So the episode starts off with Ash battling Trevor. Is it just me or do Ash's "rivals" seem weaker in this generation that previously. Ash's Fletchlinder destroyed Trevor's Charmeleon with one steel wing. Next Trevor introduces the episodes plot by mentioning his goal is to take a picture of Molters and showing Ash and friends his pictures of Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. Those three sure do get around. They've featured in Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, the Sevii Island and now they're paying Kalos a visit. Following that Jessie, James and Meowth plot to capture Molters - didn't Butch and Cassidy already try that...So far so good
The next 5-10 minutes are just Clemont's Rock catcher searching every rock to find the one where Moltress appears and Trevor taking photos...Pads the episode out a little.
After that things get more interesting - Team Rocket steal Pikachu yet again (I thought they were after Molters). There's a battles between Fletchlinder and Team Rocket...And then finally Moltress appears in all it's glory and Trevor explains that it uses lava to recharge it's power...Didn't it do the same thing in the Sevii islands??? Team Rocket then try to attack Moltress and fail miserably when it's flamethrower sends them blasting off...They have even less success with Moltress than did Butch and Cassidy. Interesting twist though taking Pikachu with them...On no his cage falls back to earth.
The next part it quite good. Moltress attacks Ash and friends and so Ash try to fight back. Fletchlinder gets attacked and evolves...Subsequent battle between Talonflame and Moltress was good and Ash's attempt to rescue him when he fell into the lava - By jumping into the lava.
Pikachu being mad at Ash for being so reckless was cute but rushed. They should have shown Pikachu being desperately worried about Ash when he was falling into the lava and they could have made more of a deal about Pikachu being mad at him...The mouse only gave Ash a frown and then forgave him after one pat on the head - Could have at least slapped him over the head with his tail.
After that Moltress flies away deciding Ash and his friends aren't it's enemies...Or at least that they're no threat to it given how easily Moltress beat Talonflame.
And Trevor got his photo....
Meh - It's a good episode but was kind of a let down. It was way too heavy on the action and not emotional enough - The Pikashipping hints page on bulbapedia lists Pikachu's frustration at Ash for his attempt to save Talonflame, but the scene lasted less than a second. It's wastes what I hoped would be a good Pikashipping moment but it's still cute.
6/10
That was a pretty good episode. I'm not sure why it was a recycle of that episode with Todd and Articuno, but whatever. I wish Ash had made some sort of comment about knowing how hard it is to train a Charmeleon, that would have been nice. Also, as interesting as that final battle was to watch, I feel like with how powerful the Legendary Birds have been shown to be in the past, it was a little silly how long Talonflame managed to hold its own.
Personally I think the episode is a repeat of the chronicles episode "Search for the legend." That had pretty similar elements; Ash/Richie Teamed up with Trevor/Silver to find Moltress. Both parties climbed an active Volcano to find Moltress. Team Rocket attempted to capture Moltress by having their Pokémon attack it unsuccessfully. In both episode a part flying type Pokémon battles against Moltress but doesn't finish the battle.
It's actually a shame because out of the two episodes "Search for the legend" is the better. Salamance probably had a better chance against Moltres then Talonflame did and Butch and Cassidy at least had a plan to capture it, Jessie and James just thought randomly attacking a legendary Pokémon was a good idea. I agree with you the battle between Moltres and Talonflame was not realistic - Silver's Salamence had trouble against Moltres and it was clearly a lot more powerful than Talonflame.
Kinda sad too - Search for the legend was the last time we saw Ritchie in the anime. He was a good character....But that's off point
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Ash, for god's sake, you have a sphere that can shoot a light to call back Pokemon from a distance. Stop risking your life over nothing! Moltres saw how suicidal you are so that's why it didn't bother burning you down: you'll take yourself down anyway.
Also, not a fan of Talonflame's horrible voice.
That's a good point. I hadn't thought of that - Why didn't Ash just return Talonflame to it's Pokéball. I suppose it would have been much less dramatic. But then why didn't any of this friends point that out to him. He jumped into a Lava pit he deserved more of a bearting than he actually recieved - and a tail slap from Pikachu
But.. I really enjoyed it. Just wished the song on where Talonflame appeared would have been Volt.
