Review SM077: Kuchinashi's Grand Trial! Lugarugan Awakens!!

[FinnishPokéFan92]

I think, during alola Pokemon league, Ash may be use his old Pokemon corresponding to his z crystal.. because still not confirmed about last two slots Pokemon of Ash..( poipole will return to ultra world before Pokemon league)

What sort of solid evidence do you have to support that claim?

 

[Him1612]

What sort of solid evidence do you have to support that claim?

Of course I don't any solid evidence. Just guessing.. there's no more potential Pokemon for Ash other than jangmo-o, golisopod.. (but Ash doesn't obtained both I think)
And also why Ash obtaining so many z crystal? Just for 1 time use? I don't think so. Right now rock z and normal z crystals are useless..

 

[PkmnTrainerV]

there's no more potential Pokemon for Ash other than jangmo-o, golisopod.. (but Ash doesn't obtained both I think)

Minior and Jangmo-o are both possibilities at this point.

 

[FinnishPokéFan92]

I was expecting Ash to win. But I like how they made Tapu Nuku drop a Sitrus Berry for Lycanroc so that it surviving three Pokémon in a row wouldn't seem too unbelievable.

I was also expecting Ash to get a Lycanium Z as a reward, since Team Rocket already has the Darkinium Z. Also, for those wondering why Ash's Rockium Z didn't transform into Lycanium Z like his Electrium Z did into Pikashunium Z, it's because that Z-Crystal is unique to Ash and Pikachu.

I wasn't expecting was Lycanroc learning Counter in this episode, but hey, makes sense. Now it knows moves from both the Midday and Midnight Forms. I'm pretty sure it replaced either Rock Throw or Tackle

What I really wasn't expecting was just how small the cast was in this episode. Even with the port scene at the end, only Ash, Acerola, and Nanu appeared in this episode. That's only three humans. Less than the four in "Ash Catches a Pokémon" and "Burgh and Sewaddle in Pinwheel Forest!". We have ourselves a new record, ladies and gentlemen!

 

[radek.tadajewski.7]

I was expecting Ash to win. But I like how they made Tapu Nuku drop a Sitrus Berry for Lycanroc so that it surviving three Pokémon in a row wouldn't seem too unbelievable.

I was also expecting Ash to get a Lycanium Z as a reward, since Team Rocket already has the Darkinium Z. Also, for those wondering why Ash's Rockium Z didn't transform into Lycanium Z like his Electrium Z did into Pikashunium Z, it's because that Z-Crystal is unique to Ash and Pikachu.

I wasn't expecting was Lycanroc learning Counter in this episode, but hey, makes sense. Now it knows moves from both the Midday and Midnight Forms. I'm pretty sure it replaced either Rock Throw or Tackle

What I really wasn't expecting was just how small the cast was in this episode. Even with the port scene at the end, only Ash, Acerola, and Nanu appeared in this episode. That's only three humans. Less than the four in "Ash Catches a Pokémon" and "Burgh and Sewaddle in Pinwheel Forest!". We have ourselves a new record, ladies and gentlemen!

Ooh, only three humans in this episode? That never happened in the series so far to include at least three humans in one episode. Sometimes, only 4 humans were included in one episode, that breaks a new record of having three human characters.

 

[Gengarzilla]

Between Electroweb and Counter, it really feels like Ash has become a potentially more well rounded battler during his Ula'ula stay. My only gripe with this arc is that we never saw Molayne somewhere; I've been looking forward to his physical debut after that picture of him with Sophocles.

Maybe some other time, I guess?

 

[KyseL]

And again Ash wins with a lucky move learn. *SIGHT*
I already said how much i hate that.
He litteraly does'nt need to train in order to win "hard" battles.
I know that SM075 was training, but a single battle, silly flashbacks and some talking shouldnt be enough to win against FCKIN NANU. Im starting to think that Ash set the "Noob" dificulty.

Rotom in that episode straight up says that Ash trains like that often, there's a point at which you can't just toss mock battles every episode without taking away from the character instead of adding to it.

 

[dman_dustin]

And again Ash wins with a lucky move learn. *SIGHT*

Given the general concept of the anime, I feel like Nanu is at fault for allowing Lycanroc to learn Counter, rather than an example of DEM.

I feel like a Pokemon that can learn a specific move, if its hit multiple time with the same move, it sort of makes sense that out of sheer desperation that the Pokemon in question would eventually pull off the same attack. Counter being a move that would make tons of sense, by that theory giving what it does.

Being tossed around by Krookodile quite a few times, to being absolute clawed the crap out of by Sableye only to deal with Alolan Persian with all that physical contact, I feel like was just asking for Lycanroc to learn counter out of sheer desperation and I think it does technically make sense.

I don't like it, I don't like the move, but I feel like Nanu was asking for it, for going after Lycanroc with all those contact moves.

 

[Mayla]

They had me at Mezase Pokemon Master.

 

[Rudrarocks]

Well another week another great ep.
Sm never fails to impress
I loved how nanu's personality matched with the dark type. He wanted to break ash with mental torture. Typical dark type user.
I loved the battle. Not as good as olivia one but still good.
I also liked the cute pikachu moments. Pikachu carrying ash' s bag at the start was cute!

 

[FinnishPokéFan92]

And again Ash wins with a lucky move learn.

I didn't see Counter being a move that solved the battle.

 

[Gabo2oo]

I can't complain much about an episode where the opponent's strategy actually involves provoking the challenger himself. The battle had some typical SM shortcomings, but overall, it provided a really interesting scenario. Perhaps most problems could've been avoided if they showed us a more damaged/tired Lycanroc throughout the battle.

The animation fell flat at some points, but that was mostly due to bad fluidity rather than actual off-model drawings. The shots themselves were actually decent at worst, and simply gorgeous at best, such as when Ash looses his cool. That's another interesting point; you don't expect seeing this side of him in SM, but the trigger was very in-character for him, IMO.

I was enjoying the battle already, but Mezase Pokémon Master was when it 100% won me over. I'm not particularly biased towards that song (specially the 2017 version), I just believe it was the best musical choice they could've done in such a moment.

By the way, the battle was 14 minutes long and at no point felt slow-paced to me. I think that's worth mentioning.

 

[FinnishPokéFan92]

Perhaps most problems could've been avoided if they showed us a more damaged/tired Lycanroc throughout the battle.

I personally feel that Tapu Bulu giving Lycanroc a Sitrus Berry took care of that problem.

 

[Him1612]

Lycanrock focused episode is over now, which leaving torracat and Rowlet....
I wonder which crystal Ash could obtained in last grand trial?? Ground z crystal??

 

[Gard81]

I think Kuchinashi is the sole reason this battle was actually passable. Satoshi on the other hand only reinforced my current dislike of him.

 

[Idon'tcare]

Can we just talk about how amazing the art and animation was on Satoshi when he started to lose his cool?

My favourite one has to be the details on Satoshi's scared face when he's yelling at Lugarugan to calm down.

Yes there was average animation too, but it was never stiff and shows how much it's improved in Sun & Moon.

I said that scene of Satoshi is my favourite, but I should have said it is one of my favourites.

Because the animation on Satoshi when he yells "I'm Lugarugan's partner!" is also incredible.

 

[Gabo2oo]

I personally feel that Tapu Bulu giving Lycanroc a Sitrus Berry took care of that problem.

I didn't see much of a difference in his state. Lycanroc was just panting a bit, and only right before Tapu Bulu threw the berry. Some scratch marks or showing Lycanroc tired from a previous point in the battle wouldn't have hurt.

Edit: On second thought, maybe it's Nanu's Pokémon the ones who should've lasted just a little longer instead. It seemed as if they were good at avoiding direct damage, but it only took a couple of hits to land for Lycanroc defeat them.

 

[marshiyanmisuta]

So... I was joking back then, but guess what, Alolan trainers are really bad at pokemon battles! All of Kuchinashi's pokemon are glass cannons that defeated after a single hit. And I didn't even mention how he had to use three pokemon to challenge Satoshi.

 

[Hassel]

I miss Nanu already.

 

[Nicolas721]

Positive points:
-The drama caused by Nanu teasing Ash. He is the only good character in the games to not act friendly towards the PC, so it's nice to see that trait brought into the anime.
-Lycanroc's red eyes being explained.
-A Z-move being used to counter another Z-move.

Negative points:
-All the battles being the same. Lycanroc gets owned, Ash does something creative and wins. Not even BW battles were like this.
-Stone Edge being forgotten in the first battle.
-Pikachu and Acerola not helping Ash in realizing that he was being teased.
-The episode not taking place at night. This is Ash's first battle against a Dark-type specialist, for Arceus' sake!

5/10