "Why are you looking at me?" But Hudson reminds him that Goliath chose him to lead the clan should something happen to him. Disappearing without a trace certainly qualifies as 'something'. Brooklyn insists that Goliath is bound to come back – "he has to!" Crestfallen, Broadway retorts the alternative, what if Goliath doesn't come back? Brooklyn tells the others to lighten up . . . Goliath must be on some secret mission or something. Unconvinced, Lexington offers to check at Elisa's parent's home to see if they've heard anything. Broadway offers to check with Elisa's partner, Matt Bluestone. Hudson offers to investigate in the underground Labyrinth, home of the Mutates and Elisa's brother, Derek. Hudson approaches Brooklyn and suggests that while he is there, he'll say hello to Brooklyn's "friend", Maggie. Brooklyn perks up and offers to go there himself. "If you insist," Hudson replies, directing him to the skies. Turning to the remaining two gargoyles, Hudson tells them he'll stay and keep watch at the Clock Tower, just in case. As Lexington and Broadway glide off into the night, Hudson pets Cagney, vigilant at the skyline.
Brooklyn pulls a street grate and jumps into an abandoned subway corridor. As he lands, he hears someone in the distance pleading another to stay away from him. Running at all fours, Brooklyn follows the echoed cries down the train tracks. In the distance, an old man falls to the ground and two other men drag him to his feet. Holding the man by his arms and coat, they direct him towards two mutates, Fang and Claw. Chummy, Fang asks Al the old man why he's running away. Surely he didn't forget to bring Fang a present? The two humans drop Al into Fang's arms as the mutate demands to know what the destitute man has on him: "A jelly donut? A boom box? The Sunday sports section? What?!" Al begs him to wait a moment and pulls out all the meager pocket money he has on him. "COINS?!" Fang slaps a hand over his face and growls in exasperation. "Take a look at me, Al. Do I look like the kind of guy who can waltz into a store and plunk down change FOR A PACK OF BUBBLE GUM?!" He grabs the old man and throws him against a wall. "Well DO I, Al?! DO I?!" His fists begins to radiate electricity and he begins aiming at the poor man. As Al manages to dodge the blows, the two human minions cheer Fang on. Claw stands to the side, silent. Brooklyn catches up and, standing by the long-broken doors of the old Cyberbiotics Underground Facility, is outraged at the assault. He charges forward on all fours, before climbing up a pillar before climbing down another one directly behind the two mutates. Pouncing on Fang, Brooklyn tells him to leave the human alone. Briefly taken by surprise, Claw and the two humans rush to help Fang, but not before Brooklyn and Fang tumble about the subway tracks and Brooklyn landing a few punches on the mutate. The two human minions begin to pull Brooklyn off of Fang, but Brooklyn's tail distracts them. Fang hops back on his feet as Claw watches the three of them dogpile the gargoyle. Claw turns at the sound of company behind him: Talon and Maggie the Cat. Having seen enough of the commotion, Talon pulls the two humans up by their collars. Now one to one, Brooklyn manages to knock Fang out in time for Talon to recognize him. As Maggie attends to Al, Talon sets the two humans down and asks everyone what's going on. Fang insists he's minding his own business when Brooklyn jumps him. Brooklyn calls out the mutates lies, asking Fang if shaking down a helpless human counts as minding his own business. Talon separates the two before they have a chance to get physical, and Talon reminds Fang that not only is everyone welcome in the Labyrinth, but "the weak are to be protected, not exploited". Fang gripes just who made Talon the king, but Talon insists nobody is king. Fang relents, but hardly convinced. As Talon and Brooklyn walk away, Maggie asks Talon if there's more that he should do about Fang. Talon assures her that Fang will come around eventually. They escort Al to the Labyrinth. Out of earshot, Fang promises to show Talon just who actually rules these parts.
Matt Bluestone unlocks his apartment door and steps inside. Flicking on the light, Matt is clearly exhausted from his nightshift. Matt then throws his trenchcoat on a chair before opening the blinds covering the sliding glass door to his balcony, but he is shocked to see Broadway cheerfully greeting him! Admitting he is still not used to the gargoyles, Matt unlocks the sliding door and lets Broadway in. Broadway apologizes for the brief scare and quickly asks if he's seen Elisa. Matt shares that he hasn't seen her for days, admitting that the whole squad has been looking for her. Matt frankly thought she had to be with the Manhattan Clan, but Broadway immediately dispels him of that notion and informs him that Goliath and Bronx are missing too. Thinking it over a moment, Matt asks if there's any talk of plans and where they might have been going. But with another lead now a dead end, Broadway points out that "It's like they just disappeared into thin air."
At the heart of the Labyrinth, Talon shares that he hasn't heard from Elisa, but just figured she was busy "in the real world". Brooklyn concludes that she really is missing, and shares that Goliath and Bronx are as well. Talon asks if Brooklyn thinks David Xanatos is behind this, and Fang chimes in that it wouldn't surprise him if Xanatos was involved. After all, he was the one responsible for turning the mutates into "flying bugzappers" and then he later tried tried to trick Talon into taking out Goliath. "And hey, let's face it Talon, he's always hated your sister." Convinced, Talon is determined to get a confession out Xanatos and storms off, but Brooklyn isn't so sure that's the best course of action. Failing to make Talon reconsider, Brooklyn runs off after him. Maggie turns to Fang, wondering why he provoked Talon – he knows full well that if Talon confronts Xanatos that agitated he's likely to get himself killed. To Maggie's surprise, Fang is hardly upset at the prospect, "Oh, and wouldn't that be a crying shame!"
Back at the Clock Tower, Hudson is pacing while Broadway sits anxiously on a recliner. Hudson turns to hear Lexington return, but he and Broadway soon hear Lexington apologize for the dead he hit as well: Elisa's parents are as worried as they are. Broadway suddenly sees a large winged silhouette at the Clock Tower's face and is ecstatic to greet Goliath only to suddenly realize that the silhouette belongs to Talon. Apparently Brooklyn managed to convince Talon to first see what the others learned first, but seeing everyone empty-handed, he tells Brooklyn that he told him so. Talon then suggests he and the others force Xanatos to talk and Broadway and Lexington voice their support. Brooklyn tells everyone to pause, pointing out that if Xanatos isn't responsible, then it would not be a good idea to let him know that Goliath is missing. Talon then asks what does Brooklyn want to do instead, and from afar Hudson asks him the same question: "It's your call as leader." Once more Brooklyn shies away from the title, conceding to Talon's plan. Hudson points out that someone must stay at the Clock Tower in case there's some word, and Brooklyn doesn't debate the point. As Talon and the Trio leave, the gears of the Clock Tower clank as Cagney struggles to catch Hudson's attention at the gargoyle's feet. Picking up the cat, Hudson tells him, "You're no Bronx, but you'll have to do."
From the large monitor in his office, Xanatos watches Talon and the Trio approach the Eyrie Building. As they glide, Brooklyn once more objects to the plan, but Talon reminds that gargoyle that if he wants to be in charge, then to he should offer an alternative plan. Otherwise the gargoyle should hold his peace. Saying nothing more, the four glide above the clouds before swooping down on the castle-topped skyscraper below. "Don't you just hate it when guests drop by unannounced?" Xanatos quips. Owen asks if they should try out the new security system, and Xanatos agrees. "A little test never hurt anyone." Owen activates the security system from a computer, and while Talon and Trio circle the Castle from above, an automated cannon suddenly reveals itself from a castle tower.
Act Two
The automated cannon fires at Lexington, who quickly dodges the attack. Talon glides past a cannon shot just in time, with a castle wall receiving the blow instead. Brooklyn an Broadway also struggle against the crossfire as a castle spire opens up to reveal another automated cannon. Broadway notices and dodges the attack just in time. Talon and Lexington jump away in time for one of the cannons to destroy a castle chimney instead. Parapets are destroyed as the turning cannons fail to hit gargoyle or mutant. In fact, Xanatos himself is suffering more harm from the automatic security system, thanks to the castle debris that is compromising the roof of his office.
Midair, Brooklyn struggles to keep one step ahead of one of the automated cannons when Broadway manages to land on it and bend both cannon barrels upward. With the cannon still firing from the bent barrels, Broadway struggles to knot the two firearms. Tightening one barrel on another, he invertedly fires successfully through the automatic cannon atop the Great Hall and a second castle tower. Lexington compliments Broadway's shooting skills, while Talon reminds them of their objective. Fully knotted, Broadway's cannon finally overloads and explodes, launching the gargoyle sky high before crashing midair into Brooklyn and the two plummet directly through the roof of Xanatos's office. From his desk, Xanatos greets them: "Gentlemen, what a pleasant surprise. To what do owe the honor?" The doors of his office slam open and Talon and Lexington enter, Talon's left fist crackling in electricity. Accusing Xanatos of knowing exactly why he and the others are here, Talon is suddenly distracted by Owen landing a blow with his stone fist. As Xanatos compliments his right hand for incorporating his handicap effectively, he reaches under his desk and draws out a gun. Niceties long since past, Xanatos points the gun telling the others to stop before someone ends up hurt. Xanatos asks what the commotion is all about, but Talon tells him to drop the act and demands to know where Elisa is. Xanatos insists he hasn't seen her as Broadway accuses him of also not knowing where Goliath and Bronx are. With that, Xanatos grows intrigued and Brooklyn groans, having seen this coming. Lexington follows up the inquiry by pointing out that if Xanatos didn't know anything, why would he be attacking them with the automatic cannons? "Do I really need an excuse to have a good time in my own home?" But Xanatos nevertheless offers them to search the building – Talon used to work there; he should know his way around. He also offers Lexington to search the files on his computer. As Talon goes to search, he reminds Xanatos that he "won't get off that easily", but Xanatos can't help but turn to Owen and ponder Goliath missing. "An intriguing development," Owen notes.
"Perfect," Brooklyn gripes.
Down in the Labyrinth, Fang and Claw follow the two minions down a dark, abandoned tunnel. Lou shares that he and Chaz started digging through a wall and came across a locked vault. Unable to break it open himself, Fang is asked to zap it open, with Lou mimicking their electric capabilities with his flashlight. Fang gets the idea and he and Claw approach the vault. Their combined electric attack heats up the vault door and it suddenly explodes! Smoke filling the tunnel, Fang and Claw approach the breached vault and discover a cache of abandoned Cyberbiotics equipment. Fang redirects the flashlight on a sealed chamber containing what Lou describes as "space-age blasters" visible from the transparent door. Fang shoves the two humans out of the way and tries to pry the sealed gun container open, but it won't budge. Growing impatient, Fang fires an electric bolt at the chamber but it ricochets across the once-hidden room. Smashing his fists against the container, Fang is running out of options: "Open! Up! You! stupid––!" but he stops when a key card suddenly dangles in his face. Fang looks up and behind him to see what Claw happily found. "Give me that!" Fang snatches the key card from the mute mutate. Swiping the key card against the sealed chamber, gas hisses out and the transparent door opens. Weapons now at their disposal, Fang announces that the 'store' is open. Claw and the two humans each take a high-tech firearm while Fang rips the gun chamber from its base. "You never know when something like this might come in handy."
Back at Xanatos's Office, he asks if Lexington is satisfied with his search. Lexington admits he can't find anything, other than his usual shady deals. Talon, Brooklyn, and Broadway return from their search as well, also empty-handed. Brooklyn isn't surprised; after all, Xanatos let them look. Talon orders the Trio to leave. As they climb a parapet to depart, Xanatos promises to utilize all his resources to track down Goliath and Elisa. Talon refuses to accept any help from Xanatos and the four leave. As they glide off, Xanatos says to himself, "I wasn't aware I needed permission."
Back at the Clock Tower, Hudson remarks that another night has passed and still no word from Goliath or Elisa. Talon promises to come back that evening. In the meantime, they could all use some rest. As Talon flies off, Hudson asks Brooklyn what their next move is. "Stop asking me that! I don't know!" Brooklyn spats back before turning to stone.
Tired from his night, Talon flies through the subway tunnels before arriving at the sealed entrance to the Labyrinth. He sees Fang standing at the gate. "So, King finally returns to his little domain," Fang snarks. Talon tells Fang to open up the gate; he's not in the mood for an argument. "Open the door, Fang! Protect the weak, Fang! Oh Fang this, oh Fang that! For someone who's not in charge, you sure like dishing out orders," Fang argues. Talon calmly tells Fang to please open the door, explaining its been a long night and that he is very tired. He moves to open the gate himself, but Fang shoves him back. "Yeah, you're tired all right. Tired and weak!" Fang announces that's why he's taking over but Talon is unconvinced. "Yeah right, you and what army?" It is here that Fang finally open the gate to the Labyrinth, showing Claw and the two humans, heavily armed.
"This army, pal. And you're our first prisoner of war!"
Act Three
"Now we can do this one of two ways," Fang explains to Talon as he's escorted inside. Talon could either follow Fang's orders, or he can be "move into a new living space". Fang directs Talon's attention to Maggie the Cat, who is trapped inside the sealed gun chamber. Talon tries to go to Maggie, but Fang cuts him off, and two wrestle midair in the former research facility. The poor humans that sought shelter in the space see the underground aerial battle escalate, and flee before finding themselves caught in the electric firefight. Talon and Fang manage to knock each other across the facility as the two humans join the fight with their newly acquired blasters. While Talon is outnumbered, Maggie pleads to Claw for help, even when she knows how afraid he is of Fang. Claw looks at the unconscious Fang and looks at the key card in his possession and decides to free Maggie. Once free, Maggie kisses Claw on the forehead and as she makes her escape, she promises to bring help. Just as Fang's two minions finally subdue Talon, Fang regains consciousness, but realizes how much the situation has changed. Maggie has fled, and Claw unconvincingly pantomimes that he was supposedly bested in some physical altercation. As the two humans drag Talon to the gun chamber, Fang approaches Claw (who hides behind his wings). Fang plunges his hand into Claw's wingfolds and pulls out the gun chamber's key card. Lou asks if they should go after Maggie the Cat, but Fang isn't worried. "Where is she going to go in broad daylight looking like that?"
But covering herself up as best she can, Maggie slowly makes her way to the 23rd Precinct and the Clock Tower above it. The day goes on until sunset, when Cagney is terrified at the gargoyles' awakening, having spent time napping on Hudson's petrified head. Brooklyn tells Cagney to chill, unaware that the the cat's hissing and snarling is the result of a stranger in the Clock Tower. Brooklyn finally notices Maggie who reports that Fang has not only taken over the Labyrinth, but has several weapons at his disposal. She breaks down in tears into Brooklyn's arms when she admits that she couldn't help Talon before escaping. From behind, Hudson asks what all the commotion is, and Brooklyn tells the others that Talon needs their help. "I thought you didn't want to lead us, lad," Hudson reminds him. "This has nothing to do with what I want," Brooklyn retorts. Preparing to depart, Brooklyn tells Hudson that he better come along; they are going to need all the help they can get. But Hudson doesn't move just yet. "Is that an order, then?" Hudson asks the clan's second-in-command. Brooklyn stops in his tracks and pauses, before responding: "Yeah, I guess it is." Hudson beams at his rookery son and departs with the rest.
Underground in the Labyrinth, an imprisoned Talon smashes his fists against the gun chamber to no avail. He lets out an electric shock that only hurts him. Fang mocks him for feeling cooped up and claustrophobic now that he's just a lowly subject. But Talon insists that he never claimed to be in charge, figuring that they could have all worked together. They still can, Talon offers. But Fang isn't interested in that scenario, unwilling to "babysit a bunch of deadbeats". He tells the human denizens of the Labyrinth that there's a "new sheriff in town" while his human cronies fire into the crowd, informing them all they need to follow his orders. But before he can bark any particular command, Brooklyn and the others burst through the facility's roof tiles. Fang fires his blaster at Brooklyn, but misses as the gargoyle crashes into him, the shot hitting an upper level. The two human flunkies fire at Lexington and Broadway, but the two evade the fire as they glide about several clotheslines. Al and the other homeless run for cover during the battle. Lexington and Broadway take a clothesline and use it to knock Chaz and Lou off their feet. With the two humans still on their stomachs, Lexington and Broadway proceed to smash the blasters with boulders.
Brooklyn meanwhile has found his way to Fang, and as the two struggle, Fang begins to attack Brooklyn electrically, but doesn't consider the proximity to the blaster he's carrying. The electricity overloads the blaster and explodes, throwing Brooklyn to the air before he crashes in an old computer station. Hudson meanwhile spots Claw still in the area, blaster in hand. The elderly gargoyle swoops in to attack, but Claw fires an electric bolt at his sword. Hudson cries out in pain as the sword is knocked out of his hand, but continues his aerial charge at Claw. Claw ducks out of the way an fires another bolt at Hudson who hurtles past the mutate. The bolt hits Hudson in the back, sending Hudson to the ground, but he is quickly joined by Claw, who is tackled by Brooklyn.
As Talon strains to see what is transpiring from inside the gun chamber, Maggie checks to see if he is all right, but is pulled aside from Fang. "I wouldn't be worried about him if I were you," Fang threatens. Keeping her at bay in a chokehold with one arm and the other ready to fire an electric bolt, Fang tells Brooklyn that he has no gripe with him or the gargoyles. "Leave now and Maggie goes free." Brooklyn doesn't hesitate for a moment, telling Fang Maggie will go with them. Broadway is stunned, "We're just leaving Talon?" But Brooklyn orders them as leader to forget him. Fang releases Maggie, entertained with how Brooklyn gives orders. Maggie, meanwhile, is furious with Brooklyn, his claws catching hers as she struggles to remain composed. She wonders why Brooklyn would even think she would leave Derek. "Then stay with him for all I care! I'm sure you'll make wonderful cellmates." It is at this moment that Maggie realizes Brooklyn has quietly palmed the key card to her, claw to claw. Tears still streaming, Maggie suddenly smiles, realizing the key card missing around Fang's neck (who himself hasn't noticed it missing since his blaster exploded). Maintaining the ploy, he directs Maggie to say goodbye to Talon. Maggie walks calmly to the gun chamber with the role of her lifetime. "Goodbye Derek, I won't forget you," she says as she swipes the key card. Talon finally realizing the plan, quietly opens the gun chamber's transparent door open. Unaware of the ruse, Fang assures Brooklyn of no hard feelings as Talon suddenly tackles Fang to the ground. Fang calls out for Claw to help. "You want to be weak like them?" Fang argues, and Claw shakes his head in response. But instead of helping Fang, Claw smashes his blaster against a wall, destroying it. Pinned to the ground by Talon, Fang sees the tide has fully shifted and groans, "Aww man." Talon and Brooklyn proceed to push Fang into the gun chamber and shut him in there. As they do so, Fang insists it was all a joke. "Mutate humor" he goes. While he bangs to be let out, Talon banishes Chaz and Lou, while telling everyone that weapons are henceforth also banned from the Labyrinth. Taking command, Talon declares, "In the Labyrinth, justice prevails. Even for those that don't believe in it." Maggie races to his arms and the two embrace. As Brooklyn prepares to leave, Talon thanks him for his help, pointing out that neither of them can escape leadership. "Yeah," Brooklyn realizes, "try as I might." Hudson then asks what is he going to do now, and Brooklyn explains that he will lead the best he can, but that does not mean they give up hope in finding Goliath, Elisa, or Bronx. He swears to continue the search and finding them. Talon reminds him that their main responsibility is still to protect those still here, and Brooklyn agrees, knowing that is what Goliath and Elisa would want them to do.
Brooklyn and Talon shake claws.
Featured Characters and First Appearances
| Gargoyles | Humans | Others |
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Quotes
- "Do I look like the kind of guy who can waltz into a store and plunk down change FOR A PACK OF BUBBLE GUM?!" - Fang to Al
- "You're no Bronx, but you'll have to do." - Hudson to Cagney
- "Do I really need an excuse to have a good time in my own home?" - Xanatos to Lexington
- "Open the door, Fang! Protect the weak, Fang! Oh Fang this, oh Fang that! For someone who's not in charge, you sure like dishing out orders." - Fang to Talon
- "What happened here?!"
- (Claw pantomimes a mighty struggle)
- "Boy, are YOU asking the wrong guy!" - Fang, Claw, and Lou
- "In the Labyrinth, justice prevails. Even for those that don't beleive in it." - Talon
Continuity
Hudson and the Trio appear for the first time since Goliath, Elisa, and Bronx disappeared in "Avalon" Part One. They learn the reasons for their clanmates' absence sometime between now and their next appearance, in "Pendragon".
Matt Bluestone's voice recording on his answering machine is heard next in "Monsters" and appearing again in "Turf"
The Mutates appear for the first time since the formation of the Labyrinth Clan in "The Cage". They next appear in "The Reckoning".
Al, Chaz, and Lou are introduced. They next appear in "Invitation Only" – Al is still a member of the Labyrinth Clan, while Chaz and Lou join as members of the Quarrymen.
The Mutates and David Xanatos learn in this episode that Goliath, Elisa and Bronx are missing. Greg Weisman mentioned that he's since figured out "a good flashback to be had someday in some medium" on how Xanatos would've taken advantage of that knowledge. [1]
After initial reluctance, Brooklyn finally accepts leadership of the Manhattan Clan in Goliath's absence, having been appointed to second-in-command in "Upgrade". Talon also accepts leadership of the Labyrinth Clan.
Fang is imprisoned in the Labyrinth at the end of this episode. Thailog will free both him and Demona in "The Reckoning".
Tidbits
Like "The Price", "Kingdom" aired out of order, premiering on February 5, 1996, after "Grief" (which first aired on December 28, 1995), and just before "The Hound of Ulster" (which first aired on February 6, 1996). Disney's YouTube playlist for Season 2 (and Disney+ after that) maintained the incorrect order for the episode. The intended episode order was corrected for the DVD.
In one of the series' more notorious animation errors, Bronx briefly appears when the gargoyles are preparing to enter stone sleep at the Clock Tower, and Hudson appears in two places on the Clock Tower. This error is referred to as the "Two Hudsons and a Bronx scene". In another, when Talon rips Chaz and Lou from the dogpile, Lou not only loses his eyeglasses, but his mustache as well.
Toon Disney/Disney XD Edits
The scene of Chaz and Lou getting the guns out of the case is edited out of the Toon Disney broadcast of the episode. Some of the later battle scenes also have cuts (you can tell by the fact that the rifle blasts are slowed down to cover up some of the edits).
DVD Release
See Also
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