i will pierce through your heart's wall and grow.

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life..” ― Muhammad Ali.

[rukaria]

I suppose they are going for another "stalker" Digimon route again after the controversial but highly popular (for a ~good reason~) Meicrackmon episode from GG huh... Ofc it's just a speculation for now, and I'm so curious to see the next week ep.

[rukaria]

Okay so Digimon Beatbreak ep 25 thoughts...

I love how this episode puts another focus on how the lack of synergy between a human and their Digimon partner could significantly weaken their Digimon, as shown with Starmon getting overpowered by Petermon multiple times on screen. Handa is visibly held back by his realism (aka normal human limitations and natural fear) and pessimism, yet Starmon is fully determined to save the children and act according to the heroic image that they built over time, even if it's just a part of their performance. Someone mentioned that Starmon's will may not be a 1:1 representation of Handa's own desire to become a hero of justice, but rather a path of his own character development - which I think is a very interesting take on the human and Digimon connection. After all, it's a common theme too in the anime series that Digimon compliment their humans as a character foil and not always as a representation of their inner psyche.

Now that we know Chiropmon loves superheroes like Makoto (sometimes we do get reminded that Makoto is a 10yo kid who loves kid things), I am speculating if their Ultimate/Mega form will actually be a shout-out to Batman for real. Or would they take the Vamdemon/Myotismon aesthetic as a classic vampire with capes, or maybe even a combination of vampire Batman...?

In the end, Glowing Dawn possibly got new allies for them (Handa and Starmon!) so all's well that ends well even if they ended up becoming broke... again. Kyo takes that in stride, at least.

So next ep... Haruomi, Commandramon and Mushroom gang comeback with Elizamon debuting, huh? The previews mentioned that Haruomi saved Elizamon, so it's possible that it could be a trafficked Digimon that lost its partner. Next ep feels like an excuse for Gekkomon to eat lol.

The new ending sequence seems to confirm my prediction too that Ajatarmon line might be making a comeback through Pomumon or Alraumon... well, maybe. We'll see soon enough.

[rukaria]

Trying to figure out Digimon field reps in Beatbreak and here is what I can try to sum up so far

Dragon’s Roar: Monodramon, Flaremon, Gekkomon* Nature Spirits: Gekkomon*, Proganomon* Wind Guardians: Monodramon*, Tinkermon Jungle Troopers: Lilamon, Mushmon Deep Savers: Shakomon, MarinChimeramon Metal Empire: Pristimon*, Ludomon*, Commandramon, Pandamon, Proganomon* Nightmare Soldiers: Chiropmon*, Shademon* Virus Busters: Murasamemon*, Gokuwmon*

As far as I am aware, yes, some Digimon can fit into multiple field groups (e.g: Sunarizamon, Proganomon's rookie form, is classified as Nature Spirits but its advanced forms may fit into Metal Empire field), but this is picked based on "which main field group they fit the most". The ones marked with asterisk are actually not yet confirmed by the Digimon official content, but I put them based on the attributes, vibes, and abilities they have displayed onscreen.

[rukaria]

If Rose's agents use similar plant (Jungle Troopers) based Digimon, I do hope this time they are bringing Ajatarmon line justice because holy shit she was done very dirty in Ghost Game

[rukaria]

I know seeing online discussions isn't exactly the best experience because you gotta see other people criticizing your favorites, whether it's an actual legitimate criticism or just straight up hate... but I do think some people does raise a fair point about how Tactics Team 7's treatment overall is a little lackluster at the end of their arc.

Sure, all 3 of the members have learned their lesson and experienced immense character growth, but it felt like they were easily pardoned of their wrongdoings with just a slap on the wrist. Yes, they are victims of circumstances, but it doesn't entirely absolve their entire conscience from their crimes...

And in spite of Raito's visible character growth (good for him!), people often bring up the moment he threw tantrum on the bomberman entirely unprovoked like a madman in his debut episode (sadly I think this is a bad habit he took from Naito) and his attempt to put innocent children into coma (he is 100% aware of the outcome btw) just to prove his plans right. Yeah. He had shown remorse over treating his Digimon partner badly and unwittingly leading people to their deaths over meaningless attempt to prove himself right, but what about the whole jackassery he did at the beginning of his arc? Would Tomoro also call that out eventually?

As much as ex-Team 7 will likely be relegated to supporting allies like Hitomi after the arc's conclusion, I do hope there'll be one or two episodes addressing their conscience over their unsavory work in the past. Raito's character growth has been superb so far, but the guy could do much better to improve himself and acknowledge more of his past mistakes.

Whenever I mention Team 7 and their atonement arc, I always remember Kyo's little message for the audience and in-story: everyone deserves a second chance, as long as they're willing to reform.

[rukaria]

My honest thoughts on Digimon Beatbreak's latest episode and its upcoming interlude arc (spoilers under the cut)

So the episode basically confirmed Klay was a war criminal. It explains why he came out to be so screwed up like that. Poor Sunamon likely got deleted in the end since the ministry was directly involved with the case and Glowing Dawn likely didn't have a chance to pick it up.

Personally, I feel like the way they handled Team 7 was a little flimsy. They reckon they were complicit in Klay's crimes even if it wasn't because they profited from it, but somehow was able to get away with it scot free. Kinda hoping future episodes will deal with their conscience over the things they did when they were under Tactics, and how would they make up for it... The story moving on to the next arc may mean their positions are being relegated to supporting allies with sporadic appearances like Hitomi.

Also no, I don't think Naito would willingly take the blame (Hotaruko and Granit's dialogue imply that he's probably alive and arrested at the end of the episode) for the kids, he was just unlucky enough to get arrested... If anything, Glowing Dawn themselves might be the ones who testified to the authorities about Team 7. (assuming the ministry doesn't interrogate any of the victims from the trafficking episode lol) Toei please prove me wrong on Naito's possible sudden redemption fhkdjhflkd

Granit working and living with Hotaruko's family makes me think there will be moments where Glowing Dawn is visiting Hotaruko's restaurant as a regular... also with ex-Team 7 working as independent cleaners, do you think they will be a "healthy" rival of sorts to GD, or rather work with them regularly? Will Kyo also let them know that any of the captured baby Digimon can be taken to Nirinso instead of deleting them?

Excited to see Rose's upcoming schemes and how would the protags deal with her in the next story arc. I think among the Five Stars, she and Genjo are the actual threats because they seem to be having a grand scheme of plans that might affect the plot. Kaito and Honoka feel more like they are there for the sake of being an obstacle, not exactly because they have something planned for themselves.

I am biased but I wanna see Rose's agents having Tailmon and BlackTailmon for their partners because of Mastemon...

HARUOMI AND HITOMI COMEBACK YES YES YES (and a treat for the Elizamon and Mummymon fans) I am hoping that the old man and Pandamon will also be making their comebacks soon...

People be saying Hitomi is getting Mummymon as a partner which is an interesting idea but I highly doubt it? I feel like she would probably be involved in another Digimon-related urban legend involving Mummymon just like the typical Ghost Game plot. I mean if she does get Mummymon as a partner, it's probably the Rookie form that makes it official instead (Tsukaimon/Ghostmon/Impmon/PicoDevimon, etc). The episode title makes me afraid that they will pull off another Ghost Game Ajatarmon or Meicrackmon case with Mummymon tho LOL

I wonder what's the deal with Starmon and Petermon in the next episode? Petermon doesn't seem to be kidnapping human children and Rookie Digimon like in Ghost Game, if we look at the previews, but he seems to be the antagonistic force fighting against the Starmon.

MonarchLizamon looks cool and his crescent moon emblem is very samurai-ish (Date Masamune's kabuto comes to mind). What if Gekkomon's mega form is smth similar to Gaiomon?

[rukaria]

Unpopular / controversial opinion probably but Digimon Beatbreak's latest episode does make me feel bad for Klay, even just a bit. He is presumably from a fictional middle eastern country, which was ruined and destroyed through foreign gentrification. After he became a refugee (like Granit), he was taken to a Japanese facility as a test subject and witnessed one of the most lethal mass disaster in Beatbreak's human history, him unwittingly being a part of it too since his partner was born during the said incident.

Also, Sunarizamon seemed like it was trusting and loyal enough to protect Klay, but in the present day it only looks like a mindless henchman to his antagonistic human partner. After all, Digimon Beatbreak does showcase how humans influence their Digimon partner, early "worse" example showcased by the mob boss and Astamon.

Klay's path could have gone differently if he retains a flicker of idealism, but bro took the Thanos path to become a greedy colonizer baron like the people he hated and believes that power is the only way for him to get back what he had lost (like how Kyo put it, he doesn't know how to dream but only to take from others). In a way, he is also another tragic villain with understandable motivation............ but it does not excuse the absolutely shitty thing he did to attain his goals.

[rukaria]

I must say....

I didn't expect Klay's backstory to be "former middle eastern coded royalty now becoming the new government lapdog but he was not having it, and since he's naturally power hungry and greedy his intention isn't benevolent at all"

Bro is getting in par with Devimon and Lucemon as one of the pettiest antagonists out there in Digimon anime franchise...

The anime is getting better and better, like it's giving all Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Code Geass and Digimon Tamers all at the same time.

Also I wonder if my theory regarding the existence of Digital World is going to be true or nah. The whole Kano island incident in general is just sus and I'm gonna call it being related to the existence of Beatbreak continuity of Digital World

Once again we are glad the Royal Knights is NOT in this continuity

[rukaria]

Watching Digimon Adventure 2020 and I can safely say that Tomoro is a Yamato expy fr. They had this whole thing of "I'd rather work alone" and following their logic more even when it's not morally right (in Yamato's case he straight up refused to help stray Digimon because it could compromise his group's safety while Tomoro outright wanted to delete devolved Hyemon because "it's a dangerous Digimon") before warming up to their friends...............

On the other hand, they got diff partners to react to their personality. Gabumon is quiet and more introspective, but doesn't always go against Yamato's decisions. Gekkomon is waaaaaay louder and has no hesitation to argue against Tomoro. Very interesting.

I don't think 2020 Yamato plays music though, so the band kid part is def from the og one.

So, Yamato but make him the little brother? LOL

[rukaria]

JP Youtube users pointed out that Honoka might pull off a Pinocchimon (Puppetmon for us who are more familiar with EN localizations) / Lilithmon (Xros Wars) and I'm like....... oh shi ur right

Like ngl I remember the og Dark Masters Puppetmon was kind of unnerving in a Chucky-like kid kind of vibe. Honoka feels like both of Puppetmon and Ranamon's successor in this regard as a villain.

Also based on the preview, it seems like Glowing Dawn came to rescue Hotaruko? (Wtf is this Gigasmon gyatt preview image tho)

Poor Hotaruko though, she went through a lot and seems like she's trying her best to not falter under the pressure.... being a fugitive and all now...

[rukaria]

Should I try to watch Digimon Adventure 2020 reboot? Many said it's just mid and feels like another nostalgia bait after Kizuna (I haven't watched this either. too afraid for feels) for those who wants "Adventure but with a more modern technology set in 2020s".

Also speaking of more Adventure continuity, are they planning to elaborate / continue from where they last did smth with it (I'm talking about the Digimon Adventure: Beyond short that they released abt a year ago)

[agumonger]

me: make villains evil and fucked up again

digimon beatbreak: ok how about the worst potential in humanity

[rukaria]

maybe the royal knights were right all along. we need to nuke WO headquarters

[rukaria]

Old Digimon anime series tend to portray the Digimon themselves as the sadist, greedy ahh evil final boss (Dark Masters, Apocalymon, Lucemon, BelialVamdemon, etc) but newer Digimon franchises tend to focus more on humans being the bad guys. Probably due to the shift of the newer Digimon installments that focuses more on the real world rather than Digital World.

However, I'm curious of what the Digimon themselves think of the villainous humans in Beatbreak. Like........... aren't any of them actually disgusted with the way some humans treat their own kind like shit and sell them like commodities? (Tactics' Digimon partners come to mind, not sure with the other Five Stars because they all seem in sync with their partners) Good thing the Royal Knights isn't in this continuity because they all would nuke Klay and Naito to death lmao 😭😭😭

It also reminds me that in Cyber Sleuth, LordKnightmon was actually disgusted of Kishibe Rie's greed and sadism, but since LordKnightmon themselves is already quite twisted too from the start, it becomes worse when their consciousness merge into one as it amplifies both of their worst traits. Compare that with Kuremi Kyoko and Alphamon, whose original personalities are already benevolent to begin with, apart from the bizarre taste in food. (I'd love to see this whole "Digimon merging their consciousness with human" thing in Beatbreak though)

Though ig it does explain why Astamon seems to be so in sync with his mob boss partner. Despite its profile saying it can be honorable to its own comrade, Astamon is already a dangerous species to begin with, and when partnered with someone mean and greedy, I guess it fuels more of his tendencies to follow his partner's mindset. If it was partnered with a protagonist, maybe it'll show more of its benevolent side? idk idk

[rukaria]

Very controversial opinion (probably) but I'd love to see Hitomi getting a Meicoomon line because ngl she kinda reminds me of Meiko in tri vibe-wise...

[rukaria]

I just realized that somehow Beatbreak doesn't have a major character with bird-like or canine-like (Murasamemon is a feline) partner rip altho u can argue that Ghost Game don't have them either (dinosaur, bunny and jellyfish??)

IMO while I think Monodramon was chosen for Raito due to its Beat Knuckle attack as a foil to Gekkomon, Raito has a lot in common with "rival/deuteragonist characters with canine-coded partner" archetype like Yamato, Tohma and Koji (also Kiriha, even if his partners are a blue variant of Greymon and blue mecha Birdramon). If I could pick another partner for him, I would go with Loogamon.

(And yes, Monodramon is as loyal as a puppy dog)

If someone could get a bird-like partner, maybe it'll be Hitomi? Or another one-off character?

Edit: You may count TiaLudomon as a "canine-coded" Digimon bc it has a design that resembles Gaogamon but unfortunately they ditch it in the next evo stages :(

[rukaria]

I really cannot imagine if the other Five Stars can potentially be worse than Klay and Naito, sans Genjo. Kaito feels more like a typical mean blood knight who relishes in destruction, but dislikes underhanded tactics / inhuman crime. Honoka feels like she is too young to do villainous acts in larger scale while also not caring for anything other than herself and Kaito, at worst she might just be a violent tempered, murderous jerkass.

While Rose... she is the only one I can potentially see being rather vile, but it really depends tbh? I think Digimon as a franchise rarely makes their female villains very despicable and well written (groans in OG Arukenimon, Frontiers Ranamon and Xros Wars Lilithmon). I guess you may count Kishibe Rie / LordKnightmon(???) from Cyber Sleuth, Ranamon from Time Stranger and Arukenimon from Ghost Game and Survive continuities as some of the vilest female Digimon antagonists though, but if so, then Rose has some really big shoes to fill... she gotta be inhumane enough to be worse or just as bad as Klay bruh

[rukaria]

There has been no mention of Digital World in Beatbreak continuity which makes me wonder if it really is a thing at all or it does exist but basically an entirely separate overall entity from the human world just like how nobody actually knows much about it in Time Stranger and Cyber Sleuth universe (except people can only speculate of where Digimon comes from and how did they spawn in real world, making it an urban legend of sorts) until our protags get there.

In Beatbreak universe, it is said Digimon's existences are mysterious creatures that spawn from Sapotamas... but is that really the whole truth? Do the Digimons know that there is a world beyond their existence, where only their race exists on their own rather than coexisting with humans?

We're about to get into the end of the series' first half soon. I hope the plot will elaborate more about that, or give a confirmation if Digital World is a thing or even not at all. Hoping they aren't going to repeat the same mistake as Ghost Game that stuffs everything about Digital World in their last 3 eps...

Edit: I think yes, there is a certain elephant in the room when we speak about the whole "Digimon in this continuity needs e-pulse to sustain their lifeline" issue, which imply that if Digital World exists, that logic might become moot because there is no source of e-pulse there (no humans). Then again, the digital world often operates in an entirely diff logic from human world, so MAYBE digital world can be a solution to that problem.

After all, Digimon franchise is no stranger to both "Digimon leaving their human companions to return to the digital world to not interfere with human world as an anomaly" (Tamers, Frontier, Cyber Sleuth and Time Stranger) and "Digimon and human coexisting with no more boundary between worlds" (Adventure continuity, Ghost Game). At this point, Beatbreak can be both because there are tons of worldbuilding mysteries to be revealed such as World Union's whole plan, Shangri-la Egg, and whatnot. Fans are assuming that Digital World: Shambala might even be a plot point too in the series after the primary focus on the og one and Iliad in Time Stranger. I am very excited to see where this goes, though!