In this episode, the gang meets a
boy who has found a way to make money hunting Digimon. Our noble hero
thinks that's just the sweetest gig ever and signs up.
Is this show even trying to make Tagiru
likable? His character is one of the biggest criticisms of Hunters,
and with good reason. But why is that? This is a show with writers
and character designers that understand that the key to any good
story is an interesting protagonist that we can root for, sympathize
with, or enjoy a spectacular downfall. We don't come close to any of
these things with Tagiru. His selfish attitude and straightforward
approach to hunting makes him hard to cheer. It's impossible to
relate to him as he seems to have a charmed existence with no real
problems in life. And in spite of himself, he keeps on winning. Is
the show really so blind as to push a character with so few
redeemable qualities?
In several ways, this episode
exemplifies the problem of having a protagonist like Tagiru. Today
we're introduced to Hideaki, an enterprising young capitalist who has
found a way to turn a profit hunting Digimon. Hideaki's not even
legitimate- feigning reluctance in accepting money after pretending
to fix buggy cash registers that Digimon had busted. Yuu is outraged
and absolutely should have punched Hideaki in the face. Tagiru falls
in love with the idea and signs on to be a partner with the promise
of money and, in sharp contrast to Ryouma last episode, more Digimon.
Ever the businessman, Hideaki irons out so many details there's
probably a deleted scene of Tagiru filling out a W4. Yuu absolutely
should have... yeah, you know.
This could be forgiven if Tagiru had at
least something resembling a brain. Every gogglehead is guilty of
some degree of idiocy, but all of the others offer some semblance of
tact or at least spin it as innocence or perspective. Tagiru gives us
none of that. Catching the Zenimon proves to be easy, to the point
where you wonder why Hideaki even needs the help if they're going to
team up on every hunt. When Ganemon shows up claiming to be pursuing
his lost Zenimon, Tagiru isn't at all cynical. He's not the only
leader who may have fallen for this; you could make arguments for all
of them giving in. But some would ask more questions, some would get
suspicious long before catching Ganemon in the act, and some would
take it really hard that they fell victim to such a con.
All of the other leaders would take it
as an important life lesson, and all of them would do their damnedest
to set everything right at all cost. That's where Tagiru falls short.
He's shocked that Ganemon was playing them, but to him the blame was
squarely on Ganemon. It's not Tagiru's fault that he tried to profit
off Digimon (he resents Yuu pointing it out) and is even dismayed
that Hideaki is honest enough to return all the money. What kind of
leader is that?
Knocking him another notch is that his
hunting instincts aren't even that strong. If he showed a knack for
the business and some unorthodox techniques, we might be more willing
to overlook a few faults. Hell, it worked for Masaru. But he has not
won his own major battle since the first episode, relying either on
Shoutmon/Damemon intervention, Gumdramon's cunning, or third-party
Digimon suggesting a digixros for him.
The one thing he has going for him is
that he believes in the best of both people and Digimon. Hideaki is
after a quick buck, but Tagiru thinks he's chasing a dream instead of
being greedy. He sees that in everybody he meets, which is something
going for him, even if it doesn't excuse his behavior or make others
see the best in him. Because seriously, making money off Digimon?
That should be limited to DATS employees and Takeru's book deal.
My Grade: D+
Loose Data:
- You know things are getting bad when even Taiki is telling Tagiru not to go so hard hunting Digimon.
- Ganemon actually clues us in on some insight as to how Digimon fall from the Digital World- they fall into the human world (or at least Digiquartz). That's actually useful information.
- Hideaki must be quite the stickler if he's docking Tagiru's drink from his pay. Capitalist indeed.
- Dobermon kicks off a weird trend of bringing back Digimon who had short but memorable role in prior seasons. We'll see more examples down the road.
- It feels like there's supposed to be some message about how not every business owner is greedy, but it's such an obvious point and illustrated so poorly through obviously innocent shopkeepers that it falls flat.
Tagiru is the main character so he's the worst of the worst, but really, so many of these "Hunt" participant characters exclusive to this show are so unsympathetic, Hideaki being the latest of them and there's more to come. They don't undertake capturing Digimon as a necessary precaution, they do so with contentment or even joy!
ReplyDeleteIt's so bizarre that by the end of the show, freaking Airu, who as you've showcased was one of the worst cases for a good while, is by far the most likable Hunters-only characters because she's the only one to (from the "ghost" episode and onward) go through some sort of arc that has her LOSE INTEREST in the Hunt, which is what Tagiru should be doing. One of the VILLAINS learns that trying to capture sentient beings is wrong and will only lead to you or your loved ones getting hurt, and yet the so-called hero does not. There are no words.
Xros for me was always on steady downhill slope from the beginning, and Hunters is simply where they just stopped caring altogether...
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