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Review XY100: Decisive Battle in the Ninja Village! Gekogashira VS Kirikizan!!

What's wrong? Why haven't anyone posted a review of this episode yet? Anyway, this episode was really interesting, and Ash's Frogadier evolved into a Greninja and a brief appearance of Ash Greninja! Burn! Pokemon Challenge was quite good. I'm giving 9/10.
 
Really pleased to see an episode where the village was self-sufficient enough to save itself. Was really dreading Satoshi just taking over and saving the world so nice to see that the main, main battle was actually Ippei's Geckouga vs Manyula.

The multitude of simultaneous battles made it much more realistic (for a change everyone is getting on with it! Only stupid bit was when they stopped to watch froggie evolve) but also contributed towards a slightly rag-tag feel to the episode. Overall I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous episode (I always prefer setup to battle ones though) but still a satisfying end to the 2-parter.
 
Has there ever been another episode with so much simultaneous battling going on? It was amazing.
 
This episode was an awesome one, but only because Frogadier evolved.

I'm saying this because...

-Plot was uninteresting and poor written.
-The ninja enemies were far more weaker than they showed to be in the previous episode.

I mean, once defeated, they just say "sorry, lol, bye"? didn't they were supose to be evil?
Also, does anyone else agree with me that the appearance of team rocket was totally pointless and awkward....again?
Seriously...they just got owned by some ramdon pokemon even before the opening started.

What I'm trying to say is, by the way they ended the previous episode, I though this one was going to be EPIC! :(
 
Well...Serena and Shinobu being trapped was utterly pointless. Same with TR's entire appearance (not that I wanted them to stick around). I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see Saizo since he lives there and everything, but I sure didn't expect him to show up out of nowhere like that to save Ash and Sanpei.

Skipping all the dialogue since I don't know what's happening:p

I'm glad Serena and Clemont joined in on the battle, but I wish they would have done more than just commanding the same attack over and over. Once again Frogadier does something special through an act of saving Pikachu. Nice that he's evolved, too bad his evolution is hideous. I was pretty surprised that Ash just knew Greninja had learned Water Shuriken without Greninja using it first or checking his Pokedex. The Ash-Greninja transformation was epic, but I was surprised that it didn't last very long. I thought they'd show off more of it in its first appearance. I guess that just leaves more to see later.

My only one real nitpick with this episode is that once again, several dark-types were using ghost-type moves while ghost-types where using dark-type moves (Yeah, it was just Gengar, but still). I think Sanpei's Greninja was the only dark-type that actually used a dark-type move. That just annoys me so much.

But overall, a pretty cool episode. I don't like Greninja as a species, but I am looking forward to seeing how Ash does with this new transformation with his Greninja. 8/10.
 
Good episode. Frogadier evolution into Greninja has put a stop to the water starter curse that some people go on about. Disappointed that it learned Water Shruiken even though it matches the ninja them. I would have prefer Night Slash but at least Ash has Greninja now. It's transformation into AshGreninja is impressive. I give this a 9/10.
 
I was pretty surprised that Ash just knew Greninja had learned Water Shuriken without Greninja using it first or checking his Pokedex.
When he dex'd it (which I think was immediately post-evo and before he commanded any moves) water shuriken was mentioned as Geckouga's movez.
 
~Sanpei's Greninja, and by extension Sanpei himself, is a disgrace. It gets its ass kicked in every episode its been in so far. Every time!

~The whole ninja plot seemed outlandish and stupid. It was merely a glorified device to evolve Ash's Frogadier.

~Kagetomo and Heidayu get away scott free while Kagetomo's followers are all tied up and escorted out like felons? What happened to them anyway? Was Kagetomo's rampage on the village even warranted if his personal vendetta was solved in several minutes?

~I'm happy Serena took initiative to battle the ninja alongside Clemont. In fact, the multitude of battles was well done-except for the awkward moment in which everyone stopped to watch Frogadier's evolution.

~There has never been 3 species of the same final evolution starter in one episode. Greninja, Greninja, Greninja everywhere. And with that said, it was nice to see one of my favorite starter lines so nicely animated.

~Ash-Greninja was very, very underwhelming. Not only was the transformation brief and totally random, but no one commented on it until after the fact! Wouldn't you discuss with Ash how his Greninja achieved the power of the Greninja of legend? I assume that Ash & his friends can talk about it later down the road, but it's still pretty odd.

~Poor Team Rocket. They didn't deserve to be dispatched so unceremoniously like that. They literally got less than a minute of screen time. In that case, they probably shouldn't have been featured if the writers weren't even going to give them anything substantial to do.
 
~Poor Team Rocket. They didn't deserve to be dispatched so unceremoniously like that. They literally got less than a minute of screen time. In that case, they probably shouldn't have been featured if the writers weren't even going to give them anything substantial to do.

I think that's what the general problem is that people tend to have with Team Rocket.
 
Just as a reminder, review threads are not the place to discuss general issues with the Japanese version or for the sub vs. dub argument. If you want to discuss those topics, please take those to their own threads. Episode review threads are to primarily discuss the episode in question. Any further off-topic discussion will result in infractions. Please continue with more on-topic discussions here. Thank you.
 
I actually like the way they went with the whole Ash Greninja transformation.

The transformation was random in order to have Ash in awe. Which is good since he shouldn't really be able to control something he doesn't fully understand yet. I don't even think Greninja knew what the hell happened to him. lol

Props for showing us everyone gather up in order to discuss how the rescue mission will go down.

I found it funny how Sanpei's greninja was treated and that his brothers pokemon received better treatment. I guess they're stating experience will trump most of the time?

I REALLY liked how they included everyone in the rescue mission and not just leave them behind. The action was great so no complains there.

TR though. Utterly obliterated right at the beginning. Like I said before they were just there to eat up precious screen time. They could have at least let them witness Frogdier evolving.

Overall a very good episode that's deserves a 9/10.
 
My curiosity as far as it gets, the mystery behind the recent pseudo-mega Greninja had gone escalated. Like Perpetual Phoenix said, Ash neither knew any of those and still got lots to learn before he could control it.

Thoughts ahead, I would like to see *spoiler* AZ on debut as he's the only person who could be assumed knows what it is about.
 
It is good that we will likely to see Kagetomo and Heidayū again, as they are travelling to protect humanity now. It would be interesting to see they appear to help against Team Flare or the evil Malamar, as we know how powerful their Pokémon are.
 
All that build up for absolute nothing. This episode is duller than I had ever imagine, said by a person who came into this episode with minimum expectations, as the previous episode is nowhere near any good. I don't know if I should be happy because I was not so disappointed with the minimum expectations or should be sad because I still managed to feel disappointments after I imagined the worst scenario possible.

Battles do not amuse me, unless they involves strategies, especially those that are smart, like most XY gym battles. But this episode, frankly, has none of them. This is very very disappointing. Clemont and Serena's involvement is too short and did not give any bonus points to the episode.

And Hilbert is right about the whole plot is stupid and outlandish. And it only functions to over-glorify Greninja evolution and the special form. No trial, no justification, and a total slap on the face for the whole Ninja Village, as someone who has absolutely zero knowledge in Ninjitsu is somehow the chosen one. IN YOUR FACE IPPEI! NIHEI! SANPEI! HA HA HA!

This episode is just bad. Like really really bad. I totally regret rushing just to watch this episode. It took me a whole day to really get over the disappointment to write this review, it is that bad.
 
I like how an entire village of ninja, some of whom walk around with swords on their backs, use pokemon battles of all things to solve their problems.

Yeah yeah, the show's called Pocket Monsters and not Ninja Fight Time or whatever, I get that. But still.
 
~Sanpei's Greninja, and by extension Sanpei himself, is a disgrace. It gets its ass kicked in every episode its been in so far. Every time!
I get why they had Sanpei pair up with Ash against Heidayu but at the same time, Sanpei should've been fighting his own ninja. Besides I'm not upset with it because it should've just been Ash vs Heidayu.

~The whole ninja plot seemed outlandish and stupid. It was merely a glorified device to evolve Ash's Frogadier.
I don't get this. Because couldn't all evolutions fall under the same logic of all plots being outlandish and stupid, and it honestly would be a subjective thing if you actually liked an episode.

~Kagetomo and Heidayu get away scott free while Kagetomo's followers are all tied up and escorted out like felons? What happened to them anyway? Was Kagetomo's rampage on the village even warranted if his personal vendetta was solved in several minutes?
Well for one we don't know what happened to them, as they are throwaway characters AKA not characters with names or unique designs.

As for Kagetomo and Heidayu, I assume it happened because of some kind of ninja rule/law where Kagetomo accepts defeat and accepts his role. Maybe, I don't know.

And I could be wrong, but honestly if they could resolve this rather diplomatically no need to be bitter and call the police, or execute them.

~I'm happy Serena took initiative to battle the ninja alongside Clemont. In fact, the multitude of battles was well done-except for the awkward moment in which everyone stopped to watch Frogadier's evolution.
A Pokemon is evolving and making loud noises, you don't just keep battling until its over. I don't get why people had a problem with this, unless they don't like the fact that god forbid Frogadier evolving actually was the center of attention.

~Ash-Greninja was very, very underwhelming. Not only was the transformation brief and totally random,
One, it was supposed to be brief, an indication that there will be a storyline arc in the future dedicated to it.

but no one commented on it until after the fact! Wouldn't you discuss with Ash how his Greninja achieved the power of the Greninja of legend? I assume that Ash & his friends can talk about it later down the road, but it's still pretty odd.
Well everyone does have the memory of a Goldfish (yes I know that's just a myth and stuff) but the problem, and legitimate concerns for the episode is that there was too much going on, to sit back and talk about it, and that the episode did NOT revolve around Frogadier/Greninja.

~Poor Team Rocket. They didn't deserve to be dispatched so unceremoniously like that. They literally got less than a minute of screen time. In that case, they probably shouldn't have been featured if the writers weren't even going to give them anything substantial to do.
I believe that's the joke, and from trying to see it from the perspective of the writer I would assume that Team Rocket would have been there trying to do what they did. However the episode has no time or place for them, so bye bye Team Rocket.


And Hilbert is right about the whole plot is stupid and outlandish. And it only functions to over-glorify Greninja evolution and the special form. No trial, no justification,

1. Frogadier's evolution into Greninja was justified, we've seen this same song and dance from before. Froakie's evolution, Monferno's evolution, Tranquill's evolution just to name a few that had very similar evolution to Frogadier.

2. Why do you think Ash Greninja only appeared briefly to give everyone a taste of it, especially the Ninja Village people, but so that there can be a future trial storyline arc. If Ash Greninja appeared battling against Wulfric, then the Ninja Village WON'T know about it. At least know this opens another future Ninja Village arc that will revolve around Ash Greninja.

and a total slap on the face for the whole Ninja Village,
They didn't care and we're more fascinated by it than bitter.

as someone who has absolutely zero knowledge in Ninjitsu is somehow the chosen one. IN YOUR FACE IPPEI! NIHEI! SANPEI! HA HA HA!

Well 1. Nihei as far as we know doesn't even have a Greninja, so I'm not sure why he'd have a problem with it. And Nihei could easily have a mega Venusaur if he really wanted the power boost.

What a lot of people don't seem to understand about Ash Greninja is that it is blatantly a very very rare phenomenon. While I do expect the natural version of this that will likely be in the games (Synchro evolution) while it might appear in the anime more commonly. (JUST TO CLARIFY) I know Ash Greninja is anime only, that DOES NOT mean that Hero Greninja is anime only or Sychro Greninja.

I think the point is, that only SPECIAL Pokemon (anime wise) can synchro evolve with their trainer. We can see from Ash's Greninja backstory that Ash's Greninja is indeed more special than any other Pokemon.

This isn't just a random Froakie that Professor Sycamore handed out to trainers, but it had very different beginning than most if not all starter Pokemon. It's possible the way that Froakie came to be is what marked it to have this amazing form change in the future.

It's very obvious only special Pokemon can have these kinds of form changes. It's not an insult to anyone because it's not about just having this great bond with your Pokemon. Look I can see it being unfair, but you know that's just how the world works. There are people who are naturally inclined for many things that are talented in whatever subject they have a talent in, and I don't. But I don't blame other people for being naturally superior to me. So why blame Ash and his Greninja just because they are special and can have these kind of form changes.
 
1. Frogadier's evolution into Greninja was justified, we've seen this same song and dance from before. Froakie's evolution, Monferno's evolution, Tranquill's evolution just to name a few that had very similar evolution to Frogadier.

2. Why do you think Ash Greninja only appeared briefly to give everyone a taste of it, especially the Ninja Village people, but so that there can be a future trial storyline arc. If Ash Greninja appeared battling against Wulfric, then the Ninja Village WON'T know about it. At least know this opens another future Ninja Village arc that will revolve around Ash Greninja.

There is a few problems.

1. Frogadier into Greninja is justified yes. BUT! Why at this timing? The evolution is basically shoved it just so that Ash-Greninja can make an appearance.

People kept saying that the trial will be afterwards, but that is where the problem is from. Ash-Greninja is something that is difficult to achieve, its a legend. Why Ash and Greninja gets to trigger it at the first place when it is NOT MASTERED? I mean how can you be THE Hero Greninja when you can't even fight like one????? This is the only reason I don't buy this explaination.

They didn't care and we're more fascinated by it than bitter. Well 1. Nihei as far as we know doesn't even have a Greninja, so I'm not sure why he'd have a problem with it. And Nihei could easily have a mega Venusaur if he really wanted the power boost.

Yeah, they get things as long as its not related to Ninjitsu, the one thing that makes them any special in the anime.. totally legit.

What a lot of people don't seem to understand about Ash Greninja is that it is blatantly a very very rare phenomenon.While I do expect the natural version of this that will likely be in the games (Synchro evolution) while it might appear in the anime more commonly. (JUST TO CLARIFY) I know Ash Greninja is anime only, that DOES NOT mean that Hero Greninja is anime only or Sychro Greninja.

I think the point is, that only SPECIAL Pokemon (anime wise) can synchro evolve with their trainer. We can see from Ash's Greninja backstory that Ash's Greninja is indeed more special than any other Pokemon.

This isn't just a random Froakie that Professor Sycamore handed out to trainers, but it had very different beginning than most if not all starter Pokemon. It's possible the way that Froakie came to be is what marked it to have this amazing form change in the future.

It's very obvious only special Pokemon can have these kinds of form changes. It's not an insult to anyone because it's not about just having this great bond with your Pokemon. Look I can see it being unfair, but you know that's just how the world works. There are people who are naturally inclined for many things that are talented in whatever subject they have a talent in, and I don't. But I don't blame other people for being naturally superior to me. So why blame Ash and his Greninja just because they are special and can have these kind of form changes.

Froakie is special, and I have been shown to be extremely pleased by that. Ash is no ordinary trainer, and I have been pleased with that. But Ash and Greninja being able to somehow sync with each other? I don't buy it. As I said before, Greninja cant be THE Hero Greninja when he can't fight like one, placing the trial afterward is frankly stupid. It is not a form that is achieved anymore, it is one that is born with Froakie and Ash just because they are special, and that defeats the whole purpose of even having a trial. The 'Oh dude, you are the chosen one, there is a trial ahead but you can handle it anyways just because you are the chosen one' is one of the WORST writing. Don't get me started on that. I'd take a 'Only the chosen one can pass the trial' anytime of the day.
 
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There is a few problems.

1. Frogadier into Greninja is justified yes. BUT! Why at this timing? The evolution is basically shoved it just so that Ash-Greninja can make an appearance.

People kept saying that the trial will be afterwards, but that is where the problem is from. Ash-Greninja is something that is difficult to achieve, its a legend. Why Ash and Greninja gets to trigger it at the first place when it is NOT MASTERED? I mean how can you be THE Hero Greninja when you can't even fight like one????? This is the only reason I don't buy this explaination.



Yeah, they get things as long as its not related to Ninjitsu, the one thing that makes them any special in the anime.. totally legit.



Froakie is special, and I have been shown to be extremely pleased by that. Ash is no ordinary trainer, and I have been pleased with that. But Ash and Greninja being able to somehow sync with each other? I don't buy it. As I said before, Greninja cant be THE Hero Greninja when he can't fight like one, placing the trial afterward is frankly stupid. It is not a form that is achieved anymore, it is one that is born with Froakie and Ash just because they are special, and that defeats the whole purpose of even having a trial. The 'Oh dude, you are the chosen one, there is a trial ahead but you can handle it anyways just because you are the chosen one' is one of the WORST writing. Don't get me started on that. I'd take a 'Only the chosen one can pass the trial' anytime of the day.

I've always believed that Ash Greninja is a form to be MASTERED not ACHIEVED after some random trail or training.

It happened in this episode like I said the Ninja Village created their "religion" around Hero Greninja, it's not anyone's fault but the believers if they misinterpreted it as a thing that needs to be achieved rather than mastered. Just because it happened to someone else, doesn't mean that other person knows everything.

The future trial with Ash and Greninja will be what helps Greninja master its new form. It never made sense for a new form to activate as it achieved something through training and trial, its something that someone should have access to, but just like some instances of MEGA EVOLUTION like Korrina, you master the form change.

And also for all we know Hero Greninja might actually be Ash Greninja, in that Ash travels through time with his Ash Greninja and that's how the legend begins.
 
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