Episode 1:
It opens on a note-for-note "re-imagining" of "Our War Game" (a movie which came second in their Digimon movie catalogue and acted as the second act for the American Dub's movie). Okay, that's fine. The issue is, they rush through establishing character dynamics before the second episode. Koshiro is the tech guy/info-dump guy. Taichi is the brave, headstrong guy. Also, it seems like they saw Project Mouthwash's Tri Abridged series, because they have Taichi utilize Digimon as an improvised weapon multiple times. Yikes.
Episode 2:
The fight animations are great in these first couple episodes. Unfortunately, having blown their load on establishing the status quo, there is no longer anything for the kids to do aside slog along towards the end of Our War Game. Yamato is the lone-wolf (another dynamic established). Toei decides to up the ante by giving us an unwinnable situation, and then throws Omegamon at the situation. Two episodes in, and we're already at the endgame evolution. Not looking good.
Episode 3:
We're going to summer camp and then... back home. In a move that only JJ Abrams would be proud of, our expectations for the story to mimic the original series is wholly subverted. Rather, the story forces the kids to head to the digital world when a blackout starts spreading in Tokyo.
Episode 4:
The opening shot is a recreation of when everyone arrives on the island in Jurassic Park. I shit you not. This is what peak anime performance has become.
Episode 5:
Piyomon learns to FLY LIKE AN EEEAAAGLE! Also, inconsistencies in size ratios and animation. Also, also, Taichi is apparently a fully-fledged carpenter. A student of the Tom Paris School of Savants, I see.
Episode 6:
If you made it this far, stop. Some shit about destiny. I guess Homeostasis is speaking, but we're never given any real indication who it might be. We get a "mysterious" Digimon at the end of the episode who gives orders to Ogremon. Except we know who it is, even if you haven't seen the original series. At the very least, he looks like he learned from what happened in the original series and decided to put some hours in at the gym. Dude looks swoll af.
The problems with the remake series aren't just at pacing, although that is one of the most egregious ones. No, the issue is that, even putting aside the issues with pacing, there is absolutely no redeeming factor. The digivolutions get an absolutely generic rock composition meant to hype the viewer, but it fails where Brave Heart worked. Brave Heart was an escalation of emotion coupled with the sensation of feeling like we were watching the power of courage push through adversity. This generic rock shit is just lots of yelling into microphone and some bad instrumentation.
Honestly, if you want your fill of a GOOD Digimon series, go back and watch Adventure and Tamers. Maybe watch Xros Wars, but don't because that's a mistake nobody should make twice. Either way, give this remake a skip.
