#etemon's comeback tour | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tobiasdrake · 4 months ago

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Digimon Adventure 01x46 - MetalEtemon's Counterattack / Etemon's Comeback Tour

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Yamato and Taichi punched each other so much that Homeostasis came down from Digimon Heaven to give all of the children study detention, even though six of them did nothing wrong! Except Hikari, who needed her rest and was allowed to sleep through it.

(Japanese episode titles for anime get a lot of shit for being full of spoilers. I like how the dub team apparently wanted to get in on that action this time around. SPOILERS, FUCKING BOTH OF YOU!!!)

Now the team has fractured. Yamato has gone one way, Mimi and Jou another, with what remains of the nakama following Taichi to war.

We open on carnage already in progress. An explosion of dark energy in the woods calls our attention to Ogremon, being chased through the forest by waddling treelike Digimon. He stops running, turning to face them.

These are Woodmon. An Adult-stage Virus-type Plant Digimon from the Wind Guardians. Woodmon is what can, with sufficient effort, evolve into Jureimon and Garbamon.

Narrator: Woodmon. A plant Digimon. Usually disguised as an ordinary tree, it sustains itself by capturing passing Digimon and draining their energy.

They're vampiric ambush predators that impersonate ordinary flora to snare their prey. Hahaha that's fun....

Three Woodmon advance on Ogremon; He knocks two of them back with a left hook, then bashes the third with his club.

Ogremon: My great self is not some girlish maid!

This line is difficult to translate. He seems to be saying "Ore-sama onna meido nai yo!" The subs translate this as "Don't underestimate my power" probably to avoid the obvious sexism in the line, but he is most certainly being sexist.

Ore-sama is easy. The -sama honorific is a highly respectful honorific applied to a venerable elder or superior. Applying it to a first-person pronoun like ore is one of the most Cocky Little Shit things you can say in Japanese. This is a popular choice for anime braggarts like Dragon Ball's Vegeta.

"Meido" is a maid. A female housekeeper. But just to make sure you know he's negatively comparing femininity to himself, he also says onna, which straightforwardly means "woman".

Punch, thwack, boast: I-sama am not a maid woman!

I'm not 100% but I'm fairly certain that's what he's saying.

One thing's for sure: Ogremon shit-talking women to brag about his strength isn't making it into the dub.

Ogremon: (rundown) Get away from me, you pile of Woodmon! I know your tricks! You pretend to be trees and then absorb the energy from unsuspecting Digimon as they pass by! (punch, thwack, boast) Ogremon: This is your last warning!

Punching them in the face is not a warning, Ogremon, but at least you aren't randomly denigrating women. Your Japanese counterpart somehow manages to be a Manosphere bro despite only having aesthetic gender.

I mean, he comes from the internet so that's fair. He learned it from watching us.

Also want to shout out the "I know your tricks!" bit. They somehow managed to make the diegetic rundown work despite Ogremon having no one to explain Woodmon to except Woodmon. Props for that.

Despite his bluster, though, Ogremon knows he's cooked. He can't win this fight.

Ogremon: (thinking) However, a swarm like this is too many for me to handle at once. I'll have to fend them off and keep running.

He throws his signature Haouken at the ones in front, knocking back three; The one in the center takes the hit so hard that chunks of wood break off of their face. Then he turns and starts running again, with the horde of Woodmon giving chase.

Dub Ogremon continues bragging.

Ogremon: How many Woodmon could an Ogremon chuck if an Ogremon could chuck Woodmon? PUMMEL WHACK!!! (Ogremon blasts them, then turns and runs) Ogremon: They sure run fast for tree stumps!

Bet you can't say that first line three times fast.

Cut to Mimi and Jou taking lunch in the woods. The Digimon are enjoying their food, but Mimi remains despondent.

Gomamon: (bites an apple) Mm, tasty tasty! Mimi: (quietly) Um, Jou-senpai? Jou: What? Mimi: I'm sorry for imposing my selfishness on you. Jou: What do you mean, selfishness? I don't think you're being selfish at all! I agree with what you said, Mimi-kun. Conflict is only good for creating further conflict. It does nothing to actually solve anything. But....

Jou looks up at the sky, seeing the Earth hanging above. A reminder of the instability threatening both worlds. The image of his brother Shin appears reflected in his glasses.

Jou: No, never mind. Gomamon: Jou? Jou: What? Gomamon: You should share with us if you have something to say. Jou: That's not always true, Gomamon. Even if you have something to say, sometimes it's best that you don't say it! Gomamon: Yeah, that's true. I suppose you might be right. No, you've gotta be! Jou: (pleased) You think so too, Gomamon?

Jou agrees with Mimi on principle but he's clearly worried about how those principles apply to their present situation in practice. However, he bites his tongue on the matter, feeling that there is nothing he can say at this time that would help.

In the dub:

Gomamon: (bite) This... good.... Mimi: Joe, can I tell you something? Joe: What? Mimi: I hope I wasn't too selfish for saying I didn't want to fight anymore. Joe: I don't think you were selfish. In fact, I think you were pretty brave. What you said was true; Fighting just leads to more fighting and then nothing ever gets resolved. My brother Jim used to say the same thing after he'd get beat up! (Joe looks up at the sky, thinking about Jim) Mimi: Joe? What is it, Joe? Joe: It's nothing. Never mind. Gomamon: Joe? Joe: What? Gomamon: Don't keep things bottled up inside. It's not healthy. Joe: Don't tell me about not being healthy! I've been not healthy my whole life so I'm an expert, and if I want to keep things bottled up, I will! Gomamon: Whoa! It looks like somebody needs a time out in the corner. I was just trying to lend a friendly ear! Joe: I know you were, Gomamon. Sorry, bud.

Everything through Joe's agreement with Mimi is played straight, but then things start to drift. The moment with Jim's reflection is recontextualized to be Joe nostalgically remembering him.

The follow-up with Gomamon still indicates that Joe's biting his tongue about something, but it's made more vague by giving Joe an unrelated reason to be thinking about Jim. Though I think what they're going for is that thinking about Jim made him worry for the Earth, rather than him looking at the Earth and thinking about Jim.

We lose Jou expressing his philosophy of social propriety; How small lies and omissions can maintain peace in social situations. Instead, the more high-strung Joe comically snaps at Gomamon in defense of unhealthy habits. Both of these do make sense for their separate takes on the character while still maintaining the core point that Jou/Joe has something he wants to say but won't.

Suddenly, a shadow falls over them. Something appears in the sky overhead.

Palmon: What is that!?

The darkness coalesces into a spherical object burning with the heat of atmospheric re-entry, plunging towards the Digital World.

Jou: That's a meteorite.... (Jou watches it fall) Jou: (alarmed) IT'S HEADING FOR US!!!

Meanwhile, the Woodmon horde chases Ogremon to the edge of a cliff.

Ogremon: This is bad.... I can't afford to die here! I can't die until I've defeated Leomon-- Huh!? (Ogremon spots the meteorite) Ogremon: W-WHAT IS THAT!?!?

The Woodmon scatter, but some are too late; The unpleasantly familiar looking ball of pipes and black scrap crashes down on top of the horde, killing many Woodmon and throwing Ogremon off the cliff from force of impact.

In the dub:

Palmon: What is that thing? Joe: It looks like a meteorite! (Joe watches it fall) Joe: LOOK OUT!!! IT'S COMING THIS WAY!!! (Meanwhile, on the cliff) Ogremon: I can't get rid of you guys! You're not trees, you're weeds! It can't all end like this; Not before I beat Leomon-- HUH!?!? (Ogremon spots the meteorite) Ogremon: What in the world!?

Faithful translation with a weed insult thrown at the Woodmon. The dub puts a commercial break here as we watch Ogremon plunge into the canyon. But then, so there's no confusion about what's happening in the next scene, it cuts together shots of Joe and Ogremon's reactions with the meteor landing again.

Joe: That thing is monstrous! Ogremon: It's heading right for us! (Meteor crashes and throws Ogremon into the chasm again)

Basically a Cliff's Notes version of the preceding scene.

Elsewhere in the woods, the meteor impact causes the ground to shake, which does not go unnoticed by Taichi's crew.

Taichi, Koushiro, Hikari, and Sora all grab onto trees to ride out the earthquake. Koromon, Tailmon, and Piyomon are all left to fend for themselves, but Takeru curls around Patamon and shields him on the ground.

Sora: An explosion!? (The shaking subsides) Taichi: W-What happened!? Koushiro: Was it an earthquake?

Tentomon flies down from the sky, having apparently gone to scout it out.

Tentomon: A meteorite! And a huge meteorite at that! It came crashing down nearby! Taichi: A meteorite? Sora: Let's not talk about the meteorite. We should get back on-topic.

Sora is aggressively disinterested in whatever that was. XD The remaining child soldiers in our nakama have important shit to discuss. We have, here in these woods, a fucker to assassinate.

Takeru: Right. I think we should go to Pinocchimon's mansion. Patamon: We can lead the way. Koushiro: Rather than waiting for him, we should make the first move and challenge him to fight. Tailmon: I agree. Besides, we don't have time to waste. If we don't hurry, it will be too late for both our world and yours. Hikari: Onii-chan, let's go! Taichi: Hm....

Taichi was gung-ho about charging straight into the lion's den a couple episodes ago, but recent experiences have made him reconsider the nature of valor. He hesitates, thinking things over.

Sora: H-Hold on a second, everyone! Pinocchimon is at Ultimate level, remember? He won't be an easy opponent for us to win against. Takeru: But we have to fight him eventually, don't we? Patamon: That's right!

While Taichi remains silent, Sora is badly outnumbered.

In the dub:

Sora: WHAT'S HAPPENING!?!? (The earthquake subsides) Tai: Was that some sort of explosion!? Izzy: An earthquake? Tentomon: (returning) A METEOR!!! And I mean a whopper! It just crashed in the forest! Tai: TOTALLY COOL!!! Let's go check it out! Sora: I don't know, Tai. It could be dangerous. T.K.: Yeah! Let's head over to Puppetmon's mansion instead!

Yeah, that sounds way less dangerous than the meteor. Sora funnily nipping this conversation in the bud gets replaced by Tai getting eagerly sidetracked before Sora killjoys his idea. T.K.'s response is ironic but I'm not sure if it's meant to be a deliberate joke as the irony goes unremarked upon.

On a pedantic note, Tentomon reports this incorrectly. The original correctly labels it inseki for "meteorite" rather than ryuusei for "meteor".

A meteor burns up in atmosphere; A meteorite is the chunk of a meteor that survives entering atmosphere and makes it all the way down. That shaking was the meteorite impacting the ground.

Patamon: We'll show you guys exactly where it is. Izzy: I suppose it's inevitable. He's one of the Dark Masters and we'll have to fight him sooner or later. Gatomon: Yeah, it's time somebody cut his strings instead of waiting around here! Let's take the fight to him for a change. If we don't hurry up, I'm afraid that both of our worlds will be destroyed! Kari: Let's do it, Tai! Tai: Hm.... (Tai considers) Sora: Wait a second, you guys! Let's think this over. Puppetmon is a Mega Digimon and we won't be able to defeat him that easily! T.K.: (sarcastic) Oh, in that case, let's give up and go watch cartoons! Patamon: Let's fight!

This part is a near-perfect translation. The one thing that sticks out to me is T.K.'s much more snippy response to Sora, which fits the general tone of the dub kids being meaner than their Japanese counterparts.

Now that we're at an impasse, Koushiro presents an idea.

Koushiro: Why don't we take a vote? Everyone who thinks we should go to Pinocchimon's mansion!

Koushiro, Hikari, and Takeru all raise their hands, while Sora and Taichi do not. Tentomon, Tailmon, Patamon, and Koromon all vote for going too; Koromon lacks hands, but his bunny ears go from folded down to straight up in the air, doing his best to make the voting gesture.

Though the vote clearly settles the matter numerically, Taichi's vote surprises everyone. He merely stands, arms folded, lost in thought.

Koushiro: (confused) Taichi-san? Sora: Taichi.... Taichi: (thinking) If Yamato were here, what would he do? What would he say? Takeru: Taichi-san? (Taichi opens his eyes and sees Takeru) Taichi: (thinking) If something were to happen to Takeru, how could I ever face Yamato? Hikari: Onii-chan? Tentomon: Are we going or not? Sora: (thinking) You won't go, Taichi? Taichi: Okay, I've got it! Let's scout the place out, then figure things out from there. Younger Kids: Yes! Takeru: This way, everyone!

Sora's hopes are dashed as Taichi does ultimately relent and go along with the group; Albeit not as gung-ho as he once was. Everyone leaves, following Takeru, except Sora who hesitates.

Taichi, realizing Sora's not with them, stops and turns back.

Taichi: Sora? Sora: There's no other choice. You've made your decision. Taichi: It's not what you think. If we walk into danger, Koromon and I will hold off the enemy. I want you to lead the rest to safety while we're distracting them. Sora: (surprised) Taichi! Taichi: I'm counting on you. Sora: Understood.

Now that he doesn't have Yamato to balance him out and has undergone tremendous character growth in the last couple episodes, Taichi is being uncharacteristically cautious. His plan is as he said. They'll go to Pinocchimon's mansion but they won't go in guns blazing; He wants to case the place and find out what the situation is before committing their forces to a battle they may not win.'

And he has a withdrawal plan already mapped out in his head. He's being careful about how he approaches this, in a way we've never seen from Taichi before.

In the dub:

Izzy: The only fair thing to do is to take a vote. All those in favor of going to Puppetmon's mansion, raise your hand and say 'aye'. (The kids and Digimon vote) Izzy: The 'ayes' have it! Sora: Tai, you didn't vote! Tai: (thinking) I wonder how Matt would vote? Knowing him, he'd probably go the safe route. T.K.: So Tai, what do you think? Tai: (thinking) And what about T.K.? With Matt not here, it's my job to make sure nothing happens to him. Hikari: What should we do, Tai? Tai: Well, uh.... Tentomon: We're waiting for an answer! Sora: (thinking) After all we've been through, he can't really be thinking about going.... Tai: Alright, we're going. Just to take a look around, but we don't necessarily have to start any trouble. Younger Kids: ALRIGHT!!! T.K.: It's this way, guys! (Everyone runs off except Sora) Tai: Sora? Sora: I'll go along with your decision but I'm still not sure it's safe. Tai: I know it's dangerous, Sora. And we're not looking for trouble. But if anything happens, Koromon and I will hold off Puppetmon while you take the others and escape. I won't let anything happen to you. Sora: You mean it? Tai: Of course I do! Sora: Okay, then.

I'd say this is about 95% correct. Sora's line "Tai, you didn't vote," is a little off. We held a single binary vote; Raise your arm to go, don't raise your arm to not go. By not raising his arm, Tai implicitly voted against going. You can't abstain when the options are Yes or Not Yes.

That last bit in Tai and Sora's exchange, where "I'm counting on you" is replaced by "I won't let anything happen to you," also bothers me.

The plan is the same in both versions. If things go south, Taichi and Koromon will offer themselves up to hold the line while Sora takes the rest of the team and retreats. But these lines alter the tone of how Tai presents it.

Taichi assuages her concerns by treating her as an equal and valuable contributor to this plan, while Tai assuages her concerns by promising to be her knight in shining armor - in the process implying that Sora was only concerned about her personal safety, as her worries relent as soon as he promises to protect her.

This, combined with the earlier "The meteor could be dangerous" altered dialogue makes Sora come off weaker and more cowardly than her original counterpart.

Though Taichi's group was disinterested in it, we turn our attention back to the crater as something begins to emerge. It can't be. It can't possibly....

WHO'S THE STRONGEST IN THE WOOOOOOOOOORLD!?

KING OF DIGIMON!!!

This would be a fantastic twist if both titles didn't spoil the shit out of it.

The emergence of the new and improved Etemon goes without dialogue in the original. The dub, eager to hear their most famous vocal performance again, has him narrate to nobody in particular.

MetalEtemon: Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Get ready for the comeback tour of the year! Baby, I'm BACK!!! Uh-huh-huh, YEAH!!!

Jou and Mimi make for the cliffside, interested in the meteorite.

Jou: Over there! The meteorite fell on top of that cliff! Mimi: But where did it come from? Palmon: Maybe from Earth? Jou: Eh!?

That's a good question, honestly. The conditions that would produce a meteorite aren't exactly applicable with the two worlds in dimensional flux above one another like this. Mimi points out a good reason to find this sudden meteorite suspicious as hell, though she doesn't take that to its logical conclusion.

Suddenly, Gomamon starts sniffing the ground.

Gomamon: Huh? Palmon: What's wrong? Gomamon: I smell something. Over there!

Gomamon and Palmon run into the woods, with a startled Jou and Mimi chasing after.

Jou: W-Wait! Mimi: That's dangerous! It might be a trap!

They come upon a large green figure unconscious on the ground, buried under broken tree branches. The group collectively gasps at the sight.

Gomamon: There's someone on the ground! Palmon: How did this happen!? (Palmon runs towards the figure) Palmon: Are you okay!? Hang in there!

Palmon sweeps the debris aside, revealing Ogremon badly hurt. His body is covered in scrapes and scuffs, and a trickle of blood is running down his forehead. Palmon jumps back when she realizes who she's uncovered.

Palmon: AH!!! It's Ogremon! He's not moving! He might be dead!

Obviously not because he would have turned to pixel dust, but as if on cue, Ogremon starts to move. He tries to get up, holding his shoulder in pain and causing everyone to shriek and step back from him. But he can't do more than that before he collapses back down.

In the dub, they're still calling it the wrong thing.

Joe: Look! There it is! The meteor landed up on that cliff! Mimi: I wonder where on Earth it could have come from? Palmon: Probably L.A.!

Joe makes no sound in response to Palmon's quip. He's still staring at her slack-jawed when we cut back to the wide shot of the group, but nothing draws your attention to it so it's easy to miss.

I think Palmon's quip is meant to be a joke about Elvis having homes in L.A. I disagree, though; That meteor clearly came from Memphis, Tennessee.

Gomamon: Huh? Palmon: What? Gomamon: I smell something... from over there! (The Digimon run off, as their human partners give chase) Joe: WAIT!!! Mimi: HEY!!! Not so fast; I might sweat! Palmon: And I keep tripping on my roots!

Mimi's concern is changed from fear for the Digimon's safety to disdain for physical exercise. Palmon's given a line to join Mimi in whining despite the fact that she and Gomamon are neck-and-neck, sprinting side by side with no evidence of any such tripping.

Palmon: I think someone's hurt. Gomamon: Hang in there, we're coming! Palmon: We've gotta get these branches off of him. (Palmon removes the debris from Ogremon) Palmon: Ogremon! Yikes! We'd better get out of here before he wakes up!

For more mismatched choreography to dub dialogue, they have Gomamon shout "We're coming!" before a scene where only Palmon rushes over to help.

Now, you may be wondering how the censors will approach removing the blood from Ogremon's face. I was wondering that too. And the answer is that they don't.

Yeah. Ogremon's clear, visible blood trail running down his face is allowed in. That made it past the censors. They do, however, cut the part of Palmon's line where she wonders if Ogremon's dead.

Though the sight of Ogremon in front of them is startling for everyone, Mimi only has one thing on her mind.

Mimi: He looks hurt.... Gomamon: Hey, what should we do? Jou: We'll be in big trouble if he attacks us again like on File Island. It's best if we ignore him.

No sooner are those words out of Jou's mouth than Mimi shoves past Jou to get to Ogremon.

Jou: Ah! Mimi-kun! What are you doing!?

Mimi kneels down beside Ogremon with a cloth in hand, reaching out to wipe the blood from his face.

Mimi: That's a terrible wound....

Ogremon groans and stirs, forcing Mimi to stand back up and take a step back for safety. He rouses, opening his eyes and seeing Mimi there.

Ogremon: Y-You... Chosen Child! Mimi: Stop it! Don't move or you'll open your wounds!

She kneels back down, resuming her work.

Mimi: Palmon, find medicinal herbs! Gomamon, go find water! Digimon: Right! (exit) Mimi: Jou-senpai-- Jou: I got it. I can treat his wounds. I am the son of a doctor, after all. Ogremon: Y-You.... (tries to move, then collapses) Mimi: Stay still! Ogremon: ...yes, ma'am.

Also try not to make sexist comments while you're at it. Your continued existence is in Mimi's hands right now. I hope you're grateful.

In the dub:

Mimi: It looks like he's hurt.... Palmon: Good! Then he won't be able to chase us! Joe: Remember him from File Island? He was meaner than a cat giving a bath! Let's pretend like we never found him. (Mimi shoves past Joe) Joe: Hey! Mimi! What are you doing!?

The language is snippier, but fair given the circumstances. I like this interpretation.

(Mimi kneels down to tend to Ogremon's wounds) Mimi: This cut looks bad-- Ogremon: Grrrghh.... Mimi: Oh! (Mimi jerks back) Ogremon: ...you're the DigiDestined. Mimi: Well, I guess you don't have amnesia but try not to move anyway, okay? (Mimi kneels back down to wipe away the blood) Mimi: Palmon, go look for some healing herbs, and Gomamon, see if you can find some water. Digimon: Right! (exit) Mimi: Now, Joe, I want you to-- Joe: I know. My father's a doctor and he taught me a lot; I used to practice on my toys. Ogremon: TOYS!?!? (tries to move, then collapses) Mimi: I told you not to move! Ogremon: ...okay....

The toys bit got me. XD Not just Ogremon's hilarious reaction, but the mental image it conjures of Chibi Jou/Joe doing play-surgery on little plastic Gundams and Astro Boys is perfect characterization.

The dub handles this scene beautifully, covering every detail while putting it in their own voice. No notes.

Working together, Mimi and Jou render medical aid to Ogremon.

Ogremon: Agh! THAT HURTS!!! Mimi: These herbs must sting a lot. Jou: Your arm might be broken, so I'm putting it in a sling.

Jou reaches into his duffel bag and pulls out a roll of toilet paper from his supplies.

Jou: Um... I guess this will work. Mimi: Why toilet paper? Jou: (wrapping the sling) I'm substituting it for bandages. Before we returned to this world, I thought I should bring stuff that would be useful to us. This was all I could think of, though. But when you use it like this....

Jou manages to make a functioning sling out of it.

Jou: There! That's a big help, isn't it? (pats Ogremon's arm) Ogremon: OW!!! Mimi: Ehehe! Jou-senpai is so smart! Ogremon: Why? Why are you helping me? I tried to kill you all on File Island. No one would be surprised if you decided to kill me right here and now. Mimi: Again? Killing this and killing that.... Don't you have any more tasteful words? Ogremon: More tasteful...? U-U-Um-I-- (stands up) Mimi: If you push yourself too hard, you might start crying. Well, take care of yourself.

Ogremon doesn't mince words here, using the vulgar term korosu which means, unambiguously, to kill. As a reminder, during the arc itself, the show favored the milder taosu verb for "defeating" them. Like Pinocchimon, he's using harsher language now that the show shied away from in earlier arcs.

Mimi's response here connects back to her emotional state she's been in since the graves. She is so done with all of this violence. Ogremon asks why they didn't kill him and Mimi's response is basically "OH MY GAWD Why does everything have to be about killing!?"

Her reaction is pretty similar to her "Fighting and fighting, and what do we get out of it!?" meltdown over Taichi and Yamato's pointless fistfight. Everyone around her seems to default to violence, and she's done with it.

It's a scolding that leaves Ogremon, a mon who prides himself on being the Vegeta to Leomon's Goku, at a loss for words.

In the dub:

Ogremon: Ow! That stuff hurts! Be careful! Mimi: Big baby! Don't you want to get better? Joe: It looks like his arm might be broken. We're going to have to put it in a sling. (Joe rifles through his duffle) Joe: Oooh, toilet paper! Mimi: Do you have to do that now? Joe: Really, Mimi? I'm using it as bandages! Before we came back to the Digital World, I thought of things we might need and toilet paper was the first thing that came to my mind! (Joe wraps Ogremon's arm) Joe: There! Just about finished here. Well? Ogremon: Feels soft! It must be two-ply. Joe: Lay off the Digivolving for a few days and you'll be as good as new! (pats Ogremon's arm) Ogremon: OW!!! Mimi: Joe, I never knew you were so resourceful!

This bit goes strong. It's faithfully translated, but they make room for a silly gag where Mimi, quite reasonably, misunderstands the purpose of the toilet paper.

"Lay off the Digivolving for a few days" is an odd instruction to give a non-Partnered Digimon, however. Ogremon evolving into an Andromon would be a great benefit. Though, let's be real, he's probably lost too many fights with Leomon to ever be eligible for Ultimate Digivolution.

Ogremon: Why are you DigiDestined being so nice to me? Especially after the way I tried to destroy you on File Island? You could have left me here to rot but instead you saved me; Why? Mimi: Well, we were taught that if someone's in trouble, you always help them out. That means, even if they were trying to pummel you into oblivion. Ogremon: Gee, I never thought of it that way. Mimi: Don't mention it. Besides, that's what friends do; They help each other out. Joe: Bye!

Here, the dub falters. They shy away from Mimi's scolding over Ogremon's violent language. This costs both Mimi and Ogremon a great moment for their individual characterizations; Instead we get drama-free generic moral thoughtfulness.

All we get from this is that Mimi is a kind person who was raised well, and Ogremon doesn't understand kindness.

As Mimi and Jou turn to walk away, Ogremon continues tripping over his words until he finally finds something tasteful enough to say to Mimi.

Ogremon: W-WAIT!!! Th... Th... Thank you!

Mimi's face brightens considerably when she hears those words. She turns back around.

Mimi: You're welcome.

Ogremon's eyes fill with tears.

Gomamon: Ogremon is crying! Jou: These must be tears from a demon's eyes! Ogremon: (wipes his eyes) I just have dirt in my eyes!

Jou here references a Japanese expression: 鬼の目にも涙 Oni no me ni mo namida, or "Tears from a demon's eyes". It means that even the hardest and cruelest hearts can be brought to tears.

This sub translates it as "crocodile tears" which is a terrible translation; Crocodile tears means he's faking it, only pretending to cry in order to elicit undeserved sympathy. Wildly different meaning, and an accusation that utterly shatters the tone of this scene. That's a rolled-up newspaper thwack.

The dub builds on the "what friends do" bit for their version of this scene.

Ogremon: Wait, don't leave now! I... never had any friends.... Mimi: Ah! Well, you have them now. (Ogremon cries) Gomamon: I've never seen Ogremon cry before! Joe: Don't tell me you need more toilet paper to blow your nose. Ogremon: (wipes his eyes) It's alright; I'll just use my sleeve.

Suddenly, an ominous voice calls down from the trees.

Pinocchimon sings the same haunting tune he sang when he was creeping up on Takeru earlier.

Pinocchimon: (singsong) Let's pla~ay! Let's pla~ay! Let's pla~ay Riddles! Jou: PINOCCHIMON!!! Gomamon: What do you mean, "Riddles"? Pinocchimon: What is the thing that I'm missing? Gomamon: What are you missing? Pinocchimon: Hurry up and tell me!

Pinocchimon's had time to consider what Jureimon was trying to tell him, before he lost his temper and killed him. But the only person who knows what Jureimon meant is now dead.

When Gomamon can't answer in time, Pinocchimon lets off a volley from his Bullet Hammer. Gomamon scrambles out of the bullets' path.

Pinocchimon: If you can't answer my riddle, I'll kill you. Palmon: Mimi, I have to evolve! Mimi: But....

Visions of Togemon being brutally killed by Pinocchimon's Bullet Hammer run through Mimi's head.

(Probably accurate. Pinocchimon is above even Lilimon's weight class.)

Mimi: (thinking) I can't... If Togemon were killed....

Mimi is paralyzed by her trauma.

In the dub, Puppetmon doesn't sing his haunting song; He simply calls down from the tree about Ogremon wiping his eyes.

Puppetmon: That's gotta hurt with all those spikes! Mimi: Huh!? Puppetmon: Here's a riddle: What has four strings and is made of wood? Mimi & Joe: PUPPETMON!?!? Puppetmon: No! A violin! But that's a good guess; I guess you guys aren't music-lovers. Gomamon: No, it's YOU we don't like! Puppetmon: Yeah? Do you like this? (Puppetmon sprays Bullet Hammer projectiles at Gomamon) Puppetmon: I can also play a really mean saxophone. Palmon: I've gotta Digivolve! Mimi: But... (Mimi pictures Togemon dying) Mimi: (thinking) Oh no... What if Togemon gets hurt during the fight...?

The decision made two episodes ago to swap out "Those children have something that you lack" for "Those children might be stronger than you" means the foundation for this scene hasn't been laid in the dub. Instead, this scene gets played as a straightforward Combat Encounter. Puppetmon shows up, is menacing, and then starts shooting.

Though Mimi is paralyzed by her fear for Palmon's safety, Jou has no such reservation.

Jou: Gomamon, evolve! Gomamon: On it!

In the dub:

Joe: Gomamon, Digivolve! Gomamon: Right!

Ikakkumon makes one overly optimistic attempt to fire on Pinocchimon, launching a Harpoon Vulcan at the tree branch he's standing on. It destroys the branch, but Pinocchimon hops over the blast with no difficulty whatsoever because of course he does.

The blast destroys the tree. Pinocchimon lands on the stump, giggling at Jou. Time to kick things up a notch with Super-Evolution!

It does not go well. Pinocchimon and Zudomon clap their Bullet Hammer and Hammer Spark together in a contest of pure, raw strength. A contest that Zudomon loses, sending the Thor Hammer flying from his hand.

Flames erupt from the force of Pinocchimon's Bullet Hammer, engulfing Zudomon and one-shotting him. He falls on his back, then degenerates into an unconscious Gomamon.

All of this action passes by without a single added line of dialogue by the dug.

With Gomamon defeated, Pinocchimon raises his Bullet Hammer menacingly.

Pinocchimon: I'm not hearing an answer! Guess I'll have to kill ya-- Out of Nowhere: (Tarzan roar)

In an ironic twist, it's now an ominous menacing voice in the distance haunting Pinocchimon.

Swinging from a vine, MetalEtemon arrives on the swinging, leaping to a tree branch and flexing his muscles for the crowd.

Pinocchimon: Who are you!? MetalEtemon: Don't you know a superstar when you see one? (MetalEtemon starts clapping feverishly) MetalEtemon: Now, applaud! Applaud! (He stops suddenly, getting serious) MetalEtemon: Long time no see, Chosen Children. Jou: YOU'RE ETEMON!!!

Maybe Dub Sora was right; That meteor(ite) was pretty dangerous after all. Following this revelation, the original takes its commercial break.

In the dub, as before, this remains an ordinary combat encounter with no greater meaning for Puppetmon's character journey.

Puppetmon: Don't tell me playtime's over! Out of Nowhere: (Tarzan yell) (Puppetmon looks around for the swinging MetalEtemon) Puppetmon: Alright already! (MetalEtemon lands) MetalEtemon: Get Digi with it; MetalEtemon's in da house!

The dub puts its commercial break here, at MetalEtemon's reveal and tone-setting Will Smith reference. The King of Digimon is back, in more ways than one, and appropriately enough he is stealing from black artists.

Then we pick up right where we left off after the commercials.

Pinocchimon: Who's that guy!? (MetalEtemon starts clapping feverishly) MetalEtemon: A superstar like me deserves a little applause, bay-beh! (He stops suddenly, getting serious) MetalEtemon: After all, it's been so long since we've seen each other! Joe: Oh no, it's Etemon!

As we return from the original's commercial break, the new and improved Etemon makes his official debut.

MetalEtemon: Etemon is old news. I've been reborn as the new and improved MetalEtemon!

MetalEtemon is an Ultimate-stage Virus-type Cyborg Digimon. Despite clearly being meant to be evolved from Etemon, he debuted as a Nature Spirit - the first V-Pet to allow Ultimate evolutions, and one that did not include standard Etemon in its roster. Instead, he was an evolution for Okuwamon, the Perfect form of Kuwagamon, and TonosamaGekomon. Weird.

But subsequent appearances in video games and the like have shored him up as Etemon's Ultimate evolution.

Fun note: The kanji on his chest are 最強. The 最 kanji is sai, meaning the highest, most supreme, most ultimate of whatever the other word is. This is being used to modify 強 kyou, which means strength.

Yes, as part of his Ultimate evolution, Mr. Konoyo de Saikyou/Strongest in the Living World fucking got the word Saikyou tattooed on his chest. He certainly does not lack for confidence.

(He also swapped out his Monzaemon doll for a WaruMonzaemon doll, which is the same level as Monzaemon but from a different evolution tree.)

Narrator: MetalEtemon. The Ultimate-stage Digimon that evolves from the Perfect-stage Etemon. His special attack is Banana Slip!

The rundown tells us absolutely nothing interesting about MetalEtemon whatsoever. 0/10 on the rundown scale.

In the dub:

MetalEtemon: I used to be Etemon, kid, but that was a long time ago! Now, I'm MetalEtemon! Thank you; Thank you very much! Gomamon: We thought Etemon was tough! MetalEtemon's a Mega Digimon! After his Banana Slip attack, you'll have to peel us off the floor!

The dub's rundown is as useless as the original's. I award them both no points.

The Digimon, of course, have so many questions about this turn of events.

Palmon: I thought you died! How did you come back!? MetalEtemon: I'm glad you asked!

Conjuring a presumably metaphorical Etemon band to back him up, MetalEtemon starts singing his tale.

MetalEtemon: (singing) It's a tale that makes both its listeners and storyteller weep with emotion~! MetalEtemon: After my battle with MetalGreymon, you all know I was pulled into a Black Hole, yes? Within the Hell of that dark world, my body was destroyed and regenerated over and over again. But I refused to die, and I survived! Do you know why? Because the only thing on my mind was getting revenge against the Chosen Children for making me suffer like this!

The singularity that sent Taichi and Agumon home was apparently a horrific experience for MetalEtemon. He calls it Jigoku no ankoku sekai, using "Hell" as a modifier for "the dark world". He didn't literally go to Hell but is equating the dark world inside the singularity to being like Hell.

MetalEtemon: Then I was reborn into MetalEtemon! Today, I have returned to this world! MetalEtemon: (singing) All so I can get my revenge on you~! Understand? It's the Pent-up Resentment and Revenge BLUUUUUES!!!

In the dub, nobody asks about MetalEtemon's survival; He volunteers this story of his own volition. That's fair; I'm sure he's been chomping at the bit to tell it and would have explained himself either way.

Palmon: Just what we need; New and unimproved! MetalEtemon: Well, let me tell you how I became 'me'! MetalEtemon: (singing) So here's what transpired / When Etemon expired / Listen up, bay-beh! MetalEtemon: I'm sure you all remember the battle I had with MetalGreymon! I tell ya, he's one tough dinosaur, honey! After that, I was swallowed up by a black hole; I think I gave it indigestion! My digital information was scattered throughout the universe! I pulled myself together and chilled out for a while in Digimon Limbo. My information was chopped, mixed, whipped, and pureed! I felt like a four-speed blender, honey! But I refused to return to the Digital World until I was bigger, badder, and had a full head of beautiful metal hair!

MetalEtemon's origin is wildly different in the dub. The black hole scattered his data around the universe, which... is the opposite of what a black hole does, but okay. Then he reassembled himself by sheer force of will and, on purpose, entered Digimon Limbo. Which. Is apparently a thing that exists; He drops that with zero explanation.

Digimon Limbo is a nightmare place that ripped him apart bit by bit, but he went in there voluntarily as a sort of extreme shonen training to turn himself into MetalEtemon. Now his super-training is complete, and he's popped out to get his vengeance.

So, basically, Japanese MetalEtemon is Jason Voorhees clawing back from the edge of death for another go, while American MetalEtemon is Golden Frieza. That's. Kind of amazing.

Also, "Here's what transpired / When Etemon expired" is beautiful lyricism.

MetalEtemon: Now I'm back to get my revenge on YOU, DigiDestined! MetalEtemon: (singing) I got the low-down, dirty, revengeful / YOWWW / I'm talking... / Big-time DigiDestined bluuuuuuues!

One way or another, Etemon is going to be like Vamdemon; This isn't over until we see the dust of his pixels.

...

._. Mimi-chan, I apologize for my tasteless words.

As MetalEtemon concludes his lyrical recap, we come back to see that the children have plugged their ears and listened to none of his backstory crooning.

Pinocchimon: (relieved) It's over.... MetalEtemon: There's more where that came from, little boy. Pinocchimon: DID YOU SAY 'LITTLE BOY'!?!? MetalEtemon: BANANA SLIP!!!

A furious Pinocchimon charges MetalEtemon, walking right into his trap. MetalEtemon hits him with Banana Slip. It's. Um. It's literally throwing a banana peel under his foot so that he slips and falls on his ass.

MetalEtemon: What's wrong, little boy? Pinocchimon: STOP SAYING 'LITTLE BOY'!!!

Sitting up, Pinocchimon swipes with his Bullet Hammer, striking MetalEtemon in his metal shin and leaving a surprisingly painful-looking red bruise. MetalEtemon yelps in pain, grabbing his leg and hopping on one foot.

The dub plays this as Puppetmon interrupting the concert. Consequently, he's the aggressor here rather than MetalEtemon being the one antagonizing him.

Puppetmon: Enough! MetalEtemon: I just got started, you oversized footstool! Puppetmon: WHO YOU CALLIN' OVERSIZED!?!? MetalEtemon: Watch your step! BANANA SLIP!!! (Puppetmon charges in and trips on the banana peel) MetalEtemon: Too much of a waxy build-up? Uh-huh-huh! Puppetmon: (sits up) PUPPET PUMMEL!!! (swipe)

The dub cuts the shot of Puppetmon's hammer impacting MetalEtemon's shin. We get a white flash and cut straight to him bouncing on one leg, nursing the wound.

Once again, we lose characterization details on Pinocchimon here. In the original, MetalEtemon goads him into a fight by infantilizing him. Pinocchimon falls for his provocations hook, line, and sinker because he's sensitive about his genuine childishness.

For Puppetmon, this remains a standard combat encounter with no particular character nuances. What we get instead are jokes, which fit in well to a combat encounter involving slipping on a banana peel. This is already a comical fight, so the quips fit in nicely with the tone.

Puppetmon does the classic "Objecting to the wrong part of your insult" bit, which I admit got me. XD

Not sure what the "waxy build-up" crack is supposed to mean, however.

Still, I do prefer the original because I'll always take character nuance over quipping.

And on that note, this goofball fight continues.

MetalEtemon: HOW DARE YOU!?

MetalEtemon bounces on one foot, nursing his injured leg, then suddenly lunges for Pinocchimon. Pinocchimon sidesteps the lunge; Then, while MetalEtemon's on the ground, Pinocchimon calls Drill Nose.

Pinocchimon's nose spins like a drill and he stabs it into MetalEtemon's ass cheek. This proves to be a mistake, as it sets him up for MetalEtemon's counter-move Hekoki Attack. Which. Um.

Hekoki means "fart". MetalEtemon farts in Pinocchimon's face. Brief cut to Mimi, Jou, and Ogremon all plugging their noses to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

What a dignified clash of Ultimate powers, the most ultra-rare and supreme Digimon in all existence, we have had here today. It goes to show that no matter how high the Power Levels may become, there's a limit to how serious a fistfight between a small child and a bag of poop wearing sunglasses can be.

Pinocchimon recovers, unloading his Bullet Hammer's rapid-fire bullets. MetalEtemon blocks them all with his hand, then calls a left hook to the face as Number One Punch.

Pinocchimon: (pained) You've done it now! MetalEtemon: Children should behave like children.

That remark provokes a point-blank Bullet Hammer, as Pinocchimon slams his hammer into the ground and showers MetalEtemon in gunspray. MetalEtemon pulls back and blocks when he sees Pinocchimon telegraph the swing.

While this is going on, Jou snaps into Senpai mode. He grabs Mimi and starts pushing her away from the fight.

Mimi: NYAAAGH!!! Jou: Run while they're distracted! Ogremon: Good idea!

The children and their new pal quickly exit the fight. Meanwhile, Pinocchimon makes funny faces to bait MetalEtemon into punching a tree, which breaks and falls on him. He's crushed under the tree with a comical yelp.

(The best hit Pinocchimon scored all fight was by tricking MetalEtemon into hitting himself.)

In the dub:

MetalEtemon: Ow! I'll use you as a toothpick!

The dub cuts the Drill Nose/Hekoki Attack exchange. We go straight from Puppetmon dodging MetalEtemon's tackle to MetalEtemon firing a spray of bullets from his Bullet Hammer, which MetalEtemon blocks with his palm.

They keep Number One Punch, even showing the moment his fist slams into Pinocchimon's face. Surprising, given that they cut the impact from Pinocchimon hitting MetalEtemon's shin earlier. However, they rename it Metal Punch.

Puppetmon: Ow! You fight dirty! MetalEtemon: I'm not dirty; I just got detailed at the car wash yesterday! (Puppetmon blasts MetalEtemon; Joe starts pushing Mimi) Mimi: AUGH!!! Joe: Now's our chance to escape!

Ogremon has no line in this version; He silently follows the escaping kids.

Again, they took out the part where MetalEtemon goads and provokes Pinocchimon by infantilizing him and replaced it with a genuinely funny quip.

While all this is going on, Taichi's team have reached Pinocchimon's mansion. Taichi scouts the front with his mini telescope.

Taichi: So that's Pinocchimon's mansion. He has two guards.

Though Taichi can't see the two guards in any detail, he - in a clever moment of Understanding The Rules - recognizes that this is good enough to register them in his Pokedex. He snatches his Digivice out of his pocket and passes it off to Koushiro.

Taichi: Look them up. Koushiro: Okay.

The two guards are the pair of Digimon that watched Takeru escape the mansion a couple episodes ago: Floramon and Delumon.

Floramon is a Child-stage Data-type Plant Digimon from the Wind Guardians lineup. They're what evolves into Woodmon and Kiwimon.

Delumon is a Perfect-stage Data-type Bird Digimon, also from Wind Guardians. Their name is derived from the english word "Deluxe" due to their fancy appearance as a distinguished bird. However, due to common anime translation confusion relating to the letters 'l' and 'r', this gets mistranslated in the dub as "Deramon".

Delumon can evolve from any Wind Guardian adult but most fits as the evolved form of Kiwimon.

Narrator: Floramon. A plant-type Digimon that evolved in a reptilian shape. Their special attack is Allergy Shower. Koushiro: The other one is.... Narrator: Delumon. At first glance, they may look like a bird, but they're actually a strange Digimon with vegetation growing out of their back. Their special attack is Royal Nuts!

I'm going to need us all to try and be as mature as we possibly can about Delumon's Royal Nuts.

(Hahaha XD I told y'all they fit best as Kiwimon's evo.)

That one unsettles Taichi.

Taichi: That one's Perfect-stage? Koushiro: (returns Taichi's Digivice) Yes. Tentomon: They shouldn't be a problem, though. Let's go in, everyone!

Tentomon flies over to where Hikari, Takeru, and the Digimon are waiting, but Taichi calls after them before they can set out.

Taichi: Hang on! There might be more of them inside. I'm going to go in and scout ahead; The rest of you hang back here. Takeru: Then I should come with you. Patamon and I are the only ones who know the layout. Patamon: Mhm! Taichi: (reluctant) That might help.... Takeru: Are you going to treat me like a little kid? Taichi: No.... Hikari: Let's go together, Onii-chan. Koushiro: I agree with Hikari-san! It won't be scary if we all go together! Koromon: What do you say, Taichi? Taichi: Very well. Let's go, everyone!

Taichi still trying to figure out how to be responsible for these younger kids without Yamato or Jou here, without giving into the bad kind of courage. But they twist his arm and get him to go along with the majority vote.

In the dub:

Tai: So that's Puppetmon's mansion, huh? There are two guards! (Tai hands over his Digivice) Tai: See who they are. Izzy: Analyzing. Izzy: (rundown) One of them is Floramon. She's a Plant type Digimon who Digivolves like a reptile. Her attack is Rain of Pollen. Izzy: And the other guard is.... Izzy: (rundown) Deramon. At first glance, it looks like Bird-type Digimon but it's actually got a plant growing out of its back! Prodigious!

Izzy does his best to translate the rundowns faithfully but makes one easy mistake: He says that Floramon Digivolves like a reptile, future tense, implying that her future evolutions are going to be reptilian in nature.

There's only one reptilian evolution line in the Wind Guardians and it is, ironically, one of only two Floramon can't evolve into. Plants and birds make up most of this evolution tree.

She evolved like a reptile, past tense. Floramon is a lizard made of plant matter.

Tai: So they're not Ultimate Digimon, right? Izzy: Right. Tentomon: Nonetheless, we should be careful! They could be quite dangerous! Shall we go?

Izzy then concludes the rundown by reminding us of how constantly wrong he is. Tai asks for confirmation that they are not "Ultimate", which in the dub is Perfect, and Izzy lies to his face about it. Deramon is, in fact, an Ultimate Digimon.

Tentomon promptly flips the script from being gung-ho about fighting despite the enemy having a Perfect to being cautious and nervous about fighting despite the enemy allegedly having nothing of such high level.

Once Izzy's done being pseudointellectually wrong about facts he is actively looking up as he says them, this next part is basically perfect.

Tai: Wait! There might be more guards inside! I'll go inside and make sure the coast is clear; You guys wait here until I get back. T.K.: Tai, I think Patamon and I should go with you. After all, we're the only ones who know where everything is inside there. Patamon: Right! Tai: Sorry, it might be dangerous... T.K.: Come on, Tai! Don't treat me like a little kid! Tai: That's not it. Kari: What if we go together? As a team? Izzy: I vote with Kari! There's nothing to be afraid of if we all go together! Koromon: What do we do, Tai? You decide? Tai: Alright, everyone! We're going! Follow me!

Cutting back to the Ultimate Clash of Ultimate Powers, we find MetalEtemon slapping himself in the face over and over.

MetalEtemon: (smack) What! (smack) Is this! (smack) Ouch! OW OW OW OW OWWWWW!!!

Zooming out, we see MetalEtemon wriggling on strings, puppeteered by Pinocchimon above him.

Pinocchimon: Ahahahaha! Again! MetalEtemon: Augh! Stop it!

Pinocchimon uses the strings to flop MetalEtemon over onto his back, and then forces him to tickle himself.

MetalEtemon: That tickles! Ahahahaha AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Pinocchimon: Now to deal with the children--HUH!?!? THEY'RE GONE!!!

Huge success for Jou's plan of, uh, turning around and walking away.

I've noticed this before but it's especially noticeable here: The dub, as usual, makes dissimilar sound effect choices to the original. In the original, every time MetalEtemon hits himself, such as his earlier clapping or slapping his own face here, the impacts make a metallic clanging sound. This reinforces that he's, y'know, coated in metal from head to toe.

The dub opts for ordinary flesh slapping sounds, which makes it sound like he's just painted silver rather than made of metal.

MetalEtemon: (slap) Ow! (slap) Ow! (slap) OW! Hey! Cut it out! Puppetmon: Nahahaha! AHAHAHAHAHA!!! (Puppetmon makes MetalEtemon tickle himself) MetalEtemon: Hey, quit it! I hate tickling! Come on! Puppetmon: Now I can finally take care of those kids! HMM!?!? THEY'RE GONE!!!

Faithful translation.

While Pinocchimon's distracted, MetalEtemon rips himself free of the marionette strings. Once he hears Pinocchimon's words, however, he whips around in fury.

MetalEtemon: NGGGH!!! WHAT WAS THAT!?!? Pinocchimon: This is your fault! MetalEtemon: No, it's yours!

This is MetalEtemon's fault. Pinocchimon had dibs on the basis of First Come First Served and was about to start killing when MetalEtemon interrupted.

Jury finds in favor of the sad little puppet boy and orders Titanium Elvis to surrender two children in compensation plus another half of a child in emotional damages.

MetalEtemon lunges furiously for the tree branch Pinocchimon's standing on. Pinocchimon hops over his lunge, then kicks him in the back and uses him as a springboard to get moving into the forest. MetalEtemon slams facefirst into the tree while Pinocchimon heads off into the woods.

Pinocchimon: I quit! MetalEtemon: (grumbling) What's with you? Pinocchimon: Got bored. Going home. MetalEtemon: Crude little brat. But at least he's not around to get in my way anymore. Just you wait, Chosen Children! You'll regret making light of me!

In an ironic twist, Pinocchimon is the one who shows maturity and realizes how pointless this is. And MetalEtemon didn't even need a higher being to come make him do backstory homework before agreeing to let him go! Such maturity.

In the dub, MetalEtemon is the one who starts the blame game.

MetalEtemon: It's your fault, you piece of rotted driftwood! Puppetmon: You recycled tin can! MetalEtemon: Big, dumb knothole! (MetalEtemon lunges; Puppetmon kicks off his back and starts to walk away) MetalEtemon: Hey! Where ya goin'!? Puppetmon: Home! You're lousy at name-calling! MetalEtemon: Oh yeah!? Well, I'm metal and you're wood! Whatever you say bounces off me and splits you in half! ...Who needs him anyway? I can find those DigiDestined myself; After all, I am the ultimate metal detector.

Lots of material composition jokes in this exchange. The "I'm metal and you're wood" bit got me. XD

The dub version seems to be implying that MetalEtemon had been trying to team up with Puppetmon this whole time? Weird way to go about it.

Back at the mansion, Koromon evolves to Agumon and the children ambush Pinocchimon's guards.

Suddenly rushing them without warning, Tentomon nails Floramon with his Petit Thunder while Agumon lobs a Baby Flame at Delumon.

(Weird choice to come at them at Child stage after Koushiro specifically analyzed and confirmed that Delumon is Perfect. Weirder is that Delumon looks more ruffled by their attacks than Floramon does.)

Delumon: What do you think you are doing!?!? Agumon: Isn't that obvious!? You're with Pinocchimon, aren't you!? Delumon: ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Floramon: It's not like that at all. Takeru: Then what is it like? Delumon: Well... He sees us as playmates de aru, but we don't feel the same de aru.

Delumon ends his sentences with "de aru" instead of the standard "desu"; This signifies that he's speaking in a posh and formal manner, as is to be expected from the Deluxe Monster. It's not something I would normally write out in the transcript, but it forms the basis of an upcoming gag.

Delumon leans in conspiratorially.

Delumon: Don't tell him I said this de aru but the truth is that WE DESPISE PINOCCHIMON DE ARU!!! Takeru: That's right! I just remembered de aru. Pinocchimon doesn't have any friends de aru. Patamon: Yeah yeah! Hikari: Really? That makes Pinocchimon a really sad person de aru. Tailmon: ...you don't have to copy him. Hikari: Ehehehe!

Inspired by Delumon, Takeru and Hikari decide that seems like fun and start playing around with de aru as their "to be" verb too. This is how language evolves, especially in the minds of impressionable children.

Oh fuck me, we rolled up and started shooting at Pinocchimon's victims. Holy shit, I am glad we got this sorted out before somebody died; We're kind of in Shoot to Kill mode at this point so that was a real possibility!

A valuable lesson has been learned today about wildly spraying bullets into a populated location where one identified bad guy can be found. I'm sure this has no real-world application whatsoever. Nope nope.

The de aru bit won't translate to English, so obviously the dub has to drop that.

(Tentomon and Agumon jump Floramon and Deramon) Deramon: If you wanted fried chicken, you could have asked! Agumon: Sorry, we thought you guys were out here protecting Puppetmon's mansion. Deramon: Oh, so you barbecue me!? Floramon: We're not here protecting anything! T.K.: Then what are you guys doing? Deramon: Well, we're supposed to be Puppetmon's playmates. You know, someone to chase around and attack when he gets bored. (Deramon leans in conspiratorially) Deramon: But let me fill you in on a little secret: Puppetmon is an obnoxious jerk and none of us around this place can stand him! T.K.: Oh, yeah. Now I remember. Puppetmon doesn't have any friends even though he thinks he does. Patamon: Yeah, that's right! Kari: Wow, what could be worse than having a life without a single friend? Gatomon: A litter box lined with fly paper? Kari: AHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Despite having to lose the de aru, this is a solid adaptation. In particular, Deramon's line "Oh, so you barbecue me!?" is perfect. You can feel his outrage at getting shot for being in the vicinity of a bad guy.

Taichi, his eye on the ball, questions Delumon.

Taichi: Well? Is Pinocchimon inside? Delumon: No de aru. He's out de aru. Agumon: What should we do, Taichi? Taichi: We should sneak into Pinocchimon's mansion. Takeru: Delumon, take us in de aru. Delumon: Will do de aru. Follow me de aru.

Hikari got scolded by her Partner but Takeru's still doing it.

Delumon and Floramon turn to lead the kids in, but then Delumon stops and turns back to them.

Delumon: AH!!! Let me ask you one favor first de aru. You have to keep this a secret from PInocchimon de aru. Everyone: WE WILL DE ARU!!!

XD Goddammit every single one of you. Even Tailmon gets in on this one.

In the dub:

Tai: So, is Puppetmon inside the house right now? Deramon: I think he's out being fumigated for termites. Agumon: So what should we do, Tai? Tai: Well, now's a good chance to take a look inside the mansion. T.K.: Deramon, will you show us around? Deramon: Sure; I used to be a tour guide at Digimon Studios! (They start to go, but then Deramon stops) Deramon: Oh! No video cameras, flash photography, food, or drink are allowed during the tour. Everyone: GREAT!!! LET'S GO!!! Deramon: The main structure was built before the Digital Revolution....

Unable to utilize the de aru gag, the dub compensates with a lot of quipping. They also add a line for Deramon at the end, as the children silently approach the mansion, which is a strong choice.

Since we can't leave on the punchline of everyone saying de aru together, they wrote a different punchline playing off their "tour guide" angle. That way, we still get to end this scene on a silly note.

Elsewhere in the woods, MetalEtemon's search for Mimi and Jou continues, but they've found safety under the roots of a tree.

MetalEtemon swings briefly into a tree branch, looking around the woods. He mutters to himself.

MetalEtemon: Damn it! Where did you run off to, children?

Then he grabs another vine and swings away, and we pan down to Jou, Mimi, and Ogremon hiding under a tree.

Mimi: Do your wounds still hurt? Ogremon: I'm doing well, Miss. I promise, I will return the favor some day. Mimi: You don't have to do that. Ogremon: NO, I MUST!!! That is the code of honor that every lone wolf upholds! Jou: (gasp) By "code of honor", do you mean like "O hikae nasu," "O hikae nasu,"!? Mimi: (laugh) That's so old-fashioned! Ogremon: (pout) ...so I'm an old-fashioned Digimon. Gomamon: Look! Ogremon is sulking! Kids: Ahahaha!

This one's complicated.

Ogremon's "code of honor" here is jingi, a particular sense of duty and ethics commonly associated with unsavory types such as yakuza. The phrase Jou breaks out for confirmation is an archaic way for yakuza and other criminal types to greet one another. He's confirming that Ogremon is talking about an "honor among thieves" sort of deal.

In the dub:

MetalEtemon: How hard could it be to find a bunch of kids!? (swings away) (Pan down to Mimi, Joe, and Ogremon) Mimi: So, does it still hurt? Ogremon: Actually, no. Not really. I need to know how I can ever thank you all. Mimi: Oh, forget about it. You don't need to thank us. Ogremon: No, I have to! It's an ancient tradition to repay all acts of kindness. It's part of my sacred moral code as an Ogremon! Joe: Sacred moral code; What are you, a member of King Arthur's Court or something!? Mimi: Oh, that's so romantic! Ogremon: (pout) I'm sorry, I'll try to be meaner next time! Gomamon: Yeah, you'll ruin your reputation! Kids: Ahahahahaha!

This flows pretty well but the nuance is lost. There's a context shift, as we lose the reference between Ogremon's behavior and old-school gang conduct. Without that connection, what is now all Ogremon having a "sacred moral code" lands a little weird given what we know about this guy.

End result, Ogremon gets ridiculed for having inexplicably high moral standards for a guy who tried to murder children that then go unexplained. In the original, he was being called out for being the Japanese equivalent of a Pinstripe Mafioso with a Tommy Gun.

Back at the mansion, Taichi and his group enter Pinocchimon's mansion.

Right as they walk in, they find a gift box waiting on the stairs in the foyer. It springs open on its own, revealing a jack-in-the-box puppet of a soldier in camo fatigues. With an SMG in hand, the puppet sprays gunfire at the intruders.

The team scatters. Taichi, Sora, and Hikari go one way with Delumon, Piyomon, and Tailmon. Koushiro and Takeru go the other way with Floramon, Tentomon, Patamon, and Agumon. Most of the kids have their partners, though Taichi and Agumon are separated in the panic.

Taichi: W-What the hell!? Delumon: I think that was a jack-in-the-box! Taichi: Are you trying to lead us into a trap!? Delumon: Absolutely not! We aren't as mean and underhanded as Pincochimon! Please believe me. Hikari: We should believe him, Onii-chan.

Meanwhile, Koushiro's group finds a toy fire truck in their hallway.

Takeru: Huh? It's a fire truck? Floramon: Don't! If you touch it--

Too late. Patamon touches it, causing the siren to turn on.

Agumon: A siren? Floramon: This! (Floramon picks it up) Floramon: Needs to go! (Floramon hurls it out the window) Floramon: EVERYONE DOWN!!!

Everyone drops to the floor, covering their heads. Outside, the explosion from the detonating fire truck blasts open the wall beside them.

Koushiro: It was a time bomb.... Floramon: That's why I told you not to touch anything! Agumon & Patamon: Sorry....

Despite the censoring of other guns, the dub keeps the G.I. Jack-in-the-box sentry. I guess that gun's fine because it's disguised as a toy.

Tai: What was that!? Deramon: It's a Jack-in-the-Box with a serious attitude! Tai: You wouldn't happen to be leading us into some sort of trap, would you, Deramon!? Deramon: Why, of course not! I would never try anything as deceitful as Puppetmon! Cross my wings and hope to fly, honest! Kari: I believe him, Tai! How about you? Tai: (noncommital) Mm.... (Cut to the other wing) T.K.: OH BOY!!! Patamon: It's a toy! Floramon: Oh no! Make sure you don't touch it! Patamon: (touch) Uh-oh.... (Siren starts to blare) Agumon: What's happening? Floramon: WATCH OUT!!! (Floramon picks it up) Floramon: GET DOWN!!! (Floramon hurls it out the window) (Explosion) Izzy: It was a heat-activated bomb! Floramon: That's why I said don't touch anything! Agumon & Patamon: Sorry....

...it was a time bomb, Izzy.

When I was younger, I might have questioned the logic of putting a timer on a trap like this. But no, that's sound booby trap design. The bomb would have got them either way; The only reason it failed is because they had an infiltrator already familiar with the security system.

Putting a timer on your booby trap isn't a bad idea because it allows for what Floramon did. It is, in fact, a good idea because it allows for what Floramon did. The worst-case scenario with a trap like this is not that it fails to kill an intruder. It's that it successfully turns you into wall paste because you woke up groggy and forgot it was armed.

Good security design accounts for the possibility that your dumb ass might accidentally set it off one day. After all, an intruder only rolls those dice once; You're going to roll them every single day of your life going forward. A +19 circumstantial bonus won't save you from a Nat 1.

In any case, apart from Izzy misidentifying the bomb, this is a pretty solid adaptation.

From here, we return to Mimi and Jou, who are still conversing with Ogremon.

Ogremon: You want to know why I fight with Leomon? Mimi: Yes. I want to understand the meaning behind your fights. Ogremon: Having a 'meaning' would make it too complicated. I guess you could say that Leomon and I are eternal rivals. Mimi: So what will happen when one of you wins? Ogremon: When one of us wins? I guess we'll cheer "HOORAY!!!" and know that we're stronger. Mimi: And after that? Ogremon: What do you mean, after that? Mimi: Then your rival would be gone. Ogremon: Leomon would be gone...? NEGH!!! Don't say things like that! I don't want to think about it!

Ogremon has no answer to Mimi's question and it freaks him the fuck out.

Ogremon: Defeating Leomon is the only thing that brings meaning to my life. (voice breaks) If he were gone, I'd... I'd.... Mimi: That's a logical contradiction. Think carefully about this. Ogremon: SHUT UP!!! I'm still going to defeat Leomon! What comes next... It doesn't matter! I'll think about that after I've beaten him! Jou: So, in the end, we just came full circle.

Jou finds this to have been an uneventful exchange, but it's clear that Ogremon's flailing. Mimi's question cut him deep, nearly bringing him to tears, and now he's frantically backpedaling. She's planted a seed of doubt in his mind, even if it didn't bear fruit today.

Before this can go any further, an explosion is heard outside.

Jou: Huh? (Jou goes out to look around) Jou: What the...?

In stepping outside, Jou walks right into the trap. MetalEtemon lowers himself from a vine, singing.

MetalEtemon: Fo~ound yooooooou! Jou: RUN FOR IT!!!

The group flees their temporary shelter, running for their lives once again.

The dub opens this exchange with a gag.

Mimi: Ogremon, can I ask you a personal question? Ogremon: Yes, it's true; I don't floss. Mimi: That's not what I was going to ask! Why do you fight with Leomon? Do you have him? Ogremon: No, no. It's not a question of hate. It's our destiny to fight each other. He and I will be rivals for all eternity. Mimi: Well, if that's your only purpose in life, what would happen if you actually won? Ogremon: I never really thought about it before. Maybe I'll take a vacation; A cruise is always nice. Mimi: And after that? Ogremon: What do you mean, after that? Mimi: Well if the fight's over, you wouldn't have a rival anymore! Ogremon: Of course I would. He and I are like two old warriors; Fighting a war that has no beginning and has no end. Why, the only reason I exist at all is to defeat Leomon and if he were gone, well... I'm so confused. Mimi: You've got to have more of a purpose in life than to just defeat Leomon. Ogremon: Leave me alone! You can't possibly understand! This rivalry is as old as time itself! I don't care what happens; I'll think about it after I've defeated Leomon! Joe: You're getting way too excited! I'd better take your blood pressure.

XD Goddammit, Joe. That was funny, and a good reminder that he's technically Ogremon's physician right now.

This conversation goes off-track right around "If the fight's over, you won't have a rival anymore." The point of this scene is that Mimi is trying to get Ogremon to think about death; The logical conclusion of his and Leomon's violent rivalry. And succeeding!

In the dub, Ogremon blows right through the question, presuming that even after one of them wins, their rivalry will continue on forever anyways. The only concession he offers is that he briefly gets "confused".

Mimi then derails her own topic by questioning Ogremon's purpose in life instead of keeping the conversation centered on "What happens to the other one when one of you dies?"

MetalEtemon: (Tarzan yell) Joe: What's that? (Joe goes out to look around) Joe: It came from out here.... MetalEtemon: I FOUND YOU!!! Joe: RUN!!!

This part is another victim of the dub clearly not knowing which sound effects are supposed to go with the footage. Once again they mess up a plot point delivered only through sound.

The thing that draws Joe's attention is a mysterious explosion. That's what he's investigating. The dub uses MetalEtemon's Tarzan yell, which... Like... Why would Joe walk towards MetalEtemon's Tarzan yell when they're hiding from MetalEtemon?

He knows what that sound means. He was there the first time MetalEtemon did it.

Bad sound choice.

Back at the mansion, Pinocchimon finally returns home after a long day of monkey business.

It does not go well.

Pinocchimon: Who should I play with next...? Taichi: (watching through mini telescope) Pinocchimon's on his way back.

Taichi's crew have reunited offscreen and found a cannon upstairs in the mansion. Agumon and Koushiro are inspecting it while he scouts.

Taichi: Is it ready? Koushiro: None of us know how to fire this thing. Agumon: (turns to the others) You guys! Delumon: You want me to fire it de aru!? Very well, but you DEFINITELY have to keep this a secret from Pinocchimon de aru! Taichi: We know! Agumon: De aruuu~!

Delumon and Floramon roll the cannon up to the window.

Delumon: Here we go de aru! Floramon: Alignment set. Delumon: FIIIIIIRE DE ARU!!!

To his complete shock, cannonballs explode around Pinocchimon.

Pinocchimon: W-WHAT!?!? WHAT THE!?

He turns around and swiftly retreats, taking cover behind a giant tree root.

Pinocchimon: Great, a hiding spot! I get it... This must be the Chosen Children! Just you wait... I'll get rid of you once and for all!

Once he's gotten his bearings, he raises his Bullet Hammer, dives back over the root, and charges for the mansion. He screams a full-throated battle roar as he charges, cannonballs exploding and ripping up the cobblestone walkway all around him.

In the dub:

Puppetmon: Who should I play with next? Tai: Puppetmon's coming back! Are you ready? Izzy: It would help if I had some idea of how this worked. Agumon: You do it. Deramon: What!? That's against every principle I stand for! Alright, what the heck, I'll do it but don't tell Puppetmon! It'll be our secret! Tai: Yeah, yeah. Agumon: We know! (Deramon and Floramon prepare the cannon) Deramon: Okay, I've got him in my sights. Ready! Aim! FIIIIIRE!!!

The dub puts its final commercial break here, right before the cannon fires. We return a couple seconds earlier to Deramon and Floramon wheeling the cannon to the window.

Deramon: I can see him coming! TAKE THIS, PUPPETMON!!! (Cannonfire begins) Puppetmon: Wha--!? WHOA!!! WHO'S SHOOTING AT ME!? (Puppetmon flees and takes cover behind a vine) Puppetmon: I know who it is! It's the DigiDestined! Hey, that's not fair! You're using my toys! (Puppetmon charges the mansion)

Not sure why Deramon would scream "Take this Puppetmon" when he doesn't want Puppetmon to know it's him, but that's a nitpick. This is pretty good, and the "That goes against my principles; Okay I'll do it" bit makes for a solid replacement for this round of the de aru gag.

Elsewhere in the woods, MetalEtemon continues his search for his prey.

MetalEtemon: (calling) Where did you go, Chosen Children!?

MetalEtemon swings from a vine, searching for the kids and Ogremon; All of whom are taking cover under the nearby bushes to escape his sight.

Once he's gone, they get up to move. However, a bestial snarl from nearby catches their attention. The silhouette of a large creatre appears nearby.

Mimi: H-Huh!? Jou: Enemy or ally!?

The creature reveals themselves, emerging from the brush. It's a huge, vaguely familiar sabertoothed lion. Ogremon gasps at the sight of it, raising his club threateningly.

Three guesses who that is and the first two don't count.

In the dub:

MetalEtemon: You can't hide from me, I'm the king of swing!

Dub MetalEtemon harmonizes his Tarzan yell into a genuinely pleasant melody. I love this stupid monkey man so much. XD

(New creature appears) Mimi: What is that!? Joe: Friend or foe!? Ogremon: (eager) AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Narrator: Who is this new creature? Could he be Ogremon's archrival? And will Puppetmon escape Deramon's cannon blast to take his revenge on the DigiDestined? Tune in for the next episode of Digimon: Digital Monsters!

I want to make a "SPOILERS FUCK" comment here but I'm not entirely convinced that the Dub Team ever watched episodes in advance so he might actually be speculating.

Assessment: Mimi gets a lot of focus in this one and Etemon returns so that automatically makes it the best episode in the series FIGHT ME

In seriousness, the Mimi arc is up and running with Ogremon challenged on the precise nature of his rivalry and what he wants out of it. Meanwhile, the battle with Pinocchimon has officially kicked off.

The dub handles this episode pretty well. There's a few missteps with characterization here and there as usual but overall a pretty good one, with plenty of jokes that land and their typical highly entertaining take on Etemon - though at a cost to much of Pinocchimon's personality.

#digimon #digimon adventure #revisiting digimon #revisiting digimon adventure

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