'Voltron' Fans Clash Over One Season 7 Controversy

Voltron: Legendary Defender has dropped its new season, and you don't have to be a fan of the series to know about its fallout. The much-hyped release hit Netflix with a controversial bang, and audiences are split over the season's reception. So, rather than teaming against the Galra, the Voltron fandom is turning its war inward.

Over on sites like Twitter and Tumblr, the reception of Voltron has been mixed. While there are plenty who're in support of the season, there are others who feel letdown by its promises. While the usual back-and-forth about shipping is present, the most prevalent debate topic has to do with Voltron and its LGBTQ representation.

After all, Voltron's crew did confirm Shiro's sexuality at Comic-Con International this summer in San Diego. Lauren Montgomery, co-executive producer, revealed the new season would introduce Shiro's former significant other, Adam. The news was greeted warmly by millions, but there are fans who say they were baited by the announcement.

For those who have finished you Voltron's new season, you will likely be able to point out the issue. In its latter-half, season seven reveals that Adam was killed when the Galra Empire invaded Earth, and the unexpected death was compounded by Shiro's lack of explicit mourning. While some fans have taken heart in the canon LGBTQ representation Shiro brings to Voltron, there are others who feel its lack of explicit presentation make it invalid. Adam's death also has fans questioning if its a part of a the 'Bury Your Gays' trope. However, in a recent interview with Polygon, the showrunner's push against such an accusation.

"If you look at Adam on the whole in regards to the Earth campaign ... there's a huge battle that happens," Joquim Dos Santos explained. "Adam represents the loss that our characters feel with what Earth is going through in battling with the Galra."

With the new season a few days old now, reception is pouring in from across the globe. As you can see below, the Voltron fandom's waters are still roiling as audiences decide where they fall with the controversy.

Voltron: Legendary Defender was created in 2016 by Netflix and DreamWorks Animation. The series is the fourth major TV project to bear the Voltron name with co-showrunners Joaquim Dos Santos and Lauren Montgomery overseeing the series. The show is based loosely on the original Japanese series Beast King GoLion and has since spawned multiple seasons as one of Netflix's top original programs.

The first six seasons of Voltron: Legendary Defender are now streaming on Netflix. The site describes the series as, "Teenagers transported from Earth become pilots for robotic lions to fight in an intergalactic war. The Paladins of Voltron must learn to work as a team to assemble the robot Voltron and use its power to conquer the Galra Empire."