Claim to Flame is the fifth episode of Season 5 and the fifty-third episode overall of Monkie Kid.
Synopsis[]
Short DescriptionThe team splits up to locate the next stone. Pigsy and Tang encounter trouble, while Mei runs into a familiar face from her past.[1] |
Plot[]
While on her quest to find the Color Stones, Mei reaches out to Pigsy and Tang via radio, pretending to be truck drivers, which irritates Tang. Pigsy, however, remains optimistic that they will face no obstacles. Unfortunately, Mei is suddenly struck by a surge of fire, leading to her plane crashing down, while Pigsy and Tang collide with a sign while trying to avoid running over a mouse in their excavator. After the crash, Mei encounters Red Son, who quickly deduces that she is connected to the cracks in reality. Mei confirms this, explaining that the Monkie Kids are in search of the Color Stones while meeting the guardians, which surprises Red Son. At that moment, they both notice the fire once more, prompting Red Son to insist that Mei join him to confront the threat posed by the fire.
At his training temple, Red Son takes the opportunity to elucidate to Mei his ongoing quest to uncover the origins of the Samadhi Fire following the final battle with Lady Bone Demon. He finds the claims of the fire being gone perplexing, as the nature of the Samadhi Fire suggests that it cannot be extinguished. Mei, initially bewildered by Red Son's assertions, soon spots the Flame Sprite, which she finds to be both charming and somewhat repulsive. Red Son confesses that the Flame Sprite was inadvertently created by him, serving as a replica of the Samadhi Fire. In a light-hearted manner, Mei quips that Red Son has made a significant blunder. Nevertheless, Red Son was confident that both he and Mei possess the capability to manage the Flame Sprite, given their prior experience with the Samadhi Fire.
In an attempt to fulfill the quest, Pigsy tried to extricate the excavator, but his efforts only exacerbated the situation. He harbored a deep-seated belief that he had failed as a father to MK, feeling that each passing day reinforced his inadequacy in ensuring MK's safety.
Red Son outlines the plan to Mei, detailing their intention to activate the runes encircling the Flame Sprite. He elaborates that, should their plan succeed, they would be able to extract the Samadhi Fire from the Flame Sprite and redirect it into the central rune. However, he warns that failure would result in the destruction of the universe by the Flame Sprite. As the Flame Sprite ceases its fiery breath, Mei and Red Son proceed to activate the runes. Initially, their efforts appear successful, but Mei suddenly recalls her previous encounter with the Samadhi Fire at the mystic mountain, which inadvertently disrupts the ritual and the Flame Sprite attacks.
Pigsy shares his thoughts with Tang about how it feels like fate is playing games with MK, making him the focal point of their journey, while MK thinks the weight of the world rests solely on his shoulders. Initially, Tang suggested that Pigsy is responsible for MK's situation, which upsets Pigsy. However, Tang meant that MK's deep concern for others and his desire to help stem from Pigsy's influence. He reassures Pigsy that MK is acutely aware of Pigsy's support, reinforcing the idea that MK understands where his true home lies. Ultimately, Tang suggests that whether or not destiny has selected MK is inconsequential; what truly holds significance is the mutual choice between Pigsy and MK to stand by one another. Pigsy ultimately agrees with this sentiment.
Mei shares her feelings about the recent crises that have been affecting the world, expressing her frustration that while others are growing stronger, she feels stagnant and has even lost the Samadhi Fire. Suddenly, they are attacked by the Flame Sprite, and Red Son steps in to protect Mei, though he is eventually pushed back. Just as the Flame Sprite prepares to unleash the Samadhi Fire on him, Mei intervenes with the Dragon Blade, successfully blocking the attack. Red Son recognizes that Mei is channeling the Samadhi Fire through her sword, and although Mei downplays it by saying the lightning is typical, Red Son clarifies that she never truly lost the Samadhi Fire; it has always been under her control. Mei created the Dragon Mech, which she and Red Son use to sever the Flame Sprite's connection to the Samadhi Fire. Afterward, Red Son was frustrated about the damage of his temple and the fact that everyone else has a mech except him. Mei notices him looking at a picture of the Demon Bull Family and their food stand, and Red Son sheepishly explains that they had plans to reopen it before being trapped in the Scroll of Memory. Mei apologizes for her mistakes during the ritual, admitting her fear of being unable to assist. Red Son empathizes, revealing his own desire to protect his loved ones, despite being a demon. He draws a parallel between their determination to fight for those they care about. Mei then invites Red Son to join her on the quest to save the universe, prompting him to question why she is asking him now. Mei points out that she had reached out to him before but never received a response. It dawns on Red Son that Mei was the one sending him puppy videos. Annoyed, he suggests that she should send appropriate texts in the future.
As Mei looks at a photo from a food festival, both she and Red Son came to the understanding that, although the guardian of the yellow Color Stone remains unknown, the other guardians are the Four Symbols, meaning that two of the guardians are the White Tiger and the Teal Dragon, which happen to be the festival's mascots. Meanwhile, Pigsy and Tang also make this connection and decide to embark on a quest to locate the purple and green Color Stones. Before departing on her plane, Mei tells Red Son that she will send him more videos of puppies. However, Red Son soon realizes that Mei has forgotten her phone.
Cast[]
| Voice Actor | Role(s) |
|---|---|
| Dave B. Mitchell | Pigsy |
| David Chen | Tang |
| Kyle McCarley | Red Son |
| Stephanie Sheh | Mei Flame Sprite |
Features[]
Click here to add more ▸ |
Characters[]
Click here to add more ▸ |
Locations[]
Click here to add more ▸ |
Objects[]
Click here to add more ▸ |
Vehicles[]
Click here to add more ▸ |
Abilities[]
Click here to add more ▸ |
Species[]
Click here to add more ▸ |
Mentioned[]
Names in other languages[]
| Language | Name | Translation, etymology, and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Korean | 깨어난 불꽃 | Translates to The Awakened Flame. |
| Mandarin (China) |
真火再重逢 | Translates to True Fire Reunion. |
Trivia[]
- Red Son's drawings resemble the art style of Invader Zim.
- In the original script, Mei had been spamming Red Son with cat videos but it was changed to puppy videos as Stephanie Sheh is more of a dog person.[2]
- This also aligns with her showing Pigsy puppy videos in "Monkie Kid: A Hero is Born".
- This episode takes place at the same time as "The Storm Within".
Characters' roles[]
Click here to add more ▸ |
Protagonists[]
Click here to add more ▸ |
Antagonists[]
Click here to add more ▸ |
References[]
- ↑ Roku (2024-07-10). Claim to Flame. Roku.
- ↑ Sheh, Stephania (2024-7-13). This is for all you #monkiekid fans out there. If memory serves, in the original script Mei was gushing about cute kitties and director @MSinter just wasn’t getting what he needed. So we changed it to dogs. Cuz I’m a dog person. (Tweet).