#Ash VS Misty! A One-on-One on the Beach!!

[eyecantread]

The new Pokemon episode is sending me back to my days as a preteen shipper. No, for real, Pokeshipping was like the very first thing I shipped ever and this is such a burst of happy nostalgia.

[mokkemusic]

Sub Episodes OS or other Pokeshipping/Misty Mentions/Cameos that are translated!

Full Sub episodes by kissanime.au (NOTE: This list does not include the movies cause all have been subbed even Master Mind of Mirage Pokemon)

(ALL 4 SUN & MOON EPISODES)

(DP Buizel your way out of this)

(SUB ONLY, NO ENGLISH TITLE) Ep250 (The Ice Cave!)

Ep167 A Hot Water Battle (The Three of the Jungle! Battle in the Hot Springs!!)

Ep164 Carrying On! (The Carrier Poppo of the Poppo Store!)

Ep152 The Totodile Duel (Who Gets to Keep Waninoko!? Satoshi VS Kasumi!) Ep148 No Big Woop! (Lots of Upah)

Ep146 Tricks of the Trade (Sonansu and the Pokemon Swap Meet!!)

Ep70 Go West Young Meowth (Nyarth’s A-I-U-E-O)

Ep46 Attack of the Prehistoric Pokemon (Resurrection!? Fossil Pokemon!) Ep45 The Song of Jigglypuff (Sing! Purin!) Ep44 The Problem with Paras (Paras and Parasect) Ep43 The March of the Exeggutor Squad (The Great Nassy Squad Match!) Ep42 Showdown at Dark City (Showdown! Pokémon Gym! ) Ep41 Wake Up Snorlax (Wake Up! Kabigon!) EP40 The Battling Eevee Brothers (The Four Eievui Brothers) Ep39 Pikachu’s Goodbye (Forrest of Pikachu) Snow Way Out! (Iwark as Bivouac) (Not Aired) Holiday Hi-Jynx (Rougela’s Christmas) (Not Aired) Electric Soilder Porygon (Computer Warrior Porygon) Ep37 Ditto’s Mysterious Mansion (Metamon and the Copycat Girl) Ep36 The Bridge Bike Gang (Stormy Cycling Road) Ep35 The Legend of Dratini (The Legend of Miniryu) Ep34 The Kangaskhan Kid (Garura’s Lullaby) Ep33 The Flame Pokemon-athon! (The Great Fire Pokemon Race!) Ep32 The Ninja Poke-Showdown (Sekichiku Ninja Showdown!) Ep31 Dig Those Diglett! (Lots of Digda!) Ep30 Sparks Fly for Magnemite (Do Coil Dream of Electric Mice!?) Ep29 The Punchy Pokemon (Fighting Pokemon! The Great Battle!) Ep28 Pokemon Fashion Flash (Rokon! Breeder Showdown!) Ep27 Hypno’s Naptime (Sleeper and Pokemon Hypnotism!?) Ep26 Pokemon Scent-sation! (Erika and Kusaihana) Ep25 Primeape Goes Bananas (Don’t Get Angry, Okorizaru!) Ep24 Haunter versus Kadabra (Ghost VS Esper) Ep23 The Tower of Terror (Capture at the Pokemon Tower!) Ep22 Abra and the Psychic Showdown (Casey! Psychic Showdown!) Ep21 Bye Bye Butterfree (same title) Ep20 The Ghost of Madien’s Peak “The Ghost Pokemon and the Summer Festival) Ep19 Tentacool & Tentacruel (Menokurage Dokukurage) Ep18 Beauty and the Beach (Holiday at Aopulco) Ep17 Island of the Giant Pokemon (same title) Ep16 Pokemon Shipwreck (Pokemon Adrift) Ep15 Battle Aboard the St. Anne (Battle on the St. Annu!) Ep14 Electric Shock Showdown (Electric Shock Showdown! Kuchiba Gym) Ep13 Mystery at the Lighthouse (Masaki’s Lighthouse) Ep12 Here Comes the Squirtle Squad (Enter the Zenigame Squad) Ep11 Charmander - The Stray Pokemon (Stray Pokemon - Hiokage) Ep10 Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village (Fushigidane of the Hidden Village) Ep9 The School of Hard Knocks (Pokemon Victory Manual) Ep8 The Path to the Pokemon League (The Road to the Pokemon League) Ep7 The Waterflowers oc Cerulean City (The Suichūka of Hanada City) Ep6 Clefairy and then Moon Stone (Pippi and the Moon Stone) Ep5 Showdown in Pewter City (Nibi Gym Battle!) Ep4 Challenge of the Samurai (Challenge of the Samurai Boy!) Ep3 Ash Catches a Pokemon (I Caught a Pokemon!) Ep2 Pokemon Emergency! (Showdown! Pokémon Center!) Ep1 Pokemon-I Choose You! (Same title)

WRITTEN these are all credited to @zdbztumble AG132 The Scheme Team (Enishida and the Battle Frontier!) Ep273 Gotta Catch Ya Later! (Goodbye…and Then, Setting Off!) Ep267 Love, Pokemon Style (League Preliminaries! Battle of the Magmarashi Flame!!) Ep216 Dueling Heroes (Whirlpool Cup! A Big Battle in the Water Colosseum!!) Ep100 Wherefore Art Thou, Pokemon? (Nidoran’s Love Story) Ep93 Navel Maneuvers (Navel Gym! Snowy Mountain Battle!) Ep91 Bye Bye Psyduck (Goodbye Koduck! Come Again Golduck?

So that is everything I can find. I wanted to make this list for myself as a catalog of what I am still hoping one day to find or someday will be translated. I think the top ones that still need to be are.. (this is going in the order of what I would want most-least and not chronological)

AG Ep44 The Princess and the Togepi (Enter Kasumi! Togepy and the Mirage Kingdom!!)

AG Ep55 A Togepi Mirage! (Other Side of the Mirage! Togepy’s Paradise!)

Ep52 Princess vs. Princess (Fierce Fight! Pokemon Girls Festival)

EP61 The Misty Mermaid (Hanada Gym! Underwater Battle!)

Ep217 The Perfect Match! (Satoshi VS Kasumi! The Final Battle in the Whirlpool Cup!!)

Ep132 For Crying Out Loud (Crybaby Maril)

Ep103 Misty Meets Her Match (Yuzu Gym! Type Battle 3 VS 3!!!)

Ep110 The Stun Spore Detour (Nyoromo and Kasumi)

Ep157 The Fortune Hunters (Pokemon Fortune-Telling!? Battle Royal!)

Ep169 Hook, Line, and Stinker (Azumao! Fishing Battle!!)

Ep183 Troubles Brewing (The Five Sisters of Eievui! Battle at the Tea Convention!!)

Ep193 Sick Daze (Takeshi Collapses! A Dangerous Camp!!)

Ep155 Forest Grumps (Ringuma Shock!!)

Ep206 The Joy of Water Pokemon (The Nurse Joy Who Hates Water Pokemon!? Kasumi’s Angel)

Ep226 Espeon, Not Included (Eifie and Sakura! Enjoy City Once Again!!)

Ep256 Just Add Water (Ryugu Gym! Battle in the Water!)

Ep121 Illusion Confusion! (Hoho and the Mysterious Forest!)

(OS)Ep50 Who Get’s to Keep Togepi? (Who Gets to Keep Togepy!?)

(OS)Ep57 The Breeding Center Secret (The Secret of the Breeding Center)

THE LAST THING IS SOMETHING I HAD TO CHANGE FROM MY ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THIS CATALOG. I NOW DON’T NEED TO ASK THIS CAUSE THANKS TO @pokeshipping​ I NOW HAVE ALL THE RAWS OF ALL OF OS -THE AG MISY CAMEOS.

This is another thing I mean when I say “If anyone would like to help with this project in any way” I have already started to message a translator for work on some specific clips. It is going to cost to me so I have to pick and choose. So if someone does have something not on this list and knows a translator or anything that could be of some help and lower my bill it would be greatly appreciated. I want this so much for myself so thats why I will do some translations out of pocket but when I do have translated clips I will be posting them for your benefit too. So if anyone wants to help.. please do message me. Maybe you have something i’m not aware of already translated or on the back burner and if so I would really appreciate hearing about it :)

If somehow I actually had the SUBS for specific scenes in my possession I would do all the editing and embed them into the clips themselves. Even if they are just written translations it would be helpful.

[naratemari]

what are your favorite otp moments?

Hey anon I have a lots of favorite moments so depends on the fandom: the ones of the top of my head. SPOILERS ON SOME POSTS

Ichigo saving Rukia in soul society and he says that thanks to her the rain stopped, Rukia and Ichigo's goodbye after Aizen arc. (Bleach)

Chitoge and Raku finally getting together as a real couple on the top of the mountain ( nisekoi).

Shikamaru saying that Temari smile is beautiful, or when he says that the smile is like a desert sun and clean his darkness.( naruto)

Sasuke poking Sakura's forehead and saying thank you for everything, Sakura hugging him on the forest of the dead (naruto)

Edward confession to Winry ( fma)

Gohan teaching Videl how to fly, and the moment she says that she is pregnant (dbz)

Team rocket teasing Ash and Misty that they are a couple, Misty saving Ash on the movie ( pokemon)

Kari saying that T.K looks a lot grow up, and that maybe Kiss? Also when he helps her on digimon adventure tri second movie ( digimon)

Kyo's confession to Tohru, and he kissing her( fruits basket), ok I like Tohru x Yuki too so his confession on the beach.

Obito and Rin reunited on the heavens ( naruto)

Every Dazai and Chuuya moment, specially when Chuuya saves Dazai in the movie. (Bsd)

Uraraka seeing Midoriya training from the windom ( bnha)

Shoto acknowledging Momo for her skills ( bnha)

Gray and Juvia vs Lyon and Chelia, is very cute and sweet because they hold hands a lot (fairy tail)

Lucy hugging Natsu in the final chapter of fairy tail thanking him for everything( fairy tail)

Souma presenting Erina with the eggs Benedict fits for a queen, and the moments on the regiment of the cusine, also when he says she looks pretty when she smile.( shokugeki no souma)

Ray taking care of Emma and very worried when she disappears, Emma cuts her ear to them escape. ( TPN)

Nami crying for help and them Luffy gives his hat for her, also when she is very sick he cares he around in the snow to find a doutor for her. ( one piece)

Syaoran and Sakura making bears for each other, all Syaoran jealous moments of Sakura and Eriol together, Tomoyo teasing Syaoran about his feelings for Sakura, Sakura finally recognizing her feelings for him

[pkmnjesus]

P J’s PokéAni Rewind 2018

It is time for my 3rd annual year-end Tumblr tradition! If you haven’t seen last year’s post, check out my 2017 PokéAni Rewind which featured the Sun & Moon series‘ first full year run. 2018 was a pretty busy and stressful year for this blog with the schedule I put out for myself (coming back from a hiatus and even had a break at one point), and I appreciate all of my followers who’ve stuck with me through it whether or not you were interested in the posts I published on a specific date. The Pokémon anime has officially wrapped up for this year with the return of Brock & Misty just a couple of days ago, and it’s time to highlight some of the best episodes (this post will be following the original Japanese release dates) I personally found noteworthy. Without further delay, let’s take a look back at what the Sun & Moon series had to offer in 2018. LET’S GO!

JANUARY - Meanie to Mareanie

One year later after catching a Mareanie to add to the team, James has a crossroads deciding to release her in the wild to be with a Toxapex (before it evolved) she first loved because he believed that she’ll be much happier and be better taken care of. He couldn’t get her the Corsola necklace, and even got unintentionally mad at her after failing to catch a Frillish. But no matter how much James tries to get the two together, Mareanie continues to stay loyal to him. Even after going to the Kukui residence to think about what it overheard, Mareanie cares very deeply about her trainer (as seen in the flashbacks) despite how much tougher the Toxapex seem to be. Heck even after having a “fisticuffs” with the Toxapex at the beach, both respected each other and James even saved it from an attacking Tentacruel! He ended falling in love with him too after that LOL...everyone loves James! We rarely get to see episodes focusing on a specific Team Rocket Pokémon (Meowth excluded), so I’m happy to see some development between these two.

FEBRUARY - Evolution by (Nya)Heat

First revealed in the CoroCoro spoiler for that month, everyone was anticipating Ash’s Litten to evolve very soon. In this episode, we witnessed the debut of “The Masked Royal” and his Incineroar taking part in Battle Royals seen on Alolan television. While Ash & friends were inside the Battle Royal Dome watching a Battle Royal take place, Litten saw how strong Incineroar was and unexpectedly stepped into the ring to battle it. With The Masked Royal opening up his next Battle Royal match against Ash, Kiawe and Sophocles (who was also wearing a mask lol), he and Incineroar were able to wipe them all out. Litten was determined from that defeat and “fired-up” itself to get stronger by doing some special training with Ash along with the rest of his team. The next day, The Masked Royal offers a rematch in which they immediately accepted. In that re-match, we finally saw our little Litten evolve into one tough Torracat in a very fiery evolution sequence that you don’t see every day. Evolving wasn’t enough to beat Incineroar unfortunately, but on the bright side it was able to learn a new move in Flame Charge! Also it seems that Lana’s interest with muscles seem to be a running gag in the series xD As for The Masked Royal, I’m sure this wasn’t gonna be the last we see of him, and it’s really interesting to see a mentor-rival relationship he has with Ash. He does look familiar right? Hm.

MARCH - Team Skull vs. Illima’s Eeveelution Illusion

The pretty boy is here! Ilima makes his anime debut as an honorary graduate guest of the Pokémon school (which is a perfect fit since he did graduate from the Trainers’ school in the games). They do some cool activities with Kukui’s class like diving off a tree to a big pond of water and engage in some serious games of Pokémon Ping-Pong later on. When Ash challenges him to a battle, it got cut short due to some interference by a certain Team Skull gang. Tupp, who is apparently a childhood “rival” of Ilima’s, wants to some payback because of the fangirls he could have gotten if it weren’t for his Eevee and charming looks. He challenges him to a battle with Salandit, but what he got was a powerful dose of Ilima’s Eevium Z! The move Extreme Evoboost to be exact, and every Eeveelution was spiritually there to gave Ilima’s Eevee a big power boost and deliver a Z-move. Not only was he able to defeat Tupp with that move, but also stole the hearts of multiple female Team Skull grunts. I honestly feel bad for Tupp...guess he needs to humble down a bit? Speaking of Team Skull, I do love that these grunts are getting some screen-time in this episode. Now if only their leader or a “big sister” showed up (:

APRIL - Starship Sophocles

The spotlight goes to Sophocles this month for orchestrating a plan to bring an Ultra Beast back into space! In one of the Ultra Guardian missions to prevent the UBs from staying in the real world, Celesteela proved to be a real challenge being stuck to the ground for about 200 years! Before even receiving the mission, Sophocles knew about the UB being stuck there and even asked his classmates for help with attempting to shovel it out there. I just love the fact that everyone joins in without question to help a friend in need. He continued doing more research about Celesteela, but struggled to find a solution that wouldn’t hurt it. “The Celestial Starship” legend Sophocles grew up with meant a lot to him, and wanted to protect the Celesteela just like what that couple in that story did to the bamboo-looking celestial...protect it at all costs until it was able to find its way back to the moon. Thanks to further excavation and a Beast Ball method, anything is possible! Eventually after the Ultra Guardians fought off Team Rocket's dastardly plans, UB-04 was able to rocket its engines safety as it disappears into the atmosphere. Sophocles finally has a peace of mind. I’m glad that we got some Sophocles development out of it because we got to know more about his heart towards Pokémon rather than his already knowledgable brain. I honestly thought that Celesteela would get more of a menacing role, but I guess it just likes to smile every time there is full moon. Hopefully it’s there right now :D

MAY - The Ula'ula Trials with Nanu & Acerola

The whole month of May in general was one of my favorites because it mainly featured the appearances Kahuna Nanu and Acerola (along with her Shiny ghost Mimikyu) in the anime! Acerola with her sweet attitude toward the kids she was caring for and even made friends with a wild Gengar. Then we got the Kendama cat-master Nanu who has ties with Team Rocket’s Giovanni. He is the one responsible of how Team Rocket got their Z-ring in the first place to finally use the Darkium Z they’ve been carrying for a while. Ash (traveling by himself) spent a lot of time in Ula'ula Island just to get that Grand Trial with Nanu and my goodness did he earn it! After a painful first lost against the old man, Acerola (with an assistance form Tapu Bulu too) was able to help Ash out in improving himself for the epic rematch. Pikachu learning Electro Web, Rowlet being able to use Razor Leaf and Lycanroc controlling its berserk behavior when it gets wet PLUS even learning Stone Edge and Counter in the process! After all of what’s happened, the training paid off when Ash defeated Nanu in the Grand Trial rematch earning him a Lycanium Z. This pretty much felt like a really big mini-arc, and all I can just say is that I’m happy to see Nanu do that Darkium Z pose...not as good as it was in the game but it was still a treat. Also the Uncle relationship that Acerola has with Nanu is adorable. Back to Melemele we go!

JUNE - Lillieum Z

It’s Lillie’s time to shine once again getting some solid development with her trainer skills. I am talking about the episode where the entire class gets lost inside an ice cave that is apparently connected to Mount Lanakila. It’s one of those episodes where everyone pretty much gets split-up into groups. I just really love these types of episodes in general because we always get to see sub-groups from the main cast that we don’t really get to see since we usually see them in a full group or a 1-on-1 hangout. We got Ash & Kiawe on one end, while we have Lana, Rotom Dex and Kiawe’s Alolan Marowak on the other. However the main focus was on the trio of Mallow, Sophocles & Lille attempting to find their way to the others. They did starve, but luckily Mallow had some spare cookies to share! They also discover a group of wild Alolan Sandshrew  getting threatened by a Tyranitar while the group was self-training. Lillie had the courage to intervene and challenges Tyranitar to a Double Battle with Snowy and the Sandshrew leader of the group! After fending off the bully, that Sandshrew evolved (via an Ice Stone found by Sophocles’s Charjabug in which Snowy declined to evolve) into an Alolan Sandslash and gave Lillie an Icium Z to show their gratitude for protecting the group. You’d think that it would get stronger if Snowy would have evolved instead, but NOPE. Our little frosty Vulpix had the same attitude similar to Ash’s Pikachu and fought off that Tyranitar with its own power along with Lillie’s bravery. An Alolan Ninetales would be cool though, but I guess cuteness prevails over beauty...and that’s how I like it :3

JULY - Talk to the Legs

It’s time for dance lessons! I was actually on a tumblr break when this episode aired, so I never really got a chance to talk about it. In one of the more fun assignments Kukui has given out to the class, everyone is required (or at least attempt) in teaching their Pokémon how to dance for an upcoming Pokémon Dance recital activity. Mallow wanted a more traditional dance so she is teaching Steenee the Alola Hula with the help of our friendly old lady Anela at the Hau'oli market. On the day of the performances, Team Rocket crashes the party in style as Jessie & James were crossdressing once again! All were trapped in pairs of cages except Steenee, who was the only hope in saving the day. Once it leaped to one of the cages and stomping on it, it ended up learning the move Stomp. And if you’ve played the games and know your Pokémon, you know what happens next...enter Tsareena! With stronger and bigger legs, she immediately gets rid of Team Rocket’s capturing equipment. Bewear steals the show out of nowhere making its obligatory snagging of the Rocket fam after their plans have failed. Even after evolving, Rowlet is still attracted to the sweet scent, but ended up getting a hard kick in the air that’s more powerful than ever. Better luck next time b0rb...I also do want to add that I am pleased that we got to see Kiawe’s Wela dance with Marowak (I believe this was the first time we saw him doing that?). It’s just like how he is portrayed in the games!

AUGUST - Mina Connection

In another episode I missed on covering (during my break) was the beginning of the signs leading to the “Blinding One" (Japanese: Radiant One). One of my favorite and underrated characters from the Sun & Moon games, Mina (with her Ribombee) also makes an appearance as she served an important role to what Poipole was going to do. Our sticky Ultra Beast becomes inspired after seeing Mina’s paintings, and wanted to express the love Poipole has for its “Alolan family” using its ink. Mina also noticed how much it “like, like, loved” her paintings that she got inspired herself to draw a beautiful portrait of Ash, Kukui and Burnet (along with Poipole, Rotom Dex, Pikachu & Munchlax). That is pretty much Poipole’s Alolan family ever since getting caught by Ash. Lusamine and the others were thrilled to see how Poipole was expressing its emotions through the ink in hopes to further research the vague illustrations. Meanwhile, a certain Team Skull trio engaged in an art competition (hosted by Mina) that didn’t go so well after Tupp showed an awful (he tried his best!) drawing of his Salandit. Eventually Poipole had a dark dream of what looks to be other Poipoles and a Naganadel that looked to be very weak. Ever since that dream, Poipole started drawing very familiar shapes that seem to resemble the Blinding One.

SEPTEMBER - The United Islands of Alola

The conclusion to the Poipole/Necrozma arc is probably the biggest highlight for the series in 2018. From Gladion joining the Ultra Guardians, to Team Rocket’s Matori Matrix attempting catch a fused Necrozma, to Nebby returning to assist with the mission, to rescuing and healing a weakened Lunala, to visiting Poipole’s homeworld and hear a Naganadel talk in their minds...I’m at the edge of my seat! The whole time this arc felt like it could be one Pokémon movie. This should probably make-up for why there really isn’t an Alola-region based Pokémon movie for this series specifically. But going back on topic, the entire region of Alola was still in crisis as Necrozma absorbs all the Z-power the Ultra Guardians tried to strike back with, even after separating it from Nebby. So what does everyone do? UNITE! Not just the Ultra Guardians, not just the Aether Foundation, not just the Kahunas participating in the Manalo Festival, but Alola as a whole teamed up in various locations where citizens swarmed together and gave their “light” by doing Tapu Koko’s pose to bring Necrozma back to its normal form! In one last Ultra stand, Nebby (with Ash holding Solganium Z) and Lunala (with Gladion holding Lunalium Z) gave one final blow to Necrozma. After unleashing the combination of Z-moves, Ultra Necrozma rises from the light and uses its power to restore all the damage that has been done to Alola, thus ending the chaos ensuing in the region. In other news, Faba is probably the only person to know that Professor Kukui is indeed The Masked Royal after calling in his Incineroar to ward off the Matori Matrix.

Of course the most depressing thing out of all this is saying goodbye to our little sticky Poipole friend who had to go back to its home world. Before leaving, it painted Ash & Pikachu’s face as a goodbye gesture. The flashback scenes, and the music in the end was absolutely magnificent to top it all off! We’ll miss you old friend…the series isn’t over yet, so maybe we’ll see it again one day :’D

OCTOBER - Pika Pika Sunday Funday...~pika!

In the heels of releasing our Poipole friend back to its home world, the anime has officially made its move Sunday nights in Japan (episodes have always aired on Thursdays since 1997, so this was pretty historic). Our heroes obviously need some rest and good ol’ fun after what they’ve been through with the Necrozma crisis. We find Ash, Kiawe, and his little sister Mimo visit a Pikachu Valley where they meet a Pikarla, a huge Pikachu fangirl enthusiast. Pikarla gives everyone (including Rotom Dex) a set of Pikachu ear headbands and tails during their entire stay at the valley to the point where she gives them all Pika-names! She even gave Team Rocket some Pika-attire when they came in after Mimikyu hazes the valley in anger (you probably know why). As Team Rocket uses their Mimikium Z to capture all the Pikachu, Pikarla steps in and pulls down one of her wrist bracelets revealing a Z-Ring. She and her shiny Pikachu, Bancho, perform the Z-move Catastropika to release all the Pikachu that have been caught by Team Rocket as they blasted off in the distance (don’t worry Bewear catches them lol). Ash was interested with the move...now if only his Pikachu learned, or should I say re-learn, Volt Tackle :| In the end, Pikarla assembles all of the Pikachu in the valley that was rescued for a roll call with descriptive and specific names for each one. Unfortunately for Ash and Kiawe, they stuck around for that full roll call which literally took the entire day!

NOVEMBER - Hau long have we waited for him!?

FINALLY, Hau makes his long overdue appearance in the anime! Even though we haven’t seen his malasada loving personality yet, I’m just satisfied that we have a worthy rival and new friend for Ash. During this timeline, he still has yet to defeat his grandfather’s trial (Kahuna Hala) in which Ash already did. Impressed by his accolades, he challenges Ash to a battle with his Dartrix. Due to Rowlet’s lack of training, Ash is defeated but promises to beat Hau in their next rematch the following day. Determined for Rowlet to get stronger, he goes back to the place where our birb got raised. Thanks to Toucannon and our Trumbeak friends in a very unique training session (I mean with how Ash demonstrated Bullet Seed), Rowlet is now able to use Seed Bomb! During that process however, it did swallow an Everstone which does prevent it from evolving. When Ash gets his rematch with Hau, he is victorious and the seed spitting paid off! Hau is heavily upset by the loss (nearly tearing up), but quickly picks himself up vowing to battle Ash again after clearing Hala’s trial. I’m just so happy of Hau’s friendly but competitive rival attitude towards Ash, and actually seeing him as strong opponent not to be taken likely. As for our little round birb, I’m not surprised if it won’t be evolving anytime soon because of the Everstone it loves swallow, but hey you never know! One day it could get sick of it, and spit it out for good :3 Then it will grow into a healthy and powerful Decidueye! But for now, I guess the world still needs a lovable Rowlet at all times.

DECEMBER - The Eevee of the Sea, Nagisa

Eevee, where are you going? That has been the question for the past two months ever since this shaggy little Pokémon showed up in special shorts at every end of the episode. Well the Eevee finally reached its destination in the Alola region making friends with Pikachu and others. Meanwhile, Lana and her sisters are thrilled when they heard that their dad is finally coming home. While shopping for supplies for the warm welcome, Lana’s Popplio recognizes an Eevee that is getting chased by an Alolan Persian (the same one that bullied Litten before!) and decides to chase after it. After a whacky and adventurous run around the city, they were able to lose site of Pershie but ran into Team Skull grunts by the beach. When Rapp and Tupp have an argument (and a tug of war with Eevee’s body) on who gets to keep Eevee, Ash & friends were there to break it up! The grunts struck back with all their Pokémon ready for battle, but Lana decides to personally take it in her own hands and commands Popplio to use Aqua Jet, only to have it develop into a wonderful Surf attack. With Eevee joining by Popplio’s side, it gave the final attack with a big Double-Edge to send them flying. The highlight of all this is when Lana gets encouraged by her classmates to capture this ocean loving Eevee as her own, and I like the fact that she used Dive Ball to do it! Not just that, she also nicknames it “Nagisa” (from what I understand it means beach). This is what I’ve been wanting for the anime to have consistently in the past, to use different types of Poké balls and give more options for nicknames just like how it always offers us in the games. Not only did Popplio gain a best friend in Nagisa, but is now part of the Lana’s family with a brand new and clean haircut. It even gave her father the most welcoming and loving gesture of all...a tackle attack to the gut <3

Some honorable mentions…

2018 for PokéAni was one heck of an ULTRA year! It mainly revolved around the Ultra Guardians’ missions in bringing back the Ultra Beasts to where they came from. Other than that, we also got to see Lana & Mallow’s childhood past, the Wela Volcano Hikers return, Rotom Dex shenanigans with form changing and even joining the set of Detective Laki. We got 1-hour specials seeing Lana make friends with a Dewpider plus seeing Mallow’s big brother visiting home, and the recent 2-parter with Dia and his Zeraora in the mysterious Ultra Ruin. For Team Rocket, they temporarily get an Alolan Meowth in their base until it got promoted to HQ, but gets a permanent family member with a Stufful later on (Bewear’s child). We were introduced to the notorious Viren (you may know him as Bourgain in Japanese) who wanted to take down a family ranch, the Battle Royal Dome, and even build his own resort tower all for selfish profit! We also had fun ones like Ash dressing up as a female nurse the class helping Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center, a field trip to a hot spring paradise resort, and the class making their own school play. We also had bizarre ones like Faba accidentally shrinking Ash, Lillie & Sophocles, or Acerola’s haunted house turning into a real ghost Pokémon fantasy. I also want to mention one of the more emotional ones such as the Minior episode where we were first introduced to Molayne and his observatory. Such a strong theme of having precious memories with a sad outcome due to the nature of that certain Pokémon :(

Team Skull were featured in quite a couple of episodes this year as well, and I can’t wait to see what they bring in 2019! Could it finally be the year of Guzma? Or maybe it might be the year of The Masked Royal? We saw a lot of him too this past year, and I’m sure Professor Burnet would love to see more of that...she did hold his hand after all :> Overall, I like the fact that the Sun & Moon anime gave us a variety of different stories every week because of how different each theme and storytelling is. Just look at the list of episodes we’ve had this year, and it’s amazing how we still get some character development out of most of them. If you are still thinking on whether or not to continue watching the series (or if you never started yet), please do watch! It can only get better from here, and I’m sure we’ll get news of an Alola League sooner or later.

And there you have it! There are some moments that I didn’t mention here since this post as long as it already is, so I’ll stop here. If you’ve read everything I had to say (I probably got typos don’t I? lol), then thank you for your time! Feel free share your own favorite PokéAni moment 2018 with a reblog or a reply if you choose to do so. Thanks again for an amazing year, and it’s time for us to ENNJOOYYY 2019′s fun moments and maybe even some surprises. We ended the year with Brock & Misty, and we’re starting 2019 with Brock & Misty! Now that is how you end with a bang and kick-off a party. See y’all in 2019 in what possibly could be the last year for this series. Let’s go and make the most of it ;)

Happy New Year to all my followers, and the rest of the Pokémon fandom!

[danwhobrowses]

Tinfoil Discussions - Pokémon anime: Alola, Galar and the Fate of Ash Ketchum

So here’s a new tinfoil discussion, one of a different franchise. The One Piece Wano content got a whopping zero attention but who cares? I’d like to discuss this, especially given the uncertain nature of the upcoming series. I must warn you, there are spoilers in this, deep level spoilers. I’m not just talking about the events of Episode 138 recently released in Japan, I also want to discuss the nature of Episode 140′s title. If you wanna know about that stuff, Bulbapedia is a good shout.

The Stuff We Know Last week on the aftermath of Episode 137, Pokémon teased a new anime series, alluding to the fact that all regions would be visited in some manner. Leaving it at that, many things have circulated, the main question is: Is this the end of Ash Ketchum’s story? After all, Ash is on the precipice of winning the Manalo Conference, Alola’s first Pokémon League, all that’s left is to defeat Gladion - who has put off the search for his lost father to fight in the league but more on that later. The final title of the Sun and Moon series has not been announced, all we know is that by Episode 140, Guzzlord will hop dimensions onto this world. The Potential End of Ash Ash Ketchum has been the main protagonist for the anime for over 2 decades, I was a boy watching him, Misty and Brock travel Kanto. On every (official) region however, Ash has fallen short of the Pokémon League, sometimes poorly, sometimes impressively. Many people thought last season in Kalos would be his time, and many of those people were angry when he didn’t, so Alola can be seen as retribution - second attempt and all. Should he win the league, the question is what then? Winning the league should enable Ash to fight the Elite Four, but it may be considered a stopping point since it means that Ash has no true reason to continue resetting. So is Pokémon planning on closing time on Ash Ketchum? The movies have not followed his anime journey anymore and there is so much you can do. Personally, this is a worrisome thought but - because there’s always a but - I don’t think this is the route they should or will go. The Outcome of the Manalo Conference The Manalo Conference is the name of the Alola League, and it’s expected to end next week.  Frankly, I have felt that this conference was a sham, a true vanity project from Professor Kukui. Now I’m not saying that Kukui is a bad guy, he’s just a bit vainglorious; he made a Pokémon League - having failed to defeat Lance in the Indigo League at least in the games - based off the architecture of a Pokémon School where he has like 6 students that learn nothing and have an underground X-Men facility, he lets just about anyone enter it regardless of the Island Challenge and what does the winner get? To fight his Masked Luchador alter-ego. The man puts himself on a high pedestal, but worse than that this league is tailor made for Ash to win. His only major opposition is the finalist Gladion - who has no reason to fight the ‘Royal Mask’. We also could’ve buffed some of the side character teams with Oranguru for Mallow, Drampa for Mallow or Lana, Dewpider for Lana, Clefable for Lillie, even Bewear for TR, but we didn’t, never really giving any of Ash’s companions a chance at making an impact. Narratively Ash is the only person who should win the league, since Kiawe and Hau had not enough attention to be considered viable and Guzma was the generic ‘bad guy who underestimates Ash’ who Ash always beats. The league also doesn’t feel like the right setting, since Ash doesn’t even have a full team and the final is not a full battle. Lillie, who is great but not a battler, made it further than Kahili - in the games an Elite 4 Member. That is the extra silliness we get on top of Ash’s ‘strategies’ (which involve Pikachu’s Electroweb not working like Electroweb and Rowlet’s Featherdance not working like Featherdance) and the fact that Gladion can use Items mid-battle to grant Silvally unfair advantages. But despite my opinions, the conference can still go either way. Because really, Ash doesn’t need the league to fight Kukui, the last time he fought ‘Royal Mask’ was on a beach, and Gladion doesn’t need the league to find his father, but we are reaching a point where a winner seems to be close to decided. Currently, despite both being 1-1, Ash is on the front foot, he’s only lost his most inexperienced Pokémon and it was to Gladion’s Pikachu-equivalent, he knows that Gladion has got Lycanroc for last and his Pikachu still stands against Zoroark, but this is not our first rodeo, we fully expect the finale to be Lycanroc vs Lycanroc, so who comes out on top? Option 1 is Ash, obviously, Lycanroc hasn’t beaten Gladion’s Lycanroc so it can be due, Ash goes one better than Kalos and wins undoubtedly the easiest League he’s ever signed up for in front of his mother. Option 2 is Gladion, like Alain’s Charizard against Ash-Greninja, Gladion’s Lycanroc maintains a perfect record against Ash’s, being the more experienced battler and Ash loses his easiest league in front of his mother but saves his crowning achievement for a proper challenge and liberates Ash to continue challenging gyms and resetting per region. Before the episode title for 140 was announced, these seemed to be our only options, until Option 3 Option 3: Guzzlord Guzzlord appeared in a random 2-parter to market Zeraora, but it seems to be coming back around. Guzzlord secretly seems to be the key to some character resolution, primarily the status of Gladion and Lillie’s father Mohn - who has been missing since falling through an Ultra Wormhole. Guzzlord can also be key to sparing Ash the restriction that comes with the League Victory but also prevents the disappointment of Ash losing. If Guzzlord intervenes the final outcome of the battle, then there is no winner. Ash didn’t lose but he didn’t win, and he carries momentum to get a victory with his magic changing z-crystal to best Guzzlord with his friends once and for all, and it allows Ash to still do the bi-annual reset. Guzzlord’s appearance also can lead to Magearna, Bewear and Team Rocket’s Mech being utilized, loose threads that will hopefully surface (though I’m stumped as to the status of Shaymin, why can’t Mallow just keep it?). Out of the three options this does feel like the better one, because Ash hasn’t earned his league victory yet. Why hasn’t Ash earned the League Being a Pokémon archivarius, I can cast my mind back to past leagues. Indigo was hard, the rules were stupid and we were basically robbed of a rival battle thanks to Charizard’s Laziness, the Silver Conference saw Ash be edged out by Harrison and his Blaziken to promote Hoenn, Ever Grande saw Ash lose to eventual winner Tyson in a tough Pikachu/Meowth fight, Lily of the Valley had Ash bested again by the eventual winner, the OP Legendary user Tobias, the Vertress Conference stepped back and had Ash lose to clumsy, forgetful Cameron thanks to a Lucario evolution and Lumiose had Ash overachieve by losing to the seemingly unstoppable Alain. Out of all of those leagues, the best arguably for me would have to be Sinnoh - the second longest league with 7 episodes to reach the semi finals, Manalo being 10 and all previous being 6 - because every battle Ash had to fight for it; Nando, Conway, Paul (considered one of the best Pokémon battles) and Tobias, he used the full power of his arsenal to do it, which sold that Ash was giving it his all, we got to see Pokémon old and new shine from it, and full battles for at least half of Ash’s battles. The thing that also makes it stand out to me is that there’s no excuse; Ash doesn’t have a fancy one of a kind form like Ash-Greninja or Dusk Lycanroc, he doesn’t have a Legendary Pokémon like Meltan/Melmetal and he doesn’t apply a tactic that shouldn’t work or the same motion of Pikachu quick attack everything and then iron tail - like I know there’s only 4 moves but he always starts with Quick Attack and it drives me insane! It’s stuff that’s inspired rather than convenient so all that Ash is left with is his mettle. Comparing that journey to this one, where Ash beat Faba in less than 4 moves in a 1v1, 2-Hitted Hau’s Decidueye while absorbing a nonsense amount of damage and a fakeout loss to beat Hau, and bested Guzma by really lucking out on Golisopod’s Emergency Exit, it doesn’t feel right now does it? Ash’s League Victory should be a triumph that pushes the extent of Ash’s team, strategy and connection to his Pokémon, against true challenges where either one has a chance at besting him, that is why all the Post-Sinnoh conferences have not been ‘it’; Sawyer, Trip, Guzma and Hau were never really given the threat that they could beat Ash, in fact Sawyer only beat Ash once and it was excusable by him having Ash-Greninja dysfunction. Compiling all of this into account, it should be clear that even if Ash does win this league, it is not what it’s meant to be. The Galar Series Question So Galar is still going to be a thing, we just don’t know how. What is this new series after all? It could just be a side series, it could be a means of bringing older companions to Galar or it may even follow Ash in Galar and some other characters who’ll entwine with him a la Alain and Mairin. Possibilities are endless until the answer is concrete, but in this person’s opinion I still believe Ash would embark in Galar. Would not miss the chance to Dynamax Pikachu for love nor money, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they heavily divert from the game’s plot like they have for Alola. Galar seems to revolve its gym system in a similar manner to Football (or Soccer if you’re overseas and well, wrong), it’s heavily televised like a League, which means that if they go this route Ash would be thrown into a heavy limelight, which can be restrictive, so I kinda expect that to be toned down, I will also expect TR to return with Bewear (or maybe a Nurse Joy kinda deal with another Bewear) and Marnie to probably be a companion. So of course, that answers my closing statement Are we closing the Book on Ash Ketchum Stupidity and failures aside, Ash is undoubtedly an anime icon, and I would find TPCi and TV Tokyo foolish to give that up, especially when other franchises have brought back the OG Digidestined for TRI and Goku & Friends for Dragon Ball Super, Ash has mileage but perhaps not in the same routine past series have followed. Each new setting is a new adventure and even small things can influence a unique dynamic - like even making Ash 11. People may need to think outside of the box, pick the qualities of what has passed, but that’s a good thing! Change is scary yes but that doesn’t mean you drop something entirely, Pokémon have enough IP that they can make Non-Ash series too, if they want to they can expand their market that way, just don’t give up on Ash Ketchum. This is not how his story should end, it would insult the character and the storytellers of the past to do so. But I wouldn’t worry too much about this happening, the best we can do is sit down, enjoy the show, and bide my sweet time until I get hired by them hope that sense prevails over a quick ‘shocking headline’. So that’s my piece, if you have opinions don’t be shy, but also be respectful, this is only stuff I’m feeling at present, by the passage of time new information may alter opinion.

[themattress]

A good video to compare my own scores for Indigo League to.

Suede’s grading can be equated to mine, except that he doesn’t seem to believe in 2.5 (Average) or 1.5 (Bad, but with redeeming qualities).  For him, it’s just the Master Ball / 4 (Excellent), Ultra Ball / 3.5 (Great, but with glaring flaws), Great Ball / 3 (Good), Poke Ball / 2 (Weak), Rock / 1 (Terrible)....or Dark Ball / 0 (Offensive), which isn’t a grade I ever applied.

1. Pokémon! I Choose You! = 4 (SUEDE: 4) 2. Pokémon Emergency! = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) 3. Ash Catches a Pokémon = 4 (SUEDE: 4) 4. Challenge of the Samauri = 2 (SUEDE: 2) 5. Showdown in Pewter City = 4  (SUEDE: 4) 6. Clefairy and the Moon Stone = 3 (SUEDE: 3) 7. Water Flowers of Cerulean City = 2.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 8. The Path to the Pokémon League = 3 (SUEDE: 0) 9. The School of Hard Knocks = 4 (SUEDE: 4) 10. Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village = 3 (SUEDE: 3) 11. Charmander the Stray Pokémon = 4 (SUEDE: 4) 12. Here Comes the Squirtle Squad = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 13. Mystery at the Lighthouse = 2.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 14. Electric Shock Showdown = 4 (SUEDE: 4) 15. Battle Aboard the St. Anne = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) 16. Pokémon Shipwreck = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 17. The Island of Giant Pokémon = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 18. Beauty and the Beach = 3 (SUEDE: 0) 19. Tentacool and Tentacruel = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 20. The Ghost at Maiden's Peak = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) 21. Bye-Bye Butterfree = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 22. Abra and the Psychic Pokémon = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) 23. The Tower of Terror = 3 (SUEDE: 3) 24. Haunter Versus Kadabra = 3.5 (SUEDE: 4) 25. Primeape Goes Bananas = 1 (SUEDE: 3.5) 26. Pokémon Scent-sation = 1.5 (SUEDE: 3) 27. Hypno's Naptime = 2.5 (SUEDE: 2) 28. Pokémon Fashion Flash = 3 (SUEDE: 3.5) 29. The Punchy Pokémon = 1.5 (SUEDE: 3) 30. Sparks Fly for Magnemite = 3 (SUEDE: 3) 31. Dig Those Diglett = 3.5 (SUEDE: 2) 32. The Ninja Poke-Showdown = 2 (SUEDE: 3) 33. The Flame Pokémon-athon = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 34. The Kangaskhan Kid = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 35. The Legend of Dratini = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 36. The Bridge Bike Gang = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3) 37. Ditto's Mysterious Mansion = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 38. Electric Soldier Porygon = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3) 39. Pikachu's Goodbye = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) 40. The Battling Eevee Brothers = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 41. Wake up, Snorlax = 3 (SUEDE: 1) 42. Showdown at Dark City = 2.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 43. March of the Exeggutor Squad = 3 (SUEDE: 3.5) 44. The Problem with Paras = 2.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 45. The Song of Jigglypuff = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) 46. Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) 47. A Chansey Operation = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3) 48. Holy Matrimony! = 4 (SUEDE: 4) 49. So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd = 3 (SUEDE: 1) 50. Who Gets to Keep Togepi? = 1 (SUEDE: 3.5) 51. Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden = 2 (SUEDE: 3.5) 52. Princess Versus Princess = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 53. The Purr-fect Hero = 1.5 (SUEDE: 1) 54. Case of the K-9 Capers = 2 (SUEDE: 3) 55. Pokémon Paparazzi = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 56. The Ultimate Test = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) 57. The Breeding Center Secret = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 58. Riddle Me This = 3.5 (SUEDE: 2) 59. Volcanic Panic = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) 60. Beach Blank-Out Blastoise = 1.5 (SUEDE: 1) 61. The Misty Mermaid = 3 (SUEDE: 2) 62. Clefairy Tales = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 63. The Battle of the Badge = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 64. It's Mr. Mimie Time = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 65. Holiday Hi-Jynx = 2 (SUEDE: 3) 66. Snow Way Out = 3.5 (SUEDE: 2) 67. Showdown at the Poke Corral = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 68. The Evolution Solution = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3) 69. The Pi-Kahuna = 4 (SUEDE: 2) 70. Make Room for Gloom = 1 (SUEDE: 2) 71. Lights, Camera, Quacktion! = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 72. Go West, Young Meowth = 4 (SUEDE: 4) 73. To Master the Onixpected = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3.5) 74. The Ancient Puzzle of Pokemopolis = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) 75. Bad to the Bone = 4 (SUEDE: 3) 76. All Fired Up = 3 (SUEDE: 2) 77. Round One - Begin! = 2 (SUEDE: 2) 78. Fire and Ice = 3.5 (SUEDE: 2) 79. The Fourth Round Rumble = 3.5 (SUEDE: 3) 80. A Friend In Deed = 3 (SUEDE: 3) 81. Friend or Foe Alike = 3.5 (SUEDE: 2) 82. Friends to the End = 4 (SUEDE: 3.5) [TOTAL = 3.5 (Great, but with glaring flaws)] [SUEDE = 3.0 (Good)]

So Suede’s total grade for the series is exactly as he said on the video: a Great Ball. Mine is higher, an Ultra Ball, because I am much more liberal with my perfect scores than Suede is. I know that it’s part of his job, but I honestly think that Suede is way too much of a nitpicker.

Now, here are my biggest disagreements with him:

- His grading of “Pokemon Emergency” as weaker than the episode before it and after it makes no sense to me since the three episodes together are pretty interconnected...he says as much himself in another video. I don’t get his criticism at all that “too much happens in it”...taking it as the second part in an hour-long premiere, the events feel perfectly natural.

- He overrates “Water Flowers of Cerulean City”. Misty’s conflict with her sisters was incredibly shallow in its presentation, the battle being interrupted by Team Rocket and then Ash just getting the badge as the pity badge Daisy was intending it as before Misty stepped in was infuriating, and while funny, Brock being away doing “stuff” made no sense storywise.  

- WAY too hard on “Path to the Pokemon League”. It’s not the best of episodes and foreshadows the problematic Ash vs. Paul rivalry in DP, but I think everyone being jerks was kind of the point, and at the end they get around it by trying to look at their similarities rather than their differences. Also, AJ’s Pokemon clearly were giving consent for that harsh training. 

- Despite some good atmosphere, I think “Mystery at the Lighthouse” is just average.

- His nitpicking causes him to underrate “Pokemon Shipwreck” and “Island of the Giant Pokemon”, the latter of which does hold up for me and easily deserves a perfect score.

- I totally get why he hates “Beauty and the Beach”. But honestly? This is my take.

- What is up with his high ratings for the Primeape episodes and the Celadon Gym Battle? That was some horrendous writing - Primeape was utterly useless and forgettable, and the Celadon Gym Battle was the last and worst case of Ash getting a pity badge in the series.

- “Dig Those Diglett” was a big victim of his nitpicking. It’s a lot better than he says it is.

- He thinks “The Kangaskhan Kid” is the weakest Safari Zone episode, I think it’s the best.

- I would mention “Ditto’s Mysterious Mansion”, but he corrected his infamous views on it.

- Dude, “Wake up, Snorlax” was hilarious, I don’t get what you’re bitching about!

- “The Problem with Paras” gets an Ultra Ball? Really, Suede!?

- He has a huge problem with “So Near, Yet So Farfetch’d”, but NOT with “Who Gets to Keep Togepi?” and “Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden”? Yeah, he does bring up some big problems with the latter two in his screw-ups videos, but he doesn’t go nearly far enough - “Who Gets to Keep Togepi?” was one of the most nonsensical episodes in the series thanks to that problem, and “Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden”, if not for its confused moral, would be almost as forgettable as “Make Room for Gloom”. “So Near, Yet So Farfetch’d” was perfectly fine.

- I totally get his disappointment at the butchery of Cinnabar Island in “Riddle Me This”, and agree that the episode goes all over the place. That’s why I have it as 3.5 instead of 4. But I think it’s still so entertaining and well-presented, especially Blaine himself, that I can forgive it.

- More needless nitpicking on “Battle of the Badge”. Sure, it could have been a two-parter, but as a single episode, I think it still works very well and accomplishes exactly what it needs to. 

- His grading and mine on the two postponed “Christmas episodes” are practically swapped.

- “The Pi-Kahuna” was AWESOME. You’ll never convince me otherwise, Suede!

- He doesn’t go hard ENOUGH on “Make Room for Gloom”. It’s #2 on his personal list of worst episodes and yet he gives it a Poke Ball!? He gave “Wake up, Snorlax” a Rock and even admitted that he remembers more about that than he does this episode! WTF, Suede?

- And he goes too hard on “Bad to the Bone”, “Fire and Ice”, and “Friend or Foe Alike”. I enjoyed the plot of “Bad to the Bone” and didn’t find it bad in the slightest.  The atmosphere and quiet moments of “Fire and Ice” was so good that I could easily ignore Ash’s obnoxious attitude.  And while the .5 in my 3.5 for “Friend or Foe Alike” does come from the Team Rocket part dragging out too long and the climactic battle with Ritchie being way too fast and overall just plain sucking, I still think there was merit in seeing Team Rocket just snapping from too much failures and being so dead-set determined on screwing Ash over out of pure spite, and the scene of Ash’s loss was so powerful that it easily redeems the episode. However, with that said, I am among those who prefer the Electric Tale of Pikachu version.

- Almost everything he says after recapping the episodes and the grades he gave them is spot-on.  ALMOST.  He sadly loses me when he says “Team Rocket was such a stroke of genius that many viewers stopped watching the series in Black & White when they temporarily left and were replaced by three robots in trench-coats”  Suede is sadly operating under the same fallacy that Dogasu and many others have: that Team Rocket staying humorous from the OS through DP means that they were completely consistent in their characterization. This is a lie. Team Rocket, especially after Takeshi Shudo departed, have always been changing how they’re portrayed. And by DP, the brilliantly comedic and three-dimensional TRio had devolved into unfunny, obnoxious, one-note running gags who forced repetitive conflicts and ate up screentime that was better spent elsewhere. Were their BW incarnations particularly interesting characters? Hell no! But they actually serviced the show in their new role rather than detracted from it. Their new purely professional, villainous personas and limited screentime was an asset to the show, whereas their wacky, zany shtick had not been for the good part of a decade. If people actually quit in BW after being able to endure 8 years of stagnation, then they’re basically this, and I have little patience for them.

[shayne-or-something-blog]

Episodes 17-20

The reason why Pikachu runs through the random Lass' legs in the theme song is because of a mistranslation of the theme song where the original says something along the lines of "under a girl's skirt"

Can Gyarados use Dragon Rage solo or does it always require 5 of them?

Krabby decides to just pinch the fuck out of Jesse and James' thighs while they're stuck head first in sand. Mouth foaming, they didn’t forget <3

Jesse got Ekans for her birthday last year and James got Koffing for Christmas? Is that a normal thing? Who did they get them from? Did they not have Pokemon before that? How long have they been trainers and how long did it take them to become villains?

How did Pikachu just know these were Ash's Pokeballs? Could it smell the Pokemon inside again like it did with Caterpie?

WHY IS THIS THE ONLY EPISODE THEY CAPTION THE POKEMON'S SPEECH?????

I fucking love Slowpoke.

Did they just leave the Pokeballs on the beach? If so, can you just put a Pokemon you own in another Pokeball if you lose the first one?

Why are Ash's Pokemon intelligent but Ekans and Koffing talk in "You not master, master is master" types of speech.

There are no bad Pokemon only bad trainers is one of my favorite ideas from this entire franchise.

Bulbasaur is such a Debbie downer, fuck that guy.

Are these fruits or berries from Gen 2 forward?

Giant Rhydon is unexpected.

Did the giant Zapdos know Ash and co. were under it or was it just shooting lightning for the yolo?

Giant Moltres shot fire at Jesse and James like it knew they were there but just kept going anyway? I'm confused on the motives of these giant Pokemon.

Why is there a ramen shop in the middle of this forest ran by a Slowbro?

Bulbasaur is sloshed and yelling at Squirtle.

So Giovanni's voice is always distorted for some reason?

Are Ekans and Koffing portrayed that way because they're Team Rocket's Pokemon or because they're poison-type, or?

These giant Pokemon are awfully hostile.

Bulbasaur is such an edgelord, holy.

This singular rail cart is able to drag the massive Kabutops without even slowing slightly.

Now it's dragging Kabutops and giant Pikachu with it, what is this rail cart made of?

It's dragging all of the Pokemon now. This is the most powerful force in existence.

Giant Pokemon are all machines so are they programmed to be aggressive toward bystanders?

Giovanni owns Pokemonland, makes sense.

The sexualization of Misty in her bathing suit is weird as she is 10.

Ash, Misty, and Brock steal a boat and then ram it into Team Rocket, crashing the boat into a dock. What a bunch of hooligans.

Whoa, creepy old guy gets perv blush when he sees Misty in bathing suit and says "you remind me of my granddaughter" that went over my head when I was younger.

So the Team Rocket vs Ash and co. in this episode will be over the restaurants they're working at.

Brock thinks Jesse looks hot in her waitress outfit. Pretty sure she's like 14. This series is weird.

Someone got paid to use the word twerpateria.

These are the most effective banana peels of all time.

Why does Moe owe Brutella so much money?

Oak is here with Ash's mom? Get you some, Prof!

How did Brock become the announcer for the beauty contest if he just learned about it the same day?

Oak and Ash's mom talk an awful lot for just platonic homies, just saying.

Starmie can just float apparently.

GARY OAK IS HERE HOLD THE FUCKING PHONE

Holy he just called Ash out for literal no reason.

What is this rivalry even based off of? What did Ash and Gary do to even become rivals?

Why does the Gyarados submarine have tank treads?

This episode made negative sense.

Ash's mom has a nice butt.

Horsea ink spurts art of Tentacool and Tentacruel and Misty can only think to catch it.

How can Staryu and Starmie fly?

Nastina brings up eating Pokemon again, so I have to assume that this is a real thing people do. All meat must come from a Pokemon in this world. How do you find out if a Pokemon is better for battling or for eating? Do you sometimes do both?

When did they get the Horsea and put it in this random pool with Pikachu? Why was that done offscreen?

Nastina and Brutella are the same person but in one of those weird anime kind of ways not the same person.

The undersea horde of Tentacool is actually frightening to think about.

The stun sauce somehow made this Tentacool evolve into the world's largest Tentacruel for reasons.

Tentacruel is known as the gangster of the sea...but how?

I wonder if Godzillacruel and Godzillanite ever meet up and talk about what it's like to be 10x larger than the rest of their kind.

Tentacool and Tentacruel do the "tentacles on head to communicate through the vessel" thing from Independance Day.

Do Pokemon inside Pokeballs see what's going on around them? If not how did Pidgeotto know where Horsea was when Ash sent it out with only the command, "Catch it"

So Bulbasaur had to wrap vines around Butterfree to be carried but Zubat with no appendages is able to carry Squirtle just fine?

Why is Goldeen even ever sent out? It's more useless than Magikarp so far in this series.

The Staryu and Starmie kind of gripping Tentacool and throwing them into the water looks so disturbing.

So what makes guns acceptable in this episode and not the Porygon one? Where is the line drawn?

Nastina blasting of agaaaaaaaaaaain.

Nastina and Brutella are cousins it turns out.

Brock feels me on swimsuit season.

Misty keeps being called scrawny and honestly she dumb thicc for a 10 year old.

Holy shit that painting is over 2,000 years old? It held up miraculously well.

Oh wow, there's a bedtime curfew for Pokemon Trainers? Why is that a thing?

Jesse does a solo rendition of Team Rocket's Motto and this might be the saddest moment of the series so far.

Anti-Ghost Stickers, aren't these just charms or seals? I guess that was too occult for a kids show?

Jesse shot a bazooka at a ghost. This is a thing that just happened.

Gastly as a giant mongoose wearing a gas mask stepping on Koffing is an image I didn't think I'd ever see tbh.

Venusaur and Blastoise fusion dance into Venustoise, hmm.

So Gastly can only pull this act once a year? Why? He says he hates the sun but there's night literally every night?

So the ghost of the maiden is real and Gastly just pulls this shit so no one forgets?

Misty looks so much better with her hair down.

[warlordess]

insight into misty’s anger problem

IF you can call it an anger problem.

This is less of a headcanon and more of a thought I’ve been mulling for ages and ages. But yes, either way, it’s still long and rambly. Lol. Saddle up, kids, this post is gonna go on forever.

Misty was not very close with her sisters before leaving home. We see this in The Water Flowers of Cerulean City and The Misty Mermaid and even a bit in Gotta Catch Ya Later, as well as in flashbacks from Princess Vs Princess and Cerulean Blues, but yeah. It wasn’t like it was abuse or neglect or anything but... there was a bridge, a gap, a wall, that had clearly been placed there.

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In the flashback during PVP, we see Daisy, Lily, and Violet all sitting together, happily snacking and enjoying each others’ company. They’re a group, a unit, they’re equals. Whereas Misty is sitting alone with a troubled expression on her face, watching them in the background. She thinks she’s different because they don’t seem to want to include her in their company, and because she never gets anything new, only the stuff they don’t want anymore. This is how she sees herself compared to her sisters, and it’s clearly not a positive conclusion.

When we’re introduced to her sisters in TWFoCC, one of the first things that happens is she’s called a runt and mocked for returning before she could become a great water-type trainer like she said she was gonna do when she left home preceding canon. To some, this seems like silly sibling rivalry/banter, but let’s also remember that the sensational sisters comment among each other while Ash and Misty battle that, because they received all the good looks in the family, Misty was lucky to receive some talent in another area. While the “runt” line would have been used to benefit the banter between older and younger siblings, the line about her not being as pretty as them (clearly a trait they take seriously) was said in private between them, which makes me think they don’t have much faith in or likeness for their little sister. Again, perhaps this is simply an age gap thing, but it all contributes to who Misty is as a character.

In TMM, Misty is basically manipulated by Daisy’s tearful expression into helping out with her sisters’ side business, underwater ballet. Now, of course, Misty would never leave her sisters hanging, they’re family, but she was clearly uncomfortable with hopping in that costume and taking the lead role. Why not have her narrate instead? At the end of the episode, it’s even stated that the sensational sisters would just alternate the mermaid princess role between them at that point, so why had they needed Misty the first time around anyway? This is just fishy behavior, and a family dynamic that could also contribute to Misty’s perception of the world/how to interact with others.

In another flashback in CB, we see that infant!Misty has wandered away from the family while they’re out. She ends up getting so far as to crawl right into a sleeping Gyarados’ mouth. When she is forcibly and abruptly expelled/spit back out onto the ground, naturally, she starts crying in fear. Her sisters - apparently her guardians in this scene, though I like to think that their parents were merely running the gym that day and had let the four sisters go to the beach, rather than them already being MIA so soon after Misty’s birth - practically mock her, an infant, over her tears and fright after such an experience. At the least, they’re not the slightest bit comforting, leaving her on the ground to cry while they all stand above her. (I say this not knowing if the flashback is actually Misty’s or just a retelling that she’s taken as gospel over the years, because how could Misty remember so far back into her life? But the canon, despite it being a flashback, treats it as fact, so I will as well.)

And in GCYL, after fussing at Misty for being MIA for so long, they basically demand that she return home and hang up before she can say anything back to them. Now I am not saying that Daisy, Lily, and Violet shouldn’t be allowed to leave the gym and do their own thing; I mean, Misty got her chance to do it the whole time she was with Ash and Brock/Tracey, so why not? But this method of forcing their given responsibility on her and then abandoning their post before she even returns is reflective of the same selfish, disrespectful, and distant behavior we’ve seen of them throughout canon. They’re basically asking for a favor - especially considering they didn’t give Misty much opportunity to be of help around the gym anytime previous - and then getting the heck out of dodge without even a thought towards her feelings or opinion.

So now you’re wondering why I brought all this up, and I’ve mentioned it already, but I’ll do so again; there is a very likely reason as to why Misty seems so angry/aggressive in the early OS canon.

Based on the conversation in TWFoCC, I’m guessing that she was not allowed any power/responsibility in running the gym before she met Ash. Perhaps she was mad that her sisters prioritized ballet over being gym leaders, perhaps she was mad that they were giving out badges for free whenever they didn’t feel like or didn’t have Pokemon to battle with, but why would she leave the gym, her home, and the one place she knows she can get massive training for the one Pokemon type that she loves more than any other in the world... unless there was no part for her to play there? The fact that Misty was hiding her familial ties to the Cerulean Gym from Ash and Brock, the fact that she was clearly embarrassed when they mentioned their suspicions, that fact that she was so prickly around her sisters upon making her presence known after she showed up at the gym when Ash went to challenge the trainer there... coupled by her sisters immediate mocking and belittling and distancing themselves from her while remaining so closely grouped together (again; a unit, while she’s the outcast)... This all leads me to think she felt she had no choice but to run away from home, threatening/screeching that she’ll be a water-type master before she ever returns. (Whoops, thanks for ruining that plan, Ash!)

On top of this, when your whole family is a tightly knit unit and there’s a lot of difference/distance between you and them, you realize how small and insignificant your voice/opinion is. It felt like every scene including them all was a rematch of Misty versus her older sisters. That’s one against three, quite the unfair odds. In an environment like that, she would most likely feel that the only way to be heard is by screaming as much as she could. Speaking normally, even if firm or angry, didn’t seem to do the trick, so the only other thing a child knows how to do is be louder.

But when we’re introduced to her in canon, we don’t know anything about her family dynamic yet. That’s fair, I grant you. At this point, it might seem like her behavior around Ash is unwarrantingly aggravated or violently loud. But we have to consider her sisters - the relationship she shared with the three most present people in her life before she and Ash met on the outskirts of Pallet Town - in order to understand her.

And, honestly, it’s not just her family. I mean, this kid she ultimately had to save from an untimely doom is carrying a clearly assaulted Pokemon he has no idea how to help. In Misty’s eyes, this kid is the abuser. Nevertheless, she offers him assistance and then he steals her personal property. On top of that, who-knows-how-much-later, she finds that property totaled and crispy and abandoned after a stray electric attack.

I’m just saying; for a ten year old with her noted family/personal history who has just barely been introduced to a possibly abusive Pokemon trainer that she knows nothing else about besides the fact that he ran off with her means of transportation and then destroyed it and left the remains behind without another thought, her reaction is pretty much average. She’s ten years old. Things are pretty black and white for her here. I would personally say that it’s May and Dawn who have the strangely underwhelming reactions to the untimely end of their bikes; though, to be fair, they still didn’t meet Ash under the same suspicious circumstances that Misty did. They knew more about him and Pikachu and could understand it was an honest mistake. Misty wouldn’t have known any of this based on how the canon played out.

So she shows up at the Viridian PokeCenter and makes her attack, but as soon as she hears Ash’s concern for Pikachu in his voice, sees it in his slumped posture and facial expression, she immediately lightens up. She is getting her first taste of the kind of kid that Ash Ketchum is, and she’s reacting in kind to it. Let’s also not forget how quick she was to defend Ash and the unconscious Pikachu when Team Rocket attacked, despite still being a stranger.

Later on, in the Viridian Forest, she follows him, claiming its over the bike, when it’s already in part due to her curiosity over the side of him she saw in the PokeCenter. By the end of the episode, she’s expressing fondness over him, someone so unlike her sisters, who has a heart full of love and trust for Pokemon. Someone like her, who wants Pokemon by her side all the time.

And yet, yeah, in between these tender moments, Misty slaps Ash and yells at him over his mistake of sending a bug-type Pokemon against a flying-type. Oh, wait, that’s not what happened. She got angry at him because he was acting like hot stuff while he made such a grievous error, and if he hadn’t been looking to show off, maybe Caterpie wouldn’t have nearly died for the sake of his ego.

There are plenty of instances where Misty yells at Ash. I’m not denying it. But these instances are generally during times when his head is bloated and he thinks he’s king of the world. And, on top of that, we’re still talking about a girl who’s probably felt for the longest time that the only way she’s going to be heard in the end is by screaming everything she feels needs being said at the top of her lungs.

Take a second to compare Misty’s home life/family ties with any other canon character - especially the other female companions. May? A complete family unit, decked with supportive parents and annoying younger brother. Yes, she and Max don’t get along but she’s the one in control most of the time because she’s older. Dawn? Only has her mother but she’s very supportive of her daughter’s goals and opinions. Every other companion has a much more balanced home life compared to her, even Brock, who basically had to parent ten younger siblings for years while their mom and dad were MIA. The only two characters who might be under the same emotional duress as her are Max and Bonnie. Clemont is clearly kind and loving towards his little sister so she has no need to express herself the way Misty has grown to do over the years. In comparison to that, Max - who has the closest of any dynamic to Misty with his older sister, May - is the one character we see discussing with Misty in canon about his own insecurities about that dynamic. Max is the one character who relates most to Misty and the canon proves that he feels the same way Misty did (only not as badly, imo) before she met Ash and spent time away from that dynamic that caused her such frustration, loneliness, etc.

Also as a comparison, let’s consider Misty’s instinctive behavior upon meeting a new person (any character of the day, for instance). Should the introduction go right (as in, no destruction of personal property, no attacks to her character), she’s completely chill, compassionate, kind. We even see her relating strongly and doing her best to comfort/assist some people if she sees pieces of her own inferiority complex in them. Sakura, youngest sibling of the kimono girl clan, from Johto and Mikey, youngest sibling of the Eevee/evolution stone family, from Kanto.

Misty is not just some indiscriminately angry girl, obstinate and violent towards everyone in the world. But for those who attack the things/people she cares about, for those who wrong her, for those she sees a likeness to her sisters in, her defense mechanism kicks in and she treats them the way she’s been taught to treat/react to them.

And if Misty surely thought her loud mouth was necessary at the start of canon, then it would also explain why we saw less and less of it as the series wore on. Because Misty was growing further and further away from only having the dynamic with her sisters as a source for how to interact with people. As she got to know Ash, Brock, Tracey, all the people she happened to meet while away from the gym, she softened up considerably. She realized she didn’t constantly have to be loud and angry to be heard. She had a place where she was an equal.

Which is why I often defend Ash and Misty’s relationship as something so mutual, stating that they grew together. Because it was traveling first and foremost with Ash that led her to see she could grow beyond that lonely little girl with the inferiority complex who never got a say back home. What they had was the process of meeting, getting to know each other, being forced to acknowledge and confront each others’ flaws (which were definitely referred to as flaws in the canon when it was necessary to improve upon them, and were lessened into quirks the longer they were together), starting to care about each other, becoming best friends (with a hint of something more), and then saying their goodbyes, in so deep with each other that the writing literally had to take half an episode to expand purely upon how what they were to each other was so important.

I’m going to close this post down by explaining why I’ve offered this headcanon/opinion/insight into Misty’s abusive behavior (I can’t believe people are calling it/her that). I am in no way excusing Misty’s anger... but I am explaining why she may have felt it was necessary to behave the way she did around Ash during their early travels together. (And I’d also like to add that, while harsh, her voice/opinion was often enough used as a catalyst to improve upon Ash’s character development. So the narrative defends her temper a lot, or else writes it off as comedy, which means we shouldn’t be taking it so seriously anyway.)

So yeah, this is why I call Misty my kindred spirit. This is why I love this ship. This is why the Misty is so annoying/mean/abusive towards Ash argument holds no water to me. It’s ridiculous trash. And now I’ve put into writing why that is.