Pokémon anime

Well... How about that for an eventual Melee A Quatre?^note With Team Rocket as the 4th side. Though I still hold that Xerosic may have something to do with the Malamar faction, even if he's doing it behind Lysandre's back...

Well that looks absolutely fabulous.

So okay, I don't put a lot of stock in the patterns people bring up or when they're supposedly broken: For example, The Fire/Flying Regional Bird was done by the Game Designers, the Anime Staff has to take what they're given. So that one isn't on them.

Also Froakie evolving when it is Ash's only Starter should be expected, before this the Water Types were the comic relief or victims of bad writing or overshadowed by the Grass and Fire Starters. That's not an issue this time so they can give the Water Starter focus it never got before.

What i do believe in is probabilities, that suggests the likelihood of something happening, but is not absolute. I don't support "never happen before" = "will never happen". People use to say that about Dragon Types on the main cast after all. For me probabilities provide a basis of speculation that saves me from getting too hyped up about something only to be disappointed.

edited 18th Dec '14 4:39:24 PM by WorldTurtle

Serena was a lot more likeable in the recent racing episode against her mother than usual. I think the problem with Serena is her personality is so much more calm and subdued than the other girls that she kinda gets lost in the background and doesn't do much. However when her mother is around she gets all feisty and fired up.

Kind of shame, Serena reminds me of Tracey in a way. She's just the normal quiet reserved type. They also squander her potential by making her into shipping bait half the time rather than her own character.

Man, I wonder how Serena would have been received if she were introduced earlier in the series. People were a lot more critical and resistant to new characters in the early days compared to now, it feels like Serena would have received Tracey-level backlash had she come earlier. Her canon crush on Ash would have gotten her torn apart by all the active Pokeshippers back then too.

It would be the biggest troll ever if Ash reciprocated Serena's feelings but still left her behind at the end of the Kalos arc.

Assuming it doesn't end the series. :P

Got to Episode 38 and I think I love Froakie and Hawlucha when they interact with each other. Also the Korrina arc was amazing and I love Lucario even more now.

The dub looks to be on a holiday break after today's season finale (which was adorable). Next Saturday we can sleep in! :)

Man... and I have off work that Saturday (I've been on work on Saturday Mornings since when Korrina joined the group.)

Any news on when they'll show the 2nd Mega Evolution Special? That should be the next in the lineup. They could've also aired the Missing Episode during the break. EDIT: I was actually expecting one or the other to have aired on the Saturday after Thanksgiving instead of Clumsy Crier; then again, that ep. was certified Filler, so...

edited 20th Dec '14 5:47:48 PM by DonaldthePotholer

Question: How many Pokemon do you think Ash could catch in a region and maintain equal screen time for all of them?

I'd give him Pikachu + 7 others. 8 Pokemon to star in one of the 8 Gyms. Though, if you wanted Ash to catch a team that covered every type: 9 (+ Pikachu) would be the smallest number possible with 8 dual-types, 1 single type, and Pikachu. We've seen Pikachu + 9 in Unova and it didn't really work very well (unless you were Scraggy, the Starters, or Krookodile). Perhaps, it could have worked if they only gave Ash 1 Starter instead of 3?

edited 20th Dec '14 11:22:56 PM by WorldTurtle

Including Pikachu, six or seven and that will mean one will still get sidelined frequently.

A large group with all the starters is a bad recipe for getting everyone screentime, since Pikachu and the starters are obviously going to be on hand at all times. All you need is one or two Ensemble Darkhorses and the team is completely filled up, as happened in Unova.

A large team with only one starter is something we've yet to see, but that might be workable.

Yeah, given that Hoenn and Sinnoh had the best balance overall, in different ways - the latter showcased the growth of each member of Ash's team, building on the former... and yet it still had to contend with Infernape's Spotlight-Stealing Squad!

One thing to be said about Froakie/Frogadier (which if a sign of things to come is a good thing) is that if anything, he's been underexposed compared to recent starters - in this case, the "main" ones who actually get focus. He's only appear(ed/ing) in 2 out of 4 of the 1st lot of Gym Battles (excluding a rematch which he did not appear in either time), while others tend to feature more - leaving aside Kanto, we only otherwise have Chikorita/Bayleef (who only appeared in 3 battles out of 8), and Totodile (who only went against Whitney, albeit twice). To wit:

• Cyndaquil - against Bugsy, Whitney (both times), Morty, Jasmine and Pryce.
  • Result = 5 different Gym Leaders.
• Treecko/Grovyle - against Roxanne, Brawley (both times), Flannery, Norman, Winona and Juan.
  • Result = 6 different Gym Leaders.
• Turtwig/Grotle/Torterra - against Roark (both times), Gardenia (both unofficial match and official one), Wake and Candice... oh, and Volkner (both times), but [[{{Jobber we don't]] like to talk about that one.
  • Result = 5 different Gym Leaders.
• Chimchar/Infernape - against Maylene, Fantina (both unofficial match and official one), Byron, Candice and Volkner... with 2 victories in each of the last 4 battles, only Byron not having him defeat the Leader's Signature Mon.
  • Result = 5 different Gym Leaders.
• Oshawott - against Cilan, Lenora (both times) and Clay.
  • Result = 3 different Gym Leaders.
• Tepig/Pignite - against Chili, Lenora (both times), Burgh, Brycen and Roxie.
• Snivy - against Elesa and Clay.
  • Result - 2 different Gym Leaders.

So unless it's a region with a total of 3 Starters on Ash's team, there are at least 5 battles given to a Starter - even Sinnoh, for all its other faults, did that at least (albeit technically - Chimchar didn't defeat anyone in the Maylene battle, and Turtwig was recalled in the Wake battle and ridiculously Worfed in the Volkner battle). If anything, at this rate it will be Fletchinder that's getting exposed a lot (because it featured in the first 3 battles, and will likely be used against Ramos... hopefully. Will likely not be used against Clemont, though.)

Well Heliolisk is Electric/Normal so Hawlucha (Fighting > Normal) would be good against it and both Hawlucha and Fletchinder would be good against Magne/mite/ton (Fire/Fighting > Steel). However, Electric > Flying so both sides can deal effective damage to the other. Then Ash has Goomy who has resistance to Electric moves. Lastly, I'm expecting the final bout to be Pikachu vs. Luxray.

edited 22nd Dec '14 7:49:41 PM by WorldTurtle

So, I may be late in asking this, but what did you think of last week's episode? Was it a perfect time for Serena to mature and well-deserved, or was it a cheap cop-out that she didn't deserve?

I think it was a good way to end off the year for Serena's development. Starting next year she'll begin her goal. This episode will likely be the target of flashbacks whenever she hits a wall and starts to struggle. Whenever she falls down down, she'll remember the race, and find the strength to get back up.

So what happened in the new Malamar episode?

From what I've gathered based on reviews (I haven't watched it yet), Team Rocket gets the focus (even in the group shot). Malamar is apart of an evil gang of Malamar, who were the ones driving those trucks and terrorizing the land. Ash and company meets Officer Jenny (and yes, she's the same Officer Jenny they met in the previous Malamar episode, not her cousin or sister) who is investigating the Malamar conspiracy. They apparently want to change the environment with some kind of portal. Inkay and James seems to have some kind of conflict (I don't know what for certain). Malamar tries to hypnotize Inkay to join them, but Inkay remembers the good times with James and resists. Malamar plot thwarted, but they say they'll be back. James wants to release Inkay so it can be happy, but Inkay decides to stay with him (akin to Pikachu's Goodbye).

Oh, and there's no sign of Team Flare for now.

On an unrelated note, it seems to that Serena is going to the barber's shop and dressing room next year. Suddenly, the idea of her traveling with Ash to the next generation in Gen 7 clothes and design doesn't seem Farfetch'd.

edited 25th Dec '14 9:47:26 AM by Shadao

Changing the environment, huh? Sounds better than Malamar's previous plan! Seriously, every evil team in the anime either wants to conquer the world or mind control Pokemon somehow—sometimes even both! except team Galactic, I think.

It's just weird in the anime when Teams Aqua, Magma, and Plasma all want to mind control Pokemon and take over everything as oppose to the more diverse goals they had in the games. Even Team Rocket got in on the mind-control act with Butch and Cassidy's Drowzee!

Wow, I didn't even notice they got a spot on the title card this time.◊

Awww!

BTW Merry Christmas guys!

Happy Holidays, have some Nightmare Fuel!

That Should've been the title card for the first Malamar Episode as well, as Meowth was the principal hero. Why did they use Pikachu for that one instead of either TR or Ash?

The first Malamar episode kinda revolves around Ash and company (and Meowth too) trying to save Pikachu (as well as Team Rocket) from being mind controlled by Madame X/Malamar. This episode primary revolves around James and Inkay more than any other character.

Speaking of which, I forgot to mention that this episode also features good wild Malamar as well, and they along with the Inkay fought alongside Ash and friends when they are freed from mind control. Makes you wonder who these evil Malamar are then, why are the evil Malamar planning to change the environment, and how will this all tie up in the end.

edited 25th Dec '14 11:48:21 AM by Shadao

So instead of Team Flare were getting Team Malamar as are villains for the XY series? That's an interesting twist.