WOW, an episode without precedent! Just overwhelming!
First of all, I want to spare myself a comment on Gligar, because I still haven't been able to get to like it yet. It's a clown and makes Ash and his Pokemon look ridiculous. Its appearance wouldn't have been necessary today, but let's move on to the actual plot:
This dialog between Ash and Paul was awesome, because there were so many surprising and good arguments in it:
Although I'm a passionate Ash-Fan, I have to admit that Paul was right at the beginning: By just wanting to improve his Pokemon's battling skills, Ash did the same at the Wallace Cup which he reproached Paul for at the Tag Battle before. You could see from the expression on Ash's face that he reluctantly had to admit Paul was right here. But then, he countered excellently:
What he said there about making his Pokemon stronger by trusting and loving them, was one of Ash's most mature and profound remarks I've heard so far. Awesome, great, and fantastic!
The next great scene was, of course, the wonderful Cynthia- flashback *siiighs* But beloved princess!:crush:
One important question: I've been wondering whether that was her original voice from "Top- Down Training" ??
I even watched this episode again in order to compare her two allegedly identical voices.
Well, although I've reached the conclusion that it must have been her original voice actress, I still think that she sounded a bit different today
Where are our VA experts here? ^^ Could you please enlighten me?
And now the highlight, Chimchar vs. Ursaring:
As I've already said before, it was a battle without precedent: Definitely, this was the most brutal, creepiest, and fiercest battles but also one of the most impressive ones ever. Wasn't that just awesome?
There are so many elements which I could enumerate:
Chimchar being paralyzed by the horrible, terrifying expression on Ursaring's face, or Ursaring headbutting the poor ape and ramming it into the ground or, of course, Chimchar freaking out and OHKOing it with one powerful Flame Wheel.
And don't forget Ash's heroic effort to calm his friend down! His enormous "It's oooover!" cry was both moving and impressive.
What also pleased me a lot, was Paul's reaction: Have you realized this!? Those were the first "friendly" words Paul spoke to Ash since they first met.
He said: "Do you think, you'll be able to handle that?" But he didn't say that in his usual, derogatory way, but with an hidden undertone of admiration for Ash and Chimchar! The way he said that as well as his proposal for a rematch nearly made me jump for joy!
Once again, a fantastic and impressive episode:
A terrific and great Pokemon-Battle and Ash showing why he justifiably is our hero!
8 out of 10 points
