#i love izzy and matt and joe

[asteraws]

started watching digimon :•)

[kooldewd123]

honestly i think a big reason why i could absolutely never stay invested in tri is that the character designs are such a massive downgrade from the original series. the original designs are so incredibly iconic and so incredibly 90s that putting them into normal streetwear makes the series lose so much of its visual identity (and it definitely doesn't help that all the promotional art has them in identical school uniforms...). i genuinely can't recognize mimi without a ridiculous pink outfit or tk without a stupid-ass hat and i am honest to god not even joking about that. everyone just looks so forgettable here.

[marksbear]

MULTI FANDOM MALE READER SCENARIOS 

It’s been a while since I done one of these, but I think it’ll be good for me to practice more at writing different characters and such so enjoy!

The fact is I had more tags to share 😭

-Miguel O’Hara biting your neck harshly to get your attention when he feeling jealous. Or marking you as his.

-Izzy Hands always lightly taking your hand and helping you either up the steps or down the steps. He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it most time. Everyone in the ship always notices it but doesn’t say anything.

^^Ofmd

-Bob taking off his glasses and putting them on you then starts to compliment you how good and cute you look.

^^Top gun!

-Matt Murdock tracing your face in morning when he thinks your still sleep. He also traces your face anytime your two are arguing because he wants to see your emotions.

^^Marvel

-You and The Corinthian driving around during late nights with his hand on your thigh as he drives you around.

^^DC

-Tony stark buying you whatever you want or even dream of. It can be jewelry all the way to new houses and cars.

^^Marvel

-Bruce Wayne and you being a power couple throughout Gotham. Lots of magazines and headline about you two.

^^DC

-Teaching Adam Warlock about feelings about like having a crush or being in love.

^^Marvel

-You and Doom head being an unstoppable duo anytime you two are paired up in a game.

^^Rob Zombie movie 31

-You and Richard Madden making fun of each other accents in interviews for the newest movie you two are in.

^^Actor

-You and Hobie Brown making out in a middle of Miguel’s rant.

^^Marvel

-Homelander wrapping his arms around you as you two makeout and he slowly rises from the ground bringing you in the air with him.

^^The Boys

-You we’re very close with Love to the point all lot of people thought you two were dating. Joe was furious so he started to stalk you planing to murder, but all that stalking for weeks slowly became to months and he slowly started to catch feelings.

^^YOU

-Benedict Bridgeton being so in love with you, but he so scared that his family would disown him as well as everyone around town.

^^Bridgeton

-You and Benedict sneaking off during ball’s and random events to be with each other alone.

^^Bridgeton

-Imagine sitting down in the bleachers waiting for Mark to be done with his track meet.

^^Author/ Me

-Playing with Dutch Van der linde hair during a camp meeting and he tries to stay focus but he can’t.

^^RD2

-You and Larry smoking as you two listen to Sal play the guitar.

^^Sally Face

-Ted feeling ashamed after he realized that he caugt feelings for you even though your a player.

^^Ted Lasso

-When Dean first met you y’all both were very young. You were reckless and carefree while Dean was taking care of Sam and brought him along while you two hanged out. And he caught feelings, but he was confused about why he had feelings for a man so he kept it to himself.

^^SPN

-Helping Mark walk without his leg brace or crutches.

^^Author/Me

-Stu Marcher giving you neck kisses in the middle of class. And most of the time teachers sees him and gives you both detention.

^^Slashers

-Hannibal Lecter leaving bite marks all over your neck and shoulders.

^^Slashers

-Roy Kent being soft spoken and quiet anytime he’s with you.

^^Ted Lasso

-Larry Trainor slowly warmed up to you being his boyfriend so he lets you touch his skin underneath the bandages.

^^DC

-Anytime before a fight Arthur asks you to hold his hands. He says it’s for a good luck, but he’s just really stressed and tense.

^^Peaky blinders

-Steven Grant still being so shy and quiet with you even though you two has been dating for years.

^^Marvel

-Bringing Namor gifts like flowers, jewelry and even little things like a picture of yourself or a padlock necklace. He cherishes all of them and keeps them safe.

^^Marvel

-Meeting Namor on the beach at night almost every night.

^^Marvel

-Bobby and Athena inviting you into their relationship. They both didn’t cheat on each other to find about their feelings for you they just kinda knew one day and talked it out and for a while and a lot of thought they asked would you be willing to date them.

^^9-1-1

-Being a rich man while Steven is your trophy husband.

^^Marvel

-Dying your hair with mark.

^^Author/Me

-Watching Mark stay up all night writing just for him to randomly stop to watch a movie.

^^Author/Me

-Lee and Maren catching you eating a person right in the middle of a dark and empty road.

^^Bones and All

-Being a different love interest for Elio and being heartbroken once he chose Oliver over you.

^^Call me by your name

-Imagine rejecting Derek Shepheard after finding out he has a wife.

^^Greys anatomy 

-Rue hugging and crying on you tight after she relapsed.And you being her favorite person ever since what happened with Jules and Elliot.

^^Euphoria

-Being a father figure to Rue.

^^Euphoria

-Imagine being Maddy Perez brother and finding out Nate pulled a gun on her so you pulled up to his house barged in and looked for him and beat the shit out of him.

^^Euphoria

-Billy Hargrove acting like he hates the nickname “Curls.” Or “Curly.” But when you say it he loves it.

^^Stranger things

THE END

[remember-digimon]

Since it's pride month and I'm a lonely queer person I decided to do a quick rundown of my hc for the DigiDestined's identities. This is disregarding the epilogue bc to heck with that let these kids be queer in peace

Now I don't like to discuss the sexuality of young children purely bc they are children and I am an adult and that's weird so I'm basing this on what little knowledge I have of them in Tri alongside what I know from 01. This is them as adults ok? ok here we go

(also um. I'm a dumb millennial that lives in a corn field so uh. If I get something wrong please correct me orz)

Tai: bisexual. As if there was any other answer. Something about him just gives off 'bisexual guy' vibes. Maybe because I think he'd be a total golden retriever boyfriend and those types are usually bi

Sora: non-binary. Her upbringing kind of forced her into being feminine when she really just doesn't want to participate in gender at all

Matt: I'm gonna say pansexual bc to him it literally does not matter. He likes who he likes. Also demisexual and possibly demiromantic. He has to have a strong connection for feelings to develop

Izzy: Ace all day babyyyy. To him, sex is for making babies, but not in a religious way. He isn't sex-repulsed, it's just not a priority

Joe: the cis-hetero ally of the group. You know he's the designated driver to all the Pride events

Mimi: LESBIAN LESBIAN LESBIAN She's a high femme lesbian and she likes other femmes, butches, chapstick lesbians, just WOMEN. and she beats up TERFs bc trans women are women DUH

TK: doesn't wanna put a label on it right now, man, he's into what he's into and he'll figure it out later, my guy. A few months later he realizes he's bi and has to call Matt at 3am bc he's having a crisis, he got an iced latte that day and the male barista smiled at him and now he's having his first Gay Panic

Kari: also bi, the Kamiya family makes bi people like they have a quota to meet. She hooked up with Yolei once and it was fun. Now they listen to Chappell Roan together ❤️

Davis: the hyperactive gay guy of the found family. Falls in love at least once a month. Is terrible at hitting on guys but they always think it's endearing

Yolei: trans girl, lesbian. The others will line up to absolutely obliterate any transphobes that give her problems. She wants an idyllic lesbian romance with absolutely no children

Cody: aro/ace and unbothered by everyone else's romantic life. Don't bring the 'Tai and Matt used to make out all the time in high school' gossip to Cody, he literally does not care lol

Ken: he is gay and hopelessly in love with Davis. He sighs dreamily as Davis tries to do parkour and smacks into the ground like a wad of wet paper

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x41 - The Raging Sea King! MetalSeadramon / Sea-Sick and Tired

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Piemon invited the Chosen Children to see the show he's been rehearsing. But when they weren't very impressed, he started stabbing people instead. Fucking auteurs, man. Some people can't handle a little criticism.

I would love to tell you where that leaves us, but before we can begin, the dub needs to finish the previous episode first.

We open on Piximon giving the kids' barrier bubble a hard bop again.

Piximon: You're as ready as you'll ever be! Go get 'em! (Piximon bops the bubble and sends them away) Izzy: I think that was meant to be encouraging. Kari: (flatly) He has an awful lot of confidence in us. (Piximon turns and faces the Dark Masters) Piedmon: You may have fooled those silly children with this brave act, but we know better, don't we? Piximon: What makes you think it's just an act!? (Slow pan out from the coliseum) Kari: Oh, it doesn't seem right just leaving him there-- OHH!? (bright flash) Tai: (matter of factly) Remember, he wanted it this way.

Izzy shits on Piximon's last words. Kari's like "Maybe we should go back OH GOD HE DIED." It's hilarious the way the explosion signifying his death suddenly spooks her like that during her line, and I genuinely don't know if it was meant to be. Then Tai's like "Eh, it was his call. Moving on." XD Wow, guys.

Today's episode begins with the Children at their destination. Lost in a thick fog, they can't make heads or tails of where Piccolomon's final barrier brought them to.

Taichi: Where are we? Sora: There's sand under our feet. Yamato: We could be in a desert. Koushiro: Uh, I smell salt.... Mimi: Are those waves? Jou: It's the ocean!

There's something funny about Yamato speculating that we might be in a desert while we clearly see the ocean in front of them. Dramatic irony isn't just for drama.

The fog gradually lifts, giving the kids a better view of their surroundings.

Takeru: I'm starting to see things more clearly. Hikari: The fog is disappearing.

Once the kids can see more clearly, Taichi and Yamato check on the others.

Taichi: Are you all okay? Sora: No, we aren't okay. Everyone's exhausted. Yamato: In any case, do we know where we are?

Being bounced like ping-pong balls between the Dark Masters hasn't left the children in the best of states. Poor Mimi had to watch an old friend sacrifice his life for her, and also Chuumon. This was not the victory lap that the kids, high on success and new Ultimate evolutions, were anticipating.

The dub uses the clearing of the fog as a bit of an awkward transition line. Tai speaks up to announce that it's clearing while we're still fading from Piximon's death explosion to the foggy beach in the first place.

Tai: Look, the fog is finally clearing! Joe: Great. Now we can clearly see that we're lost! Izzy: It's more productive to think of ourselves as on our way, Joe. Matt: (sarcastically) Tch, yeah. I feel better already. T.K.: All I know is that I'm getting pretty hungry! Kari: And I'm getting cold! Tai: But everybody's okay, right? Besides being hungry and cold and lost.... Sora: Don't forget frightened, tired, and upset about PIximon. Matt: Otherwise, we're fine.

They start by taking out the geographic guessing game banter and exchange it for bickering. Honestly, though, I do like the bickering here and the subsequent conversation about the group's feelings. It conveys the impression that these kids are high-strung and are psychologically hanging on by a thread right now. What happened has utterly shattered their confidence plus, as Sora points out, they're all grieving on top of it.

The kids look around to try and get their bearings. They quickly find an incredibly helpful landmark.

Koushiro: I feel like I've been here before... Ah!

As soon as Koushiro gasps, everyone whips around to see what he's looking at. Probably a good reflex for them to have developed in this place.

There, on the beach, are the destroyed remains of a series of phone booths.

Koushiro: Broken telephone booths....

Taichi, Yamato, and their Digimon all stare in wide-eyed shock, gasping. Flashback to the phone booths before they were destroyed.

Yamato: Ah! It's those telephone booths! Taichi: You're right. This is the beach on File Island where we met our Digimon for the first time and set off on our journey.

Taichi's remark is a little dry, but it's been thirty-nine episodes since we saw these phone booths. It's probably a good idea to explain the context for kids who hopped in somewhere in the middle.

In the dub:

Izzy: I have a feeling we've been here before. Wait a minute, look! (Everyone looks at the phone booths) Izzy: Those smashed-up phone booths! Sora: You don't think that they could be the same ones, do you? Tai: Of course! I can't believe it. This whole time, we thought we were making all this progress but now it looks like we've just been traveling in one big circle!

Tai, what the fuck are you talking about?

We did not "travel in one big circle" and end up here. That's not.

We did not get here by traveling. Our goal wasn't traveling in the first place. There was... A lot of plot has....

What?

I am genuinely baffled by the words that the dub team chose to put in Tai's mouth. It still captures the idea that we have returned to a place we were once at but his outrage over "traveling in a circle" and unmaking our progress is contextually bizarre.

Meanwhile, the Dark Masters have retreated to the top of Spiral Mountain, where Piemon has scouted the children's location with his giant-ass telescope.

Piemon: I've spotted the Chosen Children and their Digimon. MetalSeadramon: As the king of the seas, the coast belongs to me. The lives of the Chosen Children and their Digimon are mine to take. Now, who should I use from my Deep Savers Ankoku Gundan?

MetalSeadramon's army is called "Deep Savers Ankoku Gundan", mixing English and Japanese while directly referencing the name of the V-Pet release that he's from. Fans of mech anime might recognize that last word; gundan is the Japanese word for military armed forces.

Ankoku, meanwhile, means "darkness" - not quite "evil" as the subtitle up there suggests. Though darkness and evil are often related ideas, it's best here to not be poetic with it and leave it at darkness due to the association with MetalSeadramon's faction. Fitting that a Dark Master would have an ankoku gundan.

(From an American perspective, calling them an army also seems weird because. Like. They aren't ground troops. They'd be more like Marines over here. But different cultures have different standards for armed forces terminology.)

If you were to try to localize this for Americans, something like the "Deep Savers Dark Forces" would make sense to me. The dub has its own solution: Not mentioning that MetalSeadramon has an army at his disposal at all.

Piedmon: How small they look from here. Like ants! Strange that such little creatures could cause SO MUCH TROUBLE!!! MetalSeadramon: They won't for long! They're standing on the edge of my territory now: The sea! I'll be the one to finish these DigiDestined once and for all! Piedmon: Hmm, bold words! But you're not the first to make such a boast, MetalSeadramon! MetalSeadramon: But I will be the last! They'll be shark bait before the day is through!

...okay, now it's Piedmon's turn in the "What the fuck are you on about?" chair. He's so mad and. Like. The kids haven't fucking done anything yet. XD

Piedmon is coming at this from the angle of Rita Repulsa plotting her 87th scheme to destroy the Power Rangers but. Like. At this point, the Dark Masters have had one altercation with the Chosen Children that they handily won. Why is he so mad?

Piedmon is so mad that MetalSeadramon doesn't even get to bring up his Deep Savers Ankoku Gundan.

Why is everybody so mad? XD

While MetalSeadramon is picking out his forces, the Children try and figure out next steps.

Koushiro: Since we're back on File Island.... Yamato: Is there a meaning to it? Sora: We must have been sent to File Island for a reason, right? Taichi: But what are we supposed to do here-- Voice: HELP ME!!!

The kids look and see some poor 'mon flailing and screaming out in the ocean.

Takeru: Someone's drowning! Hikari: We have to help them! Takeru: But our Digimon are tired.... Hikari: Then we help them ourselves! Takeru: Oh!

Hikari sprints for the shoreline, ready to dive into the water and swim out there herself - with Takeru trailing behind her. Fortunately, Taichi and Yamato's Big Brother Alarms start blaring in their brains and they jump in, physically stopping their younger siblings.

Yamato: TAKERU!!! Taichi: Hikari, wait! Let's all go help them. Yamato: We can use that canoe over there.

Leaving their Digimon Partners on the shore, the eight children pile into the convenient nearby canoe. This definitely is not a trap.

In the dub, the kids are still inexplicably whining that returning to File Island again somehow means they've accomplished nothing.

Matt: So we've just gone in one big circle, huh? Makes the whole thing seem kinda pointless, doesn't it? Sora: Hold on, maybe that's it! Maybe the pointlessness of it is the whole point! Agumon: Say what? Tai: (sarcastic) Thanks for the philosophy; That's a big help. Voice: HEEEELP SAVE ME!!! Mimi: Look! Out there! Someone's drowning! Kari: Somebody's gotta do something! T.K.: They're too tired; They'll be drowned themselves. Kari: Okay, then in that case, we'll have to go! (Tai and Matt intervene) Tai: Kari! Matt: Yo, wait up, T.K. Tai: Maybe someone bigger should go. Matt: We can use that outrigger. T.K.: I'm coming too! Kari: ME TOO!!! Tai: Okay, okay. Sora: Wait up! I'm coming too! Mimi: I can help!

I want to make a "The real xyz was the friends we made along the way" joke but I genuinely do not know what the kids think they have failed to achieve by returning here.

Matt's totally casual, "Yo, wait up" made me laugh. What a weird vibe. XD

I do like that Sora and Mimi volunteer themselves to help, rather than Taichi speaking for the group that they'll all go do this.

Making the worst decision imaginable, the children set out by themselves to go help the drowning 'mon.

Voice: HELP ME!!! HELP ME!!!

As the children approach, their target starts to come into view. A single horn sticking up from the water, with an inflatable tube around it.

Mimi: ...huh? How can they be drowning when they have an inflatable tube?

Suddenly, Shellmon explodes up from the water, with the rinky-dink tube dangling from one of their shell spikes.

Shellmon: SHELLLLLLLLLMOOOOOOOOON!!! Taichi: HUH!?!? Hikari: Do you know them, Onii-chan? Taichi: We fought them once before! We can't win this! RUN FOR IT!

Gotta appreciate Shellmon screaming their name like a Pokemon in case there's any confusion about which Digimon this is. XD Togemon does this too sometimes and I am just. I'm a sucker for any time a fighter shouts their own name as a battle cry and lunges into combat.

In the dub:

Voice: HELP ME!!! HEEEELP!!! Tai & Matt: Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Voice: (deep voice) Hohoho hahahaha! Mimi: Did his voice get lower or what? (Shellmon ambush) Shellmon: RAAARGH!!!

The dub puts a commercial break here, as Shellmon reveals himself. Good spot to use for that commercial cliffhanger. Then we come back to Shellmon revealing himself again.

Shellmon: RAAARGH!!! Tai: Whoa! Kari: Guys! A sea monster! Tai: You can say that again! That's Shellmon, and he's not here to play water polo! PADDLE LIKE CRAZY!!!

So, the bad is that we lose Mimi pointing out the WTF of Shellmon's inflatable tube. The dub goes out of its way to give her something else to comment on instead, leaving the tube as an unremarked upon weird visual. Sometimes it feels like they make different choices just for the sake of being different.

The good is that "Paddle like crazy!" is a fantastically flavorful way to translate "Nigero!" pronounced nee-geh-roh, the Japanese verb for fleeing from something. A+

The children paddle for shore as fast as they can, but Shellmon gives chase.

Shellmon: (chasing) LET ME DROWN YOU ALL!!! Agumon: FASTER, HUMANS!!!

The humans do not acquiesce to Shellmon's request, forcing them to swim after them.

Mimi: AHHH!!! THEY'RE CLOSING IN!!!

Shellmon gets close enough to try and bite down on the canoe, but the kids manage to paddle away too quickly for their jaw to hit its mark. Sinking under the water, Shellmon instead picks up speed and smashes through the 'iako connecting the main body of the canoe to its ama.

Shellmon: (exploding up from the water again) THERE'S NO ESCAPE!!! Agumon: We have to push down our fatigue and go save them! Pyokomon: WAIT!!! Mochimon: Let us take care of this.

Mochimon, Pyokomon, Tanemon, and Pukamon volunteer to step in so that Agumon, Gabumon, Tailmon, and Patamon can rest.

The dub, of course, cuts Shellmon directly saying he wants to drown the children.

Shellmon: There's no escaping! You're in my element now! Agumon: Come on, guys! Move it! Tai: (panicked) Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! (Shellmon closes in) Mimi: He's right on top of us! Izzy: Watch out! (Shellmon misses his bite) Mimi: Eugh, that breath. EVER HEAR OF FLOSSING!?!? Tai: (panicked) Stroke! Stroke! Hey, are you guys paddling or am I just talking to myself!? (Shellmon breaks the 'iako and re-emerges) Shellmon: RAAARGH!!! Agumon: We may be exhausted, but we can't just sit here! We've gotta help! Motimon: No! Leave it to us; You save your Digi-strength!

A lot more dialogue in the dub version of this chase, including two separate laugh lines: a Mimi Quip violently stabbed into Shellmon's face and Tai pissing himself while trying to be leaderly. Both of these are great. XD

The four Babies evolve into Tentomon, Piyomon, Palmon, and Gomamon, then throw themselves into the fight. Gomamon swims out towards Shellmon with Piyomon and Tentomon flanking him in the air. Palmon remains on the shore.

Palmon snags Shellmon with her Poison Ivy, jerking his attention away from the humans. Once he stops and focuses on the attackers, she lets go. Piyomon and Tentomon move in, strafing Shellmon from above with alternating shots of Petit Thunder and Magical Fire.

For his part, Gomamon's Marching Fishes surround the canoe. Gomamon takes the back of the canoe, swimming with his fishes and ushering the humans safely away from the battleground.

Peppered by enemy fire, Shellmon withdraws into his shell screaming for help.

Shellmon: For real, HELP ME!!!

Shellmon flees beneath the ocean waves, retreating from the fight and leaving behind the inflatable tube. A bit too overenthusiastic, Piyomon and Tentomon try to chase after him, plunging into the ocean and ending up having to use Shellmon's tube to save themselves.

The dub adds a silence-breaker to the kids' Marching Fishes escape.

Tai: Whoa! That's more like it! This is the way to travel!

Then when Shellmon has to retreat, his line is:

Shellmon: Oh, forget this!

Which isn't nearly as funny as his original line.

With Shellmon defeated, the children and their Digimon partners regroup at the beach.

Taichi: I know everyone's tired, but I do think our Digimon are definitely getting stronger! Hikari: Onii-chan, how do you know that? Taichi: When we fought Shellmon before, we could only win after Agumon evolved into Greymon.

Taichi flashes back on Agumon's first evolution.

I'd be remiss not to point out that this isn't a fair comparison. Agumon was the only one capable of fighting back then because the rest of the team was starving. If Agumon had to solo Shellmon now, he'd probably still have a hard time.

But, to Taichi's point, the Digimon were all recently pummeled by the Dark Masters so it's not like they're in pristine condition now. They still managed to pull it together and chase off Shellmon as a team despite it all.

Taichi: This time, we didn't need Agumon to evolve. Agumon: That's because we worked together as a team! Taichi: But Greymon's power alone should still be greater than everyone's powers put together! Hikari: Maybe Shellmon got weaker? Taichi: No. I'm certain that this means each of our Digimon are getting stronger. Honestly, I've been wondering up to this point what Piccolomon meant earlier....

Flashback to their escape from the Dark Masters.

Taichi: Piccolomon, we made it this way believing that as long as the eight of us were together, we could save both worlds. But-- Piccolomon: It's true that the eight of you are together pi but that alone isn't enough to win pi.

Back in the present, Taichi presents his conclusion.

Taichi: I think he was trying to say that we have to get stronger.

In the dub:

Tai: I know they're all dead tired and they may not feel like it at the moment, but I think today proved that our Digimon are getting stronger and stronger. Kari: That would be great, but what makes you think so? Tai: I remember the last time we took on Shellmon. Agumon had to Digivolve into Greymon before we could finally beat him. And even then, it was close! (Flashback to Greymon absolutely working over Shellmon) Tai: But this time, they beat him easily without Greymon! Agumon: Yeah, but don't forget, Tai: They ganged up on him. It was four of them against one. Tai: But they didn't have to Digivolve as far to do it. I still say it means you're stronger than you were. Kari: Or maybe Shellmon's just weaker than he was. Tai: How come everyone's being such a downer all of a sudden!? I'm trying to be positive here! Besides, I still can't get out of my mind something that Piximon said to me back there. (Flashback to Piximon) Tai: But you said it was possible to save the planet if the eight of us were all together! How come it's not happening, huh? What's up, Piximon!? Piximon: The truth is, being together is not enough. There's something else that you need to do to beat 'em. (Back to present) Tai: I think he meant we had to get stronger! And that's just what's happening!

In light of Taichi's suggestion, the rest of the group discuss with their Partners.

Sora: I think so too! Piyomon: You do? Yamato: You've grown up well. Gabumon: When you put it like that, I feel it too. Tentomon: Koushiro-han, do you think that way about me? Koushiro: Well, bit by bit, maybe. Tentomon: (faceplant) Yaghyagh.... Patamon: Have I matured too? Takeru: Yeah! Of course you have! Tailmon: What about me? Hikari: We only joined the Chosen Children recently, so I think it's too early to tell. Tailmon: (droops) Oh. That's disappointing. Agumon: Don't worry! All of us will get stronger! Tailmon: Yeah, you're right!

Poor Tailmon. But, I mean, to be fair... This is like her third day with Hikari. The others have been with their partners for months.

Don't worry, Tailmon. If it helps, remember that you're a stage above them all so you're technically the strongest one here.

In the dub:

Sora: Yeah, maybe Tai's right. Biyomon: I feel stronger! Matt: Come to think of it, you are looking kind of buff. Gabumon: Thanks very much. That's a compliment, right? Tentomon: Do I look stronger to you, Izzy? Izzy: I don't know, make a muscle. Tentomon: (faceplant) I WAS!!! Patamon: Do I look different, T.K.? T.K.: Yeah, you look buffed out to the max! Gatomon: Kari? Kari: Well, to be honest, you don't look any different to me. But give it time, Gatomon; You'll catch up with the rest. Gatomon: (droops) If you say so.... Agumon: Come to think of it, your coat's looking glossier. Gatomon: Really? You think?

Dub passed up a prime opportunity to have Izzy be a dick in a way that's 100% consistent to the original, but the replacement gag is pretty good too.

I don't like Kari's line. Hikari made the salient point that they're both newcomers so they haven't had time for Tailmon to grow from where she was when Hikari met her. She makes no comparison to the others, but points out that she can't congratulate Tailmon for "growth" when they've barely known each other for long.

Kari, on the other hand, directly compares Gatomon to the rest of the team and calls her abilities inferior. Rather than saying that Gatomon hasn't improved much since they met, she says that Gatomon's fallen behind her peers; That is a completely different sentiment, and one not really supported by what we know of her.

Suddenly, the kids notice the sun shining a little brighter, as the heat begins to distort distant things around them.

Taichi: Huh!? Is that a mirage!?

In the distance, the kids notice a strange hut on the beach, distorted by the heat.

Yamato: There's a beach house! Takeru: Did there used to be a beach house on the coast of File Island? Koushiro: That's not a beach house on the coast of File Island. That's a mirage of a beach house on the coast of File Island. Tentomon: No! That's a real beach house on the coast of File Island!

This is a bit repetitive but it flows better in Japanese. Basically, they're all having fun saying the words "File-tou no kaigan ni" at the start of each sentence, which comes through with a nice rhythmic flow.

Metal Gear Solid alert noise but as a flash mob.

An interesting cultural note about this obvious second trap: In Japanese folklore, mirages are created by the breath of clams. I'm not 100% but to my understanding, mirages bubble up from the sea as images of the great city beneath the ocean, from which the dragon god who rules the sea presides. No one who chases these images ever returns.

We've heard a little about the mythical sea dragon god before. Back at the "Pagumon village", Mimi misremembered a folktale about her favorite character Otohime, daughter of said dragon god. Obviously, here in the Digital World, the sea dragon god is MetalSeadramon.

So. Y'know. Don't trust fucking mirages when you're at war with Otohime's papa. Where this building came from doesn't get explained, but there's a cultural implication that MetalSeadramon manifested it via the mirage.

The dub kicks us off with a silence-breaking quip.

Matt: (sarcastic) Did it get brighter all of a sudden, or is it just Tai's sunny disposition? Tai: ...maybe it's like a mirage.... Matt: Huh!? Was that shack there before? T.K.: Maybe somebody moved in while we were gone? Mimi: Mmm, something smells suspiciously like food! Izzy: Let's take it easy, everyone. Remember, we're in the Digi-World where not everything is what it appears to be. Tentomon: Looks may be deceiving, but smells? That's something else, and I definitely smell grilling hambugers! See? It's a snack bar! Burgers, sodas, ice cream, pizza!

Genuinely surprised that Tai didn't use his line to clap back at Matt.

The File-tou no kaigan ni bit isn't going to translate, so they replace it with discussion of a delicious smell flowing out of the mirage.

Ravenous with hunger and gullible as ever, the children fantasize about all the delicious food that might be in the beach house.

I love the little American flag poking out of the cheeseburger. XD

The mob swarms towards the building.

Taichi: Ramen! Agumon: Curried rice! Takeru: Ice cream! Tentomon: Yakisoba noodles!

They're all in such a hurry that Jou accidentally clips the back of of Mimi's foot, pinning down her boot and forcing her to trip and fall out of it. Mimi faceplants into the beach sand.

Jou picks up Mimi's boot, handing it back to her.

Jou: Ah, I'm sorry! Mimi: Mrrgh.... Gomamon: Oh, come on.... What the heck are you guys doing!? Mimi: They others are going to get all the food if we don't catch up! Jou & Mimi: EHHHH!?!?

Absolutely nobody has stopped for them. The other kids eagerly rush inside the hut.

In the dub:

Tai: Mirage or not, I'll take my chances! GANGWAY!!! Group: (Miscellaneous cheering and hooting) (Joe trips Mimi. He stops to return her boot.) Joe: Sorry, Mimi. Mimi: Oh, thanks. Gomamon: Come on, what are you two waiting for!? Palmon: Yeah, they're going to eat everything without us! Joe: Huh? Mimi: UGH!!!

They cut out the kids yelling out specific food items they want to eat, probably because they already had Tentomon run down the list of American Food Things a moment ago. Otherwise, pretty faithful.

Once (six out of eight) Chosen Children are inside, the trap is sprung. The shack is completely empty, and a sudden sandstorm kicks up and seals the door in sand. Then their assailant reveals himself.

Anomalocarimon: (rising from the sands) ANOMALOCARIMON!!!

Anomalocarimon is a Perfect-stage Data-type Ancient Crustacean Digimon. Their name and design both stem from the ancient anomalocaris. They're the other Data Perfect for the Deep Savers line; Cousin to MegaSeadramon and capable of evolving into MetalSeadramon. Clearly a member of the Deep Savers Ankoku Gundan.

Narrator: Anomalocarimon. An Ancient Crustacean Digimon. By crossing their forelimbs together, they unleash their special attack Stinger Surprise! Anomalocarimon: This isn't your average beach house! This is a death house that will drain away all your energy! Yamato: What!? Anomalocarimon: SUNA SHOWER!!!

Anomalocarimon's Stinger Surprise is entirely in English, but Suna (Sand) Shower mixes English and Japanese.

I'm a little sad that Anomalocarimon didn't say "This isn't some beach house on the coast of File Island! This is a death house on the coast of File Island!"

The death house glows with a bright light that begins draining the kids and their Digimon. Anomalocarimon's Sand shower sprays sand from his mouth, forcing the kids to the ground. Taichi takes Takeru and Hikari in his arms, trying to protect them both as the sand shower forces everyone down.

In the dub, Sora speaks up when they notice the door sealing behind them. Also, the dub refers to this Digimon as Scorpiomon, attempting to pass them off as a scorpion.

Sora: What's that!? It's a trap! (Scorpiomon reveals themselves) Scorpiomon: Whuh-hahaha! Snack time! Patamon: (rundown) It's Scorpiomon! One of MetalSeadramon's flunkies. Between his pinches and his tail, it's hard to know which end of him is worse! Scorpiomon: Sorry, but the only munchies around here are you! Now, say goodnight! It's bedtime! Matt: (challenging) Yeah!? Scorpiomon: Yeah! SCORPION STORM!!! (Scorpiomon sprays down everyone with sand) Sora: ...can't...breathe...can't...eugh....

How would Patamon know who MetalSeadramon's flunkies are? We met him like an hour ago.

The dub misses the exposition that the mirage house drains energy, sort of like what Etemon's Love Serenade would do to them. So they just sort of give up without a fight in that version.

Fortunately, thanks to an overeager mistake, only six of the eight children were caught in this trap. The other two remain outside.

Mimi: Those voices! Jou: Did something happen to the others? Gomamon: Let's go see! Palmon: Yeah!

Mimi and Jou hurry to the beach house with their Partners, where they find the doorway blocked up with sand.

Jou: (gasp) This is-- Gomamon: Shh!

Realizing they're standing on the outer fringe of a trap, the group falls quiet. They sneak around to the side of the house and peek in through the blinds, where they see the rest of their nakama unconscious and covered in sand within.

Comically, all four shriek in horror, then clap hands over each other's mouths and shush each other. Great job, team. Way to flex that one shared brain cell. XD

In the dub:

Mimi: (gasp) Joe: Those sounds never mean anything good! Gomamon: Let's go! (The quartet sprints to the beach house) Mimi: (disappointed) Oh, no! Something tells me this means no chili dogs. (Everyone gasps, then creeps up and spies through the window) Mimi: Oh, wow! What's happened to them? Are they... Could they be.... (Everyone gasps in shock then shushes each other)

Mimi gets two silence-breaker lines added. The first one is an inappropriately-timed Mimi Quip but a pretty fair one, I think. Mimi once got so hangry that it thwarted Devimon's schemes. I can believe that being her kneejerk reaction.

The second one is... Is Mimi implying that she thinks the rest of the team is dead? It feels like that's the implication she left hanging there. Which is super dark yet tonally appropriate. They're alive, but not for lack of trying!

I like these extra lines. ^_^

While Mimi and Jou remain hidden around the side of the house, MetalSeadramon's laughter suddenly cuts through the air. He congratulates his soldier on a job well done.

Jou and Mimi eavesdrop on MetalSeadramon's meeting with Anomalocarimon.

MetalSeadramon: Ahahaha! Great work, Anomalocarimon! I expect no less from a member of my Deep Savers Ankoku Gundan. Here is your payment.

MetalSeadramon rewards Anomalocarimon with a shower of tasty clams to eat.

Are these the same clams whose breath created the beach house mirage? Or different ones? No idea. But it's a boon that Anomalocarimon is thrilled to receive.

Anomalocarimon: YIPPEE!!! ANOMALOCARIMOOOOON!!!

Anomalocarimon digs into the clams, eating one after another and tossing the shells. One shell bops Gomamon on the head.

Gomamon: Augh! Palmon: Shhh! MetalSeadramon: Huh?

The towering sea dragon turns his head to the tree line, following that unexpected sound. Palmon grabs Gomamon and presses herself against a tree, while Jou and Mimi lay flat against the ground. After a moment MetalSeadramon stops caring and leaves for the beach house.

MetalSeadramon: Mm. Time for annihilation.

In the dub:

MetalSeadramon: Hehehe haha.... Well done, Scorpiomon. These DigiDestined are not so difficult to handle after all! Here's your reward. (Clam shower) Scorpiomon: OOOOH, CLAMS!!! Thank you! Thank you, boss! I just love clams! I just can't get enough of them! (A discarded clamshell bops Gomamon) Gomamon: Ow... Palmon: Shhh! MetalSeadramon: WHAT WAS THAT!?!? Scorpiomon: What is it, boss? You want some? MetalSeadramon: QUIET!!! I thought I heard something. (The DigiDestined pass their stealth check) Scorpiomon: I didn't hear anything. MetalSeadramon: Hmph. (heads out) Well, now to finish them off.

More silence-breakers added to break up the tense moment where MetalSeadramon nearly catches them. This one's a mixed bag; We lose that tension and suspense, but gain a fun little exchange between dipshit minion and his superior.

As MetalSeadramon approaches the beach house, he finds the door blocked off and realizes he'll need a clever way of getting inside-- No, I'm kidding, he moves through it like butter.

MetalSeadramon looks over the captured children for a moment, then withdraws his head from the shack.

MetalSeadramon: ...there are eight Chosen Children. Two of them aren't here.

Another carelessly discarded clamshell strikes MetalSeadramon on the snout, bouncing harmlessly off his invulnerable plating.

MetalSeadramon: And you're just stuffing your face!? Anomalocarimon: (nervous) Ehh...? MetalSeadramon: Hurry up and go find the remaining Chosen Children! Anomalocarimon: A-a-a-a-ANOMALOCARIMOOOON!!! (scurries off)

Realizing he's after them, Jou and Mimi shriek one last time, this time giving their positions away. Abandoning stealth, they flee across the beach.

Anomalocarimon: (aggressive) ANOMALOCARIMON!!!

The dub has some more extra dialogue for MetalSeadramon.

MetalSeadramon: (breaking through the house) Hehehehe! Eight little gnats and their Digimon accomplices. ...hmm.... (MetalSeadramon withdraws his head) MetalSeadramon: What's this!? There's supposed to be eight of them! Two of them are missing! (Clamshell bop) MetalSeadramon: YOU CHUCKLE-HEADED COCKLESHELL!!! Stop eating and find the other two NOW!!! Scorpiomon: Oh, you got it! Right away! I'm on it! (scurries off) (Scorpiomon chases down Jou and Mimi) Scorpiomon: Come back here! (wheeze wheeze) Oh, I hate it when they do this. Hey! Slow down! (gets closer) Aha! I gotcha now!

MetalSeadramon calls Scorpiomon a "cockleshell" with all the energy of telling someone in elementary school to "Kiss my ass-phalt". XD

Neither Jou nor Mimi being especially athletic, Anomalocarimon gains ground quickly. We go to commercial break and come back to Jou and Mimi's legs giving out. They fall into the sand, gasping for breath.

This would be opportune for Anomalocarimon, but they too run out of strength and collapse into the sand, gasping for breath.

Anomalocarimon: ...they're so fast....

Something about this situation motives the kids to get their second wind more quickly than their pursuer, and they get back up and bolt. Anomalocarimon forces themself to resume the chase, ultimately thwarted when the kids take cover behind a rock.

Look, anomalocaris was an aquatic predator. Their biology is not suited to running. You might as well ask a dolphin to chase down a chimpanzee in a land race.

The dub makes this even more pathetic for Scorpiomon.

Scorpiomon: (collapses) ...too many clams for lunch.... (Joe and Mimi get up and run) Scorpiomon: Oh no! Not again! Come on! COME ON!!! ...I'm not built for this. Gomamon: This way! THIS WAY!!!

XD Oh man, I am loving the dub's take on Scorpiomon. He's such a weenie. I adore the line "I'm not built for this" because in addition a weenie whine, it's factually correct. He's actually not!

What the hell is MetalSeadramon doing? Is he kicking back and watching Anomalocarimon flail? Taking notes for Anomalocarimon's next performance review? Dark Master MetalSeadramon coiled up in the sand watching both groups faint into the sand and sit there for however long, going, "...really?"

Meanwhile, six vulnerable Chosen Children are going unannihilated because MetalSeadramon is letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. If he can't kill all eight then he's not going to touch a single one!

Finally giving up on the foot chase, Anomalocarimon decides on a new approach. While the children take cover behind the rock, Anomalocarimon burrows into the ground.

Mimi, Jou, and their Partners catch their breath behind the safety of the rock.

Palmon: No more.... Jou: We have to fight.... Gomamon: You're right....

While Mimi and Palmon remain behind the rock, Jou and Gomamon emerge to confront Anomalocarimon. All they find is the hole left in the ground where they burrowed.

Mimi: What's wrong? Jou: Anomalocarimon is... gone.... Gomamon: They ran away! Mimi: (emerges) They could be hiding.... Palmon: If only we could evolve.... Gomamon: Yeah, but we're tired and starving so-- Oh! We can just scrounge for something!

The Digimon have gotten used to the human world, where food comes out of the refrigerator. That's only occasionally true on File Island.

Gomamon quickly digs up a pair of clams, while Palmon pulls some seaweed out of the ocean.

Gomamon: Looks tasty! Palmon: Found this!

Gomamon and Palmon eagerly fill their stomachs and restore their stamina.

In the dub, Scorpiomon remains hilariously pitiful.

Scorpiomon: Oh, forget it! (burrows) Joe: I can't... run anymore... we'll just have to... stand and fight.... Gomamon: Right! (Joe and Gomamon emerge) Gomamon: Huh? We may not have to.... Mimi: What happened? Joe: I don't know, but he's gone! Gomamon: Haha! What a lucky break! Mimi: Lucky for us, he doesn't work out. Palmon: Ugh, I'm getting my exercise right now. My roots are exhausted. Gomamon: And I am so hungry I could just about eat seaweed. Hey, wait! Lookit! (Gomamon and Palmon scrounge up food)

The lines at Scorpiomon's expense are great. Good casual dialogue.

The dub's take on the food search doesn't click, though. This is kind of an important moment, as we see the Digimon reacquaint themselves with scavenging the Digital World for food after being in the human world for a while.

The problem is posed: We can't evolve because we're hungry. Then the Digimon remember how to solve that problem their way, rather than being led astray by easy answers like the illusory beach house, which have so often been too good to be true.

This doesn't come across in the dub, where the vibe is simply, "Oh I'm hungry; Let's eat." We don't get to see the transformation of their way of thinking from human world comfort back to Digital World survivalism.

Down beneath the waves, Anomalocarimon notices one of Gomamon's carelessly discarded clamshells sinking beneath the water. Surprised, they poke their head back up to see what's up.

The other clamshell bops Anomalocarimon right in the joystick antennae thing that is not their eye but can easily be mistaken for it.

Anomalocarimon: Ow! ANOMALOCARIMON!!!

Anomalocarimon surges out of the ocean to attack Jou and Mimi. Evolving to protect them, Togemon and Ikkakumon counterattack, but to little effect. Anomalocarimon's stingers block Togemon's Chiku-Chiku Bang-Bang. Ikkakumon lands three direct hits of Harpoon Vulcan, but Anomalocarimon tanks all three missiles and remains unscathed.

In the dub, Scorpiomon mistakes Gomamon's meal for the clams he was paid earlier.

Gomamon: Not bad! Scorpiomon: Huh? GET YOUR MITTS OFF MY CLAMS!!!

While Togemon and Ikkakumon fight Anomalocarimon, Jou and Mimi put Taichi's earlier theory to the test.

It does not go well.

Jou: Since Togemon and Ikkakumon have grown, they shouldn't lose this.... Mimi: And since it's two against one, we should have up the upper hand!

Anomalocarimon proceeds to beat their Digimon like a drum. They swipe Ikkakumon away with their tail, then pick up Togemon and squeeze her between their two stingers, crushing her.

Togemon: IT HURTS!!! HELP ME!!!

Then they slam Togemon down on top of Ikkakumon for good measure.

Jou: (disappointed) ...they're losing. Mimi: It's too dangerous to keep this up! We'll be killed! Jou: Maybe they'd win if they evolve again!

Probably, yes. But it nonetheless makes for a solid counterargument against Taichi's theory.

In the dub:

Joe: If the Digimon really are getting stronger, they should be able to handle Scorpiomon, no problem! Mimi: I hope so, but it doesn't really look like they're doing too well! (Scorpiomon swats Ikakkumon, then picks up Togemon) Togemon: HEY, PUT ME DOWN YOU OVERGROWN CRAWDADDY BEFORE I GET REALLY ANGRY!!! (Scorpiomon smacks Ikkakumon with Togemon) Joe: Oh, boy. Mimi: WHY DON'T YOU COME OUT FROM BEHIND YOUR SHELL AND FIGHT LIKE A CLAM!?!? Joe: Uh, Mimi? Cool it! I don't think he thought that was very funny!

Mimi challenges Scorpiomon to a fistfight.

Bad. Ass.

And also tremendously inconsistent to both versions of her character. Mimi knows better. Her father doesn't know better, but Mimi knows better.

But badass.

Anomalocarimon tries to spray Mimi and Jou down with their Suna Shower, but the kids take cover behind the rocks again.

Anomalocarimon moves to follow. Ikkakumon and Togemon sprint up behind them.

Ikkakumon: HANG ON!!! We're the ones you're fighting!

Anomalocarimon responds with their signature Stinger Surprise. Ikkakumon and Togemon clear out before the shot hits. The explosion tears open the sand, revealing a treasure trove of tasty clams.

The dub gives Ikkakumon's line over to Togemon.

Togemon: Hey, squid breath! We're the ones you want!

They also change Scorpiomon's attack to Tail Blade, despite not involving his tail in any way.

Anomalocarimon is immediately distracted by all those tasty, tasty clams.

Anomalocarimon: Hey, this looks delicious! Jou: NOW, IKKAKUMON!!! Mimi: SUPER-EVOLVE, TOGEMON!!!

Their Digimon super-evolve into Zudomon and Lilimon. Followed by a hilariously dopey shot where a still image of Lilimon slowly flies in front of Jou and Mimi for no apparent reason.

In the dub:

Scorpiomon: Ooh! I just love clams! Joe: Hurry up! Now's your chance! Mimi: Get moving! Digivolve, Togemon!

Once they've Digivolved again, the dub gives Dopey Shot Lillymon a silence-breaker to at least lend some purpose to that moment.

Lillymon: Okay, Zudomon, let's GOOOOOOO!!!

And go, they do.

Zudomon pulls aggro, drawing Anomalocarimon's fire. Tucking down into a defensive position, Zudomon's hard shell tanks Anomalocarimon's Stinger Surprise.

While the enemy is distracted, Lilimon blindsides them with Flower Cannon. The shot seems to do little damage but pulls Anomalocarimon's attention away from Zudomon; A fatal mistake. Zudomon closes distance, calling Hammer Spark and slamming his Thor Hammer down directly between Anomalocarimon's antennae.

With a pitiful whimper, Anomalocarimon falls over on their back, defeated.

Inside the beach house, the children and their Digimon are starting to stir. MetalSeadramon's window of opportunity is closing.

Taichi: Hikari....

Outside, MetalSeadramon looms over the beach house, complaining about his tardy soldier.

MetalSeadramon: They're late. Anomalocarimon is late! What could they possibly be doing?

Meanwhile, Mimi and Jou ride Zudomon back towards the beach house. Lilimon flies nearby, while Zudomon drags Anomalocarimon's unconscious body along with them.

Jou: Faster, Zudomon! We have to hurry and save everyone!

In the dub:

Tai: Ugh... Kari.... (Outside) MetalSeadramon: Where is that fool with those other children!? I'm tired of waiting! (Zudomon on his way) Joe: Hurry! Faster! We gotta move, now! Did you really have to bring along a souvenir!?

Joe eases the tension by throwing down one of the funniest laugh lines in the dub thus far. Holy shit, that got me. XD

It hasn't been established what Zudomon intends to do with the unconscious Anomalocarimon, so Joe calling him out for that ambiguity lands hard. But it's also a joke that meshes and integrates with the tone, rather than disrupting it. A+

At the beach house, MetalSeadramon's decided that he's done waiting.

MetalSeadramon: I don't care about the other two Chosen Children anymore.

MetalSeadramon breathes fire into the air, intending to set the whole beach house ablaze. Jou, Mimi, and their Partners take cover behind the tree line.

Mimi: MetalSeadramon is planning to burn down the beach house with everyone inside! Lilimon: Come on! Hurry!

Lilimon, Mimi, and Jou race inside the beach house through a... somewhat unexplained hole in the beach house wall. Is that supposed to be the hole MetalSeadramon smashed earlier? Did he nervously pace around to the other side of the beach house afterwards? It sure looks a lot bigger than his head.

Lilimon goes for Taichi, while Mimi makes a beeline for Sora.

Lilimon: Taichi, pull yourself together. Taichi: Lilimon? Mimi: SORA-SAN!!! Jou: Yamato! Koushiro! Lilimon: (flies over the Digimon) Quickly, everyone! Tentomon: Huh, what's going on?

Out front, MetalSeadramon's finished testing his firebreath. He turns his gaze down on the house.

MetalSeadramon: FIRE!!!

He lets it rip, his flames engulfing the house in seconds.

In the dub:

MetalSeadramon: That does it! I'll worry about the other two children later. Mimi: Yikes! And I thought Shellmon's breath was gnarly! He'll toast them like marshmallows! Lillymon: This way! Hurry! Joe: HEY GUYS!!! NAPTIME'S OVER!!!

Joe yells at the top of his lungs while they're passing directly under MetalSeadramon's nose. Somehow, this doesn't give the game away.

Mimi's quip here is a little tonally inappropriate, but I do like the callback to her earlier barb at Shellmon. Mimi's getting a lot of fun lines in this episode.

Lillymon: Tai, you've gotta get out of here! Tai: Huh...? Mimi: Sora, get up! Joe: Matt! Izzy! Move or you're gonna be toast! I mean literally! Lillymon: (flies over the Digimon) Everybody on your feet! Hurry! Tentomon: W-What's going on!? (Outside, MetalSeadramon takes aim) MetalSeadramon: RRRRYAAAAAGH!!! (fires)

MetalSeadramon does not shout "Fire" when he shoots his fire. 0/10 Go to pun jail. For, uh, insufficient punning. For once.

As the beach house goes up in flames, the kids vacate through the big maybe-unexplained hole.

Taichi again takes responsibility for Takeru and Hikari, ushering them out of the building.

Taichi: Hikari! Takeru! Are you okay!? Hikari: Yeah....

Zudomon replaces the children with the unconscious Anomalocarimon. While the kids evacuate, he stands nearby. His shoulders vibrate to indicate that he is silently laughing hysterically to himself. Epic prank, bro.

MetalSeadramon: SIX OF THE CHOSEN CHILDREN AND THEIR DIGIMON ARE DEAD!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Anomalocarimon: (inside, wakes up on fire) EEEYAAAGH ATATAT!!! MetalSeadramon: ...uh?

Anomalocarimon explodes through the sand blocking the door, scurrying across the stand in flames. MetalSeadramon watches them go by in confused silence.

Anomalocarimon: HOT HOT HOT ANOMALOCARIMOOOOON!!!

Finally, when they reach the coastline, Anomalocarimon throws themself into the ocean to douse the flames.

In the dub:

Tai: Whoa! Hang on and keep moving; We're almost there! Mimi: Hurry up and let's get out of here! (Outside) MetalSeadramon: Ha! Farewell, DigiDestined! It was a rare pleasure knowing you! MEDIUM RARE!!! GYAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Scorpiomon: (inside, wakes up on fire) WHAAAAUGH HOT HOT HOT!!! MetalSeadramon: ...huh? (Scorpiomon explodes through the sand barrier and scurries for dear life) Scorpiomon: OW!!! Who's the hot-tempered foul-mouth who--Oh, it was you, boss. Okay. No problem.

MetalSeadramon's "medium rare" quip is great. XD This episode is bringing all the best laugh lines.

I do prefer the original version of Scorpiomon's fiery exit. The dub's sycophantic joke is pretty good too. Both versions put comedic focus in different places, with Scorpiomon's bit emphasizing what a tool he is.

The original, meanwhile, emphasizes MetalSeadramon. He's positioned in center frame so we can watch his head turn and follow Anomalocarimon. The emphasis is on his stunned WTF reaction. Reality is gaslighting him and he is at a loss for words.

Both work on their own, but I like the original better.

Once Anomalocarimon is doused in the ocean, MetalSeadramon finally finds the presence of mind to make sense of what's happened.

MetalSeadramon: The six Chosen Children and their Digimon are gone! Anomalocarimon, what is the meaning of this!? Anomalocarimon: MetalSeadramon-sama, uh... You see....

Unfortunately for him, Anomalocarimon has no better idea of what happened than MetalSeadramon does. They were unconscious the whole time.

MetalSeadramon furiously wraps his tail around Anomalocarimon, hoisting them high up into the air.

MetalSeadramon: SILENCE!!!

MetalSeadramon drops them from a great height, finishing them off. We don't see Anomalocarimon disintegrate into pixels, but they crash into the earth and kick up a huge sandstorm on impact, then are gone afterward - Leaving behind only a large imprint in the sand where they fell. The implication is fairly clear.

RIP Anomalocarimon. Recipient of a prank so epic it got them killed.

In the dub:

MetalSeadramon: Huh? No! NO!!! THEY'RE GONE!!! ALL OF THEM GONE!!! SCORPIOMOOOOOON!!! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!?!? Scorpiomon: Uh, w-well, you see... That's a fair question... You see, it happens-- MetalSeadramon: SILENCE!!! (grapples Scorpiomon into the sky) You failed me and I will not forgive FAILURE!!! Scorpiomon: No, I didn't think that you w-OOOOULD!!! (dropped)

Scorpiomon remains a weenie to the end. XD

You know, I kind of expected them to add a line or two indicating that Scorpiomon survived that drop but I guess we're over that. A guy got stabbed in the chest last episode; This is going to be a hard arc to try and hand-wring about character death.

Once MetalSeadramon's gone, the kids emerge and discuss what Jou and Mimi learned.

Lilimon: MetalSeadramon seems to have left. Taichi: Everything's alright now. Mimi: Everything's not alright, actually. Taichi: Huh!? Jou: She's right. Taichi: What do you mean? What happened? Jou: Ikkakumon and Togemon weren't strong enough to defeat Anomalocarimon. They could only win after evolving into Zudomon and Lilimon. Our chances against MetalSeadramon still aren't very good right now. Taichi: So it's just like Piccolomon said. Even with the eight of us together, it's not enough to win. Could it be that the Digimon's evolutions still need improvement?

It was pretty foolish to assume we'd already done whatever Piccolomon thought we still needed to do. There's a long road ahead.

In the dub:

Sora: They're gone! Whew! That was a close one. Tai: But we came out of it okay. That's what counts. Mimi: I hate to tell you this: Everything's not okay! Tai: Huh!? Joe: Mimi's right. Tai: What are you guys talking about!? Did I miss something!? Joe: The Digimon still might not be strong enough. Both of ours had to Digivolve again before they could beat Scorpiomon and he was just a flunkie. Frankly, it's hard to see how they stand a chance against a fully Digivolved monster like MetalSeadramon. Tai: You could be right. Maybe Piximon meant something else when he said we were missing something. Whatever the secret is, we've got to find it if we ever hope to save the world.

Pretty faithful. We also see the return of the phrase "fully Digivolved" now in its new, more correct context. There are still technically Digimon beyond the Ultimate stage but those are basically one-off super-exceptions, not a whole category. When pressed, they often wind up classifying as... like... Ultimate but even more Ultimate-er.

It's pretty safe to call this stage "fully Digivolved".

Suddenly, Tentomon takes off into the air to get a better vantage.

Tentomon: What's that!?

Unfortunately, we will not get the moment to breathe that we thought we were getting. MetalSeadramon only fucked off to stage yet another ambush. Utterly relentless.

Taichi: METALSEADRAMON!!! Lilimon: I'll hold him here! The rest of you, escape on Zudomon's back! Mimi: LILIMON!?!?

Initially, MetalSeadramon takes the bait. Without another word, Lilimon flies out to meet him head-on, then flitters around him and takes off. MetalSeadramon gives chase while Zudomon ferries the children away.

It doesn't take him long to realize the ruse, however. MetalSeadramon abandons Lilimon when he notices Zudomon escaping.

MetalSeadramon: You're all idiots! You think you can escape from me BY SEA!?!?

MetalSeadramon pursues Zudomon, quickly closing distance.

Tentomon: WAUGH!!! METALSEADRAMON IS GAINING ON US!!! Taichi: Faster! Get us out of here, Zudomon! MetalSeadramon: NO CHANCE!!!

Lilimon follows behind MetalSeadramon. In one last desperate bid to pull his attention, she fires off her Flower Cannon. MetalSeadramon's Chrome Digizoid neck plating deflects her shot harmlessly.

MetalSeadramon turns, offering Lilimon only one more moment of his time. Lifting his tail out of the water behind her, he swats her out of the air for an instant KO.

Mimi: LILIMON!!!

Lilimon powers down into Palmon as she falls, tumbling into Mimi's arms.

Mimi: (catch) Palmon!

In the dub, Tentomon doesn't see anything; He reacts to Tai wanting to find the thing they're missing.

Tentomon: Yeah, so the sooner, the better! (MetalSeadramon emerges from the waves) Tai: It's MetalSeadramon again!

The dub puts a commercial break here. Good place for it. Solid cliffhanger. Then they add some extra dialogue to the chase sequence.

Lillymon: Alright, I'll draw him off! Zudomon, you get the others out of here. (Lillymon flies out to confront MetalSeadramon) Lillymon: Yoo-hoo, you big ugly--WHOA! (Lillymon swerves and changes course) Lillymon: Just my luck! He's fast too! (Zudomon tries to escape) Joe: Come on, Zudomon! Move it! Move it! (MetalSeadramon chases Lillymon, but then stops and notices Zudomon escaping) Mimi: Has he seen us? Tai: I don't know, and I don't want to find out! MetalSeadramon: Pathetic little fools! You think you can escape me BY SEA!?!? Tai: I think it's safe to say he's seen us! Tentomon: WAUGH!!! FASTER, ZUDOMON!!! WE NEED SPEED!!! Tai: Yeah, stop dog-paddling! MetalSeadramon: TONIGHT YOU SLEEP WITH THE FISHES!!!

Taichi's quip didn't land for me, but MetalSeadramon's did. Goddammit. XD

Glad they kept the "You think you can escape me by sea!?" bit.

Once Lilimon's out of the fight, MetalSeadramon turns his full attention to Zudomon. He sinks down beneath the waves, vanishing into the murky water.

The children are left in silent anticipation, watching the ocean waves to try and find where MetalSeadramon will emerge. Then, suddenly, his horn breaches the water.

Taichi: Here he comes! Jou: Zudomon!

MetalSeadramon charges at full speed, ramming Zudomon's side and sending the kids on his back tumbling into the ocean. While the kids flounder in the water, Zudomon turns and headbutts MetalSeadramon's serpentine body, knocking him back a bit.

MetalSeadramon follows up with Ultimate Stream, firing straight into the hard shell on Zudomon's back. Zudomon's shell offers no protection from MetalSeadramon's signature move. The shot obliterates what strength Zudomon had left, knocking him back and degenerating him into Gomamon.

Gomamon comically lands on Jou's face, pushing them both underwater.

Jou: AUGH GOMAMON Ablrblurbb.... MetalSeadramon: WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Even MetalSeadramon thought it was funny.

The dub, of course, gives the kids some dialogue while they wait for MetalSeadramon.

Tai: Uh-oh. Joe: Is he gone? Mimi: I don't think so! Sora: I can't stand this waiting! Matt: I bet he's right below us! Tai: Shh! Knock it off! (MetalSeadramon emerges on a collision course) Tai: WHOA!!! HE'S RAMMING US!!! Agumon: Hang on! (MetalSeadramon rams Zudomon. They fight; MetalSeadramon obliterates Zudomon.) MetalSeadramon: Never send a Rookie to do a Mega's work! Narrator: Stuck in the middle of the ocean, the DigiDestined are at MetalSeadramon's mercy. What will happen on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters?

Uh, you sent an Ultimate to do a Mega's work earlier, but I get the sentiment.

The dub ends the episode here, presumably to make up screentime they had to spend on the end of last episode. But there's one more scene to go. A great shadow passes beneath the Chosen Children.

MetalSeadramon: Huh? Taichi: WHAMON!!!

Whamon explodes from the water, throwing themself full-speed into MetalSeadramon and body slamming them into the ocean. Then, before MetalSeadramon, Whamon scoops the children up in their mouth.

Taichi: WE'RE SAVED!!! WHAMON WILL PROTECT US WITH HIS BODY!!!

MetalSeadramon recovers in time to catch Whamon's departure. Whamon swims deep into the ocean, escaping from the Dark Master.

MetalSeadramon: Chosen Children and your Digimon.... YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE!!!

The Japanese version leaves off there, on a promise of pursuit by a furious and relentless sea dragon.

Assessment: MetalSeadramon is my favorite of the Dark Masters. There's something about a sinister sea dragon that's so unlike everything else they've fought before. The same can be said of Mugendramon and Pinochimon too, but MetalSeadramon also has that unique aquatic aesthetic going for him.

This episode serves as our proper introduction for the kind of villain MetalSeadramon is: A relentless pursuer hammering the children with an unyielding onslaught of attacks. He's basically doing what Etemon was trying to do, and it's working. He's had them on the backfoot for the entire episode, despite some setbacks.

When he screams "You won't escape" at them at the end, I believe it.

The dub made some questionable choices at the start of this one. Cohesive storytelling is, as usual, their weak point. But their quipping game was superb. Once the action started, the dub was nailing zingers left and right

And since a large chunk of this episode was action, the dub came home with a lot more W's than L's this time around despite its bizarre narrative choices.

[reliablejoukido]

Digi-memories, summer 2000 (feat. me crying more than once)

On Saturday, June 24, 2000, I was on vacation in the mountains with my family. I was 11 at the time. We were staying in a cabin with electricity and running water, but obviously no computers, phones, internet or cable. We had a tiny, black and white TV with rabbit ears that we brought with us, and it got like 3 local channels that would cut in and out. One of them was Fox! I knew the final two episodes of Digimon: Digimon Monsters were airing that day (Fox Kids waited a whole month to air them for some reason). And amazingly my sister and I were able to actually watch them! In black and white of course. And the reception did cut out for most of Apocalymon's famous pizza crust speech. But I got to see the finale with the full version of "Hey Digimon" and the trolley car and Mimi's hat, etc.

And I cried. A lot. I was (and still am) incredibly sensitive and prone to crying at the drop of a hat. We had only just started the week-long vacation when the episodes aired and (according to my parents), I was "annoying" all week because of how upset I was. I thought it was over forever. That I'd never get to see Digimon again. That my faves' story was over and they would never get to see their Digimon again. I remember grabbing my spiral notebook (which was at the time filled with Team Rocket fanfiction), and started writing letters to the Digidestined. I wish I still had them, tbh, because I'd love to know what I came up with for Joe, who I was not a fan of at the time. Probably most of the emotion went to Matt, who was my favorite character back then, and Izzy, who was my sister's.

Anyway, there was this stretch of time between June 24, 2000 and August 19, 2000, when the season 1 dub had finished airing and the 02 dub started airing. Apparently 02 began airing in Japan in April, 2000, so by the time the season 1 dub ended on Fox Kids, there were already a number of 02 episodes out in Japan (apparently 13 episodes to be exact).

That summer, I read a rumor on an English language Digimon message board claiming that the new season (02) was going to "completely cut out the characters of Matt, Sora, Mimi and Joe". Since I was 11 years old at the time, I took this at face value (though if you remove the word 'completely', the rumor is largely true).

I remember going into the basement of my house and crying my eyes out (again) for Matt, Sora, Mimi and Joe. I made up a rambling song that essentially eulogized them, and I sang it for hours in the basement with the lights off for some reason. I remember telling my parents about it and they had no idea what to do to console me. My sister was 6 years old, so who knows if that "news" affected her in any way. It's funny because at the time, I didn't even particularly like Sora, Mimi, or Joe. But I was still devastated by their "loss".

There's nothing else to the story, really. I think I was probably surprised when most of the older Digidestined did show up in the first handful of episodes of 02. I don't think 02 made me cry (or at least not as much). But after it was over, I wrote like 20 love letters to Davis and wrote some cringy self-insert fic. All of those I definitely do still have.

Does anyone else remember Digimon that summer (or whatever time it ended/aired for you)?

[princess-of-the-corner]

I think one of the reasons Digimon Adventure can pull off the "I just wanna go home" thing is because of the ensemble cast. They all have somewhat different perspectives on it.

Because yeah, while all of them are like "how did we get here and how do we get back" there's varying degrees of it. I'm about to reveal myself as a dub watcher here, but:

Ty thinks it's some kind of fun and exciting adventure even if it's hard and dangerous and scary.

Izzy is really fascinated by being in a digital world and a bit too preoccupied with learning things to be super worried.

T.K. is too little to really process what's going on, so he wants to go home where it's safe and familiar, but he also really loves Patamon and all the other digimon they meet and he's having fun (and he gets to be with Matt right now).

Matt and Sora are kind of on par with each other in that they're both prioritizing the group's safety and finding a way back over the whimsy of it all, but they're also into it. This is something they genuinely enjoy doing.

Mimi hates it and complains a lot, but she also takes to it better than you'd expect. She laments all the things she misses back home but it's less soul crushing things you'd expect to be really broken up about and more just comfort things. At her heart she's enjoying herself.

Joe hates everything about this, always and forever, wants to take the absolute least risky options possible, and wants to be out of this adventure NOW.

And then of course you have Kari, who only goes to the Digital World the second time, at which point they're a bit more established and know the rules and have a way back, but are also too locked into the plot for her to be properly having fun.

Having the big group of them means you can get the best things from every position on the spectrum, and it means you have to worry less about the constraints of any one attitude. When Joe is being too much of a stick in the mud for the plot, he just gets outvoted. Same thing for when Ty is being too hotheaded or when any member forgets about the important things back home.

true!

[maswartz]

Updated my "What if the Adventure children could spirit evolve" by giving Izzy ForgeBeemon as his beast and made a set for "What if they had corrupted spirits" First row is Human Spirit, second row is Beast Spirit and third row is Fused Spirits. Idea based on this

I still just love the idea of kid TK and Kari running around as a Luxmon and Sistermon. And for the corrupted ones I love the idea of them all comparing their powers. Like Tai has burning chains, Matt and Sora have guns, Izzy can zap things, Mimi's creepy, TK and Kari have magic and Joe is just like "I have a harpoon." For TK's corrupted human spirit I was split between Impmon and Vilemon/Evilmon.

[muses-of-the-memory]

Today marks the 24th Anniversary of...

Digimon: The Movie!

It not only showed us the origin of the DigiDestined (Joe, Tai, Sora, Izzy, Matt, Mimi, TK and Kari) during the epic battle between Parrotmon and Greymon, but also it had introduced us to the Digimon in the movie; Kokomon, Terriermon, Infermon, Diaboromon, and the fusion of WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon;

Omnimon during the fight against Diaboromon!

But the third part of the movie was awesome showing us Rapidmon and Magnamon when both Patamon and Gatomon became Seraphimon and MagnaDramon, giving them the Golden DigiEggs to golden digivolve to destroy the virus infecting Kokomon to become Endigimon, Antylamon and Cherubimon.

So for today only, I will be making an open RP for the Digimon characters you all know and love, in the verse of the Digimon movie!

Tagged by: @hoshi-neko-hikari, @the-world-hopper, @spirits-of-nature16, @themultiverseheroines, @bluemajingirl, @astral-multiverse, @adigidestinedandadigimon-blog

[seventeenlovesthree]

The English dub for the Digimon Adventure 2020 reboot just dropped

[Tweet]

The English dub cast for the 8 kids and the Digimon:

Tai Kamiya: Zeno Robinson

Matt Ishida: AJ Beckles

Sora Takenouchi: Cherami Leigh

Izzy Izumi: Anne Yatco

Mim Tachikawa: Suzie Yeung

Joe Kido: Daman Mills

T.K. Takaishi: Corina Boettger

Kari Kamiya: Ryan Bartley

Agumon: Ben Diskin

Gabumon: Dave B. Mitchell

Biyomon: Tara Sands

Tentomon: Christopher Swindle

Palmon: Corina Boettger

Gomamon: Alex Cazares

Patamon: Lizzie Freeman

Gatomon: Erine Yvette

Notable roles the voice actors are known for (in my opinion):

Zeno Robinson as "Tai": 

My main take-away here is "Hunter" from The Owl House (since I just binged that and the trauma is real) and "Go" from Pokémon Journey's, but he already did a lot of amazing things and I love him.

AJ Beckles as "Matt": 

Most notably for me was "Hop" from Pokémon Journey's - and generally the fact that we will hear a loooot of recent Pokémon voices.

Cherami Leigh as Sora: 

Okay, her list is INSANELY long and I absolutely cannot wait to listen to her, this is some pretty amazing stuff we have right here and she deserves it:

"Asuna" from Sword Art Online

"Sailor Venus/Minako Aino" from Sailor Moon Viz Dub/Crystal/Eternal/Cosmos (MORE SAILOR MOON CONNECTIONS!!!)

"Chloe" from Pokémon Journey's 

"Michiru" from Brand New Animal

"Miyo Sasaki" from "A Whisker Away" (which is amazing, since Natsuki Hanae plays her love interest in Japanese)

"Alina Grey" from Magia Record 

"Tome Kurata" from Mob Psycho 100

"Sarada Uchiha" from Boruto 

MOST INTERESTINGLY: "Maki Himekawa" AND "Piyomon" in Digimon Adventure Tri, so we have old ties after all!

Anne Yatco as "Izzy":

Gaaaaaah, I reallly cannot wait to listen to her. Again, happy that we got a voice actress for him again and that she did a fair share of female AND also boyish roles (even though I am not really familiar with the latter). 

"Kinemi Miki" from Blue Period 

"Nobara Kugisaki" from Jujutsu Kaisen 

"Sabine Cheng" from Miraculous Ladybug 

Suzie Yeung as Mimi: 

She actually did a lot, I just didn't KNOW a lot... 

"Makima" from Chainsaw Man 

Young "Kyou Soma" from the Fruits Basket reboot

Daman Mills as "Joe": 

He also did a lot I didn't know, but again, reeeeeally exciting stuff.

"Yotasuke Takahashi" in Blue Period 

"Kaworu Nagisa" in the Neon Genesis Evangelion Rebuild series (that made me scream again, since they gave him Yamato's VA's in German)

"N" in Pokémon Masters (also other minor roles in Pokémon, not surprising)

Corina Boettger as "T.K." AND Palmon: 

"Tatsumaki" from One Punch Man

"Sailor Tin Nyanko" from Sailor Moon Stars

"Meiyui Chun" from Magia Record

Ryan Bartley as "Kari": 

"Ram" from Re:Zero 

"Allister" from Pokémon Journey's

"Sana Futaba" from Magia Record 

"Candice" and "Corinna" from Pokémon Masters 

"Angela" from Carole & Tuesday 

"Takane Tsubomi" from Mob Psycho 100 

"Yusa / Misa" from Charlotte

"Rei Ayanami" from the Neon Genesis Evangelion re-dub (THIS CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD THE MOST)

tbc.

[digi-dest-stories]

since you loved my l4d2 x digimon AU concept how would be like survivor! tamer s/o and wizardmon bounding together after they joined the other digidestined and their partners (the choosen children) as well their reaction that meiko's meicoomon is currently no longer the only friendly zombie digimon in the group now; in your take?

I honestly don't know much about Meiko and Meicoomon (Haven't yet watched Tri.) but I will do my best

Everyone would probably be very fairly terrified at first, since it sounds like they've been dealing with mostly hostile zombified digimon before

But, after things are explained and calmed down, there would be some other happy reunions. I'm sure Kari and Gatomon missed Wizardmon

Though, he won't let them touch him. 1, he stinks like the dead. 2, due to the memory problems, he doesn't fully recall them at first. They have to give him space to recover first.

Izzy has already been studying Meicoomon and now he's got a new subject to study. If Wizardmon and his tamer allow him to, at least. It would help them figure out a cure faster at least. Tentomon has been asking some general questions to try and help

Joe also checks on Wizardmon, trying to see how he feels, how he's functioning - Digimon Doctor, after all. He did the same for Meicoomon before. Just making sure that he's alright after being basically resurrected. Gomamon is just trying to lighten up the mood and crack jokes

Tai and Agumon are glad for the help! Tai hasn't let Agumon fight a lot, mostly out of worry of him getting infected. So, having someone who can't be infected (even if it's because they're already infected) fighting with them is really good

Matt is a little wary, just at first though. He was the same with Meicoomon, but Gabumon is trying to help convince him. He is glad for the help.

Mimi and Palmon try to repair Wizardmon's clothes. They don't approach him mostly because of uneasiness about his appearance, but that doesn't mean that he's not their friend. So they help in their own way

Meiko is kind of relieved that someone else also has a friendly, if not zombified, partner digimon. She's not alone in it and Meicoomon has someone that she doesn't have to worry about hurting

TK and Sora are missing. Why? Mostly because I had no ideas for them in this, but also because I think it's interesting if they're not all together

[asteraws]

my fave digi guys 👾

[lowder-the-koopa]

The Return of Lowder Reviews: Digimon Adventure (1999-2000) and Digimon Adventure: Our War Game!/Digimon Adventure Part 2: Beginning of the best!!! Devimon Arc and Etemon Arc.

Doing this different from other reviews as I'm going to being reviewing each episode in one or two sentences and giving it a rating like those 10 words or less videos but instead of 10 words, I am not as restricted. Everything else like characters and overall thoughts are the same though. Using the Japanese version instead of the English dub because of personal preference.

Warning: These are my opinions and you and I can disagree and agree on some things.

Plot Summary

Traveling to the Digital World was an experience that leaves the children bewildered. Their Digimon partners are suddenly thrust upon them, as well as the concept of having the Digimon digivolve into stronger creatures, and so the children have to find out how to be DigiDestined as they go along. They quickly learn of the Digital World's plight, and how evil Digimon are intent on ruling it for themselves. Although they originally fight just to return home, they eventually vow to save the Digital World for the sake of their Digimon friends. As the plot evolves, the children deal with various aspects of maturity: making friends, being courageous, standing for one's morals, etc. Each child receives an object called a "Crest" that embodies a particular trait that defines them, whose power could be used to digivolve their partners to the next level. Taichi "Tai" Kamiya has Courage, Yamato "Matt" Ishida has Friendship, Sora Takenouchi has Love, Mimi Tachikawa has Sincerity, Koushiro "Izzy" Izumi has Knowledge, Joe Kido has Reliability, and Takeru "T.K." Takaishi has Hope. It is later revealed that the children were chosen to become DigiDestined during the battle between Greymon and Parrotmon, and that their Crests represent the positive personality traits that they most strongly evinced at that time.

Eventually, an army of evil Digimon led by Myotismon crossed through a dimensional gate from the Digital World to enter Earth. The DigiDestined and their partners followed. Specifically, they landed in Odaiba, Japan, the children's home town. As the DigiDestined battled on Earth, they were joined by an eighth member, Kari Kamiya, Tai's sister and carrier of the trait of Light. While this was happening, a group of four Mega level Digimon called the Dark Masters besieged the Digital World. Once things were taken care of on Earth, the eight DigiDestined returned to the Digital World once again in order to defeat the Dark Masters one by one, and eventually their real enemy, Apocalymon, the Digimon who made all of the evil Digimon the DigiDestined had previously destroyed. When Apocalymon was defeated, the children went back to the Real World, leaving their Digimon partners behind.

Episode Reviews

Devimon Arc: 1-14

Episode 1: "And so it begins..."/"Adrift? The Island of Adventure!"

Synopsis

While at summer camp, seven kids watch as seven mysterious Digivices appear, and as they take them they are transported to a strange "Digital World". There, they are promptly greeted by seven strange-looking creatures who call themselves Digimon and claim to be the children's chosen partners. They are soon attacked by a Kuwagamon, and the Digimon digivolve to defend themselves and the children. However, the Kuwagamon destroys the cliff they are standing on, and they fall into the river below. 

Thoughts

For the first episode of a show, it's a good way to introduce the main characters and the world they have been put in, like how dangerous Kuwagamon was when all seven of the rookie Digimon were not enough to take him down for good. Biggest downside would probably be that it didn't really explain things like how the Digimon evolved but I'm assuming this is what episode 2 is for.

8/10: Good but probably needed to explain something.

Episode 2: "The Birth of Greymon"/"Explosive Evolution! Greymon"

Synopsis

The kids come across a beach with numerous phone booths, but none of them work. A Shellmon appears and attacks the kids. Agumon digivolves to Greymon and blasts him away. 

Thoughts

Continuing from where the first episode left off, this episode introduces the idea of evolution and how the main seven Digimon were able to evolve because of sharing energy, and the mystery of what the little devices, Digivices for future reference, have on their person. I like this episode due to how the characters interact and their ways of trying to find a way back to the summer camp. I like the fight between Greymon and Shellmon because it shows how powerful evolution can make a Digimon and the difference between the main group's, DigiDestined for future reference, Digimon are compared to the other more violent Digimon like Kuwagamon or Shellmon. I don't really have any complaints about this episode.

9/10: I like this more than the first episode and sets up things for the future.

Episode 3: "Garurumon"/"The Blue Wolf! Garurumon"

Synopsis

The kids see and run away from a Monochromon battle. They come across a trolley car on a small island and decide to spend the night in it. They are attacked by a Seadramon. Gabumon eventually digivolves to Garurumon and defeats Seadramon.

Thoughts

An episode that focuses on one of the main characters and shows their personality? Count me in. I love this episode, it shows Yamato, one of the DigiDestined, in the spotlight and shows his personality like him caring for Takeru, his young brother, which I like. This also shows the difference between Taichi and Yamato and the two almost get into a fight, which means their slowly becoming boyfriends rivals, and I like that because it adds a little more depth to their characters. I like the fight between Garurumon, Gabumon's evolved form, and Seadramon because while evolution does make the DigiDestined's Digimon stronger, it is not an instant win button and they still have to put in the effort to win. I don't have any issues with this episode

10/10: Excellent episode that fleshes out one of the main characters.

Episode 4: "Biyomon Gets Firepower"/"Scorching Heat! Birdramon"

Synopsis

A Meramon attacks a Yokomon village where the group is resting. Biyomon digivolves to Birdramon to defeat him, causing a Black Gear to be expelled from his body. 

Thoughts

Another character focus episode and I like it but not as much as the last one. This episode introduces the black gears that can make Digimon go berserk and hints at our first main villain. Like previous episodes, we are more about how weird this world is and the fact that some Digimon are like wild animals, others are more civilized and I like that type of world-building. This also shows that not all Digimon are evil like Meramon not being an evil Digimon but rather good and only attacked due to the black gear entering his body. Biggest downside for me is probably the fight between Birdramon and Meramon because it kinda of feels rushed compared to everything else.

8/10: Good episode but lacking in the final fight.

Episode 5: "Kabuterimon's Electro Shocker"/"Lightning! Kabuterimon"

Synopsis

The kids stumble upon a strange factory, where they find an Andromon caught in some machinery. After they release him, he attacks them. Koushiro discovers strange coding, which he uses to digivolve Tentomon to Kabuterimon. Kabuterimon then destroys the Black Gear controlling Andromon.

Thoughts

This episode introduces our first ultimate/perfect Digimon in the form of Andromon and I love how imposing he is compared to previous Digimon they have fought like how he can fight Greymon and Garurumon, two previous Digimon that have defeated similar powered Digimon in the past with relative ease, and win against both without much effort and the way he lost only due to exploiting a weakness in his right leg, which releases and destroys the black gear controlling. I love how this hints at things to come like where they are and the past of Koushiro. There are no downsides in this episode to me.

10/10: Amazing episode that introduces things that will be expanded upon later.

Episode 6: "Togemon in Toy Town"/"Palmon Angrily Evolves"

Synopsis

While escaping the Numemon who attacked the group in the sewers on their way out of the factory, the kids are split up and Mimi ends up in Toy Town after being attacked by a Monzaemon. There she finds the other kids acting strangely. Palmon manages to digivolve to Togemon and destroys the Black Gear that was controlling Monzaemon.

Thoughts

I like this and while it's not as good as the last one, I can still enjoy it. Continuing the trend of ultimate Digimon being powerful, Monzaemon felt like a genuine threat despite his goofy appearance and the fight between him and Togemon was shockingly even despite Togemon not being as powerful. The Numemon in this episode are fun and I enjoyed the comedy of this episode. The biggest downside to this episode to me is that it feels like filler but I like that about because it serves as break from the episodes.

8/10: Good episode but feels like filler.

Episode 7: "Ikkakumon's Harpoon Torpedo"/"Roar! Ikkakumon"

Synopsis

Tai and Yamato argue whether they should climb Infinity Mountain. Joe and Gomamon decide to climb the mountain by themselves. While on the mountain, they are attacked by a Unimon. Tai and Sora come to the rescue, and Gomamon digivolves into Ikkakumon and destroys the Black Gear that was controlling Unimon.

Thoughts

I like this episode because it feels like a slow burn and that works. This episode shows the motivations and flaws for one of our DigiDestined, Joe, and I like that he develops from this. While the fight is short, I still enjoy it due to Unimon only being by aiming at the black gear on his back. I also like how the DigiDestined are starting to see the black gears and realize that is what is causing these normally good Digimon to go berserk. I don't really have any issues with this episode.

9/10: Great Episode but mostly used for setup.

Episode 8: "Evil Shows His Face"/"Devimon, the Emissary of Darkness!"

Synopsis

The kids meet the ruler of File Island, Devimon, the controller of the Black Gears. He, along with Ogremon and a possessed Leomon, attacks the kids, who manage to escape. They end up in a mysterious mansion which proves to be a hallucination created by Devimon. Devimon breaks File Island into multiple smaller islands and separates the kids on different islands. 

Thoughts

After seven episodes, we are finally given our first true villain and I love how Devimon proves himself to be a threat as he uses tactics instead of brute force and I am interested in how the future episodes will play out. I like that we are shown a Digimon that is actively trying to know where the black gears are coming from with Leomon trying to find where they come from. I like that Digivices seem to affect evil Digimon like how it was able to free Leomon from Devimon's mind control. This episode also sets up things for the future like Devimon's plan, the chosen children/Digidestined, and what the Digivices can do. One of my favorite episodes so far.

11/10: An excellent episode that sets up things for the future.

Episode 9: "Subzero Ice Punch!"/"Clash! The Freezing Digimon"

Synopsis

Tai and Agumon land on a snow-covered island and are forced to defeat a Frigimon. After destroying the Black Gear that was controlling him, they cross over to the island where Yamato and Gabumon landed. Meanwhile, Yamato goes out to search for his brother against Gabumon's advice and gets hypothermia. Once the two boys meet up, they end up fighting each other until a Mojyamon attacks them. They defeat the Mojyamon and expel the Black Gear that was controlling him. 

Thoughts

I love this for what it shows me. It develops Tai and Yamato's friendship and despite disagreements between both, they will be good friends. This also shows that the DigiDestined are seeing the black gears like when Tai and Agumon aimed for the black gear on Frigimon or Tai and Yamato see multiple black gears after a part of a mountain breaks and they aim at them after Mojyamon no longer has black gear. This also sets up how the DigiDestined are going to regroup by finding where multiple black gears are located within an island and aiming at them, which causes the gears to go backwards, and leads to the island their on to become part of File Island once more. The fights in this episode and potentially later episodes involve more strategy instead of brute force and I like that about those types of fights due to showing the character's skill.

10/10: This episode develops characters that I like and sets up things for the future.

Episode 10: "A Clue From The Digi-Past"/"Kentarumon the Protector!"

Synopsis

Mimi and Palmon are harassed by Sukamon and Chuumon. After escaping them, they cross over to the next island, where Koushiro and Tentomon landed. After they reunite, Mimi and Tentomon get lost in a labyrinth and are attacked by Centarumon. Koushiro and Palmon finally find them and their Digimon battle and destroy Centarumon's Black Gear. After the battle, Leomon appears and attacks the children, but is driven back by the light of their Digivices. 

Thoughts

While not as good as the previous episode, I actually still enjoyed it due to its comedy and the lore it brings. I like the comedy bits with Sukamon and Chuumon, and how Mimi feels about everything. The lore of the Digital world is expanded with the name drop of the Digivices and what they can do.

9/10: Funny episode that expands on the world with the name drop of the Digivices and what they are considered with the ruins.

Episode 11: "The Dancing Digimon"/"The Dancing Ghosts! Bakemon"

Synopsis

After suffering an attack from Ogremon at sea, Joe and Gomamon find themselves on an island with Sora and Biyomon. They are captured by a band of Bakemon intent on eating them. Gomamon and Biyomon manage to escape and Digivolve to fight the Lord Bakemon. They eventually defeat him with help from Joe's repetitive chanting.

Thoughts

I like this episode and the comedic route it went instead of a horror route when it came to the premise. I like how Bakemon is the first Digimon to actually be destroyed and how he was defeated in a creative way instead of brute force by a prayer being said and then being defeated only after the prayer is said due to being weakened by it. Biggest downside of the episode is how it feels not that important compared to others around but I enjoy an episode that can just show the characters as how they are.

8/10: Good comedic episode that is not as important as other episodes, still shows our characters well.

Episode 12: "DigiBaby Boom"/"Adventure! Patamon and I"

Synopsis

Takeru and Patamon end up in Primary Village, the place where all Digimon are born. There, they are confronted by Elecmon, the guardian of the baby Digimon. He fights Patamon, having mistaken the two for intruders. To avoid a fight, Takeru proposes that they settle the dispute with a tug-o-war. Patamon wins and earns Elecmon's respect and trust. 

Thoughts

This is my comfort when it comes to this episode due to how whimsical and light-hearted it is and serves as the calm before the storm of the first arc and I like that about this episode. This episode also shows the hints of Takeru and Yamato's being brothers, which sets up for the future. When it comes to fighting, I'm glad that it was more of a competition rather than just mindless fighting.

10/10: Light-hearted episode that serves as the calm before the storm and hints at thing to come in the future.

Episode 13: "The Legend of the DigiDestined"/"Angemon Wakes!"

Synopsis

The entire group reunites and is attacked by Leomon. After Leomon is defeated with the light of the Digivices, he tells the children about the prophecies of the "DigiDestined." The group goes to Infinity Mountain for the final showdown with Devimon. There, Devimon absorbs many Black Gears and grows in size and power, turning the fight in his favor until Patamon Digivolves to Angemon and destroys him. Angemon, having used up so much power, reverts into a Digi-egg.

Thoughts

Our first arc ends with a bang and I'm glad it ends this way. This episode showed how evil Devimon is and how powerful he is, as he absorbs many black gears and this allows him to become powerful enough to be able to defeat 7 champions without relative struggle. When it comes to the emotion of this episode, I like how Patamon is the one to defeat Devimon for obvious reasons, but I don't think it being obvious matters because it shows Patamon digivolve to save Takeru because he's his friend. This also explains what the DigiDestined are and hints at what is beyond File Island.

11/10: Another one of my favorites and a great way to end the first arc.

Episode 14: "Departure for a New Continent"/"Departure — To a New Continent!"

Synopsis

A mysterious person called Gennai appears as a hologram after the fight with Devimon and urges the group to travel to the continent of Server in order to defeat another enemy, and tells them about objects called Crests that will allow their Digimon to Digivolve even further. They build a raft and leave File Island and are soon swallowed up by Whamon, who is still under the control of a Black Gear. After the gear is removed (from the inside), Whamon takes the kids to where their Tags, objects that the Crests are stored in, are hidden.

Thoughts

This episode serves as the intermediate between the Devimon arc and the Etemon arc. This shows some of the previous good Digimon help the DigiDestined build the raft and I like seeing the many friends they made along the way help them. This also gives the DigiDestined where they need to go and what they need to do and I think this helps them in a way for them to find a way back home after all of this. I enjoyed this episode overall.

9/10: Great intermediate episode for the story to take a break.

Etemon Arc: 15-21

Episode 15: "The Dark Network of Etemon"/"Etemon! The Stage Mounting of Evil"

Synopsis

The kids arrive in a Koromon village overrun with Pagumon, who trick the kids and kidnap Tokomon. Etemon learns of the arrival of the DigiDestined and confronts them. He uses his Dark Network to prevent the Digimon from Digivolving and then traps the group inside of a cave, where they discover their first Crest, Tai's Crest of Courage.

Thoughts

This episode starts the next arc of the show and introduces the villain, who while strong, is much more comedic than Devimon and the upcoming villains from what I can tell, and I love that contrast between Etemon and the other major villains. When it comes to the episode, it a lot more comedic and I think that fits with how Etemon is. Despite the comedy, Etemon is still a threat and proves this by having an ability that stops the DigiDestined's Digimon from evolving.

9/10: Solid episode to start the next arc.

Episode 16: "The Arrival of Skullgreymon"/"Dark Evolution! SkullGreymon"

Synopsis

While traveling in the desert, Joe's Tag reacts, leading the group into a Roman-like coliseum. There, they are trapped by Etemon and Greymon is forced to fight another Greymon. After Joe finds his Crest of Reliability, the group escapes, and Tai attempts to force Greymon to Digivolve. Greymon Digivolves into SkullGreymon and loses control of himself and attacks the others, who are unable to stop him. SkullGreymon eventually reverts to Koromon and apologizes for his behavior.

Thoughts

Another one of my favorites, this episode gives us the first Ultimate/Perfect for the DigiDestined but the form is the wrong one and goes on a rampage. I love how Tai pushes Agumon into his evolution but only to regret it as Skullgreymon, and it shows more of his character as he takes responsibility for what he. This also shows that Skullgreymon is powerful but once he devolved, he went back to Koromon and I love how despite the power, the ultimate form takes a lot of energy.

11/10: A favorite of mine that develops one of the characters even more.

Episode 17: "The Crest of Sincerity"/"Cockatrimon, the Captain of Illusions!"

Synopsis

After getting lost in the desert, the group is taken aboard a ship traveling in the desert that is headed by Kokatorimon. Kokatorimon captures all the boys and petrifies their partners. Biyomon and Palmon digivolve and defeat him, and his ship crashes into a giant cactus. A flower atop the cactus then opens to reveal Mimi's Crest of Sincerity.

Thoughts

I like this episode, it's fun and continues off the previous with Agumon being Koromon and I like that he evolves to protect Taichi. This also shows more of Etemon's underlings but unlike the previous ones minus the Greymon from Epidsode 16, he dies and frankly to be honest, I didn't expect that to happen and made me laugh.

8/10: Fun episode that acts as brevity from the previous episode.

Episode 18: "The Piximon Cometh"/"The Fairy! Picklemon"

Synopsis

The group is attacked by a Kuwagamon and Tai fails to Digivolve Agumon. Piximon intervenes and saves them. He then offers the group training at his facility, and leads Agumon and Tai into a cave to understand more about themselves while the others do manual labor. When Yamato finds his Crest of Friendship and Koushiro finds his Crest of Knowledge, they are spotted and attacked by Tyrannomon. Tai and Agumon reappear just in time to defeat Tyrannomon.

Thoughts

This one of my other favorite episodes as it develops Tai and Agumon friendship and I like that it helps Agumon evolve because both are helping each other. This episode also brings back one of the songs from the Digimon Adventure Movie and I like that song as it makes me remember where these characters came from.

10/10: Another favorite that helps develop two of my favorites.

Episode 19: "The Prisoner of the Pyramid"/"Nanomon of the Labyrinth!"

Synopsis

The discovery of Takeru's Crest of Hope reveals a cave engraved with Digi-code. Koushiro receives an e-mail from Datamon asking for help from within Etemon's headquarters, a large upside down pyramid. Datamon promises them that if they free him, he will show them Sora's Crest. After he is freed, however, he escapes and kidnaps Sora. He intends on making a copy of her so that he can control Biyomon.

Thoughts

This is another episode that expands on the lore and has set up for the next episode. This episode introduces the concept that the Digital World is on Earth but within a computer network. Etemon is shown fighting for once and I like that despite his size and comedic personality, he is still a threat and proves this by easily defeating multiple champions at once with ease. Near the end of episode, Sora and Biyomon are kidnapped by Datamon, and Tai's reaction to failing to save them is good and shows that they are all friends.

9/10: Great episode that expands on lore and sets up for later.

Episode 20: "The Earthquake of MetalGreymon"/"Evolution to Perfect! MetalGreymon"

Synopsis

Tai manages to rescue Sora. Datamon pulls himself, Etemon and many of Etemon's minions directly into the Dark Network. When Etemon reappears, having fused with the network, Greymon Digivolves to MetalGreymon to fight him. The battle ends up opening a portal that sucks away Etemon and transports both Tai and Agumon back to Tokyo.

Thoughts

When it comes to ending arcs, I like this episode a lot and consider it among my favoirtes. This shows the emotion of the characters, how much they care about each other, and introduces one of my favorite Ultimate/Perfect in MetalGreymon and how powerful he is by easily defeating Etemon. When it comes to Etemon, the goofy personality makes him seem non-threatening but when it come to his true intentions, he's evil and sees himself above others and his power shows by still being able alive even, when his minions and Datamon died due to being absorbed into the Dark Network, but he lived through sheer will, and I love that. This also shows the next in its ending.

11/10: One of my favorites that I like better than the first arc's ending and sets up for the next episode.

Episode 21: "Home Away From Home"/"Koromon, the Great Clash in Tokyo!"

Synopsis

Tai and Koromon spend a couple of hours in Tokyo and meet with Kari. They discover that Digimon are appearing randomly in the Real World and, after receiving a troubling message from Izzy, conclude that they must go back to the Digital World and help their friends. After Koromon Digivolves to Agumon to battle an Ogremon, a portal opens and transports both of them back to the Digital World.

Thoughts

Out of all the episodes in Digimon Adventure, this is my personal favorite episode of the entire show. From the animation, story and characters, I love it all. This episode introduces Kari, Tai's younger sister, into the main show along with the hint that she will be a Digidestined later on, and I like that it is setting up for the future. Overall, I like everything about this episode.

15/10: My personal favorite of the entire show.

Thoughts So Far

I'm on episode 35 and as of writing this, I'm liking Digimon Adventure and can already see it becoming one of my favorite shows of all time. From the characters being interesting and fun compared to some of the previous characters I have seen and the world being creative and interesting.

My rating as of now is 9/10.

Let's continue to part two.

[charmanderxerneas]

thinking about how i hated the ending of last kizuna

which sucks because i love the idea of “digimon adventure series but theyre older grown up now!”, and i liked literally everything EXCEPT for how they handled the main theme/plot.

(rant below, disclaimer: i watch the dub, dunno how different the plot is from the original/sub. also its been a hot sec since i watched it but it pissed me off so much i remember the main details dw. spoilers btw)

the theme in last kizuna fucking sucks. It’s all about like. letting things go as you grow up, which is fine, but they do it in the stupidest, most untrue way possible.

theyre trying to say that like. the digimon “die” (or at the very least disappear forever) as a digidestined grows up and “loses all their potential” because kids have more potential than adults

but that is just. straight up untrue? True, theres a whole idea about how kids have the potential to grow up to do anything. but its not like all your choices in life end when you hit 22 (i say this because thats around how old they are in the movie, early 20s 💀). You have the potential to: Learn new things/take college classes, get new jobs/pursue new careers, hell even smaller things like getting new hobbies or just. There’s so much potential in life for you to do things that make you happy. and I’d argue adults have more potential than kids, as they have more freedom and more of the ability to actively work towards change and work towards whatever potential they have (kids cant exactly pursue new careers or something like that)

And whats even stupider than the bad message is: they chose the two kids with THE MOST potential to kill of their digimon because of this stupid explanation. Think about it: Mimi has started a start up business, Izzy is already the president of a tech company, Joe is a doctor: most of the kids have careers now. But then they chose MATT AND TAI (Matt is in school still. Tai literally spends the whole movie not knowing what he wants to do with his life, he’s struggling in school and finding a meaningful career/what he wants to do with his life). And they say “oh those two have lost their potential so their digimon are disappearing” WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THEY HAVE ALL THE POTENTIAL IN THE WORLD TAI LITERALLY DOESNT EVEN KNOW WHAT HE WANTS TO DO WITH HIS LIFE 😭😭

My personal theory is that the villain was wrong. She lost her digimon when she was like, a little kid still, and it was after a great achievement in her life. So she goes “oh, it must be because I lost all my potential :( “ and thats the explanation they go with for the entire movie. But it is like. Likely that shes wrong purely because that doesnt make any fucking sense 💀

I don’t know exactly what the true explanation is, but heres me taking a shot in the dark with a guess (which could be wrong): I think that its a metaphorical “destiny” death. Digimon never really die for real, we know this since theyre originally just a tamagotchi (which resets when it dies), and even though in the movie they say that theyre gone forever, the ending implies theyre not (and if the 02 ending is canon: then we KNOW theyre not since they were way older in that and still have their digimon). But I do think that like: its the death of their destiny duties. The whole god damn series these kids havent had a break from constantly having to save the world with digidestined madness. But its getting to a point where theres enough new digidestined to where: the older ones might not be needed to save the world anymore.

its a “death” from having to deal with the responsibility of the digital world and all the destiny shit that comes with it. And I think that if they seek out their digimon (who are implied to still be around based on the ending, also the villain definitely tried seeking out her digimon. while we don’t know fully what happened, its clear menoa lost sight of herself, perhaps her digimon got corrupted/dark digivolved into the eosmon we see throughout the film, since eosmon is DEFINITELY the evolution of morphomon.) If they do seek out their digimon without losing sight of themselves, i believe could still have a happy life together (as we see at the end of 02). Just without any of the holds to destiny they once had. Theyve lost their old responsibilities, and have new ones in their own, adult lives.

[remember-digimon]

Who the Adventure Kids would cosplay as

Tai: Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop. He has the hair, he just needs a cool suit and a Nerf gun. He gets in trouble for shooting Nerf darts at people

Sora: Yuna from ffx2, but she would wear leggings underneath the short-shorts and half-skirt.

Matt: Sanji from One Piece. He would steal one of his dad's cigarettes to be as authentic as possible, only for it to be confiscated at the con entry

Izzy: DOOM. Like literally. This is in reference to how anything can run DOOM so he finds a way to. just. Be DOOM itself 😅

Joe: Gandalf from LOTR, because I hc that Joe is a big LOTR fan and is one of those fans that knows Everything about the books. Like Steven Colbert level

Mimi: Sailor Moon. Duh. She tries to get everyone else, even the boys especially the boys to dress as the other Sailor Scouts but they weren't into it lol

TK: does a couple-costume with Kari. He goes as Link from Legend of Zelda. He has to be warned multiple times not to hit people with his foam sword

Kari: Princess Zelda. She's the only one who actually goes for broke and has a wig, plus the ears and color contacts. She is in character the whole time. This is serious business.

Davis: an anachronism, but Reki Kyan from Sk8 The Infinity. I know for a FACT that Davis loves that anime he told me himself

Yolei: the only one that went along with Mimi; she's going as Sailor Mars. She had to borrow a pair of pumps from Mimi and has a terrible time walking in them. She changes into birks like an hour into the con

Cody: Cody is either going as himself in a Pikachu hoodie or he's going all out as a cardboard box Gundam

Ken: since his childhood was taken up by trauma and then being an Evil Genius, Ken doesn't have as much pop culture knowledge as the others. Davis helps him out by suggesting Sasuke from Naruto. He means it almost as a joke but when Ken gets excited about it Davis is like 'oooh yeah? Bet' and Ken ends up winning the cosplay contest

[tobiasdrake]

YES! Digimon Adventure 02, my favorite *starts rubbing hand together* i'm going to be so obnoxious.

Anyway since you're done with Adventure could you rank the Chosen Children up to now? I'm really interested in hearing your thoughts.

Let's see. Chosen Children from Most Favorite to Least Favorite, since I don't actually have any I dislike.

1 - Tachikawa Mimi. I'm sure there are no surprises about that one. Mimi's job is to be the relatable everykid. The one who acts the most like what an actual real-life ten-year-old thrown into this situation would act like. She cries, she screams, she wants to go home.

But she still pulls it together and has a lot to contribute all the same.

All of the kids do a great job of being relatable, honestly. But Mimi has the most interesting journey to me,

2 - Kido "Joe" Jou. You know, as a kid, I adored Yamato so much. He would have been my #2. But as an adult, I can't help but appreciate how hard Jou-senpai worked at the mostly thankless job of trying to be responsible for these kids.

He's just as scared and confused and lost as they are, and in the beginning the burden of responsibility weighs so heavily on him that it nearly breaks him. But he rises to the challenge. Even after they decide Taichi is officially team leader, Jou is always looking out for them, always trying to guide them as their senpai nonetheless.

Jou giving his life to save Takeru is my favorite Crest activation of the lot.

3 - Ishida "Matt" Yamato. He's still up there, just not as high as Jou. Yamato is the most damaged of the Chosen Children at the start, though it may not be immediately obvious. He comes into the series with more baggage than anyone. He's already carrying his parents' divorce on his back and emotionally spiraling down a defensive rabbit-hole before we even know his name.

Yamato isn't capable of being a selfish person, and that much is on display left and right. His kneejerk reactions are almost always for the betterment of the group. He can't help himself but to care about everyone else. But he's so messed up that he thinks that's a character flaw. Who he is and who he wants to be are miles apart, and who he wants to be kinda sucks so that's a good thing.

4 - Takenouchi Sora. Sora's carrying some damage on her heart as well. She's similar to Yamato, in that there's a stark disconnect in her character. Not who she is vs. who she wants to be, but rather who she is vs. who she thinks she has to be.

I love how much attention her dynamic with her mom gets in the Vamdemon arc. Sora has the most interesting and dramatic home situation out of any of the kids.

But it does feel like the show starts to de-emphasize her over time, particularly in the Dark Masters arc where Sora routinely has to be protected or saved and rarely gets to be the one who looks cool. Whether she's propping up Takeru, Hikari, or Yamato, Sora often ends up taking a backseat as the series draws closer to its conclusion.

5 - Takaishi "T.K." Takeru. I didn't actually like T.K. as a kid. He just seemed like an annoying little kid. But that's because of the dub downplaying his growth and his strength. Ironically, Takeru is probably the one of the original seven who already has his shit together the most from the start.

He's innocent, naive, and abhors violence, but he's not a helpless baby either. Takeru is resourceful, strong-willed, and contributes as much as anyone to the children's survival. Which is, itself, a key factor in Yamato's arc as much as his own.

6 - Yagami "Kari" Hikari. Hikari suffers tremendously from entering the series so late. She has very limited opportunities to shine, something that 02 will help her with.

She makes good use of what she gets and has a lot of great moments nonetheless. Granted, she's a little bit deus ex machina-ey, but she's literally the Light of the Eight Gods so we can forgive her for that.

7 - Izumi "Izzy" Koushiro. He made my kid cry.

No, I jest. Koushiro's in a rough spot where, as the computer nerd of the group in the Digital World, he has to try and walk a tightrope between "Koushiro OP plz nerf" and "It feels like Koushiro should be doing more."

It's not a tightrope he walks easily. He gets off to an interesting start as he's building out his understanding of the Digital World. But that kinda reaches a head at Etemon's pyramid and after that he just starts leaning on stuff Gennai gives him.

Once the setting is well-established, we don't get to see him do cool things like writing a program that will display a holographic map of Etemon's pyramid in physical space anymore. Gennai gives him all of his tools going forward and he just... sorta becomes the Pokedex.

8 - Yagami Taichi. He yelled at my kid for grieving dead friends.

That's less of a jest. More generally, Taichi has a lot of good points. He's the one who keeps his eye on the ball during the Dark Masters arc and keeps pushing forward while Mimi, Jou, and Yamato are having their respective crises. He's usually the guy you want to lean on in a crisis.

But wow, can Taichi be insufferable at times pre-development. He's reckless, self-centered, occasionally sexist, and utterly insensitive to the thoughts and feelings of others.

Taichi is a wild card. You never really know if you're gonna get "gets everyone caught by Etemon because he thought it'd be funny to cause trouble" Taichi or "pulls this team back together after they split up" Taichi.

Though meeting Homeostasis near the end and hearing the background of their adventure seems to do wonders for Taichi putting all of this to rest and becoming an emotionally stronger leader.