The original Digidestined appear in supporting roles but are prevented from helping out more due to another plot point explained midway through the series. Another point of rage for long-time fans is what happens towards the end of the series. See, in the first season, there was huge romantic chemistry between Tai and Sora, but then here, out of literally nowhere, Sora reveals she has developed a crush on Matt! WHAT!? There has been not one trace of romantic hints between Sora and Matt throughout the first or second seasons, and then suddenly Sora has feelings for Matt, and they get together, and get married! Was that like a big middle finger to the fans or something? People wanted Tai and Sora together, or even paired Tai with Matt, but the writers made the choice to pair the couple nobody wanted. I hope Digimon Adventure Tri resolves this or someone will burn!
Anyway, the villains are pretty fun and a little bit more developed beyond the bad guys in the first season. Arukenimon and Mummymon are the Team Rocket of the series, both menacing but also comical. Mummymon has a crush on Arukenimon and just wants to impress her. They are commanded by Oikawa, a fantastic character who is sinister, mysterious but really likeable. He is a tragic figure like Ken, having lost his only friend Hiroki, Cody’s father, and made plans to go to the Digital World on his friend’s behalf. He is actually oblivious to Myotismon’s control over him, and it is nice to see his more humane side when in Cody’s presence. Myotismon is a welcome return, but the biggest disappointment is the frankly pointless BlackWarGreymon – he does nothing of value in the series and even his selfless sacrifice is completely shattered in the finale.
Let’s talk about the new types of digivolving in the season. In the first season, it was simply digivolving to the next level of power, but it becomes more complicated here. By the sixth season, Digimon Fusion, the rules are completely thrown out the window. First, there is Armor Digivolving, essentially a new version of the “Champion” level based on the power of Digieggs connected to the Crests the original Digidestined owned. Then the Digimon gain actual Champion forms which makes the Armor forms redundant.
And then comes the DNA Digivolution, where two Digimon fuse together into one. The trigger is when two Digidestined form a certain bond, in this case Davis/Ken, Yolei/Kari, and Cody/T.K. If you’ve seen Digimon the Movie, Tai and Matt achieved this first with Omnimon, something which is nodded to in the series. The DNA Digivolution concept is cool, though by the time we get to Digimon Fusion, the whole thing is one big mess.
Speaking of mess, now I have to discuss the biggest complaint I have with the season which I saved for the end of this review – the ending of Digimon Adventure 02. The last episode culminates in MaloMyotismon’s destruction, via children openly declaring their wishes and dreams. Yeah, the big bad is talked to death. Every Digimon in the series has come together to kick his ass and don’t get to do anything. Okay, it can be explained that because MaloMyotismon’s power draws from the negative energy of the Dark Spores and because the infected kids start to get hope his power is broken. But it is just so cheap seeing the mastermind behind the whole story randomly disintegrating, then getting blown up by Imperialdramon. Oikawa is dying, but uses the wish-granting world’s power to transform into butterflies to protect the Digital World from evil. His death is quite sad but also heroic.
And then comes the epilogue. Oh my stars and garters, does the epilogue suck. I know the writers were in a hurry to wrap up the show to start work on Tamers, but it felt like the epilogue was picked out of a hat or written in a hurry. This three minute segment is a complete and utter dump on the series. All of the main Digidestined are married, have children who look like them, are successful mega stars, and there is peace and harmony everywhere. Okay, that last bit isn’t so bad. But how on Earth did the writers come up with these futures for the characters? It’s like if J.K. Rowling wrote a half-arsed epilogue for Harry Potter. She didn’t, by the way.
Some make sense like Joe is a doctor, Izzy is a computer specialist, Kari is a teacher, and Cody became a defence attorney. But every other Digidestined’s job makes no sense, is completely absurd, or is the complete opposite of these wonderful characters. Matt and Gabumon are astronauts and made it to Mars!? What the heck? Kari and T.K. didn’t get together, even though they had even more romantic teases than Tai and Sora – and Sora. Sora! Poor Sora! In a complete insult to her character, Sora has become a successful fashion designer and we see her wearing a kimono and resembling her own mother. Didn’t the writers even watch the first season. Sora is an athletic tomboy who had an estranged relationship with her own mother who didn’t listen and wanted her to run the family flower shop. This fashion designer job would better suit Mimi.
I really don’t want to fly into a white hot nerd rage, but the utter lack of interest and respect for Digimon Adventure‘s characters in this season has been dreadful. And that is how a majority of Digimon Adventure 02 has felt. A shambling, drawn out mess of a season with dull characters, a meandering plot, unresolved character relationships and subplots, and cheesy gimmicks. The season has some good points and I can enjoy it for what it is worth, but I hope that when Digimon Adventure Tri arrives, they retcon that horrendous epilogue. Thank goodness that Digimon Tamers is next on the list.
What are your thoughts on Digimon Adventure 02? Should the first season have had a better sequel or just ended where it did? Sound off in the comments below or on our Twitter feed.
