#hz079

They were both arguing and didn't really want to be together. Sango didn't want Hamber to bring Onyx with them, and Onyx considered Sango as someone who would get in his way and didn't want her there either. (They turned out to be able to work well together, but they'd often clash because of their approach towards things.)

In fact, they weren't even the first people Hamber wanted to bring on a mission with him in Galar. Hamber asked about Spinel and Agate before considering both Sango and Onyx. They were a default choice, not the first people he would have asked for.

Which is quite interesting compared to Hamber summoning them to go on a mission now.

I think Hamber is asking for them specifically because he doesn't trust Spinel and Agate at the moment. So there is still a bit of a "default choice" angle at play here, but still, they are the first ones who come to his mind as people he can rely on in this situation.

He is also flattering their egos to get them to do what he is asking, but I think he is truthful in his assessment. They weren't really referred to as such before this moment, but this is the writing pointing out why Sango and Onyx are a duo at all. It's because they complement one another. One being rational, the other being bold (which is interesting because that description reminded me of Liko and Roy).

Onyx taking the initiative to say "let's go, Sango" really shows how far they've come too, considering that the first time Hamber asked them to come with him on a mission, they didn't want to be around each other. Now, it feels like they don't mind being with each other (and actually want to be together).

Also, it feels meaningful to me that Onyx calls Sango by her name since we know that giving out his own name and being remembered is something important to him. He gave out his own name to Liko as a show of respect towards her in HZ066 and asked her to remember it. He also called Liko by her name, and up until now, I think Sango and Liko are the only ones he's called by name at all. So, Sango being the only one he regularly calls by name stands out in this aspect because it means he acknowledges her.

And I need to point out that Sango and Onyx haven't argued once in this episode. When Hamber asked them to come with him to Galar in HZ024 and HZ025, they kept throwing words at each other but this time, they didn't.

Both of them having a rebellious streak, as shown towards Hamber. Except Amethio can get away with talking back to him, but not Sango.

Liko and the others head to the Paldea League and meet Chili. They explain that they want to go to Area Zero, so they meet with Omodoka to talk about it in detail. They talk to Omodaka and the Elite Four and explain their goals: the fact that they want to go to Rakua, and that they are looking for the Pokemon who traveled with Pagogo.

Omodaka gives Friede permission to go to Area Zero, and explains that it's a dangerous place so the general public is not allowed there. Liko, Roy and Dot want to go there as well, so Omodaka says she will accept if they win against her in a battle.

Liko, Roy and Dot battle against Omodaka while Friede, the Elite Four and Botan watch over them. Omodaka overwhelms them, but they try to incorporate different strategies to gain the upper hand. They eventually win, and everyone congratulates them on their growth. Botan leads Liko and the others to the Zero Gate and they go inside to go to Area Zero.

Meanwhile, Hamber sends Sango and Onyx on a monitoring mission to Area Zero to report on the progress made by the RVT. He insists on the fact that they should only monitor them and that they should avoid contact with the RVT. Sango and Onyx eventually head to Area Zero as well.

--

Overall, interesting ep. I tend to really like the dialogues in Dai Sato's episodes? Chili's lines show off her charm really easily, for example. Something I also like is the way he writes Liko's monologues. I enjoy listening to her inner thoughts and the way she analyzes things.

Lots of stuff to cover in this ep but I'll go out of order.

Dot and Botan's small interaction was very sweet and one of the highlights of the ep to me. Botan complimented her and said she was cool, and Dot accepted the compliment and thanked her. I love that the girls get to be cool and have supportive friendships, and that Dot is slowly growing to accept compliments since she tends to be harsh on herself or diminish her own accomplishments. Dot's friendship with Botan is also important to me since that's a friend she made by herself after deciding to travel alongside Liko and Roy so she could be their equal. She reached out to Botan by herself and it's neat that she gets to form her own friendships independently of Liko and Roy and that she made that conscious decision to keep in touch with Botan.. I hope we'll see more of them in the future.

Friede asking Omodaka to consider his request and allow the kids to go with him to Area Zero was also interesting to me. I got reminded of the time he was initially reluctant to let them accompany him in HZ044 when he was looking into Spinel since it was dangerous. It shows that Friede has room for growth in his own way. He trusts Liko, Roy and Dot to be able to keep up with him and knows what they are capable of. I also liked that he got to watch their efforts during the battle. Ever since chapter 4 started, he had lots of opportunities to watch them and see how strong they've become. It's also kinda neat to me that the first episode of 2024 was Liko writing a whole report about Friede and Cap representing the ideal bond between trainer and Pokemon to her and how she was striving to become like them and that she was going to keep watching over them. And now, the first episode of 2025 is Liko (and Roy and Dot too) showing that she is getting closer to him.. This time, Friede is the one watching over her and her friends. I can't wait to see the four of them work together next time they face Rayquaza.

Sango and Onyx.. big highlight of the ep to me as usual. The contrast between Sango and Onyx as a duo and the rest of the Explorers is kinda funny to me because of how jarring it is. Their growth together is them becoming real teammates and depending on each other genuinely. Meanwhile, Spinel and Agate are plotting Amethio's demise and breaking families. The usual. While the others admins are splitting apart (not that they were really united to begin with), Sango and Onyx are becoming closer than ever. Maybe love is real?

It also seems like Hamber is acting in secret with this recon mission? I wonder if Sango and Onyx will make contact with the RVT or if they'll actually obey orders this time?

It's sweet to me that Sango and Onyx found each other against all odds and that they have each other at the very least, since I don't think the others really care about them? It's kind of sad to me because they feel disposable to the rest of the Explorers, and they are all the other has at this point. I wonder how they feel about it. Ideally, I'd want them to have other people they can rely on or something they could come back to outside of the Explorers, but I'm not sure what? Except school. We don't really know their backgrounds or if they have relatives, so the thought that they are all alone feels isolating. I am curious how their story will go in this aspect. I feel like for Onyx, Sango is starting to become more important to him than the mission? He is someone who protects others, and I feel like Sango is his focus when it comes to that aspect of his character.

Either way, Sango moments I liked: her feeling so proud after being complimented for her adaptability (it's cute how easy it is to convince her, but also sad because girl feels like she just wants to be considered), and her small interaction with Onigohri. I think it's neat that they keep showing that Sango genuinely gets along with her Pokemon and that she is actually more than just the gremlin who easily gets angry. She has lots of sides to her and calmer moments. The fact that they are making Onigohri so cute, too. Onyx moment I liked is him telling Sango "let's go". It was that meaningful tbh. Sango is usually the one who takes initiative first between the two, so it was a nice change of pace to see him taking that kind of initiative first? And that he wants to go together with her. The fact that this sets up their first appearance in chapter 4 shows the contrast with their previous first appearance in chapter 3 when they were still prone to arguing. The realization that they actually stopped butting heads too much after their time in school was enlightening in a way. Being students changed them for the better, and it solidified their bond. I think it's cute.

The battle was good. One thing I really enjoy about Horizons is the effort put into making each character of the trio shine. They all have their own strengths and insights to bring. They are constantly shown as equals and work together. I like how they keep applying what they learned from their past experiences. Makes everything feel connected. The way Omodaka was putting pressure on them with both words and attacks to unlock their potential was also interesting (and emphasizes the school aspect.. I like that the characters from the League actually care about teaching trainers and encouraging their growth instead of just being there to be like "look, I'm strong").

Liko's ingenuity was my favorite part of the battle. I love how she is growing much more confident and cunning. Her strategies remind me a bit of both Friede and Spinel. Liko and Nyarote growing closer through battles and becoming more ferocious and aiming higher every time is so nice to see, too. Nyarote is the coolest cat ever, and I love how her love for Liko and competitive spirit make her want to keep trying and not give up.. I think she is super cool when she still tries to stand even when she is exhausted.

I also enjoy that Liko's strategy around misdirection is setting up Nyarote's future evolution, since Masquernya is a magician Pokemon. It makes me wonder when Nyarote will evolve. I think that once we're heading into the third year of Horizons, she should evolve. Potentially during the climax of chapter 4? Nyarote's evolution should possibly be happening during a moment that feels like a transition to a new part of the story (since she is Liko's main partner, it's a bit different with the secondary Pokemon).

The picture at the end of Only One Story this week was really cool. Roy and Friede being like a lil bro and his big bro is cute to me.

Unrelated to anything that happened in this episode but something that I want to remember regardless since it happened in the week this ep aired. This week's Precure episode (ep 48 of Wonderful Precure) revealed that the main antagonist was not who we thought he was initially but someone who was using the name of his dead friend. Of course, I had to think of Gibeon.

I feel like Hamber cares about them to some extent, but I think part of the reason why he sent them to Area Zero is because he currently cannot trust Spinel or Agate and he is probably acting in secret by sending Sango and Onyx to monitor the RVT.

Amethio's been removed from all missions, but Hamber is clearly on his side and he is probably trying to support him secretly. Zir and Conia are loyal to him, too. Meanwhile, Sango and Onyx feel isolated and like they are part of an issue that's bigger than them because it seems like they don't really understand what's going on with everyone else. Spinel and Agate used them both in their plan to have Amethio expelled, and they seemingly didn't know the specifics of it. They were willing to hear Amethio out when Spinel framed him. They were called to "help" to further Spinel and Agate's interests then, and now it's Hamber who seems to want their help.. Not sure if Sango and Onyx realize that they are, in a way, used as proxy in this conflict between Hamber's side and Spinel and Agate's side.

I'm also thinking about Sango and Onyx are the only admins Gibeon hasn't spoken to directly.. Gibeon has talked to Spinel and Agate during some of their meetings, but he hasn't acknowledged Sango and Onyx. Spinel and Agate are a bit distant with them, too. Agate was closer to them (and she has shown worry over Sango once when she charged towards Rayquaza in HZ044), but she seems to have her own motivations that might align with Spinel's. I'm not sure how Agate really considers them now. At this point, it feels like Hamber might be the only one in the Explorers who considers them to some extent, but Hamber's priority is probably Amethio.

Monthly calendar is here.