Warning: Spoilers for Pokemon Horizons Episode 63
Pokemon Horizons Just handed Lico a devastating loss against Gym Leader Grusha for her Terasal Implementation Exam, and unlike Roy, it looks like she won’t be getting a second chance, or at least not anytime soon. However, the loss could be a valuable learning experience for Lyco, and it only makes her more like Ash, who was no stranger to failure.
The terrestrial implementation tests performed by Liko, Roy and Dot are not the same as winning gym badges; Technically speaking, Lika didn’t have to defeat Grusha, she just had to prove that she understood how to use the Terastalization well in battle, and claim that she achieved that goal. Grushe is, however, a result-oriented person, and he compared a loss to a failure of the exam. While Roy is given a shot at redemption after his loss to Rime, Liko will receive no such mercy from divorce. However, despite Grusha’s cold-hearted attitude, this could actually be a valuable lesson for Liko, especially given her particular circumstances.
Lyco’s failures are the real reason she deserves to be Ash’s successor
Anyone familiar with the original anime featuring Ash will know that Ash is quite a lot different, especially early on. Even as late as XYAsh still suffered critical losses, which shook his confidence and made him reconsider his goals. Ash did not win in his first matches with Brock, Lt. Surge, Sabrina and Blaine (where Pikachu almost died), and finally lost the league conference in the original series. Ash would also struggle with other later gym leaders, often needing to retreat and come up with a new strategy before victory came his way. However, Ash rarely allowed the losses to derail him from his goals.
While Liko has lost battles before, they are rarely battles with anything major at stake. This is the first time Lyco has had an actual comeback from a loss, and it’s already clear that this will be difficult for her to deal with.. In some ways, divorce has an important lesson for Liko: that there are some battles where the results are all that matter. A bit cruel, sure, but an important lesson for someone dealing with villains like the Explorers, who would show no mercy to Lyco if she lost to them.
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However, there is an even more important lesson for Liko to learn here, and thus to bounce back from a loss. This waste need not represent the end of Lyco’s journey, any more than Ash’s loss was the end of his. As Ash himself said, “There is nothing you can ever do that is a waste of time.” Liko can learn from this experience and apply what she learned in the future. Grusha was a tough and knowledgeable opponent, the kind of person Liko didn’t have much previous experience with. But how else is she going to get the experience than by losing?
As Lyco’s big failure could be apart of Ash
Lico can take your future in a new direction
Ash was a shallow kid who rarely let his losses get him down, though that’s not to say it never happened at all. Liko, however, is a much more sensitive type of person, and this loss is likely to weigh on her quite heavily, especially since this is the first major loss she has suffered. Just as Ash often relied on his friends to pull him out of a locker, Lika will have to depend on Roy and Dot for support. While Ash’s losses have mostly only affected him, Liko is likely to feel like she’s not only letting herself down, but also her friends and Freda.
Lico’s purpose is about more than just himself; She needs to be strong enough to protect Terrapagos from the Explorers. This set her apart from Ash, whose dreams of being a Pokemon master largely only affected him. Failure for Lico will have much harsher consequences, but this is all the more reason not to let this loss bring you down. Liko has no choice but to stand up again and get back to work, because the forces hunting her and Terapagos will not stop just because she feels down.
Liko has no doubt suffered a major blow to her confidence, and it may take some time to fully heal. But in the meantime, it is necessary for Liko to persevere and push forward, just as Ash would. Whether she gets a second shot at fighting Grusha or not, Liko must move on from this loss and continue her journey. Lico can prove himself as a worthy successor to Ash by simply dusting off and getting ready for the next time.
Where Pokemon Horizons Will Go After Lyco’s Failed Test
Trouble is brewing for Lico and friends
As for the terrestrial course, it is not quite clear what the consequences of Lico’s failure will be. It could be as severe as her Terra Orb revoked, but that seems unlikely; Lico has yet to go through the basic basics, after all. The end of the course was definitely the end of the trio’s journey across Paldia, and it was enough time that the airship was finally repaired. This would mean setting off and hunting the rest of the Pokemon from the ancient adventurer, and returning to the main plot of the series.
Based on the preview for the next episode, Liko will have a new problem to deal with very soon as the Explorers show their faces once again. Although her confidence may be shaken, Liko has no choice but to pull herself together, or else all is lost. With something on the line to protect, Lika can once again find her inner strength, and stand up to the bad guys like Ash used to. Much like Ash and Pikachu, Liko can still depend on her bond with her Pokemon. It’s time for Lika to step up and become the true successor of Ash, and prove it Pokemon Horizons Will not be shut down by a simple loss.