Following the tradition of the first two seasons, "Shibumi Speaks" serves as the episode that reveals the truth regarding the heroes' recruitment. I'm glad to say it is better constructed than "Kyoto Dragon", and though lacking the memorable conflict of "The Ultimate Clash", it's at least as involving.
I'm afraid I've begun to sound like a broken record at this point, but once again the kids themselves are the weak point of the episode, as their only purpose is to get the audience from "A to B". As usual, the interactions between Takato and Henry lack depth and breadth, indicative of how their relationship has coasted on the mere fact that they spend a lot of time together rather than actually grow together.
Through their wanderings, we see them encounter two obstacles, both of which are solved in overly convenient ways. Henry churns out what is possibly his most magically accurate deduction ever. The concept of circumventing the physical laws of the digital world by the power of belief echoes "The Matrix", but leaves one questioning the extent to which they can do this. If the tamers believed that they could fly or be invulnerable to the attacks from their enemies, would it happen? The encounter with Divermon (who sounds suspiciously like Dyno-Mutt from "Dexter's Laboratory", only not funny) is awkward and a poor excuse for an action sequence, and I'm not quite sure how that bubble tactic works. Still, the blue-dominated settings are pleasing to the eye, which helps.
That aside, the scenes of the adults finally shows what they've been up to since their kids left, which is more than welcome given their prolonged absence. It reminds us that one of the better ideas in this season was to have the adult characters portrayed as mature individuals, and giving them voice actors that lend a reasonable amount of dignity certainly helps; it's telling that Takato and Henry's part in the story only becomes involving when they are communicating with these guys. Not to mention, it is from them that we learn some of the better concepts unique to the series, such as the reason that digimon have such an affinity for children (thanks, Dolphin).
The second half with Shibumi is also good. The library he resides in is another one of the more creative places in the Digital World, and the information on the origins of said world, as well as the tools that the tamers have been using, is very interesting. I especially liked the detail that the digimon had taken upon themselves the images of the beings that humans have worshiped for centuries, which helps establish the link between the two worlds. I didn't really care for the pseudo-philosophical babble he occasionally spouted out ("maybe all creatures are dreaming about what they will become" ooooooh). Worse yet, some of it gets to Takato's head, which will leave him uncertain about the nature of Guilmon. This little issue will ultimately prove intrusive and tacked on, indicative of how the writers of this show seem so keen on including typical sci-fi themes, but unwilling to elevate them above infantile form.
I'm afraid I've begun to sound like a broken record at this point, but once again the kids themselves are the weak point of the episode, as their only purpose is to get the audience from "A to B". As usual, the interactions between Takato and Henry lack depth and breadth, indicative of how their relationship has coasted on the mere fact that they spend a lot of time together rather than actually grow together.
Through their wanderings, we see them encounter two obstacles, both of which are solved in overly convenient ways. Henry churns out what is possibly his most magically accurate deduction ever. The concept of circumventing the physical laws of the digital world by the power of belief echoes "The Matrix", but leaves one questioning the extent to which they can do this. If the tamers believed that they could fly or be invulnerable to the attacks from their enemies, would it happen? The encounter with Divermon (who sounds suspiciously like Dyno-Mutt from "Dexter's Laboratory", only not funny) is awkward and a poor excuse for an action sequence, and I'm not quite sure how that bubble tactic works. Still, the blue-dominated settings are pleasing to the eye, which helps.
That aside, the scenes of the adults finally shows what they've been up to since their kids left, which is more than welcome given their prolonged absence. It reminds us that one of the better ideas in this season was to have the adult characters portrayed as mature individuals, and giving them voice actors that lend a reasonable amount of dignity certainly helps; it's telling that Takato and Henry's part in the story only becomes involving when they are communicating with these guys. Not to mention, it is from them that we learn some of the better concepts unique to the series, such as the reason that digimon have such an affinity for children (thanks, Dolphin).
The second half with Shibumi is also good. The library he resides in is another one of the more creative places in the Digital World, and the information on the origins of said world, as well as the tools that the tamers have been using, is very interesting. I especially liked the detail that the digimon had taken upon themselves the images of the beings that humans have worshiped for centuries, which helps establish the link between the two worlds. I didn't really care for the pseudo-philosophical babble he occasionally spouted out ("maybe all creatures are dreaming about what they will become" ooooooh). Worse yet, some of it gets to Takato's head, which will leave him uncertain about the nature of Guilmon. This little issue will ultimately prove intrusive and tacked on, indicative of how the writers of this show seem so keen on including typical sci-fi themes, but unwilling to elevate them above infantile form.
