I think the biggest concern I have right now is the fact that the Pokémon community has this odd tendency to jump to conclusions. Why I say that is because prior to this episode, people had been spreading rumors about Liko capturing a Feebas which she’d later raise as a Milotic, but it hasn't happened here. Yet, everyone has been believing this for two weeks. I wonder why people care so much about captures when Pokémon isn’t always about that... though to be fair, I suppose they've been telling us we "Gotta catch 'em all" since the very beginning. But it's not like people only complain about there being too few captures, they're also complaining when someone makes too many captures. What do you guys want?
I feel like the world building Horizons does is an undervalued aspect of the series. Being able to see different types of Pokémon and how some behave differently than how they are assumed was actually great, and something I really appreciate! Seeing Feebas, a shabby fish, be extremely attention-seeking was hilarious. It was dancing like it was doing the Cossack squat dance and just posing around. Though, I am surprised it was able to find its way back to the lake where it was first spotted. Regardless, it was nice seeing a Feebas behave in a way we don't normally see. It was also cool seeing how Doduo fly—it basically jumps while taking steps in the sky, similar to how it did in Pokémon Stadium, mixed with how Sanji from One Piece does his Sky Walk. There’s also a return here of a surfing Rhydon, but this one is actually surfing on a log and not on the water like how that one Rhydon did in the Johto arc of the original anime. My favorite part though was seeing a Ribombee hiding underneath Vespiquen’s skirt.
It’s nice to learn that Friede will be a recurring character who pops up every now and then. Meanwhile, Ludlow has temporarily left the ship for Mighty G promotions. It was a shame that the adults didn’t join in on the fieldwork. I do hope that the adults will also have their time to shine in this new arc. To be honest, the most shocking thing about this episode wasn’t seeing the Doduo flying or nobody catching the Feebas, but it was seeing Friede cooking. Since when does he know how to cook?
The new opening song is alright. I’m glad that Liko and Roy’s voice actresses are singing it! Liko’s voice actress, in particular, is also a professional singer with a YouTube channel, so it would’ve been a waste if they hadn’t used her for an opening. The ending song was cute!
Overall, the episode was relaxing. I do wonder how long it’ll take for them to meet the companion who’s been teased on the opening and trailers. I honestly can’t wait to see what this arc will hold in store! By the way, I can’t help but wonder if showing off the ecology of the Pokémon and their habitat is some sort of subtle promotion of the Pokécology book—which reminds me, I need to buy it once it comes out in English in July! Let me know your thoughts on this episode!
