Do you think there is any chance for Lotura? Or do you think it was just a vehicle to get her with Lance?

I’ve been saving this for when I could come up with an appropriate response, and my conclusion is Yes, I think there is a chance for lotura! And I don’t think this was a vehicle for allur/ance.

After reviewing the season again, I noticed a few things that don’t add up and it’s not because the showrunners are bad writers. If they’re doing what I think they’re doing, then in fact it’s very sneaky and great writing since they even got us doubting everything. 

Romelle herself says that she does not know the whole story several times, and Lotor never gets his part of the story across. They never even ask him, they just point guns at him and assume the worst. It’s also funny because Lotor clearly saw Romelle at the site of her brother’s crash but let her go. Before Lotor could explain, he was taken away without his permission, and this all seems very deliberate to keep him from explaining.

When Keith and Krolia checked out the colony for themselves, they just went to see what was there and left, they didn’t really search through anything. Seeing the Alteans in pods was enough. Even the questions they do ask Lotor limit how he can answer in a manner that explains anything. Allura keeps pressing him for how many Alteans were killed, rather than “What’s your side of the story?” and trusted a random stranger’s word for info about New Altea. Romelle herself is suspicious because she seems to be the only one against Lotor despite other Alteans being in her same postion.

We have to keep in mind that Lotor was cornered, knocked out, kidnapped, faced his mother/Haggar, worked his way back no matter how difficult just so he could explain things to Allura, but was still getting treated rather harshly. You have to consider how Lotor is panicking in these situations as well because his feelings for Allura are true. You can see it in his face that he is not sure where to begin as everything is happening so fast, in both situations.

Lotor is able to explain one thing though, and this is important: 

The Alteans need quintessence to survive.

From the beginning, Romelle says she does not know the whole story, which should cue us in that we don’t know the whole story, either. But we do know a few things. One is that Lotor established this New Altea a long time ago, behind the quantum abyss where Keith and Krolia went, a very dangerous area as it draws in planets and stars and can warp time/space, but he does so to keep them off Galra radar. There is a barrier to protect the planet from the quantum abyss as well, which is vital.

At the start of this season, we see how radiation flares can destroy occupied planets, and I believe this was foreshadowing to what would happen, or is going to happen to New Altea if they are exposed to the quantum abyss. This is why the Alteans can’t just come and go as they please and why it is difficult to make contact outside. Likely, Lotor knows the path through the quantum abyss or another way to travel the area.

“Generations” later is when Lotor creates a second colony and begins testing Alteans for something, but Romelle isn’t sure quite what. I think it’s fairly obvious he was testing to see who had magical potential within as they would have a connection to quintessence, what he is currently researching.

So why these tests, what was Lotor up to?

The Alteans in the pods on the colony looked preserved, and preserved for a long time at that with the dust. The colony is not guarded, but it isn’t abandoned either as the lights are still glowing. These Alteans are not being sucked of quintessence, they are being preserved.

Lotor was testing these Alteans perhaps to go on an expedition through or around the quantum abyss to gather quintessence, a technique only Alteans can do. I found it suspicious that Romelle said no Alteans knew how to pilot the ships (and that she knew where they were) but somehow Bandor managed to pilot one back, but then I realized that once these Alteans are selected, they are trained. Lotor trains these Alteans to pilot so they can go on this expedition. However, it resulted catastrophically, whether it was the abyss itself overexposing them or zapping them of their quintessence, those strange white creatures Keith and Krolia fought with, or something else. But rather than kill them, Lotor has preserved them to try and save who he can. Lotor says he ‘sacrificed’ these Alteans and that they perished in his quest because he blames himself, the way he blames himself about this planet.

And as @blackmoonbabe​ has said, this is where his mission of searching for Oriande began, a place of healing and a way to connect to the quintessence field so he can restore the Alteans back to normal. This is why Allura’s healing and restorative abilities have been on display so much this season in particular, and the transfer of Shiro’s essence. Lotor wanted to go to the quintessence field to save Alteans. He hadn’t told Allura about New Altea because he wanted to secure an energy source first that could save them, and as soon as they returned, he was ambushed and never got to explain clearly.

When Lotor snaps, he is the one who has been betrayed. And he says so as well.

‘Even’ is the key word here. Lotor is trying to save the Alteans and New Altea, but everyone keeps betraying him, and he lists who is doing so during his meltdown:

Voltron has betrayed him twice now; they turned their back on an unarmed and defensless prisoner in s5 which Lotor handled gracefully, and they betrayed him now as well, not even willing to listen to what happened and attacking him before he can explain. Haggar’s very being is a betrayal of what she once was and a betrayal to Lotor, his mother selling him out for power and quintessence. The Galra are currently engaged in a civil war, and even those who join him are iffy on if they want him as their ruler (as shown by the general who reluctantly joined Lotor in s6e1). Everyone keeps betraying him, so yeah it makes sense he snapped, especially at the one person he grew to love and trust. He’s on the defensive. 

All of this was foreshadowed in season 5 when the team makes the choice of trading Lotor for Sam; they sold him out despite helping them and giving them everything they want. They refused to listen to him, were not ready to set aside their prejudices or end the war, just as Lotor himself said, and it applied now as well. 

The argument with Allura that caused him to snap was also foreshadowed to be his breaking point. From my meta here: When Allura threw Zarkon into Lotor’s face, both times he criticizes Alfor in retaliation. But what’s different is his emotional state. Because in s5 at that point in time, he didn’t have feelings for Allura; but in s6, he was in love with her, and this time, those same words stung bad. For something like that to matter means Lotor highly valued what Allura thought of him, and Allura herself. It’s after this moment he snaps. The one person he trusted and loved said the one thing he feared most. This is the scene that shows he loves Allura.

Also keep in mind, when Bandor returned, he looked remarkably similar to Honerva/Haggar the more quintessence she was exposed to. Her marks also grew longer/more detailed, similar to Bandor.

That doesn’t tell us anything considering he was dying and unable to string words together properly, similar to how Honerva was when she was dying. That’s another huge factor to consider; we don’t know what Bandor was trying to say.

As for why I think this plot isn’t a device for allur/ance, there are a few things. Even without lotura, I still think allur/ance won’t happen anyway because of the way Lance has grown.

The first couple episodes of s6 really show how Lance has grown, and it is because of this growth I think he is realizing that he needs to let Allura go. From this meta: For him to grow so far, things have been taken from him or ripped out from under him. He’s never gotten what he wanted, but it’s all worked in his favor by helping him become a better paladin and person.

Lance had to let go of his idea of glory, of piloting the Black Lion in s3 bc it didn’t choose him and it wasn’t meant for him. It also showed how Lance still needed to mature; you don’t fight for glory, you fight to protect others. Then he has to pass Blue to Allura, which many people mistake for an allur/ance moment when it’s just a callback to the original series. 

Lance is still jealous in s6 but acknowledges that he is the third wheel around lotura as he, hunk and pidge interrupted their kiss. Allura was disappointed and quickly dismisses them so she can have more alone time with Lotor, and I think it’s important to note that Allura is the one to do so, and she does it in a kind manner, showing that Lotor does not negatively affect Allura. On the contrary, we see Allura glowing with happiness for the first time ever, especially in a situation like this.

Which also contrasts how Lance’s feelings for her make her feel. She frowns and the framing shifts to make her look sad with drooped shoulders, troubled and lonely. She does not have feelings for Lance, but he is her friend and she feels guilty about this entire situation. 

It is not a coincidence all this happens in the same episode as when Krolia and Papa Kogane’s story is revealed. The story of an alien woman fighting a war and with a greater purpose in space while her human mate needs to remain on earth to protect their child. Keith’s dad dies without eve knowing what happened to Krolia, and likewise, Krolia had no idea he died. It’s a really tragic story, but it shows how difficult it is for this sort of relationship to work out. 

Not only that, but Lance has said several times over the series that he wants to return to earth and be with his family again. And now that they’re heading back to earth, it’s going to hit Lance hard. Even in s5, when lotura is in high gear, we’re reminded how much he misses earth. [x]

After Allura knows Lance’s feelings for her and spending time with the group and Lance, playing M&M (👀🍬) Lance tries to make a move. However, Allura takes it as a group situation that they all have fun, because as soon as Lotor calls, she gets extremely excited and walks over the couch to go see him. When Allura first entered the room, she walked around the room to sit down, but instead of walking back around, she jumps over the back of the couch to show how excited she is. It’s minor but important. Rather than only focusing on how Lance’s feelings for Allura have developed, we need to focus on Allura and how she feels. I have a meta that talks about how they are all affected positively by lotura and negatively by allur/ance here.

Even after turning against Lotor, Allura is still distracted by what happened and is hurting. When she confides in Lance, she’s talking to him about her regret of trusting in Lotor and how she blames herself, and this shows just how deep her bond with Lotor is that it bothers her so much. Her talking to Lance about it is telling him how much she cared for Lotor when things were good, and I think Lance sees that. She even cries to him about it, showing how deep those feelings are.

And Lance handles this situation very carefully. His first reaction isn’t to blame Lotor because he doesn’t want to place more guilt on Allura and because he knows she loves him. I think that’s why Lance looks so sad in this exchange and isn’t at all flustered when she hugs him. 

Later on before the battle with Lotor, Lance says to wait for Lotor to make the first move. He and the others are listening as Lotor pleads with Allura and professes his feelings very openly, also saying how he knows she cares for him as well. However, it is Allura who makes the first move in this battle, and that’s important. Her anger with Lotor mirrors how deeply she cared for him and how much this situation hurt her, and I think Lance also knows that. Because after this it is Keith who keeps trying to help Allura or asking her things that normally would be Lance. And Lance also has to hear how Allura refused to leave Lotor in the quintessence field and was so pained to do so even after this great big battle. Allura’s feelings for Lotor didn’t just go away.

She also credits Lotor with her abilities, which is interesting because it’s these very same abilities that allowed her to save Lance in the beginning and to transfer Shiro’s soul into a body. Lotor helped her gain the ability to heal and give live, a sacred ability that won’t go unnoticed by the narrative. Lotor made Allura extremely happy and helped her gain her sacred abilities; this is to show how Lotor helps bring out the best in Allura, whereas she brings out the best in Lance. I think that’s something he realized, too.

But for Allura’s sake and Allura’s happiness, I think out of love, Lance is going to let Allura go, and once Lotor proves himself, he is going to support her and Lotor together even if it hurts him. This season showed how his feelings have matured, and since his feelings have matured, he is going to do what is best for Allura.

Remember, Allura’s feelings matter, too, not just because someone feels bad for Lance and think he ‘deserves’ her. If this is really the narrative the story is taking, it’s going to be huge and an important message to send to kids, one of the first times we see boys get the message, ‘if she’s not interested, stop trying.’ It’s about everyone’s happiness, really, and Lance would be happier on Earth while Allura will likely want to be with her people that Lotor rescued.

On top of everything mentioned, I still think lotura is going to be a thing by the end because they’re the first couple to kiss on-screen. Just because things went to hell right after doesn’t mean it didn’t count; they made sure to put it in there for a reason. They could have been interrupted again or Allura could have shied away, but she didn’t. The first time they nearly kissed, Allura basically invited Lotor to do so, and the second time as well. I also think the battle is going to haunt Allura and she is gonna want to save Lotor. In fact, maybe sheith will wanna save him too, since it’s thanks to him Allura was able to bring Shiro back.

Allura is the main female lead, and Lotor is the first guy on the show whose feelings she has reciprocated despite many chasing after her. Like I’ve been saying, lotura being a thing will cause another technological revolution, maybe even more. This was brought up again by Lotor himself; there is still so much left for them to do together, that only they can accomplish.

Lastly, there’s this quote when the showrunners were asked about Lance and Allura’s relationship:

I also recommend reading these meta as well:

tldr; Lotor and Allura’s feelings for each other are true; We don’t know the whole story about Lotor and the colony so we shouldn’t jump the gun; Lotor snapped because everyone, even his friends and the person he loved, betrayed him; and Lance is going to let Allura go for both their sake.

I hope that answered everything, but please feel free to ask if you have any questions!