Pokémon Horizons: Season 2 – The Search for Laqua Review

In simpler terms, the first season of Pokémon Horizons brought new and exciting changes to the series, leaving space for improvement. However, the second season seems to abandon these innovations, reverting back to a traditional format reminiscent of Ash, Misty, and Brock’s battles with Team Rocket. Although there’s a sense of nostalgia in this return, Horizons struggles to capitalize on its unique aspects. Moreover, the sound design is overwhelming, suggesting it may be rooted in an outdated notion of what children’s entertainment should offer. As a result, The Search for Laqua falls short of expectations.

The initial season of Pokémon Horizons seemed like an exciting new beginning for a franchise that’s been around for nearly three decades. However, with its second season titled ‘The Search for Laqua’, Pokémon Horizons seems to backtrack on the changes and falls back on familiar patterns. Despite occasional humor, excitement, and heartwarming victories, the overall outcome is underwhelming, and in some parts, hard on the ears due to its loud English dub.

In the beginning, Pokemon Horizons introduced us to friends Liko, Roy, and Dot as they set sail on an airship with its grown-up team. Their mission? To solve the riddle behind some enigmatic artifacts that held immense power, which made them constant targets for a rival group. The airship felt like a thrilling fresh territory in the Pokemon anime world. It was like going through most of a video game on foot and then unexpectedly… well, getting an airship! This adventure with friends was familiar, but the Horizons plot brought something new to the table — a large, intriguing mystery. The kids’ ambition to excel as Pokemon trainers was still present, but their motivation was given a fresh twist by the urgent need for improvement.

Currently, the airship has suffered damage, causing both its crew and the Explorers to disperse temporarily. Meanwhile, the children have resumed their studies in school. The series «The Search for Laqua» shifts its focus from season 1, with Liko’s team now concentrating on training rather than chasing clues as they did earlier. Unfortunately, this change seems to weaken the narrative of «Pokémon Horizons».

They’ve joined the mysterious Naranja Academy, where Liko, Roy, and Dot appear to be the sole students in any given class. After only one day at Naranja, they are dispatched on a journey across Paldea by dusk. Although the last two episodes of season 2 occur at the academy, they mainly focus on final battles. Unsatisfied with abandoning a single intriguing concept (for now), Horizons also abandons another, failing to delve deeply into what a Pokémon classroom-themed drama could offer.

Indeed, in just two episodes, we find three youths traversing the globe, striving to excel as Pokémon trainers by challenging gym leaders. On occasion, they encounter a wicked pair consisting of both men and women, reminiscent of any classic adventure, correct?

However, the pair known as «Cornbread» and «Seasoning,» who belong to the Explorers group, disappointingly do not live up to their initial potential in the narrative. They have minimal screen time after episode two, leaving little opportunity for them to develop chemistry with our Pokémon-training protagonists. In fact, their inclusion in the story leaves one questioning its purpose.

The Search for Laqua flips season one’s priorities, and Pokémon Horizons is worse for it.

In the animated series The Search for Laqua, there are unique twists that deviate from the traditional Pokémon narrative. Instead of Ash’s Pikachu, Liko’s Sprigatito has evolved into a ninja-like creature named Floragato. Despite the fact that Ash’s Pikachu didn’t evolve for years, this change might not seem as thrilling at first. However, Floragato’s fast runs resembling Naruto are entertaining, but replacing an energetic, mischievous companion with a distant and moody teen who carries a yo-yo is quite a significant step down. But it doesn’t have to be that way: Episode six delves into the evolving bond between Liko and Floragato, emphasizing how Floragato has taken on the role of a reluctant babysitter who often needs more attention than he receives. This heartfelt storyline is one of the standout aspects of this collection of episodes.

At Horizon, raw emotional authenticity serves as their hidden strength, and it’s undeniably used skillfully in various instances. Dot’s dilemma regarding being filmed and her conditions for it is both captivating and resonant with many viewers. Roy and his Fuecoco continue to bring joy, and each time Fuecoco employs the Charming Voice, laughter ensues. However, these memorable moments seem to emerge despite, rather than because of, the general trajectory of the English-language adaptation.

In the first episode of season 2, it seems as if every character is shouting all at once. No one gets to complete their sentences without interruption. This creates about twenty minutes that feel like an overwhelming, uncomfortable cacophony of voices. Luckily, following episodes ease up a bit. However, there’s still a sense that no silence, pause, or moment of calm is permitted.

One might say, «Some people claim Pokémon is just for kids.» But consider shows like Bluey, which are known for their tranquility as much as they are for their humor and appeal. Even within the Pokémon universe, there’s a contradiction to this idea. The stop-motion series, Pokémon Concierge, is a prime example of a show that caters to both adult and child viewers in a Pixar-like manner.

In a different take, we can say that Pokémon Horizons doesn’t necessarily have to be this way. The Japanese season 2, which isn’t accessible in North America legally, presents its audience with less intensity compared to its English counterpart. In many aspects, the Japanese version seems like an entirely distinct series — one I would rate higher. Similar to the first season of Horizons, the subtitles and dubbed versions differ not only in acting but also in their music selections. While some tracks remain in the English dub, Japanese viewers enjoy a broader range of emotional tones in the score and more grandiose, stirring orchestral renditions of classic Pokémon themes. The variation in sound mixing is key here: In the Japanese version of Horizons, the music takes center stage, while the English version emphasizes dialogue. This is why episodes currently streaming on Netflix often seem excessively loud and overwhelming.

Apart from them, there’s a sense that various old-fashioned perspectives about what viewers expect from Pokémon and who originally watched it are being imposed upon it. If the show is intended for children, why does the recent opening and closing sequences have such a strong emphasis on 80s nostalgia? Despite this, the new theme song, «My Favorite Pokémon,» stands out in The Search for Laqua, especially the instrumental version that plays during the end credits. This song, with its bassline reminiscent of Daft Punk, is undeniably catchy and energetic.

Pokémon Horizons doesn’t have to be like this.

As a gamer diving back into The Search for Laqua, I’ve got to admit, it’s bringing back that initial shine the series had. The standout episode this season centers around Friede, the airship commander, and her undercover operation at an old corporate workplace, digging up secrets. Plus, the enigmatic teacher’s influence on Dot in the last episodes leaves us with a tantalizing cliffhanger, setting the stage for one of the most intriguing storylines this season.

All Horizons simply needs to hold true to its own foundation. If Sprigatito can undergo evolution, then the fundamental Pokémon dub can also transform.

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2025-02-12 01:12