1. Oh I like the Drode, so sad he has all of 4 appearances (seriously, go count em, 4 books). Drode is one of the few characters I've ever envisioned a back story to, basically Crayak keeping him cause he's a ***. Always did find his interest in Rachel more interesting than Crayak's himself. At her darkest, Rachel and the Drode value the same thing, the act of destroying, rather than destruction after the fact (which is why in my eyes the Drode is such and odd match for Crayak. But he's still a tool, so world views can be overlooked I guess.)
2. Is it odd to fine a hyper-advanced civilization pitiable? I'm slightly surprised they made it as far as they did without being destroyed by someone or another. Playing is fine but you have to have some defenses. The tech does seem very impressive, computer trees and adaptable to any life form-very cool.
3. I consider this the Chee arc, granted this and 26 the only ones where the Chee are central to the plot. And as always, I wish we'd seem more with them. I don't know computers, I do not understand for the life of me why they are on a central hub, being, I suppose intelligent is the best word for it, but it is odd to think of them as vulnerable. If it weren't for the Yeerks, I don't think this would be that big a deal. People either wouldn't recognize it or be able to do anything with it, or once it's fixed, it could probably escape most human containment. Yeerks of course would probably be able to do more, and glean a good bit of technical advancement off of them. That's bad. Think the Chee would be resentful at being programmed for violence. That, and since they're the only allies the Animorphs have, well it's nice touch to see them receive a bit of help for a change.
4. Squid squid squid squid squid. Just putting it out there, I doubt the intelligence was played up because it lacks a skull. Cranial prejudice. I've only just stopped to consider, no internal skeleton, no external skeleton, something that size's gotta be odd to move from the human sensibility. Anything that size I figure hunger's gonna have it's place, but seeing as it's this giant of the sea, some exploratory persona is to be expected. At least that's what'd I do with it. 10 arm,s giant eyes and a beak. Really hard to imagine, but very much one I'd like to try out.
5. This was a disappointment. Considering everything that happened in 22, she seems incredibly petulant grousing about Jake, and using Tobias. Absolutely zero positive growth, now she's starting to regress. I sympathize to how she felt about being manipulated, but considering that she knows her faults she was much too fast to rally against it. No caution against the unseen=bad.
6. So I constantly feel like I'm being toyed with by....everything. Trying to avoid it just makes me feel like I'm falling into it's trap, and I know that's nonsensical babble, but there it is. But I think it's different for the Animorphs. When so much of your life revolves around all this stuff that you can't know, that's influenced from beyond your reach, I think I'd be much more inquisitive about rooting it out. Still be less than grateful, but knowing these entities are toying with you is better than guessing. Long and short of it is, either way I'm going along with it, hating in, and hoping for the way to stop playing the pawn.