Behind yet again. Was one episode behind at one point, but then the weeks just kept flying by, so now i'm 2-3 if not more.
Kukai's identity being blown was only inevitable, just like Blaziken Mask.
Nice to see the relationship with Pikachu and Ayogon still intact even after the latter's evolution.
All of the Mom and Okido's interactions and scenes are so good to see. Very exciting to see them see Satoshi at one of his finest moments. One glaring issue, though, is the blatant absence of Takeshi and Kasumi. Just like Mom, they were also recurring this series, so you'd legitimately think TPC would bring them back in Alola to see Satoshi partake in the Alola League. What the actual hell?
Gotta commend Satoshi
a bit for training Melmetal some before the match, which heavily implies he seemingly learned from his mistake with it in its prior battle. Now hopefully it takes a victory or two. If Snorlax, one of Satoshi's top strongest Pokemon who for some weird reason is constantly overlooked in "Satoshi's strongest Pokemon" discussions, was able to do exceptionally great.. then you can to Melmetal. I gave you the pass on your first match, because you was matched up against Silvally... in a 3v3... with Satoshi's other Pokemon being his ace and strongest Alola Pokemon, neither of which could look bad.
The second interaction with Nyaheat didn't go unnoticed (just like Tapu Ko Ko's brief appearance, etc), but Pikachu briefly supporting it was a more appealing detail to me personally, as details like Nyaheat's sac emitting a lot of its emotion is among the things the anime should be showing off normally (just like Lucario's appendages reacting when it reads or manipulates aura, Buizel's inflatable sac, etc.). The fact it also produced a reaction from the other (companion) fire Pokemon in the crowd was interesting. Meanwhile, there was a lack of the surprise reveal reaction from Nyaheat finding out RM and Kukai are the same person. While i'm on this subject, I always found it weird that both it and Lugarugan never so much as even suspected they were the same person throughout the series.
6v6 Battle! :O Yes! Hopefully it's at least slightly better than Satoshi vs Alan or Shota (can't remember which of the two I liked the least), which was underwhelming in some areas. Hopefully there isn't a double knock out at some point in the fight, like Pikachu vs Latios at Sinnoh League, Noivern vs Salamence at Kalos League, Unfezant vs Talonflame at Kalos League, Goodra vs a Pokemon I can't remember(Slurpuff?) at Kalos League, etc -_-. I like how Pikachu is so anxious about the match, which better translates to it kicking ass when used later. And would you look at that, Pikachu did exactly what it is I criticized it for not doing in the battle with Gladio: cheering on Satoshi's other Pokemon (and more than once at that), wow.
Gladio still being around is a bit surprising.
First battle with Nyaheat and Gaogaen was actually fairly good and has a good amount of depth considering the length. This little mid-staged fire starter sure is setting the bar and surpassing quite the expectations, between learning Fire Blast and nullifying a Blast Burn with its bare body and will alone. (Pignite is still a badass, too, though.) Speaking of which, the Blast Burn cancellation is partially reminiscent of Fletchling's evolution into Fletchinder, even though Nyaheat didn't evolve (which hopefully it stays that way). I'm sure there's a more appropriately comparative example, but I can't think of one right now. The absorption of the move and the state it left Nyaheat in, also reminded me of when Grotle absorbed Energy Ball and of course other similar-ish situations with Satoshi's Pokemon. Now the fact that it couldn't maintain it completely, sucks
but Satoshi promised it'd have a second chance, and he usually delivers on those type of promises when he's not just mindlessly talking out of his ass, so I still believe in Nyaheat. However, that return moment for it is still pretty emotional. Lastly "Blast Nyaheat"... oh yeah gotta mention this one, as it's classic Satoshi. Getting those kind of Satoshi moments in this fight is a treat.
As for the even shorter Lugarugan vs Gaogaen battle.. not going to say much here, but I love the way it was handled while it lasted, especially since Lug's successful attempt(s) at attacking Gao resulted in Kukai switching it out, which potentially avoided Lug getting eliminated early, if not have taken a relatively large amount of damage. (Find it extremely respectful considering it's the Champion's Pokemon that got him the title.) He kept it in the fight after Nyaheat because it was still incredibly healthy, so him recalling it during the fight with Lug is blatant proof that Lug landed a successful and relatively powerful strike. Even the animation shows Gao clearly being phased by the attack in two utter ways: it holding its arm and flinching. Lastly, I obviously have to at least briefly mention that cool shard moment that was so like the time Satoshi's Krookodile used its shard against Brycen (whatever his name is) at the ice gym in Unova/BW. Great stuff, especially for a rock type. I absolutely love in this anime when Pokemon actually perform actions that specifically relate to their typing or personality.
(Lana claiming Satoshi can win, his opponent's ace having Blast Burn, his opponent being the elderly character Satoshi typically loses against in his final battles, and the opponent again having an impressive background detail precisely of beating multiple trainers consecutively with his ace... all reminiscent of Satoshi vs Alan. Yeah, i'm justifiably terrified, now. I can see the writers easily having Satoshi lose and justifying his lost because they figured they perhaps gave the audience a bone by finally having Satoshi win a league, whether it was planned out that way or out of pity for his Kalos lost. Honestly... I view this as the true final league match, as the official finals acted moreso like the typical rival fights that happen at the league instead, especially with that explicit 3v3 format that in noway should ever be how the final match is represented and concluded. Satoshi won the AL—I will will not take that away from him—but in a way it feels like Kukai is the actual final opponent in the same vein as Harrison, Tyson, Tobias, Virgil, and Alan, that was stripped away maybe even in a way to prevent him from losing this league, while the real final match was moreso in the vein of the rival league battles against Gary, Paul, Cameron, and Sawyer. Even if he beats Kukai, the final league match will still be weird at least for different reasons.)
Wonder if they'll later show the detail of Gaogaen's belt actually change dynamically (like it did in "I Choose You")? I expect so considering the detail with Nyaheat and even Incineroar when its belt briefly flickered. Also wonder how the Lucario match is going to go and who it's going to defeat (assuming) and be defeated by. They know better than to have it K.O. Pikachu, regardless of how many Pokemon Pikachu were to defeat prior. Also, Satoshi has fought and interacted with numerous Lucario now, it's pretty crazy.
If Satoshi keeps that Agoyon, honestly... this will at least make up for him getting rid of Goodra, well mostly anyway. (I mean, pseudo legendary vs flying-ultra beast. Seems like fair compensation to me.) However, like Goodra, he probably won't keep it, especially since it has Thunderbolt (they can't have Satoshi having two different Pokemon with Thunderbolt now can they <_<), is an Ultra Beast, and Satoshi already has a (fully evolved) mythical. But man, at least it'd also be the perfect 6th Pokemon to conclude Satoshi's team for this generation (even though it has Pikachu's signature attack), especially since unlike Goodra it can actually fly.
Interestingly, James still doesn't know Royal Mask's true identity. That ought to be fun when he finds out, if he finds out.
Onto the next episode...