A Giga Battle With Mega Results (899)

[AuraChannelerChris]

This episodes another in the series that makes it clear that Ash has emotionally and physically matured since the previous generation. He and Pikachu easily jumped down those ledges suggesting he's quite physically fit and then he tried to pull Nurse Joy out of the crack. Those are two things he probably wouldn't have done before XY.

So that's why he got captured in the net or else no action for Joy.

What! That Ambulance though. Sun and Moon foreshadowing, but we didn't know that at the time. Lol.

I saw nothing, so...

 

[Bguy7]

Not much to say on this episode besides the way Mega Evolution was handled. I do not like the way that the anime makes Mega Evolution seem like something that just about anyone can accomplish. It's made even worse that they went out of their way to show that the bond between Nurse Joy and Audinno wasn't even that strong to begin with.

 

[Zoruagible]

The Nurse Joy should have been transferred from Unova. And what happened to the "special bond" being needed to Mega evolve? How silly.....
6/10

 

[Pikachu52]

The Nurse Joy should have been transferred from Unova. And what happened to the "special bond" being needed to Mega evolve? How silly.....
6/10

It was implied Audino had been. The instructor at Nurse Joy's graduation specifically said that they had teamed her up with Audino rather than Wigglytuff because Audino was more experienced.

It's interesting nobody actually mentioned the word "Unova" during this episode. Clemont mentions briefly that Audino are used as nurses in other regions but after that nobody says anything about it. I would have thought Ash would have said "Oh yeah, like in Unova," or had a flashback and reminisced about it with Pikachu but they glossed the entire point.

Not much to say on this episode besides the way Mega Evolution was handled. I do not like the way that the anime makes Mega Evolution seem like something that just about anyone can accomplish. It's made even worse that they went out of their way to show that the bond between Nurse Joy and Audinno wasn't even that strong to begin with.

I totally agree with you. They've gone from having Mega Evolution being difficult to attain and placing an emphasis on the bond between trainer and Pokémon as was the case with Garchomp and Lucario to being a relatively cheap gimmick. This is my number 1 issue with Sawyer's potential use of a Mega Scpetile later in this series (I'd be interested to know your thoughts on that). It might have worked better if they'd either a) shown the two as having had a strong bond from the beginning or at least been together for a long time or b) demonstrated the two struggling with Mega Evolution Lucario style and thus allowing Team Rocket to get the upper hand at least initially in the battle. But they didn't. It's almost like the writers were trying to redraft the entire concept, which I suspect they may have been so as to allow Sawyer to mega evolve his sceptile without too many fans saying "You've gotta be $%^&ing kidding me."

So that's why he got captured in the net or else no action for Joy.

Being captured in the net doesn't reflect anything on Ash's physical ability or emotional maturity because the net was most likely made of very thick ropes and possibly steel which would have made it impossible for him to escape. I said Ash's physical strength and fitness had improved since previous generation, I never said he was the human equivalent of a Machamp. Besides he didn't struggle or panic while stuck in the net he was relatively calm and cool and made sure Pikachu was okay so that's something.

I'm reserving my judgment until I see it happen. They could immensely screw it up, or they could do a decent job. At least Sawyer isn't just a random, unimportant character who's only going to appear once, and at least it's believable that he would have a bond with his Sceptile, as it was his first Pokemon. I would hope they would do some sort of character arc, or at least flashbacks, for him, showing him and Sceptile progressing towards Mega Evolution, but even they don't, it wouldn't be much different from all the Mega Evolution trainers we've seen Alain fighting. It would actually be better just because he is an important character. It would certainly be better than what happened in this episode.

That's a good point. I'm going to admit however that if Sawyer beats Ash in the league then I think Pokémon will need to change it's slogan from "gotta catch em all" to "you gotta be @#$%ing kidding me."

 

[Bguy7]

(I'd be interested to know your thoughts on that)

I'm reserving my judgment until I see it happen. They could immensely screw it up, or they could do a decent job. At least Sawyer isn't just a random, unimportant character who's only going to appear once, and at least it's believable that he would have a bond with his Sceptile, as it was his first Pokemon. I would hope they would do some sort of character arc, or at least flashbacks, for him, showing him and Sceptile progressing towards Mega Evolution, but even they don't, it wouldn't be much different from all the Mega Evolution trainers we've seen Alain fighting. It would actually be better just because he is an important character. It would certainly be better than what happened in this episode.

 

[Orton155]

I enjoyed this episode. It was great to see Audino get an appearance again after Black & White as I was worried we wouldn't for a very long time.

It may have been a reason to show off Mega Audino but I liked the episode because it shows that true friendship shines through the roughest of arguments and Professor Sycamore was there to show them that. I didn't mind Team Rocket in this episode either.

Fine episode, onto the next one!

 

[Pikachu52]

It may have been a reason to show off Mega Audino but I liked the episode because it shows that true friendship shines through the roughest of arguments and Professor Sycamore was there to show them that.

But I'm a little confused as to how the episode actually showed that. I know that was the intention and it would have fitted with the concept of Mega Evolution very well but it really didn't come through. There were no flashbacks to any happy moments between the two, the only flashback concerned Nurse Joy literally insulting Audino in front of her instructor at her graduation because she wanted to be placed with a Wigglytuff instead and felt intimidated by Audio's superior skill and experience. For most of the screen time those two occupied they spent it fighting. The only time they weren't fighting was when professor Sycamore was analysing the stones and in that scene they weren't saying anything to each other. The only indications of any friendship between them was the child saying "They normally get along," and the fact Nurse Joy said she was looking for the Mega stone as a gift. While it's open to interpretation this suggested the relationship was professional for the most part at best and strained at worst. It's hard to see it as being "true friendship," and certainly nothing compared to say Korrina and Lucario or Alain and Charizard. Even at the end when Team Rocket attacked the centre, there was no moment of realisation that they'd been treating each other poorly, it seemed more like an amicable agreement to put their differences aside for the sake of their jobs than the actions of two people who genuinely care for each other. In my opinion the episode wanted to show that true friendship shines through the roughest of arguments but the poor characterisation and ease at which Nurse Joy and Audino mastered Mega Evolution failed to convey that message with any degree of clarity. This episode smacks of bad writing. The disappointing this is, that the plot was good or at least typical for an anime filler. The true friendship trope could have been successfully employed if Nurse Joy and Audino had been written as better characters.

On top of this, I also think it's worth nothing something I mention on a thread about another episode is the tendency of the writers to give important life messages to the main characters by having them witness a random COTD have the experience. They did this most appallingly in "Splitting Heirs" where Bonnie and Clemont learn about sibling hood by witnessing the dispute and reconciliation of two brothers and their Meowstic. If the writers are serious about showing that "true friendship shines through the roughest of arguments" why can't Ash and Pikachu have a fight and Pikachu runs away. That would be far more emotionally intense and compelling than having the experience lived through a character as flat as Nurse Joy (and would be a great springboard for Pikashipping - in fact that plots literally crying out for fan fiction). And if you think Ash and Pikachu are too close to ever fall out, what about Clemont and Luxray fall out (it's happened before), or Serena and Braxien (surprised it hasn't happened already to be honest), maybe Deddenne get's sick of being babied by Bonnie (of course if that happened Dedenne would loose it's life of eating, sleeping and pampering and have to go back to taking care of itself so that one seems unlikely but it could work). Have the actual main characters experience and learn things for themselves rather than use invented and one dimensional inserts as teachable moments.

 

[U.N. Owen]

If the writers are serious about showing that "true friendship shines through the roughest of arguments" why can't Ash and Pikachu have a fight and Pikachu runs away. That would be far more emotionally intense and compelling than having the experience lived through a character as flat as Nurse Joy (and would be a great springboard for Pikashipping - in fact that plots literally crying out for fan fiction).

Uh, Ash is a flat character in and of himself. Perhaps you mean someone less flat than Joy because I don't see the three dimensions in Ash right now or ever.

 

[AuraChannelerChris]

...or Serena and Braxien (surprised it hasn't happened already to be honest)...

That kind of happened when Braixen's wand got broken.

...And even then, she only got mad because of an off-screen scene that wasn't elaborated on in a previous episode.

Though yeah, this episode just undermined Mega Evolution, unless bonding with Audino is much far easier than bonding with a rowdy Lucario or a monstrous Charizard, or the power surge isn't as exaggerated for whatever reason.

 

[Pikachu52]

Uh, Ash is a flat character in and of himself. Perhaps you mean someone less flat than Joy because I don't see the three dimensions in Ash right now or ever.

If so then it's party because of as I said, many of the life experiences and lesson Ash gets on his journeys are through COTD rather than himself. While I appreciate the need of the anime to showcase all 720 Pokémon in some form, doing away with many of the COTD and having their experiences lived through the main cast would be an improvement.

That kind of happened when Braixen's wand got broken.

...And even then, she only got mad because of an off-screen scene that wasn't elaborated on in a previous episode.

Though yeah, this episode just undermined Mega Evolution, unless bonding with Audino is much far easier than bonding with a rowdy Lucario or a monstrous Charizard, or the power surge isn't as exaggerated for whatever reason.

They didn't really fight though - certainly not in the manner that Nurse Joy and Audino did. Pancham broke the fire wand and Braxien was somewhat mad that Serena didn't fully understand it's sentimentality. In any case as you've pointed out, the fact the reason for the heartache was reduced to a 20 second clip of something that had happened offscreen reduced the impact and made Braxien look almost bratty.

 

[U.N. Owen]

If so then it's party because of as I said, many of the life experiences and lesson Ash gets on his journeys are through COTD rather than himself. While I appreciate the need of the anime to showcase all 720 Pokémon in some form, doing away with many of the COTD and having their experiences lived through the main cast would be an improvement.

Here is a point we can agree on. It's kind of sad that kids' shows like Avatar, Gravity Falls, and Digimon can all play the game of plot and characterization better than Pokemon.

 

[Lexya428]

I found this to be a better episode I have seen of the Kalos episodes. It could have been better presented, but overall, it was a good episode. I liked Nurse Joy mega evolving Audino! 7/10.

 

[Orton155]

But I'm a little confused as to how the episode actually showed that. I know that was the intention and it would have fitted with the concept of Mega Evolution very well but it really didn't come through. There were no flashbacks to any happy moments between the two, the only flashback concerned Nurse Joy literally insulting Audino in front of her instructor at her graduation because she wanted to be placed with a Wigglytuff instead and felt intimidated by Audio's superior skill and experience. For most of the screen time those two occupied they spent it fighting. The only time they weren't fighting was when professor Sycamore was analysing the stones and in that scene they weren't saying anything to each other. The only indications of any friendship between them was the child saying "They normally get along," and the fact Nurse Joy said she was looking for the Mega stone as a gift. While it's open to interpretation this suggested the relationship was professional for the most part at best and strained at worst. It's hard to see it as being "true friendship," and certainly nothing compared to say Korrina and Lucario or Alain and Charizard. Even at the end when Team Rocket attacked the centre, there was no moment of realisation that they'd been treating each other poorly, it seemed more like an amicable agreement to put their differences aside for the sake of their jobs than the actions of two people who genuinely care for each other. In my opinion the episode wanted to show that true friendship shines through the roughest of arguments but the poor characterisation and ease at which Nurse Joy and Audino mastered Mega Evolution failed to convey that message with any degree of clarity. This episode smacks of bad writing. The disappointing this is, that the plot was good or at least typical for an anime filler. The true friendship trope could have been successfully employed if Nurse Joy and Audino had been written as better characters.

On top of this, I also think it's worth nothing something I mention on a thread about another episode is the tendency of the writers to give important life messages to the main characters by having them witness a random COTD have the experience. They did this most appallingly in "Splitting Heirs" where Bonnie and Clemont learn about sibling hood by witnessing the dispute and reconciliation of two brothers and their Meowstic. If the writers are serious about showing that "true friendship shines through the roughest of arguments" why can't Ash and Pikachu have a fight and Pikachu runs away. That would be far more emotionally intense and compelling than having the experience lived through a character as flat as Nurse Joy (and would be a great springboard for Pikashipping - in fact that plots literally crying out for fan fiction). And if you think Ash and Pikachu are too close to ever fall out, what about Clemont and Luxray fall out (it's happened before), or Serena and Braxien (surprised it hasn't happened already to be honest), maybe Deddenne get's sick of being babied by Bonnie (of course if that happened Dedenne would loose it's life of eating, sleeping and pampering and have to go back to taking care of itself so that one seems unlikely but it could work). Have the actual main characters experience and learn things for themselves rather than use invented and one dimensional inserts as teachable moments.

First of all, well said

I agree with you to an extent as I feel they could have shown examples of when they did actually got along. However, I believe the writers focused more on Audino and Joy's stubbornness to admit that they actually liked each other and it was actually Sycamore that saw through this. I admit this hasn't been the strongest bond we have ever seen for Mega evolution but I guess bonds differ between People and their Pokémon and this one was hidden more than the others.

 

[Pikachu52]

First of all, well said

Thanks so much

I agree with you to an extent as I feel they could have shown examples of when they did actually got along. However, I believe the writers focused more on Audino and Joy's stubbornness to admit that they actually liked each other and it was actually Sycamore that saw through this. I admit this hasn't been the strongest bond we have ever seen for Mega evolution but I guess bonds differ between People and their Pokémon and this one was hidden more than the others.

Even factoring in the stubbornness to admit they liked each other it never came across that they had anything more than an amicable relationship that occasionally broke down. Certainly being too stubborn to admit you like someone is a trope associated with the harbouring of strong and romantic feelings but it speaks more to having a crush or feelings of infatuation rather than the sort of deep Ash and Pikachu level bond that up until now has been associated with Mega Evolution. True Joy and Audino could well have care very deeply about each other but allowed personal disputes to force them to hide those feelings but there was still enough distrust and bad feelings between them to make it odd that they got Mega Evolution to work so fast. It took Korrina about 5 episodes and that was after the trials her grandfather had put her through.

Personally I don't think this episode was anything more than a) a filler written around Sycamore so he could study Zygarde and b) a deliberate undermining of the concept of mega evolution to blunt any controversy created by Sawyer using it later in the series - Make Mega Evolution look easy to obtain so it's less questionable when the I'm-a-new-trainer-who's-lost-every-battle kid gets it (which frankly makes it more odd that Ash isn't using it).

 

[roguedr4g0nite]

I liked that this Joy had a personality! My favorite scene is the flashback where she receives Audino and her reaction was priceless XD 8/10

 

[Nyter]

Pikachu52 said everything this episode was lacking to get my 5 out of 5 stars. This episode had it all, the background, the interest factor, the mega evolution theme, prof. Sycamore... The message! The message was there!!! But the execution was not. The episode was not compelling enough to do so. Therefore I give it 4 stars out of 5.

The episode where Iris and Ash are angry at each other and stop talking to each other is still the best of the whole "friendship conquers all" themes.

 

[the1stpkmnfan]

With Nurse Joy's hair down like that, I would've been fooled by her disguse as well. Too bad I've had a hunch at this episode's plot before I watched it, so the surprise is mediocre.

It is interesting to see Nurse Joy have some conflict in an episode, especially with her Audino. And of course, Mega Audino is cool to see animated.

 

[Wednesdayz]

I thought that Ash getting captured in the manner that he did was pretty stupid lol. He literally didn't even try to evade that net. The battle was weird as well. Joy had Mega Audino beat the crap out of TR, only to end off using Heal Pulse to manipulate them into releasing the Poke Balls. :/

 

[Alloutℯ]

I love how the writers made it so that there was no coincidence. Professor Sycamore only appeared because of their phone call to him last episode. But I thought it was weird for Sycamore to bring an Audinite everywhere.

 

[Leonhart]

Joi very rarely gets decent screen-time, so I was pleased to see Joi get a neat subplot featuring Tabunne, which is also a sparsely used Pokemon. Seeing Mega Tabunne was nice as well, as it's one of my favorite OR/AS Mega Pokemon.