#hz074

[amelikos]

Initial thoughts on the title for HZ074.

Link here. I need to write my thoughts as usual. No summary or staff list for the episode, those will probably be released in the Animage magazine at the end of this week.

Given that this is the title for the episode just after the Basagiri episode, that means Basagiri will join the group as planned and that HZ074 probably has the mysterious woman at the Crystal Pool.

So, the three Explorers are probably referring to Lucius, Gibeon and the mystery woman. Which means Gibeon taking on the Explorers name may be an homage to his friends (something I wrote about before, I think) and that he is keeping the name out of nostalgia/sentimality and to keep their name going on.. which is endearing (to me), and also cute..

Anyway, I hope that this is a proper flashback episode and that we'll get a lot of information. I also remember seeing merch for shiny Zygarde being released in December and while merch lines don't necessarily have something to do with the anime, shiny Zygarde feels too specific to me to be about anyone else other than Gibeon, so maybe we'll see Gibeon in action around the end of the year or early January.. Which reminds me that the last episode that aired in 2023 was HZ034 (which also had Gibeon, Amethio, etc).

Either way. Explorers lore coming soon. I will keep going on and on about Gibeon keeping the Explorers name in present day, because that feels like such a loving gesture. I can't wait to learn about his real motives (which I hope are nuanced and human, and not boring like certain antagonistic teams).

I will also keep going on about Lucius and Gibeon going through a divorce.. I don't think any pair of characters embody "divorced characters" as much as them tbh. Are they divorced if it doesn't involve a long custody battle lasting decades over a magical turtle—

I feel like Gibeon really loved Lucius, and Lucius broke his heart somehow and he is still chasing Lucius to this day. Love in the wider sense of the word. It really feels like Gibeon still wishes he were still traveling with his friends, especially Lucius.. He really feels focused on the past, too much, even. To the point he can't properly see his family in present day. I hope all parties involved get proper closure eventually.

Maybe my current thoughts about the past Explorers are off the mark, but I like the kind of thoughts and theories one can only have while a show is still airing.. it's part of the ongoing mystery and the process which makes us feel fully invested in the narrative instead of being passive watchers. I'm looking forward to this episode!

[amelikos]

Going over the monthly titles and summaries for November (from HZ073 to HZ075).

Some summaries haven't been published yet. Writing thoughts for future reference, etc.

Starting with HZ073, which airs next week (link here).

Most surprising thing to me is that Michihiro Tsuchiya is handling the Basagiri two-parter since Six Heroes episodes are usually written by the core writers (such as Kureha Matsuzawa). The scope of episodes that the others writers handle is expanding. Michihiro Tsuchiya took care of some episodes I really liked, such as Nyahoja's backstory episode (HZ040), which is probably his screenplay that I love the most to this day, still. Nyahoja's focus episode was the one I found most emotionally resonant. Recently, he also wrote the episodes in which Roy's parents appeared and which showcased more of Roy's backstory. Also in terms of character focus... he also wrote HZ020, which was Kabu's episode (which I am bringing up because it has one of the most interesting traits explored for a character, aka Liko's tendancy to hold back her own wants in favor of others and how something she perceives as kindness can hurt her and others.. said character trait was later explored further in other episodes by core writers, and was even mirroring Nyahoja's own situation when she was holding back her own power because of her past when she hurt her friends trying to protect them..). Either way, this writer handling a Hero episode was unexpected. I am not sure we'll get a Lucius flashback next episode since Lucius is one of those characters written by specific writers. We'll see.

About the summary for HZ073. I find it intriguing that it mentions a relationship between Basagiri and Lapras. In the midst of old man yaoi drama happening between Lucius and Gibeon, you're telling me that we might even get drama among the Pokemon themselves- Exactly what was happening between the original Explorers and their Pokemon? I wonder if Lapras got the scars from Basagiri.

Also since we are possibly getting more insight into the Six Heroes themselves. Pointing out that Basagiri's episode describes him as a "lone warrior". While Lapras's episode where it joined the group (HZ032) is called "Lapras's feelings for its companions". One seems to be a loner by nature, and the other is surrounded by friends. Could that also be applied to Lucius and Gibeon? I hope we'll get to learn a bit more about the dynamics between the Six Heroes, it's really interesting.

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Only the titles and staff lists are revealed for the remaining November episodes (HZ074 and HZ075). I think they want to keep the mystery going on a bit longer if the summaries weren't released in the monthly magazines.

Link here for HZ074, link here for HZ075. My initial thoughts on the title for HZ074 were written here.

Kureha Matsuzawa (the script coordinator) is writing this two-parter! Which is probably why he wasn't the one on the Basagiri two-parter (he was probably focusing on the Explorers backstory).

Kureha Matsuzawa's last screenplay was HZ068 (first episode of the current chapter). He was also the one who wrote the two-parter which had Amethio and Liko being stuck in a cave together (HZ064 and HZ065). So it's interesting to me that he is writing another two-parter 10 eps after the previous one.

Ep 64/65 focused on Liko and Amethio, and now ep 74/75 might focus on the truth behind Lucius and Gibeon.. interesting how we're getting AmeLiko and then LuciGibe, two pairs which could be viewed through a romantic lens if one is inclined to do so-

I have no idea what to expect. Is it going to be a two-parter in terms of flashbacks?

Also, the title for HZ075 reminds me of Lucius's words and wishes ("I want all of you to find your futures...", the first words said in HZ001 and which were brought back at the end of HZ025 when Liko was going through Lucius's memoirs). The idea of "entrusted future" is also something that is often brought up (these words are mentioned in the current opening, Only One Story).

I usually mostly pay attention to the writers for episodes but the staff list for HZ075 is particulary intriguing beyond that. Saori Den, the series' director, is taking care of the storyboard. Last time she worked on a storyboard for a Horizons episode was the very first episode of the series. So this definitely feels like something important is happening, in terms of reveals and the story overall if we're getting the combination of the script coordinator, series director etc, working on the same episode. I think we have probably hit the midpoint for Horizons now.

I am really looking forward to this month's episodes! Lucius and Gibeon drama soon.