This episode was not quite as intense overall as I was expecting, but I still really enjoyed it. I really like how the episode opened up with everyone's horrified expressions as they absorbed what just happened. My heart really went out to Lillie in particular, the poor girl. But I really admired her immediate determination to save her mother. Also, I was right about Gladion insisting that Ash not get involved in a family matter (I felt a little sorry for Ash there; he so badly wanted to help, and I wouldn't be surprised if he felt a little guilty).
I got a chuckle out of Lillie viewing the obstacles to the Altar of the Sunne as puzzles that needed to be solved, while Gladion just plowed on through. Statues of the starters that might be the keys to opening the door? The door is already open. A bridge that's out? Have Silvally leap over the ravine. It was a nice contrast between the siblings, actually—between Lillie's intellectual nature and Gladion's more practical nature.
The battle against Totem Kommo-o did not take up a lot of screentime, but I'm pleased with that. I really liked Lillie's role as support in that battle; it was nice to see her battle for a change, and she and Shiron did pretty well, despite Shiron only knowing one move. Overall, I really like how she and Gladion worked together to defeat Totem Kommo-o and its allies.
And let's not forget Ash's "Big D*** Heroes" entrance.
I was certainly not expecting Ash and the others to catch up to Lillie and Gladion so quickly! (To be honest, I didn't expect them all to meet up until next episode.)
Have to say really disappionted with Silvally in the episode.....common you a beast slayer. I get that Liliie needed to play an important part in this episode, but for the sake of nerfing Silvally? It seemed like Silvally wouldn't have been able to beat Totem Kommo-o without the Fairy type memory.
What's with all of this arguing about Silvally being nerfed? There was no nerfing; Silvally was not struggling against Totem Kommo-o. Lillie merely pointed out to Gladion that Silvally would have the type advantage if he used the Fairy type Memory—something Gladion hadn't thought of, obviously.
I'm glad they didn't pull a Serena 2.0 and just had Lillie change her outfit without all the crying and rethinking everything. She went home and got straight to the point. I also enjoy how she's become more assertive with people around her. I'm assuming they're going to reverse Lillie's and Lusamine's interactions and have Lusamine call her out on her BS. Lillie has been rude to Lusamine ever since she got the show (wether it's right or wrong is your opinion) and now is crying because she lost her mother who's she's been nothing but rude to. I'm guessing Lusamine has some backed up anger from her children resenting her and will fully showcase it once they meet. It's like one those "you don't know what you have until it's gone" thing.
Why are you comparing Serena and Lillie? The two aren't comparable at all. Serena's haircut symbolized more than just a costume change and "crying and rethinking everything." However, that's not the topic of this thread, and I really don't want to see another Serena debate, so I'm not going to go into any further detail right now.
Lillie has not been needlessly rude to Lusamine. Lusamine is overbearing and condescending toward her daughter and treats her like a baby (she even calls her a baby). Lillie's reaction to that is perfectly normal for anyone her age. I don't see Lusamine having any backed-up anger or resentment toward her children, because she has no reason to.
I'm just hoping this is simply a case of Faba using Lusamine's dream of seeing an Ultra Beast as an excuse to cover up his actions, because it will be a very underwhelming plot twist if Lusamine were the one to suddenly reveal that "oh haha, I was the one behind it all". Really hoping they don't do that.
It was pretty clear to me, from his mannerisms and the fast pace of his speech, that Faba was just trying to push the blame on Lusamine in order to save his own skin; otherwise, he would get in serious trouble for being responsible for getting his boss kidnapped by an Ultra Beast (not to mention using a machine he did not have permission to use).