Since April of 2023, I have anticipated that Pokémon Horizons already became a grave disappointment with signs of little to no improvement in the show's development, let alone progress in the story. Although I find Roy being likable in a nostalgic way, however I don't like any member in the Rising Volt Tacklers as if this show deliberately broke more than one canon event deriving from the Pokémon games. Even Friede tends to hinder this show's two protagonists' development in their character, especially intervene in their Pokémon battles even if they're losing. To be honest, Liko and Roy are the weakest link to any Pokémon protagonist. They can't be able to do a Pokémon battle right to be able to be part of an official league. Especially Liko can't teach Sprigatito a new grass attack other than leafage. It's the New Year and Lunar New Year is drawing even closer and neither Liko nor Roy made any proper progress other than attempting to find a place that might not exist at all. It's time to dive in to that universe and cast my first and final Judgment on the world of Pokémon Horizons and apologies in advance for spoilers.
Plot Spoilers
The Rising Volt Tacklers take on a special job battling Pokémon Hunters in the Desert area to pay the bills. But, this job would not be as easy as they think. It's due to the matter of them being low on cash playing bodyguard for Liko's grandmother as well as the events after finding the giant Lapras and the black Rayquaza.
Liko's Lineage
Just to be clear with assumed theorists, Liko is not Ash's child, nor Dawn's nor Serena's. This is an alternate universe and to be frank, Liko let alone her lineage is not even human. Blue eyes are one thing, but born with black hair with large streaks of blue along with the mysterious Lucius having to do with Terapagos along with this 'Rakua,' absolutely suspicious. Even the Explorers' Gibeon also holds a huge connection to Liko's ancestry and Rakua as if he and Gibeon are one and the same. If it be the case, then I'd be correct that Liko is no heroine, a world destroyer with Terapagos being the trigger for the end of the world by crystallization.
Repeated Mistakes
I did state earlier that Pokémon Horizons has already become boring since episode 1 because of Liko and not even the 2nd opening would ever hope to be able to change my mind about the show as a whole along with being an absolute disgrace to the Pokémon Franchise. Realistically, I understand already that Journeys require money not just for food but also Poké Balls, medicine, etc. But I feel like it's rather a waste of time and space for Liko to continue doing school even with the Explorers chasing after her and Terapagos with her unchanging as the damsel in distress that she always being. Not to mention since Sun and Moon, the Pokédex explaining the Pokémon's type during the reading is rather a waste of data and info space and as for the character designs, very lazy and ugly especially with the rushed animation bad habit. That includes the hair overlapping eyebrows, eyes, and eyelashes with the outlines seen.
Putting all of the info above aside, let's talk about the current episode that would ultimately affect the show as a whole because of Liko and the Rising Volt Tacklers. During the episode for Liko's "Homework assignment," She assume that Friede and Captain Pikachu are to ideal duo. However, when it comes to Pokémon and trainer, the situation is more about a friend sometime get along with another friend and sometimes they don't situation. Another case and point that Liko failed to qualify as a Pokémon trainer once again resulting in a very boring show. When they came to the rescue, Friede is only here for the Bramblin but what about the rest of the wild Pokémon kidnapped? This is another major case and point where the Rising Volt Tacklers are actually pirates not adventurers. Even when it comes to battling against the Pokémon Hunters, Friede and his Pokémon are the only ones doing the heavy lifting while Liko and Roy are playing the roles of Decoy protagonists perfectly. Exhibit A is Roy have Fuecoco use ember while it should've use flamethrower for stronger damage and Liko still haven't teach Sprigatito a stronger grass move other than leafage. Exhibit B, Friede always find a way save the day in the end especially when Bramblin's evolving as well as taking the lead as if he's the real protagonist. Exhibit C, Liko and Roy rely too much on Friede and they can't do much of a thing to improve themselves nor progress the story in the right direction. Just like Journeys, just another random globetrotter as I suspected.
And to add insult to injury, Horizons make an absolute mockery of the whole Pokémon anime series but imitating Pikachu's tail high five with Ash. With lazy writing and extremely unoriginal work along with the open world gameplay from the Scarlet Violet source material sacrificing good story for random globetrotting, Pokémon Horizons has crossed the line for the very last time. Not to mention I don't say any trace of Officer Jenny meaning Rising Volt Tacklers really are avoiding the long arm of the law. This is where I really suspect them of being pirates along with their bad ending, the RVR rap. Plus, any more episodes would only further degrade on the show's quality.
Final Thoughts
I have gave the show a bit of thought and give it one too many chance to try and redeem itself. Nonetheless, Pokémon Horizons, as I say for the umpteenth time, ultimately failed to deliver the show with good quality even with the new episodes afterwards. In the event that I would be able to work for the Pokémon Company, I would like to bring Ash and Pikachu back to correct the large mistakes invoke by Journeys and Horizons starting with retconning his status as world champion. Because I believe Ash has 2 more major regions that I have in mind for him before giving him a proper send-off. Not to mention his dream of being Pokémon Master is, without a doubt, far from over. Liko's existence is a grave mistake and I have no qualm placing her face along with the rest of the Rising Volt Tacklers on Wanted Posters with huge bounties on each of their heads.
As a result, once I work for the Pokémon Company, I will personally try to take helm for the Pokémon Anime and other projects while respecting the wishes of Satoshi Tajiri and the other creators who made the Pokémon Franchise possible. Pokémon Horizons along with Scarlet and Violet did the absolute opposite. At the same time, Pokémon Horizons have disappointed me for the very last time and its fate will be a very tragic one. I'm giving this episode and Pokémon Horizons as a whole a colossal 0.01 out of 10 stars. Like I said, my decision is final. Horizons became the ultimate disgrace to the Pokémon anime franchise with Journeys and to be a master in second place for that dishonorable mention.
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