Review JN138: Satoshi VS Kasumi! Seaside One-on-One!!

[SonansuMan]

Got around to watching this with subs, was definitely worth the wait

This episode had so many types of interactions I feel were lacking in most of Journeys. Ash and Misty’s dynamic was on point the entire time, and it felt so refreshing to actually see banter between the protagonists, which aside from very rare occasions, has barely been a thing since BW. I’m also glad that the shuffle reserves will be a regular thing throughout the remaining episodes, and I hope they try to make interesting dynamics out of it. The battle towards the second half of the episode was also a solid watch, and I’m glad they didn’t make Ash invincible even after Leon. The Clauncher immediately ditching Misty to see Corphish was hilarious and reminded me of Togepi’s debut These remaining episodes are definitely giving me shades of more classic era writing, especially with the return of the OST

Also appreciate seeing TR again, though the byproduct of them only really keeping Meowth and Wobbuffet in their party is very apparent.. Are Pelipper/Morpeko even in the series still?

OVERALL SCORE:
8/10

 

[R1ke]

Yeah this series is journeys 2.0 where they’re doing all the returns they couldn’t do earlier. But that’s not a bad thing imo. This series is pretty chill and has that postgame feeling

Good ep. Loved the constant back and forth between Ash and Misty. Just like the OS days where he was snarkier. There was a lot of fake outs in this that got me, like TR being hungry, Ash using Corphish instead of Pikachu and Politoed catching that crabhammer. Honestly Corphish went hard in that fight, and it was great to see new moves. Hope we keep seeing updates like that

 

[Lightning Flame Blast]

People all over the internet already crying that Ash doesn’t deserve to be world champion because he lost to Misty this boy can never win, can he

 

[Greninjaman]

I fail to see how Ash losing to Misty means he is no longer the world champion, when Ash was not using any Pokemon from his Journeys Team.

 

[Daren]

this boy can never win, can he

I'm not sure when the exact moment the internet decided he was a doomed failure was, but I feel like it was around AG since, ironically, he was criticized for winning too much in the original series' run.

 

[vivian20]

Ash acknowledged that pikachu would be a better chance against politoed, but chose corphish instead . I liked it because it felt like ash wanted to give misty a fair battle instead of just stomp her politoed with his champion level pikachu . This also shows that ash´s pokemon didnt became all champion level after he became a world champion. Corphish trained in the lab, but its not the same as being trained by a trainer.

 

[Die-Hard Dragon Devotee]

People all over the internet already crying that Ash doesn’t deserve to be world champion because he lost to Misty this boy can never win, can he

It wasn't even an official battle; hell, a Pokemon was the referee!

Ash acknowledged that pikachu would be a better chance against politoed, but chose corphish instead . I liked it because it felt like ash wanted to give misty a fair battle instead of just stomp her politoed with his champion level pikachu . This also shows that ash´s pokemon didnt became all champion level after he became a world champion. Corphish trained in the lab, but its not the same as being trained by a trainer.

Exactly. If Ash had used Pikachu, he would've won easily. He literally held back against Misty by using Corphish. (Still sucks though that Corphish had to lose again, since its last on-screen battle way back in the Battle Frontier days was also a loss, against Nurse Joy and Chansey in Overjoyed! My boy Corphish's been on a losing streak for 17 years........)

 

[Daren]

(Still sucks though that Corphish had to lose again, since its last on-screen battle way back in the Battle Frontier Days was also a loss, against Nurse Joy and Chansey in Overjoyed! My boy Corphish's been on a losing streak for 17 years........)

Ouch, I'd forgotten the Nurse Joy match was Corphish's last battle, and I doubt he's getting another one.

 

[nickdt]

Interesting to note as well is that Leavanny is Ash's first grass type to meet Rowlet.

Corphish probably has learned Aqua Jet training with Buizel.

 

[Die-Hard Dragon Devotee]

Corphish probably has learned Aqua Jet training with Buizel.

Something like this maybe?

 

[cricketlaxwolvesbandy]

Something like this maybe?

View attachment 167484

OSHAWOTT LMAO

 

[vivian20]

Ouch, I'd forgotten the Nurse Joy match was Corphish's last battle, and I doubt he's getting another one.

Ash could still become a recurring character in Paldea series, and use all his old pokemon.

 

[DuskAstral]

Ash could still become a recurring character in Paldea series, and use all his old pokemon.

This will only be possible if the new series follows the same continuity.
And we don't know that yet.

 

[Die-Hard Dragon Devotee]

So, I don't normally do episode reviews, but here goes:

While I was a little disappointed that Corphish lost (and neither it nor Totodile evolved,) and that Rowlet, Leavanny and Totodile didn't do much for the entirety of the episode, it was still very nice to see Misty again, as well as hear those sweet Miyazaki music tracks! Not to mention Corphish getting two new moves in Aqua Jet and Metal Claw (I always like to see that ) but also the confirmation that Latias is indeed following Ash! (Anybody else smell a capture incoming? ) And lastly, even though I knew it was coming, it was still nice to see the episode end with Misty rejoining Ash on his journeys once again, just like the good old days.

 

[DuskAstral]

but also the confirmation that Latias is indeed following Ash! (Anybody else smell a capture incoming? )

I don't, because I remember how it was with Meloetta, who wasn't caught in the end.

 

[FinnishPokéFan92]

I don't, because I remember how it was with Meloetta, who wasn't caught in the end.

Meloetta was a different kind of case.

 

[nickdt]

This will only be possible if the new series follows the same continuity.
And we don't know that yet.

It probably will be set in the same continuity... since Ash basically needs to be fail safe for a possible failure of the new anime... so they need to lean back on him.

 

[marshiyanmisuta]

Latias might be testing Satoshi.

 

[ehh123]

In regards to "Team Rocket only wanted Clauncher for its claw, it grows back". Growing back doesn't mean its painless. Would you want your arm ripped from your body even if it could grow back?

Plus, the growing back might take a few days and it needs that claw to propel itself in the water.

 

[Alola]

Absolutely wonderful episode for so many reasons that have been shared thus far. I haven't laughed as many times at a Pokémon episode in a while. This was some of the heart and soul Journeys was missing to truly make it great; Ash should have been visiting his friends with Go in this manner with these kinds of interactions. That aside though:

• Pi-Ka-Chu-Pi (Misty/Kasumi)! It was wonderful to see her back and pretty much fit all of her notable personality traits within the episode - her passion for Water-type Pokémon, her enjoyment of battle (!), her competitive nature, her proneness to slapstick comedy, her fangirling blushes, her wisecracks at Ash, etc. I loved every bit of her screentime, particularly how well she and Ash bounced off each other. I thought I was watching an original episode! I had to rewatch the scene where she and Psyduck stared at Ash after he fell in the ocean - their faces were priceless.
  • I'm glad she won against Ash here. I already commented on the expectation in another thread, but, for me, it just made sense she would win against Ash's Corphish. Ash hasn't trained it in Arceus knows how long while Politoed has enjoyed being the Cerulean Gym ace as of late (to my surprise; I surely thought it was Misty's (Mega) Gyarados!). I also liked another opinion I read as I was catching up through the thread that the victory marks growth for Misty/Ash's friends, which is such a good point. One of the major criticisms behind Dawn's return was how she felt stagnant, mainly with her party - no new Pokémon, no new forms, or even new moves (barring Mamoswine's slightly updated moveset in Unova). Meanwhile, Misty has managed to circumvent all of those facets during her returns in Sun & Moon and Journeys- I love it because there is a sense of progress with her. She isn't sitting at her Gym twiddling her thumbs; she's actually getting more formidable (but not as much as Ash, obviously) and that makes her returns all the more exciting. To see what new heights she and her team reach. I know we won't see much of Clauncher down the road, but at least Misty has one and that's stirring to me.
    • That being said though...I think Corphish put on the better performance. It made fantastic use of Aqua Jet and seemed to gain the upper hand after recovering from Politoed's Bounce, I have to admit.
      • Speaking of Politoed, I LOVE its Japanese voice! I didn't start watching the original version until late DP, so I never got to hear it. But wow - it's so different and soothing. No wonder Misty loves it, haha.
• Speaking of OG feelings, I really liked the callbacks upon callbacks they referenced throughout the episode. The Totodile Duel is one of my favorite episodes from Johto, due to Ash and Misty's first proper battle, the featuring of Totodile, and the hilarious snark Ash & Misty have throughout the episode ("As long as you're quiet, I don't care if we're here another two hours."). So, to see elements of that plot recycled here was actually enjoyable for me, especially since it's different from what we've gotten for past several sagas. Ash jabbing at Misty, from the business with the lures (which was great to see as well as Misty's response) to him being coy about letting Misty travel together again felt so refreshing after having been given nicey-nice-sugar-and-no-spice Ash for years.
• The mix of music was so pleasant - I had to do a double take when I heard Miyazaki's music again, especially the Kanto Surfing theme (whose anime rendition is just lovely). And as I am a big fan of Hayashi's music as well, the combination of their tracks was literal music to my ears - I hope we get to revisit older tracks in future episodes.
• Ash's party was significantly more interesting in this episode than the last, which is a shame as I'm a big Sceptile and Noivern fan; hopefully the future parties get to have more moments in the future. Corphish getting focus was unexpected, but then I shouldn't be too surprised as it was one of Ash's more visible Pokémon during AG. The other star of the show was Leavanny, who had underscored and subtle moments that were still enjoyable to watch. That nurturing element outside of making leave hats was great to see, with my favorite moment being him patting Psyduck after Pikachu's hilarious hug-dodge. Rowlet was Rowlet, but I have to say Totodile could have stood out more. Maybe even a dance like he and Politoed used to do. We did get his custom Lure Ball animation I suppose... That aside, I still enjoyed seeing everyone and I find it engaging to see Ash's Pokémon from different regions interact together like this in confined spaces (episodes).
  • I'm not surprised Misty wasn't unnerved by Leavanny - just look at its face :3
• Team Rocket's Rotom appeared! And was...actually helpful? I guess they couldn't have too much snark in the episode, lol.
• Pikachu being a referee for Ash and Misty is surprisingly fitting.

Honestly, again, just one of the best episodes in my opinion and a great use of a small cast and a singular area, making use of those aspects to create profound interactions. It makes me happy that so many other users really liked it as well. Next stop Brock (and Cilan)!