Digimon Beatbreak Episode 19 Review - Illegal Business
Excuse my language, but WTF, Digimon? Human trafficking AND on-screen physical violence on a teenager in one episode? This is supposed to be the equivalent of a Saturday morning cartoon in Japanβheck, the anime that airs after this one is PRECURE! PRECURE IS MOSTLY FAMILY-FRIENDLY AND FOR KIDS! WAY TO TRAUMATIZE KIDS ONE MORNING AND THEN TRY TO SHOW OFF HAPPY SILLY PRECURE SHENANIGANS AS A MEANS TO ALLEVIATE MENTAL WOUNDS!
In spite of the dark themes, this episode answers a lot of questions you might not even realize! First off, the lady with the mask is the same one from Episodes 9-10. I thought sheβd be the Sapotama creator given her voice actress is the same as the devices, but it seems that sheβs just a trafficker who finally got caught in the end. Second, BomberNanimon and his Owner from Episode 13 make a return. Since they were taken away by Tactics at the end of the episode, it does show that Tactics takes bounties from unaffiliated Cleaners. This means that all of the people that were in the auction were Cleaners without a team, most likely, and captured by Tactics. If Haruomi and Commandramon had been captured, they wouldβve been in the same situation as these poor people. Though, it does make you wonder what happens if they only capture the Owner and not the Digimon? That hasnβt been answered yet and I dread when it comes because itβs definitely not going to be prettyβ¦
One of the things I liked about this episode is that Tomoro isnβt the one to make his Digimon go through Dark Evolution, but itβs Raito instead! I honestly think the trope where the MC goes through dark evolution wouldnβt work on Tomoro who is progressing through his character development. It was refreshing to see Raito do it instead and pay for the consequences. The fact that there wasnβt an actual evolution sequence and it was shown in real time indicates that this isnβt Rhamphomonβs true evolution or when Raito finally gains control of his e-pulse is when the actual evolution sequence will happen.
While Tomoro was being reckless in wanting to free all the trafficked people and Digimon, I like that his heart is in the right place. He felt especially bad for Yume, who is definitely the youngest of the trafficked people. The fact that Tomoro is slowly developing a soft spot for young children makes my heart warm because heβs being the big brother to others when he was the younger brother to his own big brother. Heck, heβs two years younger than Raito and heβs the one stopping the so-called genius from harming Monodramon.
Raitoβs actions really makes him despicable, yet it also makes me curious on what his backstory is like. Heβs clearly Tomoroβs shadow archetype in that heβs the one who has the most emphasis of Team 7 and heβs having a hard time controlling his emotions like Tomoro. The only difference is that Raito doesnβt have glitchy e-pulse. The fact that his backstory still hasnβt been revealed yet does prove my point. I wonder what will Raitoβs path will be likeβ¦
I also like how everyone can see how sleazy and shady Klay is right from the get-go. Reina thinks heβs a slime ball and Maki certainly agrees. The fact that heβs only a big cleaner from behind the scenes does show that Cleaners are essentially a secret, underground job at the end of the day. The only person who seems to respect Klay is Naito. Heck, Naito is shown to be extremely psychotic at the end with him tying Raito to a chair and beating him up WITH HOTARUKO AND GRANIT RIGHT IN THE CORNER! THEYβRE HEARING AND WATCHING THIS UNFOLD WHILE THEY EAT! I need these two to experience the craziest karma.
Also, this weekβs episode has an interesting cast member. Both Yume and her partner Tinkermon are voiced by Hakui Koyori, who is a V-tuber. I donβt really follow a lot of V-tubers, despite the fact that I also v-tube, so I donβt really know who she is, but itβs so cool that theyβre casting all sorts of people whether it be big named voice actors to V-tubers. In all honesty, I think Hakui does a great job with making both characters sound different. I feel bad for Tinkermon who got deleted permanentlyβ¦
Klay is voiced by Satoshi Mikami who makes his Digimon debut. Some of Mikamiβs roles include Fennel from Delicious Party Precure, and Gallagher from Honkai Star Rail. He does a great job making Klay sound shady and sleazyβitβs definitely a perfect villain voice. Speaking of which, it doesnβt seem like the Ministry is aware that Klay is also the ringleader of the trafficking. It does make me wonder what will happen when he gets caughtβ¦
Beatbreak is certainly on the podium for the darkest Digimon anime by far. It does make me wonder what else theyβre concocting. Next weekβs episode has Tomoro and Gekkomon be taken to an illegal battle colosseum after an encounter with Gokuwumonβ¦ Would that be the equivalent of illegal dogfighting? Let me know your thoughts on this episode!
(Edit: Precure airs before Digimon in a different channel. I'm sorry about the misinformation)
