Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. Welcome to part 3 of Digimon 2020. Last time, the group was on their way to FAGA to stop the resurrection of Milleniumon. Can the group stop its resurrection or will it be too late. Let’s find out.
Episodes 38-43
Episode 38 is a good episode as well as a call back to the original. It starts with Gabumon captured and being crucified by Mephismon (Gabumon: Forgive them internet for they know not what they tweet) who plans to sacrifice him to the crystal shard of Milleniumon. Matt meets up with Joe and Gomamon where they team up to rescue Gabumon. During the rescue we see how Matt and Gabumon met where Matt mysteriously found himself in the Net. At first Matt kept his distance (which follows his character. He’s a lone wolf. He’s felt the pain of his parents splitting up and is afraid to let others in his life as he thinks they’ll leave him too), but after Gabumon protected him from other Digimon and he protected him in return, they developed a friendship and now Matt can’t imagine his life without him. Using the shells from Ikkakumon’s harpoon torpedoes, Matt climbs the mountain where Gabumon is at while Joe and Ikkakumon keep the other Digimon busy which are being controlled by some chanting (yebo ym sdanmmoc). Joe counters with chanting of his own (lla ruoy sesab gnoleb ot su) which seems to work (the power of Japanese history is not to be underestimated). Matt manages to meet Gabumon and rescue him just in time where they team up to defeat Mephismon and the others arrive to end the episode (the band is back together).
We get some relaxation in episode 39 (sort of). With the group back together they take a pit stop in an oasis which is kinda like a rest area and I freaking love this place. It’s only a small place, but it has so much personality and detail put into it. We have a burger joint where Digimon can go and eat as well as a place to wash the bigger mobile Digimon. Stuff like this is great and shows how the Digital World is influenced by our world in some respects. While at the oasis, Joe befriends a Potamon a Digimon that loves to eat fries (would that be considered cannibalism?) just like him. We find out that after cram school Joe would often sneak away to a burger joint and get some fries as those were his only moments of freedom (it was a place where he could just forget about entrance exams and the pressures of his parents and the world around him). Unfortunately, we find out that the fries are going to be discontinued (what kind of maniac eats a burger without fries!?) because they’re not a popular item with the customers (no opposable thumbs). Upset about this Potamon evolves and goes on a rampage as Jyagamon (the homegrown monster potato Digimon). Joe tries to calm him down, but he’s too blinded by his rage and sadness to tell his friends apart. With the help of everyone Joe manages to calm Jyagamon down and return him to his senses where he stops his rampage. In the end, the fries stay on the menu (I’m assuming under protest) with more potato dishes being added (under threat, I assume).
Another filler for episode 40. Tai and Sora travel to a floating island to retrieve some delicious fruits (going on a date I see). Once they arrive, they see that the local Digimon, Pomumon, are being captured and turned into fruits by Toropiamon (who ironically is like the perfect evolution for Pomumon. I could totally see Pomumon evolving into this thing down the line). Tai and Metalgreymon get turned into fruits as well leaving only Sora and Garudamon to fight Toropiamon (in what honestly would have been the perfect and I mean PERFECT opportunity for Garudamon to go mega. The whole episode was focused on Sora. This would have been the perfect chance to focus on her character). Sora manages to free all the Pomumon and save Tai and Metalgreymon where they combine their powers and defeat Toropiamon to save the island and get delicious fruit as their reward.
In episode 41 we shift our focus onto Matt and TK. While out searching for food, they get lost in a fog and wind up in Mon-Mon Park the theme park of Monzaemon (if you get injured, just try and sue them). They’re greeted by Oppossumon the park’s guide who’s happy to finally get guests. Matt and TK tour the park where they reminisce about the past and even bring up embarrassing stories such as how Matt was afraid to go in the haunted house (and I have to admit I like how these two have a better relationship here than in the first season. In the first season he was the overprotective brooding big brother who always babied TK. Here, it does seem like they have a more open relationship with one another, and Matt doesn’t treat TK like a helpless baby, but as someone who can fight like him and everyone else). Eventually, they come across an injured Digimon who tells them that the park is dangerous. It turns out Oppossumon has been feeding Digimon to the Monzaemon to resurrect the true mascot of the park Warumonzaemon (and even though this thing was created before 5 Nights at Freddie’s, I can’t help but think this was a rejected character from the game). Oppossumon finally starts attacking with the help of Bakemon (everybody start doing Shinto chants to weaken them) and splits the two up from other. Oppossumon resurrects Warmonzaemon who tries to eat TK and Peagsusmon to become stronger where it eventually succeeds. As TK and Patamon get their life sucked out of them, Matt’s voice manages to reach them and it gives TK the power to fight back and give him hope to everyone that they can escape. Everyone’s hope manages to give Patamon the power to evolve into Angemon who manages to free everyone from the belly of the beast and defeat Oppossumon and Warmonzaemon. The park gets left in the hands of the young Digimon who vow to turn it into a fun place that everyone can enjoy.
Episode 42 is a decent episode. In the episode, Tai and Izzy wind up in a junkyard (I was in the Indy 500~. Anybody know where that line is from? Anyone? Anyone?) where they meet Garbamon (who is pretty much this world’s version of Oscar the Grouch) and his assistant Tyrumon. We see that Garbamon is a scientist who has been studying the strange occurrences happening on the continent and is out for revenge against another Digimon named Raremon (who is obviously Muk from Pokémon) who has been rampaging through the junkyard and responsible for killing a number of Tyrumon who were his assistants. Tai and Izzy help him out where Garbamon uses a bazooka to freeze Raremon where it works. However, Raremon evolves into Rareraremon (oh hey, it became Garbodor) and in order to save Garbamon, Megakabuterimon fights it where none of his attacks seem to be hurting him. With the help of Metalgreymon they actually do manage to defeat it in a clever way and Tyrumon evolves into Searchmon (. . .random).
In episode 43 the group gets caught in the middle of a clash between Etemon (who is more layback this time around) and Volcamon who are battling to decide who’s the King of Digimon. Unfortunately, their music and singing is disrupting the data around them causing the Digimon to act strange. For example: Agumon can’t stop spitting fire (literally). Gabumon has gone full nude on us (it’s a family anime) and goes AWOL. Gatomon is acting like an actual cat. Tentomon is a bipolar delinquent (which alone makes this episode worth checking out). Gomamon keeps summoning fishes. Patamon almost floats away. Palmon can’t stop growing her vines and Biyomon can’t stop flapping her wings (the caged bird wants to be free). Once Etemon and Volcamon see the group they decide that whoever beats them will earn the title of King of Digimon. The fighting doesn’t go in the group’s favor. Palmon surprises all of us and evolves into Ponchomon due to the soundwaves of Etemon and Volcamon (well at least we got some Hispanic representation in this anime). Ponchomon’s groove manages to overwhelm Etemon and Volcamon and she gets win returning everyone back to normal.
Episodes 44-50
We get some more filler in episode 44 as the group find themselves in a forest only to discover that they’re on a back of a Digimon named Petaldramon (holy crap, what fertilizer has that thing been bathing in? It’s huge). Petaldramon is a peaceful Digimon which uses its forest to protect smaller Digimon and give them a home (sure as hell didn’t so that in the 4th season). However, Petaldramon is being attacked by black bugs led by its nemesis Entmon. Entmon destroyed the home of other Digimon and is now trying to destroy Petaldramon. Kari befriends Petaldramon and vows to help it along with the others who join in as well. They finally come across Entmon where Tai and the others get blocked out from interfering in the fight between the giants and it all comes down to Petaldramon and Entmon. The many bugs have taken their tow on Petaldramon who has grown weak and Entmon manages to land a fatal blow. Luckily, Angewomon shows up and gives Petaldramon the power it needs to fight back where it takes Entmon down with it. Petaldramon dies, but it creates a new forest for the other Digimon to call home.
Episode 45 finally gives us the long awaited introduction of Metalgarurumon. When the group comes to a racing track they come across a Digimon named Machmon a living motorcycle racing around the track (he’s got a need for speed). Inspired by this, Gabumon takes to the track to race him with Matt joining him (start the Initial D music). At first, things start off well until Machmon attacks (I see we’re going by Mario Kart rules). Gatomon reveals that in the past this track was the location for the grand prix to decide the fastest Digimon, but in truth it was a no-holds bar anything goes race. Garurumon gets taken out by Machmon, but Machmon was nice enough to carry him back and apologizes for his actions as his old habits die hard and when he gets into the race he loses control of himself. Gabumon wants to race against him again, and during this race it gets revealed that Machmon is infected with another Digimon called Parasimon, a parasite Digimon that leeches off of other Digimon and controls them (sort of like a gacha game). Garurumon and Matt fight against Parasimon and Machmon which leads to the debut of Metalgarurumon (really? We’re going mega on a ultimate possibly champion level Digimon? That’s just overkill). Metalgarurumon defeats Parasimon and they all finish the race together.
In episode 46 the group comes across an old foe from a past season, Sephirothmon (Latin choir: Sephiroth! (Nitsuj): No not him, but that would be an interesting twist). It manages to absorb Tai, Matt, TK, and Izzy along with their Digimon inside its body and forces them to fight Digimon they defeated in the past to collect data on them. Once it gathers the data and learns their moves it then destroys those within it. The group on the outside try to defeat Sephirothmon from the outside but its already absorbed enough data to learn their moves and is growing stronger by the minute. Meanwhile, Tai and the others fight against the overwhelming odds where we focus on TK and Angemon who are fighting against Devimon (a ghost from the past). During this fight we learn that Devimon is the dark half of Angemon and tries to get him to return to the dark side (they have cake~). Angemon manages to resist, but becomes overwhelmed by the large numbers of Devimon and soon gets possessed. TK however manages to pull him back from the brink and he digivolves in Holyangemon (remember, he died for your internet). Holyangemon manages to pierce through Sephirothmon (stay where you belong, in my recycling bin) to destroy it from within allowing everyone to escape. While Devimon may still exist within Holyangemon he shall remain docile, watching and waiting to see what happens.
Nothing much happens in episode 47 (if anything it’s one of the weaker episodes in the series). While in the wastelands, Joe and Gomamon both get captured by feuding Digimon factions fighting over a water fountain. Tai and Agumon team up with the local guardian Nohemon to save Joe and Gomamon and manage to end the feud between the Digimon factions and restore peace to the wastelands.
Episode 48 is much better than the previous episode. The group has finally made it to FAGA where Millieniumon will be resurrected. Before entering FAGA they have to fight against Mugendramon (who is way stronger and deadlier than the previous incarnations we saw in previous seasons. I also like how it doesn’t talk which makes it way more intimidating). The group goes all out against Mugendramon who keeps on defeating them one by one until it’s down to Tai and Matt. Tai remembering what the group’s primary character steps up and takes on Mugendramon by himself while Matt leads the others into FAGA. After receiving a power up from Kari (she really is the white mage of this group), Wargreymon and Tai are able to hold their own against Mugendramon and beat it. However, Mugendramon fires one last shot at the Cloud Continent trying to bring it down and launches Tai and Wargreymon with it. This episode ends on a cliffhanger with a massive explosion going off and us unsure if Tai and Wargreymon survived the blast.
We pick up where we left off for episode 49. The group tries to reach Tai and Wargreymon but have no luck. As if that wasn’t bad, Millenniumon’s resurrection is almost completed. Hoping to stop the resurrection, Matt, Sora, and Izzy go to fight an incomplete Millenniumon while the others stay behind and protect Patamon and Gatomon (unfortunately they’re the aces in this battle and that’s never a good thing). Matt and Metalgarurumon get into a fight with an enemy Digimon named Griffmon while Sora and Izzy continue on their way to Millenniumon. Back with the others we see Kari depressed that her older brother (and possibly first crush) might be dead, but the others stay positive and cheer her up as they believe that Tai and Wargreymon are still alive and somewhere out there. Their faith in their leader still being alive revitalizes the group and allows them to keep fighting. Metalgururmon defeats Griffmon while Sora and Izzy manage to get past Millenniumon’s followers only for it to be too late. Millenniumon’s resurrection has been completed and now destruction will rule the world. The episode does end on a good note by seeing the return of Tai and Wargreymon.
The battle against Millenniumon begins in episode 50 as Patamon and Gatomon evolve into their mega forms, Goddramon and Holydramon (what the hell, they get mega evolutions and the others don’t?). Goddramon and Holydramon manage to defeat Millenniumon only for it to return as some unknown Digimon that almost succeeds in destroying the Digital World until Wargreymon hits it with a spirit bomb that destroys it to save the Digital World (wow, that was quicker than I imagined).
And that’s the end of part 3. Pretty decent. There’s only one more part to review and unfortunately it’s where the series starts to go downhill. You’ve been warned. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.