Liko and Tebrim in HZ116.
Something about Liko's training session..
Liko stating that she wants to focus on Masquernya and Carbou particularly when it comes to her goals in terms of training. Later on, Tebrim wants to join the battle against Kaenjishi and gets fired up and ready to join Masquernya and Carbou, but Liko tells her it's dangerous and that she should heal her friends' wounds.
Probably the moment that stood out the most to me because of what they could potentially do with this and feeling like it could lead somewhere, given the focus on Tebrim's actions and facial expressions in that scene. Tebrim had her own independent agenda and was clearly eager to fight as well, but Liko seems to be overprotective of Tebrim and wants her to be safe, so she will avoid having her fight if she can.. Two conflicting wishes, in a way. Liko may still see the timid Mibrim in Tebrim and unconsciously wants to shield her from danger if she can do that.
Given how Tebrim is featured prominently in the ending theme (much more than usual), I'm hoping they will focus on her character much more and highlight her wishes and dynamics with Liko? Especially since it feels like she is set up to evolve in this arc, just like Carbou will.
In general, I think it's interesting that there is room for such emotional conflicts with Liko and her Pokemon, even at this point of the story. Liko had that with Nyahoja early on (and Nyahoja had her whole past and fears to overcome as part of her story), and unintentionally hurt her when she gave up the battle against Wakaba in HZ020.. She wanted to give up on the battle out of kindness and to not get in the way of Wakaba's dream, but she ended up hurting both Wakaba (who felt like Liko was going easy on her and made light of her) and Nyahoja (who really wanted to keep battling).
Liko and Tebrim's relationship was less tumultuous than her dynamics with Nyahoja/Nyarote/Masquernya, because they've gotten along from the start and Mibrim found solace in Liko's company and was the first person she opened up to/Liko being supportive of her in general (Tebrim's wishes to help heal Rafflesia in ep 94 instead of hurting it).. So it'd be compelling if Tebrim's wishes conflicted with Liko's a bit now, and they'd have to reaffirm their bond. Liko and Nyahoja were stifling their own potential (for different reasons), and Liko might be doing the same thing to Tebrim out of a desire to protect her?
Liko wants to understand Pokemon better, and I think she still has room to know her own partners better. Carbou joined her recently, but Liko still had opportunities to know him better. Carbou's independent actions in the battle against Diana, which were done out of a desire to protect Masquernya, were used against him and his "noble flaw" was addressed as something that needed to be worked upon.. So, I think something similar could be done with Tebrim. Liko and Tebrim have known each other longer, but it could be that the relationship is taken for granted at this point and that they need to communicate more.
Kind of obsessed with the variations of "I want to protect you" in Liko's team and how it has different meanings for each character involved. "I want to protect you - but I end up hurting you instead (Nyahoja/Nyarote)", " I want to protect you - but I end up taking on all of the burden and my shoulders and come off like I don't trust you (Carbou)", "I want to protect you - but what if my overprotectiveness made me blind to your feelings and held you back from what you wanted to do (Liko -> Tebrim)".. Just really shows why they are my favorites in general. When traits that are considered positive and noble are explored in a nuanced way and deconstructed without being outright punished either <3
Anyway, that's something I will focus on because I love Tebrim and it seemed to me that this moment in the ep was something that would be revisited and a set up for something that would be developed further later.. Tebrim definitely wanted to do something different, and Liko didn't take that into account. I hope we'll get to see Tebrim more because I think she is the coolest in general and I love that Liko has a Psychic Type. While it does feel like Carbou is being set up to become Liko's second ace Pokemon, I hope that Tebrim gets to shine in her own way.
Also curious about who Liko will face, because we got to know Roy, Dot and Uruto's opponents in battles (Roy has Kakitsubata, Dot has Seille, Uruto has Taro).. They did something similar in the second half of Mega Voltage, Roy and Dot had 2 vs 2 battles with Nemo and Botan respectively (HZ101 and HZ102), while they saved Liko's 2 vs 2 battle with Diana for a later episode (HZ108). Which is a gap of six episodes, and more than a month in real time (HZ101/102 aired late June/early July while Liko vs Diana happened in late August). There is a possibility that they are saving Liko's battle in Rising Again for later, since her battles are generally more focused and woven into the overall narrative. They could go a lot of directions with this.
Anyway, I love Liko and her Pokemon.
