| “What exactly do you know of the Samadhi Fire?” |
| — Princess Iron Fan |
The First Ring is the sixth episode of Season 3 and the twenty-sixth episode overall of Monkie Kid.
Synopsis[]
Short DescriptionMK, Mei and Sandy find themselves stranded in the desert. However, a familiar figure arrives to save them.[1] ExtendedMK, Mei and Sandy find themselves stranded in the desert, but a familiar figure emerges to save them: Red Son is back! Bringing the trio to his family's fortress, the heroes overstay their welcome with the villainous trio as they try to find out everything they can about the creation of the Samadhi Fire... and soon realise that the first ring is here, in Demon Bull King's nose![2] |
Plot[]
Lost in the vast desert, Mei expressed her frustration towards Macaque and their current predicament. She made it clear that she held MK responsible for their unfortunate situation. Feeling exasperated, MK responded to Mei's comment by expressing his inability to handle her at that very moment. Meanwhile, Sandy, who was carrying both Mei and MK, tried to reassure the group by emphasizing the importance of persistently moving forward. However, before Sandy could finish his sentence, he suddenly collapsed. Just when things seemed dire, Red Son appeared with his race car, swiftly rescuing the three and taking them to his father's fortress.
Inside the Demon Bull King's fortress, MK, Mei, and Sandy were served food. The trio ate messily. MK complimented the food, which was met with a sarcastic response from Red Son. Mei, in turn, thanked Red Son and called him "Red Boy" again, only to be corrected by Red Son who insisted on being called by his proper name. Red Son mentioned about leaving Mei to the vultures. As MK explored the fortress, he accidentally triggered a trap that almost caused him harm. Red Son intervened just in time to save him from the danger. Despite the rescue, Red Son was clearly irritated by their presence and urged them to quickly finish their business and leave. MK assured him that they would comply with his wishes, prompting Red Son to question their purpose for being in the desert. Mei then revealed that they were searching for the Samadhi Fire, shocking Red Son with this unexpected revelation. The situation took a surprising turn when the Demon Bull King and Princess Iron Fan arrived earlier than expected, catching everyone off guard.
Princess Iron Fan was deeply concerned about the delicate truce between the Demon Bull Family and the Monkie Kids. She couldn't understand why they had suddenly interrupted their dinner plans. Red Son, however, disclosed that the Monkie Kids were on a quest to find the Samadhi Fire, a piece of information that left both the Demon Bull King and Princess Iron Fan astonished. MK noticed their surprise and it led the Demon Bull King to conclude that Monkey King had sent them on the mission. Princess Iron Fan couldn't help but question Sun Wukong's motives for needing such a dangerous flame. However, before she could voice her concerns, MK interrupted and explained that they needed the fire to defeat Lady Bone Demon. The Demon Bull King, already aware of who Lady Bone Demon was, interrupted MK, showing that he was one step ahead. MK continued, emphasizing that they needed the fire to stop her. Princess Iron Fan asked what they knew about it. MK stumbled for a moment, but managed to mention that it was incredibly powerful. Mei and Sandy chimed in, adding that the fire had been split into and hidden in special rings. They also mentioned that if the fire was reforged, it had the potential to destroy all life. Princess Iron Fan, skeptical of their knowledge, questioned them about its origin, to which they admitted they knew nothing. The Demon Bull King, frustrated with Monkey King's secrecy, criticized him for withholding information. MK challenged them to share what they knew. It was then that Princess Iron Fan revealed that the Samadhi Fire had been created by Red Son himself. This revelation left Mei, MK, and Red Son in shock, while Sandy was still trying to process the information.
Princess Iron Fan provided an explanation regarding the unstable power of Red Son upon his birth. Despite the efforts of the Demon Bull King and Princess Iron Fan, they were unable to control Red Son's power, leading them to reluctantly remove the Samadhi Fire from him. To separate the fire from Red Son, the Demon Bull King, Monkey King, and Ne Zha performed a ritual that required their combined forces to divide the flame into three parts and seal their power. They made a solemn vow to keep the rings hidden forever. The Demon Bull King emphasized the foolishness of attempting to control the Samadhi Fire if his son couldn't. However, MK expressed confidence in his friends' abilities and reminded everyone of the remarkable achievements they had accomplished together in the past. He firmly believed that as a team, there was no challenge they couldn't overcome. Despite MK's optimism, Red Son, feeling frustrated, dismissed it and insulted MK by calling him a "noodle brain." In an attempt to change the subject, Princess Iron Fan decided that it was time to conclude the storytelling session. She urged the Demon Bull King to join her, reminding him of his favorite cooking show, Cooking with Chang'e. The Demon Bull King agreed and followed her, but as he left, the Monkie Kids noticed that his nose ring was actually the green Ring of Samadhi, indicating that the Demon Bull King had broken his promise.
Red Son implores the Monkie Kids to depart. As he reaches out and places a hand on Mei's shoulder, a sudden vision unfolds before them, revealing a sight of the entire land consumed by the Samadhi Fire. Breaking the silence, MK interjects, explanining that the fortress is encircled by lava pits, and with darkness descending upon them, the danger becomes even more palpable. Sandy emphasized the ease with which they could stumble into the deadly pits. Reluctantly, Red Son relents, allowing the Monkie Kids to stay for the night within the confines of the Demon Bull Family's guest bedroom. Concerned for their well-being, Red Son inquires if there is anything else they require. MK mentions his need for an extra blanket. Responding with sarcasm, Red Son questions the seriousness of MK's request, suggesting that warm milk might also be on the agenda. Annoyed by the response, MK watches as Red Son departs to fetch the blanket and milk. Seizing the moment, MK proposes a mission to infiltrate the fortress, bypassing the security systems, sneaking into the Demon Bull King's bedroom, and ultimately retrieving the green Ring of Samadhi. Meanwhile, Mei and Sandy were entrusted to secure a getaway vehicle.
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Cast[]
Features[]
Characters[]
Main:
Supporting:
- Ao Lie
- Bull Clones (statue)
- Chang'e (voice)
- Dragon of the West
- Lady Bone Demon (illustration)
- Mo
- Monkey King
- Ne Zha
- Pigsy
- Tang
- Tang Sanzang
- Zhu Bajie
Locations[]
- China
- Demon Bull King's fortress
- Dining room
- Guest room
- Master bedroom
- Desert
- Megapolis (vision)
- Demon Bull King's fortress
Objects[]
- Axe
- The Furnace
- Khakkhara (flashback)
- Mei's dragon plushie
- Rings of Samadhi
- Blue Ring of Samadhi (flashback)
- Green Ring of Samadhi
- Orange Ring of Samadhi (flashback)
Vehicles[]
Abilities[]
- Pyrokinesis
- Samadhi Fire (flashback)
- Shapeshifting
Species[]
Mentioned[]
Names in other languages[]
| Foreign language | Name |
|---|---|
| Mandarin | Zài Dòuniú Mówáng (再斗牛魔王 “Rematch Demon Bull King”) |
| Cantonese | Dì6 Yì1 Zhī3 Huán4 (第一隻環 “The First Ring”) |
| Korean | Cheos beonjjae goli (첫 번째 고리 “The First Ring”) |
| Taiwanese | Dì yī gè huán (第一個環 “First Ring”) |
| Japanese | Sōdatta no ka! Zanmai no honō no shinjitsu (そうだったのか！三昧の炎の真実 “That's Right! The Truth of the Flame of Samadhi”) |
| Hebrew | הטבעת הראשונה (“The First Ring”) |
| Italian | Il primo anello (“The First Ring”) |
| Arabic | Alhalqat al'uwlaa (الحلقة الأولى “The First Ring”) |
| French | Le premier anneau (“The First Ring”) |
| Slovene | Prvi prstan (“The First Ring”) |
| Polish | Pierwszy pierścień (“The First Ring”) |
| German | Der erste Ring (“The First Ring”) |
Trivia[]
- Before the episode aired, Ryan Hoskin made a drawing of Princess Iron Fan with a different hairstyle and outfit, which was used for her sleepwear in this episode.[3]
- This is the first time the Demon Bull King is seen without his armor after he was freed from his imprisonment.
- This also reveals that the Demon Bull King's status as a cyborg is no longer relevant to the show anymore.
- The Demon Bull King is drawn with nipples in this episode despite not having previously been depicted with them when shirtless in Monkie Kid: A Hero is Born, this is because of the slight change in art-style between the pilot and the second season.
Censorship[]
- The dialogue where Demon Bull King says "I can only assume the Great Sage has sent you on this moronic quest" was cut during international Cartoon Network airings.
Errors[]
- When Mei, MK, and Sandy are getting in bed, there is a shot where Sandy’s eyes are purple.
Characters' roles[]
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