The Exposition Dragon

He/Him (sort of; It's complicated) American with ADHD.

[tobiasdrake]

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In Heaven There Is No-- (Dada DA Dada) (I)

Summary: "You're not a ghost, are you? Or an esper?"

"No," Asuka says, small smile playing about her lips, "I'm not." Then her smile spreads into a grin. "Wait, does that mean you're something?" She hums pleasantly to herself. "What are you?"

"Suzumiya Haruhi, and I'm only interested in--"

"Siren." Asuka drums her fingers on her upper thigh, gaze shifting away. "I'm a siren."

OR: Starting college is a beast, but having new roommates can make it better! ...or worse, honestly, you really should screen these things, Asuka-senpai!

Brought to you (in part) by a discussion @tobiasdrake and I had about what it would look like if Junko and Haruhi ever met.

Fic Rating: T. Chapter Rating: T.

AO3

previous chapter

It isn’t as though Asuka can’t afford her own apartment.

Her father has given her more than enough to more than cover the cost – not just of her apartment, but also her chosen school as well.  Call it atonement: she may not know the man outside of his famous books and CDs, and she may have only seen him once since her parents divorced (Nationals, and she’s not sure that brief glimpse of the judges’ table counts), but he has more wealth than her mom does, and in his absence, he’s provided this, at least.  It isn’t the same as having him physically here, but she’ll take it.

Having her own apartment would be easier, too.  She could practice without fear of annoying a potential roommate, although not likely without annoying her neighbors.  And there’d be less questions about her disappearances to practice elsewhere, about why she would feel so insistent on continuing to play euphonium even though she hasn’t gone to a music school.  She’s already spent far too much time arguing with her mother about this; she doesn’t want to go through it all again with a new roommate – with a stranger.

And yet.

~

“Matsuda Ryoko,” the redhead says, holding a hand out to Asuka with a bright grin.  “You must be Tanaka-san!”

Over the past several weeks, Asuka has been exchanging emails with this girl, who was looking for another roommate in her three room apartment.  It’s extravagantly large for something in the middle of the city, more than any one of them could afford on their own – even Asuka with her father’s money, even if she decided to forgo college entirely and put that entire funding towards an apartment.  (She wouldn’t.  Her mother would kill her.)  A three person living situation might feel a little packed, but as long as she has a room entirely to herself (and she will), Asuka is tentatively excited at the idea.  If she’d decided to go to a college nearer to them (or if she hadn’t decided to reach out and meet new people), she could have lived with Kaori and Haruka and reached the same result, but if she’s honest with herself….

Sharing a single room apartment would be much better for Kaori or Haruka’s wallets, and while they could stretch for something bigger, Asuka would have been paying the bulk of the rent.  In the end, this would only lead to resentment.  Fighting.  Bitterness.  Maybe not, but it’s most likely, and she doesn’t want to put her friends in a situation that could only result in a split.

No, no.  This is better.

(Maybe, in the future, she’ll change her mind.  For now, though, this is her decision.)

Asuka sets her euphonium case to one side, giving her a free hand to take Ryoko’s in her own.  “Yes!”

Ryoko’s hand is warm, but not uncomfortably so.  They hadn’t sent each other pictures, so this is the first time Asuka is seeing her, and she’d be lying if she didn’t say there was something familiar about Ryoko’s face.  Her hair’s darker and longer than Kumiko’s – she’s certain she’s never met anyone with hair quite this red, certainly not with the white seeded throughout it – and if she’d seen those blood red eyes anywhere before, surely she would remember them.  Or her freckles, which are rare enough on their own without being combined with everything else.

It strikes Asuka that Ryoko, like their third roommate, must have money of some kind.  She’d assumed familial, like her own, and Ryoko never said anything to dissuade that notion.  But looking at her now, Asuka thinks: model.  Not that she’s ever been interested in those sorts of magazines, just that she might have seen her in passing.  Or maybe she just isn’t famous.

Still, Asuka catches herself staring.  “You know, you look—”

“You must have an awful lot to carry!” Ryoko interrupts, dropping Asuka’s hand.  She grabs Asuka’s euphonium case before Asuka has a chance to stop her and lifts it, her cheeks puffing out.  She hefts it and grunts with the effort.  “It’s so heavy, Tanaka-san!”

It isn’t, not to Asuka.

(Or it is, but not with a weight that Ryoko could feel.)

“If you’re having trouble with it, Matsuda-san,” Asuka says, reaching out for her euphonium, “I can—”

“No, no, I’ve got it!”  Ryoko hefts her euphonium case with both hands, her face reddening with feigned effort.

And it is feigned – Asuka knows when a member of her band family truly struggles with carrying a new instrument, and Ryoko isn’t struggling.  Only pretending.  If she was struggling, Ryoko wouldn’t avoid the walls or corners as easily as she is; if there was true fear that Ryoko would bump the case into anything, Asuka would take it from her in a heartbeat.  As it is, she follows Ryoko wordlessly, one of her luggage bags rolling behind her, keeping a careful eye on her case.

“This,” Ryoko says, turning a corner and setting Asuka’s case down in a spacious room, “is your room!”  She props her hands on her hips and flashes her a brilliant grin.  “I’m at the end of the hall, and Haru-chan’s right next door!”  Her face falls then, and her lips purse to one side before she whispers, “I wanted the room next to yours, but Haru-chan gets super jealous.”  She crosses her arms.  “After so long, you’d think she’d be over that.”

Asuka’s eyes light up.  She slaps both of her hands to her own cheeks and dances in place.  “Romance problems?  Drama in our apartment?”

“No, no, no, nothing like that.”  Ryoko bats a hand playfully, but her eyes darken.  “I’m not interested in that stuff, and Haru-chan isn’t either.”  She laughs.  “Romance, anyway.  But drama….”  Her voice trails off, then she laughs again, not finishing the sentence.  “Let’s go get your stuff!”  Her grin returns.  “I want to see what your room’ll look like when you’ve got it all set up!”

Asuka sets her luggage bag in one corner of her room – the same size as her room at home had been, maybe a little smaller, but still plenty of room for all of her things – and then offers Ryoko a small bow.  “Thank you, Matsuda-san.”

Ryoko waves a hand at her.  “No thanks necessary.  And there’s no need to be so formal!”  She winks.  “Call me Ryo-chan.  We’re going to be roommates, after all!”

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Tamers 29 - This is a Haunted Castle! The Lost Culumon's Great Escape / Goliath

Previously on Digimon Tamers: Hirokazu and Kenta fucked up again. At her limit with their incompetence, Ruki fired them both. Fortunately, they landed on their feet, picking up new jobs as gofers for Akiyama Ryō of Adventure fame. I think they're gonna be alright.

We open with confirmation that the cube from last episode was transporting the Tamers to another world. The Tamers exit out into a strange black-and-white abstractionist environment.

Takato: Looks like we ended up in another weird place. Juri: Yeah, it's all so crooked. Jianliang: Where are we...? Terriermon: Mōmantai! It's the same place as everywhere: Somewhere in the Digital World!

Useful answer, Terriermon. Thank you.

In the dub:

Takato: What is the deal with this place? Jeri: Everything's warped! Takato: It's making me dizzy. Henry: Heh, everything makes you dizzy, Takato! I wonder if the data in this area is unstable? Terriermon: Mōmantai! This place is just another part of your friendly Digital dimension. You're not in Kansai anymore, you know.

Henry makes an odd accusation of Takato having an established character trait of being sickly like the Adventure dub's Joe.

Henry also offers some speculation about why the area looks like this, though the more likely answer is simply that it's comprised from data of a particular art style. There's a very M.C. Escher vibe to this place.

EN Terriermon makes a brilliant pun about the Kansai region of Japan. 10/10 Would pun again.

As the Tamers continue on, they come upon a tray of chocolates sitting out. The brown color of the chocolates stands out against the black-and-white backdrop.

Guilmon: Guil? Is this chocolate?

Guilmon picks up one of the chocolates and eats it, then grimaces with disgust.

Takato: What's wrong, Guilmon? Guilmon: It's sour! Terriermon: Let me try!

Upon hearing how disgusting the chocolates are, Terriermon hops up on the table and tries one himself. He promptly grimaces too.

Leomon, on the other hand, does not rush to eat the disgusting chocolate. Because he's an adult.

Leomon: Don't just eat whatever fits in your mouth. You have no idea what kind of data this is. Guilmon: ( ._.) You're right. You sure do know a lot, Leomon.... Terriermon: ( ._.) But there's no way to know what it tastes like unless you try it for yourself....

Guuuuuys

You're embarrassing us in front of the cool guy....

In Guilmon's defense, this is the first time he's ever been in the Digital World. Terriermon only gets half of that excuse, given that he was born yesterday like Guilmon but he at least came out of a video game, so he has some Digital World experience.

In the dub:

Guilmon: Oh, look! It's chocolate. (Guilmon eats one and grimaces) Takato: Guilmon, what's wrong? Guilmon: Not chocolate! Terriermon: Let me see! (Terriermon tries one) Leomon: You shouldn't eat everything you see, especially around here. Things aren't always what they seem to be. Guilmon: ( ._.) I can try, but when I see food, my brain shuts off. Terriermon: ( ._.) I don't believe this. I've finally become Guilmon....

JP Guilmon specifically states that the chocolates taste 酸っぱい suppai, which means sour and acidic. EN Guilmon only says that they aren't chocolate, offering no detail about what flavor prompted that reaction.

This in turn makes it a little more defensible that EN Terriermon hopped up and tried one too, to find out what caused Guilmon to make that reaction. JP Terriermon is just a dumb kid being a dumb kid.

JP Terriermon argues with Leomon and whines out a defense of shoving random things in your mouth. EN Terriermon cracks a joke at Guilmon's expense.

Suddenly, Takato hears voices approaching. Singing voices.

Takato: Huh? Someone's coming! Jianliang: Who could that be in a place like this? Juri: Maybe it's Ruki-chan's group!

She's right, sort of. Ruki isn't among them as established last episode, but Hirokazu, Kenta, and Ryō are heading up this way. Hirokazu and Kenta are the ones singing.

It's hard to make out exactly what they're singing but I think it's Otoko Shibuki/Manly Spray from episode 26.

Hirokazu: Yo, Takato! Fancy seeing you here! Takato: Hirokazu!

Hirokazu and Kenta run on ahead of Ryō and Cyberdramon to reunited with their friends.

Takato: I didn't think I'd run into you in a place like this! Jianliang: Good thing you were able to find this place.

Ryō and Cyberdramon approach from the rear.

Juri: Huh? Who's that? Hirokazu: I am so glad you asked! Allow me to introduce you! This is the legendary Tamer, Akiyama Ryō-san! Ryō: (embarrassed) Stop that. It's not a big deal. Takato: Eh? THE Akiyama Ryō!? For real!? Then that guy over there must be.... Ryō: My Partner Digimon Cyberdramon! Takato: Wow, I can't believe I'm seeing him up close!

Cyberdramon snarls, causing Takato to flinch and step back.

Takato: Wha--? Did I upset him? Ryō: Ehehe, don't worry about it. Cyberdramon is searching for his old nemesis. I doubt they're here, though.

Ryō puts a soothing hand on Cyberdramon's arm. Cyberdramon calms down and takes a knee. Further back in the group, Terriermon has questions.

Terriermon: Who's that? Jianliang: Akiyama Ryō, a Tamer who went missing after the Card Battle Tournament one year ago. There were rumors that he'd gone to the Digital World, but I never thought we'd actually meet him here....

Ryō continues to warp the internal logic of the show around himself. What do you mean there were rumors he'd gone to the Digital World? The Digital World was a secret known only to Hypnos until Vikaralamon blew it all wide open!

The show made a whole big thing in episodes 24 and 25 about how we'd be the first humans ever to set foot in the Digital World and now we're acting like everyone knows about this one kid who went to the Digital World last year.

Takato also acts like Cyberdramon is some kind of celebrity he's meeting.

The boys are straight-up treating Akiyama Ryō like he and Cyberdramon publicly fought Vamdemon in the middle of Odaiba or something. Like it's just common knowledge that he's a Tamer with a Partner Digimon who travels between the two worlds all the time.

This continues to be so "Crossover Episode" it hurts. The show does not know how it is possible for the Scooby Doo Gang to coexist with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it does not really care to try and offer a reasonable explanation.

The whole "Cyberdramon is searching for his longstanding archenemy" thing is probably a reference to Millenniummon, the overarching antagonist of all of Ryō's games.

Fitting the crossover vibe, this doesn't feel like a plot point that's meant to be elaborated on in the show. Ryō's dropping in to advertise how cool his video games are, so you're presumably meant to buy Brave Tamer to learn more about this.

That's also probably why this episode and the last are bending over backwards to shill him so hard. Once Takato and the others part ways with him, they will continue to be characters of this show, but sales of Brave Tamer may be affected by how cool Ryō looked in these two episodes.

There is a very transparent and cynical marketing value to having all of the characters drop to their knees and praise Ryō as the greatest Digimon character ever conceived. His next video game drops in two months. And it seems this has taken precedent over making this crossover make any amount of sense whatsoever.

Though Brave Tamer would then awkwardly indicate that Millenniummon isn't out there to be found because they're a part of Cyberdramon himself. So either I'm missing my mark about Cyberdramon's longtime rival, or it's just another instance of the game and anime crews not bothering to shore up their continuity between each other.

In the dub, Takato hears Kazu and Kenta talking rather than singing.

Kenta: (disappointed) Where are all the Digimon? Kazu: (unintelligible because everyone talks over him) Takato: Someone's coming! Henry: Well, whoever it is sure is chatty. Jeri: Maybe it's Rika and the boys! Takato: I see the boys but that doesn't look like Rika. (Kazu, Kenta, and Ryo approach) Kazu: Hey-hey-hey! We have returned! Takato: It's about time! (Kazu and Kenta go ahead and meet with the others) Takato: You had us worried! Kazu: Yeah, we ran into some trouble. Nothing I couldn't take care of! (Ryo and Cyberdramon bring up the rear) Jeri: Who is that? Kazu: That, my friends, is the legendary Tamer Ryo! Kenta: He rocks! Kazu: If Tamers were cars, he'd be the monster truck. Ryo: (embarrassed) Aw, come on. I wish you guys wouldn't say that. Takato: Wow, I can't believe it's really you! Don't tell me that's your Partner? Ryo: Yeah. That is Cyberdramon. Takato: Awesome! Nice to meet you, fella. (Cyberdramon snarls; Takato flinches) Takato: Yeah, I don't think he likes me very much. Ryo: Ehehe, don't take it personally. He's not the socializing kind. He's really just a puppy on the inside once you get to know him. Terriermon: Puppy, huh? I'll believe it when I see it! (Cyberdramon takes a knee) Terriermon: Who's Ryo? Henry: He's the famous Tamer who disappeared after winning a major Digimon tournament. Some think he's the greatest Tamer of all time. Terriermon: He must be to keep Cyberscarymon there under control. That Digimon looks meaner than Rika! Henry: Try not to provoke him. Terriermon: What? Me? Never!

Kazu continues to be an arrogant blowhard.

Kazu introduces Ryo by first name only which sounds awkward to my ears.

The dub changes up quite a bit about Ryo's introduction here. First, they drop the mention of Cyberdramon's nemesis. It hasn't been dropped completely because it was mentioned last episode, but they cut it out of his intro here.

It's replaced by another "Digimon as housepets" bit, which are already a little grating with the way they're used to hold Guilmon back from his character development but hit really weird when applied to higher-level Digimon than the Child/Rookie level. It feels infantilizing to call Cyberdramon a "puppy on the inside".

They also drop the inconsistent and problematic detail about Ryō being rumored to have gone to the Digital World. The dub here says only that Ryo went missing, and then Henry and Terriermon banter over the rest of their dialogue.

Similarly, Takato's excitement to meet Cyberdramon is subtly changed from "I can't believe I'm seeing him up close!" to "It's nice to meet you", making it seem less like Cyberdramon is somehow a known element he's been both aware of and in awe of for a long time.

These tweaks make Ryo's introduction here fit better into continuity than it does in the original.

Now that Ryō's been introduced, Juri asks about the elephant in the room.

Juri: Hang on... Hey, what happened to Ruki-chan? Kenta: Ruki got upset and went off on her own. Juri: Huh? She's alone? Kenta: Yeah.... Takato: Hirokazu, you didn't say something stupid to piss her off, did you!? Hirokazu: N-No, I didn't!

He did.

Ryō: It was probably my fault.... Hirokazu: Th-That's not true at all! It's not your fault, Ryō-san!

It is.

Jianliang: Did something happen? Kenta: Hirokazu kept bragging about how much better Ryō-san is at Card Battling than Ruki is, and Ruki got upset. Takato: Yeah, that makes sense. Ruki has a lot of pride in her skills. Jianliang: She has Renamon with her, but I'm still worried. Juri: I wouldn't worry. I'm sure Ruki-chan will be fine. She's very strong, after all! Takato: You... you really think so?

I love how Takato hears that Ruki ran off in a huff and his first instinct is, "Hirokazu, what the hell did you do!?" He knows. He knows exactly whose fault this is. And he's right!

Also, aww, Juri has complete faith in Ruki's skills.

In the dub:

Jeri: Wait a minute, Kenta, how come Rika's not with you guys? Kenta: She got all mad and, you know, just took off. Jeri: She went off on her own? Kenta: Yeah. Takato: She wouldn't have done that unless one of you said something to make her really mad. Kazu: What're you looking at me for!? Ryo: Actually, I think all of this is my fault. Kazu: Hey, it's not your fault! It's her! Rika! She's nuts! Henry: Kenta, tell me what happened! Kenta: Kazu kept saying that Ryo's a better Tamer than she is and the only reason she's Digimon Queen is because Ryo wasn't around to kick her butt anymore. Takato: Way to go, Kazu; She's gonna be mad 'til the next millennium! Henry: This is really bad. It's dangerous out there. Something could happen to her! Jeri: But RIka's so strong and she has Renamon with her. I'm sure she'll be fine. Takato: Jeri's right! ...I hope....

The dub takes its first commercial break here.

EN Takato does not laser-focus in on Kazu as the guilty party. At least, not verbally, though as Kazu's next line demonstrates, he's still looking at Kazu when he says it.

Kenta claims that Kazu said that Rika only became Digimon Queen after Ryo disappeared. This is something he said... in the Japanese script. The dub script had Kazu say that Ryo got his reputation by beating the Digimon Queen, indicating that "Digimon Queen" was a title she held before he bested her. So that's a whoopsy-doodle.

Speaking of Ruki, she and Renamon are still tromping through snow in the clockwork world.

Renamon: It doesn't seem like we're going to find an exit. Ruki: Yes, we will. Renamon: Maybe we should have gone with Ryō. Ruki: Don't say that name! Renamon: Sometimes, I really have no idea what you're thinking, Ruki. Ruki: You don't need to understand! (quietly) Besides, it would just piss me off if you did.

Yep, she's still mad.

In the dub:

Renamon: Rika, we've been walking for hours. Rika: How observant, Renamon. What's your point? Renamon: Well, there's no sign of an exit and we still don't know where we're going. Not that I'm not happy to drag my tail in the sand all day, but don't you think we should have gone with Ryo? Rika: Oh, puh-leeze! That hack couldn't Tame his way out of a wet paper bag! Renamon: Just a suggestion....

It's been a while since we've heard from this particular character trait; I think episode 10 was when it came up previously? But Ruki can't stand people trying to get in her head. She prefers being considered mysterious and unknowable, and nothing pisses her off faster than claiming you know what she's thinking.

This part of their conversation is dropped from the dub.

EN Renamon says they're walking through sand. I took it to be snow but you know what, hourglass sand would make thematic sense here.

Back to the rest of the team in the abstract world.

Ryō: I think, if you stick around here, you'll probably run into Ruki again. But if you get caught up in one of those light pillars, there's no telling where you'll end up. So you should be careful. Jianliang: Yeah, we've had our fill of those. Ryō: How did all of you end up in the Digital World anyway? Takato: Oh, that's right! Ryō: Hm? Takato: Ryō-san, have you seen a small, white Digimon? Ryō: Huh? Small and white? Takato: Yes. It's this one.

Takato takes out his picture of Culumon to show to Ryō.

Ryō: Hmm... I haven't seen them. What kind of Digimon is this? Takato: This white one is called Culumon and apparently they hold the key to the Digimon's evolution. Ryō: This Digimon holds the key to evolution? Takato: That's why they were kidnapped by the Devas. We came here to find them. Ryō: Devas?

Why yes, we are putting the plot on hold for a moment so that we can explain to the video game fans who just showed up see Ryō animated why our anime is really cool and they should stick around and continue watching it.

This especially sticks out like a sore thumb in light of the fact that Hirokazu and Kenta already explained the plot to Ryō offscreen last episode, so it would be reasonable for him to already know this.

In the dub:

Kazu: Hey Ryo, how about some pointers on being a bodacious Tamer? Kenta: Where'd you get your radical outfit? Kazu: Outfit shmoutfit; Where'd you get Cyberdramon!? Kenta: Yeah! Does he have a twin brother or something? Jeri: Maybe we should ask Ryo about our mission? Henry: Finally, a reasonable suggestion. Ryo: That's right, I forgot to ask. Why are you guys in the Digital World? Takato: Oh yeah! Our friend Calumon was kidnapped and we're here to rescue him. You haven't seen him around, have you? Ryo: Around here? I don't know. What does he look like? Takato: Maybe this will help. (Takato shows Ryo the picture) Takato: He's a little guy who doesn't like to fight. Ryo: A Digimon that doesn't like to fight? Well, there's a first time for everything. Takato: He'd rather eat his way through cream puffs. There's something about him that helps other Digimon Digivolve. Ryo: So who do you think might have kidnapped him? Takato: The Devas! They're not the friendliest folk so we gotta find him before anything bad happens! Ryo: The Devas?

JP Ryō points out that sticking around here will be the Tamers' best shot at finding Ruki. He doesn't elaborate, but he suggested last episode that this is the only exit from the clockwork world so he seems to be banking on her eventually making her way here.

The dub drops this topic so that Kenta and Kazu can banter about how cool Ryo is.

JP Takato describes Culumon as small and white first before showing Ryō the picture. EN Takato offers no leading description, just saying "Have you seen Calumon?" as if Ryo's supposed to know who that is.

After showing the picture, however, EN Takato does bring up that Calumon doesn't like to fight. Considering how unique that makes him, this is a useful detail that JP Takato overlooks.

Next, Takato shows Ryō his picture of Makuramon.

Takato: This is one of the Devas.

Flashback to Makuramon snatching Culumon away from Juri, followed by Vikaralamon's rampage.

Takato (V.O.): He snatched Culumon, but we don't know much about what he really he. He just kept rambling about complicated things like "our God" and stuff. Jianliang (V.O.): The Devas went on a rampage in the Real World. Ryō (V.O.): Wait, is Japan okay? Takato (V.O.): Meiji-dori in Shinjuku was completely wrecked. Ryō (V.O.): I live in Fukuoka over in Kyushu. What's it like over there?

Don't worry, Ryō. There's a good chance that your home survived Vikaralamon's rampage. Solid 6 out of 10 odds.

(End Flashback) Takato: Nothing happened over there. It was just Shinjuku. Ryō: Whew... So that's how it is. I haven't been home in a long time. I wonder how my family's doing?

What a weird-ass question for Ryō to ask. What do you mean, you wonder how your family is doing? Aren't you from the Adventure universe? Why would you have family here!?

I've said it before but again, this crossover really only makes sense if you presume this is some kind of Tamersverse AU Ryō and not the official video game Ryō despite the franchise's insistence that they're the same.

While Brave Tamer would explain how Ryō crossed over, to my best knowledge it does not offer any explanation for how he acquired a new set of parents to then immediately abandon.

And the thing is, it's not like his Tamersverse parents are plot-critical. We are not going to go in detail about them in this episode. They could have avoided this entirely by just not having him talk about his home and family here.

Ryō's ability to just disappear into the Digital World for ten months would make way more sense if he really was a cosmic orphan with no roots in this universe; No home to go back to, no school to attend, no semblance of a normal life anywhere because he does not belong to this reality. It would be super easy for Crossover Ryo to just peace out from the Tamersverse Real World and not be missed.

But no. He explicitly confirms that he has a family in Fukuoka wondering where he disappeared to, that he is a real Tamersverse person born in this world who really did go Missing Persons on his whole family and life for Cyberdramon, and we are not going to talk about it in any detail. That's wild.

It's so wild that it almost makes me forget what I wanted to point out, which is that we are putting the plot on hold for a moment so that we can explain to the video game fans who just showed up see Ryō animated why our anime is really cool and they should stick around and continue watching it. With clips of past Deva fights so they can see how cool it is.

As is often the nature of crossovers, for as much as Ryō is here as a living commercial for his video games, we are also advertising the show itself to Ryō's fans too. We want Tamers fans to buy Brave Tamer and we want Ryō fans to watch more Tamers episodes.

In the dub:

Takato: Here's one of them. They serve someone called the Digimon Sovereign. (Flashback) Takato (V.O.): This one, Makuramon, was the Digi-napper! We tried to stop him but that monkey was too quick. Before we knew it, he escaped to the Digital World. Kazu (V.O.): Those Devas are totally out of control! Henry (V.O.): You should see the destruction they caused back home. Jeri (V.O.): I was more terrified than I've ever been. Kenta (V.O.): That pig Deva was like a giant backhoe! Well, with a snout. Takato (V.O.): We finally stopped it, but not before it wrecked a lot of the city. If they Digivolve, they'd be unstoppable. (End Flashback) Ryo: I see. Then I think we should rescue your friend as soon as we possibly can!

The dub scrubs this dialogue of all references to specific places. No mention is made of Ryo living in Fukuoka or of the damage being localized to this one street in Shinjuku.

In the original, the flashback is a conversation between Takato, Jian, and Ryō. In the dub, Ryo stays silent while Takato's whole crew takes turns explaining the flashback to him.

Enough about Ryō. Kenta lets out a scream all of a sudden.

Kenta: AHHH!!!

Ahead in the road are five scarecrow Digimon swaying gently.

Jianliang: Digimon!?

The Tamers and their Digimon brace for a fight.

Ryō: These Digimon don't do anything. They just stand there, swaying back and forth like this. Juri: ...they're kinda creepy....

Ryō's right; These Digimon aren't going to do anything. There is no twist and this is the last we'll see of them this episode. They don't even get scanned.

But for our reference, these are Nohemon. They're Wormmon's Armor Evolution through the Digimental of Purity/Sincerity, sneaking in another of those unused Armor forms.

Their name comes from the word へのへのもへじ henohenomoheji, which is a type of children's drawing.

The henohenomoheji is a way of creating a face out of Hiragana lettering by each of those individual kana in order. If you look close, you'll see that Nohemon indeed has a henohenomoheji for a face.

In the dub:

Nohemon: CRAWWWW!!! Kenta: Ack! Where'd they come from!? Henry: Are they Digimon!? Leomon: Stay back. They could be dangerous. Ryo: Don't worry. These Digimon are harmless. It just takes a while to get used to the way they pop up like that. Kenta: I'm gonna have nightmares for weeks! Jeri: They give me the jeebies....

Because they never get scanned with the Digivices, there is no dub name for the Nohemon.

In the original, the Nohemon are completely silent but for the sound of their wood creaking as they sway in the wind, which is utterly fucking terrifying.

The dub has their crows constantly squawking, which is still pretty creepy.

Cut to Makuramon and the Dragon still searching for Culumon.

Makuramon: Catsuramon is trying to track down the bearer of evolution's radiance before we can. We must find them as soon as possible.

Okay, we need to talk about another Digimon name. Catsuramon is the Dog Deva we saw earlier, who made the deal with Impmon.

Their name, as usual, comes from the Sanskrit name of the Heavenly General Catura, pronounced (to my best understanding) as "Cha-too-rah". In Japanese, this is spelled:

チャ Cha トゥ Tu ラ Ra

However, for some reason, the Dog Deva is named Catsuramon.

チャ Cha ツ Tsu ラ Ra

Which is also how Makuramon pronounces it. "Cha-tsu-ra-mon".

Weird.

In any case, we're down to the wire on Devas now. Makuramon, Catsuramon, and the Dragon are the last Devas standing, save for the open question of whether Andiramon will be involved in some way. Terriermon's counterpart is the only Heavenly General yet to be introduced as a Deva now.

In the dub:

Makuramon: Majiramon, would you step on it!? We have to find that no-good runt before Catsuramon does! He can't have gone too far on those stuffy little legs. I will not be humiliated by a knee-high rodent!

EN Makuramon adds Majiramon's name drop to this scene.

The dub pronounces Catsuramon with a hard "Kuh". That's an easy mistake to make. It's how I might have expected it to be pronounced if I just read it written out.

Leaving Makuramon behind, we find Culumon wandering in the desert world. They've thoroughly destroyed Takato's flag now to make it into a cape to wear.

Culumon: Pito pito pito pito pito.... Takato, Guilmon, where are you-culu? Culumon wants to find you soon-culu. Come find this flag-culu....

In the process of making their cape, Culumon seems to have ripped the flag off in the middle of Ruki and Renamon's faces, so all that's left is about 3/4 of those two plus Takato and Guilmon, with Culumon at the top. Either that or, due to Culumon's short height, most of the flag just got shredded from dragging on the ground.

Culumon slows to a stop.

Culumon: I'm getting a little tired-culu.... Culu?

Culumon hears footsteps approaching fast.

Culumon: Somebody's coming-culu!

Out of nowhere, a bizarre cartoon dog Digimon like something out of Tom and Jerry or Looney Tunes comes racing across the desert, kicking up dust. They stop in front of Culumon with a cartoony screech.

Culumon: Culu!? Um, um, do you know Takato-culu!? Please tell me if you know him-culu!

Without warning, the dog starts rapid-fire flicking little pellets into Culumon's face. Culumon flinches and covers their face.

Culumon: Ow! OW!!! That hurts-culu!

The dog laughs hysterically, pounding their fist on the ground.

Culumon: You're a mean Digimon-culu!

The dog stops suddenly, their eyes snapping open. They circle Culumon, sniffing them.

Culumon: Culu? What do you smell-culu? Dog: A cat! Culumon: A cat!?

Culumon sees where this is going. When the dog starts barking furiously, Culumon screams and runs for their life.

Culumon: AHHHHHH!!! STOP IT-CULU!!!

Nearby, a Gekomon and Otamamon watch all of this unfold, saying nothing.

Another Digimon we're not going to get an Analyzer screen for. This is Dogmon, an Adult-level Data-attribute Puppet-type Digimon. Dogmon was a fan submission for a contest to design a new Digimon. In succession, Dogmon was released in the TCG, as a boss fight for the D-Ark Digimon toy, and then debuted here in the show.

In the dub:

Calumon: Takato! Guilmon! Where are you? My tummy hurts, my feet hurts, my toes... well, I don't have any toes but if I did, they'd hurt! Oh, I wish I were back in the Real World where there are nice people and cream puffs.... When will someone find me? Dog: (distant) AROOOOO Calumon: Huh!? What's that? (Dog runs up) Calumon: Hello, Mr. Dog! I'm looking for Takato, Guilmon, and maybe a really big box of cookies! (Dog flicks seeds into Calumon's face) Calumon: Ow ow ow ow! (Dog laughs and pounds the ground) Calumon: Where I come from, we shake hands! (Dog sniffs around Calumon) Calumon: Wh-What are you doing now, huh? Dog: Ahhh... I smell lunch! Calumon: What's on the menu? Dog: (barking) You! You! You! YOU!!! (Calumon screams and flees) Calumon: BAD DOGGY!!! Uh, what I meant to say was nice doggy! NICE DOGGY!!! WHOAAAA!!!

Last episode, Calumon was more interested in Rika than in Guilmon, but it's a new episode so the dub rerails them back to searching for Takato and Guilmon.

Calumon brings up cream puffs here to harken back to the joke EN Takato made earlier.

JP Dogmon tells Culumon that they smell a cat. This is a reference to the iconic cartoon rivalry between cats and dogs.

EN Dogmon threatens to gobble up Calumon for lunch, which was implied in JP Dogmon calling Culumon a cat, but is directly stated without the flavorful dog/cat rivalry piece here.

Dog/cat cartoon rivalries aren't exactly an obscure concept to American children, so they probably changed this because they wanted to do the bit of Dogmon barking the word "You!" over and over.

Back in the abstract town, Ryō brings the Tamers to a secure resting place.

Juri: It's a castle... Check it out, Leomon! Leomon: Mhm. Ryō: We should be safe here. There's also a bedroom, which makes it a great place to stop and rest.

The Tamers enter the colossal estate. Overheard, through a skylight, the Real World can be seen. The sky darkens as the Digital World clicks over to night.

Takato: Night just fell. Juri: No matter how many times I see it, I never get used to that. Takato: Yeah.

Come to think of it, I wonder how many nights we've been here? Does every world have night at the same time? When Ruki and the boys were experiencing night in the clockwork world with Ryō, was it also night in the desert world for Takato's group? It didn't seem like it. Maybe nights are staggered.

Given the arbitrary nature of night, there's no guarantee that night and day are even on a 24-hour cycle. Maybe the Digital World just turns off the sky in some worlds periodically.

In the dub:

Jeri: A castle! What do you think, Leomon? Leomon: Hmm... It's interesting. Ryo: I know it looks funny; Staring at it gives me a headache. But it's safe and we can spend the night here. (Everyone goes inside) Terriermon: This place is bigger than Kazu's ego! Henry: Yeah, or your mouth! Takato: Wow! Guilmon: I'm sleepy, Takatomon. When's bedtime? (The sky turns off) Takato: Well, now, I guess. Jeri: I don't know about you guys, but I'll never get used to that. Takato: Yep.

Same thing but with some jokes added.

Ryō shows the team to a single huge bedroom with eight beds.

Hirokazu: Oh wow! Kenta: Can we sleep here?

Juri claims the last bed on the right side of the room, sitting down on it.

Juri: It's so fluffy!

Terriermon claims a bed as well, bouncing on it.

Terriermon: A bed! A bed! Ahahahaha! Juri: If only Ruki-chan could be here with us.... Ryō: ( ._.)

Ryō says nothing in response to that but he lets out a small sigh and deflates a little. He still blames himself for Ruki leaving. And he is still partially correct, though Hirokazu bears the brunt of the blame. Her departure was about Ryō, but it was because of Hirokazu.

Jianliang: Is no one using this place? Ryō: Yeah, it seems no one uses it. So no one will complain even if we stay here for days. Hirokazu: WOOHOO!!! I could just stay here forever, y'know? Kenta: What are you saying!? We haven't even found our Partner Digimon yet! Hirokazu: Oh, you're right. I almost forgot about that.

It was already kinda obvious when Ryō first showed it to us, but Ryō confirms that this is a regular haunt of his.

This place is reminding me a lot of Devimon's mansion. There's something very particular about a huge house with a huge bedroom that has eight beds specifically.

It's not Devimon's mansion, of course. That was in a huge forest on File Island and not an abstract monochrome world. But this is giving Devimon's mansion vibes.

It's not a very convenient number, considering we have to accomodate:

Takato

Jianliang

Juri

Hirokazu

Kenta

Ryō

Guilmon

Terriermon

Leomon

Cyberdramon

Two people are getting screwed out of beds. Well, one person, if Terriermon sleeps with Jian. He's the only Digimon small enough to share.

So I feel like the number eight is here specifically for the Adventure reference.

In the dub:

Ryo: Well, here we are. Rika: Wow! Takato: I know what you mean. I'd forgotten what beds even looked like! Kazu: It's like camp! Kenta: But without the counselors! (Jeri claims her bed) Jeri: It's comfy! (Terriermon bounces) Terriermon: Yeah, and it's bouncy bouncy BOUNCY!!! Jeri: I wish Rika was here. I wonder where she's sleeping tonight? Ryo: ( ._.) Henry: Hey, Ryo? Doesn't anyone live in this place? Ryo: No, this castle has been empty since I first found it. So you guys can stay here for as long as you want. Kazu: Aww yeah! We can stay in this castle FOREVER!!! Kenta: No parents, no school, no gym shorts! Why would we ever leave!? Jeri: Because we're here on a rescue mission, not to play hooky! Kazu: You're always raining on my parade! Henry: She's also always right.

In the original, it's Kenta who rains on Hirokazu's parade. He points out that they came here for a very specific purpose that they haven't completed yet, so obviously they can't just stay up here forever. Hirokazu concedes that point to Kenta

The dub keeps Kazu and Kenta aligned and pivots the role of the spoilsport to Jeri. She claps back at him about rescuing Calumon, the team's overarching goal, instead of Kenta and Hiro/Kazu's personal goal.

Kazu does not concede the point but instead whines at Jeri for being a fun-killing nag, which forces Henry to step in and back her up. At which point Kazu shuts up because I guess he respects Henry more than Jeri.

Now that we're stopping for a moment, Juri has a concern that I've been wondering about for a while.

Juri: By the way, I feel like it's been a long time since we last ate anything. Guilmon: Mmm... Guilmon ate that sour chocolate earlier. Terriermon: It was awful.... Kenta: But I'm not really hungry either. Takato: Come to think of it, neither am I. Ryō: Here, you can just eat whenever you feel hungry. There's no limits for what you can eat or how much you have to. Takato: Hrmm... something about that feels unsatisfying. Ryō: You'll get used to it soon enough!

Here we have an answer for why losing all the food as soon as we arrived at the Digital World hasn't actually been a problem for the Tamers. Eating food is completely recreational in the Digital World. You can't actually starve here.

This also explains why the mud balls in the Tsuchidarumon village were so unexpectedly delicious. Anything is edible here.

Like the day/night cycle being a toggle and the Real World hanging in the sky, this is another way that the Tamersverse Digital World is a fundamentally different place than the Adventureverse Digital World. In Adventure, foraging for food was an ever-present concern, but it's a non-issue here thanks to the rules of how Tamers's Digital World works.

In the dub:

Takato: Hey, has anyone noticed we haven't eaten in a while? Guilmon: I ate that icky thing I thought was chocolate but it wasn't. Terriermon: Don't remind me. Kenta: It's strange but I don't feel hungry. Takato: Yeah, you're always hungry! Ryo: Haven't you figured it out yet? In the Digital World, you only eat when you feel like it. The last time I had dinner or any other meal for that matter was more than two weeks ago. Takato: Wow! That's one heck of a diet, Ryo.... Ryo: Eh, you get used to it. Jeri: Sure is a lot of stuff to get used to around here!

The dub has Takato be the one to point out that they haven't eaten in days, rather than Jeri. She's too busy nagging Kazu in Kenta's place, I guess.

Once the food question is swept under the rug, it's lights out!

Hirokazu: Okay, bedtime!

Lights go out and an overhead shot shows us that Guilmon and Terriermon are sharing a bed, answer one question about the insufficient beds, but another remains.

Juri: I can't fall asleep that fast. Takato: Just close your eyes and you'll fall asleep soon enough. Juri: ...okay.

I feel Juri. I can't just lay down and conk out either. Sleepovers always sucked as a kid for this exact reason. Not that it matters because there's a new reason to be awake: The clanking sound of footsteps in the hall.

Kenta wakes up suddenly, throwing on his glasses.

Kenta: What's that sound!?

A Knightmon patrolling the hall passes by the doorway. Kenta freaks out so hard he wakes everyone up.

Kenta: WHAA--!?!? Hirokazu: What's going on...? Kenta: J-J-J-JUST NOW-- Jianliang: What's wrong!? Ryō: Oh, that's just Knightmon. They always patrol this hallway at night. They won't attack unless you do something. Kenta: Um, visually speaking, they sure look like a ghost.... Ryō: Yeah, I guess in the Real World something like that would be a ghost. But it's just a Digimon.

Ryō lays back down, rolls over, and zonks out in a second.

Kenta: He went back to sleep. Hirokazu: Would you call that brave or something else? Jianliang: I guess that's the kind of attitude that keeps you going here. Takatu: Yeah, true. Hirokazu: I'm starting to lose my nerve.... Kenta: Me too....

Amid all this chaos, we get a pretty clear impression of the sleeping arrangement here. The beds are consistently shot to paint a picture of who's sleeping where.

Takato | Juri Guilmon and Terriermon | Kenta Jianliang | Hirokazu Ryō | Eighth Bed

However, they're also tricky with their camera angles to never reveal who is in the eighth bed, depriving us of the opportunity to see Leomon and Cyberdramon snuggled up like Guilmon and Terriermon in a child-sized twin bed! Rude!

Refusing to animate that shot is the greatest crime that Digimon anime has ever committed. Including Holsmon.

As an aside, wasn't it a running joke that Hirokazu and Kenta could just drop wherever they're standing, fall asleep instantly, and then sleep through a hurricane? What happened to that? I feel like Ryō just stole their joke.

In the dub:

Jeri: Takato, do you miss home? Takato: Um, actually, I haven't really thought about it that much. Jeri: ...really.... (Heavy metal footsteps) Kenta: Uhh, who goes there? (Knightmon passes in the hall) Kenta: AHHHHH!!! Kazu: Huh? Kenta: WHAT IS THAT!?!? Henry: What's going on? Ryo: Oh, that's Knightmon. You don't have to worry about him. He roams the halls at night looking for more enemies to decapitate. Kenta: Did you say decapitate!? What if Knightmon comes in here and thinks we're his enemies!? Ryo: Huh? Oh, I never thought of that. Just don't pick a fight with him or anything. You know, stay out of his way. You'll be fine. (Ryo goes back to sleep) Kenta: Yeah, okay, but what if he has a bad night or if he, um... Ryo? Is he sleeping already? Kazu: He's either really brave or he's lost his marbles! Henry: I don't know. Maybe you need nerves of steel to survive this long in the Digital World. Takato: Obviously! Kazu: I don't know if I'm cut out for this.... Kenta: Me neither....

Juri expresses difficulty sleeping. Jeri asks Takato if he misses home to set up the next scene.

EN Knightmon mumbles to himself unintelligibly. JP Knightmon is silent but for the sound of their heavy metal footfalls.

JP Ryō assures the team that Knightmon's harmless and then zonks out. EN Ryo adds that Knightmon's looking for foes to decapitate, then admits that he's never considered the idea that he might become a target; This makes him look stupid and reckless, rather than coming off as an experienced ace like JP Ryō does.

In the process, Kenta's point about Knightmon resembling a ghost gets dropped.

As the others eventually fall asleep, Takato lies awake.

He sits up, picking up his rucksack from beside his bed. Opening the pack, he reveals a flashlight and compass as well as a yellow tenugui with the word "KEEP" written on it; These are small towels with a variety of uses such as wrapping a bentō, wearing it as a headband, or using it as a hand towel.

Takato: I haven't used these much. Was there even any point in bringing them?

Considering what we just learned, one can ask the same about all the food we packed and then immediately lost. The Tamers geared up for way more of a survivalist experience than their setting's Digital World has actually provided.

Looking inside his empty pack, Takato suddenly notices that there's a yellow square of cloth sewn into the bottom of it.

Takato: Huh? What's this for?

He peels off the cloth to reveal a folded letter and a purple お守り omamori pouch; A protection charm imploring a Shinto kami or Buddhist deity to bless its bearer with safety and good fortune.

In the dub:

Takato: (thinking) Now why can't I sleep? (Shot of Kazu and Kenta) Takato: (thinking) A typhoon couldn't wake them up! (sigh) I wonder if I brought something to read? (Takato opens his pack) Takato: (thinking) Gosh, look at all this stuff. Why'd I pack this? We don't need a flashlight; We need a miracle! Huh? Wait a minute, what's that? Takato: I didn't put that there. (Takato peels off the yellow square) Takato: (thinking) A good luck charm?

Dub Team also seems to have noticed that the show forgot Hirokazu and Kenta's running gag. They try to put it back in right here, though the last scene already demonstrated that they can't sleep through a typhoon tonight.

JP Takato doesn't offer a specific reason for why he's going through his pack. EN Takato uses his inner monologue to say he's looking for a book to read.

EN Takato explains that the omamori is a good luck charm for the benefit of an American audience that wouldn't otherwise know what that was.

Takato takes the letter out of his pack, opening it up to read. While he reads it, a sad instrumental of Biggest Dreamer plays quietly in the background.

Takato: Mom.... Yoshie (V.O.): Takato, I don't know if you'll ever find and read this letter. However, I'm worried that I may not be able to say "Itterashai" to you so I've decided to write this.

While Takato reads, we pan up to see the Real World hanging in the sky above.

Yoshie (V.O.): I remember the day you were born as if it were only yesterday.

Then we transition to Shinjuku proper in the Real World; The Metropolitan Government Building clearly visible against the night sky.

Yoshie (V.O.): You were such a big baby, and it made your delivery into a whole ordeal.

At Matsuda Bakery, Takehiro brings a tray of bread upstairs from the kitchen. He notices a light coming out of Takato's room; Inside, Yoshie is nostalgically going through Takato's belongings.

Yoshie (V.O.): And yet before I knew it, you'd already grown up so much. How quickly time flies....

In Takato's room, Yoshie gets up off the floor and pulls back the blanket of his bed. She finds a shirt he left there

Yoshie (V.O.): I've tucked an omamori pouch in with this letter.

Yoshie picks up the shirt, holding it up to her face and trembling with implied crying.

Yoshie (V.O.): I believe in you, of course. This is just a prayer from your foolish and worried mother.

Outside Takato's room, Takehiro watches silently. A closeup of the tray in his hands reveals that he's made just what he promised. Takehiro has a freshly baked batch of Guilmon Bread.

Yoshie (V.O.): Even if it's too late to say it now, itterashai.

Finally, back in the Digital World, a single teardrop falls onto the omamori pouch now clutched in Takato's hand.

Yoshie (V.O.): Come home safe and sound. Takato: ...Mom....

Okay, a few things.

First off, according to the kanji on the front, the charm Yoshie packed with the letter is a 厄除 yakuyoke.

There are many kinds of omamori for many different kinds of blessing you might wish to receive. The yakuyoke is pretty much what you'd imagine a talisman like this to be for: It's for warding off evil spirits and keeping its bearer safe from harm.

Easy to see why Yoshie would choose this particular omamori for Takato's journey.

Second is that phrase, Itterashai. We've talked about some of the customary phrases for various things in Japan before but as a refresher: When leaving your home or workplace or somewhere else you frequent often, it's customary to say Ittekimasu which means "I am leaving with intent to come back". The person you're speaking to then says Itterashai which means "Please leave and return."

When the Tamers were getting ready to go to the Digital World, there was an eerie sense of finality weighing on them. They were going to a place no one has ever been to before with no idea of if it will be possible for them to come back, something that affected Juri especially.

But Yoshie rejects that finality.

There are a lot of ways to say goodbye in Japanese. Some carry an indication of finality, that this is the last time you'll ever see each other again. Some are ambiguous in their meaning, leaving the door open for whatever happens. Some are casual partings for people you know you'll see tomorrow.

Yoshie says none of these to Takato here in her letter. What she says is "Please leave and come back", as if Takato were merely going off to school or going to play in the park. No matter what happens, she expects him to come home.

In the dub:

(Takato opens the letter) Takato: From Mom.... Yoshie (V.O.): Dear Takato, there's so much I wanted to tell you before you left but there wasn't time, so I'm writing this letter to tell you how proud your father and I are of you. (Pan up to the Real World) Yoshie (V.O.): It seems like only yesterday you were a little baby putting spinach up your nose. You always knew how to make me laugh! But look at you now. So independent and so brave! (Shinjuku) Yoshie (V.O.): I know I've been hard on you sometimes, telling you to get your head out of the clouds and into your school books. (Takehito comes upstairs and sees Yoshie in Takato's room) Yoshie (V.O.): But the truth is, I love everything about you, even the quirky parts! You get that from your father. (Yoshie pulls back the blanket) Yoshie (V.O.): I'll make you a deal. I won't worry myself sick over you if you promise me you'll come home safe and sound. (Yoshie picks up Takato's shirt and cries into it) Yoshie (V.O.): Lots of love, Mom. (Takehiro watches with Guilmon Bread) Yoshie (V.O.): P.S. The Guilmon Bread still needs a little work! (Takato cries onto the omamori) Yoshie (V.O.): P.P.S. The lucky charm carries all my love with it. We miss you, son. Takato: Thank you, Mom.

Tonally, the dub letter is way more upbeat and positive than the original letter. JP Yoshie's letter is a somber expression of her worry, grief, and hope for Takato's return. EN Yoshie's letter is a love-bomb of boundless encouragement and support, which doesn't quite match the visual of Yoshie weeping into Takato's shirt.

There's a striking tonal difference between

-> Please don't think this protection charm means I don't trust you; It's just a prayer from your foolish and worried mother. -> I'll make you a deal! You tell me you'll be fine and I won't worry a second about it!

The dub letter also says that the Guilmon Bread still needs work which. Like. Yeah, I'd imagine so, given that she wrote this letter the night before he left, when Guilmon Bread was still just an idea in Takehito's head. What a weird detail to include.

This letter doesn't have "I'm writing this to say goodbye in case I can't do it in person" energy.

It has "So you've been gone a week. How's the Digital World? Things back home are pretty great," energy. Like she wrote and mailed it to him just this morning. And expects return correspondence judging from the "I'll make you a deal" bit?

Suddenly, a voice pierces the darkness. Takato isn't the only person awake. In fact, he was warned that he wouldn't be, so this is on him.

Juri: Takato-kun?

Realizing that Juri's sitting up and watching up, Takato quickly wipes the tears from his eyes.

Juri: What's wrong? Takato: It's nothing. Juri: You can't sleep? Takato: Yeah... Kind of. I'm okay. Juri: ... Takato: ... Juri: Were you crying? Takato: (defensive) Yeah, right. Like I'd be crying....

Takato's being a little surly here. Yoshie's letter made him vulnerable, and the realization that Juri's seen him this vulnerable is making his walls slam shut. But Juri slips on her shoes and approaches him anyway.

Juri: Is that an omamori? Takato: It was in my rucksack. Juri: From your mom? Takato: Yeah. Juri: She must be worried about you. Takato: Yeah.

Finally, Takato opens up, looking up at Juri with a smile.

Takato: It's fine, though! I'm sure I'll get home safe and sound! We just need to hurry up and find Culumon! Juri: ( ^ᴗ^) Yeah! Takato: ( °_°) ....

Takato stares silently at Juri's big, sweet smile for a couple seconds before he finds the nerve to say something.

Takato: Um, Katō-san...? Juri: Yes? Takato: I'm glad that you became a Tamer and came on this adventure with us!

Good job, Takato! We cut to commercial here on him figuring out how to flirt with his crush.

He's taking a mulligan on his fuck-up when he tried to flirt with Juri back in the fast-travel cube room. Back then, he'd told her, "I'm sorry you became a Tamer and came on this adventure," and she was like, "Fuck you talking about; My choice, my Digimon!" That was a foot delivered straight into mouth.

Here, he basically says the same thing but in a celebratory tone rather than an apologetic one. Much better.

In the dub:

Jeri: Takato? Takato: Hm? (Takato wipes his eyes quickly) Jeri: Are you alright? Takato: Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Jeri: Well, you don't look fine. Takato: I, uh, just have trouble sleeping. I-I think it's 'cause I've got something in my eye. Jeri: Are you crying? Takato: (defensive) No, of course I'm not! (Jeri slips on her shoes and walks over to Takato's bed) Jeri: Takato, what is that? Takato: It's just something that my mother gave me. Jeri: Is it for luck? Takato: Uh-huh. Jeri: I bet she misses you a lot. Takato: She does. (Takato cheers up) Takato: But I'll see her soon! All we have to do first is find Calumon! And once we do that, then we can all go home! Jeri: ( ^ᴗ^) Ehehehehehe! Takato: ( °_°) .... Jeri: What'd your mom think if she saw you with Cyberdramon? Takato: Are you kidding me!? I'd be grounded 'til I was a hundred! Both: Ahahahahaha! Takato: You know what, Jeri? Jeri: What? Takato: I'm really glad you came along. Jeri: Hehe, me too.

The dub also takes its second commercial break here.

EN Takato isn't as closed off and defensive as JP Takato is. He's more open to using his words and chatting with Jeri, though he does still deny crying.

The final exchange between Takato and Jeri is, like the rest of this whole Mom's Letter sequence, more upbeat and positive than the somber, quiet scene of the original. It does understand its main assignment, however: Let Takato and Juri/Jeri have a moment of pure shippiness.

Following the commercial break, the sky turns to day over the desert world. Poor Culumon is still wearily trudging through the dirt, trying to get away from Dogmon.

Culumon: Ugh, I'm so tired-culu. Why-culu...?

Culumon's legs give out and they faceplant into the dirt, stopping there to rest.

A moment later, an awfully familiar motorcycle pulls up in front of Culumon.

Culumon: Huh...?

Culumon looks up to see Beelzebumon astride the cursed motorcycle looking down at them.

Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) .... Culumon: Huh? Who are you-culu? Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) ....

Suddenly, Culumon bounds to their feet with renewed vigor and extends their ears.

Culumon: Oh, that's right! Culumon wants to ask you something-culu! Do you know Takato and Guilmon-culu?

Culumon pulls the scrap of the flag he's used for his cape around so that Beelzebumon can see Guilmon's face and what part there is of Renamon's.

Culumon: Takato made this flag-culu. Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) ....

Beelzebumon says nothing. Having come to a decision, they rev their engine and drive off, kicking up a cloud of dust that engulfs Culumon.

Culumon: (cough cough cough) That's a Digimon of few words-culu. There's so many different kinds of Digimon-culu.

Suddenly, their eyes shoot open as they realize what this means. The awful truth that this parting has revealed to them!

Culumon: (gasp) Now Culumon is ALL ALONE AGAIN-CULU!!!

NOOOOOOOOO

Culumon deflates once more, resuming their trek through the isolated wasteland.

Culumon: So lonely... I'll just have to keep looking for Takato and the others-culu....

Poor, poor Culumon.

This is an interesting exchange because on the one hand, Beelzebumon sorta works for God and the Devas, right? He made a pact with God and all that.

But his pact only entailed defeating Guilmon and the other Partner Digimon. He never agreed to captured Culumon for them.

He also didn't exactly dive into fighting Guilmon and the others with gusto back in the Tsuchidarumon episode either.

So while it's hard to know exactly what Beelzebumon is thinking right here, you can kinda see the gears turning. Like. This is it. This is what the Devas are after. The Devas want Culumon. God and Catsuramon would want him to grab Culumon and bring them in.

But the decision he makes here is to just keep driving and pretend he never saw Culumon, offering neither help nor harm. It's a very neutral choice. A very Impmon choice.

In the dub:

Calumon: Must keep going... Don't want to be doggy chow... Calumon is brave... Calumon doesn't give up! Calumon is (facepalnt) toast! (Beelzemon's motorcycle pulls up) Calumon: Huh...? Hi...? (Calumon looks up and sees Beelzemon) Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... Calumon: Um... Could you help me, oh please, oh pleeease? Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... (Calumon gets up suddenly) Calumon: I'm lost and I'm trying to find my friends! I can show you a picture of them. (Calumon shows Beelzemon the cape) Calumon: I know they all look kinda fuzzy but if you squint and use your imagination.... Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... (Beelzemon drives off) Calumon: (cough cough cough) Ohh... Hello? ...aww, nuts. Well, I guess that's a big no. But he didn't have to go and make the air all coughy! (Calumon looks up suddenly) Calumon: Oogh! If Takato doesn't find me soon, that silly monkey will. Or Doggymon! Why's everyone here so mean? (Calumon deflates and starts walking again) Calumon: Gotta keep going like a train. Chugga-chugga-chugga....

"Calumon is toast" got me. XD

I'm so, so glad that they didn't give Beelzemon any dialogue here and let his stone-faced silence transfer across.

When showing Beelzemon the cape, Calumon says his friends "all look kinda fuzzy" but only one and a half friends are visible in that image.

The more pressing concern, Calumon, is that the flag has been utterly destroyed such that you're missing most of the people you're asking Beelzemon about. That's kind of a bigger deal than the drawing being "fuzzy".

A couple funny bits are lost here. FIrst, Culumon asks Beelzebumon if he knows Takato and Guilmon, identifying them by name. After Beelzebumon leaves, Culumon describes him as 無口な mukuchina, meaning quiet, reserved, taciturn, someone who's hard to read because they keep their feelings to themselves and speak very little.

There's a lot of dramatic irony in these statements. First, because Beelzebumon does know Takato and Guilmon. Culumon has no way of knowing that, but Beelzebumon doesn't actually need to see a picture of them; He in fact knows them by name.

And second, knowledge of exactly who evolved into Beelzebumon makes the description of him as mukuchina very funny. But the dub drops that in favor of saying that Beelzemon "made the air coughy".

We also lose the sad yet hilarious moment where Culumon shrieks at the top of their lungs out of sheer frustration over being constantly alone here.

In its place, Calumon expresses worry about Makuramon and Dogmon, or "Doggymon" as the dub calls him.

"Doggymon" may be a product of the kana used to spell his name. With the exception of 'n', ending a word on a hard consonant isn't a thing in Japanese; Nearly all kana combine a consonant and vowel sound. So English words with hard consonant endings have particular ways of getting Katakanized.

Dogmon in Katakana is spelled ドッグモン Doggumon. It's just a hop, skip, and a jump from there to Doggymon.

As for "Chugga-chugga", this might be the first time Calumon's ever made use of Culumon's onomatopoeia trait!

In the abstract world, Ryō brings the Tamers to a spiral stairwell leading down into a black abyss.

Takato: A stairwell? Ryō: We're going down here. Jianliang: Huh? Shouldn't we go up? Ryō: Even though you can see the Real World up there, we still need to go down these stairs. Juri: That's hard to believe. Ryō: You'll see once we get there.

Without another word, Ryō and Cyberdramon approach the stairwell.

Hirokazu: Hang on! We're coming too!

Despite their reservations, the Tamers follow after Ryō.

What Ryō's saying doesn't make a lot of sense, but this is what he was alluding to when he told Ruki and the others last episode that you can't reach the Real World just by going up.

The Digital World does not make geographical sense because it's not a world. It's a network of worlds like different maps of a video game, which are connected by entrances and exits.

The Real World hangs in the sky above all worlds but that's just, like, aesthetic design. It's not really there. Even if you can fly, you can't get there from here by going up. How you actually get there is a mystery to everyone, and rumors abound. But it's not as simple as "Fly up to that sphere in the sky which is a real place in a geographically sensible reality."

To return to the desert map, the world closest to the Real World, we need to pass through the "loading screen" so to speak that is going down these stairs. That will take us from this map to that map.

Everything about the mechanics here, from Digimon gaining XP to food being optional to the unrealistic day/night cycle to the world being a set of maps separated by entrances and exits, is all the language of a video game. The Digital World is a giant video game.

In the dub:

Ryo: Come on, you guys. These stairs will take us to another plane in the Digital World. Kenta: Why bother? There probably won't be any cool Digimon there either.... Kazu: Yeah! The Digimon we've seen are all either freaky or creepy! Terriermon: Sounds like the two of you. Kazu: Hey! Ryo: Well, you can stay here if you want. With Knightmon. (Ryo starts walking) Kazu: Since you put it that way, come on! (The Tamers follow) Henry: You sure have a way with words, Ryo.

The dub skips the debate about the metaphysics of the Digital World. Ryo says the stairs will take us to "another plane" of the Digital World and everyone accepts what that means without question.

Cutting out the actual content of this scene then provides a new opportunity for Kazu and Kenta to be goobers. I feel like Dub Team's been doing a lot of that lately. Quite a few changes to recent episodes boil down to finding places to let Kazu and Kenta be goobers.

Indeed, the earlier decision in this episode to make Jeri the nag instead of Kenta may have been about letting Kazu and Kenta have a Goober Moment instead of a serious disagreement between them about their silly priorities.

Mind, they're goofy characters even in the original, so it does make sense that the jokey dub's latched onto them this way.

In the desert world, it's time for an impromptu music video! Over there, in the Addendum!

Culumon: Chobo chobo chobo chobo

A dust packet blows past, suddenly cheering Culumon up.

Culumon: Culuculu!? What's going on!? Where are you going-culu!? Culumon's coming too-culu!

Culumon promptly forgets their troubles and chases after the dust packet, rolling head over heels to copy it while beginning to sing their insert song.

A trio of Woodmon watch from atop a nearby rock.

Woodmon 1: Where'd that Digimon come from? Woodmon 2: No idea. Cute kid, though. Woodmon 1: I just hope they don't get lost.

Culumon keeps chasing the dust packet until soon they're joined by the glowing axolotls that previously set them free from Makuramon's cage.

Culumon: Let's all sing together-culu!

Culumon keeps singing until the sigil on their forehead activates. The path they've tread glows with the light of evolution, which turns into a blinding radiance.

Those three Woodmon from a moment ago witness this fountain of light emerging, and so evolve into a trio of Jureimon.

Jureimon 1: We evolved!? Jureimon 2: What the hell is going on!?

Culumon is just as lost as they are.

Culumon: Culu...? Kira kira...?

More Culumon onomatopoeia: Chobo chobo is basically "plip plop plip plop". Kira kira is the sound of sparkling or twinkling.

In the dub, Calumon has his own version of this song with its own Addendum.

Calumon: Chugga-chugga-chugga-- (Old data blows past) Calumon: Oh, what a pretty ball! Can I play with you? Can I? Can I? I know some really good games! WAIT FOR ME!!! (Calumon rolls in a ball after the dust packet) Calumon: Ahahahahahahaha! Whee! This is fun! Woodmon 1: Okay, what's up with the little guy? Woodmon 2: Beats me. Kids today are crazy! Woodmon 1: I've got two words for ya: Sunstroke! (Calumon sings his song until the doodle starts to glow) Calumon: What a pretty light! Woodmon Trio: Wow! (Woodmon all Digivolve into Cherrymon) Cherrymon 1: What happened!? Cherrymon 2: I don't know, but it felt great! Calumon: Wow! Did I do that?

Sunstroke is one word. I'm not sure if this is a mistake or if Woodmon 1 is supposed to be an idiot, as "I have [number] words: [wrong number of words]" is a stock American joke format for characters trying to sound smarter than they are.

It was especially popularized after Disney's Hercules in 1997 featured a character whose running joke was saying "I've got two words for you: [Some random number of words]!"

But sunstroke is a compound word, so it could easily be mistaken for actually being two words.

I'm going to put my money down on "intentional joke". In any case, most of what I have to say about this scene is in the addendums so let's move on.

The problem with setting off this bright glow of evolution's light is that it's visible from great distance. Makuramon takes notice immediately.

Makuramon: The light of evolution... The one who bears evolution's radiance must be in that direction! Hurry!

Meanwhile, just as Ryō said, descending the stairwell through the black void did indeed exit the team out into the desert world through an opening that just sits there in the air. A hole in space to move from one map to another.

Kenta: You were right. We are here. What a weird staircase....

The sound of the Dragon soaring through the air alerts Jian.

Jianliang: What's that?

The Tamers see the Dragon descending towards Culumon's evolution ribbon. Somehow, they also make out Makuramon on his head.

Juri: It's Makuramon! Takato: Culumon might be over there!

The Tamers run on foot to try and reach the ribbon as well.

At long last, Culumon has been located. Now it's a race to see who will reach them first!

In the dub:

Makuramon: Aha... Unless my eyes are deceiving me, that's the light of Digivolution! Get a move on! (Tamers enter the desert) Takato: Nothing out of the ordinary here. Just sand and more sand. (Henry hears Majiramon) Henry: Huh? (Henry turns and sees Majiramon) Henry: And a thirty-foot flying dragon! Jeri: It's Makuramon! Takato: I bet Calumon's nearby! (Tamers run for the Digivolution ribbon) Kenta: Last one there has to wrestle the dragon!

Again, the dub skims over how weird the map transitions are.

Will the Tamers reach Culumon before Makuramon does, or will Makuramon claim his prize? The race is on!

It does not go well! Everybody loses!

Culumon: Kira kira? So much kira kira!

The axolotls notice the Dragon coming before Culumon does. They turn and flee.

Culumon: Culuculu? Where are you going-culu? I want to play some more-culu!

Culumon chases after the axolotls as the Dragon comes overhead.

Makuramon: Where is the bearer of evolution's radiance?

Good question, but Makuramon's not likely to find them. Culumon trips and rolls into a deep ravine.

Culumon: CULUUUUUU!!!

Culumon has no longer been located! So much for that!

In the dub:

Calumon: Whoa, it's as bright as a bug light. (Majiramon closes in) Calumon: And here come the bugs! (Axolotls flee) Calumon: Don't go! Please don't leave me! Come back! (Calumon chases the axolotls) Makuramon: Our little friend is close by; I can smell him! (Calumon falls into the ravine) Calumon: AHHHHHH!!!

In the original, the axolotls notice the Dragon but Culumon does not. Thus their departure confuses Culumon, who chases after them and ends up in the ravine.

In the dub, Calumon's notices and calls out Majiramon. He's fully aware that Makuramon's coming to get him, but then has to reset to Culumon's animation anyway.

As a result, for some reason, Calumon is still surprised when the axolotls flee from the obvious violent threat. Then he calls after them to come back here where the violence is about to happen.

With Culumon no longer here to be found, Makuramon arrives on the scene. The Dragon passes by near the Jureimon.

Makuramon: They're close. Scour the area quickly!

Makuramon looks down but, to his shock, he doesn't see Culumon but instead the Tamers down there, looking right back up at him.

Cyberdramon's tensed up and snarling, raring to go. He charges into battle without a word.

Ryō: Cyberdamon! Any time he sees a strong opponent, he stops listening to a word I say. I guess it can't be helped. Takato: He's challenging him!? Jianliang: That's so reckless!

And edgy! Cyberdramon is so Wolverine Archetype it hurts. It's 2001 and the 90's aren't dead yet, it seems.

In the dub:

Makuramon: Come out, come out wherever you are! (Makuramon notices the Tamers) Makuramon: It appears we have visitors! (Cyberdramon charges into battle) Ryo: Cyberdramon, come back! When Cyberdramon smells a fight, he's totally out of control. It's like I'm not even here! I don't exist! Takato: But that dragon's too powerful! Henry: Yeah, you're right!

I laughed inappropriately at "I don't exist!" That wasn't supposed to be a laugh line but it's just so whiny! XD

They had lip flaps for 仕方ない Shikatanai, the more formal version of the しょうがない Shoganai expression which means to accept things that are outside of your control, and they had to do something with them!

As Cyberdramon closes in on the Dragon, the battle begins.

Cyberdramon: ERASE CLAW!!!

Cyberdramon's Erase Claw hits the Dragon straight in the face, causing them to recoil from the heavy hit.

Makuramon: The actions of a fool may reduce that which has accumulated for one thousand years to grains of dust. Majiramon, annihilate him!

Translation: Cyberdramon is too stupid to be allowed to continue living. It would be for everyone's benefit if he died right now. It would actually be more harmful to society at large for us not to kill him!

Makuramon bounds off of Majiramon's head, getting out of the way of the fight that's about to happen. Majiramon flies straight up into the clouds, then rains glowing red arrows down on Cyberdramon.

It's not easy to tell since it just looks like a normal attack, but WIkimon assures me that these arrows are Majiramon's holy weapon. It's also not easy to tell that Cyberdramon's taking damage since the arrows seem to splash harmlessly off his hide, but he takes a knee nonetheless.

Ryō: CYBERDRAMON!!!

Majiramon descends from the clouds, swooping down for the kill. The other Digimon rush over to go back up Cyberdramon.

Leomon: Cyberdramon's in trouble! Guilmon: Takato! Takato: Right! Terriermon: Jian! Takato & Jianliang: CARD SLASH!!! CHŌ SHINKA PLUG-IN S!!!

As EVO starts to play, Growmon and Galgomon evolve to support Leomon and they attack Majiramon one after another.

Leomon: JŪOKEN!!! Terriermon: DUMDUM UPPER!!! Growmon: PLASMA BLADE!!!

Majiramon shrugs off everything they throw at him, not even flinching.

Takato: Their attacks had no effect!

Majiramon responds with firebreath, routing the Tamers' Digimon easily and chasing off the Jureimon trio as well.

Jianliang: He's too strong! Makuramon: Ahahahahahaha! Die, you fools! Kenta: Ahhhhhh he's coming this way!

Majiramon lands right in front of the Tamers, towering over them.

While Majiramon manhandles the Partner Digimon, Ryō fans his cards and selects one. Each shot of Ryō interrupts the music until he raises his card to Slash it, at which point EVO dies entirely, replaced by the Card Slash theme.

Hirokazu: What card is that!? Ryō: CARD SLASH!!! KING DEVICE!!!

King Device causes Cyberdramon to grow to a colossal size, matching Majiramon.

Takato: Cyberdramon.... Kenta: He became gigantic!

Cyberdramon grabs Majiramon by his right arm and then by his skull. Majiramon cries out in pain, but is unable to break Cyberdramon's grip. Cyberdramon hoists him up into the air, at which point Makuramon sees which way the wind is blowing.

Makuramon: I'm out of here!

Makuramon takes off just before Cyberdramon crushes Majiramon's skull, killing him. Majiramon disintegrates into pixel dust.

Triumphant, Cyberdramon roars, then reverts to normal size.

Juri: Scary.... Hirokazu: We won.... Kenta: Amazing.... Jianliang: Unbelievable... His strength is unbelievable! Ordinarily, if you grew to a size like that, your muscle strength wouldn't be able to keep up with your increase in weight! Takato: What card was that? Ryō: A Device card. They're essentially wildcards. Only the greatest of Tamers can master them.

In keeping with this being very much a Crossover Episode, Ryō gets to dunk on a Deva while all the main characters watch and go "Wow, our guest star is so cool!"

We can't exactly Matrix Evolve without Culumon here to power it so it's a good thing Ryō was here to kill this Deva for us!

In the dub:

Cyberdramon: DESOLATION CLAW!!! (Cyberdramon blasts Majiramon) Makuramon: Majiramon, I do believe that lizard in a tin can is trying to pick a fight with you. I'll just get out of the way while you reformat him! (Makuramon jumps off; Majiramon ascends into clouds) Jeri: What's he doing!? Takato: I don't think we want to find out!

The dub takes its third commercial break here, leaving you to stew on what he might be doing.

EN Makuramon doesn't even try to match JP Makuramon's level of pretentiously waxing poetic. He also dials down his language. JP Makuramon says 滅殺 messatsu which combines the kanji

滅 - Destroy, ruin, overthrow 殺 - Kill, murder

to basically mean "Murder him until nothing remains". JP Makuramon wants Cyberdramon eliminated with extreme overkill. He is very offended by Cyberdramon's stupid face.

EN Makuramon dials that back to "Reformat him" because we're on Fox Kids.

After the commercial break, Majiramon fires.

Majiramon: FLAMING ARROWHEADS!!! Henry: We have to do something! And quick! (Arrows pummel Cyberdramon and do more damage than it looks) Ryo: CYBERDRAMON!!! (Majiramon descends; Digimon go to help) Leomon: Hang on! We're coming! Guilmon: Takato! Takato: Yeah! Terriermon: Henry! Takato & Henry: DIGI-MODIFY!!! DIGIVOLUTION ACTIVATE!!! (Gargomon and Growlmon Digivolve) Leomon: FIST OF THE BEAST KING!!! Gargomon: BUNNY PUMMEL!!! Growlmon: DRAGON SLASH!!! (No effects) Takato: Man, he's not even slowing down! (Majiramon breathes fire) Henry: Got any ideas? Makuramon: Ahahahahahahahaha! I just love a good fire! Kenta: What happens now!?

What happens now is the Fox Kids censors thwap Makuramon on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper again and tell him he cannot tell all of these children to die.

(Majiramon lands) Kazu: I think this is the part where our lives flash before our eyes! Ryo: Ready? (Majiramon smacks Leomon away; Ryo fans his cards) Ryo: Set! (Majiramon smacks Gargomon away) Ryo: (thinking) Go! (Majiramon tosses Growlmon) Kazu: We're officially toast! Ryo: DIGI-MODIFY!!! GOLIATH ACTIVATE!!!

Since the dub doesn't have insert songs, they can't do the cool bit where Ryō keeps interrupting EVO until he's ready to switch tracks to Card Slash. It's replaced with Ryo shouting "Ready? Set! Go!" which pales in coolness comparison.

...why doesn't the Tamers dub have insert songs? The Adventure 02 dub had insert songs. They downgraded the production quality for this "season". Huh.

(Cyberdramon grows to massive size) Takato: I don't believe it! Kenta: That was some card! (Cyberdramon grabs Majiramon's arm) Takato: He's really putting the squeeze on him!

Speaking of the Fox Kids censors, they said nope to Cyberdramon grabbing Majiramon by the skull. It's censored with this hilarious still-frame of Makuramon looking like he's watching someone poop on his pancakes.

This is how all censorship should work from now on. Instead of doing the white flash, every time the censors don't like the violence, we should just cut to Makuramon staring at the scene with disapproval in his eyes.

He is now the face of censorship.

I don't even know what the point of this edit was. Cyberdramon lifting Majiramon by his skull and then crushing it and killing him is still there. It's just the closeup shot of grabbing his skull that got censored.

(Cyberdramon lifts Majiramon) Makuramon: I think that's my cue to beat it! (Makuramon flees; Cyberdramon kills Majiramon) Jeri: Awful.... Kazu: Awesome.... Kenta: Yeah... Oh man.... Henry: Unbelievable... No Digimon could go through such a drastic change and still fight so flawlessly! Those two really are the ultimate fighting combination! Takato: What card did you use? Ryo: It's a Goliath card. Kazu: Dude! I will trade you anything for that puppy! Ryo: Sorry, but only the most experienced Tamers can master this card.

Jianliang cites the square-cube law as his problem with King Device. Increasing Cyberdramon's size like this should have caused Cyberdramon to collapse and be crushed under his own weight.

Though it's not super clear why he thinks that would matter. We've seen plenty of gigantic Digimon that should not be biologically possible. What the hell is he on about?

Henry abandons this point and instead opts to shill Ryo and Cyberdramon as the coolest guys ever because Cyberdramon was still able to fight well after being size-increased.

It's not clear why he thinks this is a big deal either. Digimon increase in size all the time when they evolve. He's never called Guilmon and Takato the ultimate fighting combination because WarGrowlmon doesn't trip over his own feet and fall down.

JP Ryō explains that the King Device is a Device card. So far, we've been slashing Option cards and Digimon cards, so this introduces a whole new category of cards that the show may or may not decide to play around with going forward.

EN Ryo skips the new category and just says it's a Goliath card. It's special because it's Goliath, and Goliath is a special card.

Even though the fight is over, Cyberdramon isn't done yet. He turns away from the others, growling. Ryō realizes what's about to happen.

Ryō: Cyberdramon, wait!

In the dub:

Ryo: Cyberdramon, calm down!

Ryō flicks out the laser whip from his Digivice and lashes the ground next to Cyberdramon for some reason.

Takato: What's wrong with Cyberdramon? Ryō: He's itching for a fight. He wants to go find another opponent. Jianliang: Another opponent? Ryō: He has to keep fighting until his instincts are satisfied. That's the kind of Digimon that Cyberdramon is. When he gets like this, Cyberdramon can't be stopped. We'll have to part ways here. Takato: What? Ryō: You guys should go find that little Digimon called Culumon and save the Real World. Honestly, I wish I could help, but that won't be possible until his appetite is satisfied.

Cyberdramon runs off in search of his next foe.

Takato: U-Understood! Ryō: Oh, also, if you see Ruki, tell her I said hi! Takato: Huh? Uh... Okay!

Ryō bounds up on Cyberdramon's back and they run off to, uh... go murder some random Digimon for no reason but I guess we're not supposed to think too much about that. It's just how Digimon without Tamers are. C'est la vie.

Leomon: Cyberdramon will continue to fight until the day he vanquishes his old nemesis. If he never finds that nemesis, he will continue to fight forever. Juri: (sad) Forever...?

We close this episode here, as Leomon makes one last pitch for the audience to see Ryō and Cyberdramon as the coolest fucking guys ever and go buy Brave Tamer.

...

So. Uh. Not to be that guy but....

All Digimon want to keep fighting until their instincts are satisfied. It's been thoroughly established that this is what Digimon are. Battle is their nature.

It's just not their only nature. We see here in the Digital World that they can live in communities. By living in the human world with human Partners, they can also be friends with humans, though their battle instincts are still a core part of who they are as well.

Learning to balance their desire for battle with their ability to coexist in human society has been a major theme of the series thus far, central to Takato, Jian, and Ruki's experiences with their Partner Digimon. All of them, from separate angles, have had to figure out how to integrate their Digimon into the human world without suppressing or rejecting what makes them Digimon.

This is what the whole first arc of the show was centered on, and it's continued to be a talking point since.

We're supposed to take this as Cyberdramon being a super special Digimon who only a great Tamer like Ryō could possibly form a Partnership with. Brave Tamer would go on to establish that Millenniummon is part of his makeup and that's why he's like this.

But I'm just gonna put this out there.

Maybe Ryō's just not a very good Tamer.

Ryō gave up immediately on trying to coexist with Cyberdramon and moved to the Digital World to fight Digimon together. He's the only character who uses a whip to control his Digimon rather than seeking true Partnership with them. Right now Cyberdramon wants to go attack random Digimon and Ryō shrugs and goes "Guess I gotta let him do that!"

He's out there puffing out his chest like "Only the GREATEST Tamers can master Device cards!" as if he did anything more complicated than having a Device card in his possession and Slashing it like any other card. But he abandoned his life, abandoned his world, because he doesn't know how to temper Cyberdramon's battle lust or offer Cyberdramon anything else to be interested in besides battling.

Maybe Ryō is actually bad at this. He enables Cyberdramon's base instincts, doesn't even try to educate him, and keeps him only somewhat in check through violent control measures that create hostility and further encourage Cyberdramon to think only in terms of violence and power.

He just accepts uncritically that Cyberdramon is a brutal and bloodthirsty monster SO UNLIKE ALL OTHER DIGIMON that only a truly capable and MASTER TAMER can control, and then lets Cyberdramon do whatever and only occasionally uses violent force to steer his aggression.

Maybe, like the Device Card that "only a master Tamer can use", he just sucks at being a Tamer and is hyperbolically inflating his meager achievements.

I think that is a valid alternative interpretation to the takeaway they meant for us to have here.

In the dub:

Takato: Um, Ryo, is there something wrong with him? Ryo: He wants to continue fighting so he has no choice but to find another opponent! Henry: Yeah, but right now? Ryo: Fighting is in his blood!

Fighting is in every Digimon's blood. He's not special.

Ryo: It's the only thing he really hungers for! To him, battling that dragon was just a small appetizer! He won't stop until he's completely satisfied, and I have to go with him. Takato: Huh!? Ryo: I wish I could stay and help you find Calumon but I can't control Cyberdramon when he gets like this. Good luck defeating the Devas and saving the world! And who knows, maybe we'll meet again someday! (Cyberdramon runs off) Takato: Um, okay! Ryo: Oh, and say hi to that wildcat Rika for me! Ahaha! Takato: Uh... okay! Guilmon: Bye-bye! (Ryo jumps on Cyberdramon's back and they depart) Leomon: Cyberdramon won't find peace or satisfaction until he finds his ultimate enemy, and if he never finds that enemy, he may be doomed to keep fighting until the end of time. Jeri: How terrible.... Davis (V.O.): Man, Cyberdramon needs to take a cyber-chill pill! And will they ever see Ryo again? Keep watching Digimon: Digital Monsters.

"That wildcat Rika". Ick. Ick ick ICK.

Remember how Ruki hates Ryō's guts and that's been bothering him all episode? What happened to that? Why does he think "Say hi to Ruki for me?" is appropriate? That line was clearly put there just for some parting Ship Tease, but it's so weird in context.

Dub Team took that Ship Tease and bumped it up to outright flirting by proxy. They understood the assignment but the assignment is bad. What about the current situation between him and Rika makes him think this is an appropriate time to flirt by proxy with a girl who hates him?

What a douche!

The dub did age Rika up so the unsettling age gap of "We want you to ship this 10-year-old with this 14-year-old" isn't a factor. Agewise, EN Ryo is okay to flirt, and JP Ryō isn't technically flirting; There isn't anything necessarily wrong with "Say hi to her for me," just the weird shippy implications of why he'd suddenly bring that up.

But contextually, JP Ryō needs to be punched for this and EN Ryo needs to be stoned with rocks.

Davis knows better than to promise we'll see Ryo next episode, so once more the promise game is thwarted.

Assessment: So ends the Ryō crossover two-parter. Hopefully now we can get back to developing the characters who are actually a part of this show. Ryō and Cyberdramon have chafed against the very premise and themes of the series like sandpaper on skin. They've broken continuity to squeeze themselves in. These two episodes have focused predominately on shilling them as the coolest characters ever.

And now they conclude by flexing on all the Tamers, calling them amateurs, effortlessly slaughtering a Deva, and then running off to go uselessly be Infinite Badasses of Unfathomable Power somewhere that the plot isn't happening so their unapproachable levels of unbridled awesomeness don't ruin the plot.

Cool. Won't be damaging to the tension at all when we're fighting Makuramon to know that Cyberdramon could rip his head off in two seconds and then shit right into God's mouth, but he's not doing that because he's two miles away punching trees instead.

Oof. I hope Ryō's fans were happy with this crossover. He got to look really cool, dunk on all the protagonists, slay one of the villains, and flirt with the show's coolest female character on his way out the door. There's a lot of red meat here for Ryō fans to enjoy.

It just comes at the expense of all the show's actual characters.

[erior]

Yeah, once again, Ryo as an interdimensional traveler who has been retconned into the Tamers world could be an interesting concept to work with, but Ryo as a character is just background noise, and without the Millenniummon thingies he is just boring. Can do something with Ruki, but only for Ruki's character development, and the shipping angle doesn't work. Ryo as this dude who was good at cards, then was good at powering Cyberdramon up, is boring. Videogame player character is all he has.

Takato, you wear your heart on your sleeve as a rule, stop trying to look cool by pretending you are something you are not, she likes you as you are. Good save tho. Anyway, 1 deva down, and one which didn't really do much, but oh well, that's what happens when you have 12 minibosses, the remaining 2 appear to be active ones, and then we have the one we haven't seen yet. Back to the plot.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Tamers 29 - This is a Haunted Castle! The Lost Culumon's Great Escape / Goliath

Previously on Digimon Tamers: Hirokazu and Kenta fucked up again. At her limit with their incompetence, Ruki fired them both. Fortunately, they landed on their feet, picking up new jobs as gofers for Akiyama Ryō of Adventure fame. I think they're gonna be alright.

We open with confirmation that the cube from last episode was transporting the Tamers to another world. The Tamers exit out into a strange black-and-white abstractionist environment.

Takato: Looks like we ended up in another weird place. Juri: Yeah, it's all so crooked. Jianliang: Where are we...? Terriermon: Mōmantai! It's the same place as everywhere: Somewhere in the Digital World!

Useful answer, Terriermon. Thank you.

In the dub:

Takato: What is the deal with this place? Jeri: Everything's warped! Takato: It's making me dizzy. Henry: Heh, everything makes you dizzy, Takato! I wonder if the data in this area is unstable? Terriermon: Mōmantai! This place is just another part of your friendly Digital dimension. You're not in Kansai anymore, you know.

Henry makes an odd accusation of Takato having an established character trait of being sickly like the Adventure dub's Joe.

Henry also offers some speculation about why the area looks like this, though the more likely answer is simply that it's comprised from data of a particular art style. There's a very M.C. Escher vibe to this place.

EN Terriermon makes a brilliant pun about the Kansai region of Japan. 10/10 Would pun again.

As the Tamers continue on, they come upon a tray of chocolates sitting out. The brown color of the chocolates stands out against the black-and-white backdrop.

Guilmon: Guil? Is this chocolate?

Guilmon picks up one of the chocolates and eats it, then grimaces with disgust.

Takato: What's wrong, Guilmon? Guilmon: It's sour! Terriermon: Let me try!

Upon hearing how disgusting the chocolates are, Terriermon hops up on the table and tries one himself. He promptly grimaces too.

Leomon, on the other hand, does not rush to eat the disgusting chocolate. Because he's an adult.

Leomon: Don't just eat whatever fits in your mouth. You have no idea what kind of data this is. Guilmon: ( ._.) You're right. You sure do know a lot, Leomon.... Terriermon: ( ._.) But there's no way to know what it tastes like unless you try it for yourself....

Guuuuuys

You're embarrassing us in front of the cool guy....

In Guilmon's defense, this is the first time he's ever been in the Digital World. Terriermon only gets half of that excuse, given that he was born yesterday like Guilmon but he at least came out of a video game, so he has some Digital World experience.

In the dub:

Guilmon: Oh, look! It's chocolate. (Guilmon eats one and grimaces) Takato: Guilmon, what's wrong? Guilmon: Not chocolate! Terriermon: Let me see! (Terriermon tries one) Leomon: You shouldn't eat everything you see, especially around here. Things aren't always what they seem to be. Guilmon: ( ._.) I can try, but when I see food, my brain shuts off. Terriermon: ( ._.) I don't believe this. I've finally become Guilmon....

JP Guilmon specifically states that the chocolates taste 酸っぱい suppai, which means sour and acidic. EN Guilmon only says that they aren't chocolate, offering no detail about what flavor prompted that reaction.

This in turn makes it a little more defensible that EN Terriermon hopped up and tried one too, to find out what caused Guilmon to make that reaction. JP Terriermon is just a dumb kid being a dumb kid.

JP Terriermon argues with Leomon and whines out a defense of shoving random things in your mouth. EN Terriermon cracks a joke at Guilmon's expense.

Suddenly, Takato hears voices approaching. Singing voices.

Takato: Huh? Someone's coming! Jianliang: Who could that be in a place like this? Juri: Maybe it's Ruki-chan's group!

She's right, sort of. Ruki isn't among them as established last episode, but Hirokazu, Kenta, and Ryō are heading up this way. Hirokazu and Kenta are the ones singing.

It's hard to make out exactly what they're singing but I think it's Otoko Shibuki/Manly Spray from episode 26.

Hirokazu: Yo, Takato! Fancy seeing you here! Takato: Hirokazu!

Hirokazu and Kenta run on ahead of Ryō and Cyberdramon to reunited with their friends.

Takato: I didn't think I'd run into you in a place like this! Jianliang: Good thing you were able to find this place.

Ryō and Cyberdramon approach from the rear.

Juri: Huh? Who's that? Hirokazu: I am so glad you asked! Allow me to introduce you! This is the legendary Tamer, Akiyama Ryō-san! Ryō: (embarrassed) Stop that. It's not a big deal. Takato: Eh? THE Akiyama Ryō!? For real!? Then that guy over there must be.... Ryō: My Partner Digimon Cyberdramon! Takato: Wow, I can't believe I'm seeing him up close!

Cyberdramon snarls, causing Takato to flinch and step back.

Takato: Wha--? Did I upset him? Ryō: Ehehe, don't worry about it. Cyberdramon is searching for his old nemesis. I doubt they're here, though.

Ryō puts a soothing hand on Cyberdramon's arm. Cyberdramon calms down and takes a knee. Further back in the group, Terriermon has questions.

Terriermon: Who's that? Jianliang: Akiyama Ryō, a Tamer who went missing after the Card Battle Tournament one year ago. There were rumors that he'd gone to the Digital World, but I never thought we'd actually meet him here....

Ryō continues to warp the internal logic of the show around himself. What do you mean there were rumors he'd gone to the Digital World? The Digital World was a secret known only to Hypnos until Vikaralamon blew it all wide open!

The show made a whole big thing in episodes 24 and 25 about how we'd be the first humans ever to set foot in the Digital World and now we're acting like everyone knows about this one kid who went to the Digital World last year.

Takato also acts like Cyberdramon is some kind of celebrity he's meeting.

The boys are straight-up treating Akiyama Ryō like he and Cyberdramon publicly fought Vamdemon in the middle of Odaiba or something. Like it's just common knowledge that he's a Tamer with a Partner Digimon who travels between the two worlds all the time.

This continues to be so "Crossover Episode" it hurts. The show does not know how it is possible for the Scooby Doo Gang to coexist with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it does not really care to try and offer a reasonable explanation.

The whole "Cyberdramon is searching for his longstanding archenemy" thing is probably a reference to Millenniummon, the overarching antagonist of all of Ryō's games.

Fitting the crossover vibe, this doesn't feel like a plot point that's meant to be elaborated on in the show. Ryō's dropping in to advertise how cool his video games are, so you're presumably meant to buy Brave Tamer to learn more about this.

That's also probably why this episode and the last are bending over backwards to shill him so hard. Once Takato and the others part ways with him, they will continue to be characters of this show, but sales of Brave Tamer may be affected by how cool Ryō looked in these two episodes.

There is a very transparent and cynical marketing value to having all of the characters drop to their knees and praise Ryō as the greatest Digimon character ever conceived. His next video game drops in two months. And it seems this has taken precedent over making this crossover make any amount of sense whatsoever.

Though Brave Tamer would then awkwardly indicate that Millenniummon isn't out there to be found because they're a part of Cyberdramon himself. So either I'm missing my mark about Cyberdramon's longtime rival, or it's just another instance of the game and anime crews not bothering to shore up their continuity between each other.

In the dub, Takato hears Kazu and Kenta talking rather than singing.

Kenta: (disappointed) Where are all the Digimon? Kazu: (unintelligible because everyone talks over him) Takato: Someone's coming! Henry: Well, whoever it is sure is chatty. Jeri: Maybe it's Rika and the boys! Takato: I see the boys but that doesn't look like Rika. (Kazu, Kenta, and Ryo approach) Kazu: Hey-hey-hey! We have returned! Takato: It's about time! (Kazu and Kenta go ahead and meet with the others) Takato: You had us worried! Kazu: Yeah, we ran into some trouble. Nothing I couldn't take care of! (Ryo and Cyberdramon bring up the rear) Jeri: Who is that? Kazu: That, my friends, is the legendary Tamer Ryo! Kenta: He rocks! Kazu: If Tamers were cars, he'd be the monster truck. Ryo: (embarrassed) Aw, come on. I wish you guys wouldn't say that. Takato: Wow, I can't believe it's really you! Don't tell me that's your Partner? Ryo: Yeah. That is Cyberdramon. Takato: Awesome! Nice to meet you, fella. (Cyberdramon snarls; Takato flinches) Takato: Yeah, I don't think he likes me very much. Ryo: Ehehe, don't take it personally. He's not the socializing kind. He's really just a puppy on the inside once you get to know him. Terriermon: Puppy, huh? I'll believe it when I see it! (Cyberdramon takes a knee) Terriermon: Who's Ryo? Henry: He's the famous Tamer who disappeared after winning a major Digimon tournament. Some think he's the greatest Tamer of all time. Terriermon: He must be to keep Cyberscarymon there under control. That Digimon looks meaner than Rika! Henry: Try not to provoke him. Terriermon: What? Me? Never!

Kazu continues to be an arrogant blowhard.

Kazu introduces Ryo by first name only which sounds awkward to my ears.

The dub changes up quite a bit about Ryo's introduction here. First, they drop the mention of Cyberdramon's nemesis. It hasn't been dropped completely because it was mentioned last episode, but they cut it out of his intro here.

It's replaced by another "Digimon as housepets" bit, which are already a little grating with the way they're used to hold Guilmon back from his character development but hit really weird when applied to higher-level Digimon than the Child/Rookie level. It feels infantilizing to call Cyberdramon a "puppy on the inside".

They also drop the inconsistent and problematic detail about Ryō being rumored to have gone to the Digital World. The dub here says only that Ryo went missing, and then Henry and Terriermon banter over the rest of their dialogue.

Similarly, Takato's excitement to meet Cyberdramon is subtly changed from "I can't believe I'm seeing him up close!" to "It's nice to meet you", making it seem less like Cyberdramon is somehow a known element he's been both aware of and in awe of for a long time.

These tweaks make Ryo's introduction here fit better into continuity than it does in the original.

Now that Ryō's been introduced, Juri asks about the elephant in the room.

Juri: Hang on... Hey, what happened to Ruki-chan? Kenta: Ruki got upset and went off on her own. Juri: Huh? She's alone? Kenta: Yeah.... Takato: Hirokazu, you didn't say something stupid to piss her off, did you!? Hirokazu: N-No, I didn't!

He did.

Ryō: It was probably my fault.... Hirokazu: Th-That's not true at all! It's not your fault, Ryō-san!

It is.

Jianliang: Did something happen? Kenta: Hirokazu kept bragging about how much better Ryō-san is at Card Battling than Ruki is, and Ruki got upset. Takato: Yeah, that makes sense. Ruki has a lot of pride in her skills. Jianliang: She has Renamon with her, but I'm still worried. Juri: I wouldn't worry. I'm sure Ruki-chan will be fine. She's very strong, after all! Takato: You... you really think so?

I love how Takato hears that Ruki ran off in a huff and his first instinct is, "Hirokazu, what the hell did you do!?" He knows. He knows exactly whose fault this is. And he's right!

Also, aww, Juri has complete faith in Ruki's skills.

In the dub:

Jeri: Wait a minute, Kenta, how come Rika's not with you guys? Kenta: She got all mad and, you know, just took off. Jeri: She went off on her own? Kenta: Yeah. Takato: She wouldn't have done that unless one of you said something to make her really mad. Kazu: What're you looking at me for!? Ryo: Actually, I think all of this is my fault. Kazu: Hey, it's not your fault! It's her! Rika! She's nuts! Henry: Kenta, tell me what happened! Kenta: Kazu kept saying that Ryo's a better Tamer than she is and the only reason she's Digimon Queen is because Ryo wasn't around to kick her butt anymore. Takato: Way to go, Kazu; She's gonna be mad 'til the next millennium! Henry: This is really bad. It's dangerous out there. Something could happen to her! Jeri: But RIka's so strong and she has Renamon with her. I'm sure she'll be fine. Takato: Jeri's right! ...I hope....

The dub takes its first commercial break here.

EN Takato does not laser-focus in on Kazu as the guilty party. At least, not verbally, though as Kazu's next line demonstrates, he's still looking at Kazu when he says it.

Kenta claims that Kazu said that Rika only became Digimon Queen after Ryo disappeared. This is something he said... in the Japanese script. The dub script had Kazu say that Ryo got his reputation by beating the Digimon Queen, indicating that "Digimon Queen" was a title she held before he bested her. So that's a whoopsy-doodle.

Speaking of Ruki, she and Renamon are still tromping through snow in the clockwork world.

Renamon: It doesn't seem like we're going to find an exit. Ruki: Yes, we will. Renamon: Maybe we should have gone with Ryō. Ruki: Don't say that name! Renamon: Sometimes, I really have no idea what you're thinking, Ruki. Ruki: You don't need to understand! (quietly) Besides, it would just piss me off if you did.

Yep, she's still mad.

In the dub:

Renamon: Rika, we've been walking for hours. Rika: How observant, Renamon. What's your point? Renamon: Well, there's no sign of an exit and we still don't know where we're going. Not that I'm not happy to drag my tail in the sand all day, but don't you think we should have gone with Ryo? Rika: Oh, puh-leeze! That hack couldn't Tame his way out of a wet paper bag! Renamon: Just a suggestion....

It's been a while since we've heard from this particular character trait; I think episode 10 was when it came up previously? But Ruki can't stand people trying to get in her head. She prefers being considered mysterious and unknowable, and nothing pisses her off faster than claiming you know what she's thinking.

This part of their conversation is dropped from the dub.

EN Renamon says they're walking through sand. I took it to be snow but you know what, hourglass sand would make thematic sense here.

Back to the rest of the team in the abstract world.

Ryō: I think, if you stick around here, you'll probably run into Ruki again. But if you get caught up in one of those light pillars, there's no telling where you'll end up. So you should be careful. Jianliang: Yeah, we've had our fill of those. Ryō: How did all of you end up in the Digital World anyway? Takato: Oh, that's right! Ryō: Hm? Takato: Ryō-san, have you seen a small, white Digimon? Ryō: Huh? Small and white? Takato: Yes. It's this one.

Takato takes out his picture of Culumon to show to Ryō.

Ryō: Hmm... I haven't seen them. What kind of Digimon is this? Takato: This white one is called Culumon and apparently they hold the key to the Digimon's evolution. Ryō: This Digimon holds the key to evolution? Takato: That's why they were kidnapped by the Devas. We came here to find them. Ryō: Devas?

Why yes, we are putting the plot on hold for a moment so that we can explain to the video game fans who just showed up see Ryō animated why our anime is really cool and they should stick around and continue watching it.

This especially sticks out like a sore thumb in light of the fact that Hirokazu and Kenta already explained the plot to Ryō offscreen last episode, so it would be reasonable for him to already know this.

In the dub:

Kazu: Hey Ryo, how about some pointers on being a bodacious Tamer? Kenta: Where'd you get your radical outfit? Kazu: Outfit shmoutfit; Where'd you get Cyberdramon!? Kenta: Yeah! Does he have a twin brother or something? Jeri: Maybe we should ask Ryo about our mission? Henry: Finally, a reasonable suggestion. Ryo: That's right, I forgot to ask. Why are you guys in the Digital World? Takato: Oh yeah! Our friend Calumon was kidnapped and we're here to rescue him. You haven't seen him around, have you? Ryo: Around here? I don't know. What does he look like? Takato: Maybe this will help. (Takato shows Ryo the picture) Takato: He's a little guy who doesn't like to fight. Ryo: A Digimon that doesn't like to fight? Well, there's a first time for everything. Takato: He'd rather eat his way through cream puffs. There's something about him that helps other Digimon Digivolve. Ryo: So who do you think might have kidnapped him? Takato: The Devas! They're not the friendliest folk so we gotta find him before anything bad happens! Ryo: The Devas?

JP Ryō points out that sticking around here will be the Tamers' best shot at finding Ruki. He doesn't elaborate, but he suggested last episode that this is the only exit from the clockwork world so he seems to be banking on her eventually making her way here.

The dub drops this topic so that Kenta and Kazu can banter about how cool Ryo is.

JP Takato describes Culumon as small and white first before showing Ryō the picture. EN Takato offers no leading description, just saying "Have you seen Calumon?" as if Ryo's supposed to know who that is.

After showing the picture, however, EN Takato does bring up that Calumon doesn't like to fight. Considering how unique that makes him, this is a useful detail that JP Takato overlooks.

Next, Takato shows Ryō his picture of Makuramon.

Takato: This is one of the Devas.

Flashback to Makuramon snatching Culumon away from Juri, followed by Vikaralamon's rampage.

Takato (V.O.): He snatched Culumon, but we don't know much about what he really he. He just kept rambling about complicated things like "our God" and stuff. Jianliang (V.O.): The Devas went on a rampage in the Real World. Ryō (V.O.): Wait, is Japan okay? Takato (V.O.): Meiji-dori in Shinjuku was completely wrecked. Ryō (V.O.): I live in Fukuoka over in Kyushu. What's it like over there?

Don't worry, Ryō. There's a good chance that your home survived Vikaralamon's rampage. Solid 6 out of 10 odds.

(End Flashback) Takato: Nothing happened over there. It was just Shinjuku. Ryō: Whew... So that's how it is. I haven't been home in a long time. I wonder how my family's doing?

What a weird-ass question for Ryō to ask. What do you mean, you wonder how your family is doing? Aren't you from the Adventure universe? Why would you have family here!?

I've said it before but again, this crossover really only makes sense if you presume this is some kind of Tamersverse AU Ryō and not the official video game Ryō despite the franchise's insistence that they're the same.

While Brave Tamer would explain how Ryō crossed over, to my best knowledge it does not offer any explanation for how he acquired a new set of parents to then immediately abandon.

And the thing is, it's not like his Tamersverse parents are plot-critical. We are not going to go in detail about them in this episode. They could have avoided this entirely by just not having him talk about his home and family here.

Ryō's ability to just disappear into the Digital World for ten months would make way more sense if he really was a cosmic orphan with no roots in this universe; No home to go back to, no school to attend, no semblance of a normal life anywhere because he does not belong to this reality. It would be super easy for Crossover Ryo to just peace out from the Tamersverse Real World and not be missed.

But no. He explicitly confirms that he has a family in Fukuoka wondering where he disappeared to, that he is a real Tamersverse person born in this world who really did go Missing Persons on his whole family and life for Cyberdramon, and we are not going to talk about it in any detail. That's wild.

It's so wild that it almost makes me forget what I wanted to point out, which is that we are putting the plot on hold for a moment so that we can explain to the video game fans who just showed up see Ryō animated why our anime is really cool and they should stick around and continue watching it. With clips of past Deva fights so they can see how cool it is.

As is often the nature of crossovers, for as much as Ryō is here as a living commercial for his video games, we are also advertising the show itself to Ryō's fans too. We want Tamers fans to buy Brave Tamer and we want Ryō fans to watch more Tamers episodes.

In the dub:

Takato: Here's one of them. They serve someone called the Digimon Sovereign. (Flashback) Takato (V.O.): This one, Makuramon, was the Digi-napper! We tried to stop him but that monkey was too quick. Before we knew it, he escaped to the Digital World. Kazu (V.O.): Those Devas are totally out of control! Henry (V.O.): You should see the destruction they caused back home. Jeri (V.O.): I was more terrified than I've ever been. Kenta (V.O.): That pig Deva was like a giant backhoe! Well, with a snout. Takato (V.O.): We finally stopped it, but not before it wrecked a lot of the city. If they Digivolve, they'd be unstoppable. (End Flashback) Ryo: I see. Then I think we should rescue your friend as soon as we possibly can!

The dub scrubs this dialogue of all references to specific places. No mention is made of Ryo living in Fukuoka or of the damage being localized to this one street in Shinjuku.

In the original, the flashback is a conversation between Takato, Jian, and Ryō. In the dub, Ryo stays silent while Takato's whole crew takes turns explaining the flashback to him.

Enough about Ryō. Kenta lets out a scream all of a sudden.

Kenta: AHHH!!!

Ahead in the road are five scarecrow Digimon swaying gently.

Jianliang: Digimon!?

The Tamers and their Digimon brace for a fight.

Ryō: These Digimon don't do anything. They just stand there, swaying back and forth like this. Juri: ...they're kinda creepy....

Ryō's right; These Digimon aren't going to do anything. There is no twist and this is the last we'll see of them this episode. They don't even get scanned.

But for our reference, these are Nohemon. They're Wormmon's Armor Evolution through the Digimental of Purity/Sincerity, sneaking in another of those unused Armor forms.

Their name comes from the word へのへのもへじ henohenomoheji, which is a type of children's drawing.

The henohenomoheji is a way of creating a face out of Hiragana lettering by each of those individual kana in order. If you look close, you'll see that Nohemon indeed has a henohenomoheji for a face.

In the dub:

Nohemon: CRAWWWW!!! Kenta: Ack! Where'd they come from!? Henry: Are they Digimon!? Leomon: Stay back. They could be dangerous. Ryo: Don't worry. These Digimon are harmless. It just takes a while to get used to the way they pop up like that. Kenta: I'm gonna have nightmares for weeks! Jeri: They give me the jeebies....

Because they never get scanned with the Digivices, there is no dub name for the Nohemon.

In the original, the Nohemon are completely silent but for the sound of their wood creaking as they sway in the wind, which is utterly fucking terrifying.

The dub has their crows constantly squawking, which is still pretty creepy.

Cut to Makuramon and the Dragon still searching for Culumon.

Makuramon: Catsuramon is trying to track down the bearer of evolution's radiance before we can. We must find them as soon as possible.

Okay, we need to talk about another Digimon name. Catsuramon is the Dog Deva we saw earlier, who made the deal with Impmon.

Their name, as usual, comes from the Sanskrit name of the Heavenly General Catura, pronounced (to my best understanding) as "Cha-too-rah". In Japanese, this is spelled:

チャ Cha トゥ Tu ラ Ra

However, for some reason, the Dog Deva is named Catsuramon.

チャ Cha ツ Tsu ラ Ra

Which is also how Makuramon pronounces it. "Cha-tsu-ra-mon".

Weird.

In any case, we're down to the wire on Devas now. Makuramon, Catsuramon, and the Dragon are the last Devas standing, save for the open question of whether Andiramon will be involved in some way. Terriermon's counterpart is the only Heavenly General yet to be introduced as a Deva now.

In the dub:

Makuramon: Majiramon, would you step on it!? We have to find that no-good runt before Catsuramon does! He can't have gone too far on those stuffy little legs. I will not be humiliated by a knee-high rodent!

EN Makuramon adds Majiramon's name drop to this scene.

The dub pronounces Catsuramon with a hard "Kuh". That's an easy mistake to make. It's how I might have expected it to be pronounced if I just read it written out.

Leaving Makuramon behind, we find Culumon wandering in the desert world. They've thoroughly destroyed Takato's flag now to make it into a cape to wear.

Culumon: Pito pito pito pito pito.... Takato, Guilmon, where are you-culu? Culumon wants to find you soon-culu. Come find this flag-culu....

In the process of making their cape, Culumon seems to have ripped the flag off in the middle of Ruki and Renamon's faces, so all that's left is about 3/4 of those two plus Takato and Guilmon, with Culumon at the top. Either that or, due to Culumon's short height, most of the flag just got shredded from dragging on the ground.

Culumon slows to a stop.

Culumon: I'm getting a little tired-culu.... Culu?

Culumon hears footsteps approaching fast.

Culumon: Somebody's coming-culu!

Out of nowhere, a bizarre cartoon dog Digimon like something out of Tom and Jerry or Looney Tunes comes racing across the desert, kicking up dust. They stop in front of Culumon with a cartoony screech.

Culumon: Culu!? Um, um, do you know Takato-culu!? Please tell me if you know him-culu!

Without warning, the dog starts rapid-fire flicking little pellets into Culumon's face. Culumon flinches and covers their face.

Culumon: Ow! OW!!! That hurts-culu!

The dog laughs hysterically, pounding their fist on the ground.

Culumon: You're a mean Digimon-culu!

The dog stops suddenly, their eyes snapping open. They circle Culumon, sniffing them.

Culumon: Culu? What do you smell-culu? Dog: A cat! Culumon: A cat!?

Culumon sees where this is going. When the dog starts barking furiously, Culumon screams and runs for their life.

Culumon: AHHHHHH!!! STOP IT-CULU!!!

Nearby, a Gekomon and Otamamon watch all of this unfold, saying nothing.

Another Digimon we're not going to get an Analyzer screen for. This is Dogmon, an Adult-level Data-attribute Puppet-type Digimon. Dogmon was a fan submission for a contest to design a new Digimon. In succession, Dogmon was released in the TCG, as a boss fight for the D-Ark Digimon toy, and then debuted here in the show.

In the dub:

Calumon: Takato! Guilmon! Where are you? My tummy hurts, my feet hurts, my toes... well, I don't have any toes but if I did, they'd hurt! Oh, I wish I were back in the Real World where there are nice people and cream puffs.... When will someone find me? Dog: (distant) AROOOOO Calumon: Huh!? What's that? (Dog runs up) Calumon: Hello, Mr. Dog! I'm looking for Takato, Guilmon, and maybe a really big box of cookies! (Dog flicks seeds into Calumon's face) Calumon: Ow ow ow ow! (Dog laughs and pounds the ground) Calumon: Where I come from, we shake hands! (Dog sniffs around Calumon) Calumon: Wh-What are you doing now, huh? Dog: Ahhh... I smell lunch! Calumon: What's on the menu? Dog: (barking) You! You! You! YOU!!! (Calumon screams and flees) Calumon: BAD DOGGY!!! Uh, what I meant to say was nice doggy! NICE DOGGY!!! WHOAAAA!!!

Last episode, Calumon was more interested in Rika than in Guilmon, but it's a new episode so the dub rerails them back to searching for Takato and Guilmon.

Calumon brings up cream puffs here to harken back to the joke EN Takato made earlier.

JP Dogmon tells Culumon that they smell a cat. This is a reference to the iconic cartoon rivalry between cats and dogs.

EN Dogmon threatens to gobble up Calumon for lunch, which was implied in JP Dogmon calling Culumon a cat, but is directly stated without the flavorful dog/cat rivalry piece here.

Dog/cat cartoon rivalries aren't exactly an obscure concept to American children, so they probably changed this because they wanted to do the bit of Dogmon barking the word "You!" over and over.

Back in the abstract town, Ryō brings the Tamers to a secure resting place.

Juri: It's a castle... Check it out, Leomon! Leomon: Mhm. Ryō: We should be safe here. There's also a bedroom, which makes it a great place to stop and rest.

The Tamers enter the colossal estate. Overheard, through a skylight, the Real World can be seen. The sky darkens as the Digital World clicks over to night.

Takato: Night just fell. Juri: No matter how many times I see it, I never get used to that. Takato: Yeah.

Come to think of it, I wonder how many nights we've been here? Does every world have night at the same time? When Ruki and the boys were experiencing night in the clockwork world with Ryō, was it also night in the desert world for Takato's group? It didn't seem like it. Maybe nights are staggered.

Given the arbitrary nature of night, there's no guarantee that night and day are even on a 24-hour cycle. Maybe the Digital World just turns off the sky in some worlds periodically.

In the dub:

Jeri: A castle! What do you think, Leomon? Leomon: Hmm... It's interesting. Ryo: I know it looks funny; Staring at it gives me a headache. But it's safe and we can spend the night here. (Everyone goes inside) Terriermon: This place is bigger than Kazu's ego! Henry: Yeah, or your mouth! Takato: Wow! Guilmon: I'm sleepy, Takatomon. When's bedtime? (The sky turns off) Takato: Well, now, I guess. Jeri: I don't know about you guys, but I'll never get used to that. Takato: Yep.

Same thing but with some jokes added.

Ryō shows the team to a single huge bedroom with eight beds.

Hirokazu: Oh wow! Kenta: Can we sleep here?

Juri claims the last bed on the right side of the room, sitting down on it.

Juri: It's so fluffy!

Terriermon claims a bed as well, bouncing on it.

Terriermon: A bed! A bed! Ahahahaha! Juri: If only Ruki-chan could be here with us.... Ryō: ( ._.)

Ryō says nothing in response to that but he lets out a small sigh and deflates a little. He still blames himself for Ruki leaving. And he is still partially correct, though Hirokazu bears the brunt of the blame. Her departure was about Ryō, but it was because of Hirokazu.

Jianliang: Is no one using this place? Ryō: Yeah, it seems no one uses it. So no one will complain even if we stay here for days. Hirokazu: WOOHOO!!! I could just stay here forever, y'know? Kenta: What are you saying!? We haven't even found our Partner Digimon yet! Hirokazu: Oh, you're right. I almost forgot about that.

It was already kinda obvious when Ryō first showed it to us, but Ryō confirms that this is a regular haunt of his.

This place is reminding me a lot of Devimon's mansion. There's something very particular about a huge house with a huge bedroom that has eight beds specifically.

It's not Devimon's mansion, of course. That was in a huge forest on File Island and not an abstract monochrome world. But this is giving Devimon's mansion vibes.

It's not a very convenient number, considering we have to accomodate:

Takato

Jianliang

Juri

Hirokazu

Kenta

Ryō

Guilmon

Terriermon

Leomon

Cyberdramon

Two people are getting screwed out of beds. Well, one person, if Terriermon sleeps with Jian. He's the only Digimon small enough to share.

So I feel like the number eight is here specifically for the Adventure reference.

In the dub:

Ryo: Well, here we are. Rika: Wow! Takato: I know what you mean. I'd forgotten what beds even looked like! Kazu: It's like camp! Kenta: But without the counselors! (Jeri claims her bed) Jeri: It's comfy! (Terriermon bounces) Terriermon: Yeah, and it's bouncy bouncy BOUNCY!!! Jeri: I wish Rika was here. I wonder where she's sleeping tonight? Ryo: ( ._.) Henry: Hey, Ryo? Doesn't anyone live in this place? Ryo: No, this castle has been empty since I first found it. So you guys can stay here for as long as you want. Kazu: Aww yeah! We can stay in this castle FOREVER!!! Kenta: No parents, no school, no gym shorts! Why would we ever leave!? Jeri: Because we're here on a rescue mission, not to play hooky! Kazu: You're always raining on my parade! Henry: She's also always right.

In the original, it's Kenta who rains on Hirokazu's parade. He points out that they came here for a very specific purpose that they haven't completed yet, so obviously they can't just stay up here forever. Hirokazu concedes that point to Kenta

The dub keeps Kazu and Kenta aligned and pivots the role of the spoilsport to Jeri. She claps back at him about rescuing Calumon, the team's overarching goal, instead of Kenta and Hiro/Kazu's personal goal.

Kazu does not concede the point but instead whines at Jeri for being a fun-killing nag, which forces Henry to step in and back her up. At which point Kazu shuts up because I guess he respects Henry more than Jeri.

Now that we're stopping for a moment, Juri has a concern that I've been wondering about for a while.

Juri: By the way, I feel like it's been a long time since we last ate anything. Guilmon: Mmm... Guilmon ate that sour chocolate earlier. Terriermon: It was awful.... Kenta: But I'm not really hungry either. Takato: Come to think of it, neither am I. Ryō: Here, you can just eat whenever you feel hungry. There's no limits for what you can eat or how much you have to. Takato: Hrmm... something about that feels unsatisfying. Ryō: You'll get used to it soon enough!

Here we have an answer for why losing all the food as soon as we arrived at the Digital World hasn't actually been a problem for the Tamers. Eating food is completely recreational in the Digital World. You can't actually starve here.

This also explains why the mud balls in the Tsuchidarumon village were so unexpectedly delicious. Anything is edible here.

Like the day/night cycle being a toggle and the Real World hanging in the sky, this is another way that the Tamersverse Digital World is a fundamentally different place than the Adventureverse Digital World. In Adventure, foraging for food was an ever-present concern, but it's a non-issue here thanks to the rules of how Tamers's Digital World works.

In the dub:

Takato: Hey, has anyone noticed we haven't eaten in a while? Guilmon: I ate that icky thing I thought was chocolate but it wasn't. Terriermon: Don't remind me. Kenta: It's strange but I don't feel hungry. Takato: Yeah, you're always hungry! Ryo: Haven't you figured it out yet? In the Digital World, you only eat when you feel like it. The last time I had dinner or any other meal for that matter was more than two weeks ago. Takato: Wow! That's one heck of a diet, Ryo.... Ryo: Eh, you get used to it. Jeri: Sure is a lot of stuff to get used to around here!

The dub has Takato be the one to point out that they haven't eaten in days, rather than Jeri. She's too busy nagging Kazu in Kenta's place, I guess.

Once the food question is swept under the rug, it's lights out!

Hirokazu: Okay, bedtime!

Lights go out and an overhead shot shows us that Guilmon and Terriermon are sharing a bed, answer one question about the insufficient beds, but another remains.

Juri: I can't fall asleep that fast. Takato: Just close your eyes and you'll fall asleep soon enough. Juri: ...okay.

I feel Juri. I can't just lay down and conk out either. Sleepovers always sucked as a kid for this exact reason. Not that it matters because there's a new reason to be awake: The clanking sound of footsteps in the hall.

Kenta wakes up suddenly, throwing on his glasses.

Kenta: What's that sound!?

A Knightmon patrolling the hall passes by the doorway. Kenta freaks out so hard he wakes everyone up.

Kenta: WHAA--!?!? Hirokazu: What's going on...? Kenta: J-J-J-JUST NOW-- Jianliang: What's wrong!? Ryō: Oh, that's just Knightmon. They always patrol this hallway at night. They won't attack unless you do something. Kenta: Um, visually speaking, they sure look like a ghost.... Ryō: Yeah, I guess in the Real World something like that would be a ghost. But it's just a Digimon.

Ryō lays back down, rolls over, and zonks out in a second.

Kenta: He went back to sleep. Hirokazu: Would you call that brave or something else? Jianliang: I guess that's the kind of attitude that keeps you going here. Takatu: Yeah, true. Hirokazu: I'm starting to lose my nerve.... Kenta: Me too....

Amid all this chaos, we get a pretty clear impression of the sleeping arrangement here. The beds are consistently shot to paint a picture of who's sleeping where.

Takato | Juri Guilmon and Terriermon | Kenta Jianliang | Hirokazu Ryō | Eighth Bed

However, they're also tricky with their camera angles to never reveal who is in the eighth bed, depriving us of the opportunity to see Leomon and Cyberdramon snuggled up like Guilmon and Terriermon in a child-sized twin bed! Rude!

Refusing to animate that shot is the greatest crime that Digimon anime has ever committed. Including Holsmon.

As an aside, wasn't it a running joke that Hirokazu and Kenta could just drop wherever they're standing, fall asleep instantly, and then sleep through a hurricane? What happened to that? I feel like Ryō just stole their joke.

In the dub:

Jeri: Takato, do you miss home? Takato: Um, actually, I haven't really thought about it that much. Jeri: ...really.... (Heavy metal footsteps) Kenta: Uhh, who goes there? (Knightmon passes in the hall) Kenta: AHHHHH!!! Kazu: Huh? Kenta: WHAT IS THAT!?!? Henry: What's going on? Ryo: Oh, that's Knightmon. You don't have to worry about him. He roams the halls at night looking for more enemies to decapitate. Kenta: Did you say decapitate!? What if Knightmon comes in here and thinks we're his enemies!? Ryo: Huh? Oh, I never thought of that. Just don't pick a fight with him or anything. You know, stay out of his way. You'll be fine. (Ryo goes back to sleep) Kenta: Yeah, okay, but what if he has a bad night or if he, um... Ryo? Is he sleeping already? Kazu: He's either really brave or he's lost his marbles! Henry: I don't know. Maybe you need nerves of steel to survive this long in the Digital World. Takato: Obviously! Kazu: I don't know if I'm cut out for this.... Kenta: Me neither....

Juri expresses difficulty sleeping. Jeri asks Takato if he misses home to set up the next scene.

EN Knightmon mumbles to himself unintelligibly. JP Knightmon is silent but for the sound of their heavy metal footfalls.

JP Ryō assures the team that Knightmon's harmless and then zonks out. EN Ryo adds that Knightmon's looking for foes to decapitate, then admits that he's never considered the idea that he might become a target; This makes him look stupid and reckless, rather than coming off as an experienced ace like JP Ryō does.

In the process, Kenta's point about Knightmon resembling a ghost gets dropped.

As the others eventually fall asleep, Takato lies awake.

He sits up, picking up his rucksack from beside his bed. Opening the pack, he reveals a flashlight and compass as well as a yellow tenugui with the word "KEEP" written on it; These are small towels with a variety of uses such as wrapping a bentō, wearing it as a headband, or using it as a hand towel.

Takato: I haven't used these much. Was there even any point in bringing them?

Considering what we just learned, one can ask the same about all the food we packed and then immediately lost. The Tamers geared up for way more of a survivalist experience than their setting's Digital World has actually provided.

Looking inside his empty pack, Takato suddenly notices that there's a yellow square of cloth sewn into the bottom of it.

Takato: Huh? What's this for?

He peels off the cloth to reveal a folded letter and a purple お守り omamori pouch; A protection charm imploring a Shinto kami or Buddhist deity to bless its bearer with safety and good fortune.

In the dub:

Takato: (thinking) Now why can't I sleep? (Shot of Kazu and Kenta) Takato: (thinking) A typhoon couldn't wake them up! (sigh) I wonder if I brought something to read? (Takato opens his pack) Takato: (thinking) Gosh, look at all this stuff. Why'd I pack this? We don't need a flashlight; We need a miracle! Huh? Wait a minute, what's that? Takato: I didn't put that there. (Takato peels off the yellow square) Takato: (thinking) A good luck charm?

Dub Team also seems to have noticed that the show forgot Hirokazu and Kenta's running gag. They try to put it back in right here, though the last scene already demonstrated that they can't sleep through a typhoon tonight.

JP Takato doesn't offer a specific reason for why he's going through his pack. EN Takato uses his inner monologue to say he's looking for a book to read.

EN Takato explains that the omamori is a good luck charm for the benefit of an American audience that wouldn't otherwise know what that was.

Takato takes the letter out of his pack, opening it up to read. While he reads it, a sad instrumental of Biggest Dreamer plays quietly in the background.

Takato: Mom.... Yoshie (V.O.): Takato, I don't know if you'll ever find and read this letter. However, I'm worried that I may not be able to say "Itterashai" to you so I've decided to write this.

While Takato reads, we pan up to see the Real World hanging in the sky above.

Yoshie (V.O.): I remember the day you were born as if it were only yesterday.

Then we transition to Shinjuku proper in the Real World; The Metropolitan Government Building clearly visible against the night sky.

Yoshie (V.O.): You were such a big baby, and it made your delivery into a whole ordeal.

At Matsuda Bakery, Takehiro brings a tray of bread upstairs from the kitchen. He notices a light coming out of Takato's room; Inside, Yoshie is nostalgically going through Takato's belongings.

Yoshie (V.O.): And yet before I knew it, you'd already grown up so much. How quickly time flies....

In Takato's room, Yoshie gets up off the floor and pulls back the blanket of his bed. She finds a shirt he left there

Yoshie (V.O.): I've tucked an omamori pouch in with this letter.

Yoshie picks up the shirt, holding it up to her face and trembling with implied crying.

Yoshie (V.O.): I believe in you, of course. This is just a prayer from your foolish and worried mother.

Outside Takato's room, Takehiro watches silently. A closeup of the tray in his hands reveals that he's made just what he promised. Takehiro has a freshly baked batch of Guilmon Bread.

Yoshie (V.O.): Even if it's too late to say it now, itterashai.

Finally, back in the Digital World, a single teardrop falls onto the omamori pouch now clutched in Takato's hand.

Yoshie (V.O.): Come home safe and sound. Takato: ...Mom....

Okay, a few things.

First off, according to the kanji on the front, the charm Yoshie packed with the letter is a 厄除 yakuyoke.

There are many kinds of omamori for many different kinds of blessing you might wish to receive. The yakuyoke is pretty much what you'd imagine a talisman like this to be for: It's for warding off evil spirits and keeping its bearer safe from harm.

Easy to see why Yoshie would choose this particular omamori for Takato's journey.

Second is that phrase, Itterashai. We've talked about some of the customary phrases for various things in Japan before but as a refresher: When leaving your home or workplace or somewhere else you frequent often, it's customary to say Ittekimasu which means "I am leaving with intent to come back". The person you're speaking to then says Itterashai which means "Please leave and return."

When the Tamers were getting ready to go to the Digital World, there was an eerie sense of finality weighing on them. They were going to a place no one has ever been to before with no idea of if it will be possible for them to come back, something that affected Juri especially.

But Yoshie rejects that finality.

There are a lot of ways to say goodbye in Japanese. Some carry an indication of finality, that this is the last time you'll ever see each other again. Some are ambiguous in their meaning, leaving the door open for whatever happens. Some are casual partings for people you know you'll see tomorrow.

Yoshie says none of these to Takato here in her letter. What she says is "Please leave and come back", as if Takato were merely going off to school or going to play in the park. No matter what happens, she expects him to come home.

In the dub:

(Takato opens the letter) Takato: From Mom.... Yoshie (V.O.): Dear Takato, there's so much I wanted to tell you before you left but there wasn't time, so I'm writing this letter to tell you how proud your father and I are of you. (Pan up to the Real World) Yoshie (V.O.): It seems like only yesterday you were a little baby putting spinach up your nose. You always knew how to make me laugh! But look at you now. So independent and so brave! (Shinjuku) Yoshie (V.O.): I know I've been hard on you sometimes, telling you to get your head out of the clouds and into your school books. (Takehito comes upstairs and sees Yoshie in Takato's room) Yoshie (V.O.): But the truth is, I love everything about you, even the quirky parts! You get that from your father. (Yoshie pulls back the blanket) Yoshie (V.O.): I'll make you a deal. I won't worry myself sick over you if you promise me you'll come home safe and sound. (Yoshie picks up Takato's shirt and cries into it) Yoshie (V.O.): Lots of love, Mom. (Takehiro watches with Guilmon Bread) Yoshie (V.O.): P.S. The Guilmon Bread still needs a little work! (Takato cries onto the omamori) Yoshie (V.O.): P.P.S. The lucky charm carries all my love with it. We miss you, son. Takato: Thank you, Mom.

Tonally, the dub letter is way more upbeat and positive than the original letter. JP Yoshie's letter is a somber expression of her worry, grief, and hope for Takato's return. EN Yoshie's letter is a love-bomb of boundless encouragement and support, which doesn't quite match the visual of Yoshie weeping into Takato's shirt.

There's a striking tonal difference between

-> Please don't think this protection charm means I don't trust you; It's just a prayer from your foolish and worried mother. -> I'll make you a deal! You tell me you'll be fine and I won't worry a second about it!

The dub letter also says that the Guilmon Bread still needs work which. Like. Yeah, I'd imagine so, given that she wrote this letter the night before he left, when Guilmon Bread was still just an idea in Takehito's head. What a weird detail to include.

This letter doesn't have "I'm writing this to say goodbye in case I can't do it in person" energy.

It has "So you've been gone a week. How's the Digital World? Things back home are pretty great," energy. Like she wrote and mailed it to him just this morning. And expects return correspondence judging from the "I'll make you a deal" bit?

Suddenly, a voice pierces the darkness. Takato isn't the only person awake. In fact, he was warned that he wouldn't be, so this is on him.

Juri: Takato-kun?

Realizing that Juri's sitting up and watching up, Takato quickly wipes the tears from his eyes.

Juri: What's wrong? Takato: It's nothing. Juri: You can't sleep? Takato: Yeah... Kind of. I'm okay. Juri: ... Takato: ... Juri: Were you crying? Takato: (defensive) Yeah, right. Like I'd be crying....

Takato's being a little surly here. Yoshie's letter made him vulnerable, and the realization that Juri's seen him this vulnerable is making his walls slam shut. But Juri slips on her shoes and approaches him anyway.

Juri: Is that an omamori? Takato: It was in my rucksack. Juri: From your mom? Takato: Yeah. Juri: She must be worried about you. Takato: Yeah.

Finally, Takato opens up, looking up at Juri with a smile.

Takato: It's fine, though! I'm sure I'll get home safe and sound! We just need to hurry up and find Culumon! Juri: ( ^ᴗ^) Yeah! Takato: ( °_°) ....

Takato stares silently at Juri's big, sweet smile for a couple seconds before he finds the nerve to say something.

Takato: Um, Katō-san...? Juri: Yes? Takato: I'm glad that you became a Tamer and came on this adventure with us!

Good job, Takato! We cut to commercial here on him figuring out how to flirt with his crush.

He's taking a mulligan on his fuck-up when he tried to flirt with Juri back in the fast-travel cube room. Back then, he'd told her, "I'm sorry you became a Tamer and came on this adventure," and she was like, "Fuck you talking about; My choice, my Digimon!" That was a foot delivered straight into mouth.

Here, he basically says the same thing but in a celebratory tone rather than an apologetic one. Much better.

In the dub:

Jeri: Takato? Takato: Hm? (Takato wipes his eyes quickly) Jeri: Are you alright? Takato: Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Jeri: Well, you don't look fine. Takato: I, uh, just have trouble sleeping. I-I think it's 'cause I've got something in my eye. Jeri: Are you crying? Takato: (defensive) No, of course I'm not! (Jeri slips on her shoes and walks over to Takato's bed) Jeri: Takato, what is that? Takato: It's just something that my mother gave me. Jeri: Is it for luck? Takato: Uh-huh. Jeri: I bet she misses you a lot. Takato: She does. (Takato cheers up) Takato: But I'll see her soon! All we have to do first is find Calumon! And once we do that, then we can all go home! Jeri: ( ^ᴗ^) Ehehehehehe! Takato: ( °_°) .... Jeri: What'd your mom think if she saw you with Cyberdramon? Takato: Are you kidding me!? I'd be grounded 'til I was a hundred! Both: Ahahahahaha! Takato: You know what, Jeri? Jeri: What? Takato: I'm really glad you came along. Jeri: Hehe, me too.

The dub also takes its second commercial break here.

EN Takato isn't as closed off and defensive as JP Takato is. He's more open to using his words and chatting with Jeri, though he does still deny crying.

The final exchange between Takato and Jeri is, like the rest of this whole Mom's Letter sequence, more upbeat and positive than the somber, quiet scene of the original. It does understand its main assignment, however: Let Takato and Juri/Jeri have a moment of pure shippiness.

Following the commercial break, the sky turns to day over the desert world. Poor Culumon is still wearily trudging through the dirt, trying to get away from Dogmon.

Culumon: Ugh, I'm so tired-culu. Why-culu...?

Culumon's legs give out and they faceplant into the dirt, stopping there to rest.

A moment later, an awfully familiar motorcycle pulls up in front of Culumon.

Culumon: Huh...?

Culumon looks up to see Beelzebumon astride the cursed motorcycle looking down at them.

Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) .... Culumon: Huh? Who are you-culu? Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) ....

Suddenly, Culumon bounds to their feet with renewed vigor and extends their ears.

Culumon: Oh, that's right! Culumon wants to ask you something-culu! Do you know Takato and Guilmon-culu?

Culumon pulls the scrap of the flag he's used for his cape around so that Beelzebumon can see Guilmon's face and what part there is of Renamon's.

Culumon: Takato made this flag-culu. Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) ....

Beelzebumon says nothing. Having come to a decision, they rev their engine and drive off, kicking up a cloud of dust that engulfs Culumon.

Culumon: (cough cough cough) That's a Digimon of few words-culu. There's so many different kinds of Digimon-culu.

Suddenly, their eyes shoot open as they realize what this means. The awful truth that this parting has revealed to them!

Culumon: (gasp) Now Culumon is ALL ALONE AGAIN-CULU!!!

NOOOOOOOOO

Culumon deflates once more, resuming their trek through the isolated wasteland.

Culumon: So lonely... I'll just have to keep looking for Takato and the others-culu....

Poor, poor Culumon.

This is an interesting exchange because on the one hand, Beelzebumon sorta works for God and the Devas, right? He made a pact with God and all that.

But his pact only entailed defeating Guilmon and the other Partner Digimon. He never agreed to captured Culumon for them.

He also didn't exactly dive into fighting Guilmon and the others with gusto back in the Tsuchidarumon episode either.

So while it's hard to know exactly what Beelzebumon is thinking right here, you can kinda see the gears turning. Like. This is it. This is what the Devas are after. The Devas want Culumon. God and Catsuramon would want him to grab Culumon and bring them in.

But the decision he makes here is to just keep driving and pretend he never saw Culumon, offering neither help nor harm. It's a very neutral choice. A very Impmon choice.

In the dub:

Calumon: Must keep going... Don't want to be doggy chow... Calumon is brave... Calumon doesn't give up! Calumon is (facepalnt) toast! (Beelzemon's motorcycle pulls up) Calumon: Huh...? Hi...? (Calumon looks up and sees Beelzemon) Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... Calumon: Um... Could you help me, oh please, oh pleeease? Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... (Calumon gets up suddenly) Calumon: I'm lost and I'm trying to find my friends! I can show you a picture of them. (Calumon shows Beelzemon the cape) Calumon: I know they all look kinda fuzzy but if you squint and use your imagination.... Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... (Beelzemon drives off) Calumon: (cough cough cough) Ohh... Hello? ...aww, nuts. Well, I guess that's a big no. But he didn't have to go and make the air all coughy! (Calumon looks up suddenly) Calumon: Oogh! If Takato doesn't find me soon, that silly monkey will. Or Doggymon! Why's everyone here so mean? (Calumon deflates and starts walking again) Calumon: Gotta keep going like a train. Chugga-chugga-chugga....

"Calumon is toast" got me. XD

I'm so, so glad that they didn't give Beelzemon any dialogue here and let his stone-faced silence transfer across.

When showing Beelzemon the cape, Calumon says his friends "all look kinda fuzzy" but only one and a half friends are visible in that image.

The more pressing concern, Calumon, is that the flag has been utterly destroyed such that you're missing most of the people you're asking Beelzemon about. That's kind of a bigger deal than the drawing being "fuzzy".

A couple funny bits are lost here. FIrst, Culumon asks Beelzebumon if he knows Takato and Guilmon, identifying them by name. After Beelzebumon leaves, Culumon describes him as 無口な mukuchina, meaning quiet, reserved, taciturn, someone who's hard to read because they keep their feelings to themselves and speak very little.

There's a lot of dramatic irony in these statements. First, because Beelzebumon does know Takato and Guilmon. Culumon has no way of knowing that, but Beelzebumon doesn't actually need to see a picture of them; He in fact knows them by name.

And second, knowledge of exactly who evolved into Beelzebumon makes the description of him as mukuchina very funny. But the dub drops that in favor of saying that Beelzemon "made the air coughy".

We also lose the sad yet hilarious moment where Culumon shrieks at the top of their lungs out of sheer frustration over being constantly alone here.

In its place, Calumon expresses worry about Makuramon and Dogmon, or "Doggymon" as the dub calls him.

"Doggymon" may be a product of the kana used to spell his name. With the exception of 'n', ending a word on a hard consonant isn't a thing in Japanese; Nearly all kana combine a consonant and vowel sound. So English words with hard consonant endings have particular ways of getting Katakanized.

Dogmon in Katakana is spelled ドッグモン Doggumon. It's just a hop, skip, and a jump from there to Doggymon.

As for "Chugga-chugga", this might be the first time Calumon's ever made use of Culumon's onomatopoeia trait!

In the abstract world, Ryō brings the Tamers to a spiral stairwell leading down into a black abyss.

Takato: A stairwell? Ryō: We're going down here. Jianliang: Huh? Shouldn't we go up? Ryō: Even though you can see the Real World up there, we still need to go down these stairs. Juri: That's hard to believe. Ryō: You'll see once we get there.

Without another word, Ryō and Cyberdramon approach the stairwell.

Hirokazu: Hang on! We're coming too!

Despite their reservations, the Tamers follow after Ryō.

What Ryō's saying doesn't make a lot of sense, but this is what he was alluding to when he told Ruki and the others last episode that you can't reach the Real World just by going up.

The Digital World does not make geographical sense because it's not a world. It's a network of worlds like different maps of a video game, which are connected by entrances and exits.

The Real World hangs in the sky above all worlds but that's just, like, aesthetic design. It's not really there. Even if you can fly, you can't get there from here by going up. How you actually get there is a mystery to everyone, and rumors abound. But it's not as simple as "Fly up to that sphere in the sky which is a real place in a geographically sensible reality."

To return to the desert map, the world closest to the Real World, we need to pass through the "loading screen" so to speak that is going down these stairs. That will take us from this map to that map.

Everything about the mechanics here, from Digimon gaining XP to food being optional to the unrealistic day/night cycle to the world being a set of maps separated by entrances and exits, is all the language of a video game. The Digital World is a giant video game.

In the dub:

Ryo: Come on, you guys. These stairs will take us to another plane in the Digital World. Kenta: Why bother? There probably won't be any cool Digimon there either.... Kazu: Yeah! The Digimon we've seen are all either freaky or creepy! Terriermon: Sounds like the two of you. Kazu: Hey! Ryo: Well, you can stay here if you want. With Knightmon. (Ryo starts walking) Kazu: Since you put it that way, come on! (The Tamers follow) Henry: You sure have a way with words, Ryo.

The dub skips the debate about the metaphysics of the Digital World. Ryo says the stairs will take us to "another plane" of the Digital World and everyone accepts what that means without question.

Cutting out the actual content of this scene then provides a new opportunity for Kazu and Kenta to be goobers. I feel like Dub Team's been doing a lot of that lately. Quite a few changes to recent episodes boil down to finding places to let Kazu and Kenta be goobers.

Indeed, the earlier decision in this episode to make Jeri the nag instead of Kenta may have been about letting Kazu and Kenta have a Goober Moment instead of a serious disagreement between them about their silly priorities.

Mind, they're goofy characters even in the original, so it does make sense that the jokey dub's latched onto them this way.

In the desert world, it's time for an impromptu music video! Over there, in the Addendum!

Culumon: Chobo chobo chobo chobo

A dust packet blows past, suddenly cheering Culumon up.

Culumon: Culuculu!? What's going on!? Where are you going-culu!? Culumon's coming too-culu!

Culumon promptly forgets their troubles and chases after the dust packet, rolling head over heels to copy it while beginning to sing their insert song.

A trio of Woodmon watch from atop a nearby rock.

Woodmon 1: Where'd that Digimon come from? Woodmon 2: No idea. Cute kid, though. Woodmon 1: I just hope they don't get lost.

Culumon keeps chasing the dust packet until soon they're joined by the glowing axolotls that previously set them free from Makuramon's cage.

Culumon: Let's all sing together-culu!

Culumon keeps singing until the sigil on their forehead activates. The path they've tread glows with the light of evolution, which turns into a blinding radiance.

Those three Woodmon from a moment ago witness this fountain of light emerging, and so evolve into a trio of Jureimon.

Jureimon 1: We evolved!? Jureimon 2: What the hell is going on!?

Culumon is just as lost as they are.

Culumon: Culu...? Kira kira...?

More Culumon onomatopoeia: Chobo chobo is basically "plip plop plip plop". Kira kira is the sound of sparkling or twinkling.

In the dub, Calumon has his own version of this song with its own Addendum.

Calumon: Chugga-chugga-chugga-- (Old data blows past) Calumon: Oh, what a pretty ball! Can I play with you? Can I? Can I? I know some really good games! WAIT FOR ME!!! (Calumon rolls in a ball after the dust packet) Calumon: Ahahahahahahaha! Whee! This is fun! Woodmon 1: Okay, what's up with the little guy? Woodmon 2: Beats me. Kids today are crazy! Woodmon 1: I've got two words for ya: Sunstroke! (Calumon sings his song until the doodle starts to glow) Calumon: What a pretty light! Woodmon Trio: Wow! (Woodmon all Digivolve into Cherrymon) Cherrymon 1: What happened!? Cherrymon 2: I don't know, but it felt great! Calumon: Wow! Did I do that?

Sunstroke is one word. I'm not sure if this is a mistake or if Woodmon 1 is supposed to be an idiot, as "I have [number] words: [wrong number of words]" is a stock American joke format for characters trying to sound smarter than they are.

It was especially popularized after Disney's Hercules in 1997 featured a character whose running joke was saying "I've got two words for you: [Some random number of words]!"

But sunstroke is a compound word, so it could easily be mistaken for actually being two words.

I'm going to put my money down on "intentional joke". In any case, most of what I have to say about this scene is in the addendums so let's move on.

The problem with setting off this bright glow of evolution's light is that it's visible from great distance. Makuramon takes notice immediately.

Makuramon: The light of evolution... The one who bears evolution's radiance must be in that direction! Hurry!

Meanwhile, just as Ryō said, descending the stairwell through the black void did indeed exit the team out into the desert world through an opening that just sits there in the air. A hole in space to move from one map to another.

Kenta: You were right. We are here. What a weird staircase....

The sound of the Dragon soaring through the air alerts Jian.

Jianliang: What's that?

The Tamers see the Dragon descending towards Culumon's evolution ribbon. Somehow, they also make out Makuramon on his head.

Juri: It's Makuramon! Takato: Culumon might be over there!

The Tamers run on foot to try and reach the ribbon as well.

At long last, Culumon has been located. Now it's a race to see who will reach them first!

In the dub:

Makuramon: Aha... Unless my eyes are deceiving me, that's the light of Digivolution! Get a move on! (Tamers enter the desert) Takato: Nothing out of the ordinary here. Just sand and more sand. (Henry hears Majiramon) Henry: Huh? (Henry turns and sees Majiramon) Henry: And a thirty-foot flying dragon! Jeri: It's Makuramon! Takato: I bet Calumon's nearby! (Tamers run for the Digivolution ribbon) Kenta: Last one there has to wrestle the dragon!

Again, the dub skims over how weird the map transitions are.

Will the Tamers reach Culumon before Makuramon does, or will Makuramon claim his prize? The race is on!

It does not go well! Everybody loses!

Culumon: Kira kira? So much kira kira!

The axolotls notice the Dragon coming before Culumon does. They turn and flee.

Culumon: Culuculu? Where are you going-culu? I want to play some more-culu!

Culumon chases after the axolotls as the Dragon comes overhead.

Makuramon: Where is the bearer of evolution's radiance?

Good question, but Makuramon's not likely to find them. Culumon trips and rolls into a deep ravine.

Culumon: CULUUUUUU!!!

Culumon has no longer been located! So much for that!

In the dub:

Calumon: Whoa, it's as bright as a bug light. (Majiramon closes in) Calumon: And here come the bugs! (Axolotls flee) Calumon: Don't go! Please don't leave me! Come back! (Calumon chases the axolotls) Makuramon: Our little friend is close by; I can smell him! (Calumon falls into the ravine) Calumon: AHHHHHH!!!

In the original, the axolotls notice the Dragon but Culumon does not. Thus their departure confuses Culumon, who chases after them and ends up in the ravine.

In the dub, Calumon's notices and calls out Majiramon. He's fully aware that Makuramon's coming to get him, but then has to reset to Culumon's animation anyway.

As a result, for some reason, Calumon is still surprised when the axolotls flee from the obvious violent threat. Then he calls after them to come back here where the violence is about to happen.

With Culumon no longer here to be found, Makuramon arrives on the scene. The Dragon passes by near the Jureimon.

Makuramon: They're close. Scour the area quickly!

Makuramon looks down but, to his shock, he doesn't see Culumon but instead the Tamers down there, looking right back up at him.

Cyberdramon's tensed up and snarling, raring to go. He charges into battle without a word.

Ryō: Cyberdamon! Any time he sees a strong opponent, he stops listening to a word I say. I guess it can't be helped. Takato: He's challenging him!? Jianliang: That's so reckless!

And edgy! Cyberdramon is so Wolverine Archetype it hurts. It's 2001 and the 90's aren't dead yet, it seems.

In the dub:

Makuramon: Come out, come out wherever you are! (Makuramon notices the Tamers) Makuramon: It appears we have visitors! (Cyberdramon charges into battle) Ryo: Cyberdramon, come back! When Cyberdramon smells a fight, he's totally out of control. It's like I'm not even here! I don't exist! Takato: But that dragon's too powerful! Henry: Yeah, you're right!

I laughed inappropriately at "I don't exist!" That wasn't supposed to be a laugh line but it's just so whiny! XD

They had lip flaps for 仕方ない Shikatanai, the more formal version of the しょうがない Shoganai expression which means to accept things that are outside of your control, and they had to do something with them!

As Cyberdramon closes in on the Dragon, the battle begins.

Cyberdramon: ERASE CLAW!!!

Cyberdramon's Erase Claw hits the Dragon straight in the face, causing them to recoil from the heavy hit.

Makuramon: The actions of a fool may reduce that which has accumulated for one thousand years to grains of dust. Majiramon, annihilate him!

Translation: Cyberdramon is too stupid to be allowed to continue living. It would be for everyone's benefit if he died right now. It would actually be more harmful to society at large for us not to kill him!

Makuramon bounds off of Majiramon's head, getting out of the way of the fight that's about to happen. Majiramon flies straight up into the clouds, then rains glowing red arrows down on Cyberdramon.

It's not easy to tell since it just looks like a normal attack, but WIkimon assures me that these arrows are Majiramon's holy weapon. It's also not easy to tell that Cyberdramon's taking damage since the arrows seem to splash harmlessly off his hide, but he takes a knee nonetheless.

Ryō: CYBERDRAMON!!!

Majiramon descends from the clouds, swooping down for the kill. The other Digimon rush over to go back up Cyberdramon.

Leomon: Cyberdramon's in trouble! Guilmon: Takato! Takato: Right! Terriermon: Jian! Takato & Jianliang: CARD SLASH!!! CHŌ SHINKA PLUG-IN S!!!

As EVO starts to play, Growmon and Galgomon evolve to support Leomon and they attack Majiramon one after another.

Leomon: JŪOKEN!!! Terriermon: DUMDUM UPPER!!! Growmon: PLASMA BLADE!!!

Majiramon shrugs off everything they throw at him, not even flinching.

Takato: Their attacks had no effect!

Majiramon responds with firebreath, routing the Tamers' Digimon easily and chasing off the Jureimon trio as well.

Jianliang: He's too strong! Makuramon: Ahahahahahaha! Die, you fools! Kenta: Ahhhhhh he's coming this way!

Majiramon lands right in front of the Tamers, towering over them.

While Majiramon manhandles the Partner Digimon, Ryō fans his cards and selects one. Each shot of Ryō interrupts the music until he raises his card to Slash it, at which point EVO dies entirely, replaced by the Card Slash theme.

Hirokazu: What card is that!? Ryō: CARD SLASH!!! KING DEVICE!!!

King Device causes Cyberdramon to grow to a colossal size, matching Majiramon.

Takato: Cyberdramon.... Kenta: He became gigantic!

Cyberdramon grabs Majiramon by his right arm and then by his skull. Majiramon cries out in pain, but is unable to break Cyberdramon's grip. Cyberdramon hoists him up into the air, at which point Makuramon sees which way the wind is blowing.

Makuramon: I'm out of here!

Makuramon takes off just before Cyberdramon crushes Majiramon's skull, killing him. Majiramon disintegrates into pixel dust.

Triumphant, Cyberdramon roars, then reverts to normal size.

Juri: Scary.... Hirokazu: We won.... Kenta: Amazing.... Jianliang: Unbelievable... His strength is unbelievable! Ordinarily, if you grew to a size like that, your muscle strength wouldn't be able to keep up with your increase in weight! Takato: What card was that? Ryō: A Device card. They're essentially wildcards. Only the greatest of Tamers can master them.

In keeping with this being very much a Crossover Episode, Ryō gets to dunk on a Deva while all the main characters watch and go "Wow, our guest star is so cool!"

We can't exactly Matrix Evolve without Culumon here to power it so it's a good thing Ryō was here to kill this Deva for us!

In the dub:

Cyberdramon: DESOLATION CLAW!!! (Cyberdramon blasts Majiramon) Makuramon: Majiramon, I do believe that lizard in a tin can is trying to pick a fight with you. I'll just get out of the way while you reformat him! (Makuramon jumps off; Majiramon ascends into clouds) Jeri: What's he doing!? Takato: I don't think we want to find out!

The dub takes its third commercial break here, leaving you to stew on what he might be doing.

EN Makuramon doesn't even try to match JP Makuramon's level of pretentiously waxing poetic. He also dials down his language. JP Makuramon says 滅殺 messatsu which combines the kanji

滅 - Destroy, ruin, overthrow 殺 - Kill, murder

to basically mean "Murder him until nothing remains". JP Makuramon wants Cyberdramon eliminated with extreme overkill. He is very offended by Cyberdramon's stupid face.

EN Makuramon dials that back to "Reformat him" because we're on Fox Kids.

After the commercial break, Majiramon fires.

Majiramon: FLAMING ARROWHEADS!!! Henry: We have to do something! And quick! (Arrows pummel Cyberdramon and do more damage than it looks) Ryo: CYBERDRAMON!!! (Majiramon descends; Digimon go to help) Leomon: Hang on! We're coming! Guilmon: Takato! Takato: Yeah! Terriermon: Henry! Takato & Henry: DIGI-MODIFY!!! DIGIVOLUTION ACTIVATE!!! (Gargomon and Growlmon Digivolve) Leomon: FIST OF THE BEAST KING!!! Gargomon: BUNNY PUMMEL!!! Growlmon: DRAGON SLASH!!! (No effects) Takato: Man, he's not even slowing down! (Majiramon breathes fire) Henry: Got any ideas? Makuramon: Ahahahahahahahaha! I just love a good fire! Kenta: What happens now!?

What happens now is the Fox Kids censors thwap Makuramon on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper again and tell him he cannot tell all of these children to die.

(Majiramon lands) Kazu: I think this is the part where our lives flash before our eyes! Ryo: Ready? (Majiramon smacks Leomon away; Ryo fans his cards) Ryo: Set! (Majiramon smacks Gargomon away) Ryo: (thinking) Go! (Majiramon tosses Growlmon) Kazu: We're officially toast! Ryo: DIGI-MODIFY!!! GOLIATH ACTIVATE!!!

Since the dub doesn't have insert songs, they can't do the cool bit where Ryō keeps interrupting EVO until he's ready to switch tracks to Card Slash. It's replaced with Ryo shouting "Ready? Set! Go!" which pales in coolness comparison.

...why doesn't the Tamers dub have insert songs? The Adventure 02 dub had insert songs. They downgraded the production quality for this "season". Huh.

(Cyberdramon grows to massive size) Takato: I don't believe it! Kenta: That was some card! (Cyberdramon grabs Majiramon's arm) Takato: He's really putting the squeeze on him!

Speaking of the Fox Kids censors, they said nope to Cyberdramon grabbing Majiramon by the skull. It's censored with this hilarious still-frame of Makuramon looking like he's watching someone poop on his pancakes.

This is how all censorship should work from now on. Instead of doing the white flash, every time the censors don't like the violence, we should just cut to Makuramon staring at the scene with disapproval in his eyes.

He is now the face of censorship.

I don't even know what the point of this edit was. Cyberdramon lifting Majiramon by his skull and then crushing it and killing him is still there. It's just the closeup shot of grabbing his skull that got censored.

(Cyberdramon lifts Majiramon) Makuramon: I think that's my cue to beat it! (Makuramon flees; Cyberdramon kills Majiramon) Jeri: Awful.... Kazu: Awesome.... Kenta: Yeah... Oh man.... Henry: Unbelievable... No Digimon could go through such a drastic change and still fight so flawlessly! Those two really are the ultimate fighting combination! Takato: What card did you use? Ryo: It's a Goliath card. Kazu: Dude! I will trade you anything for that puppy! Ryo: Sorry, but only the most experienced Tamers can master this card.

Jianliang cites the square-cube law as his problem with King Device. Increasing Cyberdramon's size like this should have caused Cyberdramon to collapse and be crushed under his own weight.

Though it's not super clear why he thinks that would matter. We've seen plenty of gigantic Digimon that should not be biologically possible. What the hell is he on about?

Henry abandons this point and instead opts to shill Ryo and Cyberdramon as the coolest guys ever because Cyberdramon was still able to fight well after being size-increased.

It's not clear why he thinks this is a big deal either. Digimon increase in size all the time when they evolve. He's never called Guilmon and Takato the ultimate fighting combination because WarGrowlmon doesn't trip over his own feet and fall down.

JP Ryō explains that the King Device is a Device card. So far, we've been slashing Option cards and Digimon cards, so this introduces a whole new category of cards that the show may or may not decide to play around with going forward.

EN Ryo skips the new category and just says it's a Goliath card. It's special because it's Goliath, and Goliath is a special card.

Even though the fight is over, Cyberdramon isn't done yet. He turns away from the others, growling. Ryō realizes what's about to happen.

Ryō: Cyberdramon, wait!

In the dub:

Ryo: Cyberdramon, calm down!

Ryō flicks out the laser whip from his Digivice and lashes the ground next to Cyberdramon for some reason.

Takato: What's wrong with Cyberdramon? Ryō: He's itching for a fight. He wants to go find another opponent. Jianliang: Another opponent? Ryō: He has to keep fighting until his instincts are satisfied. That's the kind of Digimon that Cyberdramon is. When he gets like this, Cyberdramon can't be stopped. We'll have to part ways here. Takato: What? Ryō: You guys should go find that little Digimon called Culumon and save the Real World. Honestly, I wish I could help, but that won't be possible until his appetite is satisfied.

Cyberdramon runs off in search of his next foe.

Takato: U-Understood! Ryō: Oh, also, if you see Ruki, tell her I said hi! Takato: Huh? Uh... Okay!

Ryō bounds up on Cyberdramon's back and they run off to, uh... go murder some random Digimon for no reason but I guess we're not supposed to think too much about that. It's just how Digimon without Tamers are. C'est la vie.

Leomon: Cyberdramon will continue to fight until the day he vanquishes his old nemesis. If he never finds that nemesis, he will continue to fight forever. Juri: (sad) Forever...?

We close this episode here, as Leomon makes one last pitch for the audience to see Ryō and Cyberdramon as the coolest fucking guys ever and go buy Brave Tamer.

...

So. Uh. Not to be that guy but....

All Digimon want to keep fighting until their instincts are satisfied. It's been thoroughly established that this is what Digimon are. Battle is their nature.

It's just not their only nature. We see here in the Digital World that they can live in communities. By living in the human world with human Partners, they can also be friends with humans, though their battle instincts are still a core part of who they are as well.

Learning to balance their desire for battle with their ability to coexist in human society has been a major theme of the series thus far, central to Takato, Jian, and Ruki's experiences with their Partner Digimon. All of them, from separate angles, have had to figure out how to integrate their Digimon into the human world without suppressing or rejecting what makes them Digimon.

This is what the whole first arc of the show was centered on, and it's continued to be a talking point since.

We're supposed to take this as Cyberdramon being a super special Digimon who only a great Tamer like Ryō could possibly form a Partnership with. Brave Tamer would go on to establish that Millenniummon is part of his makeup and that's why he's like this.

But I'm just gonna put this out there.

Maybe Ryō's just not a very good Tamer.

Ryō gave up immediately on trying to coexist with Cyberdramon and moved to the Digital World to fight Digimon together. He's the only character who uses a whip to control his Digimon rather than seeking true Partnership with them. Right now Cyberdramon wants to go attack random Digimon and Ryō shrugs and goes "Guess I gotta let him do that!"

He's out there puffing out his chest like "Only the GREATEST Tamers can master Device cards!" as if he did anything more complicated than having a Device card in his possession and Slashing it like any other card. But he abandoned his life, abandoned his world, because he doesn't know how to temper Cyberdramon's battle lust or offer Cyberdramon anything else to be interested in besides battling.

Maybe Ryō is actually bad at this. He enables Cyberdramon's base instincts, doesn't even try to educate him, and keeps him only somewhat in check through violent control measures that create hostility and further encourage Cyberdramon to think only in terms of violence and power.

He just accepts uncritically that Cyberdramon is a brutal and bloodthirsty monster SO UNLIKE ALL OTHER DIGIMON that only a truly capable and MASTER TAMER can control, and then lets Cyberdramon do whatever and only occasionally uses violent force to steer his aggression.

Maybe, like the Device Card that "only a master Tamer can use", he just sucks at being a Tamer and is hyperbolically inflating his meager achievements.

I think that is a valid alternative interpretation to the takeaway they meant for us to have here.

In the dub:

Takato: Um, Ryo, is there something wrong with him? Ryo: He wants to continue fighting so he has no choice but to find another opponent! Henry: Yeah, but right now? Ryo: Fighting is in his blood!

Fighting is in every Digimon's blood. He's not special.

Ryo: It's the only thing he really hungers for! To him, battling that dragon was just a small appetizer! He won't stop until he's completely satisfied, and I have to go with him. Takato: Huh!? Ryo: I wish I could stay and help you find Calumon but I can't control Cyberdramon when he gets like this. Good luck defeating the Devas and saving the world! And who knows, maybe we'll meet again someday! (Cyberdramon runs off) Takato: Um, okay! Ryo: Oh, and say hi to that wildcat Rika for me! Ahaha! Takato: Uh... okay! Guilmon: Bye-bye! (Ryo jumps on Cyberdramon's back and they depart) Leomon: Cyberdramon won't find peace or satisfaction until he finds his ultimate enemy, and if he never finds that enemy, he may be doomed to keep fighting until the end of time. Jeri: How terrible.... Davis (V.O.): Man, Cyberdramon needs to take a cyber-chill pill! And will they ever see Ryo again? Keep watching Digimon: Digital Monsters.

"That wildcat Rika". Ick. Ick ick ICK.

Remember how Ruki hates Ryō's guts and that's been bothering him all episode? What happened to that? Why does he think "Say hi to Ruki for me?" is appropriate? That line was clearly put there just for some parting Ship Tease, but it's so weird in context.

Dub Team took that Ship Tease and bumped it up to outright flirting by proxy. They understood the assignment but the assignment is bad. What about the current situation between him and Rika makes him think this is an appropriate time to flirt by proxy with a girl who hates him?

What a douche!

The dub did age Rika up so the unsettling age gap of "We want you to ship this 10-year-old with this 14-year-old" isn't a factor. Agewise, EN Ryo is okay to flirt, and JP Ryō isn't technically flirting; There isn't anything necessarily wrong with "Say hi to her for me," just the weird shippy implications of why he'd suddenly bring that up.

But contextually, JP Ryō needs to be punched for this and EN Ryo needs to be stoned with rocks.

Davis knows better than to promise we'll see Ryo next episode, so once more the promise game is thwarted.

Assessment: So ends the Ryō crossover two-parter. Hopefully now we can get back to developing the characters who are actually a part of this show. Ryō and Cyberdramon have chafed against the very premise and themes of the series like sandpaper on skin. They've broken continuity to squeeze themselves in. These two episodes have focused predominately on shilling them as the coolest characters ever.

And now they conclude by flexing on all the Tamers, calling them amateurs, effortlessly slaughtering a Deva, and then running off to go uselessly be Infinite Badasses of Unfathomable Power somewhere that the plot isn't happening so their unapproachable levels of unbridled awesomeness don't ruin the plot.

Cool. Won't be damaging to the tension at all when we're fighting Makuramon to know that Cyberdramon could rip his head off in two seconds and then shit right into God's mouth, but he's not doing that because he's two miles away punching trees instead.

Oof. I hope Ryō's fans were happy with this crossover. He got to look really cool, dunk on all the protagonists, slay one of the villains, and flirt with the show's coolest female character on his way out the door. There's a lot of red meat here for Ryō fans to enjoy.

It just comes at the expense of all the show's actual characters.

[firebirdmaximus]

Wow you're late with this one... the way things were going I thought you weren't gonna end up discussing the next Tamers episode 'til tomorrow. I'm gonna hazard a guess that all the hullabaloo over July 4th is the reason you're posting this in the evening instead of the morning like you've usually been doing.

But I digress....

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Wait so if Guilmon knows what chocolate is and has tasted it before... does that mean Takato has been feeding Guilmon more than just bread in the Japanese version of the show?

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I think Chiaki Konaka confirmed in an interview?/his website? that it is indeed a reference to Millenniummon.

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Pretty much the latter, yeah.

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I know the implications is supposed to be that Kenta is asking because he wants his own cool Digimon partner like Cyberdramon.

But normally when someone ask's if a person has a twin brother it's normally because they're attracted to said person and want to date hypothetical twin brother as a substitute.

I doubt the dub meant to imply that Kenta was turned on by Cyberdramon....

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Am I the only one who finds it ironic that the Dog Deva is the one with Cat in it's name. I found that amusing even back when the show was airing when I was a kid.

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Funfact. But Cyberdramon was also a fan submission for the contest to design a new Digimon.

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Okay I get why they let Terriermon have a bed... but does Guilmon really need one, he's spent most of his life sleeping on the ground in a park shed without complaint so I would have thought he's have been fine with sleeping on the floor.

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Yeah weird thing but English Digimon media is inconsistent on that one's name it's either kept the same as Japanese as Dogmon, or it's changed to Doggymon.

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And yet he's not the one who shares a voice actor with Wolverine in the dub.

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I mean if you wanna be pedantic technically Digimon don't have blood... not the anime have been consistant with that.

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And that was Ryo & Cyberdramon's second episode... and as one of the link's I sent you specified it was originally supposed to be their last episode, with them only being in these 2 episodes.

But one of the executives wanted to see Cyberdramon's Mega Level form from Brave Tamer appear in the anime, so the 2 were brought back and ended up sticking around the remainder of the show.

So look forward to that.

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And this episode's dub is another one of the scripts written by Adele Lim.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Tamers 29 - This is a Haunted Castle! The Lost Culumon's Great Escape / Goliath

Previously on Digimon Tamers: Hirokazu and Kenta fucked up again. At her limit with their incompetence, Ruki fired them both. Fortunately, they landed on their feet, picking up new jobs as gofers for Akiyama Ryō of Adventure fame. I think they're gonna be alright.

We open with confirmation that the cube from last episode was transporting the Tamers to another world. The Tamers exit out into a strange black-and-white abstractionist environment.

Takato: Looks like we ended up in another weird place. Juri: Yeah, it's all so crooked. Jianliang: Where are we...? Terriermon: Mōmantai! It's the same place as everywhere: Somewhere in the Digital World!

Useful answer, Terriermon. Thank you.

In the dub:

Takato: What is the deal with this place? Jeri: Everything's warped! Takato: It's making me dizzy. Henry: Heh, everything makes you dizzy, Takato! I wonder if the data in this area is unstable? Terriermon: Mōmantai! This place is just another part of your friendly Digital dimension. You're not in Kansai anymore, you know.

Henry makes an odd accusation of Takato having an established character trait of being sickly like the Adventure dub's Joe.

Henry also offers some speculation about why the area looks like this, though the more likely answer is simply that it's comprised from data of a particular art style. There's a very M.C. Escher vibe to this place.

EN Terriermon makes a brilliant pun about the Kansai region of Japan. 10/10 Would pun again.

As the Tamers continue on, they come upon a tray of chocolates sitting out. The brown color of the chocolates stands out against the black-and-white backdrop.

Guilmon: Guil? Is this chocolate?

Guilmon picks up one of the chocolates and eats it, then grimaces with disgust.

Takato: What's wrong, Guilmon? Guilmon: It's sour! Terriermon: Let me try!

Upon hearing how disgusting the chocolates are, Terriermon hops up on the table and tries one himself. He promptly grimaces too.

Leomon, on the other hand, does not rush to eat the disgusting chocolate. Because he's an adult.

Leomon: Don't just eat whatever fits in your mouth. You have no idea what kind of data this is. Guilmon: ( ._.) You're right. You sure do know a lot, Leomon.... Terriermon: ( ._.) But there's no way to know what it tastes like unless you try it for yourself....

Guuuuuys

You're embarrassing us in front of the cool guy....

In Guilmon's defense, this is the first time he's ever been in the Digital World. Terriermon only gets half of that excuse, given that he was born yesterday like Guilmon but he at least came out of a video game, so he has some Digital World experience.

In the dub:

Guilmon: Oh, look! It's chocolate. (Guilmon eats one and grimaces) Takato: Guilmon, what's wrong? Guilmon: Not chocolate! Terriermon: Let me see! (Terriermon tries one) Leomon: You shouldn't eat everything you see, especially around here. Things aren't always what they seem to be. Guilmon: ( ._.) I can try, but when I see food, my brain shuts off. Terriermon: ( ._.) I don't believe this. I've finally become Guilmon....

JP Guilmon specifically states that the chocolates taste 酸っぱい suppai, which means sour and acidic. EN Guilmon only says that they aren't chocolate, offering no detail about what flavor prompted that reaction.

This in turn makes it a little more defensible that EN Terriermon hopped up and tried one too, to find out what caused Guilmon to make that reaction. JP Terriermon is just a dumb kid being a dumb kid.

JP Terriermon argues with Leomon and whines out a defense of shoving random things in your mouth. EN Terriermon cracks a joke at Guilmon's expense.

Suddenly, Takato hears voices approaching. Singing voices.

Takato: Huh? Someone's coming! Jianliang: Who could that be in a place like this? Juri: Maybe it's Ruki-chan's group!

She's right, sort of. Ruki isn't among them as established last episode, but Hirokazu, Kenta, and Ryō are heading up this way. Hirokazu and Kenta are the ones singing.

It's hard to make out exactly what they're singing but I think it's Otoko Shibuki/Manly Spray from episode 26.

Hirokazu: Yo, Takato! Fancy seeing you here! Takato: Hirokazu!

Hirokazu and Kenta run on ahead of Ryō and Cyberdramon to reunited with their friends.

Takato: I didn't think I'd run into you in a place like this! Jianliang: Good thing you were able to find this place.

Ryō and Cyberdramon approach from the rear.

Juri: Huh? Who's that? Hirokazu: I am so glad you asked! Allow me to introduce you! This is the legendary Tamer, Akiyama Ryō-san! Ryō: (embarrassed) Stop that. It's not a big deal. Takato: Eh? THE Akiyama Ryō!? For real!? Then that guy over there must be.... Ryō: My Partner Digimon Cyberdramon! Takato: Wow, I can't believe I'm seeing him up close!

Cyberdramon snarls, causing Takato to flinch and step back.

Takato: Wha--? Did I upset him? Ryō: Ehehe, don't worry about it. Cyberdramon is searching for his old nemesis. I doubt they're here, though.

Ryō puts a soothing hand on Cyberdramon's arm. Cyberdramon calms down and takes a knee. Further back in the group, Terriermon has questions.

Terriermon: Who's that? Jianliang: Akiyama Ryō, a Tamer who went missing after the Card Battle Tournament one year ago. There were rumors that he'd gone to the Digital World, but I never thought we'd actually meet him here....

Ryō continues to warp the internal logic of the show around himself. What do you mean there were rumors he'd gone to the Digital World? The Digital World was a secret known only to Hypnos until Vikaralamon blew it all wide open!

The show made a whole big thing in episodes 24 and 25 about how we'd be the first humans ever to set foot in the Digital World and now we're acting like everyone knows about this one kid who went to the Digital World last year.

Takato also acts like Cyberdramon is some kind of celebrity he's meeting.

The boys are straight-up treating Akiyama Ryō like he and Cyberdramon publicly fought Vamdemon in the middle of Odaiba or something. Like it's just common knowledge that he's a Tamer with a Partner Digimon who travels between the two worlds all the time.

This continues to be so "Crossover Episode" it hurts. The show does not know how it is possible for the Scooby Doo Gang to coexist with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it does not really care to try and offer a reasonable explanation.

The whole "Cyberdramon is searching for his longstanding archenemy" thing is probably a reference to Millenniummon, the overarching antagonist of all of Ryō's games.

Fitting the crossover vibe, this doesn't feel like a plot point that's meant to be elaborated on in the show. Ryō's dropping in to advertise how cool his video games are, so you're presumably meant to buy Brave Tamer to learn more about this.

That's also probably why this episode and the last are bending over backwards to shill him so hard. Once Takato and the others part ways with him, they will continue to be characters of this show, but sales of Brave Tamer may be affected by how cool Ryō looked in these two episodes.

There is a very transparent and cynical marketing value to having all of the characters drop to their knees and praise Ryō as the greatest Digimon character ever conceived. His next video game drops in two months. And it seems this has taken precedent over making this crossover make any amount of sense whatsoever.

Though Brave Tamer would then awkwardly indicate that Millenniummon isn't out there to be found because they're a part of Cyberdramon himself. So either I'm missing my mark about Cyberdramon's longtime rival, or it's just another instance of the game and anime crews not bothering to shore up their continuity between each other.

In the dub, Takato hears Kazu and Kenta talking rather than singing.

Kenta: (disappointed) Where are all the Digimon? Kazu: (unintelligible because everyone talks over him) Takato: Someone's coming! Henry: Well, whoever it is sure is chatty. Jeri: Maybe it's Rika and the boys! Takato: I see the boys but that doesn't look like Rika. (Kazu, Kenta, and Ryo approach) Kazu: Hey-hey-hey! We have returned! Takato: It's about time! (Kazu and Kenta go ahead and meet with the others) Takato: You had us worried! Kazu: Yeah, we ran into some trouble. Nothing I couldn't take care of! (Ryo and Cyberdramon bring up the rear) Jeri: Who is that? Kazu: That, my friends, is the legendary Tamer Ryo! Kenta: He rocks! Kazu: If Tamers were cars, he'd be the monster truck. Ryo: (embarrassed) Aw, come on. I wish you guys wouldn't say that. Takato: Wow, I can't believe it's really you! Don't tell me that's your Partner? Ryo: Yeah. That is Cyberdramon. Takato: Awesome! Nice to meet you, fella. (Cyberdramon snarls; Takato flinches) Takato: Yeah, I don't think he likes me very much. Ryo: Ehehe, don't take it personally. He's not the socializing kind. He's really just a puppy on the inside once you get to know him. Terriermon: Puppy, huh? I'll believe it when I see it! (Cyberdramon takes a knee) Terriermon: Who's Ryo? Henry: He's the famous Tamer who disappeared after winning a major Digimon tournament. Some think he's the greatest Tamer of all time. Terriermon: He must be to keep Cyberscarymon there under control. That Digimon looks meaner than Rika! Henry: Try not to provoke him. Terriermon: What? Me? Never!

Kazu continues to be an arrogant blowhard.

Kazu introduces Ryo by first name only which sounds awkward to my ears.

The dub changes up quite a bit about Ryo's introduction here. First, they drop the mention of Cyberdramon's nemesis. It hasn't been dropped completely because it was mentioned last episode, but they cut it out of his intro here.

It's replaced by another "Digimon as housepets" bit, which are already a little grating with the way they're used to hold Guilmon back from his character development but hit really weird when applied to higher-level Digimon than the Child/Rookie level. It feels infantilizing to call Cyberdramon a "puppy on the inside".

They also drop the inconsistent and problematic detail about Ryō being rumored to have gone to the Digital World. The dub here says only that Ryo went missing, and then Henry and Terriermon banter over the rest of their dialogue.

Similarly, Takato's excitement to meet Cyberdramon is subtly changed from "I can't believe I'm seeing him up close!" to "It's nice to meet you", making it seem less like Cyberdramon is somehow a known element he's been both aware of and in awe of for a long time.

These tweaks make Ryo's introduction here fit better into continuity than it does in the original.

Now that Ryō's been introduced, Juri asks about the elephant in the room.

Juri: Hang on... Hey, what happened to Ruki-chan? Kenta: Ruki got upset and went off on her own. Juri: Huh? She's alone? Kenta: Yeah.... Takato: Hirokazu, you didn't say something stupid to piss her off, did you!? Hirokazu: N-No, I didn't!

He did.

Ryō: It was probably my fault.... Hirokazu: Th-That's not true at all! It's not your fault, Ryō-san!

It is.

Jianliang: Did something happen? Kenta: Hirokazu kept bragging about how much better Ryō-san is at Card Battling than Ruki is, and Ruki got upset. Takato: Yeah, that makes sense. Ruki has a lot of pride in her skills. Jianliang: She has Renamon with her, but I'm still worried. Juri: I wouldn't worry. I'm sure Ruki-chan will be fine. She's very strong, after all! Takato: You... you really think so?

I love how Takato hears that Ruki ran off in a huff and his first instinct is, "Hirokazu, what the hell did you do!?" He knows. He knows exactly whose fault this is. And he's right!

Also, aww, Juri has complete faith in Ruki's skills.

In the dub:

Jeri: Wait a minute, Kenta, how come Rika's not with you guys? Kenta: She got all mad and, you know, just took off. Jeri: She went off on her own? Kenta: Yeah. Takato: She wouldn't have done that unless one of you said something to make her really mad. Kazu: What're you looking at me for!? Ryo: Actually, I think all of this is my fault. Kazu: Hey, it's not your fault! It's her! Rika! She's nuts! Henry: Kenta, tell me what happened! Kenta: Kazu kept saying that Ryo's a better Tamer than she is and the only reason she's Digimon Queen is because Ryo wasn't around to kick her butt anymore. Takato: Way to go, Kazu; She's gonna be mad 'til the next millennium! Henry: This is really bad. It's dangerous out there. Something could happen to her! Jeri: But RIka's so strong and she has Renamon with her. I'm sure she'll be fine. Takato: Jeri's right! ...I hope....

The dub takes its first commercial break here.

EN Takato does not laser-focus in on Kazu as the guilty party. At least, not verbally, though as Kazu's next line demonstrates, he's still looking at Kazu when he says it.

Kenta claims that Kazu said that Rika only became Digimon Queen after Ryo disappeared. This is something he said... in the Japanese script. The dub script had Kazu say that Ryo got his reputation by beating the Digimon Queen, indicating that "Digimon Queen" was a title she held before he bested her. So that's a whoopsy-doodle.

Speaking of Ruki, she and Renamon are still tromping through snow in the clockwork world.

Renamon: It doesn't seem like we're going to find an exit. Ruki: Yes, we will. Renamon: Maybe we should have gone with Ryō. Ruki: Don't say that name! Renamon: Sometimes, I really have no idea what you're thinking, Ruki. Ruki: You don't need to understand! (quietly) Besides, it would just piss me off if you did.

Yep, she's still mad.

In the dub:

Renamon: Rika, we've been walking for hours. Rika: How observant, Renamon. What's your point? Renamon: Well, there's no sign of an exit and we still don't know where we're going. Not that I'm not happy to drag my tail in the sand all day, but don't you think we should have gone with Ryo? Rika: Oh, puh-leeze! That hack couldn't Tame his way out of a wet paper bag! Renamon: Just a suggestion....

It's been a while since we've heard from this particular character trait; I think episode 10 was when it came up previously? But Ruki can't stand people trying to get in her head. She prefers being considered mysterious and unknowable, and nothing pisses her off faster than claiming you know what she's thinking.

This part of their conversation is dropped from the dub.

EN Renamon says they're walking through sand. I took it to be snow but you know what, hourglass sand would make thematic sense here.

Back to the rest of the team in the abstract world.

Ryō: I think, if you stick around here, you'll probably run into Ruki again. But if you get caught up in one of those light pillars, there's no telling where you'll end up. So you should be careful. Jianliang: Yeah, we've had our fill of those. Ryō: How did all of you end up in the Digital World anyway? Takato: Oh, that's right! Ryō: Hm? Takato: Ryō-san, have you seen a small, white Digimon? Ryō: Huh? Small and white? Takato: Yes. It's this one.

Takato takes out his picture of Culumon to show to Ryō.

Ryō: Hmm... I haven't seen them. What kind of Digimon is this? Takato: This white one is called Culumon and apparently they hold the key to the Digimon's evolution. Ryō: This Digimon holds the key to evolution? Takato: That's why they were kidnapped by the Devas. We came here to find them. Ryō: Devas?

Why yes, we are putting the plot on hold for a moment so that we can explain to the video game fans who just showed up see Ryō animated why our anime is really cool and they should stick around and continue watching it.

This especially sticks out like a sore thumb in light of the fact that Hirokazu and Kenta already explained the plot to Ryō offscreen last episode, so it would be reasonable for him to already know this.

In the dub:

Kazu: Hey Ryo, how about some pointers on being a bodacious Tamer? Kenta: Where'd you get your radical outfit? Kazu: Outfit shmoutfit; Where'd you get Cyberdramon!? Kenta: Yeah! Does he have a twin brother or something? Jeri: Maybe we should ask Ryo about our mission? Henry: Finally, a reasonable suggestion. Ryo: That's right, I forgot to ask. Why are you guys in the Digital World? Takato: Oh yeah! Our friend Calumon was kidnapped and we're here to rescue him. You haven't seen him around, have you? Ryo: Around here? I don't know. What does he look like? Takato: Maybe this will help. (Takato shows Ryo the picture) Takato: He's a little guy who doesn't like to fight. Ryo: A Digimon that doesn't like to fight? Well, there's a first time for everything. Takato: He'd rather eat his way through cream puffs. There's something about him that helps other Digimon Digivolve. Ryo: So who do you think might have kidnapped him? Takato: The Devas! They're not the friendliest folk so we gotta find him before anything bad happens! Ryo: The Devas?

JP Ryō points out that sticking around here will be the Tamers' best shot at finding Ruki. He doesn't elaborate, but he suggested last episode that this is the only exit from the clockwork world so he seems to be banking on her eventually making her way here.

The dub drops this topic so that Kenta and Kazu can banter about how cool Ryo is.

JP Takato describes Culumon as small and white first before showing Ryō the picture. EN Takato offers no leading description, just saying "Have you seen Calumon?" as if Ryo's supposed to know who that is.

After showing the picture, however, EN Takato does bring up that Calumon doesn't like to fight. Considering how unique that makes him, this is a useful detail that JP Takato overlooks.

Next, Takato shows Ryō his picture of Makuramon.

Takato: This is one of the Devas.

Flashback to Makuramon snatching Culumon away from Juri, followed by Vikaralamon's rampage.

Takato (V.O.): He snatched Culumon, but we don't know much about what he really he. He just kept rambling about complicated things like "our God" and stuff. Jianliang (V.O.): The Devas went on a rampage in the Real World. Ryō (V.O.): Wait, is Japan okay? Takato (V.O.): Meiji-dori in Shinjuku was completely wrecked. Ryō (V.O.): I live in Fukuoka over in Kyushu. What's it like over there?

Don't worry, Ryō. There's a good chance that your home survived Vikaralamon's rampage. Solid 6 out of 10 odds.

(End Flashback) Takato: Nothing happened over there. It was just Shinjuku. Ryō: Whew... So that's how it is. I haven't been home in a long time. I wonder how my family's doing?

What a weird-ass question for Ryō to ask. What do you mean, you wonder how your family is doing? Aren't you from the Adventure universe? Why would you have family here!?

I've said it before but again, this crossover really only makes sense if you presume this is some kind of Tamersverse AU Ryō and not the official video game Ryō despite the franchise's insistence that they're the same.

While Brave Tamer would explain how Ryō crossed over, to my best knowledge it does not offer any explanation for how he acquired a new set of parents to then immediately abandon.

And the thing is, it's not like his Tamersverse parents are plot-critical. We are not going to go in detail about them in this episode. They could have avoided this entirely by just not having him talk about his home and family here.

Ryō's ability to just disappear into the Digital World for ten months would make way more sense if he really was a cosmic orphan with no roots in this universe; No home to go back to, no school to attend, no semblance of a normal life anywhere because he does not belong to this reality. It would be super easy for Crossover Ryo to just peace out from the Tamersverse Real World and not be missed.

But no. He explicitly confirms that he has a family in Fukuoka wondering where he disappeared to, that he is a real Tamersverse person born in this world who really did go Missing Persons on his whole family and life for Cyberdramon, and we are not going to talk about it in any detail. That's wild.

It's so wild that it almost makes me forget what I wanted to point out, which is that we are putting the plot on hold for a moment so that we can explain to the video game fans who just showed up see Ryō animated why our anime is really cool and they should stick around and continue watching it. With clips of past Deva fights so they can see how cool it is.

As is often the nature of crossovers, for as much as Ryō is here as a living commercial for his video games, we are also advertising the show itself to Ryō's fans too. We want Tamers fans to buy Brave Tamer and we want Ryō fans to watch more Tamers episodes.

In the dub:

Takato: Here's one of them. They serve someone called the Digimon Sovereign. (Flashback) Takato (V.O.): This one, Makuramon, was the Digi-napper! We tried to stop him but that monkey was too quick. Before we knew it, he escaped to the Digital World. Kazu (V.O.): Those Devas are totally out of control! Henry (V.O.): You should see the destruction they caused back home. Jeri (V.O.): I was more terrified than I've ever been. Kenta (V.O.): That pig Deva was like a giant backhoe! Well, with a snout. Takato (V.O.): We finally stopped it, but not before it wrecked a lot of the city. If they Digivolve, they'd be unstoppable. (End Flashback) Ryo: I see. Then I think we should rescue your friend as soon as we possibly can!

The dub scrubs this dialogue of all references to specific places. No mention is made of Ryo living in Fukuoka or of the damage being localized to this one street in Shinjuku.

In the original, the flashback is a conversation between Takato, Jian, and Ryō. In the dub, Ryo stays silent while Takato's whole crew takes turns explaining the flashback to him.

Enough about Ryō. Kenta lets out a scream all of a sudden.

Kenta: AHHH!!!

Ahead in the road are five scarecrow Digimon swaying gently.

Jianliang: Digimon!?

The Tamers and their Digimon brace for a fight.

Ryō: These Digimon don't do anything. They just stand there, swaying back and forth like this. Juri: ...they're kinda creepy....

Ryō's right; These Digimon aren't going to do anything. There is no twist and this is the last we'll see of them this episode. They don't even get scanned.

But for our reference, these are Nohemon. They're Wormmon's Armor Evolution through the Digimental of Purity/Sincerity, sneaking in another of those unused Armor forms.

Their name comes from the word へのへのもへじ henohenomoheji, which is a type of children's drawing.

The henohenomoheji is a way of creating a face out of Hiragana lettering by each of those individual kana in order. If you look close, you'll see that Nohemon indeed has a henohenomoheji for a face.

In the dub:

Nohemon: CRAWWWW!!! Kenta: Ack! Where'd they come from!? Henry: Are they Digimon!? Leomon: Stay back. They could be dangerous. Ryo: Don't worry. These Digimon are harmless. It just takes a while to get used to the way they pop up like that. Kenta: I'm gonna have nightmares for weeks! Jeri: They give me the jeebies....

Because they never get scanned with the Digivices, there is no dub name for the Nohemon.

In the original, the Nohemon are completely silent but for the sound of their wood creaking as they sway in the wind, which is utterly fucking terrifying.

The dub has their crows constantly squawking, which is still pretty creepy.

Cut to Makuramon and the Dragon still searching for Culumon.

Makuramon: Catsuramon is trying to track down the bearer of evolution's radiance before we can. We must find them as soon as possible.

Okay, we need to talk about another Digimon name. Catsuramon is the Dog Deva we saw earlier, who made the deal with Impmon.

Their name, as usual, comes from the Sanskrit name of the Heavenly General Catura, pronounced (to my best understanding) as "Cha-too-rah". In Japanese, this is spelled:

チャ Cha トゥ Tu ラ Ra

However, for some reason, the Dog Deva is named Catsuramon.

チャ Cha ツ Tsu ラ Ra

Which is also how Makuramon pronounces it. "Cha-tsu-ra-mon".

Weird.

In any case, we're down to the wire on Devas now. Makuramon, Catsuramon, and the Dragon are the last Devas standing, save for the open question of whether Andiramon will be involved in some way. Terriermon's counterpart is the only Heavenly General yet to be introduced as a Deva now.

In the dub:

Makuramon: Majiramon, would you step on it!? We have to find that no-good runt before Catsuramon does! He can't have gone too far on those stuffy little legs. I will not be humiliated by a knee-high rodent!

EN Makuramon adds Majiramon's name drop to this scene.

The dub pronounces Catsuramon with a hard "Kuh". That's an easy mistake to make. It's how I might have expected it to be pronounced if I just read it written out.

Leaving Makuramon behind, we find Culumon wandering in the desert world. They've thoroughly destroyed Takato's flag now to make it into a cape to wear.

Culumon: Pito pito pito pito pito.... Takato, Guilmon, where are you-culu? Culumon wants to find you soon-culu. Come find this flag-culu....

In the process of making their cape, Culumon seems to have ripped the flag off in the middle of Ruki and Renamon's faces, so all that's left is about 3/4 of those two plus Takato and Guilmon, with Culumon at the top. Either that or, due to Culumon's short height, most of the flag just got shredded from dragging on the ground.

Culumon slows to a stop.

Culumon: I'm getting a little tired-culu.... Culu?

Culumon hears footsteps approaching fast.

Culumon: Somebody's coming-culu!

Out of nowhere, a bizarre cartoon dog Digimon like something out of Tom and Jerry or Looney Tunes comes racing across the desert, kicking up dust. They stop in front of Culumon with a cartoony screech.

Culumon: Culu!? Um, um, do you know Takato-culu!? Please tell me if you know him-culu!

Without warning, the dog starts rapid-fire flicking little pellets into Culumon's face. Culumon flinches and covers their face.

Culumon: Ow! OW!!! That hurts-culu!

The dog laughs hysterically, pounding their fist on the ground.

Culumon: You're a mean Digimon-culu!

The dog stops suddenly, their eyes snapping open. They circle Culumon, sniffing them.

Culumon: Culu? What do you smell-culu? Dog: A cat! Culumon: A cat!?

Culumon sees where this is going. When the dog starts barking furiously, Culumon screams and runs for their life.

Culumon: AHHHHHH!!! STOP IT-CULU!!!

Nearby, a Gekomon and Otamamon watch all of this unfold, saying nothing.

Another Digimon we're not going to get an Analyzer screen for. This is Dogmon, an Adult-level Data-attribute Puppet-type Digimon. Dogmon was a fan submission for a contest to design a new Digimon. In succession, Dogmon was released in the TCG, as a boss fight for the D-Ark Digimon toy, and then debuted here in the show.

In the dub:

Calumon: Takato! Guilmon! Where are you? My tummy hurts, my feet hurts, my toes... well, I don't have any toes but if I did, they'd hurt! Oh, I wish I were back in the Real World where there are nice people and cream puffs.... When will someone find me? Dog: (distant) AROOOOO Calumon: Huh!? What's that? (Dog runs up) Calumon: Hello, Mr. Dog! I'm looking for Takato, Guilmon, and maybe a really big box of cookies! (Dog flicks seeds into Calumon's face) Calumon: Ow ow ow ow! (Dog laughs and pounds the ground) Calumon: Where I come from, we shake hands! (Dog sniffs around Calumon) Calumon: Wh-What are you doing now, huh? Dog: Ahhh... I smell lunch! Calumon: What's on the menu? Dog: (barking) You! You! You! YOU!!! (Calumon screams and flees) Calumon: BAD DOGGY!!! Uh, what I meant to say was nice doggy! NICE DOGGY!!! WHOAAAA!!!

Last episode, Calumon was more interested in Rika than in Guilmon, but it's a new episode so the dub rerails them back to searching for Takato and Guilmon.

Calumon brings up cream puffs here to harken back to the joke EN Takato made earlier.

JP Dogmon tells Culumon that they smell a cat. This is a reference to the iconic cartoon rivalry between cats and dogs.

EN Dogmon threatens to gobble up Calumon for lunch, which was implied in JP Dogmon calling Culumon a cat, but is directly stated without the flavorful dog/cat rivalry piece here.

Dog/cat cartoon rivalries aren't exactly an obscure concept to American children, so they probably changed this because they wanted to do the bit of Dogmon barking the word "You!" over and over.

Back in the abstract town, Ryō brings the Tamers to a secure resting place.

Juri: It's a castle... Check it out, Leomon! Leomon: Mhm. Ryō: We should be safe here. There's also a bedroom, which makes it a great place to stop and rest.

The Tamers enter the colossal estate. Overheard, through a skylight, the Real World can be seen. The sky darkens as the Digital World clicks over to night.

Takato: Night just fell. Juri: No matter how many times I see it, I never get used to that. Takato: Yeah.

Come to think of it, I wonder how many nights we've been here? Does every world have night at the same time? When Ruki and the boys were experiencing night in the clockwork world with Ryō, was it also night in the desert world for Takato's group? It didn't seem like it. Maybe nights are staggered.

Given the arbitrary nature of night, there's no guarantee that night and day are even on a 24-hour cycle. Maybe the Digital World just turns off the sky in some worlds periodically.

In the dub:

Jeri: A castle! What do you think, Leomon? Leomon: Hmm... It's interesting. Ryo: I know it looks funny; Staring at it gives me a headache. But it's safe and we can spend the night here. (Everyone goes inside) Terriermon: This place is bigger than Kazu's ego! Henry: Yeah, or your mouth! Takato: Wow! Guilmon: I'm sleepy, Takatomon. When's bedtime? (The sky turns off) Takato: Well, now, I guess. Jeri: I don't know about you guys, but I'll never get used to that. Takato: Yep.

Same thing but with some jokes added.

Ryō shows the team to a single huge bedroom with eight beds.

Hirokazu: Oh wow! Kenta: Can we sleep here?

Juri claims the last bed on the right side of the room, sitting down on it.

Juri: It's so fluffy!

Terriermon claims a bed as well, bouncing on it.

Terriermon: A bed! A bed! Ahahahaha! Juri: If only Ruki-chan could be here with us.... Ryō: ( ._.)

Ryō says nothing in response to that but he lets out a small sigh and deflates a little. He still blames himself for Ruki leaving. And he is still partially correct, though Hirokazu bears the brunt of the blame. Her departure was about Ryō, but it was because of Hirokazu.

Jianliang: Is no one using this place? Ryō: Yeah, it seems no one uses it. So no one will complain even if we stay here for days. Hirokazu: WOOHOO!!! I could just stay here forever, y'know? Kenta: What are you saying!? We haven't even found our Partner Digimon yet! Hirokazu: Oh, you're right. I almost forgot about that.

It was already kinda obvious when Ryō first showed it to us, but Ryō confirms that this is a regular haunt of his.

This place is reminding me a lot of Devimon's mansion. There's something very particular about a huge house with a huge bedroom that has eight beds specifically.

It's not Devimon's mansion, of course. That was in a huge forest on File Island and not an abstract monochrome world. But this is giving Devimon's mansion vibes.

It's not a very convenient number, considering we have to accomodate:

Takato

Jianliang

Juri

Hirokazu

Kenta

Ryō

Guilmon

Terriermon

Leomon

Cyberdramon

Two people are getting screwed out of beds. Well, one person, if Terriermon sleeps with Jian. He's the only Digimon small enough to share.

So I feel like the number eight is here specifically for the Adventure reference.

In the dub:

Ryo: Well, here we are. Rika: Wow! Takato: I know what you mean. I'd forgotten what beds even looked like! Kazu: It's like camp! Kenta: But without the counselors! (Jeri claims her bed) Jeri: It's comfy! (Terriermon bounces) Terriermon: Yeah, and it's bouncy bouncy BOUNCY!!! Jeri: I wish Rika was here. I wonder where she's sleeping tonight? Ryo: ( ._.) Henry: Hey, Ryo? Doesn't anyone live in this place? Ryo: No, this castle has been empty since I first found it. So you guys can stay here for as long as you want. Kazu: Aww yeah! We can stay in this castle FOREVER!!! Kenta: No parents, no school, no gym shorts! Why would we ever leave!? Jeri: Because we're here on a rescue mission, not to play hooky! Kazu: You're always raining on my parade! Henry: She's also always right.

In the original, it's Kenta who rains on Hirokazu's parade. He points out that they came here for a very specific purpose that they haven't completed yet, so obviously they can't just stay up here forever. Hirokazu concedes that point to Kenta

The dub keeps Kazu and Kenta aligned and pivots the role of the spoilsport to Jeri. She claps back at him about rescuing Calumon, the team's overarching goal, instead of Kenta and Hiro/Kazu's personal goal.

Kazu does not concede the point but instead whines at Jeri for being a fun-killing nag, which forces Henry to step in and back her up. At which point Kazu shuts up because I guess he respects Henry more than Jeri.

Now that we're stopping for a moment, Juri has a concern that I've been wondering about for a while.

Juri: By the way, I feel like it's been a long time since we last ate anything. Guilmon: Mmm... Guilmon ate that sour chocolate earlier. Terriermon: It was awful.... Kenta: But I'm not really hungry either. Takato: Come to think of it, neither am I. Ryō: Here, you can just eat whenever you feel hungry. There's no limits for what you can eat or how much you have to. Takato: Hrmm... something about that feels unsatisfying. Ryō: You'll get used to it soon enough!

Here we have an answer for why losing all the food as soon as we arrived at the Digital World hasn't actually been a problem for the Tamers. Eating food is completely recreational in the Digital World. You can't actually starve here.

This also explains why the mud balls in the Tsuchidarumon village were so unexpectedly delicious. Anything is edible here.

Like the day/night cycle being a toggle and the Real World hanging in the sky, this is another way that the Tamersverse Digital World is a fundamentally different place than the Adventureverse Digital World. In Adventure, foraging for food was an ever-present concern, but it's a non-issue here thanks to the rules of how Tamers's Digital World works.

In the dub:

Takato: Hey, has anyone noticed we haven't eaten in a while? Guilmon: I ate that icky thing I thought was chocolate but it wasn't. Terriermon: Don't remind me. Kenta: It's strange but I don't feel hungry. Takato: Yeah, you're always hungry! Ryo: Haven't you figured it out yet? In the Digital World, you only eat when you feel like it. The last time I had dinner or any other meal for that matter was more than two weeks ago. Takato: Wow! That's one heck of a diet, Ryo.... Ryo: Eh, you get used to it. Jeri: Sure is a lot of stuff to get used to around here!

The dub has Takato be the one to point out that they haven't eaten in days, rather than Jeri. She's too busy nagging Kazu in Kenta's place, I guess.

Once the food question is swept under the rug, it's lights out!

Hirokazu: Okay, bedtime!

Lights go out and an overhead shot shows us that Guilmon and Terriermon are sharing a bed, answer one question about the insufficient beds, but another remains.

Juri: I can't fall asleep that fast. Takato: Just close your eyes and you'll fall asleep soon enough. Juri: ...okay.

I feel Juri. I can't just lay down and conk out either. Sleepovers always sucked as a kid for this exact reason. Not that it matters because there's a new reason to be awake: The clanking sound of footsteps in the hall.

Kenta wakes up suddenly, throwing on his glasses.

Kenta: What's that sound!?

A Knightmon patrolling the hall passes by the doorway. Kenta freaks out so hard he wakes everyone up.

Kenta: WHAA--!?!? Hirokazu: What's going on...? Kenta: J-J-J-JUST NOW-- Jianliang: What's wrong!? Ryō: Oh, that's just Knightmon. They always patrol this hallway at night. They won't attack unless you do something. Kenta: Um, visually speaking, they sure look like a ghost.... Ryō: Yeah, I guess in the Real World something like that would be a ghost. But it's just a Digimon.

Ryō lays back down, rolls over, and zonks out in a second.

Kenta: He went back to sleep. Hirokazu: Would you call that brave or something else? Jianliang: I guess that's the kind of attitude that keeps you going here. Takatu: Yeah, true. Hirokazu: I'm starting to lose my nerve.... Kenta: Me too....

Amid all this chaos, we get a pretty clear impression of the sleeping arrangement here. The beds are consistently shot to paint a picture of who's sleeping where.

Takato | Juri Guilmon and Terriermon | Kenta Jianliang | Hirokazu Ryō | Eighth Bed

However, they're also tricky with their camera angles to never reveal who is in the eighth bed, depriving us of the opportunity to see Leomon and Cyberdramon snuggled up like Guilmon and Terriermon in a child-sized twin bed! Rude!

Refusing to animate that shot is the greatest crime that Digimon anime has ever committed. Including Holsmon.

As an aside, wasn't it a running joke that Hirokazu and Kenta could just drop wherever they're standing, fall asleep instantly, and then sleep through a hurricane? What happened to that? I feel like Ryō just stole their joke.

In the dub:

Jeri: Takato, do you miss home? Takato: Um, actually, I haven't really thought about it that much. Jeri: ...really.... (Heavy metal footsteps) Kenta: Uhh, who goes there? (Knightmon passes in the hall) Kenta: AHHHHH!!! Kazu: Huh? Kenta: WHAT IS THAT!?!? Henry: What's going on? Ryo: Oh, that's Knightmon. You don't have to worry about him. He roams the halls at night looking for more enemies to decapitate. Kenta: Did you say decapitate!? What if Knightmon comes in here and thinks we're his enemies!? Ryo: Huh? Oh, I never thought of that. Just don't pick a fight with him or anything. You know, stay out of his way. You'll be fine. (Ryo goes back to sleep) Kenta: Yeah, okay, but what if he has a bad night or if he, um... Ryo? Is he sleeping already? Kazu: He's either really brave or he's lost his marbles! Henry: I don't know. Maybe you need nerves of steel to survive this long in the Digital World. Takato: Obviously! Kazu: I don't know if I'm cut out for this.... Kenta: Me neither....

Juri expresses difficulty sleeping. Jeri asks Takato if he misses home to set up the next scene.

EN Knightmon mumbles to himself unintelligibly. JP Knightmon is silent but for the sound of their heavy metal footfalls.

JP Ryō assures the team that Knightmon's harmless and then zonks out. EN Ryo adds that Knightmon's looking for foes to decapitate, then admits that he's never considered the idea that he might become a target; This makes him look stupid and reckless, rather than coming off as an experienced ace like JP Ryō does.

In the process, Kenta's point about Knightmon resembling a ghost gets dropped.

As the others eventually fall asleep, Takato lies awake.

He sits up, picking up his rucksack from beside his bed. Opening the pack, he reveals a flashlight and compass as well as a yellow tenugui with the word "KEEP" written on it; These are small towels with a variety of uses such as wrapping a bentō, wearing it as a headband, or using it as a hand towel.

Takato: I haven't used these much. Was there even any point in bringing them?

Considering what we just learned, one can ask the same about all the food we packed and then immediately lost. The Tamers geared up for way more of a survivalist experience than their setting's Digital World has actually provided.

Looking inside his empty pack, Takato suddenly notices that there's a yellow square of cloth sewn into the bottom of it.

Takato: Huh? What's this for?

He peels off the cloth to reveal a folded letter and a purple お守り omamori pouch; A protection charm imploring a Shinto kami or Buddhist deity to bless its bearer with safety and good fortune.

In the dub:

Takato: (thinking) Now why can't I sleep? (Shot of Kazu and Kenta) Takato: (thinking) A typhoon couldn't wake them up! (sigh) I wonder if I brought something to read? (Takato opens his pack) Takato: (thinking) Gosh, look at all this stuff. Why'd I pack this? We don't need a flashlight; We need a miracle! Huh? Wait a minute, what's that? Takato: I didn't put that there. (Takato peels off the yellow square) Takato: (thinking) A good luck charm?

Dub Team also seems to have noticed that the show forgot Hirokazu and Kenta's running gag. They try to put it back in right here, though the last scene already demonstrated that they can't sleep through a typhoon tonight.

JP Takato doesn't offer a specific reason for why he's going through his pack. EN Takato uses his inner monologue to say he's looking for a book to read.

EN Takato explains that the omamori is a good luck charm for the benefit of an American audience that wouldn't otherwise know what that was.

Takato takes the letter out of his pack, opening it up to read. While he reads it, a sad instrumental of Biggest Dreamer plays quietly in the background.

Takato: Mom.... Yoshie (V.O.): Takato, I don't know if you'll ever find and read this letter. However, I'm worried that I may not be able to say "Itterashai" to you so I've decided to write this.

While Takato reads, we pan up to see the Real World hanging in the sky above.

Yoshie (V.O.): I remember the day you were born as if it were only yesterday.

Then we transition to Shinjuku proper in the Real World; The Metropolitan Government Building clearly visible against the night sky.

Yoshie (V.O.): You were such a big baby, and it made your delivery into a whole ordeal.

At Matsuda Bakery, Takehiro brings a tray of bread upstairs from the kitchen. He notices a light coming out of Takato's room; Inside, Yoshie is nostalgically going through Takato's belongings.

Yoshie (V.O.): And yet before I knew it, you'd already grown up so much. How quickly time flies....

In Takato's room, Yoshie gets up off the floor and pulls back the blanket of his bed. She finds a shirt he left there

Yoshie (V.O.): I've tucked an omamori pouch in with this letter.

Yoshie picks up the shirt, holding it up to her face and trembling with implied crying.

Yoshie (V.O.): I believe in you, of course. This is just a prayer from your foolish and worried mother.

Outside Takato's room, Takehiro watches silently. A closeup of the tray in his hands reveals that he's made just what he promised. Takehiro has a freshly baked batch of Guilmon Bread.

Yoshie (V.O.): Even if it's too late to say it now, itterashai.

Finally, back in the Digital World, a single teardrop falls onto the omamori pouch now clutched in Takato's hand.

Yoshie (V.O.): Come home safe and sound. Takato: ...Mom....

Okay, a few things.

First off, according to the kanji on the front, the charm Yoshie packed with the letter is a 厄除 yakuyoke.

There are many kinds of omamori for many different kinds of blessing you might wish to receive. The yakuyoke is pretty much what you'd imagine a talisman like this to be for: It's for warding off evil spirits and keeping its bearer safe from harm.

Easy to see why Yoshie would choose this particular omamori for Takato's journey.

Second is that phrase, Itterashai. We've talked about some of the customary phrases for various things in Japan before but as a refresher: When leaving your home or workplace or somewhere else you frequent often, it's customary to say Ittekimasu which means "I am leaving with intent to come back". The person you're speaking to then says Itterashai which means "Please leave and return."

When the Tamers were getting ready to go to the Digital World, there was an eerie sense of finality weighing on them. They were going to a place no one has ever been to before with no idea of if it will be possible for them to come back, something that affected Juri especially.

But Yoshie rejects that finality.

There are a lot of ways to say goodbye in Japanese. Some carry an indication of finality, that this is the last time you'll ever see each other again. Some are ambiguous in their meaning, leaving the door open for whatever happens. Some are casual partings for people you know you'll see tomorrow.

Yoshie says none of these to Takato here in her letter. What she says is "Please leave and come back", as if Takato were merely going off to school or going to play in the park. No matter what happens, she expects him to come home.

In the dub:

(Takato opens the letter) Takato: From Mom.... Yoshie (V.O.): Dear Takato, there's so much I wanted to tell you before you left but there wasn't time, so I'm writing this letter to tell you how proud your father and I are of you. (Pan up to the Real World) Yoshie (V.O.): It seems like only yesterday you were a little baby putting spinach up your nose. You always knew how to make me laugh! But look at you now. So independent and so brave! (Shinjuku) Yoshie (V.O.): I know I've been hard on you sometimes, telling you to get your head out of the clouds and into your school books. (Takehito comes upstairs and sees Yoshie in Takato's room) Yoshie (V.O.): But the truth is, I love everything about you, even the quirky parts! You get that from your father. (Yoshie pulls back the blanket) Yoshie (V.O.): I'll make you a deal. I won't worry myself sick over you if you promise me you'll come home safe and sound. (Yoshie picks up Takato's shirt and cries into it) Yoshie (V.O.): Lots of love, Mom. (Takehiro watches with Guilmon Bread) Yoshie (V.O.): P.S. The Guilmon Bread still needs a little work! (Takato cries onto the omamori) Yoshie (V.O.): P.P.S. The lucky charm carries all my love with it. We miss you, son. Takato: Thank you, Mom.

Tonally, the dub letter is way more upbeat and positive than the original letter. JP Yoshie's letter is a somber expression of her worry, grief, and hope for Takato's return. EN Yoshie's letter is a love-bomb of boundless encouragement and support, which doesn't quite match the visual of Yoshie weeping into Takato's shirt.

There's a striking tonal difference between

-> Please don't think this protection charm means I don't trust you; It's just a prayer from your foolish and worried mother. -> I'll make you a deal! You tell me you'll be fine and I won't worry a second about it!

The dub letter also says that the Guilmon Bread still needs work which. Like. Yeah, I'd imagine so, given that she wrote this letter the night before he left, when Guilmon Bread was still just an idea in Takehito's head. What a weird detail to include.

This letter doesn't have "I'm writing this to say goodbye in case I can't do it in person" energy.

It has "So you've been gone a week. How's the Digital World? Things back home are pretty great," energy. Like she wrote and mailed it to him just this morning. And expects return correspondence judging from the "I'll make you a deal" bit?

Suddenly, a voice pierces the darkness. Takato isn't the only person awake. In fact, he was warned that he wouldn't be, so this is on him.

Juri: Takato-kun?

Realizing that Juri's sitting up and watching up, Takato quickly wipes the tears from his eyes.

Juri: What's wrong? Takato: It's nothing. Juri: You can't sleep? Takato: Yeah... Kind of. I'm okay. Juri: ... Takato: ... Juri: Were you crying? Takato: (defensive) Yeah, right. Like I'd be crying....

Takato's being a little surly here. Yoshie's letter made him vulnerable, and the realization that Juri's seen him this vulnerable is making his walls slam shut. But Juri slips on her shoes and approaches him anyway.

Juri: Is that an omamori? Takato: It was in my rucksack. Juri: From your mom? Takato: Yeah. Juri: She must be worried about you. Takato: Yeah.

Finally, Takato opens up, looking up at Juri with a smile.

Takato: It's fine, though! I'm sure I'll get home safe and sound! We just need to hurry up and find Culumon! Juri: ( ^ᴗ^) Yeah! Takato: ( °_°) ....

Takato stares silently at Juri's big, sweet smile for a couple seconds before he finds the nerve to say something.

Takato: Um, Katō-san...? Juri: Yes? Takato: I'm glad that you became a Tamer and came on this adventure with us!

Good job, Takato! We cut to commercial here on him figuring out how to flirt with his crush.

He's taking a mulligan on his fuck-up when he tried to flirt with Juri back in the fast-travel cube room. Back then, he'd told her, "I'm sorry you became a Tamer and came on this adventure," and she was like, "Fuck you talking about; My choice, my Digimon!" That was a foot delivered straight into mouth.

Here, he basically says the same thing but in a celebratory tone rather than an apologetic one. Much better.

In the dub:

Jeri: Takato? Takato: Hm? (Takato wipes his eyes quickly) Jeri: Are you alright? Takato: Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Jeri: Well, you don't look fine. Takato: I, uh, just have trouble sleeping. I-I think it's 'cause I've got something in my eye. Jeri: Are you crying? Takato: (defensive) No, of course I'm not! (Jeri slips on her shoes and walks over to Takato's bed) Jeri: Takato, what is that? Takato: It's just something that my mother gave me. Jeri: Is it for luck? Takato: Uh-huh. Jeri: I bet she misses you a lot. Takato: She does. (Takato cheers up) Takato: But I'll see her soon! All we have to do first is find Calumon! And once we do that, then we can all go home! Jeri: ( ^ᴗ^) Ehehehehehe! Takato: ( °_°) .... Jeri: What'd your mom think if she saw you with Cyberdramon? Takato: Are you kidding me!? I'd be grounded 'til I was a hundred! Both: Ahahahahaha! Takato: You know what, Jeri? Jeri: What? Takato: I'm really glad you came along. Jeri: Hehe, me too.

The dub also takes its second commercial break here.

EN Takato isn't as closed off and defensive as JP Takato is. He's more open to using his words and chatting with Jeri, though he does still deny crying.

The final exchange between Takato and Jeri is, like the rest of this whole Mom's Letter sequence, more upbeat and positive than the somber, quiet scene of the original. It does understand its main assignment, however: Let Takato and Juri/Jeri have a moment of pure shippiness.

Following the commercial break, the sky turns to day over the desert world. Poor Culumon is still wearily trudging through the dirt, trying to get away from Dogmon.

Culumon: Ugh, I'm so tired-culu. Why-culu...?

Culumon's legs give out and they faceplant into the dirt, stopping there to rest.

A moment later, an awfully familiar motorcycle pulls up in front of Culumon.

Culumon: Huh...?

Culumon looks up to see Beelzebumon astride the cursed motorcycle looking down at them.

Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) .... Culumon: Huh? Who are you-culu? Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) ....

Suddenly, Culumon bounds to their feet with renewed vigor and extends their ears.

Culumon: Oh, that's right! Culumon wants to ask you something-culu! Do you know Takato and Guilmon-culu?

Culumon pulls the scrap of the flag he's used for his cape around so that Beelzebumon can see Guilmon's face and what part there is of Renamon's.

Culumon: Takato made this flag-culu. Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) ....

Beelzebumon says nothing. Having come to a decision, they rev their engine and drive off, kicking up a cloud of dust that engulfs Culumon.

Culumon: (cough cough cough) That's a Digimon of few words-culu. There's so many different kinds of Digimon-culu.

Suddenly, their eyes shoot open as they realize what this means. The awful truth that this parting has revealed to them!

Culumon: (gasp) Now Culumon is ALL ALONE AGAIN-CULU!!!

NOOOOOOOOO

Culumon deflates once more, resuming their trek through the isolated wasteland.

Culumon: So lonely... I'll just have to keep looking for Takato and the others-culu....

Poor, poor Culumon.

This is an interesting exchange because on the one hand, Beelzebumon sorta works for God and the Devas, right? He made a pact with God and all that.

But his pact only entailed defeating Guilmon and the other Partner Digimon. He never agreed to captured Culumon for them.

He also didn't exactly dive into fighting Guilmon and the others with gusto back in the Tsuchidarumon episode either.

So while it's hard to know exactly what Beelzebumon is thinking right here, you can kinda see the gears turning. Like. This is it. This is what the Devas are after. The Devas want Culumon. God and Catsuramon would want him to grab Culumon and bring them in.

But the decision he makes here is to just keep driving and pretend he never saw Culumon, offering neither help nor harm. It's a very neutral choice. A very Impmon choice.

In the dub:

Calumon: Must keep going... Don't want to be doggy chow... Calumon is brave... Calumon doesn't give up! Calumon is (facepalnt) toast! (Beelzemon's motorcycle pulls up) Calumon: Huh...? Hi...? (Calumon looks up and sees Beelzemon) Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... Calumon: Um... Could you help me, oh please, oh pleeease? Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... (Calumon gets up suddenly) Calumon: I'm lost and I'm trying to find my friends! I can show you a picture of them. (Calumon shows Beelzemon the cape) Calumon: I know they all look kinda fuzzy but if you squint and use your imagination.... Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... (Beelzemon drives off) Calumon: (cough cough cough) Ohh... Hello? ...aww, nuts. Well, I guess that's a big no. But he didn't have to go and make the air all coughy! (Calumon looks up suddenly) Calumon: Oogh! If Takato doesn't find me soon, that silly monkey will. Or Doggymon! Why's everyone here so mean? (Calumon deflates and starts walking again) Calumon: Gotta keep going like a train. Chugga-chugga-chugga....

"Calumon is toast" got me. XD

I'm so, so glad that they didn't give Beelzemon any dialogue here and let his stone-faced silence transfer across.

When showing Beelzemon the cape, Calumon says his friends "all look kinda fuzzy" but only one and a half friends are visible in that image.

The more pressing concern, Calumon, is that the flag has been utterly destroyed such that you're missing most of the people you're asking Beelzemon about. That's kind of a bigger deal than the drawing being "fuzzy".

A couple funny bits are lost here. FIrst, Culumon asks Beelzebumon if he knows Takato and Guilmon, identifying them by name. After Beelzebumon leaves, Culumon describes him as 無口な mukuchina, meaning quiet, reserved, taciturn, someone who's hard to read because they keep their feelings to themselves and speak very little.

There's a lot of dramatic irony in these statements. First, because Beelzebumon does know Takato and Guilmon. Culumon has no way of knowing that, but Beelzebumon doesn't actually need to see a picture of them; He in fact knows them by name.

And second, knowledge of exactly who evolved into Beelzebumon makes the description of him as mukuchina very funny. But the dub drops that in favor of saying that Beelzemon "made the air coughy".

We also lose the sad yet hilarious moment where Culumon shrieks at the top of their lungs out of sheer frustration over being constantly alone here.

In its place, Calumon expresses worry about Makuramon and Dogmon, or "Doggymon" as the dub calls him.

"Doggymon" may be a product of the kana used to spell his name. With the exception of 'n', ending a word on a hard consonant isn't a thing in Japanese; Nearly all kana combine a consonant and vowel sound. So English words with hard consonant endings have particular ways of getting Katakanized.

Dogmon in Katakana is spelled ドッグモン Doggumon. It's just a hop, skip, and a jump from there to Doggymon.

As for "Chugga-chugga", this might be the first time Calumon's ever made use of Culumon's onomatopoeia trait!

In the abstract world, Ryō brings the Tamers to a spiral stairwell leading down into a black abyss.

Takato: A stairwell? Ryō: We're going down here. Jianliang: Huh? Shouldn't we go up? Ryō: Even though you can see the Real World up there, we still need to go down these stairs. Juri: That's hard to believe. Ryō: You'll see once we get there.

Without another word, Ryō and Cyberdramon approach the stairwell.

Hirokazu: Hang on! We're coming too!

Despite their reservations, the Tamers follow after Ryō.

What Ryō's saying doesn't make a lot of sense, but this is what he was alluding to when he told Ruki and the others last episode that you can't reach the Real World just by going up.

The Digital World does not make geographical sense because it's not a world. It's a network of worlds like different maps of a video game, which are connected by entrances and exits.

The Real World hangs in the sky above all worlds but that's just, like, aesthetic design. It's not really there. Even if you can fly, you can't get there from here by going up. How you actually get there is a mystery to everyone, and rumors abound. But it's not as simple as "Fly up to that sphere in the sky which is a real place in a geographically sensible reality."

To return to the desert map, the world closest to the Real World, we need to pass through the "loading screen" so to speak that is going down these stairs. That will take us from this map to that map.

Everything about the mechanics here, from Digimon gaining XP to food being optional to the unrealistic day/night cycle to the world being a set of maps separated by entrances and exits, is all the language of a video game. The Digital World is a giant video game.

In the dub:

Ryo: Come on, you guys. These stairs will take us to another plane in the Digital World. Kenta: Why bother? There probably won't be any cool Digimon there either.... Kazu: Yeah! The Digimon we've seen are all either freaky or creepy! Terriermon: Sounds like the two of you. Kazu: Hey! Ryo: Well, you can stay here if you want. With Knightmon. (Ryo starts walking) Kazu: Since you put it that way, come on! (The Tamers follow) Henry: You sure have a way with words, Ryo.

The dub skips the debate about the metaphysics of the Digital World. Ryo says the stairs will take us to "another plane" of the Digital World and everyone accepts what that means without question.

Cutting out the actual content of this scene then provides a new opportunity for Kazu and Kenta to be goobers. I feel like Dub Team's been doing a lot of that lately. Quite a few changes to recent episodes boil down to finding places to let Kazu and Kenta be goobers.

Indeed, the earlier decision in this episode to make Jeri the nag instead of Kenta may have been about letting Kazu and Kenta have a Goober Moment instead of a serious disagreement between them about their silly priorities.

Mind, they're goofy characters even in the original, so it does make sense that the jokey dub's latched onto them this way.

In the desert world, it's time for an impromptu music video! Over there, in the Addendum!

Culumon: Chobo chobo chobo chobo

A dust packet blows past, suddenly cheering Culumon up.

Culumon: Culuculu!? What's going on!? Where are you going-culu!? Culumon's coming too-culu!

Culumon promptly forgets their troubles and chases after the dust packet, rolling head over heels to copy it while beginning to sing their insert song.

A trio of Woodmon watch from atop a nearby rock.

Woodmon 1: Where'd that Digimon come from? Woodmon 2: No idea. Cute kid, though. Woodmon 1: I just hope they don't get lost.

Culumon keeps chasing the dust packet until soon they're joined by the glowing axolotls that previously set them free from Makuramon's cage.

Culumon: Let's all sing together-culu!

Culumon keeps singing until the sigil on their forehead activates. The path they've tread glows with the light of evolution, which turns into a blinding radiance.

Those three Woodmon from a moment ago witness this fountain of light emerging, and so evolve into a trio of Jureimon.

Jureimon 1: We evolved!? Jureimon 2: What the hell is going on!?

Culumon is just as lost as they are.

Culumon: Culu...? Kira kira...?

More Culumon onomatopoeia: Chobo chobo is basically "plip plop plip plop". Kira kira is the sound of sparkling or twinkling.

In the dub, Calumon has his own version of this song with its own Addendum.

Calumon: Chugga-chugga-chugga-- (Old data blows past) Calumon: Oh, what a pretty ball! Can I play with you? Can I? Can I? I know some really good games! WAIT FOR ME!!! (Calumon rolls in a ball after the dust packet) Calumon: Ahahahahahahaha! Whee! This is fun! Woodmon 1: Okay, what's up with the little guy? Woodmon 2: Beats me. Kids today are crazy! Woodmon 1: I've got two words for ya: Sunstroke! (Calumon sings his song until the doodle starts to glow) Calumon: What a pretty light! Woodmon Trio: Wow! (Woodmon all Digivolve into Cherrymon) Cherrymon 1: What happened!? Cherrymon 2: I don't know, but it felt great! Calumon: Wow! Did I do that?

Sunstroke is one word. I'm not sure if this is a mistake or if Woodmon 1 is supposed to be an idiot, as "I have [number] words: [wrong number of words]" is a stock American joke format for characters trying to sound smarter than they are.

It was especially popularized after Disney's Hercules in 1997 featured a character whose running joke was saying "I've got two words for you: [Some random number of words]!"

But sunstroke is a compound word, so it could easily be mistaken for actually being two words.

I'm going to put my money down on "intentional joke". In any case, most of what I have to say about this scene is in the addendums so let's move on.

The problem with setting off this bright glow of evolution's light is that it's visible from great distance. Makuramon takes notice immediately.

Makuramon: The light of evolution... The one who bears evolution's radiance must be in that direction! Hurry!

Meanwhile, just as Ryō said, descending the stairwell through the black void did indeed exit the team out into the desert world through an opening that just sits there in the air. A hole in space to move from one map to another.

Kenta: You were right. We are here. What a weird staircase....

The sound of the Dragon soaring through the air alerts Jian.

Jianliang: What's that?

The Tamers see the Dragon descending towards Culumon's evolution ribbon. Somehow, they also make out Makuramon on his head.

Juri: It's Makuramon! Takato: Culumon might be over there!

The Tamers run on foot to try and reach the ribbon as well.

At long last, Culumon has been located. Now it's a race to see who will reach them first!

In the dub:

Makuramon: Aha... Unless my eyes are deceiving me, that's the light of Digivolution! Get a move on! (Tamers enter the desert) Takato: Nothing out of the ordinary here. Just sand and more sand. (Henry hears Majiramon) Henry: Huh? (Henry turns and sees Majiramon) Henry: And a thirty-foot flying dragon! Jeri: It's Makuramon! Takato: I bet Calumon's nearby! (Tamers run for the Digivolution ribbon) Kenta: Last one there has to wrestle the dragon!

Again, the dub skims over how weird the map transitions are.

Will the Tamers reach Culumon before Makuramon does, or will Makuramon claim his prize? The race is on!

It does not go well! Everybody loses!

Culumon: Kira kira? So much kira kira!

The axolotls notice the Dragon coming before Culumon does. They turn and flee.

Culumon: Culuculu? Where are you going-culu? I want to play some more-culu!

Culumon chases after the axolotls as the Dragon comes overhead.

Makuramon: Where is the bearer of evolution's radiance?

Good question, but Makuramon's not likely to find them. Culumon trips and rolls into a deep ravine.

Culumon: CULUUUUUU!!!

Culumon has no longer been located! So much for that!

In the dub:

Calumon: Whoa, it's as bright as a bug light. (Majiramon closes in) Calumon: And here come the bugs! (Axolotls flee) Calumon: Don't go! Please don't leave me! Come back! (Calumon chases the axolotls) Makuramon: Our little friend is close by; I can smell him! (Calumon falls into the ravine) Calumon: AHHHHHH!!!

In the original, the axolotls notice the Dragon but Culumon does not. Thus their departure confuses Culumon, who chases after them and ends up in the ravine.

In the dub, Calumon's notices and calls out Majiramon. He's fully aware that Makuramon's coming to get him, but then has to reset to Culumon's animation anyway.

As a result, for some reason, Calumon is still surprised when the axolotls flee from the obvious violent threat. Then he calls after them to come back here where the violence is about to happen.

With Culumon no longer here to be found, Makuramon arrives on the scene. The Dragon passes by near the Jureimon.

Makuramon: They're close. Scour the area quickly!

Makuramon looks down but, to his shock, he doesn't see Culumon but instead the Tamers down there, looking right back up at him.

Cyberdramon's tensed up and snarling, raring to go. He charges into battle without a word.

Ryō: Cyberdamon! Any time he sees a strong opponent, he stops listening to a word I say. I guess it can't be helped. Takato: He's challenging him!? Jianliang: That's so reckless!

And edgy! Cyberdramon is so Wolverine Archetype it hurts. It's 2001 and the 90's aren't dead yet, it seems.

In the dub:

Makuramon: Come out, come out wherever you are! (Makuramon notices the Tamers) Makuramon: It appears we have visitors! (Cyberdramon charges into battle) Ryo: Cyberdramon, come back! When Cyberdramon smells a fight, he's totally out of control. It's like I'm not even here! I don't exist! Takato: But that dragon's too powerful! Henry: Yeah, you're right!

I laughed inappropriately at "I don't exist!" That wasn't supposed to be a laugh line but it's just so whiny! XD

They had lip flaps for 仕方ない Shikatanai, the more formal version of the しょうがない Shoganai expression which means to accept things that are outside of your control, and they had to do something with them!

As Cyberdramon closes in on the Dragon, the battle begins.

Cyberdramon: ERASE CLAW!!!

Cyberdramon's Erase Claw hits the Dragon straight in the face, causing them to recoil from the heavy hit.

Makuramon: The actions of a fool may reduce that which has accumulated for one thousand years to grains of dust. Majiramon, annihilate him!

Translation: Cyberdramon is too stupid to be allowed to continue living. It would be for everyone's benefit if he died right now. It would actually be more harmful to society at large for us not to kill him!

Makuramon bounds off of Majiramon's head, getting out of the way of the fight that's about to happen. Majiramon flies straight up into the clouds, then rains glowing red arrows down on Cyberdramon.

It's not easy to tell since it just looks like a normal attack, but WIkimon assures me that these arrows are Majiramon's holy weapon. It's also not easy to tell that Cyberdramon's taking damage since the arrows seem to splash harmlessly off his hide, but he takes a knee nonetheless.

Ryō: CYBERDRAMON!!!

Majiramon descends from the clouds, swooping down for the kill. The other Digimon rush over to go back up Cyberdramon.

Leomon: Cyberdramon's in trouble! Guilmon: Takato! Takato: Right! Terriermon: Jian! Takato & Jianliang: CARD SLASH!!! CHŌ SHINKA PLUG-IN S!!!

As EVO starts to play, Growmon and Galgomon evolve to support Leomon and they attack Majiramon one after another.

Leomon: JŪOKEN!!! Terriermon: DUMDUM UPPER!!! Growmon: PLASMA BLADE!!!

Majiramon shrugs off everything they throw at him, not even flinching.

Takato: Their attacks had no effect!

Majiramon responds with firebreath, routing the Tamers' Digimon easily and chasing off the Jureimon trio as well.

Jianliang: He's too strong! Makuramon: Ahahahahahaha! Die, you fools! Kenta: Ahhhhhh he's coming this way!

Majiramon lands right in front of the Tamers, towering over them.

While Majiramon manhandles the Partner Digimon, Ryō fans his cards and selects one. Each shot of Ryō interrupts the music until he raises his card to Slash it, at which point EVO dies entirely, replaced by the Card Slash theme.

Hirokazu: What card is that!? Ryō: CARD SLASH!!! KING DEVICE!!!

King Device causes Cyberdramon to grow to a colossal size, matching Majiramon.

Takato: Cyberdramon.... Kenta: He became gigantic!

Cyberdramon grabs Majiramon by his right arm and then by his skull. Majiramon cries out in pain, but is unable to break Cyberdramon's grip. Cyberdramon hoists him up into the air, at which point Makuramon sees which way the wind is blowing.

Makuramon: I'm out of here!

Makuramon takes off just before Cyberdramon crushes Majiramon's skull, killing him. Majiramon disintegrates into pixel dust.

Triumphant, Cyberdramon roars, then reverts to normal size.

Juri: Scary.... Hirokazu: We won.... Kenta: Amazing.... Jianliang: Unbelievable... His strength is unbelievable! Ordinarily, if you grew to a size like that, your muscle strength wouldn't be able to keep up with your increase in weight! Takato: What card was that? Ryō: A Device card. They're essentially wildcards. Only the greatest of Tamers can master them.

In keeping with this being very much a Crossover Episode, Ryō gets to dunk on a Deva while all the main characters watch and go "Wow, our guest star is so cool!"

We can't exactly Matrix Evolve without Culumon here to power it so it's a good thing Ryō was here to kill this Deva for us!

In the dub:

Cyberdramon: DESOLATION CLAW!!! (Cyberdramon blasts Majiramon) Makuramon: Majiramon, I do believe that lizard in a tin can is trying to pick a fight with you. I'll just get out of the way while you reformat him! (Makuramon jumps off; Majiramon ascends into clouds) Jeri: What's he doing!? Takato: I don't think we want to find out!

The dub takes its third commercial break here, leaving you to stew on what he might be doing.

EN Makuramon doesn't even try to match JP Makuramon's level of pretentiously waxing poetic. He also dials down his language. JP Makuramon says 滅殺 messatsu which combines the kanji

滅 - Destroy, ruin, overthrow 殺 - Kill, murder

to basically mean "Murder him until nothing remains". JP Makuramon wants Cyberdramon eliminated with extreme overkill. He is very offended by Cyberdramon's stupid face.

EN Makuramon dials that back to "Reformat him" because we're on Fox Kids.

After the commercial break, Majiramon fires.

Majiramon: FLAMING ARROWHEADS!!! Henry: We have to do something! And quick! (Arrows pummel Cyberdramon and do more damage than it looks) Ryo: CYBERDRAMON!!! (Majiramon descends; Digimon go to help) Leomon: Hang on! We're coming! Guilmon: Takato! Takato: Yeah! Terriermon: Henry! Takato & Henry: DIGI-MODIFY!!! DIGIVOLUTION ACTIVATE!!! (Gargomon and Growlmon Digivolve) Leomon: FIST OF THE BEAST KING!!! Gargomon: BUNNY PUMMEL!!! Growlmon: DRAGON SLASH!!! (No effects) Takato: Man, he's not even slowing down! (Majiramon breathes fire) Henry: Got any ideas? Makuramon: Ahahahahahahahaha! I just love a good fire! Kenta: What happens now!?

What happens now is the Fox Kids censors thwap Makuramon on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper again and tell him he cannot tell all of these children to die.

(Majiramon lands) Kazu: I think this is the part where our lives flash before our eyes! Ryo: Ready? (Majiramon smacks Leomon away; Ryo fans his cards) Ryo: Set! (Majiramon smacks Gargomon away) Ryo: (thinking) Go! (Majiramon tosses Growlmon) Kazu: We're officially toast! Ryo: DIGI-MODIFY!!! GOLIATH ACTIVATE!!!

Since the dub doesn't have insert songs, they can't do the cool bit where Ryō keeps interrupting EVO until he's ready to switch tracks to Card Slash. It's replaced with Ryo shouting "Ready? Set! Go!" which pales in coolness comparison.

...why doesn't the Tamers dub have insert songs? The Adventure 02 dub had insert songs. They downgraded the production quality for this "season". Huh.

(Cyberdramon grows to massive size) Takato: I don't believe it! Kenta: That was some card! (Cyberdramon grabs Majiramon's arm) Takato: He's really putting the squeeze on him!

Speaking of the Fox Kids censors, they said nope to Cyberdramon grabbing Majiramon by the skull. It's censored with this hilarious still-frame of Makuramon looking like he's watching someone poop on his pancakes.

This is how all censorship should work from now on. Instead of doing the white flash, every time the censors don't like the violence, we should just cut to Makuramon staring at the scene with disapproval in his eyes.

He is now the face of censorship.

I don't even know what the point of this edit was. Cyberdramon lifting Majiramon by his skull and then crushing it and killing him is still there. It's just the closeup shot of grabbing his skull that got censored.

(Cyberdramon lifts Majiramon) Makuramon: I think that's my cue to beat it! (Makuramon flees; Cyberdramon kills Majiramon) Jeri: Awful.... Kazu: Awesome.... Kenta: Yeah... Oh man.... Henry: Unbelievable... No Digimon could go through such a drastic change and still fight so flawlessly! Those two really are the ultimate fighting combination! Takato: What card did you use? Ryo: It's a Goliath card. Kazu: Dude! I will trade you anything for that puppy! Ryo: Sorry, but only the most experienced Tamers can master this card.

Jianliang cites the square-cube law as his problem with King Device. Increasing Cyberdramon's size like this should have caused Cyberdramon to collapse and be crushed under his own weight.

Though it's not super clear why he thinks that would matter. We've seen plenty of gigantic Digimon that should not be biologically possible. What the hell is he on about?

Henry abandons this point and instead opts to shill Ryo and Cyberdramon as the coolest guys ever because Cyberdramon was still able to fight well after being size-increased.

It's not clear why he thinks this is a big deal either. Digimon increase in size all the time when they evolve. He's never called Guilmon and Takato the ultimate fighting combination because WarGrowlmon doesn't trip over his own feet and fall down.

JP Ryō explains that the King Device is a Device card. So far, we've been slashing Option cards and Digimon cards, so this introduces a whole new category of cards that the show may or may not decide to play around with going forward.

EN Ryo skips the new category and just says it's a Goliath card. It's special because it's Goliath, and Goliath is a special card.

Even though the fight is over, Cyberdramon isn't done yet. He turns away from the others, growling. Ryō realizes what's about to happen.

Ryō: Cyberdramon, wait!

In the dub:

Ryo: Cyberdramon, calm down!

Ryō flicks out the laser whip from his Digivice and lashes the ground next to Cyberdramon for some reason.

Takato: What's wrong with Cyberdramon? Ryō: He's itching for a fight. He wants to go find another opponent. Jianliang: Another opponent? Ryō: He has to keep fighting until his instincts are satisfied. That's the kind of Digimon that Cyberdramon is. When he gets like this, Cyberdramon can't be stopped. We'll have to part ways here. Takato: What? Ryō: You guys should go find that little Digimon called Culumon and save the Real World. Honestly, I wish I could help, but that won't be possible until his appetite is satisfied.

Cyberdramon runs off in search of his next foe.

Takato: U-Understood! Ryō: Oh, also, if you see Ruki, tell her I said hi! Takato: Huh? Uh... Okay!

Ryō bounds up on Cyberdramon's back and they run off to, uh... go murder some random Digimon for no reason but I guess we're not supposed to think too much about that. It's just how Digimon without Tamers are. C'est la vie.

Leomon: Cyberdramon will continue to fight until the day he vanquishes his old nemesis. If he never finds that nemesis, he will continue to fight forever. Juri: (sad) Forever...?

We close this episode here, as Leomon makes one last pitch for the audience to see Ryō and Cyberdramon as the coolest fucking guys ever and go buy Brave Tamer.

...

So. Uh. Not to be that guy but....

All Digimon want to keep fighting until their instincts are satisfied. It's been thoroughly established that this is what Digimon are. Battle is their nature.

It's just not their only nature. We see here in the Digital World that they can live in communities. By living in the human world with human Partners, they can also be friends with humans, though their battle instincts are still a core part of who they are as well.

Learning to balance their desire for battle with their ability to coexist in human society has been a major theme of the series thus far, central to Takato, Jian, and Ruki's experiences with their Partner Digimon. All of them, from separate angles, have had to figure out how to integrate their Digimon into the human world without suppressing or rejecting what makes them Digimon.

This is what the whole first arc of the show was centered on, and it's continued to be a talking point since.

We're supposed to take this as Cyberdramon being a super special Digimon who only a great Tamer like Ryō could possibly form a Partnership with. Brave Tamer would go on to establish that Millenniummon is part of his makeup and that's why he's like this.

But I'm just gonna put this out there.

Maybe Ryō's just not a very good Tamer.

Ryō gave up immediately on trying to coexist with Cyberdramon and moved to the Digital World to fight Digimon together. He's the only character who uses a whip to control his Digimon rather than seeking true Partnership with them. Right now Cyberdramon wants to go attack random Digimon and Ryō shrugs and goes "Guess I gotta let him do that!"

He's out there puffing out his chest like "Only the GREATEST Tamers can master Device cards!" as if he did anything more complicated than having a Device card in his possession and Slashing it like any other card. But he abandoned his life, abandoned his world, because he doesn't know how to temper Cyberdramon's battle lust or offer Cyberdramon anything else to be interested in besides battling.

Maybe Ryō is actually bad at this. He enables Cyberdramon's base instincts, doesn't even try to educate him, and keeps him only somewhat in check through violent control measures that create hostility and further encourage Cyberdramon to think only in terms of violence and power.

He just accepts uncritically that Cyberdramon is a brutal and bloodthirsty monster SO UNLIKE ALL OTHER DIGIMON that only a truly capable and MASTER TAMER can control, and then lets Cyberdramon do whatever and only occasionally uses violent force to steer his aggression.

Maybe, like the Device Card that "only a master Tamer can use", he just sucks at being a Tamer and is hyperbolically inflating his meager achievements.

I think that is a valid alternative interpretation to the takeaway they meant for us to have here.

In the dub:

Takato: Um, Ryo, is there something wrong with him? Ryo: He wants to continue fighting so he has no choice but to find another opponent! Henry: Yeah, but right now? Ryo: Fighting is in his blood!

Fighting is in every Digimon's blood. He's not special.

Ryo: It's the only thing he really hungers for! To him, battling that dragon was just a small appetizer! He won't stop until he's completely satisfied, and I have to go with him. Takato: Huh!? Ryo: I wish I could stay and help you find Calumon but I can't control Cyberdramon when he gets like this. Good luck defeating the Devas and saving the world! And who knows, maybe we'll meet again someday! (Cyberdramon runs off) Takato: Um, okay! Ryo: Oh, and say hi to that wildcat Rika for me! Ahaha! Takato: Uh... okay! Guilmon: Bye-bye! (Ryo jumps on Cyberdramon's back and they depart) Leomon: Cyberdramon won't find peace or satisfaction until he finds his ultimate enemy, and if he never finds that enemy, he may be doomed to keep fighting until the end of time. Jeri: How terrible.... Davis (V.O.): Man, Cyberdramon needs to take a cyber-chill pill! And will they ever see Ryo again? Keep watching Digimon: Digital Monsters.

"That wildcat Rika". Ick. Ick ick ICK.

Remember how Ruki hates Ryō's guts and that's been bothering him all episode? What happened to that? Why does he think "Say hi to Ruki for me?" is appropriate? That line was clearly put there just for some parting Ship Tease, but it's so weird in context.

Dub Team took that Ship Tease and bumped it up to outright flirting by proxy. They understood the assignment but the assignment is bad. What about the current situation between him and Rika makes him think this is an appropriate time to flirt by proxy with a girl who hates him?

What a douche!

The dub did age Rika up so the unsettling age gap of "We want you to ship this 10-year-old with this 14-year-old" isn't a factor. Agewise, EN Ryo is okay to flirt, and JP Ryō isn't technically flirting; There isn't anything necessarily wrong with "Say hi to her for me," just the weird shippy implications of why he'd suddenly bring that up.

But contextually, JP Ryō needs to be punched for this and EN Ryo needs to be stoned with rocks.

Davis knows better than to promise we'll see Ryo next episode, so once more the promise game is thwarted.

Assessment: So ends the Ryō crossover two-parter. Hopefully now we can get back to developing the characters who are actually a part of this show. Ryō and Cyberdramon have chafed against the very premise and themes of the series like sandpaper on skin. They've broken continuity to squeeze themselves in. These two episodes have focused predominately on shilling them as the coolest characters ever.

And now they conclude by flexing on all the Tamers, calling them amateurs, effortlessly slaughtering a Deva, and then running off to go uselessly be Infinite Badasses of Unfathomable Power somewhere that the plot isn't happening so their unapproachable levels of unbridled awesomeness don't ruin the plot.

Cool. Won't be damaging to the tension at all when we're fighting Makuramon to know that Cyberdramon could rip his head off in two seconds and then shit right into God's mouth, but he's not doing that because he's two miles away punching trees instead.

Oof. I hope Ryō's fans were happy with this crossover. He got to look really cool, dunk on all the protagonists, slay one of the villains, and flirt with the show's coolest female character on his way out the door. There's a lot of red meat here for Ryō fans to enjoy.

It just comes at the expense of all the show's actual characters.

[sunset-gal]

Yeah, like i said before Ryo just kinda ignores the themes of the series to be this super cool macho superhero type. Like they thought "how do we show that he's the ultimate tamer?" and the conclusion they came to is circus lion tamers, completely ignoring that lion taming is not the same as equal partnership or ethical. But it wouldn't be the first a children's show misses the point for the sake of superficial aesthetics and it definitely won't be the last. At least now Ryo's gone for good.....why are you staring at me like tha-

Juri is such a girl's girl. She always defends Ruki and believes in her strength wholeheartedly, it so cute. It makes me wanna ship them out spite. Y'know because Ryo.

Anyway, an interesting point of divergence between Adventure and Tamers is the way they treat the Digital World. In Adventure while the Digital World has a decent amount of videogame logic it still behaves like a natural world, days progress like in the human world, Digimon act like human beings for the most part and the world is an undivided singular entity. Meanwhile Tamers' Digital World behaves like an unfinished videogame, day and night change suddenly, the world in separated into levels, everything is alien and uncanny, including the inhabitants. That probably has something to do with Tamers' leaning harder into it's Lovecraft inspirations. A world of information would be nothing like Earth, down goes up, left goes down, nothing makes sense, you don't even need to eat! I mean why would you? You're not even flesh and blood anymore are you?

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Tamers 29 Addendum 2

This is an addendum to the Digimon Tamers Blind Watch in Two Languages liveblog for episode 29.

Here we have the dub version of Calumon's song. The original Japanese version is over there. This one's, uh....

Setting aside the obvious difference in production values, since it's long established by this point that JP Insert Songs for Digimon go way harder than EN Insert Songs....

Calumon's song here is also an ode to his predominate character trait. Where Culumon's driven by loneliness and a desire to make friends, Calumon's driven by a love of fun and games. He's a playful scamp eager to gamify whatever he encounters.

There's a fun little microcosm of that distinction right here in this song, where Culumon greets the axolotls and invites them to sing together while Calumon never once bothers to acknowledge them because he's wrapped up in the excitement of playing with a ball.

This small character beat is reflective of the overarching difference between who Culumon and Calumon are as characters.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Tamers 29 Addendum

This is an addendum to the Digimon Tamers Blind Watch in Two Languages liveblog for episode 29.

Here, we have Culumon's insert song from episode 29. The dub version is over there.

This is Culu Culu Culumon, sang by Culumon's voice actress.

Lyrics here.

As a character anthem, Culu Culu Culumon is basically a ballad to how friendly Culumon is. They're kind of the other side of the coin from Impmon; Like Impmon, Culumon's defining character trait is their loneliness and their desire for friendship. But Culumon and Impmon take that in different directions.

Culumon is made better by having friends who love them, and those people in turn are made better by having Culumon for their friend.

This, in turn, is the key to evolution. The key to evolution is the interpersonal connections that we make between each other despite the vast differences that may lay between us. These connections push us to change and grow into better versions of ourselves.

This is largely what the show is about, and it's what Culumon embodies as a character.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Tamers 29 - This is a Haunted Castle! The Lost Culumon's Great Escape / Goliath

Previously on Digimon Tamers: Hirokazu and Kenta fucked up again. At her limit with their incompetence, Ruki fired them both. Fortunately, they landed on their feet, picking up new jobs as gofers for Akiyama Ryō of Adventure fame. I think they're gonna be alright.

We open with confirmation that the cube from last episode was transporting the Tamers to another world. The Tamers exit out into a strange black-and-white abstractionist environment.

Takato: Looks like we ended up in another weird place. Juri: Yeah, it's all so crooked. Jianliang: Where are we...? Terriermon: Mōmantai! It's the same place as everywhere: Somewhere in the Digital World!

Useful answer, Terriermon. Thank you.

In the dub:

Takato: What is the deal with this place? Jeri: Everything's warped! Takato: It's making me dizzy. Henry: Heh, everything makes you dizzy, Takato! I wonder if the data in this area is unstable? Terriermon: Mōmantai! This place is just another part of your friendly Digital dimension. You're not in Kansai anymore, you know.

Henry makes an odd accusation of Takato having an established character trait of being sickly like the Adventure dub's Joe.

Henry also offers some speculation about why the area looks like this, though the more likely answer is simply that it's comprised from data of a particular art style. There's a very M.C. Escher vibe to this place.

EN Terriermon makes a brilliant pun about the Kansai region of Japan. 10/10 Would pun again.

As the Tamers continue on, they come upon a tray of chocolates sitting out. The brown color of the chocolates stands out against the black-and-white backdrop.

Guilmon: Guil? Is this chocolate?

Guilmon picks up one of the chocolates and eats it, then grimaces with disgust.

Takato: What's wrong, Guilmon? Guilmon: It's sour! Terriermon: Let me try!

Upon hearing how disgusting the chocolates are, Terriermon hops up on the table and tries one himself. He promptly grimaces too.

Leomon, on the other hand, does not rush to eat the disgusting chocolate. Because he's an adult.

Leomon: Don't just eat whatever fits in your mouth. You have no idea what kind of data this is. Guilmon: ( ._.) You're right. You sure do know a lot, Leomon.... Terriermon: ( ._.) But there's no way to know what it tastes like unless you try it for yourself....

Guuuuuys

You're embarrassing us in front of the cool guy....

In Guilmon's defense, this is the first time he's ever been in the Digital World. Terriermon only gets half of that excuse, given that he was born yesterday like Guilmon but he at least came out of a video game, so he has some Digital World experience.

In the dub:

Guilmon: Oh, look! It's chocolate. (Guilmon eats one and grimaces) Takato: Guilmon, what's wrong? Guilmon: Not chocolate! Terriermon: Let me see! (Terriermon tries one) Leomon: You shouldn't eat everything you see, especially around here. Things aren't always what they seem to be. Guilmon: ( ._.) I can try, but when I see food, my brain shuts off. Terriermon: ( ._.) I don't believe this. I've finally become Guilmon....

JP Guilmon specifically states that the chocolates taste 酸っぱい suppai, which means sour and acidic. EN Guilmon only says that they aren't chocolate, offering no detail about what flavor prompted that reaction.

This in turn makes it a little more defensible that EN Terriermon hopped up and tried one too, to find out what caused Guilmon to make that reaction. JP Terriermon is just a dumb kid being a dumb kid.

JP Terriermon argues with Leomon and whines out a defense of shoving random things in your mouth. EN Terriermon cracks a joke at Guilmon's expense.

Suddenly, Takato hears voices approaching. Singing voices.

Takato: Huh? Someone's coming! Jianliang: Who could that be in a place like this? Juri: Maybe it's Ruki-chan's group!

She's right, sort of. Ruki isn't among them as established last episode, but Hirokazu, Kenta, and Ryō are heading up this way. Hirokazu and Kenta are the ones singing.

It's hard to make out exactly what they're singing but I think it's Otoko Shibuki/Manly Spray from episode 26.

Hirokazu: Yo, Takato! Fancy seeing you here! Takato: Hirokazu!

Hirokazu and Kenta run on ahead of Ryō and Cyberdramon to reunited with their friends.

Takato: I didn't think I'd run into you in a place like this! Jianliang: Good thing you were able to find this place.

Ryō and Cyberdramon approach from the rear.

Juri: Huh? Who's that? Hirokazu: I am so glad you asked! Allow me to introduce you! This is the legendary Tamer, Akiyama Ryō-san! Ryō: (embarrassed) Stop that. It's not a big deal. Takato: Eh? THE Akiyama Ryō!? For real!? Then that guy over there must be.... Ryō: My Partner Digimon Cyberdramon! Takato: Wow, I can't believe I'm seeing him up close!

Cyberdramon snarls, causing Takato to flinch and step back.

Takato: Wha--? Did I upset him? Ryō: Ehehe, don't worry about it. Cyberdramon is searching for his old nemesis. I doubt they're here, though.

Ryō puts a soothing hand on Cyberdramon's arm. Cyberdramon calms down and takes a knee. Further back in the group, Terriermon has questions.

Terriermon: Who's that? Jianliang: Akiyama Ryō, a Tamer who went missing after the Card Battle Tournament one year ago. There were rumors that he'd gone to the Digital World, but I never thought we'd actually meet him here....

Ryō continues to warp the internal logic of the show around himself. What do you mean there were rumors he'd gone to the Digital World? The Digital World was a secret known only to Hypnos until Vikaralamon blew it all wide open!

The show made a whole big thing in episodes 24 and 25 about how we'd be the first humans ever to set foot in the Digital World and now we're acting like everyone knows about this one kid who went to the Digital World last year.

Takato also acts like Cyberdramon is some kind of celebrity he's meeting.

The boys are straight-up treating Akiyama Ryō like he and Cyberdramon publicly fought Vamdemon in the middle of Odaiba or something. Like it's just common knowledge that he's a Tamer with a Partner Digimon who travels between the two worlds all the time.

This continues to be so "Crossover Episode" it hurts. The show does not know how it is possible for the Scooby Doo Gang to coexist with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it does not really care to try and offer a reasonable explanation.

The whole "Cyberdramon is searching for his longstanding archenemy" thing is probably a reference to Millenniummon, the overarching antagonist of all of Ryō's games.

Fitting the crossover vibe, this doesn't feel like a plot point that's meant to be elaborated on in the show. Ryō's dropping in to advertise how cool his video games are, so you're presumably meant to buy Brave Tamer to learn more about this.

That's also probably why this episode and the last are bending over backwards to shill him so hard. Once Takato and the others part ways with him, they will continue to be characters of this show, but sales of Brave Tamer may be affected by how cool Ryō looked in these two episodes.

There is a very transparent and cynical marketing value to having all of the characters drop to their knees and praise Ryō as the greatest Digimon character ever conceived. His next video game drops in two months. And it seems this has taken precedent over making this crossover make any amount of sense whatsoever.

Though Brave Tamer would then awkwardly indicate that Millenniummon isn't out there to be found because they're a part of Cyberdramon himself. So either I'm missing my mark about Cyberdramon's longtime rival, or it's just another instance of the game and anime crews not bothering to shore up their continuity between each other.

In the dub, Takato hears Kazu and Kenta talking rather than singing.

Kenta: (disappointed) Where are all the Digimon? Kazu: (unintelligible because everyone talks over him) Takato: Someone's coming! Henry: Well, whoever it is sure is chatty. Jeri: Maybe it's Rika and the boys! Takato: I see the boys but that doesn't look like Rika. (Kazu, Kenta, and Ryo approach) Kazu: Hey-hey-hey! We have returned! Takato: It's about time! (Kazu and Kenta go ahead and meet with the others) Takato: You had us worried! Kazu: Yeah, we ran into some trouble. Nothing I couldn't take care of! (Ryo and Cyberdramon bring up the rear) Jeri: Who is that? Kazu: That, my friends, is the legendary Tamer Ryo! Kenta: He rocks! Kazu: If Tamers were cars, he'd be the monster truck. Ryo: (embarrassed) Aw, come on. I wish you guys wouldn't say that. Takato: Wow, I can't believe it's really you! Don't tell me that's your Partner? Ryo: Yeah. That is Cyberdramon. Takato: Awesome! Nice to meet you, fella. (Cyberdramon snarls; Takato flinches) Takato: Yeah, I don't think he likes me very much. Ryo: Ehehe, don't take it personally. He's not the socializing kind. He's really just a puppy on the inside once you get to know him. Terriermon: Puppy, huh? I'll believe it when I see it! (Cyberdramon takes a knee) Terriermon: Who's Ryo? Henry: He's the famous Tamer who disappeared after winning a major Digimon tournament. Some think he's the greatest Tamer of all time. Terriermon: He must be to keep Cyberscarymon there under control. That Digimon looks meaner than Rika! Henry: Try not to provoke him. Terriermon: What? Me? Never!

Kazu continues to be an arrogant blowhard.

Kazu introduces Ryo by first name only which sounds awkward to my ears.

The dub changes up quite a bit about Ryo's introduction here. First, they drop the mention of Cyberdramon's nemesis. It hasn't been dropped completely because it was mentioned last episode, but they cut it out of his intro here.

It's replaced by another "Digimon as housepets" bit, which are already a little grating with the way they're used to hold Guilmon back from his character development but hit really weird when applied to higher-level Digimon than the Child/Rookie level. It feels infantilizing to call Cyberdramon a "puppy on the inside".

They also drop the inconsistent and problematic detail about Ryō being rumored to have gone to the Digital World. The dub here says only that Ryo went missing, and then Henry and Terriermon banter over the rest of their dialogue.

Similarly, Takato's excitement to meet Cyberdramon is subtly changed from "I can't believe I'm seeing him up close!" to "It's nice to meet you", making it seem less like Cyberdramon is somehow a known element he's been both aware of and in awe of for a long time.

These tweaks make Ryo's introduction here fit better into continuity than it does in the original.

Now that Ryō's been introduced, Juri asks about the elephant in the room.

Juri: Hang on... Hey, what happened to Ruki-chan? Kenta: Ruki got upset and went off on her own. Juri: Huh? She's alone? Kenta: Yeah.... Takato: Hirokazu, you didn't say something stupid to piss her off, did you!? Hirokazu: N-No, I didn't!

He did.

Ryō: It was probably my fault.... Hirokazu: Th-That's not true at all! It's not your fault, Ryō-san!

It is.

Jianliang: Did something happen? Kenta: Hirokazu kept bragging about how much better Ryō-san is at Card Battling than Ruki is, and Ruki got upset. Takato: Yeah, that makes sense. Ruki has a lot of pride in her skills. Jianliang: She has Renamon with her, but I'm still worried. Juri: I wouldn't worry. I'm sure Ruki-chan will be fine. She's very strong, after all! Takato: You... you really think so?

I love how Takato hears that Ruki ran off in a huff and his first instinct is, "Hirokazu, what the hell did you do!?" He knows. He knows exactly whose fault this is. And he's right!

Also, aww, Juri has complete faith in Ruki's skills.

In the dub:

Jeri: Wait a minute, Kenta, how come Rika's not with you guys? Kenta: She got all mad and, you know, just took off. Jeri: She went off on her own? Kenta: Yeah. Takato: She wouldn't have done that unless one of you said something to make her really mad. Kazu: What're you looking at me for!? Ryo: Actually, I think all of this is my fault. Kazu: Hey, it's not your fault! It's her! Rika! She's nuts! Henry: Kenta, tell me what happened! Kenta: Kazu kept saying that Ryo's a better Tamer than she is and the only reason she's Digimon Queen is because Ryo wasn't around to kick her butt anymore. Takato: Way to go, Kazu; She's gonna be mad 'til the next millennium! Henry: This is really bad. It's dangerous out there. Something could happen to her! Jeri: But RIka's so strong and she has Renamon with her. I'm sure she'll be fine. Takato: Jeri's right! ...I hope....

The dub takes its first commercial break here.

EN Takato does not laser-focus in on Kazu as the guilty party. At least, not verbally, though as Kazu's next line demonstrates, he's still looking at Kazu when he says it.

Kenta claims that Kazu said that Rika only became Digimon Queen after Ryo disappeared. This is something he said... in the Japanese script. The dub script had Kazu say that Ryo got his reputation by beating the Digimon Queen, indicating that "Digimon Queen" was a title she held before he bested her. So that's a whoopsy-doodle.

Speaking of Ruki, she and Renamon are still tromping through snow in the clockwork world.

Renamon: It doesn't seem like we're going to find an exit. Ruki: Yes, we will. Renamon: Maybe we should have gone with Ryō. Ruki: Don't say that name! Renamon: Sometimes, I really have no idea what you're thinking, Ruki. Ruki: You don't need to understand! (quietly) Besides, it would just piss me off if you did.

Yep, she's still mad.

In the dub:

Renamon: Rika, we've been walking for hours. Rika: How observant, Renamon. What's your point? Renamon: Well, there's no sign of an exit and we still don't know where we're going. Not that I'm not happy to drag my tail in the sand all day, but don't you think we should have gone with Ryo? Rika: Oh, puh-leeze! That hack couldn't Tame his way out of a wet paper bag! Renamon: Just a suggestion....

It's been a while since we've heard from this particular character trait; I think episode 10 was when it came up previously? But Ruki can't stand people trying to get in her head. She prefers being considered mysterious and unknowable, and nothing pisses her off faster than claiming you know what she's thinking.

This part of their conversation is dropped from the dub.

EN Renamon says they're walking through sand. I took it to be snow but you know what, hourglass sand would make thematic sense here.

Back to the rest of the team in the abstract world.

Ryō: I think, if you stick around here, you'll probably run into Ruki again. But if you get caught up in one of those light pillars, there's no telling where you'll end up. So you should be careful. Jianliang: Yeah, we've had our fill of those. Ryō: How did all of you end up in the Digital World anyway? Takato: Oh, that's right! Ryō: Hm? Takato: Ryō-san, have you seen a small, white Digimon? Ryō: Huh? Small and white? Takato: Yes. It's this one.

Takato takes out his picture of Culumon to show to Ryō.

Ryō: Hmm... I haven't seen them. What kind of Digimon is this? Takato: This white one is called Culumon and apparently they hold the key to the Digimon's evolution. Ryō: This Digimon holds the key to evolution? Takato: That's why they were kidnapped by the Devas. We came here to find them. Ryō: Devas?

Why yes, we are putting the plot on hold for a moment so that we can explain to the video game fans who just showed up see Ryō animated why our anime is really cool and they should stick around and continue watching it.

This especially sticks out like a sore thumb in light of the fact that Hirokazu and Kenta already explained the plot to Ryō offscreen last episode, so it would be reasonable for him to already know this.

In the dub:

Kazu: Hey Ryo, how about some pointers on being a bodacious Tamer? Kenta: Where'd you get your radical outfit? Kazu: Outfit shmoutfit; Where'd you get Cyberdramon!? Kenta: Yeah! Does he have a twin brother or something? Jeri: Maybe we should ask Ryo about our mission? Henry: Finally, a reasonable suggestion. Ryo: That's right, I forgot to ask. Why are you guys in the Digital World? Takato: Oh yeah! Our friend Calumon was kidnapped and we're here to rescue him. You haven't seen him around, have you? Ryo: Around here? I don't know. What does he look like? Takato: Maybe this will help. (Takato shows Ryo the picture) Takato: He's a little guy who doesn't like to fight. Ryo: A Digimon that doesn't like to fight? Well, there's a first time for everything. Takato: He'd rather eat his way through cream puffs. There's something about him that helps other Digimon Digivolve. Ryo: So who do you think might have kidnapped him? Takato: The Devas! They're not the friendliest folk so we gotta find him before anything bad happens! Ryo: The Devas?

JP Ryō points out that sticking around here will be the Tamers' best shot at finding Ruki. He doesn't elaborate, but he suggested last episode that this is the only exit from the clockwork world so he seems to be banking on her eventually making her way here.

The dub drops this topic so that Kenta and Kazu can banter about how cool Ryo is.

JP Takato describes Culumon as small and white first before showing Ryō the picture. EN Takato offers no leading description, just saying "Have you seen Calumon?" as if Ryo's supposed to know who that is.

After showing the picture, however, EN Takato does bring up that Calumon doesn't like to fight. Considering how unique that makes him, this is a useful detail that JP Takato overlooks.

Next, Takato shows Ryō his picture of Makuramon.

Takato: This is one of the Devas.

Flashback to Makuramon snatching Culumon away from Juri, followed by Vikaralamon's rampage.

Takato (V.O.): He snatched Culumon, but we don't know much about what he really he. He just kept rambling about complicated things like "our God" and stuff. Jianliang (V.O.): The Devas went on a rampage in the Real World. Ryō (V.O.): Wait, is Japan okay? Takato (V.O.): Meiji-dori in Shinjuku was completely wrecked. Ryō (V.O.): I live in Fukuoka over in Kyushu. What's it like over there?

Don't worry, Ryō. There's a good chance that your home survived Vikaralamon's rampage. Solid 6 out of 10 odds.

(End Flashback) Takato: Nothing happened over there. It was just Shinjuku. Ryō: Whew... So that's how it is. I haven't been home in a long time. I wonder how my family's doing?

What a weird-ass question for Ryō to ask. What do you mean, you wonder how your family is doing? Aren't you from the Adventure universe? Why would you have family here!?

I've said it before but again, this crossover really only makes sense if you presume this is some kind of Tamersverse AU Ryō and not the official video game Ryō despite the franchise's insistence that they're the same.

While Brave Tamer would explain how Ryō crossed over, to my best knowledge it does not offer any explanation for how he acquired a new set of parents to then immediately abandon.

And the thing is, it's not like his Tamersverse parents are plot-critical. We are not going to go in detail about them in this episode. They could have avoided this entirely by just not having him talk about his home and family here.

Ryō's ability to just disappear into the Digital World for ten months would make way more sense if he really was a cosmic orphan with no roots in this universe; No home to go back to, no school to attend, no semblance of a normal life anywhere because he does not belong to this reality. It would be super easy for Crossover Ryo to just peace out from the Tamersverse Real World and not be missed.

But no. He explicitly confirms that he has a family in Fukuoka wondering where he disappeared to, that he is a real Tamersverse person born in this world who really did go Missing Persons on his whole family and life for Cyberdramon, and we are not going to talk about it in any detail. That's wild.

It's so wild that it almost makes me forget what I wanted to point out, which is that we are putting the plot on hold for a moment so that we can explain to the video game fans who just showed up see Ryō animated why our anime is really cool and they should stick around and continue watching it. With clips of past Deva fights so they can see how cool it is.

As is often the nature of crossovers, for as much as Ryō is here as a living commercial for his video games, we are also advertising the show itself to Ryō's fans too. We want Tamers fans to buy Brave Tamer and we want Ryō fans to watch more Tamers episodes.

In the dub:

Takato: Here's one of them. They serve someone called the Digimon Sovereign. (Flashback) Takato (V.O.): This one, Makuramon, was the Digi-napper! We tried to stop him but that monkey was too quick. Before we knew it, he escaped to the Digital World. Kazu (V.O.): Those Devas are totally out of control! Henry (V.O.): You should see the destruction they caused back home. Jeri (V.O.): I was more terrified than I've ever been. Kenta (V.O.): That pig Deva was like a giant backhoe! Well, with a snout. Takato (V.O.): We finally stopped it, but not before it wrecked a lot of the city. If they Digivolve, they'd be unstoppable. (End Flashback) Ryo: I see. Then I think we should rescue your friend as soon as we possibly can!

The dub scrubs this dialogue of all references to specific places. No mention is made of Ryo living in Fukuoka or of the damage being localized to this one street in Shinjuku.

In the original, the flashback is a conversation between Takato, Jian, and Ryō. In the dub, Ryo stays silent while Takato's whole crew takes turns explaining the flashback to him.

Enough about Ryō. Kenta lets out a scream all of a sudden.

Kenta: AHHH!!!

Ahead in the road are five scarecrow Digimon swaying gently.

Jianliang: Digimon!?

The Tamers and their Digimon brace for a fight.

Ryō: These Digimon don't do anything. They just stand there, swaying back and forth like this. Juri: ...they're kinda creepy....

Ryō's right; These Digimon aren't going to do anything. There is no twist and this is the last we'll see of them this episode. They don't even get scanned.

But for our reference, these are Nohemon. They're Wormmon's Armor Evolution through the Digimental of Purity/Sincerity, sneaking in another of those unused Armor forms.

Their name comes from the word へのへのもへじ henohenomoheji, which is a type of children's drawing.

The henohenomoheji is a way of creating a face out of Hiragana lettering by each of those individual kana in order. If you look close, you'll see that Nohemon indeed has a henohenomoheji for a face.

In the dub:

Nohemon: CRAWWWW!!! Kenta: Ack! Where'd they come from!? Henry: Are they Digimon!? Leomon: Stay back. They could be dangerous. Ryo: Don't worry. These Digimon are harmless. It just takes a while to get used to the way they pop up like that. Kenta: I'm gonna have nightmares for weeks! Jeri: They give me the jeebies....

Because they never get scanned with the Digivices, there is no dub name for the Nohemon.

In the original, the Nohemon are completely silent but for the sound of their wood creaking as they sway in the wind, which is utterly fucking terrifying.

The dub has their crows constantly squawking, which is still pretty creepy.

Cut to Makuramon and the Dragon still searching for Culumon.

Makuramon: Catsuramon is trying to track down the bearer of evolution's radiance before we can. We must find them as soon as possible.

Okay, we need to talk about another Digimon name. Catsuramon is the Dog Deva we saw earlier, who made the deal with Impmon.

Their name, as usual, comes from the Sanskrit name of the Heavenly General Catura, pronounced (to my best understanding) as "Cha-too-rah". In Japanese, this is spelled:

チャ Cha トゥ Tu ラ Ra

However, for some reason, the Dog Deva is named Catsuramon.

チャ Cha ツ Tsu ラ Ra

Which is also how Makuramon pronounces it. "Cha-tsu-ra-mon".

Weird.

In any case, we're down to the wire on Devas now. Makuramon, Catsuramon, and the Dragon are the last Devas standing, save for the open question of whether Andiramon will be involved in some way. Terriermon's counterpart is the only Heavenly General yet to be introduced as a Deva now.

In the dub:

Makuramon: Majiramon, would you step on it!? We have to find that no-good runt before Catsuramon does! He can't have gone too far on those stuffy little legs. I will not be humiliated by a knee-high rodent!

EN Makuramon adds Majiramon's name drop to this scene.

The dub pronounces Catsuramon with a hard "Kuh". That's an easy mistake to make. It's how I might have expected it to be pronounced if I just read it written out.

Leaving Makuramon behind, we find Culumon wandering in the desert world. They've thoroughly destroyed Takato's flag now to make it into a cape to wear.

Culumon: Pito pito pito pito pito.... Takato, Guilmon, where are you-culu? Culumon wants to find you soon-culu. Come find this flag-culu....

In the process of making their cape, Culumon seems to have ripped the flag off in the middle of Ruki and Renamon's faces, so all that's left is about 3/4 of those two plus Takato and Guilmon, with Culumon at the top. Either that or, due to Culumon's short height, most of the flag just got shredded from dragging on the ground.

Culumon slows to a stop.

Culumon: I'm getting a little tired-culu.... Culu?

Culumon hears footsteps approaching fast.

Culumon: Somebody's coming-culu!

Out of nowhere, a bizarre cartoon dog Digimon like something out of Tom and Jerry or Looney Tunes comes racing across the desert, kicking up dust. They stop in front of Culumon with a cartoony screech.

Culumon: Culu!? Um, um, do you know Takato-culu!? Please tell me if you know him-culu!

Without warning, the dog starts rapid-fire flicking little pellets into Culumon's face. Culumon flinches and covers their face.

Culumon: Ow! OW!!! That hurts-culu!

The dog laughs hysterically, pounding their fist on the ground.

Culumon: You're a mean Digimon-culu!

The dog stops suddenly, their eyes snapping open. They circle Culumon, sniffing them.

Culumon: Culu? What do you smell-culu? Dog: A cat! Culumon: A cat!?

Culumon sees where this is going. When the dog starts barking furiously, Culumon screams and runs for their life.

Culumon: AHHHHHH!!! STOP IT-CULU!!!

Nearby, a Gekomon and Otamamon watch all of this unfold, saying nothing.

Another Digimon we're not going to get an Analyzer screen for. This is Dogmon, an Adult-level Data-attribute Puppet-type Digimon. Dogmon was a fan submission for a contest to design a new Digimon. In succession, Dogmon was released in the TCG, as a boss fight for the D-Ark Digimon toy, and then debuted here in the show.

In the dub:

Calumon: Takato! Guilmon! Where are you? My tummy hurts, my feet hurts, my toes... well, I don't have any toes but if I did, they'd hurt! Oh, I wish I were back in the Real World where there are nice people and cream puffs.... When will someone find me? Dog: (distant) AROOOOO Calumon: Huh!? What's that? (Dog runs up) Calumon: Hello, Mr. Dog! I'm looking for Takato, Guilmon, and maybe a really big box of cookies! (Dog flicks seeds into Calumon's face) Calumon: Ow ow ow ow! (Dog laughs and pounds the ground) Calumon: Where I come from, we shake hands! (Dog sniffs around Calumon) Calumon: Wh-What are you doing now, huh? Dog: Ahhh... I smell lunch! Calumon: What's on the menu? Dog: (barking) You! You! You! YOU!!! (Calumon screams and flees) Calumon: BAD DOGGY!!! Uh, what I meant to say was nice doggy! NICE DOGGY!!! WHOAAAA!!!

Last episode, Calumon was more interested in Rika than in Guilmon, but it's a new episode so the dub rerails them back to searching for Takato and Guilmon.

Calumon brings up cream puffs here to harken back to the joke EN Takato made earlier.

JP Dogmon tells Culumon that they smell a cat. This is a reference to the iconic cartoon rivalry between cats and dogs.

EN Dogmon threatens to gobble up Calumon for lunch, which was implied in JP Dogmon calling Culumon a cat, but is directly stated without the flavorful dog/cat rivalry piece here.

Dog/cat cartoon rivalries aren't exactly an obscure concept to American children, so they probably changed this because they wanted to do the bit of Dogmon barking the word "You!" over and over.

Back in the abstract town, Ryō brings the Tamers to a secure resting place.

Juri: It's a castle... Check it out, Leomon! Leomon: Mhm. Ryō: We should be safe here. There's also a bedroom, which makes it a great place to stop and rest.

The Tamers enter the colossal estate. Overheard, through a skylight, the Real World can be seen. The sky darkens as the Digital World clicks over to night.

Takato: Night just fell. Juri: No matter how many times I see it, I never get used to that. Takato: Yeah.

Come to think of it, I wonder how many nights we've been here? Does every world have night at the same time? When Ruki and the boys were experiencing night in the clockwork world with Ryō, was it also night in the desert world for Takato's group? It didn't seem like it. Maybe nights are staggered.

Given the arbitrary nature of night, there's no guarantee that night and day are even on a 24-hour cycle. Maybe the Digital World just turns off the sky in some worlds periodically.

In the dub:

Jeri: A castle! What do you think, Leomon? Leomon: Hmm... It's interesting. Ryo: I know it looks funny; Staring at it gives me a headache. But it's safe and we can spend the night here. (Everyone goes inside) Terriermon: This place is bigger than Kazu's ego! Henry: Yeah, or your mouth! Takato: Wow! Guilmon: I'm sleepy, Takatomon. When's bedtime? (The sky turns off) Takato: Well, now, I guess. Jeri: I don't know about you guys, but I'll never get used to that. Takato: Yep.

Same thing but with some jokes added.

Ryō shows the team to a single huge bedroom with eight beds.

Hirokazu: Oh wow! Kenta: Can we sleep here?

Juri claims the last bed on the right side of the room, sitting down on it.

Juri: It's so fluffy!

Terriermon claims a bed as well, bouncing on it.

Terriermon: A bed! A bed! Ahahahaha! Juri: If only Ruki-chan could be here with us.... Ryō: ( ._.)

Ryō says nothing in response to that but he lets out a small sigh and deflates a little. He still blames himself for Ruki leaving. And he is still partially correct, though Hirokazu bears the brunt of the blame. Her departure was about Ryō, but it was because of Hirokazu.

Jianliang: Is no one using this place? Ryō: Yeah, it seems no one uses it. So no one will complain even if we stay here for days. Hirokazu: WOOHOO!!! I could just stay here forever, y'know? Kenta: What are you saying!? We haven't even found our Partner Digimon yet! Hirokazu: Oh, you're right. I almost forgot about that.

It was already kinda obvious when Ryō first showed it to us, but Ryō confirms that this is a regular haunt of his.

This place is reminding me a lot of Devimon's mansion. There's something very particular about a huge house with a huge bedroom that has eight beds specifically.

It's not Devimon's mansion, of course. That was in a huge forest on File Island and not an abstract monochrome world. But this is giving Devimon's mansion vibes.

It's not a very convenient number, considering we have to accomodate:

Takato

Jianliang

Juri

Hirokazu

Kenta

Ryō

Guilmon

Terriermon

Leomon

Cyberdramon

Two people are getting screwed out of beds. Well, one person, if Terriermon sleeps with Jian. He's the only Digimon small enough to share.

So I feel like the number eight is here specifically for the Adventure reference.

In the dub:

Ryo: Well, here we are. Rika: Wow! Takato: I know what you mean. I'd forgotten what beds even looked like! Kazu: It's like camp! Kenta: But without the counselors! (Jeri claims her bed) Jeri: It's comfy! (Terriermon bounces) Terriermon: Yeah, and it's bouncy bouncy BOUNCY!!! Jeri: I wish Rika was here. I wonder where she's sleeping tonight? Ryo: ( ._.) Henry: Hey, Ryo? Doesn't anyone live in this place? Ryo: No, this castle has been empty since I first found it. So you guys can stay here for as long as you want. Kazu: Aww yeah! We can stay in this castle FOREVER!!! Kenta: No parents, no school, no gym shorts! Why would we ever leave!? Jeri: Because we're here on a rescue mission, not to play hooky! Kazu: You're always raining on my parade! Henry: She's also always right.

In the original, it's Kenta who rains on Hirokazu's parade. He points out that they came here for a very specific purpose that they haven't completed yet, so obviously they can't just stay up here forever. Hirokazu concedes that point to Kenta

The dub keeps Kazu and Kenta aligned and pivots the role of the spoilsport to Jeri. She claps back at him about rescuing Calumon, the team's overarching goal, instead of Kenta and Hiro/Kazu's personal goal.

Kazu does not concede the point but instead whines at Jeri for being a fun-killing nag, which forces Henry to step in and back her up. At which point Kazu shuts up because I guess he respects Henry more than Jeri.

Now that we're stopping for a moment, Juri has a concern that I've been wondering about for a while.

Juri: By the way, I feel like it's been a long time since we last ate anything. Guilmon: Mmm... Guilmon ate that sour chocolate earlier. Terriermon: It was awful.... Kenta: But I'm not really hungry either. Takato: Come to think of it, neither am I. Ryō: Here, you can just eat whenever you feel hungry. There's no limits for what you can eat or how much you have to. Takato: Hrmm... something about that feels unsatisfying. Ryō: You'll get used to it soon enough!

Here we have an answer for why losing all the food as soon as we arrived at the Digital World hasn't actually been a problem for the Tamers. Eating food is completely recreational in the Digital World. You can't actually starve here.

This also explains why the mud balls in the Tsuchidarumon village were so unexpectedly delicious. Anything is edible here.

Like the day/night cycle being a toggle and the Real World hanging in the sky, this is another way that the Tamersverse Digital World is a fundamentally different place than the Adventureverse Digital World. In Adventure, foraging for food was an ever-present concern, but it's a non-issue here thanks to the rules of how Tamers's Digital World works.

In the dub:

Takato: Hey, has anyone noticed we haven't eaten in a while? Guilmon: I ate that icky thing I thought was chocolate but it wasn't. Terriermon: Don't remind me. Kenta: It's strange but I don't feel hungry. Takato: Yeah, you're always hungry! Ryo: Haven't you figured it out yet? In the Digital World, you only eat when you feel like it. The last time I had dinner or any other meal for that matter was more than two weeks ago. Takato: Wow! That's one heck of a diet, Ryo.... Ryo: Eh, you get used to it. Jeri: Sure is a lot of stuff to get used to around here!

The dub has Takato be the one to point out that they haven't eaten in days, rather than Jeri. She's too busy nagging Kazu in Kenta's place, I guess.

Once the food question is swept under the rug, it's lights out!

Hirokazu: Okay, bedtime!

Lights go out and an overhead shot shows us that Guilmon and Terriermon are sharing a bed, answer one question about the insufficient beds, but another remains.

Juri: I can't fall asleep that fast. Takato: Just close your eyes and you'll fall asleep soon enough. Juri: ...okay.

I feel Juri. I can't just lay down and conk out either. Sleepovers always sucked as a kid for this exact reason. Not that it matters because there's a new reason to be awake: The clanking sound of footsteps in the hall.

Kenta wakes up suddenly, throwing on his glasses.

Kenta: What's that sound!?

A Knightmon patrolling the hall passes by the doorway. Kenta freaks out so hard he wakes everyone up.

Kenta: WHAA--!?!? Hirokazu: What's going on...? Kenta: J-J-J-JUST NOW-- Jianliang: What's wrong!? Ryō: Oh, that's just Knightmon. They always patrol this hallway at night. They won't attack unless you do something. Kenta: Um, visually speaking, they sure look like a ghost.... Ryō: Yeah, I guess in the Real World something like that would be a ghost. But it's just a Digimon.

Ryō lays back down, rolls over, and zonks out in a second.

Kenta: He went back to sleep. Hirokazu: Would you call that brave or something else? Jianliang: I guess that's the kind of attitude that keeps you going here. Takatu: Yeah, true. Hirokazu: I'm starting to lose my nerve.... Kenta: Me too....

Amid all this chaos, we get a pretty clear impression of the sleeping arrangement here. The beds are consistently shot to paint a picture of who's sleeping where.

Takato | Juri Guilmon and Terriermon | Kenta Jianliang | Hirokazu Ryō | Eighth Bed

However, they're also tricky with their camera angles to never reveal who is in the eighth bed, depriving us of the opportunity to see Leomon and Cyberdramon snuggled up like Guilmon and Terriermon in a child-sized twin bed! Rude!

Refusing to animate that shot is the greatest crime that Digimon anime has ever committed. Including Holsmon.

As an aside, wasn't it a running joke that Hirokazu and Kenta could just drop wherever they're standing, fall asleep instantly, and then sleep through a hurricane? What happened to that? I feel like Ryō just stole their joke.

In the dub:

Jeri: Takato, do you miss home? Takato: Um, actually, I haven't really thought about it that much. Jeri: ...really.... (Heavy metal footsteps) Kenta: Uhh, who goes there? (Knightmon passes in the hall) Kenta: AHHHHH!!! Kazu: Huh? Kenta: WHAT IS THAT!?!? Henry: What's going on? Ryo: Oh, that's Knightmon. You don't have to worry about him. He roams the halls at night looking for more enemies to decapitate. Kenta: Did you say decapitate!? What if Knightmon comes in here and thinks we're his enemies!? Ryo: Huh? Oh, I never thought of that. Just don't pick a fight with him or anything. You know, stay out of his way. You'll be fine. (Ryo goes back to sleep) Kenta: Yeah, okay, but what if he has a bad night or if he, um... Ryo? Is he sleeping already? Kazu: He's either really brave or he's lost his marbles! Henry: I don't know. Maybe you need nerves of steel to survive this long in the Digital World. Takato: Obviously! Kazu: I don't know if I'm cut out for this.... Kenta: Me neither....

Juri expresses difficulty sleeping. Jeri asks Takato if he misses home to set up the next scene.

EN Knightmon mumbles to himself unintelligibly. JP Knightmon is silent but for the sound of their heavy metal footfalls.

JP Ryō assures the team that Knightmon's harmless and then zonks out. EN Ryo adds that Knightmon's looking for foes to decapitate, then admits that he's never considered the idea that he might become a target; This makes him look stupid and reckless, rather than coming off as an experienced ace like JP Ryō does.

In the process, Kenta's point about Knightmon resembling a ghost gets dropped.

As the others eventually fall asleep, Takato lies awake.

He sits up, picking up his rucksack from beside his bed. Opening the pack, he reveals a flashlight and compass as well as a yellow tenugui with the word "KEEP" written on it; These are small towels with a variety of uses such as wrapping a bentō, wearing it as a headband, or using it as a hand towel.

Takato: I haven't used these much. Was there even any point in bringing them?

Considering what we just learned, one can ask the same about all the food we packed and then immediately lost. The Tamers geared up for way more of a survivalist experience than their setting's Digital World has actually provided.

Looking inside his empty pack, Takato suddenly notices that there's a yellow square of cloth sewn into the bottom of it.

Takato: Huh? What's this for?

He peels off the cloth to reveal a folded letter and a purple お守り omamori pouch; A protection charm imploring a Shinto kami or Buddhist deity to bless its bearer with safety and good fortune.

In the dub:

Takato: (thinking) Now why can't I sleep? (Shot of Kazu and Kenta) Takato: (thinking) A typhoon couldn't wake them up! (sigh) I wonder if I brought something to read? (Takato opens his pack) Takato: (thinking) Gosh, look at all this stuff. Why'd I pack this? We don't need a flashlight; We need a miracle! Huh? Wait a minute, what's that? Takato: I didn't put that there. (Takato peels off the yellow square) Takato: (thinking) A good luck charm?

Dub Team also seems to have noticed that the show forgot Hirokazu and Kenta's running gag. They try to put it back in right here, though the last scene already demonstrated that they can't sleep through a typhoon tonight.

JP Takato doesn't offer a specific reason for why he's going through his pack. EN Takato uses his inner monologue to say he's looking for a book to read.

EN Takato explains that the omamori is a good luck charm for the benefit of an American audience that wouldn't otherwise know what that was.

Takato takes the letter out of his pack, opening it up to read. While he reads it, a sad instrumental of Biggest Dreamer plays quietly in the background.

Takato: Mom.... Yoshie (V.O.): Takato, I don't know if you'll ever find and read this letter. However, I'm worried that I may not be able to say "Itterashai" to you so I've decided to write this.

While Takato reads, we pan up to see the Real World hanging in the sky above.

Yoshie (V.O.): I remember the day you were born as if it were only yesterday.

Then we transition to Shinjuku proper in the Real World; The Metropolitan Government Building clearly visible against the night sky.

Yoshie (V.O.): You were such a big baby, and it made your delivery into a whole ordeal.

At Matsuda Bakery, Takehiro brings a tray of bread upstairs from the kitchen. He notices a light coming out of Takato's room; Inside, Yoshie is nostalgically going through Takato's belongings.

Yoshie (V.O.): And yet before I knew it, you'd already grown up so much. How quickly time flies....

In Takato's room, Yoshie gets up off the floor and pulls back the blanket of his bed. She finds a shirt he left there

Yoshie (V.O.): I've tucked an omamori pouch in with this letter.

Yoshie picks up the shirt, holding it up to her face and trembling with implied crying.

Yoshie (V.O.): I believe in you, of course. This is just a prayer from your foolish and worried mother.

Outside Takato's room, Takehiro watches silently. A closeup of the tray in his hands reveals that he's made just what he promised. Takehiro has a freshly baked batch of Guilmon Bread.

Yoshie (V.O.): Even if it's too late to say it now, itterashai.

Finally, back in the Digital World, a single teardrop falls onto the omamori pouch now clutched in Takato's hand.

Yoshie (V.O.): Come home safe and sound. Takato: ...Mom....

Okay, a few things.

First off, according to the kanji on the front, the charm Yoshie packed with the letter is a 厄除 yakuyoke.

There are many kinds of omamori for many different kinds of blessing you might wish to receive. The yakuyoke is pretty much what you'd imagine a talisman like this to be for: It's for warding off evil spirits and keeping its bearer safe from harm.

Easy to see why Yoshie would choose this particular omamori for Takato's journey.

Second is that phrase, Itterashai. We've talked about some of the customary phrases for various things in Japan before but as a refresher: When leaving your home or workplace or somewhere else you frequent often, it's customary to say Ittekimasu which means "I am leaving with intent to come back". The person you're speaking to then says Itterashai which means "Please leave and return."

When the Tamers were getting ready to go to the Digital World, there was an eerie sense of finality weighing on them. They were going to a place no one has ever been to before with no idea of if it will be possible for them to come back, something that affected Juri especially.

But Yoshie rejects that finality.

There are a lot of ways to say goodbye in Japanese. Some carry an indication of finality, that this is the last time you'll ever see each other again. Some are ambiguous in their meaning, leaving the door open for whatever happens. Some are casual partings for people you know you'll see tomorrow.

Yoshie says none of these to Takato here in her letter. What she says is "Please leave and come back", as if Takato were merely going off to school or going to play in the park. No matter what happens, she expects him to come home.

In the dub:

(Takato opens the letter) Takato: From Mom.... Yoshie (V.O.): Dear Takato, there's so much I wanted to tell you before you left but there wasn't time, so I'm writing this letter to tell you how proud your father and I are of you. (Pan up to the Real World) Yoshie (V.O.): It seems like only yesterday you were a little baby putting spinach up your nose. You always knew how to make me laugh! But look at you now. So independent and so brave! (Shinjuku) Yoshie (V.O.): I know I've been hard on you sometimes, telling you to get your head out of the clouds and into your school books. (Takehito comes upstairs and sees Yoshie in Takato's room) Yoshie (V.O.): But the truth is, I love everything about you, even the quirky parts! You get that from your father. (Yoshie pulls back the blanket) Yoshie (V.O.): I'll make you a deal. I won't worry myself sick over you if you promise me you'll come home safe and sound. (Yoshie picks up Takato's shirt and cries into it) Yoshie (V.O.): Lots of love, Mom. (Takehiro watches with Guilmon Bread) Yoshie (V.O.): P.S. The Guilmon Bread still needs a little work! (Takato cries onto the omamori) Yoshie (V.O.): P.P.S. The lucky charm carries all my love with it. We miss you, son. Takato: Thank you, Mom.

Tonally, the dub letter is way more upbeat and positive than the original letter. JP Yoshie's letter is a somber expression of her worry, grief, and hope for Takato's return. EN Yoshie's letter is a love-bomb of boundless encouragement and support, which doesn't quite match the visual of Yoshie weeping into Takato's shirt.

There's a striking tonal difference between

-> Please don't think this protection charm means I don't trust you; It's just a prayer from your foolish and worried mother. -> I'll make you a deal! You tell me you'll be fine and I won't worry a second about it!

The dub letter also says that the Guilmon Bread still needs work which. Like. Yeah, I'd imagine so, given that she wrote this letter the night before he left, when Guilmon Bread was still just an idea in Takehito's head. What a weird detail to include.

This letter doesn't have "I'm writing this to say goodbye in case I can't do it in person" energy.

It has "So you've been gone a week. How's the Digital World? Things back home are pretty great," energy. Like she wrote and mailed it to him just this morning. And expects return correspondence judging from the "I'll make you a deal" bit?

Suddenly, a voice pierces the darkness. Takato isn't the only person awake. In fact, he was warned that he wouldn't be, so this is on him.

Juri: Takato-kun?

Realizing that Juri's sitting up and watching up, Takato quickly wipes the tears from his eyes.

Juri: What's wrong? Takato: It's nothing. Juri: You can't sleep? Takato: Yeah... Kind of. I'm okay. Juri: ... Takato: ... Juri: Were you crying? Takato: (defensive) Yeah, right. Like I'd be crying....

Takato's being a little surly here. Yoshie's letter made him vulnerable, and the realization that Juri's seen him this vulnerable is making his walls slam shut. But Juri slips on her shoes and approaches him anyway.

Juri: Is that an omamori? Takato: It was in my rucksack. Juri: From your mom? Takato: Yeah. Juri: She must be worried about you. Takato: Yeah.

Finally, Takato opens up, looking up at Juri with a smile.

Takato: It's fine, though! I'm sure I'll get home safe and sound! We just need to hurry up and find Culumon! Juri: ( ^ᴗ^) Yeah! Takato: ( °_°) ....

Takato stares silently at Juri's big, sweet smile for a couple seconds before he finds the nerve to say something.

Takato: Um, Katō-san...? Juri: Yes? Takato: I'm glad that you became a Tamer and came on this adventure with us!

Good job, Takato! We cut to commercial here on him figuring out how to flirt with his crush.

He's taking a mulligan on his fuck-up when he tried to flirt with Juri back in the fast-travel cube room. Back then, he'd told her, "I'm sorry you became a Tamer and came on this adventure," and she was like, "Fuck you talking about; My choice, my Digimon!" That was a foot delivered straight into mouth.

Here, he basically says the same thing but in a celebratory tone rather than an apologetic one. Much better.

In the dub:

Jeri: Takato? Takato: Hm? (Takato wipes his eyes quickly) Jeri: Are you alright? Takato: Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Jeri: Well, you don't look fine. Takato: I, uh, just have trouble sleeping. I-I think it's 'cause I've got something in my eye. Jeri: Are you crying? Takato: (defensive) No, of course I'm not! (Jeri slips on her shoes and walks over to Takato's bed) Jeri: Takato, what is that? Takato: It's just something that my mother gave me. Jeri: Is it for luck? Takato: Uh-huh. Jeri: I bet she misses you a lot. Takato: She does. (Takato cheers up) Takato: But I'll see her soon! All we have to do first is find Calumon! And once we do that, then we can all go home! Jeri: ( ^ᴗ^) Ehehehehehe! Takato: ( °_°) .... Jeri: What'd your mom think if she saw you with Cyberdramon? Takato: Are you kidding me!? I'd be grounded 'til I was a hundred! Both: Ahahahahaha! Takato: You know what, Jeri? Jeri: What? Takato: I'm really glad you came along. Jeri: Hehe, me too.

The dub also takes its second commercial break here.

EN Takato isn't as closed off and defensive as JP Takato is. He's more open to using his words and chatting with Jeri, though he does still deny crying.

The final exchange between Takato and Jeri is, like the rest of this whole Mom's Letter sequence, more upbeat and positive than the somber, quiet scene of the original. It does understand its main assignment, however: Let Takato and Juri/Jeri have a moment of pure shippiness.

Following the commercial break, the sky turns to day over the desert world. Poor Culumon is still wearily trudging through the dirt, trying to get away from Dogmon.

Culumon: Ugh, I'm so tired-culu. Why-culu...?

Culumon's legs give out and they faceplant into the dirt, stopping there to rest.

A moment later, an awfully familiar motorcycle pulls up in front of Culumon.

Culumon: Huh...?

Culumon looks up to see Beelzebumon astride the cursed motorcycle looking down at them.

Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) .... Culumon: Huh? Who are you-culu? Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) ....

Suddenly, Culumon bounds to their feet with renewed vigor and extends their ears.

Culumon: Oh, that's right! Culumon wants to ask you something-culu! Do you know Takato and Guilmon-culu?

Culumon pulls the scrap of the flag he's used for his cape around so that Beelzebumon can see Guilmon's face and what part there is of Renamon's.

Culumon: Takato made this flag-culu. Beelzebumon: ( ≖_≖) ....

Beelzebumon says nothing. Having come to a decision, they rev their engine and drive off, kicking up a cloud of dust that engulfs Culumon.

Culumon: (cough cough cough) That's a Digimon of few words-culu. There's so many different kinds of Digimon-culu.

Suddenly, their eyes shoot open as they realize what this means. The awful truth that this parting has revealed to them!

Culumon: (gasp) Now Culumon is ALL ALONE AGAIN-CULU!!!

NOOOOOOOOO

Culumon deflates once more, resuming their trek through the isolated wasteland.

Culumon: So lonely... I'll just have to keep looking for Takato and the others-culu....

Poor, poor Culumon.

This is an interesting exchange because on the one hand, Beelzebumon sorta works for God and the Devas, right? He made a pact with God and all that.

But his pact only entailed defeating Guilmon and the other Partner Digimon. He never agreed to captured Culumon for them.

He also didn't exactly dive into fighting Guilmon and the others with gusto back in the Tsuchidarumon episode either.

So while it's hard to know exactly what Beelzebumon is thinking right here, you can kinda see the gears turning. Like. This is it. This is what the Devas are after. The Devas want Culumon. God and Catsuramon would want him to grab Culumon and bring them in.

But the decision he makes here is to just keep driving and pretend he never saw Culumon, offering neither help nor harm. It's a very neutral choice. A very Impmon choice.

In the dub:

Calumon: Must keep going... Don't want to be doggy chow... Calumon is brave... Calumon doesn't give up! Calumon is (facepalnt) toast! (Beelzemon's motorcycle pulls up) Calumon: Huh...? Hi...? (Calumon looks up and sees Beelzemon) Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... Calumon: Um... Could you help me, oh please, oh pleeease? Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... (Calumon gets up suddenly) Calumon: I'm lost and I'm trying to find my friends! I can show you a picture of them. (Calumon shows Beelzemon the cape) Calumon: I know they all look kinda fuzzy but if you squint and use your imagination.... Beelzemon: ( ≖_≖) .... (Beelzemon drives off) Calumon: (cough cough cough) Ohh... Hello? ...aww, nuts. Well, I guess that's a big no. But he didn't have to go and make the air all coughy! (Calumon looks up suddenly) Calumon: Oogh! If Takato doesn't find me soon, that silly monkey will. Or Doggymon! Why's everyone here so mean? (Calumon deflates and starts walking again) Calumon: Gotta keep going like a train. Chugga-chugga-chugga....

"Calumon is toast" got me. XD

I'm so, so glad that they didn't give Beelzemon any dialogue here and let his stone-faced silence transfer across.

When showing Beelzemon the cape, Calumon says his friends "all look kinda fuzzy" but only one and a half friends are visible in that image.

The more pressing concern, Calumon, is that the flag has been utterly destroyed such that you're missing most of the people you're asking Beelzemon about. That's kind of a bigger deal than the drawing being "fuzzy".

A couple funny bits are lost here. FIrst, Culumon asks Beelzebumon if he knows Takato and Guilmon, identifying them by name. After Beelzebumon leaves, Culumon describes him as 無口な mukuchina, meaning quiet, reserved, taciturn, someone who's hard to read because they keep their feelings to themselves and speak very little.

There's a lot of dramatic irony in these statements. First, because Beelzebumon does know Takato and Guilmon. Culumon has no way of knowing that, but Beelzebumon doesn't actually need to see a picture of them; He in fact knows them by name.

And second, knowledge of exactly who evolved into Beelzebumon makes the description of him as mukuchina very funny. But the dub drops that in favor of saying that Beelzemon "made the air coughy".

We also lose the sad yet hilarious moment where Culumon shrieks at the top of their lungs out of sheer frustration over being constantly alone here.

In its place, Calumon expresses worry about Makuramon and Dogmon, or "Doggymon" as the dub calls him.

"Doggymon" may be a product of the kana used to spell his name. With the exception of 'n', ending a word on a hard consonant isn't a thing in Japanese; Nearly all kana combine a consonant and vowel sound. So English words with hard consonant endings have particular ways of getting Katakanized.

Dogmon in Katakana is spelled ドッグモン Doggumon. It's just a hop, skip, and a jump from there to Doggymon.

As for "Chugga-chugga", this might be the first time Calumon's ever made use of Culumon's onomatopoeia trait!

In the abstract world, Ryō brings the Tamers to a spiral stairwell leading down into a black abyss.

Takato: A stairwell? Ryō: We're going down here. Jianliang: Huh? Shouldn't we go up? Ryō: Even though you can see the Real World up there, we still need to go down these stairs. Juri: That's hard to believe. Ryō: You'll see once we get there.

Without another word, Ryō and Cyberdramon approach the stairwell.

Hirokazu: Hang on! We're coming too!

Despite their reservations, the Tamers follow after Ryō.

What Ryō's saying doesn't make a lot of sense, but this is what he was alluding to when he told Ruki and the others last episode that you can't reach the Real World just by going up.

The Digital World does not make geographical sense because it's not a world. It's a network of worlds like different maps of a video game, which are connected by entrances and exits.

The Real World hangs in the sky above all worlds but that's just, like, aesthetic design. It's not really there. Even if you can fly, you can't get there from here by going up. How you actually get there is a mystery to everyone, and rumors abound. But it's not as simple as "Fly up to that sphere in the sky which is a real place in a geographically sensible reality."

To return to the desert map, the world closest to the Real World, we need to pass through the "loading screen" so to speak that is going down these stairs. That will take us from this map to that map.

Everything about the mechanics here, from Digimon gaining XP to food being optional to the unrealistic day/night cycle to the world being a set of maps separated by entrances and exits, is all the language of a video game. The Digital World is a giant video game.

In the dub:

Ryo: Come on, you guys. These stairs will take us to another plane in the Digital World. Kenta: Why bother? There probably won't be any cool Digimon there either.... Kazu: Yeah! The Digimon we've seen are all either freaky or creepy! Terriermon: Sounds like the two of you. Kazu: Hey! Ryo: Well, you can stay here if you want. With Knightmon. (Ryo starts walking) Kazu: Since you put it that way, come on! (The Tamers follow) Henry: You sure have a way with words, Ryo.

The dub skips the debate about the metaphysics of the Digital World. Ryo says the stairs will take us to "another plane" of the Digital World and everyone accepts what that means without question.

Cutting out the actual content of this scene then provides a new opportunity for Kazu and Kenta to be goobers. I feel like Dub Team's been doing a lot of that lately. Quite a few changes to recent episodes boil down to finding places to let Kazu and Kenta be goobers.

Indeed, the earlier decision in this episode to make Jeri the nag instead of Kenta may have been about letting Kazu and Kenta have a Goober Moment instead of a serious disagreement between them about their silly priorities.

Mind, they're goofy characters even in the original, so it does make sense that the jokey dub's latched onto them this way.

In the desert world, it's time for an impromptu music video! Over there, in the Addendum!

Culumon: Chobo chobo chobo chobo

A dust packet blows past, suddenly cheering Culumon up.

Culumon: Culuculu!? What's going on!? Where are you going-culu!? Culumon's coming too-culu!

Culumon promptly forgets their troubles and chases after the dust packet, rolling head over heels to copy it while beginning to sing their insert song.

A trio of Woodmon watch from atop a nearby rock.

Woodmon 1: Where'd that Digimon come from? Woodmon 2: No idea. Cute kid, though. Woodmon 1: I just hope they don't get lost.

Culumon keeps chasing the dust packet until soon they're joined by the glowing axolotls that previously set them free from Makuramon's cage.

Culumon: Let's all sing together-culu!

Culumon keeps singing until the sigil on their forehead activates. The path they've tread glows with the light of evolution, which turns into a blinding radiance.

Those three Woodmon from a moment ago witness this fountain of light emerging, and so evolve into a trio of Jureimon.

Jureimon 1: We evolved!? Jureimon 2: What the hell is going on!?

Culumon is just as lost as they are.

Culumon: Culu...? Kira kira...?

More Culumon onomatopoeia: Chobo chobo is basically "plip plop plip plop". Kira kira is the sound of sparkling or twinkling.

In the dub, Calumon has his own version of this song with its own Addendum.

Calumon: Chugga-chugga-chugga-- (Old data blows past) Calumon: Oh, what a pretty ball! Can I play with you? Can I? Can I? I know some really good games! WAIT FOR ME!!! (Calumon rolls in a ball after the dust packet) Calumon: Ahahahahahahaha! Whee! This is fun! Woodmon 1: Okay, what's up with the little guy? Woodmon 2: Beats me. Kids today are crazy! Woodmon 1: I've got two words for ya: Sunstroke! (Calumon sings his song until the doodle starts to glow) Calumon: What a pretty light! Woodmon Trio: Wow! (Woodmon all Digivolve into Cherrymon) Cherrymon 1: What happened!? Cherrymon 2: I don't know, but it felt great! Calumon: Wow! Did I do that?

Sunstroke is one word. I'm not sure if this is a mistake or if Woodmon 1 is supposed to be an idiot, as "I have [number] words: [wrong number of words]" is a stock American joke format for characters trying to sound smarter than they are.

It was especially popularized after Disney's Hercules in 1997 featured a character whose running joke was saying "I've got two words for you: [Some random number of words]!"

But sunstroke is a compound word, so it could easily be mistaken for actually being two words.

I'm going to put my money down on "intentional joke". In any case, most of what I have to say about this scene is in the addendums so let's move on.

The problem with setting off this bright glow of evolution's light is that it's visible from great distance. Makuramon takes notice immediately.

Makuramon: The light of evolution... The one who bears evolution's radiance must be in that direction! Hurry!

Meanwhile, just as Ryō said, descending the stairwell through the black void did indeed exit the team out into the desert world through an opening that just sits there in the air. A hole in space to move from one map to another.

Kenta: You were right. We are here. What a weird staircase....

The sound of the Dragon soaring through the air alerts Jian.

Jianliang: What's that?

The Tamers see the Dragon descending towards Culumon's evolution ribbon. Somehow, they also make out Makuramon on his head.

Juri: It's Makuramon! Takato: Culumon might be over there!

The Tamers run on foot to try and reach the ribbon as well.

At long last, Culumon has been located. Now it's a race to see who will reach them first!

In the dub:

Makuramon: Aha... Unless my eyes are deceiving me, that's the light of Digivolution! Get a move on! (Tamers enter the desert) Takato: Nothing out of the ordinary here. Just sand and more sand. (Henry hears Majiramon) Henry: Huh? (Henry turns and sees Majiramon) Henry: And a thirty-foot flying dragon! Jeri: It's Makuramon! Takato: I bet Calumon's nearby! (Tamers run for the Digivolution ribbon) Kenta: Last one there has to wrestle the dragon!

Again, the dub skims over how weird the map transitions are.

Will the Tamers reach Culumon before Makuramon does, or will Makuramon claim his prize? The race is on!

It does not go well! Everybody loses!

Culumon: Kira kira? So much kira kira!

The axolotls notice the Dragon coming before Culumon does. They turn and flee.

Culumon: Culuculu? Where are you going-culu? I want to play some more-culu!

Culumon chases after the axolotls as the Dragon comes overhead.

Makuramon: Where is the bearer of evolution's radiance?

Good question, but Makuramon's not likely to find them. Culumon trips and rolls into a deep ravine.

Culumon: CULUUUUUU!!!

Culumon has no longer been located! So much for that!

In the dub:

Calumon: Whoa, it's as bright as a bug light. (Majiramon closes in) Calumon: And here come the bugs! (Axolotls flee) Calumon: Don't go! Please don't leave me! Come back! (Calumon chases the axolotls) Makuramon: Our little friend is close by; I can smell him! (Calumon falls into the ravine) Calumon: AHHHHHH!!!

In the original, the axolotls notice the Dragon but Culumon does not. Thus their departure confuses Culumon, who chases after them and ends up in the ravine.

In the dub, Calumon's notices and calls out Majiramon. He's fully aware that Makuramon's coming to get him, but then has to reset to Culumon's animation anyway.

As a result, for some reason, Calumon is still surprised when the axolotls flee from the obvious violent threat. Then he calls after them to come back here where the violence is about to happen.

With Culumon no longer here to be found, Makuramon arrives on the scene. The Dragon passes by near the Jureimon.

Makuramon: They're close. Scour the area quickly!

Makuramon looks down but, to his shock, he doesn't see Culumon but instead the Tamers down there, looking right back up at him.

Cyberdramon's tensed up and snarling, raring to go. He charges into battle without a word.

Ryō: Cyberdamon! Any time he sees a strong opponent, he stops listening to a word I say. I guess it can't be helped. Takato: He's challenging him!? Jianliang: That's so reckless!

And edgy! Cyberdramon is so Wolverine Archetype it hurts. It's 2001 and the 90's aren't dead yet, it seems.

In the dub:

Makuramon: Come out, come out wherever you are! (Makuramon notices the Tamers) Makuramon: It appears we have visitors! (Cyberdramon charges into battle) Ryo: Cyberdramon, come back! When Cyberdramon smells a fight, he's totally out of control. It's like I'm not even here! I don't exist! Takato: But that dragon's too powerful! Henry: Yeah, you're right!

I laughed inappropriately at "I don't exist!" That wasn't supposed to be a laugh line but it's just so whiny! XD

They had lip flaps for 仕方ない Shikatanai, the more formal version of the しょうがない Shoganai expression which means to accept things that are outside of your control, and they had to do something with them!

As Cyberdramon closes in on the Dragon, the battle begins.

Cyberdramon: ERASE CLAW!!!

Cyberdramon's Erase Claw hits the Dragon straight in the face, causing them to recoil from the heavy hit.

Makuramon: The actions of a fool may reduce that which has accumulated for one thousand years to grains of dust. Majiramon, annihilate him!

Translation: Cyberdramon is too stupid to be allowed to continue living. It would be for everyone's benefit if he died right now. It would actually be more harmful to society at large for us not to kill him!

Makuramon bounds off of Majiramon's head, getting out of the way of the fight that's about to happen. Majiramon flies straight up into the clouds, then rains glowing red arrows down on Cyberdramon.

It's not easy to tell since it just looks like a normal attack, but WIkimon assures me that these arrows are Majiramon's holy weapon. It's also not easy to tell that Cyberdramon's taking damage since the arrows seem to splash harmlessly off his hide, but he takes a knee nonetheless.

Ryō: CYBERDRAMON!!!

Majiramon descends from the clouds, swooping down for the kill. The other Digimon rush over to go back up Cyberdramon.

Leomon: Cyberdramon's in trouble! Guilmon: Takato! Takato: Right! Terriermon: Jian! Takato & Jianliang: CARD SLASH!!! CHŌ SHINKA PLUG-IN S!!!

As EVO starts to play, Growmon and Galgomon evolve to support Leomon and they attack Majiramon one after another.

Leomon: JŪOKEN!!! Terriermon: DUMDUM UPPER!!! Growmon: PLASMA BLADE!!!

Majiramon shrugs off everything they throw at him, not even flinching.

Takato: Their attacks had no effect!

Majiramon responds with firebreath, routing the Tamers' Digimon easily and chasing off the Jureimon trio as well.

Jianliang: He's too strong! Makuramon: Ahahahahahaha! Die, you fools! Kenta: Ahhhhhh he's coming this way!

Majiramon lands right in front of the Tamers, towering over them.

While Majiramon manhandles the Partner Digimon, Ryō fans his cards and selects one. Each shot of Ryō interrupts the music until he raises his card to Slash it, at which point EVO dies entirely, replaced by the Card Slash theme.

Hirokazu: What card is that!? Ryō: CARD SLASH!!! KING DEVICE!!!

King Device causes Cyberdramon to grow to a colossal size, matching Majiramon.

Takato: Cyberdramon.... Kenta: He became gigantic!

Cyberdramon grabs Majiramon by his right arm and then by his skull. Majiramon cries out in pain, but is unable to break Cyberdramon's grip. Cyberdramon hoists him up into the air, at which point Makuramon sees which way the wind is blowing.

Makuramon: I'm out of here!

Makuramon takes off just before Cyberdramon crushes Majiramon's skull, killing him. Majiramon disintegrates into pixel dust.

Triumphant, Cyberdramon roars, then reverts to normal size.

Juri: Scary.... Hirokazu: We won.... Kenta: Amazing.... Jianliang: Unbelievable... His strength is unbelievable! Ordinarily, if you grew to a size like that, your muscle strength wouldn't be able to keep up with your increase in weight! Takato: What card was that? Ryō: A Device card. They're essentially wildcards. Only the greatest of Tamers can master them.

In keeping with this being very much a Crossover Episode, Ryō gets to dunk on a Deva while all the main characters watch and go "Wow, our guest star is so cool!"

We can't exactly Matrix Evolve without Culumon here to power it so it's a good thing Ryō was here to kill this Deva for us!

In the dub:

Cyberdramon: DESOLATION CLAW!!! (Cyberdramon blasts Majiramon) Makuramon: Majiramon, I do believe that lizard in a tin can is trying to pick a fight with you. I'll just get out of the way while you reformat him! (Makuramon jumps off; Majiramon ascends into clouds) Jeri: What's he doing!? Takato: I don't think we want to find out!

The dub takes its third commercial break here, leaving you to stew on what he might be doing.

EN Makuramon doesn't even try to match JP Makuramon's level of pretentiously waxing poetic. He also dials down his language. JP Makuramon says 滅殺 messatsu which combines the kanji

滅 - Destroy, ruin, overthrow 殺 - Kill, murder

to basically mean "Murder him until nothing remains". JP Makuramon wants Cyberdramon eliminated with extreme overkill. He is very offended by Cyberdramon's stupid face.

EN Makuramon dials that back to "Reformat him" because we're on Fox Kids.

After the commercial break, Majiramon fires.

Majiramon: FLAMING ARROWHEADS!!! Henry: We have to do something! And quick! (Arrows pummel Cyberdramon and do more damage than it looks) Ryo: CYBERDRAMON!!! (Majiramon descends; Digimon go to help) Leomon: Hang on! We're coming! Guilmon: Takato! Takato: Yeah! Terriermon: Henry! Takato & Henry: DIGI-MODIFY!!! DIGIVOLUTION ACTIVATE!!! (Gargomon and Growlmon Digivolve) Leomon: FIST OF THE BEAST KING!!! Gargomon: BUNNY PUMMEL!!! Growlmon: DRAGON SLASH!!! (No effects) Takato: Man, he's not even slowing down! (Majiramon breathes fire) Henry: Got any ideas? Makuramon: Ahahahahahahahaha! I just love a good fire! Kenta: What happens now!?

What happens now is the Fox Kids censors thwap Makuramon on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper again and tell him he cannot tell all of these children to die.

(Majiramon lands) Kazu: I think this is the part where our lives flash before our eyes! Ryo: Ready? (Majiramon smacks Leomon away; Ryo fans his cards) Ryo: Set! (Majiramon smacks Gargomon away) Ryo: (thinking) Go! (Majiramon tosses Growlmon) Kazu: We're officially toast! Ryo: DIGI-MODIFY!!! GOLIATH ACTIVATE!!!

Since the dub doesn't have insert songs, they can't do the cool bit where Ryō keeps interrupting EVO until he's ready to switch tracks to Card Slash. It's replaced with Ryo shouting "Ready? Set! Go!" which pales in coolness comparison.

...why doesn't the Tamers dub have insert songs? The Adventure 02 dub had insert songs. They downgraded the production quality for this "season". Huh.

(Cyberdramon grows to massive size) Takato: I don't believe it! Kenta: That was some card! (Cyberdramon grabs Majiramon's arm) Takato: He's really putting the squeeze on him!

Speaking of the Fox Kids censors, they said nope to Cyberdramon grabbing Majiramon by the skull. It's censored with this hilarious still-frame of Makuramon looking like he's watching someone poop on his pancakes.

This is how all censorship should work from now on. Instead of doing the white flash, every time the censors don't like the violence, we should just cut to Makuramon staring at the scene with disapproval in his eyes.

He is now the face of censorship.

I don't even know what the point of this edit was. Cyberdramon lifting Majiramon by his skull and then crushing it and killing him is still there. It's just the closeup shot of grabbing his skull that got censored.

(Cyberdramon lifts Majiramon) Makuramon: I think that's my cue to beat it! (Makuramon flees; Cyberdramon kills Majiramon) Jeri: Awful.... Kazu: Awesome.... Kenta: Yeah... Oh man.... Henry: Unbelievable... No Digimon could go through such a drastic change and still fight so flawlessly! Those two really are the ultimate fighting combination! Takato: What card did you use? Ryo: It's a Goliath card. Kazu: Dude! I will trade you anything for that puppy! Ryo: Sorry, but only the most experienced Tamers can master this card.

Jianliang cites the square-cube law as his problem with King Device. Increasing Cyberdramon's size like this should have caused Cyberdramon to collapse and be crushed under his own weight.

Though it's not super clear why he thinks that would matter. We've seen plenty of gigantic Digimon that should not be biologically possible. What the hell is he on about?

Henry abandons this point and instead opts to shill Ryo and Cyberdramon as the coolest guys ever because Cyberdramon was still able to fight well after being size-increased.

It's not clear why he thinks this is a big deal either. Digimon increase in size all the time when they evolve. He's never called Guilmon and Takato the ultimate fighting combination because WarGrowlmon doesn't trip over his own feet and fall down.

JP Ryō explains that the King Device is a Device card. So far, we've been slashing Option cards and Digimon cards, so this introduces a whole new category of cards that the show may or may not decide to play around with going forward.

EN Ryo skips the new category and just says it's a Goliath card. It's special because it's Goliath, and Goliath is a special card.

Even though the fight is over, Cyberdramon isn't done yet. He turns away from the others, growling. Ryō realizes what's about to happen.

Ryō: Cyberdramon, wait!

In the dub:

Ryo: Cyberdramon, calm down!

Ryō flicks out the laser whip from his Digivice and lashes the ground next to Cyberdramon for some reason.

Takato: What's wrong with Cyberdramon? Ryō: He's itching for a fight. He wants to go find another opponent. Jianliang: Another opponent? Ryō: He has to keep fighting until his instincts are satisfied. That's the kind of Digimon that Cyberdramon is. When he gets like this, Cyberdramon can't be stopped. We'll have to part ways here. Takato: What? Ryō: You guys should go find that little Digimon called Culumon and save the Real World. Honestly, I wish I could help, but that won't be possible until his appetite is satisfied.

Cyberdramon runs off in search of his next foe.

Takato: U-Understood! Ryō: Oh, also, if you see Ruki, tell her I said hi! Takato: Huh? Uh... Okay!

Ryō bounds up on Cyberdramon's back and they run off to, uh... go murder some random Digimon for no reason but I guess we're not supposed to think too much about that. It's just how Digimon without Tamers are. C'est la vie.

Leomon: Cyberdramon will continue to fight until the day he vanquishes his old nemesis. If he never finds that nemesis, he will continue to fight forever. Juri: (sad) Forever...?

We close this episode here, as Leomon makes one last pitch for the audience to see Ryō and Cyberdramon as the coolest fucking guys ever and go buy Brave Tamer.

...

So. Uh. Not to be that guy but....

All Digimon want to keep fighting until their instincts are satisfied. It's been thoroughly established that this is what Digimon are. Battle is their nature.

It's just not their only nature. We see here in the Digital World that they can live in communities. By living in the human world with human Partners, they can also be friends with humans, though their battle instincts are still a core part of who they are as well.

Learning to balance their desire for battle with their ability to coexist in human society has been a major theme of the series thus far, central to Takato, Jian, and Ruki's experiences with their Partner Digimon. All of them, from separate angles, have had to figure out how to integrate their Digimon into the human world without suppressing or rejecting what makes them Digimon.

This is what the whole first arc of the show was centered on, and it's continued to be a talking point since.

We're supposed to take this as Cyberdramon being a super special Digimon who only a great Tamer like Ryō could possibly form a Partnership with. Brave Tamer would go on to establish that Millenniummon is part of his makeup and that's why he's like this.

But I'm just gonna put this out there.

Maybe Ryō's just not a very good Tamer.

Ryō gave up immediately on trying to coexist with Cyberdramon and moved to the Digital World to fight Digimon together. He's the only character who uses a whip to control his Digimon rather than seeking true Partnership with them. Right now Cyberdramon wants to go attack random Digimon and Ryō shrugs and goes "Guess I gotta let him do that!"

He's out there puffing out his chest like "Only the GREATEST Tamers can master Device cards!" as if he did anything more complicated than having a Device card in his possession and Slashing it like any other card. But he abandoned his life, abandoned his world, because he doesn't know how to temper Cyberdramon's battle lust or offer Cyberdramon anything else to be interested in besides battling.

Maybe Ryō is actually bad at this. He enables Cyberdramon's base instincts, doesn't even try to educate him, and keeps him only somewhat in check through violent control measures that create hostility and further encourage Cyberdramon to think only in terms of violence and power.

He just accepts uncritically that Cyberdramon is a brutal and bloodthirsty monster SO UNLIKE ALL OTHER DIGIMON that only a truly capable and MASTER TAMER can control, and then lets Cyberdramon do whatever and only occasionally uses violent force to steer his aggression.

Maybe, like the Device Card that "only a master Tamer can use", he just sucks at being a Tamer and is hyperbolically inflating his meager achievements.

I think that is a valid alternative interpretation to the takeaway they meant for us to have here.

In the dub:

Takato: Um, Ryo, is there something wrong with him? Ryo: He wants to continue fighting so he has no choice but to find another opponent! Henry: Yeah, but right now? Ryo: Fighting is in his blood!

Fighting is in every Digimon's blood. He's not special.

Ryo: It's the only thing he really hungers for! To him, battling that dragon was just a small appetizer! He won't stop until he's completely satisfied, and I have to go with him. Takato: Huh!? Ryo: I wish I could stay and help you find Calumon but I can't control Cyberdramon when he gets like this. Good luck defeating the Devas and saving the world! And who knows, maybe we'll meet again someday! (Cyberdramon runs off) Takato: Um, okay! Ryo: Oh, and say hi to that wildcat Rika for me! Ahaha! Takato: Uh... okay! Guilmon: Bye-bye! (Ryo jumps on Cyberdramon's back and they depart) Leomon: Cyberdramon won't find peace or satisfaction until he finds his ultimate enemy, and if he never finds that enemy, he may be doomed to keep fighting until the end of time. Jeri: How terrible.... Davis (V.O.): Man, Cyberdramon needs to take a cyber-chill pill! And will they ever see Ryo again? Keep watching Digimon: Digital Monsters.

"That wildcat Rika". Ick. Ick ick ICK.

Remember how Ruki hates Ryō's guts and that's been bothering him all episode? What happened to that? Why does he think "Say hi to Ruki for me?" is appropriate? That line was clearly put there just for some parting Ship Tease, but it's so weird in context.

Dub Team took that Ship Tease and bumped it up to outright flirting by proxy. They understood the assignment but the assignment is bad. What about the current situation between him and Rika makes him think this is an appropriate time to flirt by proxy with a girl who hates him?

What a douche!

The dub did age Rika up so the unsettling age gap of "We want you to ship this 10-year-old with this 14-year-old" isn't a factor. Agewise, EN Ryo is okay to flirt, and JP Ryō isn't technically flirting; There isn't anything necessarily wrong with "Say hi to her for me," just the weird shippy implications of why he'd suddenly bring that up.

But contextually, JP Ryō needs to be punched for this and EN Ryo needs to be stoned with rocks.

Davis knows better than to promise we'll see Ryo next episode, so once more the promise game is thwarted.

Assessment: So ends the Ryō crossover two-parter. Hopefully now we can get back to developing the characters who are actually a part of this show. Ryō and Cyberdramon have chafed against the very premise and themes of the series like sandpaper on skin. They've broken continuity to squeeze themselves in. These two episodes have focused predominately on shilling them as the coolest characters ever.

And now they conclude by flexing on all the Tamers, calling them amateurs, effortlessly slaughtering a Deva, and then running off to go uselessly be Infinite Badasses of Unfathomable Power somewhere that the plot isn't happening so their unapproachable levels of unbridled awesomeness don't ruin the plot.

Cool. Won't be damaging to the tension at all when we're fighting Makuramon to know that Cyberdramon could rip his head off in two seconds and then shit right into God's mouth, but he's not doing that because he's two miles away punching trees instead.

Oof. I hope Ryō's fans were happy with this crossover. He got to look really cool, dunk on all the protagonists, slay one of the villains, and flirt with the show's coolest female character on his way out the door. There's a lot of red meat here for Ryō fans to enjoy.

It just comes at the expense of all the show's actual characters.

[tobiasdrake]

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy 2084 - Distress Signal Transmitter

Day 82. We're finally here. You know, I was expecting something smaller and more innocuous looking. I don't know why I thought that.

Why is this room kept so cold? Is it a deterrent against humans coming down here? Sirei wouldn't need to worry about the temperature after all.

That's definitely the Distress Signal Transmitter. Each of those lines is waiting for a Livor Mortis Code to be input.

I wonder if we could learn all the codes from one timeline, and then come down here and input them in another? They'd be the same codes, right?

So what I'm hearing is that triggering this on purpose and killing ourselves would be a viable way to take Kalamity with us given that we have no chance of outmatching her G'ie strength and Tsubasa's too busy being dead to build the detonator for her bomb.

Kurara'Oosuzuki's dead body stripped of most of her clothes, no less. That pretty much confirms it. Kalamity has been impersonating Kurara this whole time.

She has to have been dead since before Tsubasa made the detector.

It's hard to make out but there's marks on her neck. She was throttled with something.

And you've both seen her face the same way!

Oh shit, I guess we're calling it here.

I assume what comes next requires possession of vital G'ie information and probably something else from whatever timeline Hiruko learned about the Distress Signal Transmitter in.

[tobiasdrake]

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy 2083 - The Last Piece of the Puzzle

Day 82. The search for the transmitter is not going well. Morale is dropping rapidly. Specifically, mine.

If we don't get any sleep tonight, I'm liable to become the next Blackened!

...the fuck is she....

...

...

...

...

...

Oh.

Oh no.

Kay?

Oh, I'm an idiot. I'm a fucking idiot!

I can't believe I didn't think of that before. I've been so fixated on G'ie properties and the goddamn Parallel Leap suit.

Talk to me.

What if that's how Kalamity's beating the organic life detector?

By blackmailing Kurara next?

G.

Think about it.

I was so confused by why she'd kill Kako when she could impersonate her instead. But it's because she already had a different plan in mind. Who's the one person in this group who never shows her face? The one person who could walk freely among us, and she could very well actually be Kako for all anyone would know?

...holy shit.

Yeah. Yeah, I think we just blew this whole case wide open. The woman wearing Kurara's tomato right now is Kako Tsukumo from another timeline, controlled by a G'ie Queen. This is the last piece of the puzzle. It all makes sense now.

Because that wasn't Kurara. That was Kalamity.

SECRET TUNNEL

SECRET TUNNEL

SECRET SECRET SECRET SECRET TUNNEL

I'm so hyped right now!

Maybe we'll find love in here!

I don't think we'll find love in here!

And timeline 70-something!

There are so many places in this stupid building!

[tobiasdrake]

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy 2082 - Big Boy Shorts

Day 81. I don't feel like we're making progress right now so much as catching Takky up but that's still progress in its own way.

That's where the matter of Kalamity being a G'ie Queen comes into play. She needs the bodies for her offspring. She has a biological imperative to kill and collect intact corpses for reproduction.

Rest assured, you'll find that answer in another timeline, Temporal-senpai. I hope you're able to bring that knowledge back here across the morphogenetic field before it's too late.

The Hiruko of that timeline specifically said that even though things went so bad that only three people survived, it was still a net positive because the knowledge she gained about the G'ie and how they work can be useful elsewhere in the multiverse.

I'm still waiting for that to pay off.

Does there actually need to be a survivor from A-Team? Shion made it sound like the transmitter could be activated when 9 were dead and 1 was alive. But is the 1 living member actually necessary?

If, say, Kyoshika killed everyone in A-Team with her Holy Jumonji Sword skills and then collected all the Livor Mortis Codes but only entered 9 of them, would the Transmitter activate just fine? Or is there a reason why it wouldn't work?

It's been bugging me that Kalamity lets us live in our cell in the Bad Ends until Day 99 or 100 when she suddenly strikes.

Maybe when we go into our cell, she designates us as the survivor, kills everyone else, and then goes down to input the codes. When she killed us in the first Bad End, it might just be that the transmission had been sent so she didn't need us anymore.

Which probably means in another timeline, like Box of Calamity or the Do Not Kiss Hiruko timeline.

The what!?

Long story.

You made that one up.

I did not!

I have no idea where we'd even begin looking for that when the team already turned the school upside-down searching for it! But it's something that at least resembles a plan! I say we go for it.

And also I really, really want to see this thing for myself.

Takkyyyyyyy

You're embarrassing me in front of Terror-senpai!

I think he's just worried about running into a serial murderer.

I know what he's worried about but he should put on his big boy shorts because Hiruko's going to be there to protect him! It's fine!

Can she protect him?

Fuck no!

But he should do it anyway!

[tobiasdrake]

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy 2081 - Curiosity

Day 81. This is all starting to come together and form a real, serious picture of what's going on here.

Alternatively, if it was a male G'ie who's invisible to the organic life detector, he could have just come in and done this at any time.

That's valid, G. We should keep that in mind. Also, Kalamity somehow.

I'm so sorry about him, Temporal-senpai.

He has a really hard time paying the fuck attention to the goddamn plot. And yet somehow can rattle off nonsense about the Archimedes principle because of his recent brain damage.

That's my thinking too. It never made sense why a G'ie Queen would be extracting hearts. It clearly had to be connected to the Livor Mortis Codes. I'd assumed the codes were on the hearts somehow, but using the heart removal as a distraction makes just as much sense.

It would ruin Kalamity's whole game plan. She's banking on the Livor Mortis Codes for her endgame.

Maybe that's why she killed Kako first.

Takumi: Gaku.

I know what I said!

I thought it was weird that she targeted Kako and Ima first and so publicly when she could have killed Kako secretly and replaced her. That was a weird thing to do.

Now, obviously, she's been getting around just fine without needing to disguise herself as our Kako. So maybe it was just curiosity. She wanted to know what her own Livor Mortis Code is. Wouldn't you?

[tobiasdrake]

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy 2080 - Test How Dumb We Are!

Day 81. We actually managed to not black out and keep investigating. Maybe we'll be able to resolve this murder in a timely fashion this time, rather than cold-casing it for three weeks.

Hard to even know where to search when we have no idea what the scene of the crime even was.

It's Hiruko! She's here with vital information that she wants to share with you, Takky!

I think it's Darumi. She has some reason she's breaking curfew that she wants to share, that's related in some way to the case. I just think that'd be the most surprising outcome.

Takumi: I think it's X and I'm not opening the door to find out!

Yes, you are.

Takumi: ....rrrrrgh!

HA

IN YOUR FACES

THIS ROUND GOES TO ME

Takumi: ...would you trust her?

Oh, I do trust her.

For stuff like this, I trust her more than anyone else here, including you. She has continuity of awareness across multiple timelines. If she were a serial killer, we would be in deep shit across the whole multiverse.

I think she's going to murder you and wear your skin.

Takumi: Thanks, G. That's really helpful.

For the record, I also think eventually she's going to murder you and wear your skin, but it won't be because she's evil. It will be because you deserved it.

Takumi: Why do I even ask you two things?

Oh, I'm going to die laughing if the only reason she wanted to meet was to test how dumb we are! And we failed!

Right. You need to input nine of these codes in order to activate the Distress Signal Transmitter.

Translation: From another timeline.

Shion mentioned the Distress Signal Transmitter but he barely touched on the Livor Mortis Codes, besides saying that there's a series of codes that must be inputted into the Transmitter. What these codes are and how you get them was never brought up.

What's weird is that Kalamity also knew about these codes back in Box of Calamity timeline. I wonder if she learned about them the same way Hiruko did? Kako gets visions of different timelines similar to Hiruko; They both tap into the morphogenetic field.

Maybe Kako's G'ie has full access to all of Kako's timeline awareness, and learned of the Livor Mortis Codes and Distress Signal Transmitter the same way Hiruko did....

[tobiasdrake]

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy 2079 - Two Threats

Day 80. Well, we learned something today. But there's still the more immediate matter of who X made carry out this latest murder.

It was 12 last time we checked out, so we're down 3.

-> Eva -> Tsubasa -> Moko

That checks out.

I still think it's Kalamity.

I'm sticking with my bet. Male G'ie in a suit working for the Queen. His body would have decomposed by now but there are plenty of replaceable males that can swap in.

Takumi: I'm going to continue trying to find X among real people that actually exist.

Your loss!

Don't talk back to my Bestie when she's right! We should absolutely expect that whoever killed Tsubasa and Moko may be working for X!

X has killed via proxy twice now. We shouldn't necessarily assume this will always be true but we should still keep it at the forefront of our minds. There are probably two threats among us right now, not one.

I think Ima meant to say "We probably shouldn't be sleeping together".

I'm going to call it here. Right here. This is it. This is the reason that Hiruko was so confident in Box of Calamity that sleeping together in one big room wouldn't help us against a G'ie Queen. It's because she knew from this timeline that clumping together like this only exposes us to more danger.

X was able to take two at once because of the way the patrols work.

[tobiasdrake]

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy 2078 - Livor Mortis

Day 80. Come on, team! We have one or more bodies to find so let's get cracking!

Did we check the Entrance Hall to see if both fire extinguishers are there? Not that it matters to Kalamity.

Body or bodies found! Let's go! We have a crime scene to investigate!

Oh wow. Tsubasa never gets killed. This is so rare for her!

Tsubasa and Moko were both killed between 5 and 8 this morning. That might be worth remembering if exact time of death actually plays a factor in this mystery. It really hasn't so far.

Tsubasa was stabbed repeatedly from the front. I wonder if it's the same blade that Eva used on Shouma and Shouma used on himself? Is X making everyone share a blade? Because that's not very hygienic!

Takumi: Murder can be hygienic?

And then Moko had her neck slit. Probably with the same gross communal blade but we shouldn't rule out separate blades. No indication of whether her assailant was in front of or behind her.

That's kind of interesting in and of itself because it makes it seem like Moko was taken by surprise. Slash her throat by ambush and then you're in a 1v1 with Tsubasa who is many things but she is not a hand-to-hand brawler.

Also, there's a good 80% chance that Tsubasa will be too busy throwing up to defend herself anyway.

Though the problem this potentially creates is that an ambush sneak attack isn't a bell you can ring twice. The assailant could have jabbed Kurara with anesthetic or slit Moko's throat by surprise, but not both.

Kurara did it?

She certainly looks guilty but it's a little too open-shut. I'm worried about how obvious this is.

That's to be expected. Tsubasa's heart should have been removed and Moko's should not have been, if the pattern holds.

Makes sense. You've been conscious for like two weeks of this timeline, Takky. That doesn't make you a very good investigative partner. You should probably work on that.

Wait, what?

It's a Livor Mortis code. Oh, that makes way more sense than the hearts did.

Livor mortis is the pooling of blood in certain parts of the body as the heart stops pumping and gravity becomes the only force acting on the blood over a long period of time. It drains from parts of the body and moves geographically downward.

So the Livor Mortis codes are codes on each of our bodies that are made visible by the drainage of blood.

Maybe that's why X has been carving out everyone's hearts from their backs. It was never about the heart itself, but about carving out the Livor Mortis codes on their backs. She may have been pulling out the hearts just to throw us off the scent for why the bodies are being desecrated like this.

That answers the question of why go in through the back when it would be easier to reach the heart from the front too. It was never about the heart. It was always about disfiguring the back.

Takumi: See that? There was an actual, sensible reason to drain the bodies. It wasn't... whatever you keep saying it was.

Oh, no, it was.

Draining the bodies is a thing G'ie Queens do. In the other timeline, Yugamu and Kurara were drained like this, and they don't have Livor Mortis codes to reveal. In this timeline, Moko was drained right next to Tsubasa.

Takumi: I'm not listening to this.

I know.

Could the Livor Mortis codes be the reason for the difference in killing methods?

Explain.

Moko had her throat slit, but both Shouma and Tsubasa were stabbed repeatedly in the chest. This may have been to more quickly drain their blood and reveal their codes.

Mmm... no, Kako died from drinking poison. That doesn't fit the pattern. But it's good to ask questions like that. Keep it up.

[tobiasdrake]

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy 2077 - Prime Suspect

Day 80. Looks like a shorter pass-out session this time. Let's see if anyone got caught in the blast.

Awww, Hiruko saved us! That's so sweet of her! And very characteristic of her.

Oh shit.

Chapter 3 is always a two-victim case.

Could have been a fourth party or it could have been one of the two of them. If one of them is alive right now then she'll be incredibly suspicious. If both are dead, that'll make Kurara the prime suspect only because she was the last to see them alive.

After all, she says she was jabbed with the anesthetic but there's no one alive to corroborate. She's easily the obvious suspect.

Yeah, maybe we'll be able to cram a whole 3-4 rounds of Class Trials into the remaining 20 days if we can stop skipping 25 days at a time.

Darumi is, like, the one person here who still thinks Takky's a serial murder. Why is she on our team?

I mean, I'm not complaining! I love spending time with my Bestie! Just seems like an odd choice is all.

Also, Takemaru is with Kurara and Kyoshika? I get that they can't have Nozomi because Takky calls dibs on her any chance he gets, but why not Yugamu?

Okay, how would you split them up?

Easy!

Kurara, Kyoshika, and Yugamu go together for one team since they all have an actual friendship with each other. Hiruko takes Takemaru and Darumi since those are the two people who seem to matter most to her.

...and that leaves Ima with...?

...

SHIT.

I retract my objection!

Come on, Bestie!

Let's get sleuthing!

[tobiasdrake]

Zeromus is another villain I never really thought much of. At a literal level, Zemus is a bad guy on the moon who mind controls people so he can carry out his scheme of destroying the Earth. Then when he dies, Zeromus rises from his corpse and goes "MUWAHA I am Zemus's hatred! I'll kill you all, fools!"

Sure. That might as well happen.

The thing about Final Fantasy IV is that it's a game that is begging to be examined through a metaphorical lens, moreso than a literalistic one.

The King of Baron was a good man who raised Cecil and Kain with good values but then one day he was secretly killed and replaced by a grotesque monster dressed in his skin. This creature wages war on other countries in the name of hatred.

At the literal level, Cagnazzo is not himself the man who raised Cecil and Kain. But this is a symbolic transformation, the death of the man they loved as he instead becomes a disgusting creature they no longer recognize, a creature controlled by Golbez, by Zemus... by Zeromus.

Zeromus is not a character. He is the concept of hatred. To be controlled by Zeromus is to be controlled by hate. This is the fulcrum around which the plot revolves.

Baron is controlled by Zeromus. It's controlled by xenophobic hatred of the other nations and desire for power and control.

The Red Wings are controlled by Zeromus. They're the inheritors of Baron's hatred, becoming a rogue military rather than laying down arms in the wake of Baron's liberation.

Kain is controlled by Zeromus. He's controlled by his jealousy and resentment over Rosa loving Cecil instead of him.

Even Zemus is controlled by Zeromus in a way, controlled by hatred of the new land the Lunarians have found. Zemus seeks to dominate and enslave these peoples he deems subhuman, because his is the hatred that drives colonialism.

So much of Final Fantasy IV is about this. It's why a major fixture of the setting is the Tower of Babel, an edifice from Christian mythology that Zeromus plans to use to destroy the peoples of Earth. Why the Tower of Babel? Why is that the superweapon?

"The Tower of Babel contains a giant robot that will blow up humanity" isn't exactly mythology-accurate. Why is this the superweapon?

Well, it's not because of what the Tower of Babel does, but what it represents. The Tower of Babel is the mythical origin of racial tension and division among peoples. The story of the Tower of Babel provides a religious explanation for why we're separated from each other, why we speak different languages, in a similar fashion to the way Zeus is the religious explanation for why lightning strikes in Greek mythology.

The Tower of Babel is Zeromus's superweapon because those divisions are the villain of Final Fantasy IV.

And the only way to defeat Babel's robot, to overcome the Tower of Babel, to vanquish Zeromus, is for the peoples of the world to overcome their differences and unite in cooperation and mutual respect. The only way to tear down the divisions imposed by the Tower of Babel story is for us all to stand together against hatred.

This is also the purpose behind Cecil's paladin trial. Because Cecil's hatred is hatred of himself for what he did to the Mysidians and to Mist. Cecil's self-hatred is still a form of hatred, still a force that Zeromus can control him with.

This is why Golbez ultimately proves incapable of defeating Zeromus at the eleventh hour. Because Golbez, like Cecil, carries hatred of himself, he can never vanquish the very hatred that he himself is feeding.

But Cecil's paladin trial prepares him for facing Zeromus by forcing him to lay down his sword and accept the darkest parts of himself. Only by letting go of his hatred can Cecil truly become a force for peace.