Score: B+

I will say this all worked out better than I expected. My optimistic expectation was that they would still lose someone (probably Pandamon), but find a way to rise above the current threat they were facing. One could say this was a bit too optimistic a result, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing this early. The team and cast are still bonding and a tragic loss could have thrown what progress they had into the trash bin.

Status quo remains

It really does seem like a total mystery when Gekkomon will digivolve. Because…we don’t seem close. This episode was a good chance with an ultimate level threat pressing down on them. It wouldn’t have been all that crazy to have Gekkomon digivolve after the loss of Pandamon and score a desperate win. Instead they just gave the win to Pandamon and had Gekkomon mostly serve as an emergency battery that kept Pandamon from getting killed. With the next episode looking to focus on Kyo…it’s definitely not happening there. Which means we’re at least matching the Tamers record if not passing it right by. They’ve teased dark digivolution once, but otherwise Gekkomon hasn’t looked close to digivolving.

This was funny to be sure

I will say the power gap in this series of Digimon feels smaller than most. Astamon might just suck in this show, but we still had an ultimate level digimon having some trouble with rookies. He was still clearly more powerful than everyone else and was defeated by Pandamon who is an ultimate level himself. So I’m not saying that we’ve got a major issue here. But it is surprising they brought in a threat on this level and still are holding back.

The good thing was that the fights were solid. Astamon could really press his advantage and had no problem being rather malicious. It was impressive that things worked out as well as they did. All thanks to Pandamon and his attempted self-sacrifice. Does speak well to Gekkomon’s passionate nature that Pandamon was able to survive. Whether he should have is another story entirely. The good thing about the rescue by Gekkomon is that it might be further hinting at Tomoro’s E-Pulse being extremely potent and something truly special in this world. Possibly able to share it with his team to unlock any number of possibilities.

Clearly had nowhere better to be…

Going to be honest…I’m starting to think Kyo sucks as a leader. This is yet another case where he put his team at risk. We already got that during the “family bonding” episode where he let them go off on their own and they could have gotten hurt or killed. Where was the team ace while they were fighting a freaking ultimate level digimon!? Oh he was out catching a regular guy! Yes, he was leaking valuable information and he should have been dealt with. But hey maybe send someone else! The realistic result of them taking on an ultimate level digimon with rookies and a single champion is that they should’ve been killed. He let them take a high risk battle so he could catch a corrupt public official. Also had time to go get Pandamon’s boss…so he really had time to get there to back them up!

Full respect to this old guy

This episode had really good moments to be sure. The winning moment for me was Tomoro kind of sending a message. Sasatake was clearly conscious enough to hear Tomoro’s words. The words of someone that was left behind. Now his brother didn’t have a lot of options if he wanted to protect Tomoro so the situations are a bit different here. But maybe this whole situation reminded Sasatake that the times are different. His opponents didn’t care about him being willing to die to resolve this situation because they aren’t motivated by honor or anything like that…they just want money and land. His chivalry needs to be a bit more flexible in order to make it through the current age. And not letting Pandamon walk off showed that growth on his part.

Solid enough episode at this stage

We’re getting good episodes right now. But we are very much in the building stage. The main story isn’t really moving anywhere too far. There was a shady guy that was selling personal information and that’s fine for some drama. But the only progress so far feels like character growth for Gekkomon and Tomoro. That’s important. But I’m curious to see where the story itself is going to go.