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DD II Shrine |
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Doom Claw
Episode written by Martha Moran
We pick up immediately after the events of
"Shadow Claw." It's nighttime and the Shadow Warriors are digging
furiously through the rubble of the collapsed Shadow Dojo as Shadow Master
watches with Shadow Khan's shield on his arm. Shadow Master
orders the Shadow Warriors to dig faster, saying that he wants the Dragon
Claws in his hands by dawn.
Shadow Master soon spots the Dragon Claw chest and
orders the Shadow Warriors to retrieve it. Shadow Khan's eyes light up
and he orders everyone to throw the Dragon Claws into the Black Flame,
claiming it will increase Shadow Master's powers ten fold. Shadow
Master, however, is not fooled by this claim and calls Shadow Khan a bad
liar who will say anything to be free.
Shadow Master then spots a homeless man walking by and
orders Trigger Happy to bring the outcast to him. Trigger Happy drags
the bum over to Shadow Master, who then threatens to harm the man if he
doesn't grab the Dragon Claws out of the nearby chest and place it on top of
Shadow Khan's shield (Shadow Master needs the outcast to move the Dragon
Claws because no Shadow can safely touch a Dragon artifact - Dragon
artifacts will always energize and blast a Shadow clear across a room or
other large distance).
The outcast retrieves one of the Dragon Claws and
attempts to place it on top of the shield, but Shadow Khan begins to panic
and accuses
Shadow Master of bluffing, saying that he wouldn't dare do it because he wants his new armor too much. Shadow Master
replies by saying that Shadow Khan wants his freedom more. As the
Dragon Claw hovers over the shield, Shadow Khan yields and asks Shadow
Master what he wants.
Shadow Master states that he wants his dojo restored
with powers as strong as his new armor, and he wants Metro City to be his.
Then, he'll release Shadow Khan. In an amazing display of power,
Shadow Khan raises a rebuilt Shadow Dojo out of the rubble of the old one
and begins swirling large storm clouds overhead. The storm clouds
begin to grow.
Outside the Dragon Dojo, on what can probably be
described as the dojo's front lawn, we see Billy leading a meditation
session with the Junior Dragons. Danny, the video game nut from the
prior episodes, is now a Junior Dragon. He yawns during Billy's
lecture, then apologizes, noting that the sun is usually up before he is.
Danny asks if they can "cut to the chase," as in, get to fighting.
As Billy begins to respond with typical Dragon wisdom,
the storm clouds appear overhead and cast a shadow over the group.
Lightning begins to strike the ground, and Billy orders the Dragons inside
where it's safe, noting that this is "no storm cloud." Billy is then
forced to dodge lightning strikes as he runs inside the dojo as well.
Jimmy appears at the front door and asks Billy what is going on, but Billy
doesn't know. However, Billy says he can take a guess as to who is
behind it.
Billy and Jimmy pull up in front of the rebuilt Shadow
Dojo in their Dragon Cruiser. They're both shocked at the sight of the
building as it was demolished in the prior episode. We then cut to
Shadow Master, who is inside the dojo watching the Dragon Cruiser on a large
screen.
Back outside the Shadow Dojo, Jimmy decides to "crash"
the party, and drives full speed at the dojo. However, as he comes
within range of the building, it disappears and only the rubble is left in
sight. Jimmy is quickly forced to swerve in order to avoid crashing
into the rubble. It becomes readily apparent at this point that the
Shadow Dojo is in another location, and that the dojo Jimmy tried to crash
into was simply a mirage put forth by the Shadow Khan.
Billy calls upon his Double Dragon birthmark and asks
it to lead them to the Shadow Dojo. The glowing dragon birthmark flies
off of Billy's chest and begins leading the Dragon Cruiser to the real
Shadow Dojo. The cruiser is then seen pulling up to the actual Shadow
Dojo, and Billy and Jimmy get out of the car only to be attacked by Trigger
Happy, Sickle and Jawbreaker.
Billy and Jimmy quickly chase off the three Shadow
Warriors, but as they laugh about their victory and say how they wish it was
always that easy, the Shadow Master appears in his fully powered-up armor.
The Shadow Master then blasts the brothers back a large distance. As
they climb to their feet, they transform and fire back at the Shadow Master.
However, the blasts have no effect on the Shadow Master as he's wearing his
more powerful armor and the twins don't have the Dragon Claws.
Shadow Master then fires "terror discs" at the brothers
using the Shadow Khan's shield. One of the discs hits Billy, and he is
soon left crippled in fear and self-doubt as an image of John Lee appears
and chides Billy for not finding him and saving him from the nightmare he's
trapped in.
Jimmy is hit next with a terror disc, and an image of
the Shadow Boss (Jimmy's former, evil self) appears and taunts Jimmy for not
finding John Lee as well, claiming that Jimmy hates John Lee because he
abandoned Jimmy. Both of the brothers are rendered helpless as the
Shadow Warriors take their swords and place them inside a nearby chest (by
grabbing their arms and forcing them to drop the swords in the chest).
The brothers de-transform without their swords and get taken inside the
Shadow Dojo as Shadow Master watches and laughs maniacally.
The camera cuts to the outside of the Dragon Dojo,
where we see Blaster, Chop and Vortex pull up on Dragon Cycles. As the
warriors approach the dojo, Michael and Danny tell them that Billy and Jimmy
are missing. The Dragon Warriors offer to give the two Junior Dragons
a ride to the police station so that they can tell Marian what has happened.
We next see the Dragon Warriors and Junior Dragons
approach the abandoned Dragon Cruiser, much to their surprise.
However, the Dragon Warriors soon spot the Shadow Dojo as well and decide to
investigate. They order the Junior Dragons to wait by the bikes as
they try to sneak toward the dojo.
As the Dragon Warriors approach the dojo, Shadow
Warriors emerge and a large-scale fight ensues. After a few action
scenes including a flying garbage bin landing on top of the Shadow Warriors,
the Dragon Warriors emerge victorious. However, an irritated
Shadow Master spots the battle on his television screen inside the dojo and
decides to take matters into his own hands.
Shadow Master emerges from the dojo and fires terror
discs at the three Dragon Warriors. We soon learn that Blaster has an
extreme fear of snake-like creatures, and Vortex still has unresolved issues
with Sickle. However, when Chop is hit by a terror disc, nothing but a
typical smoke trail appears. As Vortex and Blaster are rendered
helpless by the fear-inducing images of the terror discs, Chop attempts to
run off only to be encircled by a group of throwaway "Blade" Shadow
Warriors.
Using his mechanical arm, Chop then fires some sort of
bullet-like objects at the Shadow Warriors' feet (they're shaped like plugs
and could very well be rivets since he's a mechanic) and runs off as the
Shadow Warriors scatter. The Shadow Warriors then drag Vortex and
Blaster inside the dojo.
Shadow Master then stands outside the dojo and declares
that Metro City will be consumed in fear. Scary-looking images of the
Shadow Master's face begin flying around the city, scaring innocent
civilians and chasing them inside their homes. Shadow Master is next
seen standing inside the dojo near the Black Flame, proclaiming his
victory. The Shadow Khan begins insulting the Shadow Master when the
Shadow Master again threatens Khan with the Dragon Claws, shutting him up.
Chop, Michael and Danny are next seen standing in
an alley, talking about the Shadow Master's terror disc launcher. Michael
notes that the discs had no effect on Chop, and Chop concludes that it must
be because he already faced his greatest fear when he lost his arm.
Chop says that they need to use their brains. They need to think
scientifically. Danny states that his father is a scientist, but
claims that he probably can't help because he's kind of a geek. Chop
corrects Danny by saying "Maybe he can."
Chop drives the two Junior Dragons to a building where
Danny's father works. The three walk into some sort of research center
where Dr. Linquist is examining a pterodactyl. Dr. Linquist is
completely oblivious to what has been occurring in the city. As the
three begin to explain the matter to Danny's father, an image of a shark
swims through a window and scares Michael, helping Dr. Linquist to
understand that "hallucinations" are going on all over the city. Danny
is still showing a bit of an attitude, talking down his father and saying
"get with the program."
The Shadow Master then appears on a nearby television
screen in the research center. He states that the Double Dragons have
been vanquished, and if the mayor doesn't surrender the city to him, this is
what the city will be in for (another scary-looking image of the Shadow
Master's face then flies out from the television screen).
As the television cuts to footage of the storm clouds
swirling over the city, Chop points at the screen and notes that they need
to disperse those clouds with light. Dr. Linquist then notes that he
has a laser grid at his disposal. Michael then suggests to Danny that
his father was the right person to go to.
Michael and Chop are then seen standing on the roof of
the building, next to a large satellite dish. More images of sea
creatures appear and scare Michael, and Michael tells Chop that he doesn't
know how to swim. Chop then says that after the cloud problem is over,
maybe he'll teach him.
Inside the building, Dr. Linquist flips some switches
and activates the satellite dishes on the roof, which fire lasers at the
clouds directly above them. The lasers are successful in dispersing
the clouds, but only over the area directly above them. They'll need
to hit the source of the clouds. Danny then remarks that the source is
the Shadow Master's terror disc launcher, which is inside the Shadow Dojo.
Danny's father suggests using mirrors, or more specifically, satellite
dishes, to bounce the lasers into that building.
Inside the Shadow Dojo, we see a delighted Shadow
Master receiving the keys to the EMF plant and the armory from the mayor and
some military official. We next see the room in which Billy, Jimmy,
Blaster and Vortex are being held. They're chained to a wall and are
watching the Shadow Master on a nearby television screen. Despite
their struggling, Billy and Jimmy can't get free from the shackles which are
locking their arms behind their backs.
Back inside the main room of the dojo (where the Black
Flame is), the Shadow Khan states that the Shadow Master has gotten
everything now, and Khan should be freed as promised. Shadow Master
replies that he'll free him when he's ready to do so. Khan goes
ballistic and begins firing terror discs. One of the discs hits
Trigger Happy, causing a giant insect to appear above him. In his
sudden state of panic, Trigger Happy fires his blaster at the hallucination
only to hit the chest in which the Dragon Claws are being held. The
chest falls down dangerously close to the Black Flame and catches fire while
the Shadow Khan says "Burn Dragon Claws, burn. Then I shall be free."
The Shadow Master immediately tosses the Shadow Khan's
shield aside and actually attempts to pull the Dragon Claw chest away from
the Black Flame. However, the Shadow Khan begins firing some sort of
energy discs at the Shadow Master, interrupting his rescue attempt.
Back inside the containment area where the Dragons are
being held, their Shadow Warrior guards spot the commotion on the TV screen
and leave the Dragons to help the Shadow Master. Billy then notes that
they have to save the Dragon Claws. Billy and Jimmy jump against the
wall and push off with their feet, ripping out the mounts which are bolting
their chains to the wall. With the shackles and chains still attached,
they break the glass case holding their swords and transform into the Double
Dragons. The twins then break their shackles off with ease and use
their swords to blast the shackles holding their two Dragon Warriors.
Billy tells Vortex and Blaster to get the mayor and others to safety while
he and Jimmy go after the Dragon Claws.
Back inside the Black Flame room, Ice Pick, Jawbreaker
and Sickle have managed to pull the Dragon Claw chest safely away from the
Black Flame. However, the Shadow Khan manages to hit all three of them
with terror discs, crippling each of them with their respective fears (Ice
Pick is afraid of fire, Jawbreaker is afraid of... himself, and Sickle is
afraid of giant slime monsters apparently).
As the Shadow Master attempts to get the Dragon Claws,
the Double Dragons show up and exchange blasts with the Shadow Master to no
avail. The Shadow Master knocks them down with his increased
firepower, and as he attempts to send the brothers to "be with [the Oldest
Dragon] always," Chop grabs the Shadow Master's weapon out of his hand using
his mechanical arm in a vice-grip like form. Chop then grabs the
Shadow Master himself with his mechanical arm (in its vice-grip like form)
and swings the Shadow Master in circles.
The Dragons use this moment to head toward the Dragon
Claws when Sickle and Trigger Happy intervene. However, using a quick
set of moves (and surprisingly, not their swords), the brothers dispatch the
two Shadow Warriors and retrieve the Dragon Claws from the chest. They
then touch the Dragon Claws to their swords and perform the second
transformation.
At this point Chop is beginning to lose his fight with
the Shadow Master. However, the Dragons fire at the Shadow Master and
order him to put Chop down. Shadow Master then tosses Chop at the
Dragons and blasts him in the back while he talks to the twins for "taking
his eyes off his opponent." The Double Dragons return fire at the
Shadow Master and begin overpowering him with their increased firepower.
The Shadow Master tells Shadow Khan that he if fails, Khan fails. Khan
calls Shadow Master a hopeless child and agrees to help.
Shadow Master picks up Khan's shield and begins firing
terror discs at the Dragons only to have them deflect the discs with their
swords. One of the discs hits Danny, and an image similar to his
father (with weird changes such as a few monster-like facial features)
appears and tells him that he's going to become a science geek like his
father and that no one will like him. Chop approaches Danny and tells
him to fight the hallucination, saying that his father is going to save the
city. Danny then overcomes his fear and the hallucination disappears.
Chop's mechanical arm then transforms into a small satellite dish and he
radios Dr. Linquist to "let her rip."
From inside his research center, Dr. Linquist activates
the laser grid, firing a laser off a sequence of satellites and mirrors.
The laser bounces into the Shadow Dojo, where Michael adjusts some strangely
placed satellite dish to cause the laser to fire at Chop. Chop then
deflects the laser directly at the Shadow Khan's shield, and the Double
Dragons fire at the Shadow Khan as well.
The combined firepower hitting Shadow Khan cause him to
go dormant (his glowing eyes fade out and he stops talking/moving), and the
Shadow Master subsequently loses his improved armor. As the Shadow
Master furiously bangs on the shield attempting to get Khan to return, Jimmy
mocks the Shadow Master by saying, "Ahhhh, he lost his little pal."
The Dragons then fire on the weakened Shadow Master, who disappears.
The Shadow Dojo begins to crumble again as the heroes run out and drive away
in the Dragon Cruiser.
Outside City Hall, a ceremony is being performed with
Vortex, Chop and Blaster receiving medals while the Double Dragons (in
costume) look on. Danny then tells the mayor that he forgot someone -
his dad.
Back inside the Shadow Dojo (which appears to have been
rebuilt), we see the Shadow Master sitting on his throne, demanding that
Khan speak to him. Khan reactivates and mutters "Shadow... Master,"
causing Shadow Master to say good, he still lives. Khan then notes
that it's good for him, but bad, very bad for Shadow Master and the Double
Dragons.
Epilogue Message: Danny is with his father in his
research center. He says that his father saved the city by using his
mind, not a gun. Billy and Jimmy then appear, and Jimmy says that any
idiot can use his fists. It's the guys with brains that make things
better.
Dojo Master's review: This is it folks. This is the best that
the second season has to offer. Only three episodes in and it's
already peaked. From here on out, it's going to be nothing but
decline, first with little, gradual steps, then with massive, lumbering
missteps.
This episode does an excellent job of directly tying in
with the previous episode and with teasing us as to whether the Dragon Claws
will actually be destroyed, thus freeing the Shadow Khan. The Shadow
Khan's immense powers are demonstrated, as are the Dragon Claws'. I
really liked how Danny's father got to be a hero, and how a mere Dragon
Warrior such as Chop ended up becoming more important than anyone else
because of his specific advantage - he has conquered his fears, something
not even Billy and Jimmy can claim. The plot moves forward
consistently without any added filler and we get to see several fights
including another exciting firefight between the Shadow Master and the
Double Dragons in their armored-up forms. There's even a demonstration
of actual martial arts moves (as opposed to glorified laser blasts).
Sadly, there will only be more episode in which the Dragons actually use the
Dragon Claws (RPM), making for a mere total of three Dragon Claw episodes.
Rating: A+
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