Digimon Tamers is the first reboot in the Digimon franchise, which came with the obvious intention of taking things in an entirely new direction. Some liked it and others were resistant, a rather typical reaction for a project of this nature. However, time has proved favorable towards this series, currently hailed as at least one of the franchise's finest products. Admittedly, I too have experienced an increased appreciation for it. While I would not go so far as to call it the best that Digimon has to offer, there is much about it that is exemplary."Tamers" is not really an adventure story so much as it is a tale of technology on the loose. That it is not driven by its characters leaves it a little short of its predecessor, but it can definitely be seen as the boldest in its own line. In such things as government agencies and true artificial intelligence, a different perspective is evident. The final act is largely responsible for this, representing some of the finest work that has been seen in Digimon, with plenty of apocalyptic scenery and tense moments that befit the building resolution. Such elements as the origins of Calumon and the purposes of the Devas receive welcome exploration here, yielding the most complete exposition on the history of the Digital World. Not to mention, the most interesting subplots, such as those of Impmon and the Monster Makers, finally pay-off. The rest of the series, in contrast, has a discernably rough time finding its footing, since many details are choppy in their presentation, brushed to the side in favor of the drawn out antics of the kids. Even as a person familiar with the details, I found various developments somewhat difficult to follow or, for that matter, care about, which seriously hurts the momentum. Truth be told, "Tamers" feels quite stagnant for the majority of its first half, and even after the group travels to the Digital World with an actual objective, a sense of meandering perseveres. I suppose I was initially somewhat harsh towards the characters, but I had my reasons. One can definitely see the realism that the writers were aiming for; the characters here watch the digimon series, play the card game and are treated like misfits for it…not unlike real fans. But despite this approach the Tamers themselves are strangely distant. They lack the charisma of the original cast and are plagued by unsubstantial minors. Consider Kazu, Kenta, Suzie and Ryo, all of which could have been erased from the series with no real consequence, whether it be for the narrative or for the other key players. One would think the central trio would fare better, but I cannot say I was terribly enthusiastic because, despite their considerable screen time, the development is quite deliberate or murky. With the exception of Rika, there is a scarcity of truly pivotal moments in the history of these guys, making their growth more mechanical than earned. For example, Takato's mostly goes through the routine process of becoming braver by taking part in more fights, not experiencing any crucial ramifications until about 34 episodes into the series. Rika is the most fascinating lead to watch because she is dynamic and proactive, a person of action, a sharp contrast to most of her acquaintances, particularly Jeri.Interestingly, the supporting cast of adults and digimon actually outclasses the main one. The digimon partners themselves benefit from distinct, likable personalities. In fact, a good case can be made that much of the investment made in the tamers actually stems from their connection with their digimon. The same goes for the adult characters, which actually come across as mature, competent individuals, even if the parents' part of the story never receives enough focus to be fully capitalized on; repetition does not equate with progress. Janyu is more intriguing than Henry, and even Jeri's father makes a greater impact than her with only a small fraction of the screen time. The standouts, though, are Impmon and Yamaki. Theirs are stories of mistakes, consequences and resolution, stories with true poignancy and arguably what brings most of the humanity to this series.The principle asset of Tamers lies in its visuals. To date, nothing else in its own line has found the correct synergy between a traditional style and the distinct style of this franchise. The grim atmosphere that pervades many of the episodes is exceedingly appropriate and bolstered well by the shades of color, while the reduction of recycled footage increases the excitement of the monster battles. By and large, this is the most well-animated of the seasons. The writing is more mixed. I don't refer to the dialogue and humor, which have become more refined; I refer to the major themes. Sure, there are many classic sci-fi themes present, such as the nature of A.I. and evolution, but these have been done much better in past works. There aren't any new insights concerning the ramifications of A.I., and any time questions of this affect the kids it feels tacked on and unnecessary. None of this reveals any convincing, unsettling aspects of humanity; even the D-Reaper's claims of humanity are too tethered to Jeri's history to be taken seriously. Does it bolster the mechanics of this world? Yes. Does it work as a set of applicable ideas? Not really. Digimon Tamers, to me, heralded the twilight of the franchise as the last worthy outing before things simply lost direction. It was a bold move giving it this style, and all seasons since have not exhibited the guts to attempt anything comparable. All in all, Digimon Tamers is an entertaining and versatile series that demands a bit of patience, but ultimately delivers and has its place as the second best of the franchise.

This will contain spoilers! So some people writing reviews have got this mixed up! In relation to the the previous Digimon series' Digimon Tamers is set in the real world. With the previous two series taking place as a TV series within Digimon Tamers (YES, a TV series within a TV series) Tamers is set in the real world. This is the single greatest series of ANYTHING I have ever watched. Yes, admittedly it starts off a bit slow, but that is perfect, it doesn't give everything away from the start. The underlying darkness that surfaces as the series progresses, coming to an ultimatum through the character of Jeri Katou in particular, is something many would not have been used to (especially those who have watched Pokémon their entire lives!!!!) but I found it simply amazing. The story line may at first seem like something you've seen before(considering when this was made however, it is truly original) it develops further into such an amazing and glorious series. The characters are developed astonishingly well, I just couldn't help becoming attached. I don't want to give too much away, but, when it came to the ending, I felt so sad. From what I've read this 'depressing ending' received some criticism, BUT, I think it was perfect! Finally this was not just a typical happy ending, there is such a mix of emotions it left me feeling strange for days. I cannot praise the ending enough for being nothing short of amazing and if I could get the chance to personally thank its creators I would do so! WHAT A SERIES, SO SO SO MUCH BETTER THAN ANY SERIES I'VE SEEN EVER! An absolute YUGOTH BLAST!!!! to other series' such as Pokemon, YuGiOh and the rest!

but it never be regarded as the original. The first season was an excellent anime even in spite of it's glaring dub-related flaws. With the 3rd season we definitely got something much darker, more interesting, and overall much more effective by comparison to the first season. This time around the kids aren't referred to as digidestined but rather tamers (there is a considerable difference but the sad truth is both terms are used interchangeably) so there is no absolutes about Takato, Henry, and Rika saving the digital world with their digimon partners. The antagonists this time around are actually much more complex by comparison to the original in that they're not necessarily evil or out to rule world (human or digital) but all them are actually misguided (especially so with the final villain which I dare not spoil). Truth be told this season broke away from a few conventions of the series present in the 1st and 2nd season but more or less for the better. Of all the 5 seasons Digimon I've watched this is best of them (with only season 1 and 4 being very very close). Go check it if you deem yourself a fan of Mon series.

At first glance, "Digimon Tamers" comes off as a barely interesting tale with characters who aren't nearly as easy to sympathize with as those of the original. The saying that first impressions are often wrong has perhaps, never been more right.As it progresses, the show reveals itself as an addicting, exciting, and oh-so darker story than the (excellent) original. There are moments when this series suddenly jumps off the 'kiddie' train and presents drama that can surprise, anger, or otherwise touch viewers. Matters such as depression, self-evaluation, and of course, the bonds between the Digimon and the humans are all done quite well as every character becomes a little more interesting. In addition, this incarnation has the best written romance yet, and I found myself rooting for the two key players involved almost the whole time. The directing and battles are also decent, and some of the humor is actually funny. When all is said and done, if nothing else, "Tamers" is certainly one of those stories you'll remember--and for good reason.