Super-Stans?! A Nidothing Fan Battle! - Pokémon Horizons Episode 93 Review - The Greatest Cat Fight
This episode of Pokémon Horizons is a more relaxed one compared to other action-packed episodes. This one doesn’t even involve pacifying any rampaging Pokémon at all. Instead, Liko and Roy work together to restore the Rising Volt Tacklers’ reputation. I do wonder if there is an intended pattern with these episodes. Since the Mega Voltage arc started, the even numbered-episodes revolved around Laquium-affected Pokémon, while the odd numbered episodes mainly focused on Trainer battles and the Rising Volt Tacklers’ reputation. I guess we'll know soon enough.
One thing I really liked about this episode is that it shows that Liko and Roy’s relationship hasn’t changed one bit since the time skip. They’re still best friends, and Roy has always been Liko’s biggest hype boy. When Liko was worried about not being a big fan of Nidothing compared to before, he reassures her that no one can beat her when it comes to being the biggest fan. They have such a wholesome relationship that’s also made apparent with how they both knew to quell the angered Dodrio and Fearow flock, and to not battle and aggravate them even more.
The Nidothing fan, a girl who goes by Litten Superfan or Nyabiko, is quite a charming character of the day. I do like that this episode gives insight to how big Nidothing is as an Internet celebrity, and that maybe she got even bigger during the timeskip. She’s got two big fans in Liko and Nyabiko, and that Nyabiko does have a bit of a possessive and jealous streak like how cats sometimes do, as shown with how Meowscarada got jealous of the Littens clinging onto Liko’s legs. It also shows that fandom is a global thing, because Nyabiko lives in the quaint Chaba Town where it’s super rural, and maybe not many country folk like her have muuch of an opportunity to meet an Internet star. I do like that her jealous streak also pertains to how she tries to copy Sprigatito Superfan—aka Liko—as she copied her username as Liko is considered a legend amongst Nidothing fans. She even tried to flex on Liko about leaving comments. I had a feeling she was lying about seeing seeing the Black Rayquaza, and it was very obvious too. Nyabiko’s voice actress is Eri Yukimura, who voices Gloria in Pokémon Masters EX, but I mainly know her as Anri Terieri from Blue Lock. As a battler, Nyabiko does prove her status as a huge Litten fan. Her partner is an Incineroar, and it was very powerful indeed. However, living in the rural village does show that she isn’t as talented as battling compared to Liko, who has a broader experience with her adventures and her school studies. Her Incineroar is powerful, but it has a simple moveset. Had the battle not been interrupted by Uruto, Liko should’ve easily gotten her first win against a Fire-type.
Speaking of which, I do wonder if Uruto has attachment issues or if he has something like a secret crush on Roy, because he just keeps following him everywhere. I do like that even Liko is starting to be worn out due to his presence. I wonder how many episodes it will take for Uruto to join the group permanently. For now, he gives off a similar sort of feeling like how Misty followed Ash around in the very beginning of the original series due to him destroying her bike. I don’t hate Uruto, but it was a little annoying how he disrupted the battle. Despite that, I still can’t wait to know more about him. It was thanks to Uruto that Nyabiko was able to see that the Rising Volt Tacklers are good people, and she’s the first person outside of Ann to see that ; it’s also thanks to him that we get a very cute sequence of them quelling the angry birds and seeing Cap dance.
With next week’s episode being about a rampaging Vileplume, I do wonder if my theory about even-numbered episodes being about the Laquium Pokémon and odd-numbers about the Rising Volt Tacklers' reputation will come to fruition. I’m also excited as Mollie, one of my favorite Rising Volt Tacklers, will make her grand return. There is also some speculation that Hattrem might evolve here too. What do you think about the theory? Also, let me know your thoughts on this episode!
