- Joined
- Aug 19, 2011
- Messages
- 1,200
- Reaction score
- 81
As I expected, while I'm still annoyed about the mechanics and rules of the battle - Ash lost that by any possible measure and nothing he did redeemed his skill one bit, blind luck of static just tops off a terrible way of winning - I liked this episode a lot. The battle itself was lively, the music was fantastic and created a great atmosphere. I wish Homika got an episode to be introduced like all the other Gym leaders did, the battle took up too much of the episodes, even if it did seem like it went by quickly thanks to keeping up good pace of battling.
I really, really hate the fact that Ash didn't once recall his Pokemon (unless I missed a no substitutions rule). It's not just this episode, Ash talks a lot about caring for Pokemon and not pushing them too hard, letting Pokemon get poisoned and every time just telling them to push on is terrible and makes him seem totally reckless in battle. The pecha berries were a nice touch - though perhaps Ash could have got a bunch from Iris before the battle because he knew he was facing a poison gym?
I know it was inevitable, but scanning Koffing made me rage, though at least he did recognise it (seems like Iris didn't at first, which is good). Leavanny's use of string shot on Koffing was great to see - I was kinda hoping Ash would do that, after all, that's how he first dealt with James' Koffing with Caterpie. It'd be nice to think that's a deliberate nod to the past, but that would just again drive home the fact that Ash has beaten so many Koffing that he should have wiped the floor with Homika's. There's also some great personality from Leavanny and Koffing.
Garbodor was interesting, I never got the impression from seeing it in the games that it had that level of mobility. Scolipede was disappointing, fell way too easily, and didn't demonstrate the degree of skill and speed that Koffing and Scolipede did. They should have taken the chance to show off a more unique Poison type.
Meloetta was good - I liked how it seemed like at one point the music wasn't to its taste so it disappeared. The development of the connection with Ash seems to be going along well, something the anime often seems to fumble - I look forward to how that part pans out.
As I over-analysed in the preview thread, Iris confuses me here, I think it's a relatively dramatic shift in her character. I get some degree of getting caught up in the atmosphere, but I think it is too big of a shift too quickly. While it's a positive thing that she's getting along with the group now, this episode needed someone pointing out the fact Ash's win was totally undeserved. Just because he won under the rules given doesn't give him a reason to be happy about himself, and if there was ever a time Iris would be in the right place to attack Ash, this was the episode. But, I'll take the long term change and the reluctant Cilan - that's one of the few occasions I've liked the interaction between Iris and Cilan.
Was that normal Team Rocket in the Live Caster? They almost seem human in that segment, much unlike their in-episode appearance. Hearing Best Wishes for the last time makes me realise how much I like it - I do hope the BW2 theme song lives up to the high standard. Won't miss the animation though.
Anyway, really liked Homika and especially liked the music throughout the episode. I don't normally notice, but when it's done this well and as lively as it was (even if it's mostly just the familiar tunes) it really ads a whole lot to the episode. But, the episode still leaves the lingering annoyance of the horrible 6 vs 3. I do really hope there's a battle with Drayden on fair rules before the league, just to redeem Ash.
I really, really hate the fact that Ash didn't once recall his Pokemon (unless I missed a no substitutions rule). It's not just this episode, Ash talks a lot about caring for Pokemon and not pushing them too hard, letting Pokemon get poisoned and every time just telling them to push on is terrible and makes him seem totally reckless in battle. The pecha berries were a nice touch - though perhaps Ash could have got a bunch from Iris before the battle because he knew he was facing a poison gym?
I know it was inevitable, but scanning Koffing made me rage, though at least he did recognise it (seems like Iris didn't at first, which is good). Leavanny's use of string shot on Koffing was great to see - I was kinda hoping Ash would do that, after all, that's how he first dealt with James' Koffing with Caterpie. It'd be nice to think that's a deliberate nod to the past, but that would just again drive home the fact that Ash has beaten so many Koffing that he should have wiped the floor with Homika's. There's also some great personality from Leavanny and Koffing.
Garbodor was interesting, I never got the impression from seeing it in the games that it had that level of mobility. Scolipede was disappointing, fell way too easily, and didn't demonstrate the degree of skill and speed that Koffing and Scolipede did. They should have taken the chance to show off a more unique Poison type.
Meloetta was good - I liked how it seemed like at one point the music wasn't to its taste so it disappeared. The development of the connection with Ash seems to be going along well, something the anime often seems to fumble - I look forward to how that part pans out.
As I over-analysed in the preview thread, Iris confuses me here, I think it's a relatively dramatic shift in her character. I get some degree of getting caught up in the atmosphere, but I think it is too big of a shift too quickly. While it's a positive thing that she's getting along with the group now, this episode needed someone pointing out the fact Ash's win was totally undeserved. Just because he won under the rules given doesn't give him a reason to be happy about himself, and if there was ever a time Iris would be in the right place to attack Ash, this was the episode. But, I'll take the long term change and the reluctant Cilan - that's one of the few occasions I've liked the interaction between Iris and Cilan.
Was that normal Team Rocket in the Live Caster? They almost seem human in that segment, much unlike their in-episode appearance. Hearing Best Wishes for the last time makes me realise how much I like it - I do hope the BW2 theme song lives up to the high standard. Won't miss the animation though.
Anyway, really liked Homika and especially liked the music throughout the episode. I don't normally notice, but when it's done this well and as lively as it was (even if it's mostly just the familiar tunes) it really ads a whole lot to the episode. But, the episode still leaves the lingering annoyance of the horrible 6 vs 3. I do really hope there's a battle with Drayden on fair rules before the league, just to redeem Ash.
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I know they probably didn't want to remind people too much of the fact that there used to be a Dogas on this show, but *still* I miss Unshou Ishizuka.
