the hardest battle is to keep living

Tomoro and Reina were both major highlights for me this week. Both dealing with a feeling of "stagnacy." Though not in the same way. Building off from the first two episodes of the arc, we're seeing the natural conclusions of what was previously established

Tomoro I feel is misunderstood in this episode. Theres alot of debate on how much Tomoro was taking in what Miharu was saying. I agree that the main reason Miharu was so convincing was, in no small part, due to their trauma point being near identical (though the specifics can be debated). However Miharu also hits at something thats been knawing at Tomoro for essentially his entire life.

See, GIFT is likely a cult, I dont think the way they view digimon/human relationships is correct and its often why the lengths they go to fufill their goals exhibits a clear apathy for humanity. While I think this is true, Tomoro cannot fully deny the urgency of which Miharu refers to. Miharu isnt a character who became this way for no reason. Her motivation are VERY rooted in the things happening to her, Tomoro, digimon and many others right now. Unlike Klay, Miharu is a teenager meaning the power dynamics at play here are very different. Though more importantly she is an entity working OUTSIDE of WU to achieve her goal. Something not even GD can fully claim.

Keep in mind its AFTER they capture Jokermon that GD finds out why GIFT was targeting WU employees. Employees who mind you, happily sent truckloads of digimon to their death. It punctuated this at the end of episode 28 intentionally so that you cant just handwave their grievances. That *Tomoro* cant just handwave their grievances. Tomoro is impulsive but hes not naive or stupid. I would even argue that Tomoro was in fact VERY jaded at the start of BB. When Tomoro states, "who says you get to pass judgement" its him saying that the WU doesnt have the right to tell anyone that their version of violence is worse. That Miharu's suffering can be willingly ignored for the sake of a stagnant world. Its why Im always a little put off by people trying to claim Rose is the good guy here. We dont gotta "hand it" to World Union, theyre the reason GIFT and Tactics exists in the first place. Tomoro made the decision to defend Miharu not because he agrees with GIFT wholesale, its because by siding with Rose he would have to side with the group that believes digimon are glitches to be deleted. That HE'S a glitch that should be discarded from society.

Then there's Reina who's character reached a point I suspected (and kinda hoped) would happen for a while. Reina always had an odd dichotomy in my mind as someone who always seemed very capable as an individual. Yet struggles to utilize Wolvermon to their full potential. Note how many times Reina can Get Things Done in a pinch to the point she HELD BACK ludomon. Or this week when she ran to guy holding a knife at someone with zero fear. It speaks to her experience as a cleaner and as someone who for years has had to fend for herself. Yet when wolvermon crumbles, Reina struggles to keep it together.

Theres a very obvious mental block Reina is dealing with. Which in large part is a result of her insecurities. Reina was deemed by both her parents and family as being uneeded and undesirable. Ever since, Reina has attempted to carve out her own family and home. Though worryingly Reina has the belief she needs to "prove" her worth to those around her. Its why shes so obsessed with monetary gain. Often even more so than what the job actually entails. Its why she's so affectionate to Kyo even though its a crush that wont go anywhere. That's why despite being better at planning than Tomoro, Reina also tends to rush into things. Some of these traits arent inherently bad but all these facets imply alot about the pressures Reina perceives. After many years its still weighing on her and you could argue thats why her growth as a cleaner has stagnated for so long. Even though shes in the biz longer than Tomoro and Makoto.

Rose dismissing Reina was the finale nail in the coffin. Laying out all of her anxieties in a brutal bluntness. Its an uncomfortable moment that causes Reina to reach an all time low. Despite being in good terms with Pristimon, theres a sense of distance between them. That Reina is too ashamed to be open with them. That similarly to GD, Reina is afraid of failing Pristimon. Perpetuating her negative feedback loop.