[DreamSword]

Episode #21: Emotion

There are two halves to this episode, both of equal importance.

One half is resolving the abduction plot that should've been the main focus of the previous episode, while the other half is a personal story involving Psy.

When it comes to the abduction plot, and hence the bigger overarching plot of the current arc, it turns out that remnants of the Skrugg have been kidnapping people and animals in order to create robot copies. And they are very dangerous.

And in the search for those kidnapped, we get a small glimpse into Joey's' past, as the mine that the Skrugg were hiding out in is one that Joey himself is familiar with, with Holly even noting that the mine is "cursed" during the final moments of the episode. This will get further explored in the future.

Don't get me wrong, that's all big stuff, but the emotional core of the episode lies with Psy, wherein we get a closer look into his past and, more specifically, the incident that robbed him of his ability to ever run normally again. Previously it was framed as Will being the culprit, and while still technically true, we get get the full context here.

In short, an argument followed by a botched play on a part of both Psy and Will led to Psy's' knee getting completely shattered. Tragic to be sure, but a surprising takeaway from the story is how Psy is able to reflect back on it, and rather than use it as fuel to hate Will, sees it as proof as to the type of person Will is: Yes, Will is rough around the edges, but the fact that Will never forgave himself for what happened proved that he'd never go out of his way to seriously harm others.

While it does stand a bit in opposition to how Will treated Joey in the early episodes, and even with how he attacked the group at the start of the arc(Joey even brings this up), I think the whole point of the discussion is moreso to show how people are complex in what they do and how they think, and it's up to you in what qualities you choose to keep at the forefront of your mind. The scars of what happened to Psy will never fully go away, but he chooses to make the most out of it that he can, and is mature enough to not see Will as the sole villain.

Plus, man. That sequence of Psy trying to score just one more touchdown? That hit right in the feels, I must admit.

Today's' song serves as the last "normal" battle theme in Heroman(if memory serves). "The Dawn: Heroes and Villains" certainly has a grandiose name, and an equally epic score to match. It certainly serves to highlight how big of a deal the prospect of the Skrugg returning really is, ontop of being a banger.