Digimon Tri is about growing up.
That’s not revolutionary in itself but it is important.
It’s about understanding you take responsibility for your own actions now. You’re not ‘chosen’ but you choose and that reflects your worth. Because sometimes no matter what decision you make it will wind up hurting someone and that is reflected over and over in each film. There isn’t some entity that is going to come down and pat you on the head for a job well done. In fact those with power will often try to utilize you for their own ends- but you always have a choice and the awareness of that choice in becoming an adult.
I actually thought Kari’s words of ‘I won’t forgive you but I will stand with you’ to Tai were stupid at first, that she was contradicting herself, and that the writers had come in after a rough night. But actually these words pretty much personify what Kari is about and what this series as a whole is about as well. Kari knows full well what Tai asks is the only chance for light to prevail, for Meicoomon to be free of pain, and for them all to be safe. But she can’t forgive him because Tai made that choice without being chosen to do it. The brother she idolizes and looks up to is no longer a symbol of everything for her but just a scared human being doing the best he can.
She can’t forgive the ideal!Tai that let her down.
But she can forgive the human Tai.
And that’s Kari growing up. That’s why she achieved mega. Because she realised that both her and her brother are capable of harmful decisions (like OFDM) and great inspiration. They aren’t disconnected from one another. They are one and the same.
And you will see it over again- Takeru hiding Patamon’s infection to hold onto his last dregs of hope, Izzy working himself to death to acquire the knowledge to make a difference, Joe debating between the very real struggle of future or destiny, Mimi rejecting her own realness due to the knowledge she hurt others, Sora questioning whether her looking out for others is worth it if no one notices her, and lastly Matt questioning his own friendship with Tai because he’s failing to understand him.
And growing up also means letting things go. Even when it hurts. And that’s Meiko.
I won’t defend the bad writing of Tri or the handling of her character at times but Meiko lets her childhood go when she lets Meicoomon go. She lets the ideal for many child fans go- a partner of my very own!- because it’s the kind and mature thing to do. She doesn’t want to do it but she feels that she has to. So many times in the films we are shown childhood memories of her and Meicoomon. So many times we are reminded of how they were inseparable. I really hope they don’t bring Meicoomon back in some form later down the line because the actual theme hidden underneath the bad writing would be ruined.
Sometimes you have to let go of your youthful convictions, your misplaced trust, your blind ignorance, and your idealistic dreams. Sometimes no matter how hard you try you can’t save everyone and you can’t stop yourself from hurting others..
…sometimes you have to make a decision.