Brief Summary
In this episode of Lost in Translationmon, the hosts review "Digimon Savers the Movie: Ultimate Power! Activate Burst Mode!!", discussing its plot, animation, and characters. They also cover recent news, including delays in their Digimon Next podcast and the release of an end-of-season summary survey. The hosts share personal updates, such as one of them moving to a new apartment, which may affect their recording schedule. They analyze the movie's strengths and weaknesses, focusing on the character of Rhythm and the overall narrative.
- The movie's plot feels disjointed and incomplete, as if it was significantly altered during production.
- Rhythm's character is underdeveloped and doesn't contribute meaningfully to the story.
- The animation quality is generally high, but the writing and plot are lacking.
Intro
The hosts introduce episode 137, focusing on the Digimon Savers movie, also known as Digimon Data Squad. They joke about the movie not getting an English release and speculate on the reasons why, suggesting the lack of dialogue and potential need for extensive new lines might have been factors. They express interest in knowing the real reasons behind the movie's lack of production and mention reaching out to Jeff Nimoy for insights.
News
The hosts discuss news, including the delay of the Digimon Next podcast due to timing issues. They aim to release it the following week, possibly around Wednesday evening. They also mention the end-of-season summary survey, which will be available soon. There won't be an "I'm Not Synopsis" segment for this episode due to it being a movie review, nor for the next episode, which is a recap. They plan to include a segment about the next season, Cross Wars, in a future episode.
Moving Update
One of the hosts shares a personal update about moving in with a friend named Brady. This move might cause them to skip an episode to ensure a smooth transition. They mention potential recording location changes depending on the temperature at the new apartment, as the potential flatmate is hesitant to use air conditioning due to the cost.
Movie Start
The movie begins with Masaru crying in the rain, looking at others in pods filled with a yellow liquid. The opening credits show a city overgrown with plants, creating a sense of unease. A girl in blue, Rhythm, is introduced, and the scene shifts to Agumon crying in the rain near the pods. The pods contain the chosen children.
Vines and Sleeping
The hosts discuss the vines keeping the children asleep and question the villain's motives for not simply killing them. They suggest the vines could be a life source for the villain, similar to the Matrix. Masaru and Agumon chase after Rhythm, and the animation quality in this segment is noted to be higher than in the series.
Argument's Character
The hosts discuss Argument's character, noting his humorous actions and quotes from Masaru. They highlight a scene where Lalamon fights with a sausage, which they find particularly amusing. They also mention Lalamon eating the sausage and Agumon wanting to eat one as well.
Rhythm's Role
Rhythm informs the characters that Argument wants to destroy the world. The hosts discuss Rhythm's character, noting she is a Digimon but this reveal is anticlimactic. They speculate that she may have amnesia or that her Digimon identity was meant to be a bigger plot point. They feel that Rhythm could be removed from the story without significantly changing it.
Plot Changes
The hosts believe the movie's plot was significantly changed, especially from the boat scene onward. They feel the ending is generic and could fit into any filler episode of the series. They discuss Rhythm's lack of involvement and question why she isn't called Rhythmmon.
Rhythm's Design
The hosts appreciate Rhythm's design, finding it suitable for a chosen child. They note that Agumon is seen with Rhythm in the credit scene. They discuss how the Digimon partners don't seem to know what's happening, even when standing in front of Argument's castle.
Arguement's Castle
The hosts compare Argument's castle to the Beanstalk in Digimon Frontier and note the Digimon's lack of awareness of it. They also compare Argument's appearance to Vandemon and the D-Reaper. The characters separate to fight, with Lalamon carrying Rhythm and Agumon.
Agumon vs. Argument
Agumon confronts Argument, who claims humans are evil for destroying the environment. The hosts debate the validity of Argument's motivations, considering his status as a Digimon from the Digital World. They question why Argument didn't kill the humans if he found them so dangerous.
Rhythm's Plea
Rhythm pleads with Agumon, saying she believes humans can be good, but it has no effect. The hosts reiterate that Rhythm could be removed from the story without consequence. They discuss the implication that Rhythm and Agumon have been in a cycle of conflict and resolution forever.
Rhythm's Role Speculation
The hosts speculate on Rhythm's potential role as a balance keeper between the Digital World and the human world. They suggest that her name, Rhythm, could symbolize homeostasis. They also consider the possibility that Argument's name is a play on "algorithm," linking it to Rhythm.
Digimon Fight
The hosts describe the rest of the movie as a typical Digimon fight. They argue that the only reason the Digimon were attacked was because Rhythm was present. They suggest that Lalamon is strong enough to carry everyone, making Rhythm's presence unnecessary.
Agumon's Fire
Agumon gets angry and shoots fire at Argument's face, causing Argument to become enraged and threaten to destroy the planet. Agumon and Rhythm fall, but they don't take fall damage. The hosts imagine Argument's voice in an English dub.
Agumon Evolves
Agumon evolves, and the vines shrivel and die. Masaru wakes up and helps Agumon. The hosts find it predictable and note that Masaru acts as if he knows what Argument said, which is impossible.
Godzilla Fight
The hosts describe a Godzilla-style fight in the bay. Masaru says humans can change and realize their mistakes, which the hosts find odd since he doesn't know Argument's motivations. They note that Argument has no special powers or advantages.
Bad Guy Powers
The hosts discuss how every bad guy in previous Digimon movies had a unique power or advantage. They cite examples from various Digimon movies, such as the crystal ball in X-Evolution and the time travel in Hurricane Touchdown.
Burst Mode
The hosts note that when Masaru reaches burst mode, Rhythm touches the device but nothing happens. They speculate that the movie may have been made before the introduction of burst mode. They suggest alternative titles for the movie, focusing on the partner snatching or Argument's motivations.
Shinegreymon Wins
Shinegreymon wins easily, causing significant damage to the city. Rhythm takes Argument's egg and says she's going home. The hosts debate where this movie fits in the timeline of the series, considering the events of the Kurata fight and the introduction of burst mode.
Egg Taking
Rhythm takes the egg and says she now has the courage to fight, implying more going on. The hosts discuss why she doesn't transform into her Digimon form. They suggest she should have been a Jedi-like figure, neither human nor Digimon.
End Credits
The end credits show Rhythm with Agumon and the bassist. The hosts discuss the best parts of the movie, including the sausage fight and Lalamon's expressions. They feel the movie had potential but was ultimately disappointing.
Movie Rating
One host gives the movie a 5 out of 10, while the other gives it a 6.5 or 7. They agree it could have been better if it were longer. They discuss the possibility that the movie was originally longer but was cut down due to being bad.
Movie Ranking
The hosts rank all the Digimon movies, with X-Evolution being the worst and Our War Game being the best. They disagree on the placement of Hurricane Touchdown and Battle of Adventurers.
Screenshot of the Week
The screenshot of the week is Lalamon with sausages, which the hosts consider the best scene in the movie. They praise Lalamon's expressions and the animation quality.
Digiworld
The hosts discuss Rhythm and the Digimon introduced in the movie. They also review the Savers character songs, which they find disappointing compared to other seasons. They mention specific songs and their opinions on them.
Postman Pat
The hosts read comments and results from the weekly poll, which asked if Suguru should have stayed dead in Digimon Savers. They discuss various theories and opinions from listeners.
Reddit Messages
The hosts read messages from Reddit, including comments about the stage play and theories about Devimon. They also discuss Jeff Nimoy's Data Squad ending theory.
Gmail Messages
The hosts read emails from listeners, addressing questions and theories about Digimon Savers. They discuss King Drasil's true form, DNA charges, and the ending of the series.
Sequel Potential
The hosts debate the potential for a Digimon Savers sequel, with one host arguing that the ending is too nice and the digital world is uninteresting. They discuss potential conflicts and villains for a sequel.
Movie Translation
The hosts mention asking Jeff Nimoy about why the movie wasn't translated. They share a theory that Toei USA had no interest or budget for anything without a guaranteed deal.
Next Episode
The hosts announce the topic for the next episode: Devilman Crybaby, and a season summary of Digimon Savers/Data Squad.
What We Did This Week
The hosts share what they did this week, including watching Hannibal and preparing for a Magic the Gathering pre-release event. They discuss the ascend mechanic in Magic the Gathering.
Outro
The hosts announce the poll question for the week: should Masaru have stayed in the coma? They provide links to their social media, Patreon, and website. They thank their Patreon supporters and end the episode.
