#hz133

Anyway, it seems like the current arc is wrapping up in the next two episodes, which is.. certainly something, because I would have expected a bit more considering that we're going back to Rakua (in comparison, the finale at Rakua during Rayquaza Rising was longer, but it was the first time Liko and co were going there too, etc).

I sure hope we actually get to the bit in the opening which shows Liko's Masquernya vs Spinel's Blacky. That's the major part in the opening in terms of "updates that have been added later on" that hasn't been covered yet. Though with how little time there is left for this chapter, I'm starting to get a bit worried. But they showed everything else, so there is no reason for them to not feature Blacky and Masquernya..? But who knows. That's the part I've been looking forward to the most, so they better show it though. I need Liko and Spinel facing each other. She is the first person in the RVT who met him and they put particular care in the connections between Liko, Amethio, Spinel and Friede so I need a follow up on that.

Speaking of Spinel.. Well, as always, he is hot and I love when he says terrible things with his beautiful voice (his line in the trailer when he says "how long will they last", like ok you don't have to say it like that). There are still many narrative threads around his character that need some closure/follow up/something, literally anything, so I wonder how they'll handle that.. We got more insight and a peek into Sango/Onyx/Agate's characters recently, which was really good. Spinel is a major character in the narrative too, so it demands a kind of focus on this scale, imo. I'll take literally anything at this point. I can and will analyze things afterwards, but Spinel needs something showing a bit more about his character, it would feel odd if he doesn't (especially considering he foils and reflects shades of so many important characters like Liko, Amethio, Gibeon and Friede, all of whom got focus on their interiority and circumstances).

Aside from that, I think it's interesting that Spinel will potentially be defeated soon-ish..? Unless there is more going on with him after Rising Again. But either way, I do have point out the parallels of him and Gibeon facing similar circumstances at the exact same place (Rakua), ie heartbreak/rejection (Gibeon got his heart broken when Lucius and Rystal couldn't understand him / Spinel was disappointed after Gibeon's passing and expressed the wish to be the one who inherits his will) and potentially a defeat.. Just soulmate things <3 They are literally bound together in life and death <3 No one does it like them or whatever.

A bit more on Spinel, because he is the one I want to know the most about right now anyway. In the case that he gets defeated soon, I do wonder how they'll handle his character..? I've been thinking a lot about what they could do, because I'm not sure what could feel "satisfying" for him narratively. I've considered the idea that Blacky could "leave" him (temporarily?) for several reasons, such as the fact it'd make a parallel between him and Gibeon. I do think Zygarde left at the end of ep 88 for many reasons which had nothing to do with "not caring about his partner anymore", but out of love/trust for him.. Lucius explained that Zygarde wanted to show Gibeon the strength of bonds, and their bond wasn't broken by their distance anyway, I think it was Zygarde's show of trust that he knew Gibeon would understand his intentions, which he did in the end. Leaving because he knew Lucius and Amethio were there for his partner, too.

Anyway, back to Spinel, I also considered that option because the Strong Spheres are said to break the trust/bond between humans and Pokemon, so it'd feel ironic if Spinel's bond with his own partner ended up being damaged too (not necessarily because of that item either). But I keep facing a wall when I consider that option because Blacky is loyal towards Spinel (something steady about Blacky too, and I feel that scene of Blacky using Bark Out in the op against Masquernya further shows that protective side because it feels like it's a move that prevents others from "getting closer"), and Spinel and Blacky are quite literally constantly shown to be affectionate and communicating, and it has been shown again recently in ep 130.. Blacky demanded affection, Spinel constantly pats his Pokemon, the talk about going to have lunch together, etc. It's the one constant about Spinel's character and it hasn't changed since Blacky was revealed as his partner in ep 12. Spinel is always shown to be affectionate and it's something genuine about him, because they mostly only do it in private settings, ie, Spinel has no reason to maintain a facade in private. Which is what is compelling about his character in the first place too, the fact he is someone who goes to great lengths for the sake of research and simultaneously holds genuine affection for his Pokemon. So I'm not sure. At the same time, I don't know what else could get to Spinel on a deeper level. I consider that both Gibeon and Blacky are the two beings that help get an understanding of Spinel's character the most so far, and Blacky is the one he cherishes the most. But nothing suggests that Blacky holds resentment against Spinel, quite the opposite actually.

I guess we'll see. I do want something satisfying for Spinel's character, and something that makes me think. His character needs to be explored on a deeper level. I want a compelling outcome. I hope we'll get something interesting regarding Liko, Spinel and Amethio.

Other things that stood out to me in the trailer (and next ep preview).. Sango and Onyx using Mega Evolution too. I remember noticing (and many others did) the fact that they both (alongside Agate too) had Pokemon who were able to Mega Evolve, so I was wondering if they were going to do something with it.. And now, they did. It feels quite organic for their characters, even though Onyx's Ptera was mostly a transportation Pokemon. Sango's Onigohri has been developed quite well, though. Sango's Pokemon are among some of the best in the Explorers imo. They both have lots of character, and fun interactions with her.

I liked seeing Cap on Pagogo in the trailer, and Cap accompanying Liko, Diana and Ann while being on Diana's Windie. Feels refreshing to see Cap with literally anyone else than Roy these days. The bar is on the floor, but I'll take anything if it means Cap feels like a full character again and gets to interact with others instead of just sticking with one person (when he's been asked to take care of everyone in the ship too).

Zygarde's Perfect Forme isn't exactly a slay, but it is what it is. I do like the fact that Amethio asks Zygarde to lend him his strength. It feels really respectful. I like how much Amethio respects Zygarde and the stance he takes towards him.. Feels a bit different from the way Amethio is with Soublades. Almost like Amethio defers to Zygarde?

I hope Liko gets to have interesting moments in this finale. There is a lot at stake.

As for the small snippet of Metamon Cap at the end of the trailer, I'm quite curious and anxious. I'll try to keep an open mind about this. I was skeptical about Terastal Debut when it was announced, and it ended up being one of the strongest arcs in terms of structure. The character writing (humans and Pokemon) was great and so was the balance between rising up the stakes for the plot/mystery while focusing on the trio finding their ways and gaining more independence.

The focus distribution in Rising Again has been the weakest so far. I've been quite tired of the focus on Roy at everyone else's expense (and the last two eps focusing on Lucario when we could have built up more towards the climax certainly didn't help). It was unequal and annoying, because as I wrote before, literally everyone else has more depth and they haven't managed to achieve that with Roy despite how much he got in this arc. I enjoyed the focus on Liko, Dot, Uruto, the Explorers. Everything about them was engaging and interesting, but not really Roy. Which is a shame, because I enjoyed him pre timeskip, but now it feels like his writing stands out in an odd way and affects others in a bad way. So I want to move on to something else and I hope the balance will be restored this time, because I've had enough.

Seems like Metamon might have a connection to Pokopia (which I haven't played), and my stance on the games is always that they get in the way of the anime's writing, so they better not do something like Lucario again. Especially because Horizons is such a good original story, so it needs to focus on its strengths. I'm worried about what the next arc might mean for the Explorers too. As always, my main focus and investments are Liko, and the Explorers.

Gives off the vibes of something alien and menacing/dangerous, and that something could burst out if approached/handled a bad way. That being said, it's really pretty and I like the design a lot. It's something enticing, and I understand why Gibeon and Spinel would want to approach it.

I wonder how the shell around it was created, if it's something that formed naturally over time? It also seems like the crystals grew into a support structure for the core itself. I wonder if that was also a product of time. The shell seems like it's about to break, too.

Honestly, it's just a fascinating design, and I'm happy we actually get to see the Core itself, and that it's such an imposing presence. Makes me feel like we're back to focusing on the core conflict of the story.

I commend Spinel for being confident that he can handle the Rakurium Core. Gibeon couldn't, but he can, because he is just built different. I am genuinely liking the fact that both Spinel and Amethio are continuing things that Gibeon couldn't do. They took on his mantle. Amethio is going to complete Zygarde, and Spinel will actually bring out the Rakurium Core.. Speaking of, I wonder how it's actually going to come out. Will it appear above the ground by force or naturally?

Looking at the Core, I actually wonder if it'll be purified without issues. I'm not sure about that. Maybe there will be some damage, and that will tie to whatever is happening in the next chapter.

I liked the changes in the background of the part with Blacky vs Masquernya in the opening. It's really pretty. So far, Spinel has let others do the battling for him. He doesn't step into the spotlight unless he has to. So, I'm excited that he is potentially going to battle, and that Liko gets him to do that and that he is going to step outside his comfort zone and actively get involved. Last time he battled, it was against Friede in ep 86.. And even before that, he battled very little (there was vs Liko/Roy/Dot in ep 16, and vs Friede in ep 14/44). I'm also just really excited that history is repeating itself and that Spinel will stand where Gibeon was and battle in the same place he did, against the same person. Some kind of soulmates shit they have going on, etc.

I hope we'll see Masquernya use the move Sucker Punch. It's her only Dark Type move, and I want that battle to emphasize the fact that hey, isn't it fun how Liko and Spinel both have a cat with Dark Type as their main partners. Isn't it interesting how things work sometimes. I wanna see Liko shine during that confrontation.

I'll start with Liko and Dot.

I liked the fact that Dot told Liko to go on ahead and reassured her. It seemed like she even put her hand on Liko's back, and I thought it was such a gentle gesture coming from Dot? Liko and Dot aren't usually big on physical touch, which is an aspect I like about their characters. They are mostly affectionate towards their Pokemon (or even others' Pokemon, Dot hugged Brimuon in her evolution episode when she saw her!), but not really towards humans. So, I thought it felt even more meaningful and special that Dot supported Liko with both her words (she reminded Liko that Pagogo was the key to the plan), and by putting a hand on her back to snap her out of her indecision, as Liko initially felt hesitant to leave everyone behind. I thought it was a nice full circle moment for their friendship. Liko reached out to Dot a lot when she was still a shut-in, and now Dot can do the same and encourage her friends back. (Not related to Dot, but I liked that Ann showed support to Liko and took her by the hand to lead her away. I'm glad that Ann gets to be there for Liko at such an important moment and participate in the fight. Big magical girl's best friend vibes moment from her, similar to Nacchi from hit anime Princession Orchestra.)

In general, I feel like this episode encapsulated everything I love about Dot's story. She became someone who is able to give back to her friends, she has grown confident in her abilities (she was the one who explained the plan at the beginning of the episode), she is brimming with love and care for her Pokemon (she was worried about putting too much of a burden on Surfugo but ultimately still trusted her Pokemon, knowing the outcome of the battle, and held Surfugo's Pokeball in such a tender way after the battle), she has her own bonds she built outside of the RVT and her world grew beyond Liko and Roy.. Botan is a friend she made on her own, but she also was still able to work with Nemo whom she is less close to. She even has her own connection with Hamber (and she is the closest RVT member to him currently). I find it compelling that Dot is the one who got the most interactions/worked closely with Hamber and Crave (Amethio's parental figure/Amethio's father), considering the fact Hamber is close to Agate (Dot's "rival" in the Explorers) and that Crave has a great interest in Friede's research (similarly to Dot). I just like seeing Dot being able to navigate the world with her Pokemon so confidently now.

Also, the strategy with Surfugo during the battle was quite reminiscent of Tebrim/Brimuon, to an extent. Sacrificing a Pokemon so the others wouldn't be hurt reminded me of Brimuon's Healing Wish. There is an interesting overlap between Liko and Dot's Pokemon in that sense.

Liko being the one to initiate the RVT signature hand sign. She did so after the RVT reformed too (and Uruto learned about it then too), and she is doing it again now. Important to me that she is specifically the one who does so.

The callback to the village around Mt Kumuri. Just a neat detail in general, as they are the people most affected by what's going on around Rakua since they live close to it.

I thought it was cute that Cap went up to Pagogo to talk.. I like that Pagogo has his own way to communicate with the Six Heroes? Rayquaza and Zygarde do as well, and I like these things that establish the fact that all of them have a specific history together. Also, seeing Cap being the captain who looks out for everyone just felt so nice. As well as seeing Cap actually go with Liko and Pagogo for support. It just feels refreshing seeing Cap being allowed to be a full independent being and a character again, someone who looks out for his entire crew and who actually interacts with others, instead of being relegated to just being with Roy and not allowed to interact with anyone because something something. I missed this side of Cap.

Something about Friede using Onyx's line back at him was really good.. It also reminded me of that scene at the beginning of ep 43 when Liko and Onyx's lines were echoing each other (both of them saying "I'm not sure I like where this is going..."). Considering that Onyx has been Liko's "personal opponent" in the Explorers (in the Sango/Onyx/Agate trio), I do like that Friede got to interact with him on a personal level too. I like this teasing side of Friede, which we got to see through his interactions and confrontations with Spinel, too. He is also really cute because he really seriously calls Starmie "Instructor Starmie" even during battles.

Sango and Uruto's interactions were fun, and I actually like that Sango finally has someone who talks back to her on her own level. Uruto is as much as a gremlin as her, so their banter was really funny to me (Sango pointing out the fact that all Uruto does is defend / Uruto saying that at least, he uses his head unlike some people who just simply attack). Sango is mostly surrounded by levelheaded people who won't stoop on her level when it comes to quips, so it feels nice seeing someone meet her on that level and use the same language as her, in a way? (Also, Sango not realizing that the RVT were luring her and Onyx away was so funny, like she really has no thoughts <3)

I do appreciate that their connection actually has basis too, since it was set up all the way back in ep 95, when Uruto stepped in during the Strong Sphere exhibition battle to help Liko and Roy and called the Explorers' way of fighting really lame. Sango reacted by lashing out and wasn't happy with Uruto's comment.

Even the fact that Uruto's style was mostly defensive was a followup to that small scene from the previous ep when he trained specifically for the purpose of defending and trying out different battle styles. I just like Uruto in general.. The fact there is intent in his scenes, and his focus in this arc, however little it was, felt effective and organic to me.. I'm just kinda always pleasantly surprised that they really kept giving him meaningful interactions with so many characters, and actually do want his arc to feel convincing and his moments of growth earned.

A few things I liked about the battle in the second half of the ep: Uruto's strategy of putting Yamirami's gem in Onigohri's mouth. It reminded me of Liko's strategy against Grusha in ep 63, when she had Nyarote fire Magical Leaf in Harukujira's mouth. Sango using it to her advantage by having the gem repel Uruto's attacks was also interesting.

Yamirami showing exhaustion, even in Mega Form, after running around. Makes the Pokemon feel more like vulnerable beings, and not as invincible just because they temporarily grow stronger. Yamirami's portrayal in that sense has been the most interesting to me because we were shown that his Mega form affected him? After Mega Evolving for the first time, his gem became too heavy for him to carry and he couldn't adjust to that change. Which is a small thing, but it feels meaningful to me and shows that Pokemon are affected by such changes.

Seeing Friede and Uruto's teamwork was also really nice. Friede protecting Uruto and Uruto giving back the favor. The fact they can work together pretty well and it's their first time battling together too? Uruto was cute as hell in general.. It's cute how much Uruto looks up to Friede and how enthusiastically he thanked him when he protected him.

I thought the way Onyx used Sango's Blizzard to his advantage to have Ptera hide and attack as he wanted was a neat show of their teamwork too.. Sango probably didn't really think of such a strategy, but I like that Onyx just adapts to her anyway and works around what she does? Which makes me insane about their dynamics in general, too. I felt like they worked quite well together (Sango, Onyx, Agate), and I wonder if that'll continue next ep?

Somehow, I thought Indy and Rubella were quite interesting during the battle in the first half of the ep.. Indy, particularly, surprised me in a good way when he asserted that "he was fine being a failure of a trainer" because he said it so proudly and confidently? There is something about it that I can't quite phrase for now, but I thought it was compelling. Also, I wonder if Spinel is the one who made up that strategy for them? Indy and Rubella don't seem to be skilled trainers, and Spinel is definitely someone who'd think of elaborate strategies making full use of Pokemon and their moves.

Spinel's voice acting in this ep was really good. The switch in his tone when he goes from commanding the Explorers and giving them orders, to musing to himself and wondering "how long will [they] last?".. His voice was laced with amusement to me, and well, it's hot. They know what they are doing with Spinel and I'm thankful every single day for the fact they gave us such a character. I genuinely look forward to seeing more of him next ep because his voice is so pleasant to listen to, and he is going to face both Liko and Amethio.. I look forward to that.

Speaking of, I do like that Liko gets to be specifically with Ann, Amethio and Diana. All three of them are characters who are allies to the RVT and their cause, but aren't part of the group. They are Liko's most significant bonds outside of the RVT and people who have been meaningful to her in different ways. It's especially interesting to me seeing Ann and Amethio in the same scene, because they are both the first two characters Liko met in the series.

Some snippets from ep 133 from yesterday's Pokedoko (April 5).

The question is about what Sango was doing at the time Agate and Onyx were getting ready for the fight at Mt Kumuri. Two possibilities: she was having a picnic with Onigohri and Onipurin, or she was training with Onigohri (Self-Destruct training).

Anyway, I think it's a fun question. Knowing Sango, it could be either thing. It'd be cute if she was spending time with her Pokemon and eating before the fight. Especially since Onyx and Agate would probably think it's not really the time for that.. or maybe they'd let it slide if there is still some time before the operation starts. I think either works. I do like the idea that there is still room for silly moments with Sango, even at this point in the story. I think such moments humanize her well.

Also, I like the picture they used for the quiz, and I wanna keep it for future reference. It always makes me uwu seeing Sango and Onyx just standing next to each other. And Onyx is looking at her too. They are cute as hell, or whatever.

Anyway, the Pokedoko hosts talked a bit about their favorite characters from Horizons at some point. Takahashi Hikaru (one of the hosts) said her favorite is Amethio, and she went on about his good points (she mentioned his relationship with Gibeon too), his conviction, and the fact he is really cool in general.