#crest-based inheritance systems?

[reyneluvirith]

every day, my drive to make a fódlan mod for crusader kings grows stronger. it would fit so well and like three people would play it and it'd be the best

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 02x21 - Goodbye, Ken-chan / The Crest of Kindness

Previously on Digimon Adventure: We set the Kaiser's base on fire to distract him while we blew it up. Unfortunately, we tragically underestimated the power and efficiency of the Kaiser's emergency fire suppressant systems. However, just when all hope seemed lost, Daisuke jumped in a hole and came back with DVD copies of Digimon Adventure: Hurricane Touchdown, in stores now.

Daisuke: DIGIMENTAL UP!!! V-mon: V-MON, ARMOR SHINKAAAAAA Magnamon: RADIANT MIRACLE, MAGNAMON!!! Daisuke: H-He evolved....

The golden evolution so nice, we played it twice. We open on Magnamon's evolution once more, as well as the accompanying footage of everyone being shocked.

But we skip Wormmon, Takeru, and the Kaiser reacting and move right along.

Daisuke: M... Magnamon...?

Magnamon is an Armor-stage Free-attribute Paladin Digimon. Not a lot to really say here. He first appeared in the various 02-associated media; In the cards added to incorporate 02 Digimon, the 02 D-3 V-Pet, the 02 movie a month ago, etc. His name comes from the Latin word "magna" which means large or grand.

Narrator: Magnamon! An Armor Digimon that evolved from V-mon using the Digimental of Miracles. He releases light from his armor using his special attack Extreme Jihad.

You fucking heard him. In this, the year 2000, Magnamon is going to fight the climactic final battle at the peak of the Digimon Kaiser arc using his signature attack エクストリームジハード Ekusutoriimu Jihaado.

In the upper chamber, Magnamon's overflowing light fills Poromon and Upamon with energy, restoring their stamina the way the Digimental of Miracles did for Chibimon.

Poromon: M-My strength.... Upamon: My strength is returning-dagyaa!

Rejuvenated, Poromon and Upamon evolve into their Child forms once more.

In the dub:

Davis: GOLDEN ARMOR ENERGIZE!!! V-mon: VEEMON GOLDEN ARMOR DIGIVOLVE TO.... Magnamon: MAGNAMON!!! Davis: Wow, that was intense!

Still no title for Magnamon. I bet they just don't want to say the word "miracle".

In the previous episode, this line from Davis was "Ah! Dude, that's amazing!" The spirit is the same but as usual he's saying different things in the two versions of the same moment.

Davis: You're about the coolest thing I've ever seen! Where'd you get those rad shoulderpads? I could use them as boogie boards! Magnamon: (rundown) I am Magnamon, a Golden Armor Digimon that attacks with my Magna Blaster. And I look so good doing it too. Poromon: My strength is back! Upamon: Yeah, me too!

Definitely just didn't want to say the word "miracle". They threw out the phrases "Radiant Miracle", "Digimental of Miracles", and unsurprisingly "Extreme Jihad" from this scene.

Watching from above, the Chosen Children try to make sense of this.

Miyako: What is that!? I've never seen a Digimon like that before! Iori: Is it a new Armor Evolution? Takeru: No, it can't be. There aren't any Crests left to inherit. Hikari: It could be some kind of special evolution that's unique from the others.

But they aren't the only ones who've noticed this. Outside, Chimeramon suddenly stops and looks back at the fortress. Doing a 180, the creature flies back to the structure and crashes through a wall. The probably-Devimon voice laughs as they breach the fortress once more.

Voice: Hahahahahaha!

The veterans here are laying it on thick that Magnamon isn't as simple as "Oh cool, we're getting another round of new evolutions."

In the dub:

Yolei: I wonder if Hawkmon can Golden Armor Digivolve? Cody: I don't get it. Where did he come from? T.K.: It came from that Golden Digi-Egg! Davis must have unleashed its power! Kari: This is fantastic! Can somebody turn off his headlights?

The Probably-Devimon voice's twisted laughter does not play when Kimeramon crashes through the wall.

They're all off-script. Where Hikari answers the question of how we're meant to interpret Magnamon, T.K. answers the question of what Magnamon is literally: A new Armor Digimon from the new Digi-Egg, duh. That's how Digi-Eggs work.

I also have a minor nitpick with T.K.'s line and that is having characters speculate things that they factually know. Either he watched Davis do that or he wouldn't know about the Golden Digi-Egg at all.

Anyways, it's CHIMERAMON TIME-- Wait, no. Scratch that. Chimeramon's dynamic entry was in the wrong room or something 'cause it'll take them a moment to get here. That's embarrassing. Hope nobody saw that.

This time, the Kaiser is recovered and ready to offer his opinion on Magnamon.

Kaiser: How many times are you people going to interfere!? Daisuke: Digimon Kaiser! It's time to settle this!

Suddenly, far below, a heavy impact breaches part of the central column's outer wall.

Hikari: It's the power of Darkness! Takeru: They're back!

Magnamon stops gleaming wildly, pulling his radiance back inward. Looking down at the impact spot, he watches Chimeramon crash through the wall and into the central column far below.

Kaiser: (pleasantly surprised) Chimeramon!

From the depths of the column, Chimeramon charges through the air, soaring straight up at their quarry.

Magnamon: DAISUKE!!!

Acting fast, Magnamon tackles Daisuke and carries him to safety moments before Chimeramon bursts through the walkway where he'd been standing.

(Had to tackle the wall twice to get through this time, and it wasn't even the right elevation. Dynamic entries are hard. No one appreciates the work that goes into them.)

In the dub:

Emperor: Hey, Digi-Fools! Do you honestly think your new Digimon can beat me? He couldn't even be my flashlight! Davis: Oh, yeah!? Well, sticks and stones can break my bones but when Magnamon gets a hold of you, he'll kick your-- Emperor: But! You didn't let me finish. He would make a good night light.

Ken's talking a lot of shit for a guy with no Digimon to fight Magnamon with. Davis really has to stretch for that butt/but word-replacement gag, but does capture the right vibe: He's powered up and ready to break Ken's face.

(Heavy impact below) Kari: (gasp) What was that!? T.K.: It can't be good! (Kimeramon crashes through) Emperor: (pleasantly surprised) Kimeramon!

Dub veterans are slower on the uptake here. In the original, Hikari seems to actually sense Probably-Devimon's presence more than she's reacting to the impact. Chimeramon's return brings the Dark power haunting Ken back into the fortress. Because they are the same.

When Kimeramon breaks through the wall and rushes upwards, the dub takes its first commercial break. On return, they quickly cut together short clips of Kimeramon crashing through and flying upwards again to re-establish the action.

Davis: WATCH OUT!!! Magnamon: Huh? Davis: Whooooa! (Magnamon tackles Davis off the bridge)

Here, it's Davis who warns Magnamon about the impending attack rather than the other way around... and then Davis awkwardly gawks at Kimeramon until Magnamon saves his dumb ass. Even though. He's the one who said "watch out" to begin with. Uh.

Once the danger's passed, Daisuke and Magnamon pick themselves off the ground. Magnamon's eyes still locked on Chimeramon, now above them.

Magnamon: Daisuke, leave this part to me. Daisuke: Ah, gotcha!

Daisuke clenches his fist.

Daisuke: All of this... IT ENDS TODAY!!!

Roaring with intent, Daisuke charges for the doorway leading back into the rest of the structure.

Takeru: We're going too!

The rest of the team run off to join in. Finally, Wormmon also departs the central column. Spitting a strand of silk and wrapping it around a pipe above, Wormmon swings up to the room that the Kaiser's watching from.

Wormmon: Hey, it's dangerous here. Hurry, we need to run! Kaiser: Quiet! My Chimeramon has returned to me. Wormmon: But they aren't listening to you anymore. Kaiser: SHUT UP!!!

The Kaiser whips Wormmon in the face, smacking him aside. Then he resumes watching the action with a smile on his face.

Kaiser: (enchanted) Chimeramon....

Hey, you remember when Takeru made him eat that fucking whip? Good times.

In the dub:

Magnamon: Davis, I'll take care of this. Davis: Go get him, Magnamon! Show him he's no match for you. (Davis clenches his fist) Davis: But just in case he is, I'll get the others! T.K.: We've gotta get out of here, guys!

Doesn't go nearly as hard as "This ends today".

In the original, Daisuke is running off to go punch the Kaiser out of Ichijouji Ken and the others are going to help him shitstomp on that slimy weasel's face. The dub changes it to Davis fleeing to get reinforcements while the others want to retreat, which is a total flipflop.

When he spits his silk, Wormmon calls it as an attack in the dub.

Wormmon: SILK THREAD!!! (Wormmon swings up to the Emperor) Wormmon: I don't mean to drop in like this but Kimeramon is tearing the place apart. Emperor: Nonsense! He's simply following my orders to attack! Wormmon: But Kimeramon's not following anyone's orders but his own. Can't you see that?

The Kaiser whipping Wormmon is cut from the dub. They go straight to the Emperor's enchanted, smiling face.

Emperor: My greatest creation won't let me down.

Despite the cut, the point that the Digimon Emperor is utterly deluded and refuses to admit he's lost control is still well-made.

As Magnamon meets Chimeramon, the battle is joined.

Magnamon feints towards Chimeramon, suddenly swerving to the right once he's in range to attack. Chimeramon falls for it, throwing a punch with their right Devimon arm and whiffing the air. While Chimeramon's disoriented, Magnamon turns in the air, kicks off the wall, and comes in for his real attack.

Magnamon: MAGNUM PUNCH!!!

A fierce right hook to Chimeramon's left temple sends the creature crashing down into the wall below.

Inside, Takeru's crew ascends the spiral stairs that ring the central column. Daisuke comes running up from behind.

Daisuke: GUYS!!! Takeru: Daisuke-kun!

The team stops so he can catch up. But then Chimeramon hits the wall and their right Devimon elbow breaks through. It crashes through the wall right behind Daisuke, knocking him off his feet.

Daisuke: DYAUGH!!!

Outside, Magnamon continues the assault.

Magnamon: MAGNUM KICK!!!

They land a right flying kick that's as much a stomp as a kick straight into Chimeramon's face. After that, they forego named attacks and just start throwing punches, slugging Chimeramon's face as if it were a punching bag.

From the stairway, everyone stares in confusion at Devimon's elbow for a moment, which twitches with every hit Chimeramon takes on the other side of the wall. Tailmon finally brings them to their senses.

Tailmon: We don't have much time left. The fortress is starting to fall. Armadimon: If we don't hurry, the Kaiser will get away-dagyaa! Daisuke: Right! Let's go!

With that, the team gets back on the move.

For clarity, since the fansub translated Tailmon's line as "The fortress is collapsing" so I guess this might be confusing: She means it's starting to fall in the sense that it is beginning a rapid descent. We are inside an airborne structure that no longer possesses a power source. It's about to start moving inexorably towards the ground, and we probably don't want to be inside when they meet.

In the dub:

Magnamon: MAGNA PUNCH!!! (Punch; Cut to Hallway) Davis: GUYS, WAIT!!! T.K.: (alarmed) RUN, DAVIS!!! (Kimeramon's elbow crashes through the wall) Magnamon: MAGNA KICK!!!

This sequence is apparently way too violent for the dub. They use white flashes to obscure the impacts for both Magna Punch and Magna Kick. Once he starts boxing, they keep one shot of just Magnamon throwing punches towards the camera but cut all footage of him flying around pummeling Kimeramon's face.

Gatomon: We don't have that much time! We have to ditch this place before it takes a nosedive! Armadillomon: Sure would be nice to capture the Digimon Emperor while we're here. Davis: Right! Let's go get him!

So, a few things. T.K. seems to have a psychic premonition and realize, based on nothing, that the elbow's about to come crashing through. He yells at Davis to run even though he isn't aware of anything Davis needs to run from.

Armadillomon finally comes up with the idea of taking the fight to Ken, which was already what they were trying to do in the original.

An interesting note about Magnum Punch and Kick: They're kind of the same word as Magnamon's name. This is because the a/u distinction between Magna and Magnum doesn't exist when the words are transliterated into Japanese Katakana.

マグナモン Magunamon

マグナムパンチ Magunamu Panchi

"Magnum" in Katakana is literally just "Magna" with a ム mu at the end. The word "Magnum" is already derived from the root word "Magna" but here they are basically the same. In fact, it might be more accurate to translate Magnamon as Magnumon! The Magnum attacks imply that they were going for that.

Finally, Chimeramon's had enough and gets their second wind.

Chimeramon lets out a shot of Heat Viper. Magnamon takes a glancing hit to his right shoulder and the beam continues, striking the wall right next to the opening the Kaiser is standing in.

Kaiser: Where do you think you're aiming, Chimeramon!? Chimeramon: Ahahahahahaha!

That wicked laugh returns, now unmistakably coming from Chimeramon. The Kaiser's eyes go wide. He slowly backs up as Chimeramon turns towards him, belting out that hideous cackle.

Chimeramon: AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Suddenly, Magnamon comes in from the left with another flying kick, though he doesn't call this one. A left Devimon hook counters his approach, knocking him out of the air and sending him tumbling into the abyss below.

In the dub, Kimeramon calls his shot.

Kimeramon: HEAT VIPER!!! Emperor: AUGH!!! Watch where you're aiming! Remember who your Master is, Kimeramon! Kimeramon: Ahahahahahaha! (Emperor backs away, terrified) Kimeramon: AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Magnamon: MAGNA KICK!!! (Kimeramon knocks Magnamon away)

The dub censors Kimeramon's punch two separate ways. First, the point of impact for the punch is obscured with a white flash. Then, as Magnamon's falling, Magnamon hitting the wall and bouncing off is concealed behind a discretion cut to the Emperor looking scared.

Punch, white flash, Magnamon is sent hurtling downward, cut to the Emperor, cut back to Magnamon still falling, then cut to the Emperor for real this time.

This really is the No Violence Allowed episode, apparently. They can't even show Magnamon getting bounced off a wall.

Wormmon crawls up to the Kaiser's leg, grabbing onto his leg.

Wormmon: You understand now, don't you, Ken-chan? Kaiser: Let go!

The Kaiser weakly shakes his leg to try and get Wormmon off.

Wormmon: We made a terrible mistake! Kaiser: A mistake? That's ridiculous! I don't make mistakes! Everything I do is perfect! Wormmon: This time is different, Ken-chan! Kaiser: BE QUIET!!!

This time, much more forcefully, the Kaiser kicks Wormmon up into the air and then whips him across the hall. Standing over his battered Partner and looking absolutely deranged, the Kaiser exclaims:

Kaiser: This is a game and, in the end, I'll be the one who wins it! Daisuke: Are you still saying that!?

Slowly, Wormmon opens his eyes to see that the rest of the team have arrived to confront the Kaiser.

In the dub:

Wormmon: I beg you to listen to me. He's out of control! Emperor: Get off me! You're sliming up my pants! Wormmon: Please, Master, let's leave. He'll destroy you! Emperor: But I'm his... creator! I nurtured him from the beginning with evil! These kids today have no respect! Wormmon: You're right, Master. Let's talk about it outside where it's much safer. Emperor: I'M NOT LEAVING!!!

Some more censoring here. The Kaiser whipping Wormmon and the shot of a crumpled and battered Wormmon on the ground are both cut. They replay the shot of Wormmon clinging to the Emperor's leg and talking to him after the Emperor screams, then go straight to the deranged looking Emperor shot.

Wormmon: I understand. You tried to make Kimeramon yours but I'm your true friend. Emperor: Listen, you little nightcrawler! If I had a friend, it certainly wouldn't be you! Davis: KEN!!!

We lose a lot of character details for Ken here. His admission of "I don't make mistakes; Everything I do is perfect" is a pretty telling remark that informs on a lot of his behavior in this final sub-arc. We know Ken has always been a flawless prodigy. Everything he does just comes naturally to him, and he's grown up in an environment of endless praise for his effortless accomplishments.

Ken is resistant to personal growth and change because he can't really fathom the idea that he, Ichijouji Ken, would have made an error. We saw that resistance as recently as last episode, when he had a revelation about the Digimon's true nature that he promptly pushed out-of-mind and went back to what he was doing.

Ken's environment and his natural talent have made him pigheaded and stubborn. It's just easier for him to believe everyone around him is stupid and wrong than to accept that something he thought or did was incorrect. Because, for much of his life, that has been exactly the case. So even now, faced with evidence of his error in judgment, his ego cannot accept that the Boy Genius Ichijouji Ken made a mistake.

The dub drops that in favor of generational whining about The Youths.

As a consolation, we do get a reminder of a significant emotional beat, that Ken created Chimeramon/Kimeramon specifically to replace Wormmon as his Partner Digimon. This is also an important character point.

...and lose the reminder of Ken's other significant error in judgment: He thinks the Digital World is a video game and all the Digimon are just NPCs. He's farming Digimon like Minecraft Villagers. Ken hasn't brought this up very much since the first episode, but it's pretty important for understanding his character.

Realizing the others are upon him, the Digimon Kaiser turns to face Daisuke's team.

Kaiser: The Chimeramon I created will never lose to the likes of you. Daisuke: Now isn't the time to ramble about winning or losing some game! Miyako: What does making a Digimon even mean!? You really think it's okay to do something like that!? Iori: How can you be so proud of scraping off data from other Digimon to create "your" Digimon!? It's stupid! Digimon aren't toys!

Takeru gestures to the Partner Digimon they have with them.

Takeru: Take a good look at these Digimon! They're living, breathing creatures! They're alive! They're valuable, irreplaceable partners to us! Ken: (stunned) Ah!

That cuts deep. The Kaiser gasps in shock at Takeru's words. Then Hikari steps forward.

Hikari: You're supposed to be a Chosen Child yourself, but you don't even understand that much?

She points to the battered Wormmon on the ground.

Hikari: That Digimon is your Partner, isn't he?

Wormmon slowly picks himself up off the ground.

Wormmon: Ken-chan...? Kaiser: The Digimon that suits me most... is CHIMERAMON!!!

But still, the Kaiser refuses to listen. Clinging even now to his mistakes. The Kaiser is perfect. He cannot be wrong.

In the dub:

Emperor: Well, if it isn't the DigiDestined! I see that you've finally come to your senses and are ready to surrender to me and Kimeramon. Davis: Fat chance, Ken! I think some of your hairspray must have leaked through into your brain again! Yolei: And another thing! Who said it was okay for you to go out and create a Digimon anyway!? Cody: Yeah, do you think you're Dr. Frankenstein or something!? Creating creatures just for your own cruel pleasure!? Kimeramon is not the monster, Ken; You are! (T.K. gestures at the Partner Digimon) T.K.: Look at them! Are they trying to hurt you!?

Uh, kind of, yes. Weird question for the guy who beat the shit out of Ken yesterday to ask. This isn't the angle, chief.

T.K.: They're not your toys for some kind of a sick game! They're alive! They're not just data in a computer; They're living creatures like you and I! Ken: (stunned) Huh? Kari: You're DigiDestined too, just like us. You have a responsibility to both worlds. Like Wormmon! He's your friend and not someone you should kick around. Wormmon: ...Master...? Emperor: There's only one Digimon that's suitable enough for me. AND THAT'S KIMERAMON!!!

Cody makes a pretty clever comparison to Frankenstein that falls apart under close inspection. Kimeramon very much is the greater monster. A pretty significant thing that is happening right now is that Ken has awakened a true nightmare and has revealed himself a dumb kid drunk on his own hype and grasping for a semblance of control.

It's like if Frankenstein made a Faustian pact to create his Monster, which is now a vessel of Mephistopheles.

Here, they drop the "Digimon are our valuable Partners" point which got touched on in the preceding scene between the Emperor and Wormmon. Odd choice given that it's the basis of the Kaiser/Emperor's final outburst.

Instead, they just say Digimon are friends. Wormmon is the Emperor's friend, Kari accuses. Which. Uh. No. Demonstrably, he is not. Dub Wormmon has only ever been the Emperor's personal 'monservant and whipping boy. Without that specific connection of Chosen Child and Partner Digimon, she sounds delusional. The Emperor clearly has no feelings of any sort of bond towards Wormmon and never, ever has.

In the central chamber, the fight continues.

Chimeramon uses Heat Viper to blast the remaining three walkways off of what used to be the generator, then another ship to break the column supporting it. The generator platform falls into Magnamon, erupting into flames and carrying him to the bottom of the structure where it explodes. The blast rips through the very bottom of the fortress.

This sequence passes without dialogue in the dub, as in the original.

Kaiser: This is the end for this fortress. If you want to die then keep wasting time here!

With that, he leaves Wormmon behind and runs for his life.

Daisuke: Wait, Digimon Kaiser! ICHIJOUJI KEN!!!

But the Kaiser keeps running. Wormmon weakly hops up the stairs after him. Still loyal to his Partner even now.

As another explosion rocks the stairwell, the Chosen Children have a withdrawal of their own to make.

Hawkmon: Miyako-san! We must flee as well. Miyako: Yeah, but... aren't you tired? Hawkmon: We're okay. Please let us handle this. Tailmon: Do you guys feel up to it? Patamon: Yeah! Armadimon: Dagyaa! Hikari: In that case, then please.... Group: DIGIMENTAL UP!!!

That stamina rejuvenation from the Digimental of Miracles wasn't for nothing, y'know!

In the dub:

Emperor: Don't feel too proud that you destroyed my home base because you are going down with it! (Emperor flees) Davis: Wait, Ken! We want to help you! KEN, LISTEN TO ME!!!

Do we? We haven't said anything about helping him. Where did that come from?

Hawkmon: Pardon me, but it is getting a little hot down here! Yolei: Right! But do you guys have enough energy to Digivolve? Hawkmon: Yes, now let's leave before I'm a fried chicken! Gatomon: The heat is on, guys! Ready? Patamon: Mhm! Armadillomon: Yeah! Kari: Okay, let's do it. Group: DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!!!

Hawkmon delivers that "Yes" like it's the most obvious thing in the world, which I appreciate. Miyako/Yolei has not been following the plot today.

Once the team's Armored up, Digmon fires his Gold Rush at the wall.

Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!!

His drills explode on impact, but only crater the wall a bit. It's not enough to breach.

Elsewhere, Magnamon does breach the wall, smashing through to the desert outside. Chimeramon follows after him. Turning in the air, Magnamon lets off another attack.

Magnamon: PLASMA SHOT!!!

It's a set of eight homing missiles fired from the panels on his armor. They turn in the air and lock onto Chimeramon, hitting them dead center and exploding.

Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!!

This time, Digmon's drills break through the wall, opening a gap large enough for Digmon, Pegasmon, Nefertimon, and Horusmon to escape with their Partners.

Daisuke rides shotgun on the back of Pegasmon, but as they depart, he looks back at the fortress.

Daisuke: Ichijouji Ken....

In the distance, a lone Devidramon takes flight from the top of the fortress moments before it crashes into the sand.

The dub plays the insert song Run Around over this escape sequence, where the original's playing the usual Break Up. They add some lines to the escape.

Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!! (Failure; Magnamon and Kimeramon break out) Magnamon: MAGNA BLAST!!! (Direct hit on Kimeramon) Digmon: GOLD RUSH!!! (This time they break through) Digmon: (escapes) Come on, everyone! Follow me! Pegasusmon: (escapes) I'll follow him! Nefertimon: (escapes) I'll follow you! Halsemon: (escapes) I'll follow you! Digmon: Now that's what I call following orders! (Davis looks back at the base) Davis: Geeze, that was a close one!

The follow-follow banter is cute. Though it bugs me that Davis's line was changed away from Ken after exclaiming "We want to help you!" a moment ago.

Magnamon's attack is called Magna Blast, but it is not a blast. It is missiles. In the original, it's Plasma Shot, which is also incorrect. It is missiles. Nobody knows what missiles are.

Following the fall of the Kaiser's fortress, the desert is silent. It lays buried in the sand.

The silence lasts about three seconds before a sharp reminder that there is a high-power deathmatch happening nearby.

Magnamon: EXTREME JIHAD!!!

Beams of light erupt forth from every metal surface on Magnamon. The light scorches Chimeramon, who roars in pain with visible smoke trails rising from their body.

But despite Magnamon's immense power, Chimeramon is still standing when the light fades. They let out a defiant, beastly roar.

Magnamon: This is bad... I don't have any power left....

Magnamon slumps in the air, struggling to even remain afloat.

In the dub, as the dust settles, Magnamon references the crashing of the Hindenberg.

Magnamon: Oh, the humanity! (Fighting resumes) Magnamon: MAGNA BLAST!!! (No effect) Magnamon: It's no use! He's too strong! I'm running out of power!

Magnamon calls Extreme Jihad as Magna Blast too. It makes a lot more sense in this context, as it is both blast and magna.

With Magnamon's batteries drained, Chimeramon easily capitalizes.

Before Magnamon knows what hit him, Chimeramon closes distance and snatches him up in their SkullGreymon hand.

Magnamon: Shit!

From the desert below, perched atop his Devidramon, the Kaiser watches with enraptured fervor.

Kaiser: Good job! Now crush him, Chimeramon! Wormmon: You can do this, Magnamon! Kaiser: What!?

Unsurprisingly, the Kaiser punishes that remark with a whiplash to the back of the head.

The dub takes its second commercial break after Kimeramon grabs Magnamon. We pick right back up where we left off on return.

Emperor: That's it! Let him have it, Kimeramon! Wormmon: You can do it, Magnamon! Emperor: SILENCE!!!

This time, the dub actually lets the Emperor whip Wormmon. Though, of course, they obscure the moment of impact with a white flash. There's still a whipcrack sound so it's unmistakable what just happened.

Wormmon quivers in place, a thin red line clearly visible along his back in closeup.

Wormmon: Ken-chan, you still don't understand, do you? The old Ken-chan wasn't like this.

With tears in his eyes, Wormmon turns around to look at Ken.

Wormmon: The Ken-chan that I first traveled the Digital World with wasn't like this! We laughed together. We cried together. Me and the ordinary, kindhearted Ken-chan!

Up above, Chimeramon squeezes Magnamon harder. He cries out in pain.

Magnamon: HUAAAAGH!!!

While, down below, Wormmon's speech continues.

Wormmon: Then, the next time we met, you told me to call you Digimon Kaiser. I couldn't do it... Because no matter how you present yourself, you're still Ken-chan. That's why, no matter how many awful things you did as the Digimon Kaiser, I always believed you'd go back to being Ken-chan one day. Believing that is how I was able to follow you!

Wormmon glows with white energy as he speaks. So there's no uncertainty, Break Up begins to play as he glows. This is the holy light of a Chosen Child. It's Ken-chan's light, long suppressed by the Digimon Kaiser.

To be real for a moment, Ken's lucky that Wormmon has the patience of a saint. Otherwise Wormmon would have Dark Evolved and bitten him in half a long time ago. But instead, Wormmon chose to cling to Ken's kindness even when Ken himself had long abandoned it.

In the dub:

Wormmon: I hope you're finally proud of yourself. You've officially become worse than the monsters you've created. (Wormmon turns around to look at Ken) Wormmon: What ever happened to that sweet kid I met a long time ago who had a dream to take over the Digital World? Okay, sure, it was a sick and twisted dream but still, we had a lot of laughs together. What happened to the boy I was proud to call Master? Of course, you make me call you that.... (Kimeramon squeezes Magnamon harder) Magnamon: Take it easy! I'm not a melon! Wormmon: You've changed, Ken. But it's not too late for you. For some reason you started capturing Digimon and you turned them into your slaves instead of into your friends! I didn't agree but I stuck by your side because I was your Digimon. And then you started being cruel to me, the one who knows the true you. The others may know and fear you as the Digimon Emperor, but never forget that I know the real you.

The real him... with the sick and twisted dream to take over the Digital World while making you call him Master? The dub completely butchers this speech. Wormmon claims that Ken was always a piece of shit, just not this bad.

"You made the captured Digimon your slaves instead of your friends!" is such a weird line.

The dub is torn between their characterization of Ken as a Saturday Morning Cartoon villain born from pure evilness to shoot moon lasers at orphanages and rob jewelry stores, and the earnest heartfelt speech that Wormmon's supposed to be delivering here. They've gone too hard on the bit and are now being forced to have a moment of serious drama between what are effectively Snively Whiplash and Muttley.

And it hits so weird.

Up above, Magnamon begins to glow with Ken's light as well.

Magnamon: Huh? Th-This is.... Wormmon: I will always believe in you, Ken-chan. In the real Ken-chan, not the Digimon Kaiser. The real Ken-chan....

Wormmon shines even brighter. Glowing with energy, he roars:

Wormmon: ...IS THE KIND KEN-CHAN!!!

Then he tackles the Kaiser in the gut, knocking him off of the Devidramon. Ken lands on his shoulder in the sands below while Wormmon makes off with his enslaved Devidramon. Together, Wormmon and Devidramon take to the air and make for Chimeramon.

In the dub:

Magnamon: Huh? What's happening? Wormmon: I'll always think of you for your kindness, Ken, no matter what happens. One day, I hope you'll realize that the real Ken isn't the Digimon Emperor but the Ken that's my friend. (Wormmon shines brighter) Wormmon: And only a real friend would do this! (Wormmon tackles Ken off of Devidramon)

That stuff about Ken having a sick and twisted dream muddies the stuff Wormmon's saying about "I know the true you" and "I'll think of you for your kindness". But I do think that, ultimately, the general idea that Wormmon once knew a very different version of Ken at least somewhat gets across.

In the air, Wormmon joins the fight.

Wormmon: RAAAAAAUGH!!!

Letting out a battle roar, Wormmon flies Devidramon straight into Chimeramon's arm. The impact causes them to lose their grip on Magnamon.

Magnamon: Wormmon, you.... Wormmon: Save Ken-chan.

With what little time he has, Wormmon says what matters most. Then Chimeramon swats Devidramon away with their Kuwagamon arm, hitting the creature so hard that they leave Wormmon behind in the air. Chimeramon follows with a SkullGreymon punch, bashing Wormmon back towards the ground.

As he plummets, Wormmon's tears fill the air and he calls out.

Wormmon: Please, Magnamon... Save Ken-chan....

Wormmon glows, sending a beam of light into Magnamon. Transferring all of Ken's light into him now.

Magnamon: Wormmon's power is flowing through me....

In the dub:

(Devidramon tackles Kimeramon's arm and frees Magnamon) Magnamon: Wormmon! What are you doing!? Wormmon: Magnamon, it's up to you now! (Kimeramon swats Devidramon and punches Wormmon) Magnamon: Wormmon! Wormmon: Please, Magnamon, save Ken for me! Here's what little energy I have left! Use it! (Wormmon sends Magnamon his light) Magnamon: Wormmon's power has re-energized me!

Solid. Neither version explicitly explains what the sudden illumination around Wormmon is about. You just kinda have to get it if you're familiar with all that Holy Light stuff from the first series.

Which, if you watched the dub version of the first series, you might not be.

Overflowing with energy, Magnamon cuts loose once more.

It goes very, very well.

Magnamon: EXTREME JIHAD!!!

This time, the blast obliterates Chimeramon. Overtaken by its power, they disintegrate into pixel dust.

Down below, the Chosen Children all cheer for Magnamon's victory.

Children: YEAH!!!

Except for Daisuke, who's already running to where his Partner will drop.

In the dub:

Magnamon: MAGNA... EXPLOSION!!! (Magnamon kills Kimeramon) DigiDestined: YEAH!!!

Extreme Jihad is now Magna Explosion despite the same attack being called Magna Blast a moment ago.

In the wake of Kimeramon's death, we see two very different reactions from the Kaiser and Daisuke.

The Kaiser drops to his knees, disbelieving what just happened and still not really reckoning with everything that's been said to him.

Kaiser: My Chimeramon... lost...?

And on the other foot, Daisuke sprints through the sands until he finds an exhausted Chibimon unconscious in the sands.

Daisuke: Are you okay!?

He turns over Chibimon, who opens his eyes and laughs weakly.

Chibimon: Eheheh...

Filled with relief, Daisuke embraces his Partner. Showering him with all the affection that Ken has for so long denied to Wormmon.

Daisuke: Chibimon!

Then Daisuke notices the other thing that came down with Chibimon after his evolution broke. Not the Digimental of Miracles, but the true form of the power Magnamon's been wielding. The power that lifted Ken's fortress and brought an end to Chimeramon.

It's something Daisuke doesn't have the experience to recognize on sight. But we, the audience, do.

It's a pink Crest half-buried in the sand. Daisuke picks it up and lets out a curious gasp.

Daisuke: Huh?

Here, on this meaningful juxtaposition between Daisuke and Ken, we finally take our commercial break.

In the dub:

Emperor: (stunned) I can't believe they defeated me. How could this happen? (Davis runs to DemiVeemon) Davis: Are you okay!? (DemiVeemon opens his eyes) DemiVeemon: Hey.... (Big hug) Davis: You were awesome! (Davis suddenly notices Crest) Davis: Wait a second. Did someone lose their keys? (Davis picks it up) Davis: Ohhh....

Davis seems to recognize the Crest when he gets a better look at it. It's not super clear whether Daisuke knows what that is. He got the recap in Wizarmon's episode so he might. But either way, Davis definitely does.

Following the commercial break, we find the Digimon Kaiser breaking down in the sands.

Ken: I... I lost.... Why!? Everything was supposed to be perfect! This... This is the worst! It's the worst Bad Ending of all!

"Bad Ending" is in English.

Ken: If this is how it has to be... Then I'll just start over! All of it! I'll reset the Digital World and-- Takeru: Reset the Digital World?

Yeah, they were all standing there watching him do this. Takeru delivers that line like he's trying to make sense of some weirdass gibberish he just heard.

Ken: Yeah, I'll... I'll just go home, erase all the data on my computer, and then start over again from the beginning. Daisuke: You... What are you talking about? Miyako: Are you serious? You think erasing some data from your computer will reset the Digital World? Takeru: That's absurd! What do you think the Digital World is!? Ken: What? Iori: This isn't some game. You can't just reset the Digital World. Ken: (shocked) What did you say!?

And there it is. The truth Ken didn't want to hear. That multiple people have tried to tell him anyways but this time he isn't in a position of power from which he can just mock them and storm off.

It's hard to get through to someone when they still have the option to just go "LOL Whatever, fight me bruh." But now that Ken feels vulnerable, he's in a position to finally hear other people talk.

In the dub:

Ken: I lost... I'm a failure... This isn't what was supposed to happen! I was flawless! My plans were supposed to work out perfectly! How'd it happen!? You must have cheated somehow! That's the only possible explanation! I only have one choice left and that's just to cheat myself! I'll start over! I'll just have to reset the Digital World! T.K.: Reset the Digital World? What are you talking about, Ken? Ken: It's simple. I'll just go home and delete all the Digital World data off my computer and create a new program. That way I can start a new Digital World that doesn't cheat! Davis: Dude, you can't be serious. Yolei: The Digital World is a completely real place, Ken. It's not just something that's programmed into your computer! T.K.: We tried to tell you that before! But you thought we were trying to play some kind of a trick on you! Ken: Huh? Cody: This isn't some kind of a video game. Ken, Digimon are real and it's about time you realized what you've been doing! Ken: What!?

This is pretty good. It hits the important points: Up to this point, Ken has been convinced he's playing a video game and now the others are confronting him with the truth.

I love that Ken accuses them of cheating because he can't handle that he lost in PVP. That's such a toxic gamer move. That line aged really well.

Looking at the other children holding their Partner Digimon, Ken remembers the revelation he ignored yesterday.

He briefly flashes back on them sitting with their Digimon at the soccer game with Daisuke, outside of the Digital World.

Ken: That time at the soccer field... Were you Digimon there? Chibimon: We're not just data on a computer. Daisuke: Digimon are alive, just like us. Ken: Digimon are... living beings? Then... everything I've done....

Ken flashes back now on the cruelty and barbarism he's inflicted over the series. Evil Rings capturing the Gazimon and Unimon of the first episode. Whipping Elecmon. Forcing Gizamon to construct his Dark Tower in the frozen north and whipping them when they falter.

Returning from the flashback, Ken holds his head in his hands, suffering a complete meltdown.

Ken: Then I... what... What have I done!? Takeru: The Digital World isn't a dream or a fantasy world. Hikari: It's a separate reality that's just as real as ours.

At long last, he finally understands.

In the dub, Ken talks over the flashbacks.

Kari: You've been hurting innocent creatures, Ken! (Flashback to soccer game) Ken (V.O.): You Digimon were all at the soccer game in the real world. I remember now. (End Flashback) Ken: You are real. Not just computer data. I can't believe that I never figured that out! DemiVeemon: You know, for an evil genius, you really are a slow learner, Ken. Davis: And you've constantly been abusing Digimon ever since you claimed to be the Digimon Emperor! Ken: I had no idea. What have I done!? (Flashback to Ken's crimes) Ken (V.O.): I thought my Dark Rings were a stroke of genius. I never realized I was causing pain! I made them work for me tirelessly without ever giving them a break and I was cruel to them beyond imagination! (End flashback) Ken: NYAAAGH I'M A MONSTER!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'VE DONE!!! T.K.: It's hard to argue with you there, Ken. You've done some pretty horrible stuff. Kari: The important thing is you've realized what you've done and it's not too late to make a fresh start.

In the original, Ken brings up his laundry list of offenses of his own volition. Once he understands the truth about Digimon, he's forced to reflect on how he's treated them.

In the dub, Davis brings it up to rub Ken's nose in what a dick he's been.

By contrast, Kari in the dub suddenly brings up atonement and redemption while Ken's still in the middle of his meltdown. She's over this scene and just wants to skip ahead to the part where Ken joins the team.

Suddenly, Ken lets out an anguished scream.

Screaming at the top of his lungs, he pulls off his gloves and throws them on the ground. Then he unclasps his cloak and drops it into the sand, followed by ripping the visor off his head and tossing it. Each article he drops disintegrates into pixels once it's off of him.

Ken gets up, screaming and wandering until he collapses into the sand once more. Finally, the Digimon Kaiser jumpsuit itself pixelates disintegrates off of him. The Digimon Kaiser is no more.

In the dub, Ken kicks off his screaming with a line.

Ken: WHAT HAVE I DOOOOOONE!?!?

Also, the dub has Ken more crying than screaming. He's ugly crying, bawling out his regret at the top of his lungs, where original Ken is just screaming raw emotion. Which, after that "boys shouldn't cry" stuff from the first series dub, is refreshing to see.

While Ken's busy deleting his profile, the team turns their attention to someone else.

Hikari: Wormmon....

Hikari's voice grabs Ken's attention. He looks up from the ground.

Ken: ...Wormmon...?

After taking that hit from Chimeramon, Wormmon isn't in good shape. He's on his side in the sand and he isn't moving. The Chosen Children gather around him, with Hikari and Tailmon checking on him.

Tailmon: He's still breathing.

Weakly, Wormmon opens his eyes and addresses Ken.

Wormmon: You've gone back to the original Ken-chan.... Ken: Original? Wormmon: That suits you better. Daisuke: The original Ken?

Even here, at the end of his rope, Wormmon is thinking only of Ken. He made the difference and achieved what he wanted most.

In the dub:

Kari: (gasp) Wormmon! Ken: Wormmon? (Everyone gathers around Wormmon) Gatomon: He's still breathing. (Ken gets up and approaches) Wormmon: You returned to your old self. I knew you could do it, Ken. Ken: I'm sorry. It's too late for me. Wormmon: It's never too late to be sorry. Davis: Wormmon's absolutely right, Ken!

Again, the original is talking about Ken being restored to the boy he was before all this Digimon Kaiser stuff. Daisuke's confused by what Wormmon says because none of them have ever known a Ken who wasn't the Digimon Kaiser.

This Ken, the version of himself he's reclaimed, is someone only known to Wormmon. And also to Ryo Akiyama from the Wonderswan tie-in video games.

Dub Wormmon brings that up too, but then they switch topics so they can also use this space to talk about atonement.

Suddenly, at the mention of the old Ken, the Crest in Daisuke's hand glows pink.

The Crest levitates into the air and flies over to Ken, hovering in front of him. Daisuke briefly flashes back on the pink symbol that appeared on the artifact before it became the Digimental of Miracles.

Daisuke: In the generator room, I heard a voice coming from that Crest. It said it wanted to be returned to its true owner. Ken: Its true owner...?

Ken holds out his hands and the Crest settles into them. That pink symbol from the generator artifact is clearly visible on it.

Wormmon: That's Ken-chan's... (pained) Crest of Kindness.... Ken: This is my Crest of Kindness? Tailmon: Kindness will release a golden radiance. This must be what Wizarmon was talking about. Wormmon: Because... Ken-chan is full of kindness....

I love the symbolism in this. Ken's Crest of Kindness, the symbol of his greatest virtue as a Chosen Child, was the power source for his fortress. Not even understanding what it was, the Digimon Kaiser kept his very own Crest locked away in chains like the Digimon he enslaved.

In the first series, a key point was that the Chosen Children themselves must grow and evolve with their Digimon. By locking away and enslaving his Crest, the Kaiser stifled his own ability to change and grow. He suppressed his own evolution with the Dark Digivice, just as he suppressed everyone else's.

In a way, Ichijouji Ken was himself a slave to the Digimon Kaiser.

In the dub:

T.K.: Where'd you get that thing, Davis? Davis: I found it in the sand. Why? T.K.: I'm not sure, but it looks like one of the Crests we used to have in the old days. (Flashback to the artifact) Kari: You're right, T.K. And it has the Crest of Kindness on it! (End flashback) Ken: But why is it coming to me? (The Crest settles into Ken's hands) Wormmon: Because it belongs to you, Ken.... (pained) ...it's the Crest of Kindness.... Ken: There must be some mistake. I've been anything but kind. Gatomon: That's what Wizardmon meant when he told us that kindness will release the golden radiance! Ken must be the key to unlocking the power! Wormmon: I told you that, deep inside, you were kind....

I love T.K. chiming in to go "Holy shit, is that a Crest?" Good use of the veterans' history.

But then Kari somehow specifically recognizes the Crest of Kindness despite this being a brand new Crest never mentioned before. Um.

It's funny because it's consistent with the first series where the dub kids would just go "Oh that's the Crest of Courage" without anyone ever telling them that. They're all just... exceptionally fluent in virtue cryptography.

To my surprise, Gatomon brings up Wizardmon. For once, they don't snip out the reference to the previous episodes.

"Ken must be the key to unlocking the power" is a bit of an awkward line, though. She says that in the present tense as if there is something we must do with Ken and his Crest now. But the prophecy is already fulfilled. Kindness already released the golden radiance. It's done now.

They might have been hedging their bets in case the Digimental of Miracles sticks around. Like, could you imagine if Daisuke and V-mon had a special super-powered evolution they could pull out in dire circumstances, but only with assistance from Ken and Wormmon? That'd be pretty cool.

Pretty sure nothing like that is coming down the pipe, though.

Walking to Wormmon, Ken drops to his knees and pulls the long-suffering Digimon into his arms.

Ken: Wormmon... were you always this light...? Wormmon: ...Goodbye... Ken...-chan....

With those final words, Wormmon closes his eyes and disintegrates into pixel dust. Ken stares at the empty space where his Partner used to be.

Ken: ...Wormmon...? Takeru: He's dead. Ken: ...dead...?

Suddenly, a memory strikes at Ken's mind. In a white void, the image of Wormmon falling away from him transforms into the screech of tires on the road, the heavy sound of an impact, and a boy falling to the ground.

Ken: He's dead!?

In his memory, a much younger Ichijouji Ken stands over the body of an older boy laid out in the road. The only sound is an ambulance's sirens as it approaches in the distance.

Young Ken: Osamu-chan? Osamu-chan! OSAMU-CHAAAAAAN!!!

Ken's screams ring out as the ambulance takes Ichijouji Osamu away. We already know his fate. Until this point, Ken has been presented as the only child of the Ichijouji family.

As the flashback ends, Ken weeps into the sand.

Ken: It wasn't supposed to be like this! I didn't come here just to relive that feeling all over again!

Honestly, this revelation makes what Ken's putting his parents through that much harsher. Knowing that they've already suffered one tragedy like this....

In the dub:

Ken: Wormmon... I'm sorry... Don't go. You're my best friend! Wormmon: You're my best friend too. Goodbye, Ken. (Wormmon dies) Ken: Wormmon, no! T.K.: He's gone, Ken. Ken: He can't be! (Mind's eye Wormmon turns into Osamu) Ken: Not again.... (Flashback) Ken (V.O.): Wormmon's gone. Just like my brother. I was helpless to save him and now I can't save Wormmon either! (End Flashback) Ken: Why do I keep losing people!? I came to the Digital World to get away from all those feelings but I just can't escape!

The dub isn't willing to use the word "dead" of course, but they pull no punches with this nonetheless. Wormmon's death happens onscreen and uncensored, and the characters are pretty explicit about the fact that he's dead.

They don't even have anyone chime in to ruin the moment with "But Digimon don't die for realsies so it's fine actually" like they started doing in the first series. Both Wormmon's death and the comparison to Ken's dead brother are presented raw, visceral, and uncut.

As the team silently watches Ken cry, no one really sure what to say, Daisuke suddenly remembers something.

Daisuke flashes back on the interview Ken's parents were giving right before he left. The one playing in the living room when he and Jun were arguing about the camping trip.

Daisuke: You should go home.

At the sound of Daisuke's voice, Ken slowly stands up. He's unsteady on his feet, but he rises nonetheless. The rest of the team watch him uncertainly.

Daisuke: There are worried people waiting for you!

Ken says nothing more. He just stumbles away through the desert, wandering vaguely in the direction of his destroyed fortress. Daisuke calls after him once more.

Daisuke: GO HOME!!!

But still no answer comes. The team can only watch him recede into the distance.

The animation on their faces here does a fantastic job of really conveying the complicated emotions happening. Like. We came here to kick the shit out of this guy, and instead we just watched one of the worst moments of his life unfold while he both trauma-dumped and underwent shocking revelations.

A lot happened just now and I don't think anyone here knows what to do with it. Are we still enemies? We're certainly not friends. Do we sympathize? Do we care?

What are we supposed to feel about Ichijouji Ken right now? There can be no clear answer while the wounds are so fresh.

In the dub, Ken's father in the flashback speaks.

Father: Ken, we miss you.

As usual for the dub, this is a revisionary flashback. He did not say that in the scene Davis is remembering.

Davis: There's still people who love you. (Ken stands up) Ken: I gotta go. Davis: Don't walk away from your problems! Let us help you, Ken! (Ken keeps walking) Davis: YOU'RE DIGI-DESTINED!!! JOIN US!!! Cody: I wonder where he's going? I hope he'll be okay.

The dub takes its third commercial break here.

Again, the dub is in a hurry to speedrun Ken's arc here. They've had the kids reaching out with an olive branch to Ken since the episode began. Here, Davis tries to skip over all the complex feelings and jump straight to team recruitment.

Cody even gets an extra line to express concern for Ken's wellbeing. They give it to him because he's on the far right of the group, so the slow tracking shot of the team leaves him offscreen for long enough to say it. But that's gonna be really funny in a couple episodes when Iori quite reasonably hates Ken's fucking guts.

I'm not even sure what Davis is trying to recruit Ken for. As of this moment, mission is accomplished. We have no greater objective beyond making Ken eat shit, and we've done that. We're done here, right? Don't look at the episode count.

Anyway, that was a hell of a thing. Time for some tension relief.

Jun: YOOHOO!!! YAMATO-KUUUUUUN!!!

I have no idea where Jun slept last night but, at long last, she's made it to Yamanakako. The boys are visibly thrilled to see her, yeah. That's definitely a reaction of pleasant surprise.

Yamato: Ugh... She actually followed me all the way here? Jun: That was so mean! You left me behind, Yamato-kun! Yamato: Ah, uh, that was... How do I put it...? Jun: Eh? Where are Daisuke and the others? Taichi: FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

He doesn't say the words but you can see it on his face.

Yamato: Hey, Taichi! Where are Daisuke and the others at? Taichi: D-D-Daisuke and the others...? Uh... Koushiro! Where are Daisuke and the others? Koushiro: Eh!? Uhhhhhhh... I'll... I'll go look for them!

Koushiro flees this conversation straight into the woods. He was never seen again. Jun watches him go with a curious expression.

Jun: ...hrm?

I swear, the mood whiplash from Wormmon's death to Jun shenanigans is fucking intense.

The dub at least has the commercial break to chill the transition. This was a pretty good place for it, giving some time to wind out from that intense drama before Jun suddenly happens all over the screen.

Jun: Hey Matt! I made it! Matt: Nrrrg! Oh no, she followed us! She's like a boomerang that keeps coming back! Jun: It's funny but when you drove off with your tires screeching, you didn't realize you left me standing there. Matt: My bad! Sorry about that. I must have forgot. Jun: Oh. Where are Davis and the others? Matt: Uh, I think Tai knows. Hey, Tai, do you know where the others went? Tai: Let me think about that for a sec. Uh... Izzy, weren't you the last one to see them? Izzy: Daugh! Uhhhh Uh Uhh... Of course! Uh, I'll go find them right now! (Izzy runs off) Jun: ...hrm?

Original Jun recognizes that Yamato left her behind on purpose and berates him for it. Dub Jun somehow interprets it as an accident and I love that extra layer of self-delusion. 10/10 Expert Stalking.

As a kid, I used to ship Jun with Matt. I don't anymore because... yeesh. But back then I was young, didn't really understand how creepy this is, and just wanted Jun to be happy.

I have serious questions for the Motomiya parents over what the fuck their kids are learning about romance.

Taking his laptop with him, Koushiro makes off into the woods. Once he's far enough away, he stops running so he can think.

Koushiro: Oh, what do we do now!?

Suddenly, Koushiro hears a beep on his laptop. He looks at the screen just in time to see the Digital Gate appear.

Koushiro: Ah! The Gate is open!

That is all the forewarning he gets before reality explodes from his computer and dumps a pile of bodies on his face.

Back at the campsite, Jun sits with Taichi and Yamato. She's eating what looks to my American ass like mashed potatoes and gravy but I'm pretty sure it's actually supposed to be a flan.

Jun: Weren't you all together? Taichi: Oh, uh, y-yeah, we are....

Yamato turns around and points at the woods.

Yamato: Uh, they're probably just playing in the woods over there.

Taichi turns and points too.

Taichi: Yep yep! Right over there....

At that moment, Koushiro emerges from the woods where they're pointing with all of the junior team kids in tow.

Taichi: (surprised) Oh, l-look! Yamato: (bewildered) Like I said? Daisuke: What on earth are you doing here, Onee-chan!? Jun: HIIIIII!!!

Taichi and Yamato breathe a mutual sigh of relief at one hell of a bullet dodged against all odds. One final gift from the Digimental of Miracles?

In the dub:

Izzy: Oh boy. What am I supposed to do!? (Beep beep) Izzy: The Digi-Port is opening! (Dogpile on Izzy; Cut to campsite) Jun: Did you guys hear that noise? Tai: It could be a wild animal. (Matt turns and points) Matt: Yeah, the woods are a dangerous place. You'd better leave quick! (Tai turns and points) Tai: I'll tell Davis you stopped... by...? (Davis and the others emerge) Tai & Matt: ...huh...? Tai: Ehehe.... Matt: (bewildered) There they are? Davis: Hey, Jun, who invited you to come out here!? Jun: Matt did!

Again, they ramp up Jun's self-delusion with that final line. XD

They take out the gag where Taichi and Yamato are accidentally correct when lying that Daisuke and the others are in those woods over there. With the new dialogue, there's no clear reason why they both turn around and point at the forest behind them.

From here, we cut straight to loading up the van.

Jun: WAIT FOR MEEEEEE!!!

Jun runs screaming towards Hiroaki's van, which is already loaded down with children. Somehow, Hiroaki has absolutely no questions about the fact that, three days into this trip, his camping crew suddenly tripled in size while his back was turned. Does he know? Did they actually tell him the full details of the plan?

The junior team is visibly exhausted from their all-nighter. Takeru, Iori, and Miyako are resting in the back, and Takeru and Miyako are both clearly napping. Hikari's in the center row and looks tired as well.

Presumably, the passenger seat up front is for Yamato, which leaves Taichi, Daisuke, and Koushiro having to squeeze in with only two seats available between them.

Jun runs up to find Daisuke waiting by the open side door, presumably to stake out a seat next to Hikari. Taichi, Yamato, and Koushiro are busy loading up the trunk.

Jun: What's going on here!? I just got here and you're already going home!? Daisuke: Yeah, because we're all tired. You showed up uninvited, so quit whining about it.

With that, Daisuke steps into the van, drops into one of the middle row seats, and lets out a big yawn.

Daisuke: Agh, I'm so sleepy.... Jun: (whining) THAT'S NOT FAAAAAAIR!!!

Sorry, Jun, but Daisuke's right. You did show up uninvited on the third day of the camping trip.

A note on the translation for Jun's うそ Uso exclamation. The word literally means "A lie"; Jun is exclaiming not that Daisuke is lying but that she wants him to be.

But in practice, it's basically just a hollow exclamation of her dissatisfaction at the situation. Something that doesn't really mean what it means. She's upset by the outcome and needs something to yell to vent that feeling inside of her. Americans use baseless accusations of unfairness for the same purpose.

In the dub:

Jun: HEY GUYS!!! WAIT FOR ME!!! (Cut to the van being packed) Tai: Eugh, that was a close one. (Jun comes up to Davis on the side) Jun: Hey, would it be okay to get a ride home with you guys? I don't wanna take the bus all by myself. Davis: No way! Not in a million years! Take the bus! It's not my fault you came all the way out here! Jun: It's not fair!

The dub also went for the baseless accusation of unfairness, so we see eye to eye on that.

Davis's rejection comes off a bit harsher here. In the original, she's asking them to stay and camp longer since she doesn't want to go home right after getting here. In the dub... Davis fully intends to leave his sister stranded in the woods. Harsh.

But not super harsh; Both Davis and Jun clearly assert that there is a robust public transportation system available to her, so it's not like he's telling her to walk or hitchhike. And, in fact, Jun taking the bus is where the scene is going with this.

I suddenly find myself wondering how old Jun is supposed to be. She's Daisuke's older sister, but I'm not clear on how much older. I feel like that's important for really contextualizing Davis telling her to take herself home on the bus alone.

In any case, Hiroaki picks up on a problem I noted earlier.

Hiroaki: Oh, but we have a problem. Not everyone's going to fit. Jun: Huh? Didn't you guys say there was another car?

As a matter of fact, they did. Back when Yamato ditched Jun the first time, they explained Daisuke and the others' absence by saying Hiroaki's coworker brought them to the campsite in another car.

Yamato: Oh, uhh, yeah! But they went home yesterday! Hiroaki: Yamato, you'll take the bus home. Yamato: Ehh!? Are you serious!?

Hiroaki passes Yamato a 10,000 yen bill through the window. Approximately $100 in American money.

Hiroaki: Here, take it.

With Yamato out, Koushiro takes the remaining seat in the middle row while Taichi hops in up front.

Taichi: (teasing) Sucks to be you, Yamato! Koushiro: (teasing) Be careful out there! Yamato: W-Wait, hang on....

With friends like these....

Before Yamato can protest further, Jun cheerfully closes the van door, leaving him stranded outside the van with her.

Jun: Then I'll go home with Yamato-kun! Yamato: HRUAAAAAAAAGH!!!

All pretense gone, Yamato's eyes bulge from his head and he screams at the top of his lungs. But there's no saving him now. He's doomed. Jun links arms with Yamato and bids farewell to the van occupants.

Jun: I'll take good care of Yamato-kun.

Now that that's settled, Hiroaki starts driving.

Yamato: YOU HAVE TO LET ME IN TOO!!! Jun: Bye-bye!

But no dice. The van vanishes into the distance, leaving Yamato alone with his karmic retribution.

Jun: Ehehe! Yamato: I can't believe this....

Funny as it is, stranding Yamato with his stalker like this might seem really unfair. However, it does make a certain sense as a narrative punishment.

Yamato could have and should have told Jun, in no uncertain terms, that she is not invited. He should have made a clear and unambiguous rejection of her advances. Instead, he took the easy route. He led Jun on by pretending to have a present for her and then dumped her on the curb and bailed.

Jun already underwent a karmic punishment of her own for her delusional pursuit of Yamato. That was the detour with Mary and Kenny that wasted all the time she could have spent with Yamato at the campsite. Now the shoe's on the other foot and she is, in turn, serving as Yamato's karmic punishment for his earlier cowardice.

If Jun hadn't butted in on the camping trip or if Yamato just told her, "You're not invited and I don't want you here. Go away," then neither of them would have to go through these twin ordeals.

In the dub:

Hiroaki: Come on, kids. That's not nice. Someone take the bus with Jun. Jun: That's very nice of you, sir, and I already have the perfect volunteer in mind. Matt: And the absolute perfect volunteer is T.K.! Hiroaki: Matt, you take the bus home with Jun. Matt: Huh!? I'm broke! (Hiroaki gives Matt a 10,000 yen bill) Hiroaki: There's more than enough here. Tai: (teasing) Have fun, you two! Izzy: (teasing) Have her home before curfew! Matt: I-I'll trade for your seat?

In the animation here, Yamato is holding the bill and reaches out into the van. The dub cleverly presents this like he's offering the bill to someone as a bribe.

(Jun shuts the door) Jun: Ahaha! Don't be silly; You'll sit with me. Matt: AHHHHHHH!!!! (Jun links arms with Matt) Jun: Come on, hunk! We'd better go catch the bus. It's a long ride! Matt: Please! T.K.! You can have my college money! (Van drives away) Jun: Buh-bye! Matt: AHHHHHHH!!! Kari: Seeya in four hours! Hahaha! Jun: Hehehehehe.... Matt: Oh, I give up....

In the original, Hiroaki only tells Yamato to take the bus because the van's full up. I'd assume he's more comfortable trusting his son to make the trip than he is with dumping one of these other children that he's responsible for in the middle of the woods.

When Jun suddenly closes the door and Yamato has his eye-popping reaction, it's in response to both him and Jun suddenly realizing what else taking the bus means for him. There's an escalation to this gag. Yamato protests having to take the bus because that sucks, then is suddenly reminded that Jun will be there too, and then shrieks and starts protesting more frantically.

In the dub, Hiroaki sends Matt to escort Jun home on purpose. Which does parse and still makes sense that he'd entrust it to his son over someone else's kid that he's responsible for. However, it does mean that when Matt suddenly eye-pops and shrieks at the sight of Jun, it feels more random because it doesn't have that one-two punch to delineate.

On the drive home, the radio reports on recent events.

Radio: And now, onto the news. Boy genius Ichijouji Ken who went missing in May was located only moments ago. Having been missing for three months, details are scarce as to why he suddenly turned up in his own home. Taichi: For now, it seems the Digital World's crisis is finally over. Koushiro: Yeah, that's true. They really pulled it off.

We're having this conversation right next to Hiroaki so I guess he does know about the plan? Huh.

Also, police investigation into Ken's family would absolutely be starting immediately. Ken miraculously showing up at home, no worse for wear? Yeah, there would be suspicions that the Ichijouji family made up the whole "kidnapping" thing for publicity.

I remember an incident years back when a family lost their child in a hot air balloon that took off. It was all over the news cycles until it turned out their kid was safe and sound in the attic and they had made the whole thing all up. Right now, that is what people would be thinking the Ichijoujis did.

Taichi and Koushiro look back at the junior kids, all asleep in the car.

Narrator: Just like that, the conflict with the Digimon Kaiser was over. The new Chosen Children's first mission was complete. However....

Cut to the Ichijouji residence, where Ken's mom is crying in the living room in the arms of her husband.

Mother: Thank goodness... He's....

In his room, we find Ken asleep in his bed. Sleeping off the emotionally intense day he's just had.

Narrator: ...Ichijouji Ken still had work to do.

First mission may be complete, but we aren't finished yet.

In the dub:

Radio: And in local news, the missing boy genius Ken Ichijouji mysteriously returned home after being missing for the last several months. Events surrounding his puzzling disappearance and sudden reappearance are still unclear, but his family is thankful to have him home and safe. Good day! Tai: Well, looks like the Digital World will be a safer place from now on without Ken running the show. Izzy: Yeah, that sure must have been some battle these guys fought. (They look back at the junior team) Izzy: I think we older kids can take a lot of pride when we call these beginners the new DigiDestined. Tai: You're right, Izzy. The torch has been passed and they didn't get burned once. (Cut to Ken's mom crying at home) Mother: My little boy is back! (Cut to Ken sleeping in his room) Mother (V.O.): First, we lost his brother. Then we lost Ken! I'm just so glad he's back home! Narrator: How will Ken use the Crest of Kindness? Find out on the next episode of Digimon: Digital Monsters!

I think that's correct. The next episode should be a major character-focus episode for Ken, and I'm pretty sure the Crest of Kindness is going to be involved somehow.

Assessment: Hoo boy, what an emotional ride that was. Here we are, at the end of the Digimon Kaiser arc. The Kaiser has finally been vanquished in an epic and thrillingly cathartic def-- No, wait, he broke down emotionally and it was really awkward. Because he is a misbehaving child and not an epic villain of ultimate darkness.

I do have to say one thing. I noted earlier that the dub went too hard on the Saturday Morning villain thing, but the original kinda did too. Ken's revelation that Digimon are living creatures like people falls a little flat when earlier episodes characterized him as a judgmental misanthrope who despises and denigrates everyone in the human world and literally kicked a puppy at one point.

There are other extenuating circumstances in Ken's wickedness, mind. Next episode is going to be very complicated.

But if "OH MY GOD, Digimon are PEOPLE!?" was the direction you wanted to go with this character's Face-Turn, you probably shouldn't have written him as a vicious little shit with as little regard for people as he has for Digimon. That scene shouldn't be the first time Ken's behavior is ever shown to distinguish between people and Digimon.

It would also make Wormmon's faith in Ken ring truer if we were ever shown a side of him that wasn't this before. After twenty episodes with the guy, Ken having some redeemable qualities to him shouldn't feel like a plot twist.

So they both went too hard on making him a vicious monster who lives and breathes only cruelty. It's just that the one did it dramatically and the other did it comedically.

He's not completely one-dimensional, I should note; We've seen from earlier episodes that Ken is lonely and miserable, and he honestly seemed to enjoy his rivalry with Daisuke in the soccer episode. But we haven't really seen any evidence that he sees some sort of distinction between Digimon (who he can mistreat because they're game NPCs) and people/animals (who he respects and values the sanctity of their existence). If anything, we've seen evidence to the contrary.

So overall I like this twist. I do think this was the right direction to go in with Ken. I just think it should have been better set up.

That said, I do like how well this episode portrays the way a sense of power and domination impedes personal growth and progress. No matter how many people try to talk to Ken, nothing actually gets through as long as he can go "Blah blah blah, sic 'em, Chimeramon!"

It is so, so hard for diplomacy to prevail against someone who believes he has power over you. Ken doesn't listen until he has no other choice but to listen. Because as long as he's still in the seat of power, he doesn't have to listen. His status and authority insulates him from having to care about what other people think. It's only when he's pulled down from his throne that his sense of empathy reasserts itself, and he no longer has the luxury of ignoring their words.

[slotumn]

The real structural and practical weakness with the Crest system, as in those with Crests getting legal and practical priority in inheritance of land and titles, is that it's presumably being used/applied across all of Fódlan, but half of the continent (Adrestia) has no reason to continue using it.

Because as I keep pointing out in my 3H analysis posts, noble houses with saints' Crests don't have Relics. If saints' Crests are the only ones (or the vast majority) a country has, there are no massive practical military benefits to them insisting on Crested rulers.

Back when they ruled the entire continent, however, the Empire also had Elites' descendants among the noble houses, who did get massive military benefits from having Crested rulers, because they have Relics. A Crest-based inheritance law was probably the best and easiest one to hold the entire nation together with under that circumstance; having separate (probably more lax) rules for those with saints' Crests there probably would not have looked good or worked.

But the Empire lost all their practical reasons to use the Crest-based inheritance laws the moment Faerghus and Leicester broke away. As of 1180, they genuinely don't get anything out of prioritizing Crests like they do. It's not giving them any practical benefits, it's just making the ruling class completely psychopathic as they chase after status for the sake of status; I wouldn't be surprised if that was what made them so easy to infiltrate by the Agarthans.

The big question here is, then why didn't any kind of inheritance reform happen earlier? The Empire lost Leicester in 801, why did it take nearly 400 years for someone (Edelgard) to actually point this out and change shit accordingly?

There are probably multiple factors, but I think that a big one might have been because the Adrestian elites and specifically the Imperial house were really hung up on getting Faerghus and Leicester back all those years. They genuinely thought that one day, they'd return the Empire to its full glorious state where they actually did get something out of using the Crest-based inheritance laws.

I like this headcanon because it adds a layer of dramatic irony to how things went down: the emperor who actually does put her predecessors' irredentism into motion is also the one who does away with the inheritance laws they clung to, and the predecessors' visions of conquest Edelgard took inspiration from is also what fueled the system she hates.

Similarly, I think the overwhelming victory and legitimacy Saint Seiros brought the Empire is also what ironically fueled them to declare war against the Church a thousand years later. Gracefully accepting their own decline was never an option— the Church had already given the Empire the sweet sweet taste of sole legitimate rule over all of Fódlan, and that just made the Empire decide they were either gonna get that back, or die trying.

[randomnameless]

The fun thing about the Crest system argument is that before Hopes, myself and others were pointing out how Edelgard's claims make no sense when held up to the various nobles we have in game. The Alliance was a big sticking point in this regard, it was only in the Kingdom where it seemed to exist but it was also tied to defending their lands. Then Hopes came out where Sylvain explained that yes, there is a Crest system… that the nobles ignore and do their own thing. Fodlan itself basically says no one follows the Crest system, so is it really that important that Edelgard removes it while consolidating power on herself?

Where in Nopes does Sylvain mention the Crust system?

Crust system is basically the Fodlan equivalent of inheritence laws, and not that different from a male/female/klingon primogeniture rule, legitimacy rule, or picking the most able "person" to inherit...

Especially since the "most able" notion is as variable as the contents of a teaspoon and Fodlan refuses to elaborate what kind of magical superpower each crest gives.

The Nabateans using hair dye in the War of Heroes make more sense than the crust "system"!

I remember Houses thought trying to push the "wah wah inheritence based on crusts bad" with Sylvain (or was it Dimitri?) saying that the crested heir inherits, and the others are disinherited or something? I haven't checked the jp version and if it is worded differently, but, come on.

We see Rufus and Gilbert, sure they don't inherit the ancestral seat/throne of the house (Gilbert's bro is the baron, and Rufus is salty bcs Lambert got the throne), and yet they're not left in the boonies, are we really supposed to believe that both Rufus and Gilbert didn't get a penny, a house, titles (Gilbert became a knight) or anything for inheritance? Disinherited Rufus would never have became a grand duke (unless Dimitri's grandma was from Itha so Rufus took the inheritance from his mom?) or have lived a relatively more privileged life than Ashe and be free to "seduce around".

Jury's out about whether Glenn had a crust or not, and yet, Glenn got a fiancée and is always highly spoken of by his dad - not something you'd do for a kid you disinherit!

So, what were Sylvain (or Dimitri?) talking about in Houses?

Or were they full of shit to pretend there is a "system" that exists but isn't applied anywhere in the land, so it's totes important to get rid of it and make "ReFoRmS" and in the end, Supreme Leader wasn't totally in the wrong and had some good ideas, but please don't ask more about those ideas or what the "most competent" means to her, especially since Bernie in her solo ending in CF (just like in the other routes) can rule her territory ?

We don't see Hector crying a river because Uther is the Lord and not him, or Eirika doing the same (even if it would have been better for Magvel lol) just like Tana, hell, Elincia's dad didn't want to create an inheritence feud between his daughter and Renning so he hid her, and when Renning returns in FE10, he's not throwing a fit because he should have become King instead of his niece, and what not.

Hell, Desmond wanting to make Guinivere Queen wasn't a move to empower her or to shit on Zeph, but ultimately, a move he pulled off because of his own insecurities at being a worthless King compared to his son.

In Fodlan? Tana - after Innes' death at the hands of her accomplices - starts a war to conquer Magvel to get rid of male primogeniture.

And to make this less stupid than it sounds, the devs insist that Magvel's primogeniture laws are very bad and ruin a ton of lives in the continent which would justify killing Ross and Garcia because they're sacrifices to be made for the greater good.

Yeah :/

I'm not playing this version of FE8.

[diaphin93]

I've seen people criticize Edelgards political reforms many times, though I would be curious if they actually believe that a caste system in which positions of rulership and political power are purely distributed based on noble inheritance and crest is more desirable than any form of merit based system of administration.

I personally can't stop but feel that this argument comes mostly from people who are uncomfortable with losing whatever class privilege t hey inherited from the family.

[fantasyinvader]

Scarlet Blaze gives us insight into how Edelgard’s reforms, her attempts to abolish the nobility, end up failing. It’s made out that while Edelgard says she wants a world of merit, the reality is that she needs the nobility to support her. As such, while she allows them to maintain their positions if they swear fealty to her, though Constance’s ending implies it’s only meant to be for the current generation, the Byleth/Lorenz ending in Flower states that their son inherits Lorenz’s position so it’s clear that the one generation thing doesn’t end up happening.

In Blaze, we get an explanation as to why that will happen. Edelgard still needs the nobility to help her govern Fodlan, and those nobility aren’t going to take kindly to commoners being given positions of power. If Edelgard were to appoint commoners and they were to fail, it would only serve to make her look bad and undermine her own merit as a ruler. This results n nobles being those positions with a lot less scrutiny. This is laid out in the Shez/Hubert support. Meanwhile, Caspar’s endings in Flower, prior to being toned down by the translation, say that the imperial army is often out of control under his leadership as they invade other countries, but it’s treated as a joke.

And as for Ferdinand pushing for public education in his supports with Edelgard, believing the nobility are superior to the commoners because they grey up in an environment where they were forced to excel or be kicked out of their families, it’s countered by Dimitri’s support with Yuri. On paper, it sounds nice but the reality is that if people have trouble feeding themselves or keeping a roof over their heads, they’re not going to focus on education. With Edelgard’s belief that people need to rise and fall on their own merits, relying on others making people weak, she’s not going to be handing out food and shelter to make sure people can participate in her system equally.

Edelgard’s system, in the end, supports the nobility. It given the fact her name means “protector of the nobility,” and in Hopes we get Kingdom nobles flocking to her in opposition to Dimitri putting commoners into positions of power through his reforms. And the thing is, this is implied to have happened before. The imperial nobility, according to Hanneman, was founded not based on Crests but on leaders having knowledge and protecting those under their care. What ended up happening was that they used their power to ensure that their family would be looked after while those deemed commoners were kept down.

Edelgard is simply repeating the past. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, which would support Edelgard’s version of history being Agarthan propaganda fed to her by her puppet father. As a result, she also fails to break the cycle, symbolized by Byleth losing their Nirvana class.

This also takes on another level when one remembers that Houses is inspired by Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The Kingdom of Wei is founded on the belief of meritocracy, that people should be appointed based on merit rather than lineage. Cao Cao rises to power because of his skill, ambition and lack of morals. Ambitious men are drawn to him because he promotes men of merit. Then he dies, his son Cao Pi inherits his title of Prince, but also realizes the situation he is now placed in. As a result, he forces the emperor to abdicate, but scholars believe he did so from a position of weakness. If he didn’t, people would come after him and the north would be thrown into chaos. Likewise, he does away with his father’s system of merit and implements a nine-rank system where officials were ranked by government controllers, denoting what positions they could be nominated for. This favored a scholarly elite class, and an official by the name of Liu Yi once noted that there were no people of humble origins within the higher ranks while there was no one from a major clans within the lower ranks. The fact is Wei descended into a lot of backstabbing, and the Sima family ended up taking over while making the later emperors into their puppets.

The fact is, this also puts a lot of pressure on Edelgard as well. As mentioned above, if she puts a commoner into a position of authority and they fail, it makes her look bad. It would call her authority, her own merit, into question. And if people lose faith in her merit, they’re going to want to replace her. We know that Hubert ends up spying on the civilians and putting down rebellions from the shadows, alongside Constance’s ending with Byleth where it’s mentioned that magic techniques taken from the Agarthans are used to maintain Edelgard’s rule, and as pointed out above they get the short end of the stick of her reforms according to Hopes. The commoners don’t believe in Edelgard’s merit, even when she replaces the Church with her own, so they try to oust her. Edelgard \needing to use her power to keep the commoners in check would constitute hadou, what the devs said her route leads to despite her saying she’ll no longer walk that path in her S support, but also give her reason to keep the nobility on her side. This leads to her backing down, allowing their kids to inherit their positions rather than give it to commoners who have suffered under her reforms to undo her work. She might not give her own kids a position, but her system is already fucked. All it takes is a weak emperor and the nobility will begin to further increase their power, if not for a powerful family to usurp power and establish themselves as the new royal family.

Unless Edelgard, with her trust issues, finds she can’t give someone else control of the empire and begins bodyswapping Agarthan style to secretly stay in power. Another way the cycle failed to be broken, especially if Sothis returns to avenge Rhea.

[deathbirby]

Why do El stans like to pretend like the political system of Fodlan is uniquely cruel and wicked because of crests. Last I checked monarchies and feudalism are things from our reality as well. Pretty much everything they like to point to, like bloodline inheritance rule and marrying off (mostly women) against their will due to their pedigree are things the ruling class have done throughout history even without crests. Even the messed up order of succession based on crests isn’t that unusual, there’s so many stories throughout the ages of power struggles in the family line that ends up with a lot of dead lords or monarchs. Crests did not cause Fodlan to become a feudalist society, they were just something that became an unwitting tool. A tool that, need remind, humans actually brought on themselves (if we’re going to play the blame game) by stealing them from Nabateans. The only real thing crests do any differently is let you use a bone weapon real good and not having one can get you turned into a monster if you use said bone weapons too much/are experimented on. The whole being gifts from the goddess thing is super par for the course all things considered when it comes to bullshit justifications for why one inbred family line should lead for eternity.

Edelstans must've skipped history class or something. Like you said, the nobility and such ALREADY EXISTS in our world. Eradicating all Crests (the stolen blood of a genocided species) won't suddenly poof away all noble houses. That's not how it works.

[yanderefairyangel]

In Fodlan, are the crest and nobility power structures one and the same? It doesn’t really seem like one could exist without the other but you have characters like Hapi who just aren’t nobility despite having a crest. So it seems that crests make you a noble sometimes but it’s still bad news if you’re from a noble family and are crestless.

Fodlan lore is quite perplexing,

Well here is what I remember, but from my memories those are actually separated structure ?

The 10 Elites all had descendant from which come the nobility however because Fodlan is Fodlan we learn that not all nobles have a crest because Crest can skip a generation.

For example, in the Gautier house, Matthias posseses a Crest however Miklan doesn't, it's Sylvain who has the Crest. Same thing, Ingrid have a Crest but her brothers doesn't.

Normally being crestless often result in the child in question to not become the heir, that was the case for Miklan. However, we do learn of nobles that don't have a Crest without knowing more about their mansion, for example Hanneman's brother in law who married Hanneman's crestless's sister and still hoped that they could have a Crest baby since Crest can skip generations.

Likewise, House Bartel's leader, Baron Bartel did not have a Crest and had to marry Mercie's mother to be able to have Crest babies to pass on the Crest of Lamine

We also learn of nobles so desperate to have a child with a Crest because they don't have one to pass down to their heir that they had marriage with lower nobles or adopted Crested commoners.

So logically this would mean that nobility is independent from Crest. I say logically because the Lady in Red would disagree with me but again, there is 3 story instances that contradict her : Hubert, Miklan and Caspar.

Hubert is still a noble despite not having a Crest. Now granted, he killed his father and then inherited the title because of what his father did to Eddie but point still stand. In Miklan's case, the problem is that we are told that as the first heir, normally he should have inherited the title but he didn't because Sylvain have a Crest which means that should Sylvain not have a Crest, Miklan would have in normal times inherited according to the rule of first born. Likewise, in her support with Caspar Eddie gives him a speech about why people should be judge for their capacity... thing is Caspar is the second son of his household so the reason why he didn't became heir isn't because of Crest but because he is the second son since in a normal noble system he would not inherit anyway and Miklan's plotline implies that the noble system is in reality separated from the Crest system so this means that Caspar's only way to inherit would have been to have a Crest since as the second son he wouldn't.

Now this gets even more convoluted because even if none of them have Crest they can still give birth to a Crested heir... meaning that this system makes hardly any sense since even if a child is Crestless they can still give birth to someone who has a crest. In fact, my memory serves me right but each time we bring the parents of the student, only 1 parents is said to have a Crest, the other parent who is also usually a noble is not said to have one, in fact I think the only case of 2 crested parent's is... Byleth.... yeah.

Now that is from what I recall, I do think that 3H was trying to establish that the nobility is based on the Crest system but that was rather sloppylily done

[nursingwriter]

¶ … Teeth Enamel and Teeth, Generally The hardest part of the human body is the tooth. Teeth help to chew and break down food particles into smaller units for easier digestion down the system. Teeth also help humans to articulate language ((Hoffman)). The enamel is the hardest part of a tooth. Calcium phosphate is its primary composition compound. Enamel Formation and its Strength, Durability The tooth crown constitutes a cellular material known as enamel. The enamel happens to be the hardest body tissue. The thickness of the material on the tooth depends on the part of the tooth and its shape. The thickest enamel is usually found at the cusp crest and incisal edges. The sloping part, the fissures, the cervix of the tooth, and the various pits of cuspid teeth have the thinner layers. The enamel on an adult human's teeth is high in energy and is home to significant intermolecular forces. It has been referred to by experts as a composite bioceramic. Enamel is rigid and brittle in nature. It has a low tensile strength and a high elasticity modulus. The enamel of the tooth does not regenerate. It is cellular. The enamel prism is the largest structural unit of the enamel. It is compact; densely attached and intertwined in a wavy pattern. It extends from the dento-enamel convergence point to a few micrometers before the surface of the tooth (Terry, et.al, 2008). The primary structure of the prisms looks like a key-hole. It measures approximately 0.5 µm. The rods look like rounded heads that form a continuous pattern of interlocked prisms. The prism of the enamel is thin at its base but enlarges as it extends to the surface. It has a diameter of 4.0 µm on average. The prisms are arranged in a parallel fashion to each other. They extend outwards starting from the DEJ in a radial fashion. They are averagely perpendicular to the surface of the crown on the outside. The orientation of the rod in the enamel cusp area is perpendicularly positioned to the DEJ. In the cervical region, there is an apical inclination while in the third part of the occlusal, the prisms make an acute angle relative to the surface while they approach the tip of the crown as it is approached. It exhibits a tendency that is directly antagonistic to the masticulation forces (Terry, et.al, 2008). This knowledge is indispensable in the process of preparing cavity. It will help a dentist avoid injuring the enamel rod. These can easily fracture along the planes of cleavage that run parallel to prisms of enamel. Why the Enamel Breaks Down The following can cause the enamel to erode (Tooth Enamel: Erosion and Restoration): • Consumption of soft drinks without control • Love for fruit drinks. Some fruit drinks contain extremely erosive acid • Little salivary flow or dry mouth syndrome, also called xerosomia • Diet full of sugar and starch • GERD: the acid reflux disease • Problems of gastrointestinal nature • Such medications as aspirins and antihistamines • Inherited problems • Environmental triggers including friction, stress, tear and wear The sticky substance that forms between one's teeth is made up of food substances, bacteria and saliva. It infiltrates the inner corners and fissures of the tooth; especially the molars. It finds its way round the tooth cavity fillings and builds around the lining of the gum. Some of the bacteria change the food particles in the teeth spaces into acid (Tooth Enamel: Erosion and Restoration). These acids are responsible for the teeth erosion that occurs. It effectively wears out the enamel. Preserve/Care/Maintain Enamel It is known that the enamel does not regenerate. However, dentists offer help to replace worn out minerals of teeth. Two ways exist and are applied to treat teeth that are eroded (The Truth about Tooth Erosion: How to repair tooth enamel?): • Milder cases of enamel erosion can be treated through bonding. Tinted resin meant to match the color shade of your tooth is put on the damaged tooth and then trimmed so as to fit correctly into your mouth. • In more acute cases of enamel erosion, a crown is applied. The procedure entails capping a new crown that will guard the areas already damaged. Indeed, a crown, often, restores function to the tooth that is damaged. It is a useful protection against decay too. It is clear that fruit juices and soda are harmful to teeth. If these drinks can be replaced by a margin of one or two every day, with water, there is a chance that your teeth will be greatly helped; health wise. Swirling liquid such as soda or fruit juice around your mouth, you expose more of your teeth to erosion caused by the ingredients of liquid being swirled. It is advisable to avoid swishing drinks in the mouth (The Truth about Tooth Erosion: How to repair tooth enamel?). The acid in the stomach easily and quickly corrodes teeth. When you experience a digestive disorder, or an eating disorder, the acid in the stomach simmers into the esophagus channel and finds way into your mouth. It erodes your teeth in the process. If you experience a medical condition that negatively affects your dental health, be sure to seek medical attention. Your entire body needs healing. Fluoride has been found to boost the strength of the tooth enamel. Consequently, you are better protected against the erosive acid effects. It is better to go into offensive if you want the best shot at protecting your teeth. You should act proactively when handling the health of your teeth. Regular dental checkups and cleaning every six months will help you achieve the best possible results for your dental health. References (2015). Dentist in Glendale AZ | Phoenix Arizona Family Dentists. The Truth about Tooth Erosion: How to repair tooth enamel? Retrieved February 19, 2017, from http://www.arizonafamilydental.com/blog/weak-enamel-truth-about-tooth-erosion/ Hoffman. (n.d.). WebMD - Better information. Better health. The Teeth (Human Anatomy): Diagram, Names, Number, and Conditions. Retrieved February 19, 2017, from http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/picture-of-the-teeth#1 Terry, Trajtenberg, Blatz, & Leinfelder. (2008). DentalAEGIS. A Review of Dental Tissue Microstructure, Biomodification, and Adhesion | special-issues | dentalaegis.com. Retrieved February 19, 2017, from http://www.dentalaegis.com/special-issues/2008/02/review-of-dental-tissue-microstructure-biomodification-and-adhesion (n.d.). WebMD - Better information. Better health. Tooth Enamel: Erosion and Restoration. Retrieved February 19, 2017, from http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tooth-enamel-erosion-restoration#2 Read the full article

[waffliesinyoface]

the thing about fire emblem three houses is that while i DO think edelgard is in the right, i love love love the possible angst that stems from recruiting other students, ESPECIALLY from the blue lions. even more especially if its any member of the delicious childhood friends trio that is ingrid/felix/sylvain.

if you pick any ONE of those and not the others its great. its such a juicy betrayal, and all three of them have reasons for turning their back on the kingdom.

ingrid will never be seen for her worth as a knight, she'll only ever be seen as a way for her family to return to glory by marrying someone with good prospects. but the empire promises the possibility of a meritocratic society.

sylvain will always worry that people will view him as nothing more than a breeding stud because of his very genetically inheritable crest, and if he did find someone who wasn't going after him for his bloodline alone, he worries that his kids might take after himself and his brother. but edelgard is very vocal about stripping the nobility of their powers and making crests a nonentity in terms of politics.

felix hates how his country places honor over anything else, how his brother died because of it, and how everyone around him won't even admit to being sad about it because he "died like a true knight", and he's disgusted with the system as a whole. And Edelgard wants to completely burn down the system and replace it with something new.

but if any ONE of them leaves, then the other two would view that as a betrayal, and firmly entrench themselves into the kingdom's ways despite the own problems with it... until they meet each other on the battlefield.

Ingrid, what kind of knight abandons her duty?

Sylvain, you had everything your brother wanted, and you threw it away?

Felix, is this how you honor Glen's death?

Ah, the angst, it soothes me.

My favorite one of the three is Felix, specifically because if you recruit him you can get special dialogue for making him kill his father. And because his reason for defection is more based in rebellion than his friends, you could argue it's smarter to do so. Because if he joined Edelgard while not thinking clearly, and later Edelgard or one of her soldiers killed Rodrigue, that might spark some lingering resentment down the line.... but if Felix does the deed himself, any potential loathing will be directed inward.

[brendanelliswilliams]

A Word of Hope—or, Investment—from the Wild Verge

Last night I found myself in a forest dreamscape, urgently attempting to preserve old stories and spiritual knowledge of the hidden dimensions of the forest that, in the context of the dream, I knew were rapidly passing out of existence because they were being forgotten. Fitting for me (perhaps in an all too obvious way), but it also struck me, upon reflection, that this was a fitting metaphor for a mode of sacred work I feel is crucial for all of us to tend to now, in every part of the world.

Collectively, we are plainly in perilous times: times of groaning change, erosion, and transmutation. It seems we are still very much on the downslide of that process, too, which will have to play itself all the way out before we can begin to crest the opposite hill. Something I have long been at pains to point out to folks is that everything we’re seeing and experiencing now—all the unravelment, dis-ease, and disarray—has a deep, causal ideological root. More precisely, I would attribute this unravelment to a composite system of germinating factors, all of which are interconnected, and all of which are, at base, ideological in nature: they pertain to ideas, worldview elements, religious beliefs, and cultural orientations. (Anyone wishing to read more of my thoughts on the nuance of this composite ideological problem may wish to refer to my book, Seeds from the Wild Verge.)

My only ‘hope’, if you can call it that—perhaps ‘investment’ is a better word—has long been what I would summarize with the following phrase in my ancestral language: Leinn an latha a-rithist: ‘The day will be ours again.’ While this phrase has very specific political and cultural implications for Gaelic peoples, in the context of this larger, world-scale problem, what it means for me is that our ancient ancestral wisdom and ways will eventually be returned to the surface of the Earth, at least to some meaningful degree, and, in the (always provisional) final estimation, the spirit of the old ways and the knowledge of the animacy and interrelationality of all things—the ways of spiritual reciprocity and the knowledge of how to live harmoniously with the whole of Life, in conscious awareness of our indelible imbeddedness within it—will be restored to at least many of us in the Western world, along with awareness of the true value of our diverse, ancient ancestral (i.e., indigenous) inheritances. Only in this way can the dominator ideologies, the toxic religious and socio-cultural structures that have largely destroyed our humanity and unnecessarily destroyed a huge amount of innocent life on this planet, finally be resigned to the shale where they belong—after a very long night, which has thus far been roughly two thousand years in the present world age of progressive alienation and corrosion.

I have no idea when (or even if) this process of ancestral reclamation will come to fullness of fruition, but intuitively I feel that it eventually will, because one thing I’ve consistently observed over the years is that all things that are truly worthwhile and truly needful come back around again—they have their day again. What I do know for certain is that we can each be active participants in bringing this life-restoring process about. And we should do so now if we feel even the faintest trembling of a call to participate in that sacred work of reclamation.

Now is the time to commit to restorative practices—both interior practices and exteriorly focused ones. Now is the time to wake up to reality. Now is the time to re-connect and reclaim. In a very real sense, there is no other time for this most needful work apart from now, and no other place except here, wherever we presently find ourselves.

And this I know for certain as well: the Earth herself is alive, and beneath the visible surface of the sacred Land, which is her living body, powers are in motion: powers that will the highest good of every being, and are concerned with the restoration of conscious interbeing, harmony, and compassionate relationality—which is to say, love. I feel them viscerally, I dialogue with them, I conspire with them, I do whatever I can in my small capacity to further their sacred aims for the blessing of all Life. That Otherworldly movement cannot be stopped by any human agenda, particularly a distorted and corrupting one that is not aligned with the authentic values of Nature, regardless of how much gravity such agendas might seem to hold in a given season; because all egoistic human endeavors are ultimately chaff in the wind. Empires rise and fall; false prophets come and go; religions are born and die away. But the Great Mother, the Anima Mundi, lives on, and the journey toward Wisdom and Beauty persists, not only in this world, but across an infinite array of worlds. So let us throw in now with the wholing, a chàirdean.

A’ Mhàthair abù. To the Mother victory. Mar a bha, mar a tha, mar a bhitheas gu bràth. As it was, as it is, as it will be forever. With abundant blessings to all of you from the realm of wild spirits and the secret places beneath the living Earth,

An t-Athair Brèanainn

[daeinite]

faerghus is so interesting. it shows the worst of feudalism and the church in fodlan, the whole place is a mess. and yet i really can't see a single one of blue lions ever joining edelgard or opposing monarchy. they're all more likely to dig their feet in.

imo in azure moon their reforms (at best) will stagnate at 'constitutional feudal monarchy', and crest-based inheritance will return to prominence 4-5 generations down the road. with the aristocracy continuing to exist there's no real safeguards against backsliding.

and i think that's really interesting! it's why azure moon is my second favorite ending

each character represents something broken about systems in faerghus and the church, from a victim of genocide committed by the kingdom, to a man whose personality is defined by his relationship with having a crest, to a man whose adoptive father was executed by the church... and in the end they retain that broken system and install an immortal god-queen archbishop that'll assure the church exists for another thousand years.

it's a pretty brilliant deconstruction of the classic fire emblem protagonist kingdom.

*Me at like 3 people in the fe3h fandom* where my Faerghus heads at who hate Faerghus!!

[slotumn]

In 3H, the titles of the Fódlani nobles seem to be fairly neatly divided into duke, count/margrave/marquis, viscount, and baron, in that order. This seems to be the official classification system for Central Church's records, which I assume all three nations agree to use/reference when they're dealing with one another for the sake of convenience.

However, considering how titles actually worked in irl Europe (aka not necessarily super neat or universal), my headcanon is that the internal titles within each Fódlani nation also don't always neatly line up with ones used in other nations like the Central Church's records imply.

So, my personal hc on titles and their usage within each nations:

Adrestia

Imperatore

Duca

Marchese

Conte

Visconte

Barone

Principe/patrizio/consul

Based on Italian titles with a dash of Roman Empire ones. Adrestia is the one country where the titles do line up one to one with the Church's classification, for obvious reasons.

Principe translates to "prince" in English, but they don't use it as in "child of emperor," they use it as a generic term for "ruler," aka the titled heads of noble houses.

Patrizio (patrician) originally referred to clans during War of Heroes that the Five Saints gave their Crests to and led the war efforts, but it became a general term for (members of) noble houses/families over time.

Consul refers to the ministers of various departments in Adrestian government, and because the minister titles are inherited down noble families, it basically refers to the heads of six great noble families of Adrestia as of canon era: Aegir, Vestra, Hevring, Bergliez, Varley, and Gerth.

Faerghus

Rí/Ard Rí

Taoiseach

Tiarna

Tánaiste

Flaith

Based on Irish titles. Faerghan titles are essentially tribal titles from Nemesis era that they approximately matched with the Adrestian/Church system of noble ranks post-War of Heroes. Because of the Elite ancestry + Relic usage, there's also distinctions between those who have Crests and those who don't.

Rí/Ard Rí is king/high king, and is the title of the Blaiddyds. Its original gist is "leader of all the clans combined/chief of all the clan chiefs," and this title or its equivalent was also the one Nemesis used.

Taoiseach refers to the titled heads of Crested, Relic-holding noble houses descended from the Elites, with the original gist being "clan chief." This title or its equivalent was also what the Elites used. Heads of House Blaiddyd used to be considered taoiseach under Adrestian rule, until the title of rí was revived and granted to them by other taoiseachs during Eagle and Lion.

Tiarna refers to the titled heads of non-Crested noble houses. Within Faerghus the general vibe is that that tiarna is below taoiseach in importance/rank, even though that's not necessarily what the official Central Church records say.

Tánaiste generally refers to the designated Crested heirs of the lords, with the original connotation being second in command to the chief, which was usually a given Elite's favorite child back in the Nemesis/Elites era. Ex: the Faerghus Four are all tánaiste to their respective houses. However in the context of the entire kingdom it can also refer to dukes of Fraldarius, since they're generally taken to be second-in-command after the king. The Faerghan inheritance laws are also called tanistry.

Flaith originally referred to all general members of Elite clans, but is now more or less the general term for nobles, a bit like patrizio in Adrestia. Depending on the context it may also refer to the designated heir of a tiarna— ex: Ashe is flaith of Gaspard.

Leicester

Kral

Veliki knez

Vojvoda/knez

Boyar/župan/gospodar/ban

Based on Slavic/southeastern European titles. Among the three nations the Leicesterian titles are the most all over the place; they don't agree on the exact hierarchies/ranks/criterias among themselves, and which specific word each lord uses for themselves is pretty much based on vibes. Yes the Central Church's designation exists, no they don't pay too much attention to it. There's also some correlation between certain titles and Crests/Relics, but it's not as clear cut as the Faerghan titles.

Kral is the title Claude uses when he turns the Alliance into Federation in GW and crowns himself king. The gist is that it's supposed to be the equivalent of Rí/Ard Rí, aka the equivalent of what Nemesis was to the Elites. Whether this is actually respected as such among the Leicester nobles and other nations (particularly Faerghus) is a different story.

Veliki knez is what they used to call the archduke of Leicester (Kite) under Kingdom rule, and is now the title for leader of the Roundtable. The head of Riegan has continuously held it up until the canon era, but it's not fixed to a specific lineage in the same way Adrestian imperatore and Faerghan ard rí is.

Vojvoda/knez are generally thought to refer to similar things, aka the more prestigious noble houses among Leicester, whether that's because they have a seat at the Roundtable, are the direct direct descendants of Elites, gained a Crest through some other means, or some combination of above. The specific connotations are slightly different, however.

Vojvoda originally referred to warlords, and this title or its equivalent is what the Elites used (much like Faerghan taoiseach); heads of noble houses that are descended from Elites + emphasize the military and martial prowess tend to use this, like Goneril or Daphnel. But because it has the general connotation of "fought our way to the top," it may also be used by any heads of houses that gained prestige through wars/battle, whether that's during Leicester Rebellion, Crescent Moon War, or the Almyran invasions. Ex: I speculate that Ordelia gained their prestige during Crescent Moon War, hence they'd probably use this, if not exclusively then interchangeably with knez. Nilsson would probably use this too (despite not being an Elite house/having Crests or a seat at the Roundtable) being that they're the designated defenders of the Eastern Church.

Knez is more along the lines of the Adrestian principe + consul, emphasizing the administrative aspect of rulership, and is typically used by members of the Roundtable (perhaps alongside vojvoda depending on the house). Technically it can refer to any lord of a territory in the same way Adrestian principe does, but if, say, the head of Albany/Burgundy/Siward/Acheron/etc called themselves knez, it would not be taken seriously by other nobles in the same way Riegan or Gloucester calling themselves such would be.

Minor nobility of Leicester may use any among boyar/župan/gospodar/ban depending on vibes, aka local traditions and history. These words may also refer to nobility in general in certain dialects, including the more prestigious nobility. Also historically/depending on the region, there wasn't always a dividing line between vojvoda or knez being more prestigious than boyar/župan/gospodar/ban. Again, the titles are all over the place in Leicester and you just have to roll with it.

Aside from this, there are places along the border where Almyran leadership titles are also used by locals to refer to the nobles alongside or interchangeably with the above ones. Ex: Holst is called (nicknamed?) Holst Pasha by border town residents.

Tl;dr the Central Church recordkeeper organizing and keeping track of the Leicesterian noble titles is braver than the marines

[mayhem-ensues]

People will really just make stuff up about these games I swear Part 2

Here I go doing Fire Emblem discourse again. Keeping it under the tags for people who are still working their way through Three Hopes and don't want to be spoiled.

I saw this particular line of dialogue from Sylvain floating around twitter and tumblr with people carrying on doing the "see, all the other nations were working toward the same thing as Edelgard but peacefully" routine.

Except if you actually look at the line of dialogue in context, then uh, the conversation has the exact opposite message than what that line alone would have people think.

Sylvain raises the idea of moving to a system that isn't based on inheritance, but decides that "seeing how this thing plays out" is the better option. He is very much not advocating the same ideas that Edelgard does but in a peaceful way, he's advocating in favour of the exact opposite of that.

I don't know, I feel like a lot of people want Faerghus to be something it isn't. Dimitri lays it out at the start of the route that he admires Edelgard's policies but one of the big reasons that he can't apply them so quickly in Faerghus is because the people there are resistant to change. Like, it's right there at the start of the route, but people still want to argue that Faerghus is well on their way to resolving their crest problem when they very much are not.

[raxistaicho]

This isn't an ask so much as a vent— I wish people would engage with Edelgard's merit reforms in good faith and by actually considering the society of Fodlan as it is in the games.

Edelgard's comments are all around setting up a merit-based system for responsibilities. She is not proposing a capitalist meritocracy where those who aren't "useful" are discarded. A merit-based responsibility system is fully compatible with a welfare structure where people with disabilities are supported, where they are accommodated so that they can excel at what they enjoy doing (see: Linhardt).

Pre-reform Fodlan is a feudal/hereditary society, and you have effectively a 0% chance of becoming a lord or government official unless you're a merchant with preexisting wealth/cutthroat or unethical practices that allow you to somehow marry into peerage. Any support provided to commoners are totally dependent on the whims of the lord of the territory where they live, and it's a total gamble whether that person is charitable or even competent or not. And even if that lord is inclined to aid those in their area, there's no guarantee the next person to rule the place (due to inheritance, marriage, or conquest) will be. Because crests are oftentimes the main or only deciding factor on who inherits, it's pretty much a gamble what you'll get a few decades down the line. A ruler who simply tries to teach or encourage their lords/officials to do the right thing will not address a) incompetent people who've inherited a role, or b) malicious or greedy people who are like "yeah, sure, I get you want to look after the weak but I'd prefer to just fill my coffers, thanks."

This is not a space where people with disabilities or other marginalized individuals are supported. At best, I suppose you could hope the church would take you in, but heaven help you if they see you as unworthy, inconvenient, or dangerous (see: Hapi).

Edelgard's reforms would help get the most capable people carrying out roles and duties that impact large groups of people. Optimistically, this creates a system where "From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs." And even if that can't be fully accomplished immediately, at worst it at least sets up these improvements as possible, rather than keeping Fodlan at the static mess it was before. Anyway, I kinda wanted to ramble to someone who would listen, so thanks for letting me do so!

Outright socialism is far beyond Edelgard's reach, lol, but her new system is a definite improvement from the feudalism Fodlan's currently under.

It's far from perfect, but it's finally getting the continent moving in the right direction.

[butwhatifidothis]

So is it just me, or is Crimson Flower the route where, by the end, things change the LEAST? There's still censorship by a major political figure (except presumably done for WAY stupider reasons), there's still an aristocracy (I've been given zero evidence why Edelgard's system wouldn't become an aristocracy with a new coat of paint), and TWSITD is still running around with its leadership fully intact. What actually changes?

I will say that TWS is defeated, it just has to happen after the war because Edelgard let them amass power unlike everyone else who just killed them lol. But there's:

Sole rulership of Fodlan as an explicit and intended result of imperialism, not because everyone was like "ah fuck Fodlan got shit on, which nation's the best one to lead it now? let's go with that one"

Secret police that spies on the public (Hubert/Dorothea ending) and puts down rebellions in secret (Hubert/Shamir ending)

Political marriages imposed as part of a negotiation to free a separate country that'd been forced in vassalage (Petra/Hubert ending)

No church, unless it is directly supervised by Edelgard (Hanneman/Manuela ending). This means no Knights of Seiros (evidenced by Alois' CF endings), who were the main force helping the people of Fodlan during pre-timeskip chapters

Crests can become more irrelevant, thanks to Hanneman... which is something that 1) happens regardless of route, even if Rhea is alive on SS, and 2) was something Hanneman was working on before the war so likely would have happened anyway without it.

A government that focuses on "independence" (in a self-reliance sense, as more explicitly the case in the JPN version) is established. No details of this government is explained in Edelgard's solo ending, unlike Dimitri and Claude

There's probably waaay more, but that's what readily comes to mind. But yeah, there's still an unfair inheritance system in place (shown by some of Sylvain and Lorenz's endings that don't change on CF) which is no better than a Crest based one, and there's no mention of aristocracy dissolving as an eventual result of Edelgard's reforms (unlike, to use an example, Claude's solo ending that mentions that Almyra and Fodlan's beef was entirely forgotten "over time"). Which were like, two major things that she said she wanted to fix lol, so yeah