Temple of the Goddess is the third episode of Season 5 and the fifty-first episode overall of Monkie Kid.
Synopsis[]
Short DescriptionOn the run from the celestial realm, our heroes seek the five color stones to save the universe! Their first destination: Burning Mountain![1] |
Plot[]
As the Monkie Kids journeyed westward, MK couldn't help but feel frustrated, pointing out that they seemed to be hopping from one global crisis to another without a break. Mei and Sandy tried to lift his spirits by bringing up the Color Stones, which can restore the Pillar of Heaven. Tang perked up at the mention of the Color Stones, thinking they were merely a myth. MK, however, casually admitted that they had no clue where to find the stones, which only served to irritate Pigsy. MK reassured Pigsy, claiming that their plan was as simple, but Pigsy reminded him that they had no idea where the stones were located. MK then suggested they seek out Nüwa for guidance, and Mei chimed in, suggesting they might find a temple associated with Nüwa. Monkey King quickly pointed out the Temple of Nüwa at the Burning Mountain, but Tang was hesitant, noting that it was protected by the Vermillion Bird. He was reluctant to risk getting burned just for a trial by fire. Sandy, misinterpreting Tang's reluctance as agreement, led the team toward the Jungle of the East, where they soon found themselves at the base of the Burning Mountain. The Monkie Kids were taken aback by the long staircase that wound up the mountain. Sandy suggested they tackle the climb, but Tang proposed using his khakkhara instead. Monkey King informed them that magic was off the table, and MK thought that using magic would be cheating in the trial by fire. Pigsy questioned whether MK understood that a trial by fire was just a figure of speech, to which Mei and Tang admitted he didn't. Monkey King clarified that they couldn't use magic because Li Jing would be able to track them. As MK prepared to ascend the staircase, Monkey King took to the skies on his magic cloud, whisking MK to the top while leaving the others behind.
Upon reaching the summit, MK was upset that they hadn't climbed the stairs as the test required, but Monkey King reiterated that there was no trial to begin with. He also explained that, despite its name, the magic cloud wasn't truly magical. Monkey King pointed out that they would face consequences if they were a test, but just then, the Vermillion Bird arrived, launching an attack on both MK and the Monkey King. Monkey King tried to brush it off as mere coincidence, but they quickly found themselves overpowered by the Vermillion Bird's fiery onslaught. In the chaos, MK accidentally stumbled upon a hidden doorway, and before they knew it, both he and the Monkey King ended up in the Temple of Nüwa. MK was surprised to discover that Nüwa had a snake tail for her lower half, which sparked his curiosity. He turned to Monkey King, asking what exactly Nüwa represented as a goddess. Monkey King replied that it was a complex matter, but he did mention that Nüwa was one of the earliest deities and the creator of humanity. This revelation hit MK, as he realized that the goddess he had seen in his earlier vision was Nüwa. MK spotted a mural depicting a Mystic Monkey leaping into the Pillar of Heaven and couldn't help but wonder if it was meant to represent Monkey King. Monkey King, with a playful remark, mentioned that he had jumped into light pillars before but dismissed the mural's significance when they thought it held a deeper meaning. They both agreed to explore further into the temple, with MK still convinced that a test awaited them. As they delved deeper, MK's fixation on the idea of a test continued to cloud his judgment, interpreting every challenge as a metaphor for his inner struggles. This mindset led to Monkey King getting injured, which only added to his frustration. Monkey King urged MK to forge his own path instead of being bogged down by preconceived notions. MK felt torn, but Monkey King reassured him that life would always present challenges. He reminded MK of how he saved the universe twice, emphasizing that the obstacles he faced were his to navigate in his own way. He said there is no single right answer, encouraging MK to let go of what destiny might dictate and to discover his own path.
Monkey King smashed through a wall, uncovering a hidden chamber behind it. MK had a strong feeling that the red Color Stone was perched atop a podium, and together with Monkey King, they made their way to the top. However, they were met by the Vermillion Bird, who presented them with a vision of Nüwa repairing the Pillar of Heaven using the Color Stones. The Vermillion Bird posed a profound question to MK, asking if he would be willing to make the same sacrifice as Nüwa to save the universe. Following this, they were shown a vision of MK leaping into the Pillar of Heaven, despite the protests from his friends. After assessing the intentions of MK and Monkey King, the Vermillion Bird bestowed upon them the red Color Stone before disappearing. MK then shared the vision with Monkey King, likening it to a mural they had seen. Monkey King dismissed it, insisting that no one can truly predict the future, regardless of what they claim. As MK held the red Color Stone, he caught a fleeting glimpse of his monkey reflection in its surface.
The Monkie Kids made it to the peak of the Burning Mountain, completely worn out from their journey, except for Tang, who Pigsy was reluctantly hauling along. Just as they were preparing to find Monkey King and MK, they realized that Monkey King and MK had already taken off with the red Color Stone, planning to meet the Monkie Kids back at the bottom.
Cast[]
| Voice Actor | Role(s) |
|---|---|
| Dave B. Mitchell | Pigsy |
| David Chen | Tang |
| Jack De Sena | MK |
| Patrick Seitz | Sandy |
| Sean Schemmel | Monkey King |
| Stephanie Sheh | Mei Vermillion Guardian |
Features[]
Characters[]
Main:
Supporting:
Locations[]
- China
Objects[]
- Circlet
- Color Stones
- Blue Color Stone (vision)
- Green Color Stone (vision)
- Purple Color Stone (vision)
- Red Color Stone
- Yellow Color Stone (vision)
- Golden Staff
- MK's book
- Khakkhara
Vehicles[]
- Mei's plane
- Team Power Truck
Abilities[]
Species[]
Mentioned[]
Names in other languages[]
| Language | Name | Translation, etymology, and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Korean | 여와 신전 | Translates to Nüwa's Temple. |
| Mandarin (China) |
初会女娲庙 | Translates to The First Meeting at Nüwa's Temple. |
Trivia[]
- MK attempted to swap a golden artifact of the Vermillion Bird with a bag of sand in order to avoid triggering a trap, but unfortunately, the trap was still activated. This closely resembles the iconic scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indiana Jones also tries to replace the Golden Idol with a bag of sand, only to have the trap set off regardless.
- There was originally meant to be a larger emphasis on MK trying to find a trial and moral in every room of temple, but this was cut for time.[2]
Errors[]
- When Monkey King remarked on the numerous occasions MK saved the world, he stated that including Megapolis would count as three. However, if Megapolis is counted, the total is five. This is due to MK's two battles against the Demon Bull King and another one against the Spider Queen.
Characters' roles[]
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Protagonists[]
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Antagonists[]
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References[]
- ↑ Roku (2024-07-10). Roku - Temple of the Goddess. Roku.
- ↑ Jacobson, Ashe (2025-7-24). Oh, man, there's so much I can't say here for safety's sake but I will say for the episode I wrote for s5 we wanted to lean WAY more into the idea that MK saw every room of the temple as a "trial" he had to interpret the moral of, but we had to cut WAY back b/c of the runtime. (Tweet).