(If you missed it check out the previous recap essay HERE. To go back to the beginning click HERE)

In this episode, our first real big bad (the first bad ass Mega antagonist that is) of the series makes his appearance and rebels against his own would-be masters after delivering a test of his strengths to our Digimon protagonists. But before any of this happens, viewers will notice an interesting feature of this episode in the series: the animation. Characters and even backgrounds to a lesser extent are drawn with a much greater attention to line and an economy exhibiting animation mastery that has hitherto been absent from the majority of the episodes in the series. When one reads into the episode credits for writer, director, animation director, and key animators, however, we have the usual suspects who have all worked on at least a dozen episodes of Digimon prior to this one. Maybe they decided to experiment on this one. Or shopped out some of the animation away from Toei’s animation departments to a Korean animation group. Information is currently scanty on this matter.

The episode opens with Arukenimon bathing outside in a bathtub perched somewhat perilously above a cliff face. Mummymon approaches and relates the weirdness of the situation, as well as his own desire to take a bath therein as well. Preferably beside Arukenimon. In a turn that will mark much of their relationship, she will spurn his advances in the coming scenes, making him try all the more.

The Digidestined work on destroying more Control Spires, this time with Ken in tow as a member of the team. After a productive afternoon destroying the dark obelisks, T.K. and Kari go off to find some snacks for the rest of the team, much to Davis’ ire who wants to go in T.K.’s place. Yolei approaches him and acknowledges his frustrations, but alerts him to a more pressing matter: Cody and Ken have worked together all day, but haven’t spoken to each other the whole time and seem distant and distrustful of one another. Davis devises a plan to get the to work together to destroy another Control Spire that Flamedramon missed earlier that day. They readily jump into action to do the job, but only Wormmon and Digmon bond in the process. Cody’s distrust of Ken is laid bare in the following moments and Ken understandably decides to leave the group once more due to feeling that he isn’t wanted there.

Back to Arukenimon. As she plots about how to defeat the Digidestined, Mummymon gives her a body massage. She reasons that using one Spirit Needle produced Golemon, Champion-level Digimon. And that using 10 Spirit Needles on 10 Control Spires simultaneously produced Okuwamon, an Ultimate-level Digimon. She decides to track down an untouched area with plenty of Control Spires so that she can experiment and convert 100 Spires simultaneously. She throws Mummymon off of her and into the woods below the nearby cliff face. Mummymon lays bare the sado-masochistic relationship by expressing how his own desire grows with the abuse, then runs back to his mistress’ side to ride off in their car and toward an area where their plan can be completed.

When Arukenimon and Mummymon find such a place, they somehow manage to bring the Control Spires with them and then head in the direction of the Digidestined. Once there, Arukenimon pulls out a clump of her hair and uses the strands as Spirit Needles to transform the Control Spires. ExVeemon, Ankylomon, Aquilamon, Nefertimon, and Pegasusmon muscle up and ready themselves for the ensuing battle and Yolei messages Ken on her D-Terminal to try and get him to join them. As the Spires transform, the Mega-level BlackWarGreymon appears. The energy of his manifestation is enough to defeat the Digidestined’ forward guard and knocks out Pegasusmon and Nefertimon.

Ken responds that he doesn’t want to join them and disrupt their team dynamics. Yolei flies on Aquilamon’s back and meets Ken. She slaps him in the face and brings him back to his senses, urging him to join the others, which he does. Once he arrives, Stingmon DNA Digivolves with ExVeemon into Paildramon who turns out to be just as much of a pushover as the others were at the hand of this new Mega-level adversary. BlackWarGreymon implodes and produces a powerful externalization of power that defeats all surrounding Digimon. He then addresses Arukenimon and Mummymon who have been trying to boss him around and tells them that he won’t be controlled by weaker Digimon and doesn’t take orders from anyone. This faux Digimon flies off to find a worthy opponent who can test his strength and shows himself to be a heroic figure with an internally consistent moral code: self-recognition as an Ubermensch, detestation of herd morality, and a urge to fight for the sake of fighting, for the sake of determining who is truly the strongest Digimon around. In other words, a badass.

Later,

The Digidestined Cody

[Continued HERE]