Pokémon anime

The funny thing is SM didn't need a league at all due to the way this saga is set-up. There's no reason for this tournament to actually be happening, even if we get some fun battles or character interaction out of it.

SM could have just had not any final challenge, or maybe just Ash Vs. Kukui to end the saga on.

They kinda back themselves into a corner here.

The best they can do is finally have him win, but....man, I don't even know.

It really does feel like since Kalos, they're still hemorrhaging from shooting themselves in the foot.

And now there are people angry about how Hau lost, so rather than just being unimpressed since they lost all the hype, there are people who think he doesn't deserve this League.

I don't even know what side to be on anymore.

I have to wonder if someone is forcing the Tournaments here. I mean, with the "School" setting here, an appropriate final challenge (apart from finding Dr. Mohn) would have been an obstacle course with sections recalling each of the Totem Trials with the fastest racer getting a shot at Dr. Kukui The Masked Royal. Of course, there would also be a book exam, but how would you get that across?

Of course, forcing the Tournament would only justify it being present. It would have no bearing on this past episode's debacle. And, again, if the next series is strongly Tournament-focused, as the rumors contend, then similar debacle will likely occur several times over the next few years.

We are now kind of at the opposite of where we were after the Team Flare Crisis with regard to our concerns about the Anime's future. That is, instead of being apprehensive about the new setting, I have basically no confidence in the current writing crew being able to handle a mandated "return to the old formula".

Edited by DonaldthePotholer on Aug 4th 2019 at 11:39:02 AM

Watching it...

Honestly Alola reffing is better then most ,where the most blatant of cheating is ignored and the Ref will call a match cause he can't be arsed to get on the field and confirm things. Pokemon Refs make WWE Refs look like Professionals

Looks like Rowlett's Ko'd but then it rolls over to reveal its sleeping 'Rest is a thing, since Snorlax'

Basically Nanu called it too quick and should have confirmed Rowlett was indeed Ko'd before calling the match

then again lets be honest Hau anime wise had NO business being able to beat Ash since He already lost the rematch so this little fake out was the only way to make Hau look like a threat... since Rowlett basically gets back up and kicks his third forms Ass with barely a step missed

Sleeping = KO has been like the elemental match up a rule that is played fast and loose with

Fantina was a case where Sleep = KO

but Tobias had Darkrai put Sceptile to sleep but that Didn't count as a KO 'and would have robbed us of Sceptile KO-ing a Legendary'

Now if your argument is Rowlett was being disobedient like Charizard! alright Ash should get a 10 count to coax Rowlett into battling... unlike with Charizard where the Ref basically didn't even bother to give Ash or Richie a chance to think 'Then again Richie had made the Ref wait all fucking day so maybe he was being pissy

you could also then easily argue that Confusion = Disobedience since the Trainer is clearly not in control of his pokemon 'which then pretty much means Status effects are BULLSHIT and should be banned!'

That and Pokemon are known to have quirks like Slowbro

That said... Yay its not that funny of gag when you have Hau literally burst into Tears

So is this suppose to be comedic or serious?

Whats the Tone here?

maybe Hau's just a big crybaby?

_____

I don't know where Ash keeps getting these mons who are basically stronger then their Evolutions, Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Tortidile, ETC ETC'

I'd almost hazard a guess that like how Mega evolution is theorized to be less of a Evolution and just the pokemon at the peak of its power 'IE Bulbasaur is the Child, Ivysaur is the Adolescent, Venusaur is the Adult Then Mega Venusaur is the fully Matured Adult

somehow Pikachu is really a Raichu that has just retained its Pikachu form!

Contrary to popular belief Ash's unevolved starters are usually never portrayed as that powerful and are generally viewed as his weaker pokemon like Totodile, Oshawott, Snivy. Bayleef and Cyndaquil (Quilava) were just average battlers. The only real exceptions were Bulbasaur who at least was given backstory and got constant battles, and Squirtle sort of only became powerful after Kanto when Ash started using it more.

Rowlett being "strong" doesn't really fit because it's portrayed as lazy all season.

Totodile can go toe to toe with Charizard

I like how the narrative now is "None of Ash's unevolved Pokemon were ever powerful, only his evolved ones were".

The mental gymnastics people do to justify their stance...

Ash's Bulbasaur defeated a freaking Meganium and Dusclops. And his untrained, unevolved Krabby curb-stomped a friggin' Exeggutor.

And let's not forget "f you for even suggesting I evolve" Pikachu.

Well, appearently a Troper considers this whole debacle to be his Dethroning Moment. Hard to blame him. This whole thing confirms to me that the writers are sadists who get their kicks from angering the fans.

Edited by AjWargo on Aug 5th 2019 at 6:42:04 AM

Suede continues his journey through the Orange Islands

What happens when you have a Snorlax you need to get over a mountain?

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Evil Laughter◊ Muahahahaha

Edited by FrozenWolf2 on Aug 5th 2019 at 10:12:08 AM

The fact that people get screwed over by the refs really makes it feel like a sports series. Fitting for how Galar presents itself so far.

Man if Ash was 16 they could totally go down some Corrupt sports league line of thoughts

So Nanu was the ref that called Rowlet down, huh? Glad it wasn't Hapu, at least. *Starts "Giovanni Match Fixing" rumor*

On another note, "Oh Serena..."

I thought that Hala reversed the call. As said in the notes from Hau's defeat

Oh, and people who are calling Hau a crybaby need to lay off the testosterone!

Edited by DonaldthePotholer on Aug 5th 2019 at 6:13:40 AM

No hapu was the one who reversed nanus call

Edited by Deadpoolrocks on Aug 5th 2019 at 2:57:57 AM

I’m sure this will be one of the most talked about Leauge episodes for all the wrong reasons. This is getting more flak than any episode in which Ash is eliminated.

Preview to next week looks interesting with Guzma Vs. Lana. Guzma looks to be brutally going after the water starters vocal cords because it singing is how it attacks. Man, Lana the one battle oriented girl of SM is going to likely be crushed by Guzma completely next week. And oddly enough the only main character in SM with a fully evolved starter this arc since Ash's two starters did not.

We've never had any other series where the female companions starter was fully evolved before Ash's was.

Meanwhile, who’s willing to bet Guzma ends up becoming the Leauge Kicker? If they were willing to let someone who was unintentionally working for a Team beat Ash, then they’re probably willing to let someone who is intentionally working for a Team win, am I right?

Rowlett being "strong" doesn't really fit because it's portrayed as lazy all season.

WHAT CUZ BULL CRAP IS THAT, Did we forget Brilliant, but Lazy is a trope!

Edited by STRX on Aug 5th 2019 at 6:42:59 AM

Guzma? Against Gladion, yes he is a League kicker. Against Ash? No.

You know what? Regardless of what happens in the Ash vs Guzma fight, I'm now wanting Kiawe to win the tourney just For the Lulz.

It's probably the only way to make the Ash vs Hau fight not matter.

Personally, I want Ash to win just to see the importance of the Leagues set up by the fans be crushed into fine powder.

Kalos already did that.

I wanted Ash to win the league because he's been doing this I was in High School, and he's long since earned it, and the fact they won't because they think his journey would end is not only silly...but not a good reason to not end it.

I mean, I can kinda get why they want him to stay, since shows that start fresh with a new hero aren't guaranteed to be a hit, but at the same time it's getting pretty silly how determined they are to stick with him when they've long since run out of ideas for him. His story should have ended a long long time ago, and their inability to accept that is doing him dirty.

Though I honestly don't know what I want now. I don't think any result they come up with at this point will satisfy anyone.

Kalos, I'm afraid didn't do enough considering how the fans ignore Alain's epiphany. If we're going to highlight how absurd the League hypes are now, might as well let Ash win.

Ash is the hero who will continue regardless if he wins the League or not. He's not Samurai Jack, who has a tangible goal in mind that can be completed even with all those Yank the Dog's Chain moments by Aku. He's Goku, a hero who seeks to be the strongest fighter and is able to adapt to new scenarios and conflicts. You can never really run out of ideas for him, but it's the League formats are the real problem. They are ultimately glorified tournaments that offer nothing but highlighting how far Ash has come in terms of being a Pokémon battler. And once he hits the finals, any attempt to prevent him from winning will be downright ludicrous.

Ah, can you imagine if Ash switch from Gym Quests to finding the legendary Ho-Oh? Or Ash finally facing down Team Rocket and Giovanni once and for all? Or Ash trying to find more about his dad? There's a lot more you can do with Ash if you were to remove the League format.

Oh and as for the Alola League, I already made my peace with it a long time ago. I don't really care how it plays out since I don't think Ash needs to prove to anyone that he can win the League. That already happened years ago. But I do want to see the League myth die by having Ash win, even it's a small Pokémon League.

The sad thing is I'm pretty sure the sleep callback was supposed to be Biting-the-Hand Humor in a 'look how far we've come' kinda way.