The Mysterious Cities of Gold - S3E16 - The Black Suns

I get that they have pseudoscience behind them, but it feels more like D&D and therefore more fantasy since wizards could have orbs circulating them for weapons at least for 4th edition

Esteban crashes into the village and they set off trying to get the sword out of the wing. Meanwhile Kokapetla arrives with the message from Anatos that confirms that the maharaja is drugged by some American herb extract that takes away someones willpower. Zia then begins concocting an antidote from the village healers supplies. At dawn Esteban gets the sword out with the elephants help and as Zia arrives they fly off.

In the meantime Mendoza and the others are taking the underground tunnel to arrive at the factory. They just missed Tao getting the final plan of Ambrosius laid before him after Ambrosius discovered that Tao visited Anatos. Ambrosius plan to create the weapons of the Mu empire and use them to conquer the world since the current rulers are not worthy since they aren't geniuses like Ambrosius or Tao, that Ambrosius sees as his heir. Tao is locked up in his cell after been shown the power of the Black Suns, orbs of oricalcium that is used with the telekinesis crown and able to fire beams of some kind, burning up coal at least. Mendoza and his gang knocks out the guards and as Esteban and Zia distract the guards at the fort, they free Tao and heads for Anatos cell. They are intercepted by Laguerra who have been looking for a rematch with Mendoza and after Mendoza hands Tao a purse the duel is on. Zia drops off Esteban that goes straight for the maharaja to cure him with an antidote dart so that they can get the palace guards on their side. But Ambrosius had anticipated this and awaited in the throne room with the crown and Black Suns ready to kill Esteban.

The documentary was about elephants and motorised rikshaws as modes of transportation, both ancient and modern.

The Mysterious Cities of Gold - S3E15 - Ambrosius' Secret

Is this the dark suns they talked about?

Turns out Pedro was awake after all since everyone escaped up the trees. Of course one of the kids fell from the tree and was rescued by Mendoza. Strangely enough Laguerra saw him, and yet didn't tell the others. She mentioned already in the last episode that she didn't find the thought of kidnapping children for slavers as a very pleasant idea so one wonder if she has a change of heart? After they leave the others discovers that Zia and Esteban is missing and goes to the temple. As they meet up they form a new plan. Zia and Esteban will distract the guards with the Condor while Mendoza, Sancho and Pedro will use a canoe to sneak into the fort and rescue everyone. Mendoza sets off and the children gets to the condor where two alchemist stands guard. Funny enough one of them have been the apprentice of Leonardo da Vinchi. The monkies returns and Zia ask them to distract them. They get on and flies off, but one of the alchemists is able to attach his sword in the wing, making it impossible to fly as it should and they are about to crash into the jungle.

Meanwhile Ambrosius brings Tao into the factory he have constructed below the fort and where the parents work. Tao is given back Kokapetle and asked again to join the Order of the Hourglass as he is presented with Ambrosius own constructed medallions. The orichalcum matrix he stole from the second city of gold in season two and gave to Laguerra in the beginning of season 3 continuously produces orichalcum for them to use and enabled them to create the medallions in order to bypass the need of the chosen ones. But for some reason they start to emit electric charges and disintegrate, making Ambrosius nearly cry at the failure and looking for why it failed, giving Tao the chance to escape to Atanos and receive the message so that Kokapetle can bring it to the others. He is seen by Laguerra that have returned home as he walks to his room with Kokapetle, but she lets him continue after asking how Tao got his bird back. As Kokapetle flies off the episode ends on him resting on a tree while a snake approaches him.

The documentary was about the inspiration of the temple that guarded the underground river and a bit about the sacred monkies that helped the children as they also are sacred in India, apparently overshadowed by the cows.

The Mysterious Cities of Gold - S3E14 - The Order of the Hourglass

Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition

As Tao is captured he is brought back to the forth and as the title implies, we learn more about the secret order Ambrosius leads. Apparently it was founded by Ambrosius, Dr Laguerra and Atanos, Esteban's father. Somehow their friendship dissolved, and I would assume that it has to do with the methods Ambrosius and Laguerra was comfortable using in getting what they wanted compared to Atanos. Ambrosius claims that his goal is to uncover the secrets of Mu and revive it to the betterment of mankind. Anyway, since he as a soft spot for Tao he offers Tao to join him, Tao gets locked into a tower, but steals with him a screwdriver he uses to unlock the door and find Atanos. Atanos tells him to rescue Kokapetle that was taken captured and used as leverage to make Tao cooperate (really great way to earn someones trust Ambrosius). Meanwhile Laguerra brings two magicians and four soldiers to the village in order to capture the children.

While that went on Mendoza and everyone else sat up traps and escape ropes in the trees in preparation for the incoming attack. As Mendoza and the kids tries to figure out a way to get inside the fort, Pedro retells their story about the monkey temple and the scary monster hiding in the cave to entertain the village children. Zia figures out that it must be a subterranean river and must be the source of the water for the fort and the lake that Esteban escaped from. Since nightfall approaches the girl leader declares no one leaves the village at night due to the soldiers and wild animals. But Esteban gets the oldest boy to show him the way and Zia follows. Meanwhile Pedro stands guards. At the temple they are almost attacked by the monkies, but the one Zia saved from the Memorial Temple intervenes and stave of the attack so that the kids can get to the underground river. The last shot of the episode is at Pedro sleeping at the centre of the village as Laguerra and her soldiers arrive.

The documentary was about Indian dancing. It ties in to that the maharaja was watching some dancer while Tao and Ambrosius was eating with him. Interesting tidbit, but really weak connection to the story in my eyes.

The Mysterious Cities of Gold - S3E13 - Laguerra

She at least looks nicer than Dr Laguerra

Esteban is chased of by Ambrosius and run into the female magician and she continues to chase him until he is cornered and climbs out of a window, which just happens to be the same tower that his father is imprisoned, but as she continuous to grab him, he falls into a water reservoir. As he climbs up the shore she jumps after him and uses a whip to catch him. At this moment Mendoza steps up and begins a duel, noting that the whip and sword-techniques reminds him of someone he knew from the Americas. She answer that she was trained by her father (and a stupid cliché like ever, Mendoza thinks she is a boy), Laguerra also known as the Doctor who together with Marinche was another antagonistic team they fought in the original season. Laguerra and the other was last seen leaving the Olmecs base and falling into a crack as the mountain exploded in the aftermath of the reactor-incident. They escape when the guards arrives and prepares to evacuate the children to protect them from Ambrosius.

Meanwhile Zia and Tao are chased around by tiger which kokapetle stops at times, until Zia begins to speak with it telepathically. She seems to get the best deal of powers compared to Esteban who haven't gone further than his sun-calling. The tiger is apparently guarding her cubs and Zia assures her that they aren't any threat so they can begin decoding the messages on the wall. As the sun goes down and they are about to leave they are surrounded by the magicians and Ambrosius airship. Esteban and the boy arrives on an elephant rescuing them, but as they climb on to the back of the elephant, Laguerra exits the airship and grab holds of Tao as it rises to the sky.

The documentary was about the Memorial temple Tao and Zia was in together with the holy cows of India.