The Future We've Been Entrusted... (75)

[AuraChannelerChris]

Arcanine no come back!

 

[Liko2024]

To me, it felt like the episode was trying to cram so many things into this 20 minute slot. You get the Rakua backstory, then you get Liko catching Terapagos, then you get the Diana send-off. As a result, the Rakua backstory feels a bit underwhelming. For example, we meet Gibeon, then we quickly cut to them becoming Explorers and finding Rakurium. We don't really see much of Lucius/Gibeon or Gibeon/Rystal dynamic before Gibeon decides to go against them, which is a shame. I think I would have preferred an additional episode to just flesh out the Explorers and their dynamics a bit more before they found Rakurium.

I do really hope Gibeon will eventually get a flashback episode from his POV, because one of the key points of the story is the Amethio/Liko paralleling their ancestors, but it kinda falls flat for me when this episode doesn't spend much time on developing much of a dynamic between Gibeon and Lucius.

I'll rewatch the episode tomorrow though, and see if I feel any differently.

I'm pretty sure there will be more flashbacks that answer these questions. Rystal wasn’t there to dump her entire life story. You can't expect all of that in a 23-minute episode. She gave the most important events and points, not everything.

 

[wellwellwells]

I'm pretty sure there will be more flashbacks that answer these questions. Rystal wasn’t there to dump her entire life story. You can't expect all of that in a 23-minute episode. She gave the most important events and points, not everything.

Yeah, I feel we will be getting expanded flashbacks as we move forward.

 

[Xuxuba]

I liked it, didn't mind the pace as it was more focused on what happened in Rakua than how Lucius caught those pokémon.
We are still bound to have some more flashbacks anyway since Gibeon's immortality hasn't been addressed and there are still more heroes to catch which will prompt tidbits of their past.

I wonder if Rakunium is lowkey connected to mega stones since their effects are similar and at their natural state they look like Anistar's Sundial.

 

[AuraChannelerChris]

Rystal wasn’t there to dump her entire life story. You can't expect all of that in a 23-minute episode.

Liko: I feel like you could tell us more?
Rystal: Sweetie, cut me some slack. I'm babysitting your grandma's grandma.

 

[Kazuniya]

Rystal wasn’t there to dump her entire life story.

Wasn't asking for the entire life story. Just more scenes of the trio just hanging out, establishing their dynamic and relationship before things go south.

You can't expect all of that in a 23-minute episode.

Which is why I wanted this to be a two-parter, to make space for more Explorers happy times before the tragic climax, instead of cramming it all into a single episode.

Please don't try to twist my words, thanks.

 

[Articfoxgamez]

Just realized why obtaining the heroes gives Terapagos power back, the white orbs Terapagos surrounded them with are the same things they pass over when re obtained, I guess Terapagos spread its power out and that's why they grew so big and lived for so long. Which does imply they will now be able to die

 

[1rkhachatryan]

I mean technically this was a two parter xD.

 

[Xuxuba]

I mean, Gibeon was a rather late addition to the group and his inclusion was more of a means to an end than the opportunity to enjoy each other's company.

More so than focusing on a friends to enemy trope, i think they just wanted to portray them as having the same goal but different ideals, which the flashbacks were enough to convey with Lucius being happy just admiring Rakua while Gibeon wanted to take a piece with him.

Their personal feelings towards e/o didn't affect their decisions and now that Lucius is dead, they will play no part on the following events, as the Rising Volttacklers are there to assume the place of Gibeon's foil.

 

[Liko2024]

Wasn't asking for the entire life story. Just more scenes of the trio just hanging out, establishing their dynamic and relationship before things go south.


Which is why I wanted this to be a two-parter, to make space for more Explorers happy times before the tragic climax, instead of cramming it all into a single episode.

Please don't try to twist my words, thanks.

That would be nice and I would also like to see that to but my point is that she provided the kids with the most relevant informations and there was no need for her to elaborate further. Maybe the next flashbacks will focus more on their relationship or something

 

[Xuxuba]

Just realized why obtaining the heroes gives Terapagos power back, the white orbs Terapagos surrounded them with are the same things they pass over when re obtained, I guess Terapagos spread its power out and that's why they grew so big and lived for so long. Which does imply they will now be able to die

Didn't realize that, but it makes sense. Fitting for him to be the one extending their life time considering that tortoises live for so long.

 

[Spider-Phoenix]

Black Friday Deal: Buy a Flashback, get a free legendary

Didn't think the episode was rushed myself though

 

[mehmeh1]

some of the cuts felt weird , interested on seeing what happened to Gibeon afterwards and what he thinks though

 

[Blood Red]

Holy Karp, she actually caught it! This means Liko now has the dual honor of being the first female protagonist and first primary protagonist to have caught a Legendary Pokémon.

Also, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks it's weird how these shiny Legendaries are just sorta...there? It just feels extremely weird that both Lucius and Gibeon just casually own these literal gods. At least Zygarde fulfilled its purpose as a protector of balance though, even going against its Trainer's wishes to do so, which is...good? It also makes me question why Zygarde even decided to let itself be captured by (and stick around with) Gibeon.

 

[1rkhachatryan]

After watching with subs, we know now that Terapagos is from area zero and Rystal met it while being down there.

Gibeon's motives are also not random as he had been studying Rakua for some time before meeting Lucius and was likely there for the same reason that Lucius and Rystal were there presumably because they heard that someone there had info on Rakua.

Gibeon being science based couldn't get past the chance to find out what is going on with Rakurium unknowingly unleashed danger on them and didn't realize until it was too late to stop.

It was also interesting that Terapagos was able to know how to neutralize Rakurium gas while the others were seemingly seeing it for the first time. This leads me to think that Rakurium might have originally been from area zero which would explain how Terapagos was able to know exactly how to destroy Spinel's Rakurium too.

Also we now know why Terapagos got so angry at Amethio and why it's so angry with Gibeon.

Finally the ending scene with Liko capturing Terapagos was again, really cute, especially when Rystal could sense that Liko and Terapagos were partners already and gave her official blessing for the capture.

Sidenote, I wonder what Rystal died from so young, Diana at the end said her mother had never even mentioned her grandmothers name since she was so young when she died.

 

[lolipiece]

I like how Lucius sees a woman in trouble and his immediate reaction is to climb a nearby building just so he can make a dramatic entrance.

So, Gibeon also has an Andient Poke Ball. Does this mean there’s going to be Six Villains too?

Gibeon was the only one to get close to the Laquium. I’m choosing to consider this as evidence towards my “Laquium has a corrupting effect on humans” theory. Hell, we literally see him surrounded by pink mist later. He even starts grabbing and moving it around.

So, what happened to the Cells Zygarde shot at the cluster? It kinda looks like they got blown to bits. Does this mean it can’t go Complete Forme? Or can they regenerate somehow?

I assume Zygarde saved Gibeon since it kinda vanished after he fell into the hole.

So uh, if Lucius sealed himself inside Laqua, how is Liko wearing his belt? He was still wearing it at the end. Did he just carry a spare?

“The one who will reach Laqua with Master Gibeon will be me”. Spinel, buddy. I don’t think he’s interested in adopting you.

 

[Blue Saturday]

The episode was fine, but I expected more from the long-anticipated reveal of Lucius and Gibeon.

Rayquaza and Zygarde felt underwhelming. Rayquaza, Lucius’s “greatest partner,” had no backstory—he just has it. Not very "Rayquaza Rising" of you, kind of dropped the ball on that one. Similarly, Gibeon’s Zygarde is just another Pokémon in his possession. I could understand if legendary Pokémon were more common in their era, but their introductions lacked impact. Lucius seemed more aligned with Terapagos in spirit, while the six heroes felt like his actual captured Pokémon. That dynamic worked until Rystal was introduced. Flashbacks had only shown Terapagos with Lucius, but Rystal’s sudden arrival feels like a last-minute addition, patching together the lore.

The Explorers' history feels inconsistent. Diana once said the Explorers were Lucius’s friends, but now we learn Lucius founded them which is quite the jump. This shifts their dynamic, making Gibeon’s choice to keep the “Explorers” name for a crime syndicate odd, especially with Lucius and Rystal gone. Terapagos being tied to the Great Crater was a nice nod to the games.

Rakurium as “too much of a good thing” is an interesting concept. It provides bounty but accelerates decay, almost like radiation. However, the effects are inconsistent. Why do Rakua’s Pokémon go berserk while those of Lucius, Gibeon, and Rystal remain unaffected? If Rakurium drives creatures mad, shouldn’t it also threaten their Pokémon? I hope Gibeon’s motives aren’t reduced to “he went crazy from Rakurium.” His choices should feel intentional, not the result of a copout explanation, though that does set up a potential redemption arc.

Spinel’s loyalty to Gibeon was surprising. I thought he was self-serving, but it seems he genuinely seeks Gibeon’s approval and wants to join him in Rakua. While it adds nuance to his character, it’s less interesting than if he were purely self-interested. I think I would swap the nuance here for the debacle between Lucius and Gibeon.

Liko capturing Terapagos was a cool moment, though it might’ve worked better after it left its pendant form. It felt like the show was paralleling Lucius’s partnership with Terapagos until Rystal took on a bigger role so I honestly thought that was the reason they wouldn't have her officially catch it and having a main cast legendary in a ball early on would be a bit overbearing too fast. Rystal’s dialogue about helping and protecting mirrored Liko’s character, which was a nice touch. I appreciated Zygarde going against Gibeon’s wishes to restore ecological balance. That fit its lore as the Order Pokémon.

The setting of Rakua also fell flat. It’s portrayed as a typical lush nature area with happy Pokémon, save for the presence of legendary species. While this aligns with the DLC themes of legendary-catching sprees, it doesn’t feel particularly special or mysterious. With much of the Rakua storyline resolved, the series has to start tying up loose ends like Entei and Rayquaza, which are exciting prospects, but the overarching mystery feels largely cleared up. Ultimately, this was serviceable but lacked the grandeur and depth I was hoping for. With PM2023 nearing its end, I understand the need to resolve plotlines, but more weight and intrigue in these pivotal moments would have elevated the story significantly.

 

[Liko2024]

The setting of Rakua also fell flat. It’s portrayed as a typical lush nature area with happy Pokémon, save for the presence of legendary species. While this aligns with the DLC themes of legendary-catching sprees, it doesn’t feel particularly special or mysterious

It is stated in the episode that the reason Rakua is special is because of the Rakurium substance, which seems to imbue living things with life energy. This is likely why regular Pokémon and legendaries are drawn to this place and live peacefully there.

 

[Blue Saturday]

It is stated in the episode that the reason Rakua is special is because of the Rakurium substance, which seems to imbue living things with life energy. This is likely why regular Pokémon and legendaries are drawn to this place and live peacefully there.

Rakua is undoubtedly remarkable due to Rakurium, but in terms of presentation, style, and worldbuilding, it felt somewhat underwhelming. For a location often perceived as a fairytale-like wonder, I expected the settings and environment to be more unique and visually striking beyond the Rakurium-cratered area. While beautiful, the depiction of Rakua as a serene paradise for wild Pokémon to live peacefully is something we've seen many times before in the anime. A more distinct and imaginative approach could have made it feel truly special and unforgettable.

 

[Queen Cynthia]

First, let me point out that I liked the episode. However, it raised more questions than it actually solved, so I'd call it a teaser that was meant to keep the audience interested while we'll still have to wait for further answers. This isn't a bad concept per se.
My main criticism, however, is this:

Why did Rakua, which is called the "Pokemon Paradise" and the "gleam and the beauty of the world" look rather underwhelming and ordinary? I was expecting a magical, shining, almost heaven-like place. What we saw instead was a prototypical landscape in the Pokemon world. Not particularly paradise-like if you ask me.
I'm not criticizing there are still many questions left but that the grand Rakua everybody is striving for was quite a letdown (at least judging from what we've seen so far)

To me, it felt like the episode was trying to cram so many things into this 20 minute slot. You get the Rakua backstory, then you get Liko catching Terapagos, then you get the Diana send-off. As a result, the Rakua backstory feels a bit underwhelming. For example, we meet Gibeon, then we quickly cut to them becoming Explorers and finding Rakurium. We don't really see much of Lucius/Gibeon or Gibeon/Rystal dynamic before Gibeon decides to go against them, which is a shame. I think I would have preferred an additional episode to just flesh out the Explorers and their dynamics a bit more before they found Rakurium.

Yes, I agree. This should definitely have been a two-parter in order to show its full potential!
Again, I liked the episode but I also hoped we would have been given more answers.

Here's my personal (incomplete) list of questions that the episode raised:

• How can one relatively small Rakurium crystal be a threat for the whole world? Wasn't Lucius dramatizing a bit here?
• How could Gibeon survive such a fall?
• How can Gibeon be in a secret room (presumably in the modern-day Explorers' headquaters because Amethio was able to visit him) when he's supposed to be in a hole deep down in Rakua that, in addition, has completely been sealed off by Terapagos?
• So, is it safe to assume Lucius has been "living" in some kind of crystallized state in that huge bubble Terapagos created ever since?
• Why did Terapagos rescue the six heroes but not Lucius himself? That's particularly strange because Lucius and Terpagos never agreed that the former wanted/needed to stay there while all the others were rescued
• How can Rystal have no knowledge where Rakua is? I mean she must have had at least a few hints apart from "our Pokemon took us there", right?
• Last but no least, Terapagos' behavior seems kind of strange in hindsight. Its greatest wish is to go to Rakua. Before the recent two episodes you could have thought that it wants to meet its trainer (Lucius?) there. But now we know that Rystal used to be its trainer and Terapagos got a chance to finally meet her again. Wouldn't you think that a Pokemon's biggest wish is to meet its beloved trainer? So, why would it want to go to Rakua in order to meet Lucius? Is it in fact hoping to be able to revive Rystal there?

So uh, if Lucius sealed himself inside Laqua, how is Liko wearing his belt? He was still wearing it at the end. Did he just carry a spare?

That's actually another good questions. Probably a mistake?

So, when the RVTs will finally reach Rakua I hope that
a) it will look more impressive than this time and feel like a real, unforgettable paradise
b) my list of questions will be answered.


Up next: A former crewmember and the search for Entei!