It was interesting to have the Tandemaus line be the focus Pokémon of the week. I think their whole concept is one of the biggest mysteries in the Pokémon universe. For those not familiar with the lore, Tandemaus and their evolution Maushold they a group of are multiple Pokémon that are counted as a single unit. They are classified as gender unknown, and the way their Pokédex entries are written it's not clear if this means that the individual mice’s genders are actually unknown, or if the smaller mice that appear when they “evolve” into Maushold are actually their offspring or not. The anime doesn’t resolve these mysteries either. For all we know, the bigger mice could be of the same gender, and the "kids" could be adopted. They could even be the result of asexual reproduction! Regardless, they were so adorable. I love the twist of the Tandemaus actually being Maushold. Does this mean both made their debut here or is it just Maushold? See? They’re a mystery because I’m thinking about who actually made their debut. Regardless, they are so cute! Look at them! Their beady eyes and gigantic ears make them so adorable. I also didn’t expect them to make hissing noises. The fact that they joined the Brave Olivine as a companion Pokémon makes me wonder if the writers are doing this as sort of the opposite version of Pokémon Journeys where Goh caught Pokémon and kept them in Cerise Park. Though, if more Pokémon joined the airship, would the weight be okay? Not to mention the food situation. They're already doing so many odd jobs because they're lacking funds, so this could spiral a bit if the number of companion Pokémon keeps expanding!
Liko’s desire to understand Pokémon’s feeling was also shown here. She’s the one who wanted to help the mouse find its companions, and she also went into the little hole where its house was once and found them injured. While she got the other big mouse out, finding the smaller mice caused them to be trapped in the cave. Because she helped the mice, they decided to help her back by using Dig. I love the whole “respect” chain that people and animals have, and I’m glad that it applies in the Pokémon universe too. I also really like the relationship Liko and Mollie have with each other. I feel like it’s a relationship where the two respect each other in a way, as Mollie lets Liko do her own thing without coddling her too much, and Liko respects and takes in Mollie’s words and advice. The way Mollie was so worried and hugged Liko when she finds her safe was so sweet.
What do you think Maushold are? Family? Found family? Companions? Let me know! Also, I’m excited for next week’s episode as it’s Dot-focused. I can’t wait to see if she gets her second Pokémon!
