Got done watching. Decent episode.
As I've said, the result was pretty much the one I was betting it'd be. However, I won't be a hypocrite: I was unsure and at some point, I was even hoping Ash would win. His loss, at the first moment, felt dissapointing to me but manageable since my rational side got me prepared for it.
Honestly, I've seen far worse OOC behavior from Ash and stick to the anime. So, no that loss won't make me stop watching the show. Though whoever feels differently is completly right and justified on doing so if they do want.
In retrospect, Ash's loss makes sense. I mean, the build up was all for Greninja vs Charizard as the final battle. And here lies the problem: Greninja.
No, I won't say it's because the frog is overhyped. No, the problem lies to a criticism that I had for the "Winding Woods, Dawn of Evolution" episode.
Pikachu.
Face it, after all these years of service, would it be fair if the one guy who give Ash the league victory he's been denied for years was someone who was with Ash for only ONE region and not the one who has been with him since... ever?
"But, Pikachu's weak. It's team effort".
Blah, blah, blah.
It's the same ethical dilemma Ash has to deal during leagues. With the whole "should I call my reserves but ignore the one team who helped me reach this point?"
It's blantantly clear that had Ash give a quick call to his Charizard and Sceptile the result would be vastly different from a logical standpoint. And I say "logical" because even if the director somehow allowed Ash to use reserves, he'd still lose (because "eternal kids show") and there, my friends, I'd be as pissed of as you.
As for the battle itself, I'm really let down with Noivern and Goodra. Yeah, that's the generation the dragons would be nerfed but it should have happened in the metagame not in the show lol
Now, seriously, what was done with those two was all around mediocre. Yeah, they didn't stand a chance considering who they had to face but why following the game logic when the show has been ignoring it for several years?
If you really think about it, Ash did great because in reality he has fought with only FOUR pokémon. If the other two were on par with Pikachu, Hawlucha, Greninja and Talonflame (and yes, I do count him), Delia would be working up with that trophy lol
Really, guys, the post-Wulfric first battle episode (Winding Woods, dawn of evolution) annoyed me a lot more than Ash losing the league again.
Anyway, I had to say that despite my initial dissapointment, you know what changed my mind: how Ash reacted. He took his failure like a MAN. Like a mature man. A real professional. A true role model. Compare and contrast with how he's reacted after the Richie battle on Kanto and you'll see that, yes, he got character development even though it wasn't quite what the critics wanted.
And even if I've said "the league is cheap for not giving Ash a silver medal" jokingly, there's a bit of truth on it. Really, director and episode writer, what do you think you are doing? What kind of lesson that gives to the kids? That only winners get nice things?
Yes, in the end, the win is all that matters but there's a reason there are silver and sometimes bronze medals. It teaches being a good sport, that's ok if you don't win everything and whenever you look at that silver we can work harder to replace it with a gold.
Ash is amazing because he's managed to self motivate himself. Where many other characters would have cried, cursed or be incredibly pissed, he took it like a man. Like a professional trainer. And that's why he's the show's main character. That's why he's my role model - I said it and I don't regret it - even if I'm a 27 year old fully aware I'm watching a show for foreign children. Much like Ash has dealt with his loss like a man, I'll deal with my all the mockery for having Ash as a model like a man as well. Bring it on, haters! As we say on Brazil "pode vir quente que eu tô fervendo!" (literally "if you are on fire, then I'm erupting", an expression which means "if think you are tough enough to face me, just know I'm tougher than you!")
I was going to reason Alain's decision to take on the league and becoming the winner was because he was fighting for a good cause (he wanted to be the stronger man in order to protect those he care about while Ash wanted just to achieve his goal) but, after that little scene... Nope. All he wants is hooking up with a young chick *geminisagaevillaughs*
Anyway, I like the episode. Not much because the animation, plot, battles or how they handled the status quo determining the outcome. I like how the whole thing build up to this. I dunno about you but I had a great time speculating and wondering if he was going to win or not even if my more rational side knew he wouldn't make it.
It has been fun