Genesis of Evil

Ken looks back at events that have shaped his life over the past couple of years, particularly the loss of his older brother, Sam, and wonders if things could ever go back to the way they used to be.

DA02_ep23_Recap_(Japanese_w_Eng_subs) — DA02 ep23 Recap (Japanese w Eng subs)

Episode recap for *Genesis of Evil*. (Japanese with subtitles).

Synopsis[]

At the Ichijouji residence, Mr. and Mrs. Ichijouji are outside Ken's bedroom, seeing that he is still sleeping. In bed, Ken feels like he has lost his heart. Numerous memories of his past come to mind as he sleeps; the first one is of his brother Sam first teaching him how to blow bubbles, and admiring him for being such a genius. Then he recounts walking with his mother, seeing the neighbors tell her about Sam being a good smart boy and having so many abilities. Then at home, her mother tells Sam the exact same thing that they told her. Ken begins to feel jealous and ignored, and gets the idea that he'd never be noticed as long as Sam was around, and wishes for him to disappear.

Then, one evening, Ken and Sam discover a Digivice that came out of their computer. Ken thought it originally belonged to Sam, who tries to figure out its functions. Then Sam puts it away in his desk drawer, ordering Ken not to touch it no matter what. But Ken, unable to resist, slowly opens the drawer and touches the Digivice, which immediately activates, drawing him into the Digital World for the first time (Tag Tamers).

That same evening, Sam comes into the room, seeing Ken emerge from the computer and berates and slaps him on the hand, causing him to drop the Digivice. He angrily puts it away and orders him to get out of the room so he can study. The young Ken, feeling angry and betrayed, again wishes for Sam to disappear, more so than ever before. Shortly thereafter, Sam is hit by an oncoming car and dies, leaving him devastated and guilt-ridden as he felt his own wish killed him.

Some time later, the young Ken plays on Sam's computer and finds an email addressed to him from a mysterious person; scared, yet wanting to read it, he learns that the pressure to succeed in the Real World would be unbearable, as he would be expected to fulfill the dreams that Sam could no longer do. He takes the mysterious person's advice to travel to the Digital World instead, where he would answer to no one. He uses the Digivice once again; this time, it takes him to the Dark Ocean for the first time. He steps into the water and puts the Digivice into it, transforming it into a black D-3 and replacing his kind personality with one of selfishness and hatred and becomes the Digimon Emperor.

Back in the present, Ken's parents look on at the still-sleeping Ken, and discuss what happened with him since Sam's death, and discover that they may have ignored Sam's desire to be a normal kid as well as Ken and his own wellbeing. Ken continues to reminisce about the time he blew bubbles thanks to Sam's guidance. Sam explained to Ken that the bubbles he blows come out perfectly because his technique is gentle while his own bubbles don't come out at all. Ken encourages him to try anyway, but when he does, the image of Sam disappears.

Ken finally wakes up, much to his parents' relief, but doesn't recognize them because he hadn't found his heart yet. His parents apologize for trying to make him like Sam without realizing it, but Ken can't forgive them because he doesn't understand what they did. His mother tearfully begs him to just be himself. Ken sheds a few tears himself and believes his heart is close. He then looks out the window as his mother tells him that dinner is ready, Then he looks at a picture of Sam. Soon after, Ken is on his computer and recognizes his Digivice and Crest of Kindness and figures out that his heart is somewhere in the Digital World; he goes there just before his mother discovers him gone again.

Ken goes in search of Wormmon and ends up in Primary Village. A Poyomon explains to him that Digimon get reconfigured instead of actually dying; this excites Ken at first, but sees so many Digi-Eggs that he can't remember which one belongs to Wormmon. A Yuramon recognizes Ken as the Digimon Emperor and tries to attack him, but he shields his face with right arm. He then realizes that he had been a monster, killing and making slaves of innocent creatures. A Punimon and a Botamon chastise him for all the horrible things he did as the Digimon Emperor. Ken looks at his hands and tearfully cries out in sorrow to Sam and Wormmon. Forcing himself, he is able to remember the first time he when to the Digital World and met Wormmon.

In a flashback, Wormmon saves Ken from an attack by a Gazimon and is slightly injured, but tells Ken not to worry and is glad that he has such a kind person like Ken for a partner. He tells Ken that he must be strong has well as kind for his kindness alone could be swallowed up by darkness and has Ken promise to always be kind. Realizing he forgot and broke his promise to Wormmon he vows to only to use what he has learned to become stronger, he also promises to be the kind and gentle person Wormmon once knew. The Crest of Kindness begins to react, and he finds Wormmon's Digi-Egg, which hatches into his baby form, Leafmon. Both happily and tearfully reunite.

Back in Ken's apartment, his parents are worried that he might not come back this time, but Ken emerges from his room, much to their relief. Ken, finally understanding why his mother was crying in the first place, calls her "Mama" for the first time in a long time. All cry happy tears and embrace as Leafmon watches from a distance.

Featured characters[]

(Numbers indicate order of appearance. Bolded characters are fought by the protagonist(s), and italicized characters feature non-explicitly, e.g. voice, silhouette, image.)

Humans	Fresh	Rookie	Mega
Mrs. Ichijouji (1) Mr. Ichijouji (2) Ken Ichijouji (3) Sam Ichijouji (4) Ryo Akiyama (10)	Poyomon (6) Yuramon (7) Punimon (8) Botamon (9) Leafmon (12)	Wormmon (5) Gazimon (11)	Millenniummon (10)

Digimon Analyser[]

No Digimon are analysed in this episode.

Digivolutions[]

(Number indicates order of occurrence.)

Digi-Egg	1	Leafmon

Quotes[]

"I know I should wake up, but I can't. It's not time yet...not until I find my heart. It feels like I've lost it. I keep looking for it, but I just can't seem to find it. I know once I do, everything will be back to the way it was, like when I was a little kid."

— Ken does a little soul searching.

"Mom and Dad are always paying more attention to Sam than to me. I know they love him more because he's smarter than me. I'll never get either one of them to notice me as long as Sam's around. If only Sam weren't around, then I would be - That's it! If only Sam weren't here, then I'd be the one they'd love. I wish Sam would just disappear!"

— Ken's jealousy will come back to haunt him one day.

"Maybe the computer blew a fuse or something."

— Sam and Ken discover a first generation Digivice.

"I know that Sam told me to stay away from it, but I couldn't help myself. I felt like I was being drawn to it somehow, like something was telling me that it belonged to me. I just wanted to look at it. What harm could that do?"

— Famous last words, Ken.

"Sam hated me. I wasn't as good a person as he was, but that wasn't enough for him. He had to punish me because of it! He didn't have to hit me! I just wanted to play with his toy! So what if I didn't ask for his permission first? And I couldn't tell Mom and Dad, because as far as they were concerned, he could do no wrong."

— Ken expresses his resentment towards his brother.

"Sam, I didn't mean it. I was just mad when I said I wanted you to disappear."

-Young Ken learns the hard way to be careful what you wish for.

"I'm sorry for the loss of your brother. It must have been hard to take... but don't worry. Your brother is in a better place than this world. He is finally at rest. But when his soul became free, yours became trapped. You bare the burden of both his destiny and your own. Now that your parents have lost their hopes for their 'perfect child,' you will be expected to carry out the dreams that Sam can no longer fulfill. This world will become unbearable for you, the pressure to succeed will be too great. But let me tell you about another world that is much more appropriate... a world where your soul can finally be free, where you answer to no one but yourself. Open the drawer... Use Sam's digivice!"

- Ken receives a mysterious email.

"This is mine now! No one can ever take it away from me, or hide it in a drawer! I'm in control now."

— Ken begins to change for the worse as his digivice becomes the black D-3.

"Why is she crying? I don't understand. When I'm sad, I just go numb. Wait, there's tears in my eyes, too. Why am I crying? Is my heart closer than I think? Maybe these people and I can share the pain and sorrow of losing Sam together."

— Ken begins to heal a little.

"It's too late for you now. You can't turn back time. What's done is done. You've made your bed, now lie in it. I'd go on, but I can't think of anymore cliches."

— A Punimon puts Ken in his place.

"The point is, you can't run away from the past. You've caused enough damage here! Why don't you crawl back under the Control Spire you came out of?"

— Way to be super harsh on him, Botamon!

"The cruel things I've done in the past won't ever leave me, but I've got to move on with my life. I promise to concentrate on the good things in the past, not the evil. I'll use my memories of Sam and of Wormmon to make me stronger."

— Ken tearfully vows to redeem himself.

"I'm okay...it will take a lot more than him to beat me. Ken, I'm really glad that I'm your Digimon and we're partners. You're gentle and kind. That's why I like you. But being gentle is not enough. You need to be strong, as well. Otherwise, Ken...your gentleness and kindness will be overpowered by those who are evil. It happens. The Digivice that you have belongs to you, and not Sam. You're DigiDestined, and no one can take that away from you. Evil forces will try to tell you otherwise, but you can't listen to them. Never forget who you are."

- Wormmon

"And now I can finally say it. Thank you, Sam, for helping me find my heart."

— After all this time, Ken finally lets go of his resentment.

Other notes[]

Ep23samemperor — Sam (right) and the Digimon Emperor (left).

Dubbing changes

In the English dub, Wormmon says Sam's name during Ken's flashback.

Digimon references

Ken's image as the Digimon Emperor is based on his older brother Sam, as they have similar hair styles and similar glasses. This is most noticeable when Sam finds Ken with the digivice.
Ken's memory of walking through the desert is based on the events of the game Digimon Adventure 02: Tag Tamers, and shows him with Ryo Akiyama, one of the main characters in the game, who also features in the later anime series Digimon Tamers.
As Young Ken changes his Digivice into a black D-3, his words from his time as the Digimon Emperor are heard. (e.g. "Soon I will have control of the entire Digital World!" from The Darkness Before Dawn)

Miscellaneous trivia

Ken announces the episode title in the Japanese episode.
This is the only episode of Digimon Adventure 02 in which T.K. and Cody do not appear.