Review JN034: The Solitary Fighter Saitou! The Threatening Otosupus!!

[Gabo2oo]

The episode was terribly slow-paced. They pulled all the tricks to stall for time, to the point where what could've been a decent battle just becomes awful to watch.

To rub salt in the wound they give Go a win entirely off-screen as if they didn't have enough time to show it. And even if they didn't have time, Go having to partake in a Trainer battle to get a Pokémon could easily have been an episode on its own, but I guess that would've made too much sense.

 

[ht14]

If I were Riolu's trainer, I would let it sit right next to me and watch all my opponents tactics and moves very very closely. This would be the best way for a "baby Pokemon" to learn. But using a newly hatched Pokemon against somebody with many years of experience is a bit reckless if you ask me. A trainer also has responsibilty for his Pokemon friends in my eyes.

Agreed - I mean, that's what Ash did with Riolu for the match against Korrina.

I found it interesting that Ash was likely planning on sending out Pikachu against Grapploct, but Riolu was like, I wanna go, and Ash was like, ok.

 

[Panky..]

Well, I guess it's a matter of how you look at it. I'm convinced you should always use a type advantage if you get the chance to do so in order not to unnecessarily wear out your Pokemon.
If I were Riolu's trainer, I would let it sit right next to me and watch all my opponents tactics and moves very very closely. This would be the best way for a "baby Pokemon" to learn. But using a newly hatched Pokemon against somebody with many years of experience is a bit reckless if you ask me. A trainer also has responsibilty for his Pokemon friends in my eyes.

First of all, a type specialist Gym Leader would always have tactics to counter any kind of Pokemon that their type is weak against, and this applies more so to Bea given the type of person she is. Secondly, Gengar jobbed against Fighting types and Dragonite barely pulled through against Korrina's two Pokemon, one being Mega Evolved. Thirdly, it nearly looked like Ash was going to pick Pikachu after Galarfetch'd went down before Riolu volunteered. And the way it did wasn't even similar to how it did in the past with its overconfident behavior, it was flat out serious which Pikachu and Ash noticed.

 

[jbmasta]

The winning streak of Ash finally end here. Better train harder as you can, Ash and be prepared to arrive back to Galar again to battle Bea somewhere in the future episodes.

Overall rating: B+

And Bea gave Ash a direction to go for, conservation of movement.

Also, that was one brutal match. I know Riolu needed to get knocked back down to Earth at some point, but the way it happened was harsh. Bea showed no mercy. I'm looking forward to the rematch, even if it is happening a bit sooner than most of us expected.

Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom to rise up stronger than before. It is pretty brutal for Riolu's first loss though.

 

[Nicolas721]

The episode was terribly slow-paced. They pulled all the tricks to stall for time, to the point where what could've been a decent battle just becomes awful to watch.

To rub salt in the wound they give Go a win entirely off-screen as if they didn't have enough time to show it. And even if they didn't have time, Go having to partake in a Trainer battle to get a Pokémon could easily have been an episode on its own, but I guess that would've made too much sense.

Yeah, this is what I mentioned earlier about the dead silences. I'm sure that they could have taken 2 minutes of those to at least see the ending of Go's battle.

Personally, I was fine with the fact that Bea was kind of cold. Honestly, I liked it. She's a serious battler who specializes in fighting types, so it fits with her character, but it's also nice to not constantly have characters who are super nice or easily amiable (and this is coming from someone who's a goody two shoes and likes characters like that, too.) I also think she may open up over time since we'll definitely be seeing her again.

I'd rather her keep that personality, we don't see female characters being allowed to remain serious too often, they almost always have a sarcastic side to balance it. Also, I don't think we've seen an unfriendly rival since Trip (Gladion had shades of that only occasionally).

 

[Max1996]

Yeah, this is what I mentioned earlier about the dead silences. I'm sure that they could have taken 2 minutes of those to at least see the ending of Go's battle.

Those moments were for tension, I believe. For me, it certainly worked.

 

[marshiyanmisuta]

* It's not surprising that she beat Corni, as she' always shown as equal in Satoshi.
* I sometimes really don't understand you, those silent moments were great!
* I don't think Saitou's "thank you" should be counted as a thank you for Satoshi, as it's just part of formality, and she's most likely thanking her own pokémon.
* I don't have a problem with not seeing Gou's "first victory," as it would be inappropriate to showcase it in this episode. On the other hand it seems weird to me that Gou is able to beat Karate Master. Unless there is a hidden joke about that guy's being actually weak, I think it wasn't even a serious fight.

 

[a230]

If ash had used Dragonite and Gengar he would have win easily. I don't know why he goes with Farfetch'd and riolu. Yes they need character developement, but Dragonite and Gengar too. Would have been a great opportunity to make them shine.

 

[FinnishPokéFan92]

If ash had used Dragonite and Gengar he would have win easily. I don't know why he goes with Farfetch'd and riolu. Yes they need character developement, but Dragonite and Gengar too. Would have been a great opportunity to make them shine.

I'm pretty sure those two would've had a hard time too. Bea is no slouch. She's well aware of her Pokémon's weaknesses and surely has wats of countering them.

 

[PkmnTrainerV]

I'm pretty sure those two would've had a hard time too. Bea is no slouch. She's well aware of her Pokémon's weaknesses and surely has wats of countering them.

I’m pretty sure they’d have an easier time than a literal hatchling. I know why Ash used Riolu and Farfetch’d (that’s why I’m not complaining a lot), but that doesn’t mean that Gengar and Dragonite would’ve jobbed as hard. Dragonite pretty much single handedly defeated Korrina with neutral and resistant moves.

 

[jbmasta]

I'm pretty sure those two would've had a hard time too. Bea is no slouch. She's well aware of her Pokémon's weaknesses and surely has wats of countering them.

It wouldn't fit with the narrative the episode is presenting. Ash needed to break his winning streak and realise that not every opponent was going to be as easy as he thought. If he used Dragonite or Gengar the writers would have had to nerf them to justify them losing.

 

[FinnishPokéFan92]

It wouldn't fit with the narrative the episode is presenting. Ash needed to break his winning streak and realise that not every opponent was going to be as easy as he thought. If he used Dragonite or Gengar the writers would have had to nerf them to justify them losing.

Ash wants to give experience to his less evolved Pokémon too. Dragonite and Gengar are both fully evolved and already shown off their skills.

 

[PkmnTrainerV]

Ash wants to give experience to his less evolved Pokémon too. Dragonite and Gengar are both fully evolved and already shown off their skills.

They’re quite literally being neglected and got a grand total of one chance to show off their skills. Compare that to Riolu. Those two would've had a hard time but not necessarily lost against Bea. Dragonite for instance defeated Mega Lucario with prior damage, something which Grapploct presumably did too. They’ve got a much, much better chance of winning against Bea and hold the same accomplishment as her Pokémon.

I understand why Ash is using fighting types against Bea but that doesn’t mean that Dragonite and Gengar aren’t being neglected. Riolu winning so soon with no major training rubs me the wrong way since it’s implied that these Pokémon defeated Korrina and I simply don’t see a hatchling comparing to them.

 

[GrookeyFan77]

Lets... REWIEW!!!
The Battle Was GOOD!!
FINALL SOME GOOD ASH DEVELOPMENT!!
FARFETCH'D GETS SCREEN TIME!!!! oh it lost...
8/10