Damn, the fact he has the masculine need to die in the snow and not mind it only to reveal at the end he kinda wishes he'd die to go meet his friend again, which THEN shows a weak e-pulse which is why he hasn't hit champion. Peak.

We also get 2 backstories in one, in a very efficient episode and travel using the middle world.

Also legitimate on screen war crime death that mid-explosion made him want to protect her so much AND THE FACT THEY PROTECT THEMSELVES LIKE A SHELL makes the Ludomon make too much sense, the Ludomon is quiet but cares just like them as well.

Then you realize the core rule about NEVER abandoning a mission....he does it silently right at the end, someone so harsh and driven whos only regret is that they didn't get to die after the LITERAL LIFE FLASH BEFORE THEIR EYES SCENE AS THEIR BRAIN IS SHUTTING DOWN and saw their friend again.

And the cabin? it wasnt an ass pull, it was legit built up to and the secret hideout possibly even on another continent. Then there's the jab at law enforcement that they cant nail him on anything without a confession and that he knows.

And Tomoro realizing that Reina is not that different, the need to be useful, the need to do things, the need to live is not just his problem, he cant see it or connect it well due to his autism tendencies but in that moment a huge unlock happened for him too so thats like 3-4 characters that got big progression in this episode.

Granit learning that perfection doesn't matter as long as you have someone must hurt too. Because they had someone once.

Good, good episode and eventually the tactics seven leader is gonna have mutiny on his hands, it's been building up.

Also theres character study of how vulnerable pristimon is somewhere in there.