Appmon 41 Thoughts

[davetheanalyzer]

That was a revealing episode about Cloud and his motivations. Attempting to save Yuujin was mostly a side issue and once that was taken care of, they could concentrate on Cloud and Charismon. The fight between Charismon and Globemon to retrieve the switch was cool. If nothing else, the CG for the upper forms allows for some fluid and exciting action. The animation and direction was also lovely, with the colored stagelights and expressions. In show, I wouldn’t be surprised if Knight had the stagelights all set up in case he wanted to be dramatic.

I was a bit surprised Haru didn’t clue in Cloud was Knight right away (Apparently judging from a line, only Rei might have suspected) but they did something interesting with that by having Knight compare it to having two accounts, using one to show sides of yourself you can’t in your current position and to have fun. This could be harmless and having that freedom is great, but if used for abusing and hurting others, that means the person wouldn’t as held too much public account. Knight could allow his true disdainful views of humanity to be shown while not effecting his reputation.

Which is ironic, since it’s the ill-use of social media for cruel purposes that led him to reject humanity. I did like Knight’s back story as a genius child lonely after moving to take school in America, how that motivated him to create a chat program that went viral, and what it showed about people. I don’t believe he was the first to make a chat program, but I did like how it was shown as a neutral tool that could be used for good as well as abuse. As a wounded, impressionable kid who didn’t believe his invention was to blame for the abuse, I can see him being swayed by Leviathan reinforcing that point and furthermore that humanity doesn’t deserve to have agency in their lives or even to live at all if they won’t cooperate.

Apparently, Knight believes that humans left to their own devices would frequently, if not mostly, jump to the worst conclusions and make the most illogical decisions. Since they won’t evolve away from those cruel and destructive ways fast enough or at all, he thinks, then they should be put under the watch of A.I., which he purports doesn’t make such errors and cruel decisions. The humans who serve Leviathan would be happy and not have to worry about their decisions creating cruel and long term for others and the environment, because the decisions of Leviathan and the machine would always be right.

Of course, because Knight has this sort of relationship with Leviathan, he is responsible for the same cruelty he rails against in humans. When called out on that, his reaction is “Welp, I’m only serving Leviathan’s will” and he likely thinks going so far as attempting to murder humans is only giving what is coming to them. Haru’s belief that humans and technology can work side-by-side seems to echo his younger self’s beliefs, which is all the more reason why Knight is vicious against him.

I did like that Haru granted some of Knight’s belief’s and opinions might be true or have value but delivers his own view gently but firmly, asking Knight to consider his points and have some question about his views. Of course, that doesn’t have much effect on someone groomed by Leviathan from a young age and he’s still eager to give the L power to Charismon so the latter could murder the Appli Drivers and their Buddy Appmon.

That all changes of course when Charismon reveals that Leviathan believes Knight has outlived his usefulness. I admit, I was a bit disappointed in that since it’d have been interesting to me if the bond and arrangement between Leviathan and Knight was genuine and that would complicate matters for the Appli Drivers over how to put Knight down in a way that means he won’t be a menace again. Nevertheless, Knight’s horrified disbelief and pleas to talk with Leviathan directly, only for Charismon to shoot him down with similar language as others was great irony. Even after being betrayed so utterly, he obeys since believing humans are inferior is a conclusion he first came to himself and now realizes he wouldn’t be exempted from it. He comforts himself by saying the time was fun and at least his death will have some meaning. After being groomed by Leviathan for so long, he has trouble acting or resisting for himself. It’s only when Haru insists on his previously scorned sentimentality and Globemon defeats Charismon with Haru’s great biological power that Knight starts to change.

I wonder how he’s going to operate now he knows his mentor if many years is a lie. What happened to his parents? Would he be reconnecting or becoming closer to them? Are they still around? He’s going to have to reinvent himself to move on in the world and I wonder if he will meet up with the Appli Drivers again to help do that.

Haru risking his life to infuse Globemon with energy that can save anyone has echoes of Yuujin, whose Appli Driver’s question was about who he would risk his life to protect. The fight between Globemon and Charismon continues the excellence, and I saw hints of Savers when Haru and Globemon talked about humans and Appmon working together throughout the episode. I don’t know if those themes have appeared before in the series but it’d be interesting to explore with Apps. As Gatchmon said, though, Haru’s courage to take the risk with his energy and reach out to Knight was what led them to victory and makes him a protagonist.

Other thoughts: The Buddy Appmon reassuring a crying Offmon was sweet, even if Dokamon might have bruised Offmon’s head with that big fist of his. The Appli Drivers are thankful to Yuujin for saving them, and Yuujin seems pretty content to be carried by Haru. I’m amused the Appli Drivers don’t comment on Rei vanishing off yet again. They are used to it by now.

Next time, Rei infiltrates L Corp with smart-looking glasses to find out which Appmon there is Hajime and the Appliyama girls that accompany Eri might just get a bit more involved. If they found out who L Corp really was, they’d probably freak out. I’ve seen some speculation that the Hajime-Appmon is Sleepmon, who has just been floating around in his few appearances. I’m inclined to those theories but we’ll see who is right soon.