Pokémon Horizons has finally returned after its epic finale, kicking off a new series that's set after a one-year timeskip. Fans are reacting strongly to the changes that time has brought, and it shows that the story is headed in a new direction.

Pokémon Horizons ended its first major arc a few weeks ago, with some massive disruptions to the status quo. The one-year timeskip has allowed the dust to settle from some of that, with Liko having returned to school while Roy continues adventuring, taking some information from Dot occasionally. Roy has also picked up a new rival in the form of Ult, a character with a Sableye that can Mega Evolve. Roy's adventures eventually drive him to seek help from Liko once more, as he discovers a secret that has to do with the Laquium they previously discovered in Laqua.

Fans Are Loving Pokémon Horizons' New Series

Fan Reactions Have Been Strong to the New Series

On social media, fans have been voicing their opinions on the post-timeskip landscape of Horizons, with many particularly pleased with the reintroduction of Mega Evolution. @ThePokeRaf on X (Formerly Twitter) shared a clip of Roy and Ult's first battle using Mega Evolution in the series, where they fought together against a berserk Slaking. Some fans were disappointed that when Liko and Roy had their first battle after a year, Liko lost, but @Silaistheb32044 pointed out Roy has had a year of adventuring experience gained on her, so his victory is less surprising in that context.

Fans on Reddit had some complaints, however. Some felt that the battles were too slow-paced, or were just not well executed; in the Liko vs. Roy battle in particular, it was pointed out that Meowscarada had the upper hand for most of the fight, only for Roy to pull it out at the end, making it feel like he didn't really deserve the win. There were a few complaints about the animation quality during the fights as well, but overall most fans seemed to be intrigued by the new storyline, as well as mentions of new places that might be visited (like Blueberry Academy).

Pokémon Horizons Begins a New Era

A Lot Has Changed for the Heroes

One thing that's immediately clear from these first two episodes is that the timeskip has changed everything. Roy is far more mature and collected than he was, with a strong focus on the task at hand. Despite kicking off a new arc, the story has also done a good job carrying forward the story threads from the previous arc, with the Slaking in a Laquium-induced rage, which shocks Roy. Hopefully, Roy can help Liko find her feet again as well, and together the two will be able to get to the bottom of this mystery.

The story of Pokémon Horizons has moved into a new chapter, and at last, fans are getting a taste of just what this new chapter will be like. It should definitely be interesting to see the plot of the series continue to unfold, and hopefully Pokémon Horizons' timeskip proves to be a successful part of the story.