Dot’s pokemon team does shine more in pokemon-pokemon interaction (especially post-time skip). On the other hand, Liko excels more in human-pokemon interaction (way more than other characters).

Honestly? For the entire HZ run, Liko is one of the best INFP depiction I have seen in a while.

None of her Pokémon got left-out in mega voltage, and she got more screentime interacting with post-timeskip RVTs than Roy (plus her pre-timeskip screentime adds more weight to that). Furthermore, you can subtly see Liko growing a backbone and tolerating less, even though she embraces her empathy.

I mean, I would argue that the viewers wanted to see Liko crying and struggling to “see her growth”. However, they forget the sensitivity part from Liko is able to pick up small things to enjoy and thus ignite her passion, espcially interacting with her Pokémon and RVTs.

Good news! look forward to this week’s ep.

In today’s ep, (spoilers)

Mighty G refers to Amethio as a shounen and boy.

In arc 3 and arc 4, although she does enjoy the heat of battling, she realises that she does not seek validation for regular trainer courses. Hence, this opens her up to take more risks with Floragato, and willing to play dirty and assertive, in order to protect the ones she cherishes.

In arc 3, Liko takes advantage of Floragato’s yo-yo skills, which significantly improves Floragato’s agility (and limiting opponent’s in return). She also uses sucker punch to trick allies and opponents.

Also, Liko lets Sprigs pour her emotions during the Moltres battles with Konoha ippai, which gradually heals Sprig’s guilt from being a prodigy in the past (ep 40).

Liko’s artistic (drawing) and observation skills are integrated into Sprigatito’s move set, which leads to her using different versions of leafage, like sweet scent leafage, single fire leafage, rapid fire leafage, shield leafage, leaf storm leafage.

1. Liko’s battling got rusty after staying in the academy for a year.

2. Even so, meowscarada was trained to use flower trick in different variations (big nuke form, and small scattered form). Liko had outskilled Roy during their reunion fight, until they used terastallisation.

I also felt something was a bit off in this ep, but couldn’t pinpoint where.

Liko is an empathetic person who fights for a more personal reason. Her source of finding strength is breaking free from expectations set by normal trainer’s journey (present) and family (past). Unfortunately, this attracts groups of people who shame her for not “suffering enough”.

Since she’s the most tactical trainer out of the trio, I think she’ll focus on the magical trickeries with Meowscarada, just like the yoyo manoeuvres with Floragato, and the leafage tricks with Springatito. She may also handle unfavourable pressure to find an opening with her emotional intelligence.

This resonation, plus the boosted power from overgrow, at least is believable from a writing standpoint.

It’s also her learning method to integrate her artistic nature into her interest from battling. That speciality also signifies Liko is able to open her heart out (HZ23) while helping former springatito to overcome her weakness and regrets from the past. (HZ40)

I mean by judging HZ as a stand-alone anime (without limitations from past producers), magical leaf is one of the most developed aspects from Liko. That move is indeed Floragato’s strength, able to diversify its shape/intensity.

Iroha is my one of my favourite protagonists in the precure.

Her journey of embracing tapestry of emotions, after not being able to reciprocate others and herself in the first half of Wanpre, is incredibly heartfelt and down-to-earth as a person who cares for others unconditionally.