Despite some important developments (all relating to Yamaki, naturally), this is a poorly constructed episode that at best can be considered a hollow follow-up to "Impmon's Last Stand". Virtually every single plot point is dropped in perfunctorily rather than being synthesized into a cohesive whole, leaving me convinced it was hastily stitched together to meet a quota. This is a "bridge" episode of the lowest order.
The meandering first third fills in time before the inevitable reappearance of the horse deva with stuff that is either inconsequential or hints at future developments. The scenes with Kazu and Kenta feel particularly random, clearly included just to introduce the homemade blue card, which obviously figures into the end fight. The subsequent search for Impmon is told on autopilot; exceptions are two very brief moments when Rika shows a hint of compassion for the outcast.
Even disregarding its lackadaisical build-up, the lengthy rematch with Indramon has a sense of cheapness to it. There's a lot of recycled footage, and FAR too many "digi-modify" sequences, which seriously hamper the flow. Indramon is a convincing challenge, easily shrugging off the others' attacks, and there's real force behind his actions. It's unfortunate that they didn't place him in a better executed fight. As it is, the clash with Mihiramon is still the best one from this arc, and will remain so until the arrival of Vikaralamon.
If there's any redeeming quality, it's Yamaki's reuniting of the Monster Makers, FINALLY giving his part of the story some direction beyond just tracking "wild-ones" and struggling to get approval to use the Juggernaut. Even so, the perfunctory feeling of the rest of the episode is not easily escaped. As a result of being crowded out by the Tamers' scuffle, this subplot often seems to just be going through the motions, once again betraying this episode's objective to merely check off a bunch of developments to set-up future ones.
The conclusion to the fight is done well, with the forceful visual of WarGrowlmon's blasts complemented by that nifty humming sound. On the other hand, this is also a pretty awkward stopping point for the episode. A formal epilogue on Takato's reaction to WarGrowlmon would have circumvented the biggest blemish in "A World Apart".
The meandering first third fills in time before the inevitable reappearance of the horse deva with stuff that is either inconsequential or hints at future developments. The scenes with Kazu and Kenta feel particularly random, clearly included just to introduce the homemade blue card, which obviously figures into the end fight. The subsequent search for Impmon is told on autopilot; exceptions are two very brief moments when Rika shows a hint of compassion for the outcast.
Even disregarding its lackadaisical build-up, the lengthy rematch with Indramon has a sense of cheapness to it. There's a lot of recycled footage, and FAR too many "digi-modify" sequences, which seriously hamper the flow. Indramon is a convincing challenge, easily shrugging off the others' attacks, and there's real force behind his actions. It's unfortunate that they didn't place him in a better executed fight. As it is, the clash with Mihiramon is still the best one from this arc, and will remain so until the arrival of Vikaralamon.
If there's any redeeming quality, it's Yamaki's reuniting of the Monster Makers, FINALLY giving his part of the story some direction beyond just tracking "wild-ones" and struggling to get approval to use the Juggernaut. Even so, the perfunctory feeling of the rest of the episode is not easily escaped. As a result of being crowded out by the Tamers' scuffle, this subplot often seems to just be going through the motions, once again betraying this episode's objective to merely check off a bunch of developments to set-up future ones.
The conclusion to the fight is done well, with the forceful visual of WarGrowlmon's blasts complemented by that nifty humming sound. On the other hand, this is also a pretty awkward stopping point for the episode. A formal epilogue on Takato's reaction to WarGrowlmon would have circumvented the biggest blemish in "A World Apart".
