Welcome to my look at the “Terapagos’ Shine” arc of Pokémon Horizons. Though not without its own flaws, I am at least glad to say for the most part it improves a lot over “The Departure of Liko and Roy.” As before, we’re going over all of it to determine what works and what doesn’t for the story and characters; looking at each episode of the arc as one part of the story. Let’s open it up and get started.
Episode 26, “Terapagos’ Adventure”
Picking up where we left off, Liko’s grandmother Diana is staying aboard the Brave Olivine for a time. In all fairness, this does make for a much better start to the storyline than the last one. As I pointed out before, though I don’t put this anime on the same level as others, there is a better feel for what the new creatives want to accomplish this time. Through a journal left to Liko, she discovers she’s descended from a legendary trainer known as Lucius.
Episode 27, “As Long as I’m With my Friends”
This episode is another one that has Dot as a primary focus. There’s a lead in the Galar Wild Area, which results in much rejoicing. (Yay.) She apparently never had curry before, but she does warm to the idea (much more flavorful than supplement capsules). Again, out of the three main children, she’s the one who’s most actively trying to better herself. We’ll touch on this more in both this arc and the next ones.
Episode 28, “The Stolen Treasure”
This is one of a couple episodes that made me wonder where the praise was coming from; especially for people who claimed HZ as more “mature” than previous seasons. I never got that impression- between this grifter trying to take the Legend Ball and the chase that ensues; not to mention the bits with Dot as Nidothing, it actually comes off to me as more juvenile than even the Indigo League was. However, I did find the joke about the book of analog clickbait amusing; I will admit. The most key part is the ending- the culprit, whose name is Tepen; gives everyone an actual lead to the next hero in Galar. This leads to the next episode.
Episode 29, “Orla and the Poké Ball Smith”
Two episodes after we got an episode about Dot, now we have one focused on their chief engineer Orla. Though the titular Poké Ball smith, Karna will appear again; the takeaway is this- Orla contemplates leaving the ship; but ultimately decides against it. Makes me glad I decided against reviewing each episode individually.
Episode 30, “Slip and Crash: A Mystery Pokémon”
Now, the search for the next Legendary Hero is on. After a rash of peculiar thefts at sea occur, the culprit must be found. It also turns out that the Brave Olivine is among the ships being compromised. Also, I know some people will be asking if I don’t mention this, so here goes: I found the part where Dot drinks Shuckle juice straight from the Shuckle amusing; especially with my knowledge of its effects from the past.
Episode 31, “Song Within the Mist”
The next clue to the mystery Pokémon is in recovering the stolen loads of cargo from the nearby harbor. We’re going to be talking about these loads for a while, so I will give anyone who needs a moment to get the chuckles out of their system. After following the empty loads and the proverbial siren song, the culprit is found.
Episode 32, “Lapras’ Feelings for its Friends”
So, the culprit and Legendary Hero to catch are one and the same- a Lapras that used to belong to Liko’s ancestor Lucius. To be honest, I don’t buy the latter as a thief based on the Pokédex entries. I personally would have just made him an accomplice to someone else, then leaving after realizing they’ve been tricked. The ringleader of stealing loads of cargo to me would be a Dhelmise, or at the very least a Sharpedo; but not a Lapras. Lapras is successfully caught in another Legend Ball, leading us to the next episode.
Episode 33, “Roar of the Black Rayquaza”
After Lapras is captured, the shiny Rayquaza re-emerges. The battle that ensues is a highlight of this arc; even knowing what lies ahead for this anime. I will just deal with what happens after the current JP arc as it comes.
Episode 34, “Respective Departures”
After about 8 or 9 episodes on the ship, it’s time for now at least for Diana to go. She will return when she’s needed again; but this leads to a lull for the next few episodes that is admittedly a minus for me. I will say the going away party they throw her is cute though.
Episode 35, “The Wild Pair- Friede and Cap”
This is the first of an “odd jobs” storyline, where the crew of the Brave Olivine have to take on tasks to fund the next leg of their search for the Legendary Heroes. While there has been praise for its “realism,” I personally feel that detail isn’t as interesting as others. This episode features Friede and Captain Pikachu rescuing a Pokémon from a group of hunters in Paldea for his friend Shine. It’s a Bramblin, and it gets returned to him as a Brambleghast. The hunters didn’t leave much impression on me, nor with Cap sneezing every time he gets called cute. The lesson about “one’s ideal partner” is important going forward.
Episode 36, “ Mission- Find Oinkologne’s Partner”
Though much of this anime up to this point has been passable at best for me, this episode is easily the low point of this arc; and the first episode of Horizons I outright disliked. Though these kind of goofy episodes featuring characters that only show up once were common in years’ past, here it undermines the supposed appeal. The way Renta and Yuno behaved did not help, nor did the fact that Oinkologne is a rather divisive Stage 1 monster in Paldea (the basic form, Lechonk has more fans).
Episode 37, “Fuecoco Becomes a Crook?!”
What starts as a routine masonry job turns into the discovery of a family of the Sandile line, prompting Roy and Fuecoco to intervene and save their home. For all the talk of this anime subverting its seniors; this plot thread is played fairly straight. Have to say- it’s been done. Not even a feminine variant of Krookodile with pretty eyelashes can save it. That, and for all the claims of telling a more serious story; the execution again makes it seem goofier than similar stories in the past.
This also marks an abrupt end to the “odd jobs” storyline, with future usage being thankfully kept largely in the background. Though the story structure did mainly stick to the threads set up previously, this is one case where I can say cutting things short was the right call- I personally wasn’t a fan and it’s clear audiences weren't responding to it.
Episode 38, “SOS From Tandemaus”
As the title suggests, the Brave Olivine is on its way back to Paldea when they get a distress call from some Tandemaus. Naturally, their medic Mollie is the one to take point on trying to find and treat them. In one moment I do genuinely like, true to the games; it evolves into Maushold once the mate finds its partner on the ship.
Episode 39, “Tinkatink’s Ideal Hammer”
Here- Dot’s venture to replace the mic for her streaming setup leads her to a new partner Pokémon- Tinkatink. Their growth through this anime is intertwined, and of the three younger leads; she is the one I think is the most effective. Her old mic is even made into a hammer. We’ll talk about this more in the next arc review; but I think the storylines around the children work best when they’re not entirely reliant on their elder peers, much like in years’ past. Also, Ludlow musing about thunder is a pretty solid allusion to his dub VA Larry Kenny’s work on the Thundercats franchise.
Episode 40, “Farewell, Sprigatito”
A new anime inevitably means a new “trial separation” episode, and this one is at least better than the one Orla got. There’s another time to expand on that, but for now, Liko contemplates letting Sprigatito go after spraining her wrist in a training session. I do my best to look at this anime on its own terms, and not solely against past seasons. That said, I will make an exception here- this episode has drawn parallels to “Pikachu’s Goodbye,” and for good reason. The elderly breeder Marnya; who specializes in catlike Pokémon and encourages them to keep growing together, also recalls Melanie in the Indigo Plateau.
Episode 41, “A Wild Mom Appears”
This is one I am mixed on. On one hand, Dot challenging her mother Franka to a battle to remain on the Brave Olivine isn’t bad on its own. On the other, Franka herself is a character who seems out of place for this direction personally. While the battle does end in Dot remaining on the ship, the impact is dulled by Franka being as chatty as Peppermint Patty after a few espresso shots. One change I would make is for Dot to earnestly explain why she wants to remain on the crew and how Franka isn’t considering Dot’s feelings as opposed to her own. Only a few episodes left, so let’s go.
Episode 42, “Transform: Hero of the Seas, Palafin”
Here is the inverse of how I felt about episode 13- whereas that episode was a divisive one I found all right; here is a more well-liked one I personally didn’t enjoy. Dot sitting out the beach aside, I personally found this gaggle of photographers (called the “Snap Boys”) trying to snap a shot of Palafin mid-shape shift more obnoxious than funny. Hate to keep bringing up the games, but a glow of light is all they’d see. There are three major details that do make it so I can’t completely overlook this episode. First and foremost, the Brave Olivine is back in Paldea after a while; and the characters will spend the rest of this arc and the next there. Second, we get the introduction of the Mighty G- a superhero alter ego for Ludlow along with him being a retired actor. Lastly, the shiny Rayquaza has been sighted again; leading to what is functionally a three-part finale to this arc.
Episode 43, “A Challenge from the Explorers”
Part one of this arc’s finale starts here. As the RVT investigate a mysterious tower that was built (with it being spotted in a picture taken in the last episode); a chance meeting with a local baker with a stiff back also gets Liko and Roy a box of freshly baked treats that resemble Wiglett, much to the chagrin of Coral. She’s further dismayed at the bakery’s “first come, first served” policy; and the seal being broken. The obvious reply to her is simple- how will you be able to eat the sweet buns without opening them? I still ate my Pokémon Oreos after I shared pictures of them online (just like everyone else). One last word as this skirmish in the second half leads into the next episode- I already pointed out Liko’s “I have no idea what to do here” inner monologue in the last arc review; so let’s continue.
Episode 44, “The Plan to Capture Rayquaza”
Part two picks up from the first, with the RVT investigating the tower the Explorers built. The aim is simple- to partner with the shiny Rayquaza before their enemies do. The way this is accomplished is far more complex; and goes off the rails over the span of this half-hour. As the multi battle ensues, it’s an admitted highlight of this arc. I will also note this tower is on an island near Levincia, so let’s finish this.
Episode 45, “From So Far Away”
The third and final part picks up from before: as a result of the previous episode, both Rayquaza and the Brave Olivine are severely damaged. On top of that, the tower that must be stopped is a resonance signal broadcast station. Thankfully, Dot is able to install the program she designed just in time to stop it. As the Explorers retreat, Rayquaza goes to recover its strength while the ship must be steadied as it goes down. Easy prequel meme here: “Under the circumstances, I’d say the ability to pilot this thing is irrelevant- strap yourselves in.” With the ship successfully on water, the RVT and Terapagos are also able to convince Rayquaza they’re not enemies before the Legendary goes to rest. The children decide to learn more about terastallization, especially Liko and her newly-evolved Floragato. As the Explorers bide their time per the edict of Gibeon, the events of this arc directly impact the next one. Again, not as into this direction as others; but this was a better finale than the one for the last arc.
Though this storyline does carry many of the same issues as the previous one did, on the whole; “Terapagos’ Shine” is an improvement over the previous storyline. The pacing isn’t as intolerably slow as the first arc, and when they do use ideas and characters from the video games; it works. It’s also where there’s more of a feel for what the new creatives are trying to do with the formula; which will continue into the next one.
With both Rayquaza and the Brave Olivine being wrecked for now, this functionally means a soft reset for the next arc. Thankfully, said arc is easily the best one for this anime; so my look at Pokémon Horizons will continue next time with a review of “Terastal Debut!”
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