Forgot to comment on the second, third, and fourth episodes.
Episode 2:This is probably the closest a Digimon anime has been to the quality of a Digimon manga series like V-Tamer and Next. So much potential for character development of both the humans and especially the digimon is available in this series! It's almost as if Shoutmon is the lead character instead of Taiki!
MadLeomon's new forms -- Armed MadLeomon and MadLeomon (Orochi Mode) -- remind me a lot of both Imperialdramon's and Dukemon's/Gallantmon's Mode Changing processes. In all cases, one digimon is given the powers and energies by other digimon to create a new form. Imperialdramon was given the powers of all of the other Chosen Children's digimon to become Fighter Mode. He again was later given Omegamon's/Omnimon's energy to become Paladin Mode. Dukemon/Gallantmon was given Grani's energy to become Crimson Mode. And now, MadLeomon takes the energies of his digimon forces to assume his new forms.
But, there's still one question that this episode has left unanswered to us all.
What are those footsoldier digimon called?!! The blonde-haired guy is Kiriha Aonuma. He leads the Blue Flare team consisting of Greymon, MailBirdramon, and others. It appears that Greymon and MailBirdramon DigiXros into MetalGreymon, with MailBirdramon acting as sort of armor for Greymon.
The other girl watching both teams is Nene Amano. Her team, Twilight
(Ack!), consists of several Monitormon, a small green digimon whose name is unknown, DarkKnightmon, and some yellow bird digimon whose name is also unknown (but rumored to be this "Sparrowmon" that we've heard about).
]"NEVER GIVE UP" by Sonar Pocket is an awesome opening! I really like how it contrasts with the series' apparent dark atmosphere with its optimistic views giving a sense of hope within the turmoil of war.
"WE ARE Xros Heart" by Wada Kouji (
) is just amazing. This insert really pumps up the battle sequences as things escalate to the next level of intensity. My only real problem with it is that it's kind of inaudible. It wasn't given subbed karaoke by any fansubbers since it was so hard to hear, so it's hard to make any real judgement on it other than the shallow praise I just gave on the tone of this song.
As for the lack of an ending theme, either they're saving for later, or there just isn't one this time. Who knows.
Episode 3: Tactimon and Lilthmon come out of the shadows, but Blastmon remains silhouetted. Perhaps the former two will face Taiki's group before Blastmon does, thus necessitating the secrecy of his appearance (even if his exposed image has already been seen on the Toei website).
Ba'almon is a mysterious figure. His resemblance to Beelzebumon/Beelzemon has already been pointed out, but he also strikes a similarity to Wizarmon/Wizardmon (the clothing design) and somewhat Mummymon (the color scheme and face) as well.
MadLeomon's final hour has come. His trump card this time is "Drimog
umon" (
Why the name change?) who launches several Bamboo Shoots upward throughout the Village of Smiles in a disaster known as "Lumpy Day" (
lolwut?).
Kiriha introduces himself and his MailBirdramon to Taiki-tachi, wanting Taiki to be his subordinate. Taiki refuses, sensing something dark from Kiriha. Kiriha then unveils a Golemon that he does a DigiXros with MailBirdramon and... it's powerful, but lame. Also, no Greymon today.
During the battle with MadLeomon, notice that Shoutmon has difficulty against one Pteranomon/Pteramon, simply knocking it aside with his attack instead of obliterating it like he had done in previous episodes.
MadLeomon (Final Mode) seems like steroid-enhanced version of himself. Dorulumon's introduction to the others was great. His protection of "his Cutemon" shows that he's not this cold, bruiser but has a soft side as well. And Taiki recognition of Dorulumon from his dream shows that that dream he had before was nothing short of an important vision. And we see now that, back in episode 1) Taiki had previously tried to recreate the ShoutmonX4 form that he had seen in his dream, but Dorulumon was absent then, so it was incomplete. Now that Dorulumon was here, he tried again and successfully created ShoutmonX3 (probably not knowing that Star Sword was needed to form X4).
And now, another Leomon bites the dust. And the Xros Heart team is born. But then, Nene appears to the group to explain about the Code Crown that came out of MadLeomon...
Episode 4: The Code Crowns appear to be the MacGuffin of this series. And Zenjirou is the new "Brock" of this series (both Daisuke/Davis and Junpei/J.P. fit this role before).
Nene strikes me as the archetypal "mysterious person who advises/aids the hero from the shadows in times of need), though she'll probably be more unique than most of those characters who fit this role.
Going from one "Zone" to another gives this series the feeling that it's based off of an RPG video game or something.
The Mantaraymon in this episode are huge, and equipped with runway armor. Were those submarines that the Hangyomon/Divermon launched from actual Mantaraymon or were they just artificial ones? If the answer is yes to both, then that would make Mantaraymon be of the same kind of digimon as Mechanorimon/Mekanorimon.
Neptunemon is one digimon I did not expect to see; at least not so soon. They're really dishing out the high-leveled digimon so early on in this series instead of building up to them like they had done before. This makes me wonder if Tactimon, Lilthmon, Blastmon (and maybe Ba'almon) are immensely more powerful than they appear to be. Makes you kinda wonder what their boss is like.
I LOVED the scene with Taiki and Zenjirou actually participating in the fight themselves. It's so good to see the humans being more than just energy-channeling cheerleaders.
But I gotta say that this whole episode (and likely the next one) is VERY reminiscent of chapters 8-10 of V-Tamer. I mean think about it. You've got...
- The setting being an oceanside populated by aquatic digimon - Net Ocean; Island Zone
- The legendary heroes of a human and his digimon friends - Taichi-tachi; Xros Heart
- The underdog youngster they befriend and who helps them out later in battle - Gon the Gomamon; ChibiKamemon
- The old elder digimon who holds something sacred - Lord Whamon; Archelomon
- The evil water tyrant causing trouble - Lord Marine; Neptunemon
- The evil general said tyrant works for - Etemonkey; Tactimon
- The powerful minion boss(es) of said tyrant - Octomon & Gesomon; Octomon
- A miracle happening in an underwater battle, enabling the failing heroes to claim victory - the Digivice 01 enables Taichi to mentally communicate with Zero; ChibiKamemon DigiXrosses with ShoutmonX2
- Something cool happening to the little guy in the end - Gon evolves to an Ikkakumon; ChibiKamemon becomes an honorary member of Xros Heart
Need I say more?