Po’s massive paws slam onto the ground as he lands beside Wandering Blade, Rita Ora’s voice a steady counterpoint to Jack Black’s booming energy. This is the opening image of Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, a Netflix series that tries to blend the familiar with something new—a quest narrative stretched across three seasons, each episode a new stop on Po’s globe-trotting adventure.

The premise is simple but expansive: Po, now a seasoned Dragon Warrior, teams up with the no-nonsense British knight Wandering Blade (voiced by Rita Ora) to track down four elemental weapons before a pair of weasels—Klaus and Veruca Dumont—can use them for destruction. What follows is a mix of action, comedy, and fantasy, set against a backdrop that stretches from China to India to Central America. The series leans into its buddy-comedy roots, with Po’s bumbling enthusiasm clashing (and eventually complementing) Wandering Blade’s stoic professionalism.

Where The Dragon Knight excels is in its animation and world-building. The production team repurposed assets from the earlier Paws of Destiny series but also experimented with different visual styles—one episode rendered as a comic book, another with a British lithograph aesthetic. These choices keep the series visually dynamic, even if some episodes feel like stylistic experiments rather than fully realized storytelling moments. The score adds weight to the adventure, though it occasionally leans too heavily on familiar Kung Fu Panda motifs without adding much that feels fresh.

The voice cast is solid, with Jack Black reprising his role as Po with the same infectious energy he brought to the films. Rita Ora’s Wandering Blade is a strong addition, her performance balancing toughness and vulnerability. Chris Geere and Della Saba bring an amusingly villainous duo in Klaus and Veruca Dumont, though their weasel antics sometimes feel underdeveloped compared to the more nuanced characters they’re up against.

The series’ biggest misstep is its pacing. At times, The Dragon Knight feels like it’s rushing from one set piece to the next without taking the time to let its emotional beats land. The quest structure means the show is constantly on the move, but that mobility comes at the expense of deeper character exploration. Po and Wandering Blade’s partnership is engaging, but their dynamic never quite reaches the emotional resonance of, say, Po and Tigress from the films.

The series also struggles with tonal consistency. It aims for a darker, more mature tone than previous Kung Fu Panda entries, but that ambition sometimes clashes with its more comedic or whimsical moments. The result is a show that feels caught between being a kids’ adventure and something more sophisticated—a tension that’s never fully resolved.

Still, there are standout moments. The episode set in India, with its vibrant colors and rich cultural details, is a highlight, as is the season two finale, which brings together the series’ various threads in a satisfying way. The third season deepens the characters introduced in the first, particularly Wandering Blade, whose backstory is fleshed out in ways that make her more than just Po’s foil.

One of the series’ most interesting choices is its expansion beyond the familiar Kung Fu Panda universe. By incorporating elements of Indian and Central American cultures, The Dragon Knight attempts to broaden its appeal and explore new thematic territory. However, these cultural forays sometimes feel superficial, as if the show is checking boxes rather than engaging deeply with the material.

The series also suffers from a lack of memorable villains. Klaus and Veruca Dumont are entertaining enough, but they never rise above being one-note antagonists. Their motivations are clear—power, destruction—but their personalities are thin, making them easy to forget once the credits roll.

Where The Dragon Knight truly shines is in its action sequences. The fight choreography is inventive and well-executed, with Po’s kung fu moves seamlessly integrated into the more traditional swordplay of Wandering Blade. These moments are visually stunning, showcasing the series’ strengths in animation and pacing.

Ultimately, Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight is a mixed bag. It has moments of brilliance—visually striking episodes, engaging performances, and inventive action sequences—but it’s held back by pacing issues, tonal inconsistencies, and underdeveloped characters.