37 Common Interest
And, 36 Marabounta while we're at it
Gotta say I love the theme you're getting at here. I'll discuss that a bit, too. Starting with Common Interest:
My favorite thing about the episode: This is the second time we ever see XANA and the LW intentionally work together, and boy, is it tense! Both XANA and Aelita dying is a dramatic and intense plot, in which they have to save each other in order to preserve their own. The reminder that these are definitely just kids who lack resources and happened to stumble upon a supercalculator is stark in contrast to the limitless power of XANA as an evil AI who can just possess people and break the law however he pleases.
My least favorite thing about the episode: Not sure exactly. I think there are two things I would critique, but they're really nitpicky. The first is that I don't really see Jeremie being so defeated and hopeless. We see Jeremie break a lot of laws throughout the show- to the extent that the government shows up at his doorstep much later on. I don't see him bowing his head in defeat when faced with impossible odds. He never has! (I think it is possible that he needed some time to process things first and was interrupted by his kidnapping, but still lol) The second is the inconsistent behavior of XANA, but I have some theories for that.
Favorite character in this episode: Jeremie! While I definitely criticized his characterization during the early parts of the episode, he keeps his cool during some really messy spots. I think it is easy to think of him as cowardly, but his guy-in-the-chair position is one of the most dangerous of all. This kid was changing out a uranium battery (in full PPE), knowing fully well that a possessed murderer was going to wake up and come for him as soon as he was done. And he fought that guy! Go Jer!
Favorite scenes in this episode: The Lyoko deletion scene. We see this more often later in the series with Lyoko Minus One and onward, but it was kind of scary to have this moment of "there's nowhere to run and no one is coming to save you" for the boys. That and all of the parallel scenes between Aelita and Peter Duncan as they keep shutting down simultaneously.
Favorite line: Jeremie: "A Supercomputer is not the same as a Game Boy, Odd. You can't just pick up a bar of uranium at the corner store."
Overall thoughts: Another favorite of mine! Really good storytelling that does well to show the limits of both the Lyoko Warriors and XANA side-by-side. The fact that XANA is still confined to this specific supercomputer is reigning him in, and the kids have no clue what they're in for later in the series. Okay! And now, Marabounta:
My favorite thing about the episode: This is the FIRST time we ever see XANA and the LW intentionally work together, and this time the action centers on Lyoko. Super important to acknowledge that this episode came RIGHT before Common Interest.
My least favorite thing about the episode: I always got annoyed when Ulrich and Yumi would argue like this, especially when Ulrich would sulk. The constant jealousy really gets in the way of their friendship, mission, and personal development. Season 1 treated their relationship much better. I also think Yumi could be more sensitive to Ulrich's feelings. The two of them and Sissi and William are just a toxic quad that needs to have a good, open conversation.
Favorite character in this episode: Odd! Weirdly, Odd is the voice of reason in this episode, being the first to characterize the Marabounta as monstrous itself. He also does well to defend Aelita and ultimately destroy the threat, with XANA's help.
Favorite scenes in this episode: The scene right at the end, where the monsters bow to the Lyoko Warriors. It is really interesting to depict XANA in this sympathetic way.
Favorite line: Sissi: "No, I'm not really into fairytales or cheap magazine-style romance stories. I've had a crush on Ulrich since elementary school. I want to go out with him. That's all there is to it." I kinda hoped that this would humble William a bit about his infatuation with Yumi. Like yes, girl! He has only attended Kadic for six months! And he's out here talking about destiny? Weird! (I love William as an individual, but I just am a die-hard Ulumi fan, sorry!)
Overall thoughts: Yet another favorite! This was interesting to have right before Common Interest, especially with the bowing scene, and Jeremie specifically saying not to trust it. In the following episode, when both sides work together again, there is no bowing. Peter Duncan tries to kill Jeremie right then and there. I almost wonder if XANA already knew he would need their help soon and was appealing to their emotions first? Such an interesting pair of episodes!
