Appmon 48 reaction

[davetheanalyzer]

Well, My Best Friend's a Teenage Robot was intense. At the forefront of the episode is everyone dealing with the reality that Yuujin is a robot who as a person might never have existed at all. Poor Haru is understandably having a hard time, his brain going “does not compute” with all the robot speak Yuujin. Gatchmon is beginning to become enraged and seeks to stop Yuujin’s rapid activation of the beginnings of the Human Application Project. Gatchmon trying to snap Haru out of it with a fierce look and saying his name, only to be shocked when he looks away. I enjoyed that part. Haru’s entire years-long friendship with Yuujin is being turned upside down, so it’s understandable he won’t be snapped back to action that easily. Poor Gatchmon seems saddened about Haru’s situation and not being able to get through to him.

Haru eventually proclaims Leviathan planning everything, including the first meeting, is a lie. He believes in the experiences and memories they had together in all their time together. Some part of him can accept that Yuujin is a Leviathan-spying android but that his personality never existed? No, that can’t be right. Haru gets some hope when his tears are followed by Yuujin and that gave some hope to viewers as well, since that image of him crying was released prior to the episode’s premiere. It turns out there has been some chain yanking from both Yuujin-bot and the writers. He claims to have simply cried on command and that his personality was merely a simulation to get closer to Denemon’s grandson. Yuujin’s supposed mother is actually a L Corp researcher and he had multiple bodies to simulate his growth.

That does seem like a convincing case Yuujin was never real but I still have my doubts. Aside from doubting this kid’s show would go that grim, there was a moment where we witnessed Yuujin come home to the L Corp researcher posing as his mother. If Yuujin never existed, why does his “mother” have a scan tool near the door where she could check his memories? It might be more convenient but why can’t he tell her himself? After the mind check, she confirms they’ll have pasta for dinner and they banter about how she exactly knew what he wanted, with telepathy being brought up. Yuujin doesn’t sound he’s faking this. Why does Yuujin have to continue pretending to be an ordinary boy with someone who already knows his true identity? This could just be a continuity error and Yuujin mightn’t actually exist after all, but I do feel that he would reassert himself, later or maybe even in this episode, where he might be trying sever ties with Haru and the others so that they could take him down without wasting their time saving him or whatever.

Eri and Astra’s reactions aren’t as intense but they are still noteworthy. Eri’s first reaction to Rei’s claim Yuujin betrayed them is the joke isn’t funny and to threaten him with a explosive punch but then is scared when Rei only looks serious. Astra just denies it’s impossible before Rei shows the security footage. They are both having a hard time taking in Yuujin as a robotic agent, with Astra wondering how much of this was a lie and Eri being worried about Haru’s mental state. Though they mightn’t be close to Yuujin, he was still their teammate and friend, so this must turn their worldview upside down. But they are able to put it aside to address the crises at hand.

Hajime is also perfectly all business, worrying about the Human Application Project and then trying to help decode God Grade. He doesn’t have any particular reaction to Bootmon being taken down, which might mean he’s either putting his shock aside until later or he knows of a way to potentially bring him back. Or he reacted off screen and is forcing himself back to work.

Speaking of God Grade, Yuujin-bot reveals a whole level Appmon could apparently evolve to that might be the equivalent to Ultimate. It’s kind of weird that God Grade wasn’t mentioned at all prior to this episode but that is actually how Digimon rolls sometimes. The other Appli Drivers fight Duesmon but they obviously stand no chance against him. The most that can be done is for Revivemon to hack into him so Rei and Hajime could research the God Grade data but then Deusmon disintegrates the local AR Field area. Everyone falls into the Deep Web back to Kowloon, where everyone but Haru regroups through their communicators.

Eri is understandably angry when Rei puts Haru’s trauma to stop the Human Application Project but he offers hope to her and Astra that their Buddy Appmon could become God Grade to stop this and a realistic assessment that not all of them might make it out alive. He gives them the option to run if Eri and Astra can’t handle it. Eri scolds herself for being scared, since she risked her life before, but this fight is much bigger and the stakes are higher. The risks of failure or death would rattle anyone. But Dokamon offers an out, saddened he mightn’t see her if he fights on his own but he’s willing to do it for her. Eri is moved enough that she hugs him, dries a tear, and puts on a smile. She couldn’t live with herself if she couldn’t make him smile. If she is to meet up to her “center of the universe” catchphrase, then she should be able to save the world. She uses her Idol persona and what she learned from her career to get the confidence to move to fulfill her difficult and necessary duty, and it’s sweet she got herself and Dokamon happy and pumped up.

Astra and Musimon try to use their personas to get themselves to fight but the former’s worry about losing his Buddy gets him down. He isn’t even happy when Musimon uses his persona to express his appreciation in a way that might be goodbye. But after listening, Astra’s touched and insists this is only the beginning of their relationship and they shall be themselves until the end. Musimon has given him so much and doesn’t want their relationship to end. Rei’s moment was more with his brother, who uses his learning of fried eggs to guarantee Rei will come home to find it. Rei’s stakes are more personal, wanting to protect the world with Hajime in it. He does bond with Hackmon by denying any need to cry and accepting his company on the thorny path with a “Do what you wish.” They aren’t an emotional pair but they have formed a strong connection, and wouldn’t have each other any other way.

To activate the God Grade with the Ultimate 4 chips, they have to answer the questions that led them to becoming Appli Drivers in the first place. Of course, they both answer the same way. Rei’s little smile before saying “no” to the “Are you alone” question is sweet. I also liked the Data Lab where Rei’s happy Hackmon will go God Grade and Hackmon looked happy about that happiness. I was also amused about Rei asking God to make sure Hajime’s fried eggs are good. Meanwhile, Haru is curled up in BSOD mode, Gatchmon waiting nearby. We’ll see how he pulls through. I do wonder if we’ll have another goodbye with the Buddy Appmon, with all the talk about potential separation. It wouldn’t be the first time but I’d hope they could remain together, as it’d go well with humans living harmoniously with A.I.. If they do have to separate, though, I wouldn’t be too chuffed. Fanfic and even the show might hint at ways for reunification.

And finally, Yuujin-bot…what is that outfit? Do you logically think that’s practically? How can I buy him being a emotionless robot when he chooses silly fashions like that? Then again, maybe Leviathan design it, and he’s just like “Okay, boss.” Shutmon seems hesitant about something but gets shut down. Maybe he’ll turn on him and/or try to get the “real” Yuujin back into existence. We’ll see if he succeeds.

Next time, the Human Application project starts as hands come out of Ipads and data leaks into the real world. Yuujin-bot might be attempting to screw with Haru’s head by pretending to be Yuujin, and who knows if the real Yuujin might leak out. And the God Grade Appmon for the Appli Drivers will be “GOLD! GOLD! GOLD!” as I suspected. I won’t be surprised if Gatchmon also went gold or became a similar shiny metal. At any rate, we’ll see full shots of the God Grades soon.