I like how Liko’s Pokémon have a bit of a sibling dynamic, with Meowscarada as the eldest sister and Charcadet being the younger brother. he fact that Hattrem is going through middle child syndrome, and that Ann is the one who points it out because she’s also the middle child of her family, really speaks to how actual middle children are treated. While I myself am not a middle child, the stories I’ve heard from others in the past really match up to how Hattrem was feeling in this episode. Even before Ann pointed it out, it was shown through her actions as she was trying to be mindful of Meowscarada and Charcadet.
Of course, the big surprise in this episode was that Hattrem actually evolved halfway through! However, there’s one thing I must note: Hatterene is not a Pokémon who evolves through happiness. I’m sorry to burst your bubble, Horizons. Now, as a Hatterene, she gains a lot maturity, but it also feels as if all the emotions she bottled up has let loose and evolved into an aggressive state that’s an infamous trait among her species. The part where she hit Eelektross, healed it, and then hit it again does give a very sadistic healer vibe. I do hope that’s her schtick because it’d be hilarious. Also, I do notice that Liko’s Hatterene seems to be on the smaller side as Hatterenes are usually over 2 meters tall or 6’11—she’d be towering over Liko, if that were the case, but she seems to be a bit taller than Meowscarada who is 4’11 or 150 cm.
I do like that the Ditto blocks are mentioned in this episode. Unlike the games, the Dittos do revert back to being their default selves. There’s even a shiny one in the episode! Picnics and sandwich-making also make a return in this episode, keeping true to the mechanic. The only difference is that there are no picks, and no effects after consumption. I’m still waiting for the day someone makes a sandwich without the top bread… If I were to have gripe about this episode, it’d be that there wasn’t a Double Battle. It’d be so cool to see Hatterene and Charcadet work together, but nothing of the sort happens…
Because this is mostly focused on Liko, Dot and Roy only make an appearance at the end. Heck, Ult doesn’t even have a speaking line in this episode! Since the next episode’s preview is focused on Roy and his rematch with Drayton, I honestly can’t wait to see if Crocalor will finally evolve as well. After all, Hattrem’s evolution was only a guessing game among fans prior to this episode, and hadn't been spoiled by the previews. One last thing: Liko’s wearing a different shirt underneath her hoodie for this episode. If you saw the concept art, the yellow shirt is what was shown in it. Glad to see it make its on-screen debut. Let me know your thoughts on this episode!
