Ahhhh it’s finally here! The Grand Festival is THEEE main event of Dawn’s journey; very much looking forward to this 4-parter (which is an appropriate episode count, I love that it’s given so much attention).
Seeing everyone meet up and interact was really nice, and again felt like everything Dawn had been through coming full circle. Dawn thanking her Pokémon and Ash/Brock for everything just further hammered that home.
Dawn’s Grand Festival look is gorgeous omg. In 10+ years it still hasn’t been topped; the Rococo princess dress and hairstyle is such a slay. She really came and showed everyone else up; that’s what you do when you’re the best Pokégirl
Ursula’s double evolution appeal was iconic and unique. I love Contests because really only here can you see performances like this. Nando’s was pretty but par the course for him, and Jessie’s was very…..distinctive. The second dress was camp I have to say. Kenny’s was technically good until the end but I was bored by it. Felt a bit amateur for the Grand Festival. Zoey’s water appeal was beautiful and impressive, as expected of her.
Dawn however…..her appeal was
absolutely the greatest performance in both Contests AND Showcases; absolutely tops anything in any kind of competition even slightly like this. Like are we seeing this? Buneary having so much control over Ice Beam that she creates a huge, twisting slide, making use of the entire arena? Cyndaquil highlighting the ice by using Flame Wheel
and creating a path for Buneary to ride on? Smokescreen obscuring but then eventually revealing Buneary inside that meticulously made ice Pokéball with Cyndaquil’s fire looking like wings??? This is a Top Coordinator level performance. Truly was art, like the episode is titled. I would’ve given her the trophy right then and there, like everyone else go home!
Kenny not making it past the first round and leaving was tough, but that’s how it is. I can see how this leads to his last episode later on. I quite like him and Dawn’s relationship, at least by this point, so I thought their moment at the end was nice and cute.