NT Warrior: There's No I in Team! (Part 1)

Plot Synopsis
Oh boy, and episode all about Yai and Chaud, just what I've been waiting for. I'm sorry that sarcasm doesn't come across very well in text.

It's the semi-finales of the N1 Grand Prix and a team match-up featuring BlastMan and StoneMan verses MegaMan and ProtoMan. Lan is a bit excited about teaming up with Chaud, but of course, Chaud tells Lan to just stay out of his way. In the process he really pisses of Yai who is so upset by his rudeness, she has to leave and head to a nearby restaurant to drink some strawberry milk, which is another running joke with Yai because running jokes are all she has.

Well Chaud shows up at the restaurant as well to sign a contract for his father's company. It's hinted that Chaud has a trouble relationship with his father, just like it's hinted at in the game, but it's something they never go into too much. Anyway, Yai spots him and decides to spy on him for some reason. She ends up getting backed into an elevator with Chaud and he of course spots her and makes some more rude comments which piss her off even more.

Some idiot then spills coffee on the elevator control panels which cause the elevators to stop. With only 20 minutes before his match, Chaud tries to think of a way out of there.

Meanwhile, Lan is training with MegaMan trying to perfect the Program Advance, but he still can't get it. We go back to Chaud and Yai, and Chaud decides he's had enough and starts to climb out of the elevator to an emergency exit. Yai doesn't want to be left alone, and has to go to the bathroom, so she follows behind. Yai get's really scared from the height of the climb, and Chaud for the first time in the series shows some compassion and humanity by comforting Yai. He helps her climb up, but unnoticed to him, he loses two of his battlechips, the Sword and the Wide Sword, which as well all know, are important to the Program Advance. They eventually get out, and Yai has a limo pick up Chaud as a thank you for helping her.

Lan tries the Program Advance one more time in training, and a huge light emenates from the Net Battle terminal. We don't see if Lan and MegaMan had actually accomplished the Program Advance or not though, and Lan rushes out to face his opponents. Without Chaud there, the judges decide Chaud will be disqualified if he doesn't make it to the arena in five minutes, and MegaMan will have to face BlastMan and StoneMan alone. Chaud makes it to the arena with three seconds to spare, and sends Yai a letter which he insults her in. What a nice fellow! The episode ends with the match about to start.

Critique
I find Yai to be extremely grating as a character, and Chaud is incredibly smug and self-centered that he comes across as annoying too. At least Chaud is written that way though, Yai is just a terrible character. This is Chaud's strongest episode for his character thus far though, and some important details have been left for the upcoming episode, but honestly, it's not all that interesting. There's a distinct lack of the elements that make this show unique, like the net battles and net navis and all that junk and a lot more emphasis on the human characters. I think this could have been a better episode with stronger developed characters, but as is, it's not too great.

Rating: Thumbs Down.