Now that the dust has settled, which did you think was your favourite Mega Evolution Act??? Mine was definitely Act 3 since it really had the best character moments between Alan and Manon plus it showcased Alan's flaws as well. Act 4 was good but it was kinda weird due to it connecting with the main anime leaving a lot of plotlines open.
I thiiink it’s a tie between Act II and Act III personally – given how they directly followed each other and how some bits introduced in Act II had direct consequences in Act III (Manon being wary about Alan’s decisions, and then confronting him about them; Alan revealed to indeed work for Fleurdelys (and how and why), and then demonstrating how deep in he was; Daigo meeting them then helping them, etc.)
As stand-alone episodes: I love Act II for the way it showed how Manon and Alan were already used to each other, after their meeting in Act I. It was, also, the act that received the most promotion: they started hyping it up early, we quickly learned that Act II would tie with the ORAS promotion due to Daigo’s announcement, we got the Manon’s Diary bits at the end of regular episodes (and they were showing Manon and Alan becoming more used to each other! From Alan being his Mister Grumpy self to jumping at the same time as Manon and smiling while she presented the Mega Of The Week!), so there was… piling up. It’s the act where Alan’s current status and relationship to Fleurdelys are made explicit, Manon was already less reassured by Alan’s decisions compared to Act I in which everything was Fun And Excitement And Discovery. And damnit, I was indifferent to anime!Daigo until then, but this one. This one. Is a big, big (short) troll (the nasal voice, the smiles, the use of those final “ne~” which piss Alan off during their battle!!). Before, I was more interested by Alan’s story than Alan himself; starting Act II, he became “my son?!” (Manon was already My Daughter since Act I, this is the Kalos-French girl representation I want).Also, Alan got wrecked twice, both by Rayquaza and by Daigo (well, Fleurdelys interrupted their match but it was so clear that Daigo was toying with him, g l o r y), so that act delivered.
Act III had the concretisations of what was installed in Act II: Manon being concerned, Manon asking Alan what his limits were, Alan’s I Work Alone tendencies not… being without (harmful) consequences, Manon bringing comatose!Alan to safety… (Though! For me, the highlight of the act wasn’t so much that she was able to save his butt, but the verbal confrontation that took place in Devon Corp: I love how Manon was not letting go of the shoulder thing and inquired about Alan’s motivations… with Alan’s answer clearly showing that he… wasn’t exactly doing it for himself, or out of concern for people, but because he was still feeling indebted to Fleurdelys). Hari-san deflecting the ice attack; Manon/Metagross/Hari-san/Daigo basically all teaming up to save Alan somehow, without concerting each other. HARI-SAN AND METAGROSS HIGH-FIVING! The scenography during some key moments. Alan genuinely thanking Manon (GUH.), accepting and returning her hug (;_;) before leaving her behind (THROW HIM INTO RAYQUAZA’S MOUTH.) to go straight back to Fleurdelys (what is wrong with him.)
I think I’m still processing Act IV a bit – it was amazing, I’m totally destroyed, and I’m especially glad that both Lizardon’s and Hari-san’s reactions did not match their trainers’ when Alan Did What He Did (Lizardon was disapproving, Hari-san got angry), but as you said, it was a biiiit special given that what was happening… was leading to “a state things Need To Be for when they’ll cross path with the main anime”? Their problems (Alan still obliviously working for Fleurdelys, Hari-san being unconscious, Manon watching over him) won’t get resolved without the main anime’s progress, so it’s a bit of a special case… I really hope that whatever happens, Alan is shown apologizing to Manon (and not about Hari-san: but about how he behaved towards her and thought he could decide what was best for her) ;;
