#potentially learning more about spinel makes me both curious and nervous

[amelikos]

PR account posting about Spinel before tomorrow's episode (here). I wonder if we'll get to know a bit more about Spinel's motivations since they mentioned "what could his goal be...?".

They also posted about Amethio (here). A recap featuring a scene from HZ045 where Amethio uses Terastal. I wonder if this means he could possibly use Terastal in HZ064. Also liked the mention that the battle against Rayquaza led Liko and the others to attempt Terastal training. (Witnessing Terastal against Friede motivating Amethio to eventually do the same, which in turns motivates Liko as well and introduces the Terastal arc, etc. One's growth leading to another's.)

And a final tease of Sango and Onyx (here). Happy to see they'll be around too! I was wondering if they'd have some kind of winter outfits, but it seems like maybe they don't get too cold in this kind of weather.. Sango does have an Ice Pokemon as her main partner so she is probably resistant to cold? And since Onyx is always with her, maybe he is used to it as well now.

[amelikos]

Going over lots of information and promotional stuff for Mega Voltage that was recently released.

This includes episode titles (from HZ090 to HZ093), writers, promotional pictures, clips of the characters, etc.

No monthly calendar was released this month, but here is the link for the March calendar (because oji-san moe, etc). (Edit: April calendar is here.)

First, the promotional pictures for the one-hour special (HZ090 / HZ091) that will air on April 11 (link here).

I think Roy's face on the second picture is amusing. We've never really seen him look like that? He is usually pretty chill with most people, so I wonder what Uruto is saying for him to react like that? Cautiously curious about their dynamics.

Also, it seems like the Pokemon is reacting to the Rakurium in a different way than what we've seen before? Usually, Pokemon were enveloped in a pink mist and looked ferocious under the influence of the Rakurium, but these pictures are a bit different than the cases of Pokemon affected by the Rakurium we've seen in HZ064 (Spinel's Blacky) and HZ075 (the original Explorers backstory). Kekking looks almost.. relaxed? Despite the clear Rakurium presence in the area.

--

Onto the promotional clips of the characters.

Liko's clip is here.

Noting the phrase associated with the clip itself: "As long as we're with Pokémon, we can get going!".. Liko used to keep her grandmother's words close to heart ("As long as we're with Pokemon, it'll be fine"), so I wonder if this is a new phrase she made for herself? Taking Diana's words and learning from them, and adding her own spin/experiences to them? It would be neat.

Also, I like the clip itself. Masquernya is so cool. Liko is also so cool! I love that she is a character who can make many expressions, too. It's fun, and also adds a lot to my liking of the character. We know that Liko has been affected by the events in Rakua, but I love that there is this nuance to her character. She can still smile or have fun with her Pokemon despite it. I remember it's something I liked a lot at the beginning of Horizons too. Liko struggled to express herself and was nervous around strangers, yet she was still able to talk to the girl who was worried for her Pokemon at the Pokemon Center in HZ003. When characters aren't reduced to a single trait and are allowed to have multiple layers to them and feel human. When the writing is peak, etc. Also, I like seeing Liko and Roy walking side by side at the end of Liko's clip! They've grown a lot, and their friendship means a lot to me.

Roy's clip is here.

Roy's voice direction is very interesting to me. His voice sounds deeper and calmer, too. More measured, and mature. Really looking forward to how Roy will sound like in this chapter. This clip delivered, and Terasaki Yuka did an amazing performance in these few lines already, so I can't wait for the actual episodes to air.

Roy's Mega Evolution phrase also stood out to me ("Seize true power, then exceed it!"). The "exceed" part is Friede's influence on him, since Friede's Terastal phrase is "surpass your potential". It's the same verb being used in both cases.

Dot's clip is here.

Pretty interesting to me that Dot will remain in her room and not physically travel with Liko and Roy for the time being. It mirrors the first chapter a bit, since Dot was still in her room back then. This time, it's different though, since she built genuine bonds with Liko and Roy and will work in tandem with them remotely. I wonder when she'll join them? Either way, this choice is compelling to me, and more intriguing than having her join them right off the bat.

Also, Blanca appeared! She brings pancakes to Dot, which is cute. I love that food remains a constant motif in Dot's arc. It's probably Blanca's way of getting closer to her daughter. Which she learned from Murdock in HZ041, since he advised her to bring donuts to talk to Dot because it might make it easier.. And now we're seeing Blanca bring pancakes to her, which means Dot keeps trying out different food and enjoys them, too. Dot being embarassed about her mother in her room is fun too, I like seeing these sides of her since she is usually composed.

Uruto's clip will probably be posted tomorrow on the PR account.

--

Now going over information about the episodes.

Starting with HZ090/HZ091, the one-hour special (link here). Continuing with HZ092 (link here).

Really looking forward to this set of episodes, since Dai Sato (the lead writer) is writing all of them. It's the first time he is writing three episodes in a row, too. Since the story is heading to a new stage, the set up episodes for the new chapter have to be handled by the lead writers. Also, so far every chapter debut episode has been written by either Dai Sato or Kureha Matsuzawa, so they are keeping up this pattern. (Chapter 1's debut was Dai Sato, chapter 2 was Kureha Matsuzawa, chapter 3 was Dai Sato, chapter 4 was Kureha Matsuzawa, etc).

Also, curious about the fact that Spinel is probably going to appear in the one-hour special, which is written by Dai Sato.. Because he hasn't written Spinel so far, actually. He wrote HZ024 which mentioned Spinel (the offhand mention of him and Agate working together in the lab), but in terms of actual lines said by the character.. I don't think he did. So, I wonder how Spinel will be written in these specific eps.

Continuing with HZ093 (link here).

This episode is written by Kureha Matsuzawa. Which also pleases me, because I enjoy this writer's scripts a lot.. Though it did surprise me a bit to see him back so soon, since he wrote so many episodes in a row for the climax Rayquaza Rising. He wrote everything from HZ082 to HZ089, with the exception of HZ084.

No summary for this ep yet, but it seems like it's focusing on Gurumin. Her fanbase, too? In-universe, we know that Liko and Zir are fans of Gurumin. We met a Gurumin fan in HZ036 (Yuno), and we know Botan watched Dot's videos, too.. So I wonder if we'll meet new fans, or if it'll focus on a character we already know? The ep is written by the script coordinator, so it should be significant. He doesn't introduce characters who won't be relevant, usually (for example, he wrote HZ054 which introduced Crave, who was later confirmed to be Amethio's father, etc). Very curious about what will happen in this one.

Overall, curious about the April episodes since my favorite writers are on it!

I wonder how many Explorers characters will appear at the beginning of Mega Voltage? New chapter means setting up the direction for both the protagonist and antagonist factions. It's been this way every single chapter so far, so it should be the same this time too. Spinel is a given (we've seen him slay in the teaser for Mega Voltage teaser and the Six Heroes minus Rayquaza locked up), but I do wonder about the others?

I guess it'd be too crowded if we got to know what everyone in the Explorers is up to first thing in the chapter. It's probably part of the intrigue too, and we'll probably learn what they are doing during the chapter. Now that Gibeon is gone and that Spinel took over both the Explorers and Exceed, it raises questions about what Amethio and Hamber, Sango&Onyx (they are a set, do not separate), and Agate will do. Very curious to learn about their loyalties and current goals for this chapter!

That's it for now, I think. I'm excited for the new chapter ww

For future reference, Animedia poll is here. Liko is on there. Some of the Wonderful Precure girls too!