Random Acts of Derp

Last episode, Ruki was pretty no-nonsense. All she cared about was getting the fight started. But now there's actually time to chitchat, so while Guilmon recovers from the hit Renamon blindsided them with, she does exactly that.

Takato: Are you okay, Guilmon!? Ruki: You're a Tamer, aren't you? Takato: Yes, I am a Tamer! Ruki: In that case, let's finish this quickly. A Digital Field didn't appear, so other people can see us. Takato: Finish it!? Why are you doing these awful things!? Guilmon was just born! Ruki: Just born? You're claiming they're Baby level? Takato: Eh... Uh... Well... No, Guilmon is Child level. That was how I imagined them. Ruki: You "imagined" them? ...you know what, I don't care. Renamon!

Ruki steps aside, just as she warned Takato to do last episode. Renamon tenses up and steps forward to start the fight anew. Takato, however, remains protectively in front of Guilmon.

Takato: NO, DON'T!!! Ruki: That's enough! You're a Tamer, aren't you!? Don't you even know what Digimon are born for!? Takato: (confused) What they're born for...?

I know the answer! Because it was in the episode title. But Takato didn't get to see the title card so he's clueless.

You know, I'm glad Ruki thinks it's weird that Guilmon was born at Child level. This is a new setting so I don't know how the rules work. Maybe that's normal. In the video games, you can hatch a Perfect or Ultimate from a Digitama as long as you have enough data.

But having Ruki point out the strangeness makes clear that no, this isn't how the rules work; There's something weird about Guilmon. That she also seemed confused by Takato designing Guilmon himself further demonstrates that.

I also love how Takato talking what, from Ruki's perspective, is just pure gibberish agitates her into abruptly ending the conversation.

In the dub:

Takato: What was that all about!? Rika: That was your Digimon eating dirt. Takato: I saw you in my dream.... No way, it can't be. Rika: So you're a lousy Tamer and you're weird. Now amscray unless you think you can handle us, little boy. Takato: I am not either a lousy Tamer and what do you mean, "little boy"!? I, uh... Guilmon is just young, that's all! Rika: Like Tamer, like Digimon. Come on, he's at least Rookie, right? Takato: Um... Uh... Well.... Guilmon: I dunno. Takato: Yeah. Well, at least I think so. That's what I was going for. You know, I've never done this before. Rika: Never done what before? Takato: Uhh.... Rika: Oh, how clever. Renamon? (Rika steps aside, Renamon advances) Takato: No, wait, call her off! Come on, we don't want to fight. Rika: I knew you were just a little boy with a pet Digimon! What do you think Digimon were made for, you goofy little Goggle Head!? Takato: Uh... That's like asking the meaning of life. Renamon: For goodness's sake, let's just get this over with!

Takato is really invested in what Rika thinks of him and their back-and-forth causes a number of details to get lost.

Takato doesn't check on Guilmon's wellbeing and instead focuses on Rika.

Ruki lays down an important bit of mechanical information. Something called a Digital Field is supposed to obscure passersby from witnessing a Digimon battle. It should have manifested just now, but didn't. Rika drops this detail so she can banter with Takato instead.

In the original, Takato states that Guilmon is newly born, prompting Ruki to point out the paradox of Guilmon's evolution level. Takato admits that Guilmon's at Child level because that's how he designed them, provoking more angry confusion on Rika's part over the further nonsense he just spoke.

As mentioned above, all of this establishes the weirdness of Guilmon's creation, but the dub seems to have misunderstood what they were saying?

Their Takato just calls Guilmon "young" rather than newly born, which Rika turns into further insults. Then Takato isn't sure what level Guilmon's at, and Guilmon gives a verbal shrug about it. The entire dynamic of an experienced Tamer WTFing Guilmon's birth is lost.

I don't know what Rika thinks Takato meant by "I've never done this before" and I probably don't want to know.

As the battle begins, Renamon pounces into the air, assuming the by now familiar position of Koyousetsu.

Takato: RUN, GUILMON!!! Renamon: KOYOUSETSU!!!

Guilmon doesn't move and lets Renamon's attack come down around them. When they lift their head, their eyes are... off. We saw a similar effect last episode when they sensed Renamon's impending attack.

Takato: GUILMON!!!

As Renamon comes down on a tree branch, Guilmon spits a fireball at the trunk. Renamon pounces forward into a dive. As they do, their eyes analyze Guilmon, as they did with Goblimon last episode.

Ruki checks her Digivice, but it comes back with nothing.

Ruki: No data? What kind of Digimon is that!?

More fuel for the "Something's weird about Guilmon" fire.

In the dub:

Takato: GUILMON!!! RUN AWAY!!! Renamon: DIAMOND STORM!!! (Guilmon tanks the attack) Takato: Listen for once! Guilmon: PYRO SPHERE!!! (Renamon pounces as the shot hits the tree) Takato: ...or not. Renamon: (thinking) Who is this guy? (Rika's Digivice returns no data) Rika: Come on... Sometime today... Why doesn't it have any data on Petmon over there? This thing's a piece of junk.

Guilmon calls their attack in the dub. In the original, Renamon calls Koyousetsu but Guilmon just fires. This may or may not be significant.

The Adventure shows would refrain from calling attacks to indicate that a Dark Tower Digimon was a mindless husk of a creature or that a particular Digimon should be interpreted as nonverbal wildlife. Only some Digimon spoke and the ones that don't speak don't call attacks, with various reasons for why a Digimon would be nonverbal.

But in the dubs of the two shows, every Digimon talked, quipped, and called attacks. Even the mindless husks.

So only time will tell if Guilmon not speaking or calling attacks when their eyes are bugged out in combat mode means something or not. But it seems significant if nothing else.

Ruki indicates that the lack of data is abnormal and once more calls into question the unusual circumstances of Guilmon's existence. Rika blames the Digivice and leaves the audience to infer whatever they will about it.

As Renamon comes down on Guilmon, Guilmon pounces in the air to meet them.

The pair end up rolling in a tangled grapple, biting and wrestling with each other in the dirt.

Takato: Guilmon... Th-Those aren't Guilmon's usual eyes!

They are not, and this bit of dialogue and choreography really wants you to notice them.

In the dub:

Takato: Guilmon, please... I don't even think he remembers I'm here.

Takato still indicates that Guilmon's in some sort of altered state, but doesn't draw attention to the specific change in how Guilmon's eyes look.

Seeing Renamon struggling with Guilmon, Rika opens her card holster.

Ruki: Don't be so sloppy, Renamon.

She draws a card from her holster and pulls out her Digivice.

Takato: Is that a Digimon Card!? Ruki: CARD SLASH!!! HEAVY METAL!!!

The card manifests a heavy metal piston on Renamon's left hand to turn the tide of this fight.

Takato: The impact of that.... GUILMON!!! GET AWAY!!! YOU'RE GOING TO GET HURT!!!

But in this altered state, Guilmon isn't listening. It's not clear if Guilmon even heard him.

I am relieved to see a card like Heavy Metal in play. I don't know the Digimon TCG so I don't know what all Option Cards can do. But after the first two episodes, I was worried Card Slash would just be relegated to minor attribute increases.

I may not know Digimon TCG but anyone who's played Pokemon games knows just how devastating stat buffs can be. A well-buffed Pokemon can completely sweep the other team. But in terms of animation spectacle, they're kinda boring. This is because stats are totally invisible. We can't see a visible difference between Renamon having an Attack stat of 120 versus an Attack stat of 132.

In pure choreography terms, all that means is Renamon is now winning a fight they were losing before, but since stats are invisible, they were only losing the fight before so they could get buffed and win the fight now. Nothing about the fight has changed except that the narrative circumstances are allowing them victory now. The buff doesn't really have a tangible, visual impact on how the fight plays out.

So Tamers being able to use Card Slash to arm their Digimon with special weapons makes the mechanic a lot cooler. I can see Heavy Metal on Renamon's hand. Its existence alters the fight conditions.

As an aside, the position of Ruki's card holster seems like it would make knowing what card you're about to draw impossible. Though given that it's a TCG, that may be by design? Are Tamers bound by some sort of rules against stacking their decks/hands? IDK.

In the dub:

Rika: That's just plain sloppy, Renamon. (Rika pulls a card) Takato: What is she doing now!? Rika: DIGI-MODIFY!!! ARMOR ACTIVATE!!! (Piston appears on Renamon's paw) Takato: This is really bad. GUILMON!!! RUN AWAY!!! I'M BEGGING YOU!!!

In the original, Takato recognizes that Ruki just drew a Digimon TCG card from her holster, though he doesn't understand why. In the dub, he's just confused.

Heavy Metal is changed to Armor Activate even though it's clearly a weapon.

Renamon lowers the Heavy Metal piston, placing it point-blank against the side of Guilmon's head.

Ruki: (English) Winner: Renamon. Takato: GUILMON!!! GET AWAY!!! WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN TO ME!?!?

Suddenly, Guilmon blinks and their eyes return to normal. They release their grip on Renamon's paw and turn to look at Takato right as Renamon fires the Heavy Metal piston.

This bit of choreography is a little confusing, but it seems that Guilmon suddenly turning their head caused the piston to whiff by sheer luck. At the same time, because Guilmon released Renamon's paw, Renamon was no longer anchored to Guilmon and the recoil from the piston sent them flying.

I think?

Whatever the case, Guilmon no longer cares about this fight and happily runs to Takato.

Guilmon: What's wrong, Takato?

I still think Heavy Metal's cool even if it's shown to fail confusingly in its first appearance while the stat boosts won their fights.

In the dub:

Rika: Now that's more like it. Takato: Come on boy.... Get out of there.... Now would be a really good time for you to start listening to me. (Guilmon blinks their eyes back to normal) Guilmon: Takatomon? (Renamon whiffs with the Armor Activate; Guilmon goes to Takato) Guilmon: I'm not listening? Sorry, sorry. Time to play!

In the original, Takato's screaming at Guilmon, but the dub delivers it more like quiet pleading that he doesn't expect to be heard.

Guilmon may have stopped fighting all of a sudden but Ruki and Renamon are still in this thing. Well, one of them is.

Ruki: Ignore them, Renamon. Do it now.

But as Renamon watches Guilmon close in to be embraced by Takato, they hesitate.

Ruki: Renamon! I won't forgive even one loss.

Spurred on by Ruki's words, Renamon lunges for Guilmon.

Jian: Stop!

Jian doesn't actually do anything to stop them; He just calls out from the top of a nearby hill. Amazingly, Renamon actually stops, which probably demonstrates just how conflicted they are about continuing this fight.

In the dub:

Rika: Now's your chance, Renamon. Don't screw up this time. (Renamon hesitates) Rika: What's wrong with you!? Hello? Attack! Now! (Renamon lunges) Henry: Stop it!

Despite Rika's personality being rewritten to be more fiery and outwardly hostile, Ruki still one-ups her with her coldhearted delivery of 許さない yurusanai.

Fans of subbed anime might recognize that word. It means I won't allow this, I won't permit it, I won't forgive it. This is the line in the sand and I am absolutely determined to prevent you from crossing it, and if you do then nothing will spare you from my undying fury.

Often translated simply as forgiveness which reads a little awkward in hero/villain type situations since the U.S. don't have a culture that values apology and forgiveness as heavily as Japan does. But every time an anime character has screamed "I WON'T FORGIVE YOU!!!" at an enemy in a blood rage, that was 許さない yurusanai.

It was already chilling last episode when Ruki broke out 許さない yurusanai during the fight with Fugamon. Here, it makes its return as she threatens Renamon into complying with her intent to strike while Guilmon's back is turned.

Rika berates Renamon with "Don't screw up this time" but can't quite match that same bone-chilling energy.

Seeing Jian at the top of the hill, Takato recognizes him.

Takato: It's you!

Without a word, Terriermon waddles down the hill to join the others.

Ruki: A Digimon? I didn't know so many Digimon had come here.

Without an ounce of hesitation, Terriermon walks right up to Renamon and barrages them with questions.

Terriermon: You're strong, huh? How long have you been fighting? Can you evolve yet?

Tensing up, Renamon seems taken aback by that last one. Jian isn't happy about it either.

Jian: Terriermon, why would you ask that? Terriermon: (playful) ~No reason! Moumantaaaaaai!

Dropping it, Jian turns his attention to Ruki.

Jian: Why would you make Partner Digimon fight each other? Ruki: What are you on about? It's because they're Digimon. Isn't that obvious? Jian: You're that kid from the other side of the train station, aren't you? What makes you think that these children we have with us are simply tools for fighting? Ruki: I have no idea what you're even saying. Renamon, we're going home!

Ruki turns and leaves with Renamon. As she does, Renamon curiously seems to fade from visibility as they pass the bush. It's subtle, but eerie.

Linguistic note: Jian does not call the Digimon 成長期 seichouki, the Child level of Digimon evolution, but 子たち ko-tachi which is much more literally "children". In his eyes, Guilmon, Renamon, and Terriermon are just kids no different from Takato, Ruki, and Jian himself.

Ruki plays it cool but given that she peaces out after that threat she slung at Renamon a second ago, something about this conversation seems to have gotten under her skin.

In any case, now that the fight's over, I can share my thoughts. Because. Wow. I hated this fight.

I was expecting it to happen; in the Everyman and Action Girl dynamic, the Action Girl usually exists to prop up the Everyman's specialness. Her job is to be sacrificed on the altar of giving him cool moments. I just wasn't expecting it to happen so quickly.

Despite two episodes hyping up her and Renamon, Ruki gets absolutely clowned on in Guilmon's first fight ever.

First, Guilmon tanks Koyousetsu. Doesn't even dodge it; Renamon is just so utterly powerless that Guilmon can unflinchingly and invulnerably weather the killer attack that eliminated Lynxmon and Fugamon.

Then we have the rolling and biting grapple, where neither of them is really ahead of the other. This is the best Renamon performs all fight, where the most that can be said is that they're evenly matched with Guilmon.

Finally, Ruki intervenes with Card Slash, and Guilmon thwarts Heavy Metal by accident. They beat Card Slash so effortlessly that they don't even notice it's happening. Renamon is portrayed as so completely ineffectual and nonthreatening to our Super Special Boy's Super Special Digimon that Guilmon can vanquish them without even trying.

I know Ruki's job is to get dunked on to make Takato and Guilmon look good but this was such a one-sided curbstomp, it left me stunned. In the span of a few minutes of fighting, they have completely annihilated all sense of menace and dignity that Ruki spent the last two episodes building up.

And I get that it's the point. That Takato wanted the most infinity powerful Child Digimon ever, so Guilmon was born with incomparable power levels that Renamon could never hope to compete with. Guilmon is the Legendary Super Saiyan Digimon. I get that.

But Takato just said Guilmon should have the strongest attack power; That still doesn't excuse Guilmon being able to weather Koyousetsu unflinchingly with their infinity Hit Points and ultra-maxxed out Defense, or making Card Slash and Heavy Metal look like total jokes by vanquishing them with a gag.

Just. Absolute disrespect for the established combat aces here, which isn't promising for how I can expect Ruki to be handled for the rest of the show. Jian's interruption is played like it's supposed to feel like it's saving Takato and Guilmon, but it just feels like he's sparing Ruki and Renamon another humiliating failure. And I hate that.

...though it does lend some credibility to the claim that Guilmon can punch a hole through Omegamon/Omnimon so I guess the dub doesn't have to retract their interpretation of the design. :P

In the dub:

Takato: It's you! Terriermon: It's me! It's him! And aren't you happy to see us? (Terriermon waddles down the hill) Rika: A Digimon? Okay, this is getting just a little too weird. They're popping up everywhere! (Terriermon approaches Renamon) Terriermon: You looked pretty good there at the end, but didn't you feel silly rolling around in the dirt like that? Renamon: Hrnn!? (Renamon is taken aback) Henry: It's not very smart to mouth off to someone bigger than you. Terriermon: Henry! Moumantai! (Henry turns his attention to Rika) Henry: You take it easy. What are your Digimon fighting about anyway? Rika: That's a dumb question. What else are Digimon supposed to do? Henry: Anything they want to do. They're not fighting machines. And they're not our slaves or pets either. They're our friends, you know? They just want to do the same sort of things we do. Rika: Well, Renamon wants to fight. So do I, for that matter. (Rika and Renamon leave) Henry: She's harsh.

The dub takes its first commercial break here.

More details are lost here. In the original, Terriermon asks Renamon if she's ready to evolve, which Jian calls them out for. This question is going to be central to the drama between Jian and Terriermon in this episode, but the dub drops it to have Terriermon be a dick about Renamon's fight instead.

The dub captures the spirit of Henry's attitude but forgets to mention that Rika's "the kid from the other side of the train station". The line shows that while Jian and Ruki don't know each other directly, Jian is on some level aware of Ruki. She's kind of a big deal.

In the original, Ruki ragequits the conversation because she's tired of hearing whatever Jian's on about, then commands Renamon to follow as she leaves. In the dub, Rika proclaims that she and Renamon both want to fight and then inexplicably departs anyway.

An interesting note: Last episode, they scrubbed both instances of Terriermon's "Moumantai" from the dub. But in this episode, its meaning is actually going to be explained; It's Cantonese, so it's kind of a foreign word even in Japan despite having some usage there. So, because it's going to be talked about, suddenly Terriermon is allowed to use it in the dub too.

I was wondering last episode if Dub Team had actually started watching episodes ahead of the one they're currently working on yet, and it's nice to see the methodology is still the same.

Once Ruki's left, Jian and Takato finally introduce themselves to each other.

Takato: You're Lee-kun from Class 1, aren't you? Jian: And you're from Class 2, right? Takato: Yeah. Oh, I'm Takato. Matsuda Takato. Jian: Lee Jianliang. Takato: Are you Chinese? Jianliang: My father's from Hong Kong. My mother is Japanese, though. Takato: Ohhh...

We finally have Jianliang's full name! As they talk, Takato and Jianliang move the conversation to a vacant cement shed in the park.

Takato: Terriermon lives with you, right? Jianliang: Yeah. Takato: That's pretty cool. Guilmon's too big for me to hide them at my house. I had to look everywhere to figure out what to do with them. But then I found the perfect hideout! Jianliang: I'm glad to see that Guilmon is your friend, Takato-kun. Takato: Thank you, Lee-kun. We're friends too, right? Jianliang: Yeah.

From what little we've glimpsed of them so far, Jianliang seems to be the polar opposite of Ruki. Ruki sees Renamon as a tool for battle and has a very stern and professional relationship with them, while Jianliang sees Terriermon strictly as a companion and foregoes the more gamified elements of his Partner Digimon.

In the dub:

Henry: You're Takato, right? Takato: Yeah, I saw you at school yesterday. Henry: When Guilmon got bored and came looking for you. I'm Henry! Takato: Man, you showed up just in time today. She was going to slice and dice him! Henry: I don't get it. I mean, look at them! How can that girl think they're just here to fight? Takato: Yeah, everybody knows what Digimon really want to do is eat. When he raided the cafeteria, I knew it was time to find a place with a lock! Henry: Hey, he might have saved our lives. It's only a matter of time before they poison us. Takato: Haha, now that's an idea. Guilmon can be our official taster! Henry: Problem is, we'd go hungry.

Henry shares neither his name nor his half-Chinese ethnicity with Takato, They also don't bring up that he's in Class 5-1 or that Terriermon lives with him. He pretty much just skips introducing himself entirely. Instead, the conversation focuses on shit-talking Rika and also some more riffing on bad American cafeteria lunches.

Henry does somehow know why Guilmon was at school yesterday. Though he may have simply inferred it from his own understanding of the way Digimon are.

Takato indicates that he has a key to the gate on this random concrete shed in the middle of the park. I have no idea where he got that and am forced to conclude that the answer is crime.

That Dub Takato claims he can lock Guilmon up in here will create a small plot hole later in the episode, so watch out for that.

While the boys are talking, Guilmon and Terriermon play. But the sun's going down and it's time to head out.

Jianliang: Terriermon! We're going home. Terriermon: Moumantai.... Jianliang: (sternly) Terriermon. Terriermon: Okay, fine.

Terriermon hops up onto Jianliang's back.

Jianliang: Well, see you tomorrow. Takato: Yeah, see you at school. Guilmon: We should play some more.

While Jianliang descends the steps from Guilmon's hideout, Takato decides to ask the burning question here.

Takato: Hey, what does "moumantai" mean? Terriermon: "Don't worry about it." "Relax." (English) "Take it easy!"

Or, for those of us who grew up with Disney movies, Hakuna Matata.

In the dub, there's no break in the conversation here; It continues from the last bit.

Takato: Haha, now that's an idea. Guilmon can be our official taster! Henry: Problem is, we'd go hungry. Terriermon: Hey, I'm hungry! Henry: But you just ate! Terriermon: So... what's your point? Moumantai. (Terriermon leaves Guilmon and hops up on Henry's back) Henry: Okay, dinner time. Takato: See you around. Guilmon: Takatomon, I'm hungry too. (Henry starts down the stairs) Takato: Great! See what you started!? Hey, what does "moumantai" mean? Terriermon: Haven't you figured that out yet? It means "Take it easy!"

It means a little more than that. That is one of the three examples, but it's worth noting that Terriermon uses it multiple ways. They can mean anything from "It's cool, we're vibing" to "Get off my back; You're harshing my vibe."

Takato heads home to the bakery, this time going in the front instead of slipping through the kitchen.

Takato: Tadaima!

Inside, Katou's just finished paying Takato's mom for a bag full of bread.

Mother: Thank you for your patronage, Juri-chan. Juri: (surprised) Are you coming home just now, Matsuda-kun? Takato: ( ๐_๐) Y-Yeah.... Juri: (to Takato's mom) Goodbye, ma'am! Mother: Give my regards to your mother! Juri: I will!

As Juri exits, she pauses for a moment and whispers to Takato.

Juri: (whispering) I didn't tell her that you disappeared during gym class. Takato: O-Oh! Thank you! Juri: Ehehe....

She gives him a smile and a little wave, then runs off with her groceries. Takato swoons as she departs. Aww, I think someone's got a crush! It's cute.

Father: Did you manage to part with that "cardboard box"? Takato: ACK!!!

Dad's interruption shocks Takato out of his swooning.

Father: Saying goodbye to a living creature is always so hard!

Dad barely manages to finish talking, as his voice breaks up from sadness. He walks away, stifling tears and leaving a confused and awkward Takato standing in the doorway.

Takato: ( O_o) Uhhh heh heh....

I, uh. I think Dad might have some things to talk about. This may have touched a trauma nerve?

In the dub:

Takato: Hey, Mom. I'm home. (Girl takes her groceries) Mother: Say hi to your Mom for me. Girl: I will, Mrs. Matsuki. It smells wonderful in here! I wish I lived over a bakery! Mother: You get used to it. (Girl pauses to whisper to Takato) Girl: You owe me one, Takato. I didn't tell your mom you ditched school! Takato: Huh!? Uh... Jeri, thanks a lot. Jeri: Hehehe.... (Jeri waves and leaves; Takato swoons) Father: Did you find a home for that cardboard box, son? Takato: Eep! (Takato turns to his dad) Father: I know it was hard, but at least you didn't have time to get attached! (Dad runs off half-crying) Takato: ( O_o) ...

Jeri finally has a name in this version! And, like Ruki/Rika, it's wrong. But she has one!

Takato's name is wrong too. Specifically, his surname of Matsuda has been changed to Matsuki. I think I accidentally messed up and called him Matsuki last episode too.

Blame googling him because I forgot what his surname was and taking the wrong source's word for it; Digimon Wiki uses English dub names while Wikimon uses original Japanese names.

In any case, the important thing is that the dub covers all the important details here. Jeri didn't snitch on Takato, Takato clearly has a thing for Jeri, and Dad has some sort of past trauma about losing an animal that he is haunted by but is not disclosing.

That night, Takato lays in bed contemplating his Digivice in front of a poster for whatever Analogu Monsters is supposed to be.

Takato: Digimon as tools for fighting?

I mean. Yes. You play the TCG. Ruki treats them exactly as a lot of gamers treat their game monsters. Wait 'til you hear about Pokemon eugenics programs!

Across town, Ruki's chilling and listening to her headphones. She says nothing; Simply gets up and starts walking through the crowds. From above, Renamon watches from a silent perch on a nearby streetlight.

And then, at the Lee residence, Jianliang's little sister enters his room.

Sister: Jian-niichan, it's time for dinner! Are you doing well, Terriermon?

She comes in and pats Jianliang's "Terriermon plushie" a little hard. Terriermon plops over on their back, remaining in Toy Story frozen position.

Jianliang: Got it. I'll be out in a minute.

Little sister turns and prances out of the room.

Sister: (singsong) ~Today we're having sukiyaki! ~Suki suki Sukiyaki!

Once the door closes, Jianliang stands and apologizes to Terriermon, who relaxes and lets their limbs drop.

Jianliang: Sorry about that. Terriermon: (relieved) Moumantai....

鋤焼 Sukiyaki is a Japanese dish that their parents have prepared for dinner. The first kanji of it, 鋤 suki, is also a homonym of 好き suki which means that you really, really like the subject of the sentence. Hence, little sister's little singsong wordplay there.

In the dub:

Takato: Poor Dad. He has no idea. But even he'll notice Digimon fighting in the streets.... (Cut to Rika in the crowd) Renamon: (thinking) She walks through the crowd like she's the only person in the world. Rika: (thinking) I wish... Oh, forget it. Renamon: (thinking) You only think you're alone, Rika. (Cut to Henry's home) Sister: Henry! Mom says come to dinner! Terriermon, let's play! (Sister patpats Terriermon) Henry: Careful, Susie. You'll rub all his fur off. Sister: Ball buddy! Ball buddy! (Sister leaves the room) Henry: Okay, she's gone. Terriermon: (relieved) Not soon enough....

Susie joins the "Named in dub, not yet in original" crew with Ms. Asaji and Kenta. We're now 3-for-1, as Juri/Jeri has been named in the dub as of this episode but Culumon still hasn't.

In the original, Takato's thinking about his confrontation with Ruki. He's haunted by her attitude. In the dub, he just comments on how clueless his dad is about all this.

The dub gives Renamon dialogue extrapolating the visual language present in the scene: That Ruki/Rika is alone in a crowd but has an overlooked yet ever-present companion unseen at her side.

"~Suki suki sukiyaki!" is untranslatable to English, so the dub had to go their own route. "Ball buddy" seems a little random, though.

As Jianliang goes to the door, he suddenly hesitates. Something's been bothering him.

Jianliang: Terriermon.... Terriermon: What's up, Jian? Jianliang: Do you want to evolve too? Terriermon: ... Jianliang: If you evolved and got stronger, we wouldn't be able to remain friends forever. I've told you that a lot, haven't I. Terriermon: And I've listened to it a lot! That's why I said I wouldn't do it. Jianliang: Yeah.

Satisfied, Jianliang opens the door to step out.

Jianliang: I'll bring you some manjuu. Terriermon: YA-HAHA-Y!!!

Manjuu is a Japanese sweet bun; Having reaffirmed that their friendship matters more than Digimon evolution, Jianliang is promising sweet treats to Terriermon.

Terriermon asking Renamon about evolution seems to have really bothered him. This is an interesting conversation, as it indicates that Terriermon has been ready to evolve for a while now but is electing to hold themself back in Child level for the sake of their friendship with Jianliang.

It's not clear exactly why their friendship would have to end if Terriermon evolved. We're left to speculate, but the situation with Guilmon implies a possible answer: Digimon get bigger when they evolve, and Jianliang wouldn't be able to pass Terriermon off as a stuffed toy if they did.

However, while Jianliang up to this point has been presented as the good guy alternative to Ruki, this adds some nuance to his position. In the pursuit of his friendship with Terriermon, he is literally suppressing Terriermon from the natural maturation cycle of Digimon.

For the sake of hanging on to his friend, Jianliang has stunted Terriermon from being able to grow as a Digimon. While Ruki, heartless though her methods are, is cultivating Renamon's strength and helping them reach higher levels.

It's complicated.

In the dub:

Henry: Hey, Terriermon.... Terriermon: I know. That wasn't very nice. Henry: No, it wasn't. But that's not it. If you Digivolved to your Champion form, not even Susie would believe you're a stuffed animal. You wouldn't be able to stay here anymore. Terriermon: Henry, how many times do I have to tell you I won't Digivolve!? Henry: Once. Terriermon: Hm. (Henry opens the door to go) Henry: By the way, that qualified as rude. Terriermon: Ohhhh... Hrm, hahaha hahaha!

Henry presents his implied reasoning explicitly here.

"That qualified as rude" sets up a later exchange near the end of the episode.

This exchange is pretty charming, but leaves one awkward moment at the end. Terriermon wriggles around in excitement in the original because Jianliang's bringing them manjuu, but the dub doesn't give them anything to be so psyched about.

So Henry delivers a pretty good quip as he leaves, and then we just hang on Terriermon wriggling and laughing. I guess Terriermon also thought Henry's quip was really funny.

That night, Takato returns to Guilmon's hideout with a grocery bag in each hand.

Takato: Guilmon, I've brought bre--UWAGH!?!?

Inside, Guilmon's bashed open both the rear wall and the floor, and done some tunneling. Takato finds them in a mound of dirt they've dug out.

Takato: Wh-What happened here!? Guilmon: (half-asleep) Nothing, just playing.... Takato: You dug out all this? Guilmon: (half-asleep) Guilmon managed to dig so much.... Takato: WHA--WHOA!!!

Explaining nothing, Guilmon gets up and collapses onto Takato, knocking him to the ground and falling asleep on top of him.

Takato: You're heavy, Guilmon! Guilmon: Zzzzzz.... Takato: Huh? Do Digimon sleep too? ( ^_^) I guess a lot's happened today.

Takato pries himself out from under Guilmon.

Takato: Good night, Guilmon. See you tomorrow.

Guilmon did sleep with Takato last night, but it's unclear how aware Takato was of that. He did wake up to Guilmon snarling at the window so he might have thought Guilmon stayed up all night.

In the dub:

Takato: Hey Guilmon, it's chow time. I even brought peanut bu--WHAAAUGH!?!? (Guilmon's dug up everything) Takato: What did you do to this place!? Guilmon: (half-asleep) Huh? Made it bigger. Now I'm really small.... Takato: I think you mean sleepy. Guilmon: (half-asleep) Sleepy by nappytime, Takatomon.... Takato: Eh, NO, WAIT!!! (Guilmon collapses onto Takato) Takato: No more peanut butter for you! Guilmon: Zzzzz.... Takato: I hope he doesn't sleep as much as he eats. ( ^_^) Whoa... I wonder if Digimon have dreams? (Takato pries himself out) Takato: If they do, they're probably about food.

Solid. No notes.

Elsewhere that night, Culumon's out and about in Shinjuku, admiring people coming and going at an intersection.

Culumon: WO-OW, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE-CULU!!! Why's everyone in a hurry though-culu? it's a mystery to Culumon-culu!

Culumon runs off, no closer to understanding but adorable all the same.

Meanwhile, Ruki's also out at night. She passes by a trio of boys, one of whom stops and calls out to her.

Boy 1: Hey, you! You wouldn't happen to be the Digimon Queen, would you? Boy 2: The Queen of what? Boy 1: Remember? She's called that because she made it to the finals in last year's Digimon Card Battle! Boy 2: What, a little girl like this!?

That remark actually seems to get Ruki's attention. She stops and turns to the boys.

Boy 1: Oh, this girl is crazy good. She even won the championship in the Cathode Tamer Tournament!

That's about as much attention as Ruki's willing to give them. Without a word, she turns and walks away.

I'm not sure that "Cathode Tamer Tournament" is a set of words that actually makes sense. It seems to be referring to a TCG tournament, but Cathode Tamer is one of the tie-in video games for Digimon Adventure that Akiyama Ryo comes from.

Possibly a subtle cue that the Digimon media of Tamers isn't exactly 1:1 with the Digimon media of our world.

In the dub:

Babychild: Whoa, I'm beginning to like this game. Hey, down here! Down here! It's my turn! ...whoa! Okay, you can go again! (Babychild runs off; Cut to Rika walking) Boy 1: So then I said to him, I said, "One card, man, and you're back to Rookie!" (Boys pass Rika) Boy 1: Hey, that's really strange! It's her! I-I mean it's you, isn't it? Boy 2: You're incomprehensible. Boy 1: Comprehend this. That's the Digimon Queen! I mean, it's synchronicity, dude! Boy 2: Come on, that's a girl, man. (Rika stops and turns towards them) Boy 1: Yeah, I noticed. And she's cute, too! Sorta like Kari with a punk, y'know, sort of edge. (Rika walks away) Rika: Goggleheads... Gimme a break!

Dub Babychild is playing games while Culumon is curiously exploring the world again. It's already a little hard to swallow that nobody notices Culumon but it gets a lot harder when Babychild is shouting at passersby to notice them.

When the gaggle of boys are approaching and about to pass Ruki, Boy 1 actually has a bunch of lip flaps that go unused in the original. The dub is more than happy to fill the void.

Boy 2 is so misogynistic that he somehow thinks only a boy would ever earn the title of "Digimon Queen". Men, don't ever let machismo turn you this stupid.

In the original, he doesn't know what the "Digimon Queen" is supposed to mean. He's expressing skepticism that a girl made it to the finals of the tournament. But the dub doesn't explain the tournament, so all he has to react to is the name Digimon Queen.

I'm not sure what resemblance to Kari Boy 1 is seeing. They don't look anything alike. He does, however, look a little too old to be hitting on what I assume is an 11-year-old like Takato and Jianliang/Henry.

Waiting at the intersection, Ruki calls out to her Partner.

Ruki: Renamon.

Reality around her seems to shift as a strange, glassy field appears around her. Once it's up, Renamon comes to her side.

Renamon: Yes, Ruki? Ruki: You do want to get stronger, don't you, Renamon? You have to get stronger! Much stronger! Renamon: I want to be stronger. Ruki: Then why haven't you evolved yet!? Renamon: Well, that's.... Ruki: We've already defeated a lot of enemies, right? And you've Loaded them, right? So why won't you evolve!? Renamon: I don't know. Ruki: A Digimon who won't evolve....

Ruki doesn't finish that thought. She simply turns away from Renamon. The glassy realm around them as well as Renamon themself fade away, leaving Ruki back in the intersection.

The green Walk light comes up and Ruki begins to cross with the rest of the people waiting there. As she walks, she mutters to herself.

Ruki: A Digimon for a friend? Don't be ridiculous!

As Ruki scoffs at the notion, we take our commercial break.

Ruki doesn't stop to explain what the weird glassy barrier is about, but this is probably the Digital Field she was talking about when she confronted Takato.

She also doesn't explain what "Loading" an opponent is. She uses the English ロード roudo or "Load", which isn't super informative. But that's clearly the XP gain animation that was happening to Renamon after defeating Fugamon. The dub called it "downloading Fugamon's data" last episode, and they nailed it.

I feel like I'm picking up a subtle implication that, like Terriermon, Renamon's holding themself back from evolution for the sake of their friendship with their Partner. When Ruki first asks why they haven't evolved, they seem like they have an answer on the tip of their tongue that they're reluctant to say to her face.

Given that we've also seen the way Guilmon's friendship with Takato makes Renamon hesitate, we're getting a lot of indications that Renamon cares more for their partnership with Ruki than they're willing to let on in Ruki's presence. On account of the attitude Ruki routinely demonstrates on the matter.

In the dub:

Rika: Renamon! (Glassy barrier manifests) Renamon: Rika. Rika: If I'm so good then why haven't you Digivolved? Renamon: I don't know. Rika: I think it's your fault. You should try harder. Renamon: What are you trying to say to me, Rika? Rika: It's not my fault! I'm the best Tamer there is! Renamon: So you are. I never said you weren't. Rika: Well see that you don't! I'm the best, and I won't settle for less than that out of you! Do you understand me? Renamon: Always. Rika: Then you know I'm not kidding around here. (Rika turns away) Renamon: I know. (Glassy barrier fades; Rika begins to cross street) Rika: She will be the best. Like me.

The vibe here is totally different. Ruki is harsh and accusatory. She seems to suspect that something's up; She knows Renamon should have evolved by now, and she implicitly threatens Renamon if they don't go ahead and do it soon.

That Renamon is well beyond the point at which they'd be eligible for evolution also explains why they were able to make such short work of Lynxmon and Fugamon. This is what Ruki meant when she said their parameters are too high for Fugamon; Renamon is, like, a Level 76 Child right now.

Renamon, for their part, lets their poker face slip a little as they struggle to answer what seem to be valid accusations from Ruki.

Rika is insecure and petulant in a way that implies that she's afraid her own abilities are what's holding Renamon back. She gets intensely defensive about accusations no one is making, and so the only source for those accusations must be her own doubts. But she doesn't know how to handle that beyond doubling down and lashing out.

Renamon, for her part, is cool and collected as she navigates Rika's childish outburst, never betraying any sense of feeling beyond her loyalty to Rika.

An interesting note is the different tone of the boys' conversation leading into Rika's insecurity. She leads with "If I'm so strong" but nobody said she was. in the dub, they just talked about the fact that a girl plays Digimon and that she's really cute. Why she's actually called Digimon Queen went unexplained so the overall conversation was actually pretty denigrating, and may have been what set off her attack of insecurity.

Coming back from commercial, we find Hirokazu and Glasses playing the TCG on the ground beneath their play loft for once, rather than up inside it.

Hirokazu: OPTION CARD!!! 40% WINNING PERCENTAGE!!!

Hirokazu lays down a DeathMeramon card on top of his Meramon, evolving them to Perfect against Glasses's Tyrannomon.

Glasses: Nyegh! ...awww....

Glasses flinches, then slumps over in defeat right as Takato approaches.

Takato: Good morning! Hirokazu: Sucks to be you, Kenta! A Perfect level evolution! Take that! Takato: You won again, Hirokazu? Hirokazu: Ehehe! Kenta: That was cheap. Hirokazu: What's cheap about it? Just sending out one Digimon after another isn't enough to win. How you use your Option Cards is critical to demonstrating your abilities as a Tamer. Takato: (gasp)

Takato flashes back on Ruki's card slash from before.

Ruki: CARD SLASH!!! HEAVY METAL!!! (End Flashback) Takato: Oh, that's right... Yeah, that makes sense.

As an aside, I don't know what the subs are smoking here. They have Hirokazu claim that the DeathMeramon that he played a second ago is his prize for beating Kentamon.

Kenta finally has a name! As well as a crushing defeat that helps tutorialize Takato about Option Cards and Card Slash. Not that it matters since Ruki's Card Slash was just the south side of useless in that fight.

Again, it really feels like we were supposed to interpret that fight as Guilmon barely surviving Renamon by the skin of their teeth due to Jianliang's intervention. This moment's presented like it's highlighting a key piece of the reason why Takato and Guilmon couldn't measure up to Ruki and Renamon, but that's not how the fight was choreographed.

Renamon hit themself with Heavy Metal harder than they did Guilmon, who seemed to navigate the fight without ever taking a scratch of damage.

In the dub:

Kazu: Way to go, Kenta. You fell headfirst into my trap. SNAP!!! (Kazu lays down SkullMeramon) Kenta: Ack! Ugh... awww. (Kenta slumps over in defeat) Takato: Hey guys. Kazu: Come on, dude. Don't cry. Look up! You gotta see this! I am just that good. Takato: You're one humble guy, Kazu. Kazu: Hehehehe.... Kenta: You're a... a lousy winner! Kazu: Am not! You're just a lousy loser! Do you hear me, loser!? Anyway, you'll never get any better until you learn how to use Modify cards. That's where a real Tamer shines, and I shine, baby! Takato: (gasp) (Flashback) Ruki: DIGI-MODIFY!!! ARMOR ACTIVATE!!! (End Flashback) Takato: (awestruck) I get it now. Modify....

The dub doesn't bother to explain how Kazu won that. It's possible that the scripting team themselves might not have understood how that worked; In a vacuum, a card named "40% Winning Percentage" doesn't sound intuitively like a game-ending checkmate.

But at least Kazu doesn't fucking claim his own SkullMeramon as spoils of war.

Across town, an investigation of the park where Ruki fought Goblimon/Fugamon is now underway. A street sign marks the location as 熊野神社前 Kumano Jinja-Mae, or the Kumano Shrine. Which would give us just the puzzle piece we need to finally position that battle on the map if the subsequent conversation didn't already spell it out for us.

Agents of the shadowy government office are in the park, carrying out scans with some sort of instruments, though we can't see them very clearly. One of them is in communication with what might be one of the two women in the funny crane chairs?

Investigator: Investigation is underway at the fountain site in Shinjuku Central Park. Currently, no traces of Infection have been found. Woman: Center acknowledges.

The investigators are wearing masks and goggles for protection, but the man with the lighter is here too wearing no such protections. He canvasses the scene flicking his lighter but saying nothing. Then he stops when he finds a discarded Digimon TCG card in the dirt. He leans down and picks it out of the dirt, studying it carefully while ominous music plays.

...traces of infection? Is it a virus that creates Wild Ones? Are they Digimon Mavericks from Mega Man X?

Again, like the unclear reference to "Loading" Digimon, the English word インフェクト infekuto is used here so there's not a lot of room for linguistic nuance; He said "infection".

I actually thought in the first couple episodes that Ruki was connected with the government folks in some way. Like they were sending her to neutralize the Wild Ones. But it's clear now that she's just an independent actor jumping Digimon who pop up in Shinjuku.

In the dub:

Investigator 1: Does anybody know what we're looking for out here? (sarcastic) Bio-Emergence... Yeah, right! Investigator 2: I heard they're looking for some new kind of biological weapons! Investigator 1: Sherlock, no way! Investigator 3: Shhh! The boss! (Lighter man finds TCG card)

"New kind of biological weapons" is a jokey interpretation of the ambiguous "traces of Infection". I think they were being silly while also hedging their bets in case it turns out there really is some sort of biological contaminant left behind by the Wild One attack.

I'm inclined to think the infection is a data infection, not a biological one, but most of the guys here are dressed like they're responding to a zombie plague so IDK.

Over at Yodobashi Elementary, the school day draws to a close.

The teacher is teaching a course on

わたし達のくらしと コンピューターネットワーク Watashi-tachi no kurashi to Kanpyuutaa Nettowaaku

or "Our everyday lives and the Computer Network".

Teacher: So you see, the network is now an indispensable part of our every day live--

The school bell suddenly rings to signal the end of the day, cutting her off.

Teacher: (sigh; to herself) Why can't things ever go according to plan? (to class) Well, that's all for today. Student: Rise!

All the students stand up.

Teacher: Bow!

We cut briefly to an exterior shot of another class ending gym practice so they don't have to animate the bow. But this is a standard ritual; Classes begin and end with the class representative or leader instructing the class to stand up, then the teacher commanding them to bow before either taking their seats or departing.

In the dub, the students are making noise when cut to the school.

Ms. Asaji: Alright, settle down, class. (Everyone quiets down) Ms. Asaji: That's much better. I still have a full and complete minute of your precious time and I intend to use every second of it. (Schoolbell rings) Ms. Asaji: (sigh; to herself) Apparently to tell you that I still have a minute of your time. (to class) That's it for today! Students: WOOHOO ALRIGHT!!! (miscellaneous chaos)

She barely gets to say anything on the subject so it's not super important but the subject of the class, which is relevant to our franchise's subject matter, does get dropped from the dub dialogue. It's replaced by a joke that's a little too wordy to land the way it wants to but I appreciate what they were going for.

There's something kinda funny about the students breaking out in hoots and hollers typical of American schools while onscreen, Japanese children stand up in an orderly fashion. Though we only see the two kids at the front so we can assume those two are just well-behaved front-of-class kids and chaos is exploding right behind them.

With class dismissed, Takato and Kenta gather around Hirokazu's desk to talk about, what else, the Digimon TCG.

Hirokazu: I think I might enter the next tournament. Takato: Great idea! I should enter it too! Kenta: But there's going to be a lot of really tough opponents there! Hirokazu: Oh yeah, speaking of tough opponents, one of them actually lives around here. Kenta: Huh? Who do you mean? Hirokazu: The Digimon Queen. She's this girl who took second place in last year's tournament. Kenta: Can a girl really be that strong? Hirokazu: You'd better believe it! She uses her Digimon ruthlessly. Even high school students are intimidated by her relentless assaults! Takato: Wait, that Tamer...!

Takato grabs Hirokazu's sleeve to get his attention.

Hirokazu: Huh? What is it, Takato? Takato: She lives nearby? Hirokazu: Yeah, I think she goes to school somewhere on the east side of the train station. Takato: (thinking) I knew I'd seen her before....

She was also in that weird astral projection dream you had, my guy.

Kenta and that one boy earlier are the reason why girls often feel unwelcome in nerd spaces.

In the dub:

Kazu: I think I'm a natural to win the tournament this year. Takato: Well, you have to beat me to do it! Kenta: You guys are delusional. I mean, you're not even in their league, Kazu. Kazu: Am too! Listen up, boyo; A girl won it last year. Kenta: That. Was not just a girl. Kazu: Yeah, the Digimon Queen... That's what they call her. Can you believe that? She even lives around here. Kenta: She's going to wipe the floor with your sorry butt. Kazu: Don't think so. She's just never met her match is all! Wait and see, Chumley; She'll be begging me for mercy. Takato: I have to find her! (Takato grabs Kazu's sleeve) Kazu: Huh? You have to do what? Takato: Where does she live? I need her! Kazu: Dude, I can't believe what you just said. Did you just say you need a girl? You're out of the club, buddy. Takato: ... Kazu: ...hello?

It's been brought to my attention that Kazu was saying "Chumley", not "Chun-Li" last episode, and that it's a recurring nickname he uses for his friends in the dub. What a weird thing to say.

In the original, Kenta disparages Ruki for being a girl and Hirokazu reads him the third degree on why he needs to respect her. In the dub, Kazu is belittling and dismissive towards Rika and her abilities, while Kenta's the one telling him she's going to break him in half.

For some reason, Kazu feels the need to explain to Kenta that she's called Digimon Queen even though Kenta clearly knows her reputation better than Kazu does.

In the original, it's not just Ruki's talent as a Tamer but also her ruthless attack strategy that tips Takato off about who they're talking about. In the dub, the ruthless assault never comes up; He clocks her simply because she's a girl who won the tournament.

Speaking of which, Rika won the tournament. Ruki only took second place.

Takato gets really creepy all of a sudden. He starts feverishly demanding to know where she lives and then suddenly shuts down and stares into space for long enough for Kazu to start feeling weird about it. What the fuck are you doing, Takato?

In the original, Takato's just confirming what they said and connecting the dots that the girl who attacked him really was the Digimon Queen. And him zoning out is where his mental confirmation is supposed to go.

While Takato's thinking this over, suddenly Juri!

Juri: If we're talking about cards, I'm more interested in Tarot.

Takato suddenly blushes when he realizes she's entered the conversation, again indicating his crush.

Kenta: How are you supposed to Battle with Tarot? Card Battles are a man's game! Juri: I think that's terribly sexist of you. Hirokazu: (to Juri) How about I coach you? You can enter the tournament too, Katou. Then you can seize the throne of the Digimon Queen! Juri: That'd be ridiculous.

Suddenly, the class door opens.

Girl: Juri! Juri: Miki-chan! Wait up, I'm coming too.

Juri leaves and joins her friends, and they walk away gigglign. Though it's unclear how much of this conversation Takato caught because he's still caught up on Ruki.

Takato: (muttering) The Digimon Queen....

Kenta's a little baby misogynist, we're finding out. He questions Ruki's abilities because of her gender and then dismisses Tarot for reasons that are outright called out as sexist. I'm glad Hirokazu, who's entirely onboard with girls playing Digimon TCG and even offers to coach Juri, keeps kicking his ass when they play.

Juri turns his offer down but that's not really surprising. She did start the conversation by saying she's not interested in Digimon TCG. She's just chatting with the boys right now because she has time to kill while she waits for her friends to show up.

In the dub:

Jeri: Takato needs a girl? What for? Will I do? (Takato blushes suddenly) Takato: Huh? Kenta: Not unless you can beat up the Digimon Queen. Now that's a battle I'd pay money to see! Jeri: Boys are so weird. What's so great about fighting? Kazu: Shows how much you know about being a boy! It's how we keep score. And anyway, I've met plenty of girls who enjoy a good fight. Jeri: (sarcastic) I'm sure you have. (Door opens) Girl: Jeri! Jeri: Lots of them. (Jeri goes to join her friends) Jeri: Like Miki! You want to fight with Kazu, right? (The girls walk off giggling) Takato: I think we lost that round, guys.

In the original, Hirokazu wants Juri to beat the Digimon Queen at the card game. In the dub, Kenta proposes it as a fistfight. This changes the topic from Tarot vs Digimon TCG to how much boys vs girls enjoy violence.

In the original, Kenta was misogynistic and dismissive towards Juri but Hirokazu was open to involving her. As with the previous changes to the boys, Kazu is the one who's hostile and antagonistic towards Jeri here, while Jeri dunks on him in turn for being a little toad that no girls would actually hang out with. With Takato sealing the deal on Jeri's burn by applying Kazu's ointment.

After class, on his way to the park to find Guilmon, Takato notices a set of unmarked black vans with satellite dishes on the roof going the same way.

Takato: Guilmon....

Suddenly worried, he legs it to Guilmon's hideout as fast as he can, making it to the park and racing up the stairs towards the little concrete shed.

Takato: GUILMON!!!

But when he arrives, he finds all the bread he brought last night eaten and his Partner Digimon missing.

Takato: ...where did you go?

A terrifying discovery, to be sure. I would definitely be thinking the government took Guilmon away.

In the dub:

(Takato notices the vans) Takato: Huh. That's weird. I wonder if it's some kind of secret government operation tracking down criminals or aliens... (realizing) ...or Guilmon! (Takato runs to the hideout, racing up the steps) Takato: Guilmon! GUILMON!!! (Takato finds the hideout empty) Takato: Oh no. They must have found him. I should have hidden him better!

The dub adds in some extra dialogue to explain verbally what the visual language is conveying.

Leaving the hideout, Takato scours the park looking for his Partner.

Takato: GUILMON!!! GUILMOOOOOON!!!

He goes until he can't run anymore, then stops to catch his breath.

Takato: Guilmon....

Suddenly, he notices his Digivice chiming. Taking it out of his hoodie, he sees the radar he used to find Guilmon the first time is on the screen. He holds it out in different directions until he gets a clear signal, then follows it towards a bush.

Takato: Guilmon? Are you there, Guilmon?

Guilmon pops out of the bushes, perfectly safe and sound.

Guilmon: Takato! Takato: What a relief, Guilmon! I thought you'd gone off somewhere again!

Takato and Guilmon hug each other.

Guilmon: It's just so boring staying in my home! Takato: I guess that's true, huh? I wouldn't want to stay in a place like that. But you're just so big, Guilmon.... Guilmon: Why can't Guilmon go wherever they want? Takato: Well, there usually aren't people roaming around looking like dinosaurs.... Not usually... Then again, I don't know....

Yes, you do. It went very badly when Guilmon met the principal the other day.

Linguistic note: I don't know if I've brought this up but Guilmon uses their own name for their first-person pronoun, which is generally considered childish and cutesy in Japanese. It reflects the fact that Guilmon is a newborn who just happens to be Child level because of reasons not currently known.

Takato and Jianliang both use "Boku", which is a pretty middle-of-the-road pronoun. It's a little bit humble and a little bit casual. Jeri uses "Atashi", a common feminine variant to the polite and formal "Watashi". Ruki, Renamon, and Terriermon haven't shared their pronouns yet.

In the dub:

Takato: GUILMON!!! GUILMOOOOOON!!! Takato: (thinking) They're probably doing all kinds of weird experiments on him! (Takato stops to catch his breath) Takato: He's toast... Wha--? (Digivice starts beeping; Takato takes it out of his hoodie) Takato: There he is! (Takato points the Digivice around) Takato: Here! There! How does this stupid thing work? (Digivice points him to the bush) Takato: BULLSEYE... Maybe? (Takato approaches the bush) Takato: Guilmon? Guilmon, come on. A-Are you in there? (Guilmon pops out) Guilmon: I win! Let's play again. Takato: You scared me! Guilmon, I thought I'd find you floating in a vat like on TV! (Takato and Guilmon hug) Guilmon: Well, that sounds like fun. Can we do that next? Takato: You're crazy, boy. Do you know that? You can't just go wandering around on your own like this. There's no telling what might happen to you out here. Guilmon: Nothing bad can happen if you're right here with me. Takato: I don't know about that, Guilmon. We'd attract an awful lot of attention out here. ...hey, wait. I have an idea.

Takato reacts to the Digivice a second before it starts to beep, marking this just barely as a psychic premonition moment.

In the original, Guilmon left to go wander the park because their concrete hideout is drab and boring, a point Takato concedes immediately. Guilmon wants to be allowed to roam freely, which Takato initially dismisses but then decides to experiment with, segueing into the next scene

In the dub, Guilmon is playing Hide and Seek with Takato. Guilmon still wants to be allowed to roam freely and Takato's initially dismissive. But the dub presents the segue to next scene as Takato "getting an idea" to do something that will make Guilmon seem normal, rather than Takato testing the waters with Guilmon as-is.

There's a reason for that, which we'll see in a moment.

As an aside, remember when I said to keep in mind that Dub Takato locks up Guilmon's hideout? Yeah, it's weird that Guilmon was able to just leave the hideout and go play Hide and Seek like this if it's a cage that Takato locks up when he's not around.

If Guilmon had to break the lock to get out then that's believable, but you'd think it would warrant a mention.

Just trying things out, Takato takes Guilmon out into public.

Some people stop and notice the dinosaur but most mind their business. One little boy walking with his mom stops and points at Guilmon.

Boy: Hey, what's that Digimon called? Takato: Huh? ( ^ᴗ^) They're called Guilmon. Boy: I've never heard of Guilmon. Takato: I'm sure you haven't. That's because I designed them! Boy: Wow, that's so cool! That's so cool! Mother: It's very well made. Come along now, Riku. Riku: Bye-bye, Guilmon! Guilmon: Bye-bye!

Takato and Guilmon wave goodbye to Riku and his mother, but Takato just looks stunned.

Takato: ...everyone is surprisingly okay with this. Ahaha, I was worrying over nothing.

I mean. It is Tokyo, the cultural hub of Japan. Moreover, it's Shinjuku, which isn't exactly the cosplay capitol of Japan but it does feature some prominent cosplay clubs and shops. So it's not an uncommon sight to see a fictional character like a Digimon walking down the street.

So this reaction is surprising, but barring any further explanation, it does make sense. Guilmon benefits from the fact that Digimon TCG is a well-known and popular IP in Tamers Shinjuku. Riku clocks them as a Digimon, while his mom compliments the craftsmanship.

It also helps that this is a public environment. Encountering a Digimon cosplayer out and about in the city is a bit of a different experience from seeing one roaming a school hallway.

In the dub:

Takato: Now remember, you're a guy in a suit. (Takato and Guilmon walk around) Boy: Hey, look! Check it out! It's a Digimon! Takato: Uhhh... It's a costume. You know, like for Halloween? Boy: But I've never seen that one before. Takato: That's 'cause I made him up myself. His name is Guilmon. Boy: Moooom! Lookit! What a great costume! Mother: (angry) You're going as a scarecrow and you're going to like it! Boy: Guilmon! Bye-bye! Guilmon: Bye-bye. (Takato and Guilmon wave goodbye to the boy) Takato: I can't believe it actually worked. Haha! And I owe it all to you, Ms. Asaji!

This is why the dub had Takato consciously come up with this as a plan. The U.S. doesn't have a rich cosplay culture where fictional characters walk around on the streets like some parts of Tokyo does, so instead Takato has to present Guilmon as wearing a Halloween costume.

With a nice little callback to the way they rewrote the "Is that a kaijuu?" scene to also be about a Halloween costume in the first episode.

Suddenly, Takato's Digivice begins to beep. Taking it out of his hoodie, all he sees is a red screen.

Takato: What's this?

Guilmon sniffs the air, then takes off running without a word.

Takato: GUILMON!!! WHERE ARE YOU GOING!?!?

Guilmon leads Takato down into a parking garage.

Takato: WAIT, GUILMON!!!

Then Ruki emerges from behind a column.

Takato: (startled) The Digimon Queen!

Looks like we're on again.

In the dub:

(Digivice starts beeping) Takato: What? (Takato takes it out and sees the red screen) Takato: That's bizarre. Guilmon, check this out. What does it mean? (Guilmon sniffs the air and runs off) Takato: Wait, where are you going!? You can't run off by yourself! (Guilmon goes down into the parking garage) Takato: GUILMON, STOP!!! Guilmon: HRRRRRRRRGH!!! Takato: RIGHT NOW!!! (Takato chases Guilmon down the ramp) Takato: ...I need to quit cutting out of gym class. (Rika emerges) Takato: (aggressive) It's you again!

Minor nitpick, but in the original, Takato addresses Ruki as "Digimon Queen", paying off the fact that he's learned some details about her identity. In the dub, he just calls her "you". This is the second time "Digimon Queen" has been scrubbed from his lips; He hasn't really been as interested in her title as his Japanese counterpart.

Stepping out from the column, Ruki lays things out for Takato while Renamon and Guilmon square off once more.

Ruki: Digimon are drawn to each other. That's because, to them, any Digimon other than themselves exists only to be fought. Takato: That can't be right! I don't want to let Guilmon fight without a reason! Ruki: Reason? I'm telling you, there is no reason. This is what Digimon do. Renamon will fight Guilmon and then evolve. That's the rule of Digimon. Takato: You're going to absorb Guilmon!? I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN!!!

Takato can say what he will but the fight begins, regardless of how he feels about it.

Takato might not like it but Guilmon's behavior is lending a lot of credibility to what Ruki's saying. Last time, Guilmon was forced to fight because Renamon got the drop on them. But this time, Guilmon actively sought Renamon out despite Takato's protests.

In the dub:

Rika: Can't get anything past you, can I, boy? Are you ready to fight this time? Is your little dinosaur out of diapers yet? Guilmon: Grrrrrrrr.... Takato: This is so stupid! Why should your Digimon want to fight Guilmon? He hasn't done anything to her! Ruki: Duh. That is what Digimon do. They fight. And when they win, they get stronger. And when they get stronger, they Digivolve. You two are just our stepping stones. Takato: She's gonna cream him! This isn't even a fair fight! YOU CAN'T LET HER ATTACK!!! Guilmon: ATTACK!!!

Rika references Takato telling her how young Guilmon was earlier, using it to insult him and Guilmon.

In the original, Ruki doesn't directly state that Renamon will kill Guilmon and consume their data to strengthen themself, but Takato is familiar enough with Digimon IP to take her meaning on that all the same. The dub stops shy of saying that Renamon will kill Guilmon, with Takato only protesting that the fight is unfair.

In the original, Guilmon is beyond reason. They aren't listening to Takato anymore. They're only interested in their opponent now. In the dub, Guilmon still seems to have some measure of his mental faculties; He only attacks Renamon because Takato accidentally gives the command.

As the fight begins, Guilmon rushes Renamon, who backs off and pounces up on top of a car.

Takato: DON'T DO IT, GUILMON!!! GUILMON!!!

Guilmon takes the first shot this time, annihilating a huge chunk of the car. Renamon hurdles over Guilmon's shot and returns fire with Koyousetsu, though they don't call the attack this time. Once more, Koyousetsu ricochets harmlessly off of Guilmon's inexplicably invulnerable hide.

They even take a moment to give us a closeup of Guilmon's face as the shots bounce off harmlessly. They really want us to notice how completely and utterly pathetic the Digimon Queen is compared to Takato's Super-Special Ultra-Boy, and I once again hate it.

This sucks. It sucks that Ruki is simultaneously being treated like the terrifying and dreadful ace outside of fights but then a harmless nuisance in battle. It sucks that the totality of Ruki's build-up has just been to use her as a measuring stick for how much more awesome Takato's Digimon gets to be right off the bat. I hate it. I hate that this is how Renamon and Guilmon measure up to each other.

The girls of the Adventure duology often ended up marginalized but they rarely got outright disrespected like this.

In the dub, Takato responds to the "Attack!" misunderstanding.

Takato: (annoyed) Guilmon, not you! (Renamon backs off and pounces onto the car) Renamon: Bring it on, Big Boy. Guilmon: PYRO SPHERE!!! Takato: GUILMOOOOON!!!

Some editing here. The dub snips the shot of Guilmon firing to just have him charge up his Pyro Sphere, and they move Takato shouting the second time to after that before going to third commercial.

When we come back from commercial, they play the shots in order with Takato shouting before Guilmon charges up and fires.

Takato: STOP IIIIIIT!!! Guilmon: PYRO SPHERE!!! (Renamon dodges) Renamon: DIAMOND STORM!!! (No effect on Guilmon)

The dub once again adds in the attack callouts that were left out of the original, even though I think Guilmon refraining from calling attacks is a deliberate choice to reflect the mindless battle frenzy they're in. Not sure why Renamon didn't call theirs, though.

Maybe they're caught up in the same battle frenzy? Or maybe this is a weaker shot compared to the real Koyousetsu they'll call and fire later.

Guilmon roars at Renamon, but Renamon stands firm. With this momentary break in the action, Takato tries calling out to Guilmon again.

Takato: GUILMON!!! DON'T DO IT!!! STOOOOOOP!!!!

But Guilmon still isn't heeding him. They slowly advance on Renamon, who maintains distance with backward hops.

Jianliang: WHY DON'T YOU JUST CUT IT OUT!?!?

Suddenly, Jianliang and his Terriermon hat are here! Uh, somehow. In the first altercation, he had the excuse that he may have followed Takato from school after Terriermon screwed up his first attempt to talk to him, but I have no idea why Jianliang's here now.

Takato: Lee-kun! Ruki: Don't interfere. That little pipsqueak would be no match for Renamon. Terriermon: Wow, that's rude. Calling me "pipsqueak" is so mean! Jianliang: Digimon keep appearing in this world. That's pretty strange, you know. It's true that, in the Net World, Digimon exist solely to fight each other, but it doesn't have to be that way in the Real World too, does it? Ruki: Regardless of where they are, Digimon are Digimon. Renamon, ignore him. Defeat them quickly!

I love that Moumantai Terriermon just flounders at someone being mean to them. XD Why would you be mean to Terriermon? They're so chill!

It's like calling Timon from the Lion King a trash rodent. Like, ma'am, I am just vibing; What could I possibly have done to warrant this hostility?

In the dub:

(Guilmon growls) Renamon: (mocking) Oh, was that supposed to scare me? Takato: Guilmon! ...down boy? (Guilmon advances, Renamon retreats) Renamon: You must have a lovely singing voice. Henry: What's going on in here!? (Suddenly Henry) Takato: Thank goodness! Rika: Don't make me laugh. You honestly think that weenie little bunny could stand up to Renamon? Terriermon: Who are you calling a weenie!? I mean, I think that qualifies as rude! Henry: Yeah, that seems to be going around right now, Terriermon. There's a lot about this I don't understand. It's true that on the Net, Digimon are born to fight, but that doesn't mean they should fight here. Don't you get it? They came here for something they can't get on the Net. What is it? Rika: When you figure it out, Socrates, let me know. Until then, Renamon, you know what I expect. Renamon: As you wish.

In the original, Takato is desperately pleading for Guilmon to back off from the fight. In the dub, both in this part and the last, he just seems confused as to what his lines are. I'm not sure Dub Team really understands why he'd be against this. His protests are very halfhearted.

Terriermon uses the "Flabbergasted about why Ruki/Rika is so mean" line to pay off the "That qualifies as rude" setup that the dub added to his earlier talk with Henry. It's a funny moment

But then Henry claps back at Terriermon for it which makes him come across as unfocused. In the original, Jianliang's here to stop the fight. He's directly confrontational to Ruki from the moment he arrives to the last exchange of the conversation. He wants this all shut down now and he directly challenges Ruki's beliefs with his own ideological position.

Dub Henry doesn't seem to know why he's suddenly involved in this scene. He has less confidence in his challenge, presenting open-ended questions he seems unsure of the answers to. And also clapping back at his own Partner for quoting him against Rika. These things present a much weaker opposition to Rika, who simply blows Henry off rather than firmly rejecting Jianliang's stronger and more confident ideas.

As a small note, Rika calls Terriermon a bunny but they're actually supposed to be a dog. I KNOW. IT'S WEIRD. THEY ARE DEFINITELY A BUNNY. But we're supposed to see them as a terrier. That's why they're Terriermon and have dog-based names for their (incredibly bunny-esque) evolutions.

As Ruki gives the command, Renamon takes a deep breath and prepares themself for their (already demonstrated to be useless) attack.

Renamon prepares their attack. Guilmon charges for them. And happy-go-lucky Terriermon wanders the parking garage checking out their reflection in the cars.

Renamon: KOYOUSETSU!!!

It all comes to a head when Renamon prepares their attack, only for Terriermon to pop out in front of Guilmon.

Jianliang: Terriermon! Renamon: (worried) Out of the way! Terriermon: Huh?

Terriermon only turns and sees the attack coming an instant before it fires, destroying the cars around them and presumably doing another set of ineffectual 0-damage plinks to Guilmon.

Jianliang: TERRIERMON!!!

As Jianliang races forwards, his Digivice suddenly glows with the light of evolution and we get our first proper evolution sequence for the series. In contrast to Adventure, where Digimon would scream "SHINKAAAAAA!!!" as a battle cry, Terriermon calls it sharply as more of a command.

Terriermon: TERRIERMON, SHINKA!!! Galgomon: GALGOMON!!! Jianliang: (distraught) You weren't supposed to evolve.... Takato: Terriermon evolved!

Galgomon, true to character, isn't really paying attention to the fight and just shoots everything around them for fun. Testing out their fancy new gatling guns, they turn the parking garage into a hurricane of gunfire, destroying countless cars around them.

Galgomon: HAHAHA AHAHAHA Jianliang: STOP IT!!!

Amid all this carnage, smoke rises from the parking garage, visible to people outside.

Renamon lurks on the ceiling, scanning Galgomon with their eyes so that Ruki can read their entry on her Digivice.

Ruki: Galgomon. Adult level evolved from Terriermon. Special attack is Gatling Arm.

Once Galgomon's finished playing around and stops to catch their breath, Renamon gets the drop on them.

Ruki: That's it, Renamon! Defeat them!

Galgomon resumes shooting blindly while struggling to get Renamon off.

Jianliang: This is bad. Takato: Huh?

Renamon loses their grip, leaving deep gouges in Galgomon's face as they slip off. They're forced to retreat back to the ceiling while Galgomon's gunfire collapses a section of the parking garage.

Culumon: ...why do they keep fighting-culu?

Culumon is also here, apparently! Dejected, their ears withdraw into them once more.

Takato and Jianliang duck back down behind the car they're using for cover as Galgomon's blind fire comes much too close to them.

Takato: AGH!!! Jianliang: This is exactly what I didn't want to happen!

Then. Silence. The hail of gunfire ends and Galgomon fixes their Gatling Arm on Ruki. She takes a step back, her cool facade crumbling away to show terror.

Alright. So. First Adult evolution. Like Terriermon, Galgomon previously debuted in the Digimon Adventure 02 film Hurricane Touchdown. And, like, Terriermon, their name comes from a breed of dog, though it has long been mistranslated as "Gargomon".

I like that Renamon's claws left visible marks on Galgomon's face. That's pretty cool. Though they are once more shown to be just the south side of useless, at least they manage to actually mark up their opponent this time with attacks they connected.

I'm still salty about how weak Renamon is being presented in this episode but I will note that their reaction to Terriermon getting between them and Guilmon is a great moment of understated rebuttal to Ruki's philosophy.

Ruki says that Digimon exist only to fight and vanquish each other but Renamon's kneejerk response to Terriermon being in the way is to warn them to move. This one line completely and irrevocably demolishes Ruki's interpretation.

In the dub:

Renamon: DIAMOND STORM!!! (Terriermon pops out in the way) Henry: TERRIERMON!!! Renamon: (gasp) GET BACK!!! Terriermon: Huh!? (Attack fires) Henry: NO!!! (Terriermon Digivolves) Terriermon: TERRIERMON DIGIVOLVE TO.... Gargomon: GARGOMON!!! Henry: He promised me he wouldn't do it.... Takato: That's Terriermon!? No way! (Gargomon shoots blindly) Gargomon: WHOA-OH-OH, This is hard! WHOA!!! WHOOPS!!! Sorry.... Henry: This is what I was afraid of! He's just not ready for that kind of firepower yet! Renamon: He's out of control! (Renamon scans Gargomon) Rika: Gargomon. Terriermon's Champion form, what a difference! His attack's Gargo Laser, whatever that means. Renamon: I have to stop that little gun bunny BEFORE HE HURTS RIKA!!! (Renamon pounces on Gargomon) Rika: Way to go, Renamon! Now's your chance! (Gargomon shoots blindly) Renamon: (struggling) She doesn't realize what's going on! Henry: This is just so wrong!

The dub censors out the shot of Renamon's claws sliding off of Gargomon's face and leaving gashes. Renamon simply retreats to the ceiling all of a sudden without clear reason. However, subsequent shots of Gargomon still show the gashes on his face.

Babychild: Doesn't he know he doesn't have to act like this? Henry: It's like he was never Terriermon at all.... Takato: Uh-oh.

As Gargomon closes in on Rika, the dub further censors out the shot of Galgomon leveling his gun at her. They even edit the wider shot of Galgomon backing Rika up against the pillar to erase the brandished Gatling Arm.

This shifts Rika's frightened response. In the dub, she reacts with terror because a Digimon is approaching her, but in the original it's because she's staring down the barrel of a gun.

Unlike the original, Terriermon's Digivolution callout is delivered exactly the same as the ones used in the two Adventure series.

Despite playing the Digimon TCG, Takato reacts to Terriermon Digivolving like he's never heard of Digivolution before.

In the original, Galgomon has fun shooting up the parking garage to test out their new form. This combination of escalation in destructive force and Terriermon's general attitude of wild abandon makes Galgomon an immediate threat to everything and everyone around them, even Jianliang.

The dub heavily reframes this as Gargomon struggling to control the guns because he Digivolved too early. He would never intentionally cause harm like this and is just having an attack of superpower incontinence.

Renamon's similarly given a lot of new dialogue to firmly characterize her as attacking Gargomon to protect Rika from harm.

In the original, Renamon's motives are ambiguous; Are they trying to stop the wild new Digimon from attacking Ruki, or are they in "New challenger just dropped" mode? Or a little of both? Hard to say as we still don't have a clear impression of how Digimon feel about fighting each other; Only Ruki and Jianliang's conflicting testimonies and a lot of vague observable behavior.

As Galgomon closes in on Ruki, Renamon rushes to intervene.

Takato: GUILMOOOOOON!!!

Despite Renamon being all but directly above Galgomon last we saw them, somehow Guilmon gets there first. Guilmon tackles Galgomon through the wall, saving the precious damsel's life.

Jianliang: What power!

Yes, Jianliang, we get it. Guilmon is infinity omega-max ultra-powerful. They can defeat any foe in one punch and move faster than the speed of immediately, and they just heroically rescued the princess from Bowser's Castle with their extreme superness. Bite me.

Sorry, I just really don't like this episode.

In the dub:

Renamon: RIKA, NO!!! Takato: GUILMOOOOOON!!! (Guilmon tackles Gargomon through the wall) Henry: That's a hard head!

Henry opts for a quip instead of rubbing salt in the wound of Rika's pride being ripped to tiny shreds and incinerated on the altar of male narrative specialness, and I appreciate him for that.

This is where we leave off for the episode.

Guilmon's eyes change back to normal and they sniff the air, looking back at Takato and seemingly unsure of what's going on.

Renamon steps back into the shadows and fades away.

And we close on Ruki, still leaning up against that pillar, shaking and sweating and visibly traumatized.

In the dub:

Guilmon: Did I do okay? (Renamon fades into the shadows) Rika: (thinking) Are they always like that when they Digivolve? Davis (V.O.): That's a good question, isn't it? You're gonna have to keep watching Digimon: Digital Monsters to find out the answer!

Dub Guilmon seems more certain of himself and just wants an appraisal of his fighting performance.

Going along with the censorship earlier, Rika's freaked out by how scary Champion Digimon are rather than traumatized by the bullet that could have gone through her face.

Alright, so! Promises kept, promises broken. Davis promised us two answers:

-> Will Takato learn to be a good Tamer? -> Will Guilmon die in battle before they and Takato have a chance to get to know each other?

For the first, I'd say Takato's working on it. He's improving. It's not a definitive answer but he's making enough progress that I'm willing to give it to him.

The second has very decisively been answered no, so that's an unambiguous Promise Kept.

For next episode, we have no promises made as Davis merely said we'd find out what other Champions are like if we keep watching, rather than in the next episode specifically. Personally, I'm looking forward to Kyubimon, who video games have spoiled me on the existence of.

Assessment: Oof. This was rough. Pretty much twenty straight minutes of holding Ruki down and beating every last ounce of dignity out of her until there's nothing left but a smear on the floor where a cool character used to be.

They subject her to microaggressions about her gender, violently wring her awsomeness cred out of her by treating Guilmon as an insurmountable brick wall to slam her face into over and over, and then traumatize her with a near-death experience for good measure. This episode hates her so aggressively that I'm getting shades of Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

I hope things get better for Ruki because the show owes her after the humiliation conga it just put her through. I can't believe they had characters going

-> "She can't be good at Digimon, she's a GIRL" -> "Nonono man, that's sexist, she's actually super awesome"

And then in the same breath Guilmon effortlessly shitstomps Renamon twice in one episode and then Terriermon traumatizes Ruki. It kinda seems like you don't actually think she's awesome, episode. It kinda feels like you're on the side of "LOL She's a girl."

Like. She's clearly the antagonist for this episode so she is, by design, meant to be wrong. An adversary who is wrong but entirely sure of their convictions and powerful enough to be a threat is pretty much Antagonist 101. The problem is that she's presented as wrong and also shockingly weak despite all the hype she receives.

She's Vegeta if Vegeta was presented as whining ineffectually and then throwing sloppy limp-wristed punches at Goku's unflinching chest muscles.

Guilmon is narratively parasitizing her. As is often the fate of female aces in media about a male protagonist, it feels like she was just being hyped up to use her as a stepping stone to establish for how powerful the male lead is. It's just shocking how quickly her brutal humbling is happening.

Doesn't even get to be the ace for an arc; They need us to know she's trash right away.

Honestly, if I was a kid watching this week-to-week, this would probably be a jumping-off point for me. Like, if this is how they're going to treat the one girl in the main cast then I'm not sure I'd want to see any more of what they have to offer. I am not interested in Taming of the Shrew, Digimon Edition.

I'm not a kid and I'm sure they actually do have better things in store for Ruki because Renamon is, like, right next to Agumon the most popular Digimon in the franchise. Renamon is, like, Digimon's co-Pikachu so there has to be better things coming for them, right?