So, now that both episodes of Horizons are out and subbed, my initial impression is very positive so far!
It feels like they're reaching out to the franchise's wider teen/adult audience a bit with the addition of an adult main character (I hope Friede gets a good amount of spotlight, I'd love him, Liko, and Roy to be the main trio with how they were marketed together), some fairly serious and (so far) decently competent antagonists, and (perhaps) a higher focus on story? (I expect there will still be a fair amount of filler, the new series will probably be over a hundred episodes like the other main Pokemon anime.) It feels like it'd be closer to DP or XY in being a bit more serious than recent Pokeani series, and I'm pretty happy about that.
I'm enjoying Liko a lot as a lead, her social awkwardness is pretty relatable, and I like her more perceptive nature, like her taking notes on Sprigatito so she could better understand its behavior, and her realizing she's in a potentially dangerous situation when she meets Amethio.
The Explorers are pretty neat too as an organization, Amethio was a favorite since first seeing him and I'm glad he lives up to my hype for him so far, but Zir and Conia deferring to him was a surprise. (They even use "-sama" for him.) We got a good bit on Amethio's personality being manipulative, professional, and a bit snarky, but I can't wait till we get more with Zir and Conia and their "notorious" organization as a whole. I'm curious about their goals and motives:
I love the way the battles are animated. (There's some standout details to me like Ceruledge and Charizard damaging the school, where we see Ceruledge's stray Psycho Cut nearly taking out Friede and Liko--if not for the pendant activating, she would've been a goner! 😱--and seeing Cap's more physical moveset in the fight with Amethio.)
Also, some moments had me cackling, like Friede basically kidnapping Liko when he comes to rescue her from Amethio and not explaining anything to her, much to the other Volt Tacklers' irritation with him, and Liko's fourth wall break realizing she's the heroine.
The OST is really good too, like when the Explorers are chasing down Friede's airship and when the Rising Volt Tacklers are flying into the storm to try to throw them off.
Looking forward to what comes next! They've got me pretty hooked for the first time in a long while.
