No it wasn't, let's just go through what happened.
Bianca and Ash want to challenge gym leader- Okay
Ash and Co, and Bianca run into her father- Okay
Bianca's Dad wants Bianca to come home- Okay
Bianca says that if she beats Elesa she can do what she wants and if she loses she'll come with him and apparently stop being a trainer- Okay
Bianca not beating a single Pokemon of Elesa's- NOT OKAY AT ALL, next episode as we know Palpitoad beats Zebstrika, how in the hell is Palpitoad stronger than the Zebra that didn't even take hardly any damage at all from Bianca's Pokemon and curbstomped her into oblivion? Unless the condition was she just HAD to beat ONE single Pokemon of Elesa's it was completely unacceptable. They could've easily had Pignite beat or even TIE with Zebstrika, and if Pignite one, could've been one shotted from Emolga's aerial ace or other possible flying moves. Moving on.....
Before Bianca and her father leave, Cilan wants to make them lunch- Okay
Iris somehow convinces Ash to be a nice guy and fight for Bianca- Okay
Ash takes the chance of him losing that he would be sent back to Pallet Town, and if he won Bianca can do what she wants- Okay
Oshawott sending itself out to fight- Was okay, until the outcome and Oshawott has only itself to blame
Ash being completely obliterated, not finding very many openings- Not Okay
Ash seemingly getting his groove back and losing- Not Okay At All.
Because of the whole friendship spiel, Bianca's dad decides to let Ash off the hook and let's his daughter do what she wants- What the hell were they thinking? I mean my goodness, was the Friendship Spiel THAT important that both Bianca and Ash had to lose without actually even having a chanve.
Like I said the odds were way too stacked against Bianca and Ash, it wasn't even realistic, in any way shape or form. I mean where's the struggle, where's the "OH is he going to do it, or isn't he?" But no, apparently Bianca's dad is some Elite Four member of some region we haven't heard of. And Bianca's skill as a trainer, is the equivalent to a Sunkern that only knows splash.
Bianca and Ash had absolutely no shot at winning their matches, in any way shape or form. And apparently friendship spiel is far more important than someone's life. Because they just took Ash's and Bianca's life goals and shoved it up their rear ends, and the only resolution that came from this episode, was because of all the good things they remembered being together.
Thank you Pokemon, you just implied to many children that they can't help friends when their in trouble with their own skills and talents but don't worry if you reminisce about it, the problem magically goes away.
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Oh but then again this a cartoon. The cartoon some times do have not very good messages. How many times have I seen, someone's life close to being flushed down the toilet, only for some aspect of the whole situation, somehow making the "Villain" be a nice guy and just say figuratively "Just Kidding" with a punch to the arm. Were are the jerk people, who no matter what happens, takes the ultimatum to heart?