Details
- Episodes:52
- Format:TV
- Average Score:63
- Popularity:10443
- Status:Finished Airing
- Season:Spring 1982
- Duration:25 min. per ep. minutes
- Genre:Action, Adventure, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Space
- Country:JP
In the original storyline as aired in Japan, Dairugger XV was simply an exploration robot, as well as an intended peace-keeping force. The Earth is in a time of prosperity. The president of the Terran League (the "Galaxy Alliance" in Voltron) launches a mission to explore beyond the galaxy. After commencing its mission of exploration, the starship Rugger-Guard is attacked by a ship of the Galbeston Empire. Dairugger, the super robot, is deployed in order to defend the Earth. It is somewhat by fate that they must help the people of Galbeston find a new planet before it explodes, and liberate it from its despotic Emperor. In the Japanese version, it does not have anything to do with King of the Beasts GoLion, as opposed to the U.S. version, Voltron: Defender of the Universe. There are three assault team units: Land, Air, and Sea. There are a total of 15 parts referred to as "Rugger," which can combine together to form the super-robot Dairugger. The design of the 15 separate Rugger units came from the sport of rugby, since 15 players are required to form a rugby union. The U.S. version would rename the "Galbeston Empire" to "Drule Empire," along with editing a fair amount of violence and sexual content to keep the show safe for general audience broadcast.
Episodes
1. Episode 1
The ongoing war between the Galaxy Alliance and the Drule Empire is established here. The Stellar Ship Explorer finds a new world. Drule Commander Quark is introduced
2. Episode 2
The Alliance starts building on the new world. Quark launches another attack and another robeast.
3. Episode 3
Jeff gets into a scuffle with another officer who was bullying Chip. Jeff gets a black eye from the bully, and a lecture from Cliff. Quark launches an all-out assault on the new planet and destroys it.
4. Episode 4
The Sea Team gets caught up in a black hole. Drule Commander Malvor is also introduced.
5. Episode 5
The Explorer encounters another planet. The Land Team explores it and discovers that someone is "seeding" the planet with vegetation in order to jump-start its evolution. That "someone" turns out to be the Drules. Malvor attacks, but eventually Hawkins withdraws when he realizes that the planet belongs to the Drules, who obviously found it first.
6. Episode 6
Drule Commander Mongo is introduced. After having a nightmare about being caught in a meteor storm himself, he tries to lure the Explorer to a "planet of meteors".
7. Episode 7
In an attempt to establish peaceful relations w/ the Drules, Galaxy Garrison orders the VV force to not form Voltron under any circumstances and sends a backup fleet led by the ill-fated Captain Kio.
8. Episode 8
The Explorer finds a fleet of ruined "ghost" ships on a mysterious new planet. It turns out to be a Drule trap: Once the Explorer lands on the planet to investigate, it becomes infected with metal-eating microbes.
9. Episode 9
On another strange planet, Modock is attacked by bats and stricken gravely ill
10. Episode 10
The Explorer takes in a young Drule named Sandu when his ship crashes, stirring up mixed feelings among the crew.
11. Episode 11
The VV Force explores a world that brings back some hard childhood memories involving Wolo's brother and himself.
12. Episode 12
13. Episode 13
Broka's Comet passes by, leaving different effects in its wake. Some become dizzy and sick; others, including Cmdre. Steele on Earth, become irrational. After the comet passes, Drule Captain Nerok tries to fool the VV Force with a fake comet. Also in this ep: A robeast blasts VV's right arm off, forcing them to reattach; and Hazar makes his first peaceful overture to the Alliance.
14. Episode 14
15. Episode 15
Mongo is defeated by an Alliance support fleet and defects in disgrace, and Hazar is courtmartialed as a result.
16. Episode 16
17. Episode 17
18. Episode 18
The Drules send a bogus distress call in order to lure the VV Force to a planet with an energy-sapping aura. The Air Team becomes trapped on the planet when they go to investigate. Also, Lisa gets knocked out, forcing VV to form without his right leg!
19. Episode 19
20. Episode 20
Jeff tries to convince Nefra, the queen of a planet whose males were all taken captive by the Drules, that his people are friendly. Not so easy, considering that Nefra believes that the VV force are Drules themselves, and then the real Drules come along and make things worse.
21. Episode 21
VV and the Explorer rescues slaves from the planet Vasamir after they revolt against their Drule captors.
22. Episode 22
The Drules knock out an energy station essential to VV's operation, leaving Earth wide open for a daring Drule raid.
23. Episode 23
24. Episode 24
25. Episode 25
26. Episode 26
27. Episode 27
28. Episode 28
29. Episode 29
30. Episode 30
31. Episode 31
32. Episode 32
33. Episode 33
34. Episode 34
35. Episode 35
36. Episode 36
37. Episode 37
38. Episode 38
39. Episode 39
40. Episode 40
41. Episode 41
42. Episode 42
43. Episode 43
44. Episode 44
45. Episode 45
46. Episode 46
47. Episode 47
48. Episode 48
49. Episode 49
50. Episode 50
51. Episode 51
