Post — Aaron Ngo

Major Spoilers are included in this episode review. Please read with caution.

Episode 33—“The Hikari of Dawn”—gave me video-game vibes similar to episode 20 of the reboot series. In other words, it’s action-driven, but with more exposition about the villains’ main goal. The followers of Millenniumon want to resurrect him using Hikari as the sacrifice. The reason Hikari willingly followed DarkKnightmon is also answered, but I’ll get around to that in the end. Let’s start with how amazing the video game boss fight was, and how it was a better version than the one against Velgamon from episode 20.

The animation of the action sequence was amazing. The blue Ultra Instinct aura on Hikari and DarkKnightmon were incredible. I wished DarkKnightmon had gotten a personality, or the one he had in Xros Wars.

The video game vibes when DarkKnightmon turned into a giant from absorbing Hikari. TK and Sora also joined the battle fighting the lower-level Vilemon (Blockers!). I’m very happy TK can fight more in the reboot series because of Pegasusmon. The Digimon TCG will make the Pegasumon card anti-blocker for sure based on that board-wiping scene. The fight scenes are always top-notch, but I didn’t want the storyline to suffer for it.

Also, instead of Matt trying to save his younger brother, it was Tai determined to save his younger sister. I wished Tai’s character development was better. Tai didn’t really grow up or anything from all the milestones. It’s similar to Shirou Emiya from Fate / stay night and the relationship he shared with Saber, minus the romance. They only win fights because they are the main pairing of the series.

The same setting from the final battle against Devimon looked like it was recycled too. You know, similar to what happened in episode 19, when Leomon first appeared in the series. If the reboot continues these patterns once Hikari gets Angewomon, the Mega-centric episodes will be coming next for the other characters. Joe, Sora, and all of them keep getting screwed over. That’s so damn upsetting.

The Greymon to MetalGreymon to WarGreymon digivolution sequence was aesthetically pleasing as always, but the added “Tai” introduction would’ve been so much better if the series dedicated time to developing Tai and Kari’s relationship. The original series did an amazing job with this part when Kari got ill in the Digital World, which forced Tai to face trauma about the last time she had gotten ill. Having that character development for Tai in the reboot would’ve helped upped the stakes more, and allowed us to invest in them outside of the nostalgia. It’s difficult to invest in the reboot without the nostalgia factor.

Watch the video above. Then watch this episode again and notice the difference. If they added something like this into the “Rescue Kari Arc”, or just make it similar to that small arc by threatening to kill Kari off, then the stakes would mean something. But the stakes aren’t anything.

We’ve reached the halfway point of the series and it just feels like the Digimon writers are only interested in creating story that will lead to the action sequences. Maybe that’s their goal. If it is, it’s working.

We also learned in this episode why Kari followed willingly with DarkKnightmon at least. It’s because DarkKnightmon had Gatomon absorbed inside his core, and that is why Kari chose to leave her older brother behind. However, she pulled the “I had faith you’d come save me, older brother” line. Tai and Kari have one of the best sibling bonds, so I’m still in the “keeping hope” mood right now regarding the reboot series but that could definitely change if Matt and the others get crappy Mega-centric episodes.

Only time will tell.

Thank you so much for reading this episode review, everyone! I’ll see you all next week in the Digital World!

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