HZ131 will be for gathering allies and for Roy getting mandated Mega Lucario Z. And Friede goes do something. VERY full episode which has me worried lol.
And then next week is specially marked. I highly believed that Rising Again would end this month but.... that seems way too quick. They'll fail the ending if it ends this month.
I mostly have thoughts on Friede's scene with Yanga because there were interesting implications that I want to write about so I can remember them later.
I found it significant that Yanga mentioned that his own research was being put on hold under Spinel's "reign" in Exceed to give priority to the research on the Strong Spheres. Considering the fact that Crave literally scouted Friede because Friede's research and thesis caught his eye and interested him, and Crave respects Friede as a researcher.
Even when they met again in ep 54, Crave asked Friede if he was still continuing his work on his own research and expressed interest in it, and acknowledged that their paths and interests were aligned because they both worked towards the same goal (improving the lives of humans and Pokemon), even if they weren't working together anymore. I liked the fact that this scene highlighted the differences between Crave and Spinel. Crave encouraged Friede's independent and unique research and finds value in it, while Spinel stifles others' for his own and gives priority to his own research.
Going even further, Yanga mentioned that no one could disobey Spinel, so there is the implication that there is a fear of opposing him. While Crave didn't seem so commanding when he was still the director (in general, he was a quite passive character at the time). At least, the fact that both Friede and Spinel could freely come into his office and talk to him gives off that impression to me (Friede talked to him in ep 54, and Spinel in ep 78).
I liked the implications that there are seeds of rebellion being sown within Exceed itself. Friede reaching out to Yanga and entrusting him with his research, and Yanga wanting to do something with his coworkers (and thus, showing that there is dissatisfaction among his colleagues and that he is not the only one who may feel that way). There is also the realistic aspect of people not wanting to stand up even if they feel something is wrong because their livelihoods is at stake, so they think it's better for them not to do anything and keep quiet..
In general, I liked that we could infer so many things about other characters through that scene. Yanga said that he joined Exceed in the first place because he genuinely wants his research to be helpful to both humans and Pokemon. It shows that Gibeon's ideals were initially pure and that they still persist to this day and inspire others. His work wasn't in vain. Crave, Friede and Amethio are also characters with similar ideals. They all want to do something for humans and Pokemon. And I think it also raises interesting implications about Spinel's character. We've seen that most researchers who were related to Exceed all had the same goal and wanted their research to be useful to the world. So, I wonder why Spinel even joined Exceed in the first place? He is also a researcher. Gibeon chose him and acknowledged him because of his skills as a researcher. I wonder if Spinel also took this path to help others and wanted his research to be useful? How was he before him and Gibeon made each other worse? That's something I'm very curious about, and I wonder what motivates him.
All in all, I enjoyed this scene a lot. I liked the mature feeling it had to it, the realistic aspect of a character being disillusioned and unsure about his work (Yanga), etc. Also, Spinel is hot as hell and it makes me insane idk. Last ep, he was being all cute with his cat and now we get implications that he is commanding and pushes his own research on others. His duality is so <3 and I love him.
I also liked the scenes on the ship (the kids were cute when they were running to the door because they were excited to see Friede again), and Nanjamo.
As for the battle, I think Uruto puts it better than me.
Self-aware moment.
Like, I'm tired of these Roy battles taking so much space and episodes while not being thematically relevant. We kinda have other pressing things to focus on, and I think it's a bit too late to fix the damage with Lucario at this point. I don't think he feels like a full-fledged character, and the contrast is striking compared to Yamirami (which I'm using as an example, as a Pokemon owned by a male character who was also a recent addition to the main cast).. who was actually developed and had his bond with his trainer emphasized (we know what Uruto and Yamirami mean to each other, I don't think the same can be said for Roy and Lucario) and also has connections to other Pokemon (Yamirami and Pagogo have a fun running gag together and spend time together sometimes, but we also got ep 106 back in Mega Voltage which had a simple premise but did wonders to flesh out Yamirami's personality and character simply because he made friends with another Pokemon and helped him eat more food).
I'm bringing up past episodes, but I think the contrast was also striking in ep 129.. which came off to me much more as an Uruto-centric episode, with the subplot being Roy achieving his goal (catching Rayquaza), instead of the other way around. The emotional beats all revolved around Uruto. Uruto's history being explored (the implications of his legacy, which drew parallels between him and Liko too), Uruto relying on teamwork during the battle (protecting Roy's Pokemon and throwing out his chance at being the last one to stand in the battle), Uruto crying and showing vulnerability (to the viewers) but genuinely complimenting Roy, Uruto and Liko sharing a nice moment at the end (Liko worrying about him and the fact she waited for them to be alone together to ask him if he was okay, and Uruto reassuring her), the episode LITERALLY ends on Uruto saying that his legend was just getting started.. All of this to say that for an episode that was meant to be about Roy achieving his goal, the emotional beats revolved around someone else. Which also happened in the Mega Evolution specials, but iunno (these episodes benefited Uruto's character much more, the engaging elements of the story were all about him, Yamirami and Matiere, while Roy and Lucario.. didn't really get anything compelling).
I think the contrast is striking. I do have issues with Mega Evolution and its implementation in the story and the blatant promotion, but at the very least, I can see that there is some effort in trying to make Uruto a character with thought and intention behind him. He has flaws. He is called out on them. He works on overcoming them. He has genuine and meaningful bonds with both his Pokemon. Connections with humans (I think it's neat that he interacts and bonds with so many female characters, he even got an interesting moment recently when he tried to cheer up Dot even though it backfired.. but I think it showcased the fact that their ways of being "confident" are different, with Uruto being more a "fake it until you make it" type of person while Dot needs some time to build her own confidence, and both ways of being are okay). Like, there is something going on here and there are things to say in terms of themes.
My issue with Roy is that I don't get the intention behind his character anymore. What is the story being told here? What did we learn about Roy in all his focus and battles during Rising Again? What did we learn about his Pokemon? Do we even know what Lucario means to him. What does Uruto mean to him? We know what Roy means to Uruto, but is the opposite true? What are the themes being conveyed here, idk. I feel like he hasn't had a meaningful moment with his friends in so long, too.
Anyway, it hasn't been very interesting. And it's specifically an issue about his character to me, because I don't feel that way about others (yes, Uruto included, who actually has little focus but the focus he does have is effective in conveying things about his character, like he doesn't need a billion of episodes to feel fleshed out). Like, the thing I enjoy about the battles in Horizons generally is that they are thematically relevant and have a narrative behind them, but most of Roy's battles lately don't have that. Battles do not function as development either unless there is an intention behind them. Quantity doesn't mean quality of writing, but we sure are getting a lot of them somehow. It does feel to me like Roy is in another show, while the others are still in Horizons. The other characters and their Pokemon get meaningful focus (and interesting growth, thematic relevance), while Roy gets a bunch of battles.. but they don't do much for his character or Pokemon instead of just "getting stronger" and make him a generic "cool guy". It feels like they were told to make him cool at everyone else's expense.
Which is another issue post timeskip too (and specifically in Rising Again, because it didn't really feel that way to me in Mega Voltage), I don't like that characters have to be belittled in order to elevate Roy. When the focus is on Liko, there is a whole world explored through her, every character benefits from her perspective, everyone is spurred to action and respected as a character.. the focus on Liko doesn't only help her character, it fleshes out the world, the Pokemon, and everyone else (Ann, Dot, Amethio...). It doesn't feel that way with Roy. It feels like it's detrimental to other characters and isolates him from others (one recent example was his training with Kakitsubata where he was isolated from others, in contrast to Liko, Dot and Uruto who had some interesting interactions with others like Taro, Ann, Seille while they were in Blueberry), while diminishing their roles and/or dynamics to elevate his own (ie, pushing the idea that he reformed the RVT alone, even though it's not true and contradicted by the text itself, or isolating Cap from everyone else even though Cap always cared about everyone and looked after them). I think it shows a bit through Uruto too, because I can't shake off the underlying feeling that he is there to prop up Roy. Like, Uruto has to be the one who loses so Roy can win. Uruto lost against Lucario, and Lucario ended up joining Roy and they did the same thing with Rayquaza.. which I didn't like that Rayquaza was framed as a "prize to get" because Pokemon aren't trophies, they are full beings who can choose who they team up with.. but why did they make it a competition that Uruto would "lose" from the getgo. Why does Uruto have to be the one who gets his heart broken. It feels unequal to me.
Anyway, my issues with post timeskip Roy are piling up. I don't think all this focus is benefiting his character, or something enviable that should be done to others (like, I'm thankful my faves and their Pokemon get meaningful development that is earned actually), but it pisses me off that it's taking so much time and space. I don't think his character has the kind of depth necessary to carry a story, either (at least the story Horizons is trying to tell), which is fine but not fine that the actual deep characters (ie, literally everyone else) are pushed to the side to focus on his battles above other things. It especially feels dissonant to focus on Mega when the actual plot is about Terastal. It makes me hate the games more <3
Anyway, I could go on but I'll stop for now. I do look forward to Diana next week. I also want to write about ep 130 because I enjoyed the Explorers focus.
Just give me Liko vs Spinel and the cat battle. I want Masquernya vs Blacky. Give me Liko. Give me my hot man (Spinel) being weird about older men (Gibeon) and then maybe I'll calm down.
Despite this week's episode quite well saying next stop is Rakua lol.
Feels weird to say one thing and then they're having a pitstop along the way for mandated marketing. Sigh.
EDIT: adding the summary here because it somewhat makes it make more sense but still a bit shoehorn lol
In "The Time Has Come! Gather, Companions!", Nemo, Botan, Anne and other members of the 18 Teras Type Trainers show up at Liko and the others' as they prepare to head to Rakua! And a certain couple other people show up as well...?!
End of EDIT!
Reaaaally wish Roy didn't feel so "marketing-focused". Rayquaza ep felt good. And now next week it falls back to "doing this because marketing". He doesn't need another mega. Gah /o\
I expected this but I also expected it to flow better. Now it feels oddly placed. Like I wish it happened with visible build up outside of Lucario constantly getting beat in battles lately.
