Well, I
finally got around to seeing this episode (no not youtube, I actually like to have "quality" in my poke eps (5cents for anyone who can figure out the irony of this
)), I have to say, it was very entertaining. What with Luxray being in it, and of course several references to past episodes, I gotta say it was done reasonably well (keeping an open mind
does help).
So... where should I begin... well how about the beginning? Firstly, I thought the concept of the whole "mansion" was an okay idea, until I began to notice multiple similarities with the one found
south of Hearthome. Well, the fact that the pattern on the front lawn, and the "police/security guards" didn't exactly help matters. Though, on that subject, I'm very much hoping that area gets visited properly in the show (maybe a capture or two wouldn't hurt?).
Then, of course we have
Marble who striked me as odd at first. 'Course, the whole Luxray outfit probably meant she definitely meant business, until her true purpose was revealed to be a "detective". Oh good lord, the second I saw her little "spiel" for "advertising", it quickly occurred to me that it has been roughly 11 years since something like this has been done (think the episode "Hypno's Naptime" where Ash decides to try and be a detective to solve the case. Yeah, pretty much the same end result too.). 'Course, what irked me the most about her was her constant spewing of the line "I was just about to say that too". After the near last time she says it, I simply thought "give it a rest will you!". Though, I'm glad she was able to solve Luxray's "obediance" problem other ways besides Team Rocket (though, attacks are usually resolved a la
Rocket anyways, so that was inevitable).
Well, seeing as Luxray's her partner, why don't I check him out? I, personally thought Luxray was well handled. I now have the suspicion that every electric type showcased in the anime (since saying "show" would be slightly redundant) that has a tail of which could actually handle Iron Tail, will in fact have it. Though, I seriously wish Game Freak would have created an attack similar to Luxray's X-vision that would essentially cancel out all evasion attacks. Seriously, they sure made an episode dedicated to showing Hoothoot's foresight, why not make an actual
Xray-esque attack specifically for Luxray?
Anyways, having
not seen the Jap version, I can't really comment about anything along those lines, but I can say that I felt Luxray's voice was handled rather well. Oh, and I did read a few pages back that someone mentioned something regarding an "un-need" to tranlsate Luxray's "RAWR". Well, Luxray's Jap name is
Rentora, maybe they were just using "RA" a lot. Luxray sure said "Ray" a lot so I guess it seems fit.
I honestly don't see why Charge Beam and Thunder Fang were unliked. Honestly, this is Pokémon. Quality in
anything is hard to comeby. What would have preferred, a beautiful CG beam of energy taking out Team Rocket? Thunder Crackling teeth that would have caused that case to ignite with electricity? Sheesh, you guys expect way too much from this show. Let's not forget who's watching shall we?
Now, fast forward to the part that literally makes me wonder if Dawn truly is smarter than she looks (or maybe she's armed with something called "common sense"). Honestly, just as Team Rocket, a.k.a. "Bandit Beautys 3", took that case, Dawn called them off saying they were the Bandits - followed by [insert: I was just going to say that too!]. Of course, I facepalmed myself once Brock essentially screwed the whole thing up. Brock! And to think I thought you were actually smart! Come on, if Dawn can conjure up a plan, and it
actually works then why not take her advice and go with it? (Answer: cause then you'd have about 3 minutes to fill... and chances are it probably would not have wound up taking the same path. But still, I was so close to seeing that scene way back in Kanto when Misty pretty much knew it was Team Rocket. Ugh! Brock, for once, this time you should have taken Dawn's advice). It was at that moment that made me wonder who really
is the more intelligent character on this show...
Now, all the similarities to older episodes are fine and all, but now lets move on to another important segment: the traps. Well, I don't know about you guys, but I didn't think that you were supposed to "kill" thieves upon entering those walls. Trap them maybe and send them over to police, but not "impale, spear or crush" them. What is in there that could possibly warrant the death of someone to protect? The Ark of the Covenant (I didn't know Pokemon had something
that religious in the show...)? Seriously, what
is down there. Locking it up would also have been a bit alternative.
And lord, Luxray uses his Xray to see the trap, Pikachu trips it and he tries to get Pikachu, but falls in. What was the point.
Of course, when Luxray falls into a
near spiky death and stops, I thought: Pikachu probably did save him, but I didn't think... then I remembered the battle Pikachu had against that one Milotic back in Hoenn. Ah, yes, it all made sense. If Pikachu can hurl something roughly 20 feet over itself with almost no effort, I hardly see anything wrong with Pikachu saving Luxray, whose way smaller than that. Afterwards, I was glad that Luxray and Pikachu became friends. He does hesitate, but agrees to it.
Now, I doubt anyone caught this, but why was Mahogany town mentioned? Out of all the towns in all the regions, how the tell did Mahogany town get mentioned? Seriously... I makes no sense... unless...
But, was Marble really the daughter of that Jenny, or was Marble just your "generic" pre-teen attempting to be good at doing something she clearly isn't?
Eh, otherwise, this was a pretty well done episode.
And now to answer some posts.
Mike Pollock (old 4kids narrator and old 4kids mr Contesta) is the mansion owner. More 4kids !
Yep, sure sounds like him. But I thought I heard MP alot earlier in Sinnoh as other characters (mostly people like the owner though).
Interesting. Another old 4Kids connection. It's amazing now. Maybe all the 4Kids people are jumping ship.
Notice how these are mainly VA's who do "additional voices" anyway. None of them are the familiar bunch we've been used to hearing.
The only thing I was disappointed about in this episode was Luxray's dub. I expected something more ferocious. When I heard it the first time I was like, "You've gotta be kidding me."
Considering who's training it, it makes alot of sense. I thought it suited it just fine. Mightyena suits the fercoiousness better anyway.
It's Marble, not Marvel...
Yes, Marvel not only enables PUSA to lawsuit, but she's not exactly that much of a "Marvel" if you get what I mean.
He used the pseudonym Lawrence Herb.
Hmm, this is quite interesting. The 4Kids gang is deciding to secretly voice here. Though, the damn videos I watch don't have credits... so I wouldn't know. But, once they get to Canada (Battle Dimension), I'll be sure to look for his name.
This ep was interesting enough. Hey, we got kid Joys, it's about time we got a kid Jenny, too.
I was just thinking that. (Note: I did not use that irritating Marble line...)
Exactly; why, though, with other 4Kids VAs using they're real names, is another question.
Because obviously they don't want 4Kids to know that "they're under
better management".
Marble was interesting, and I liked how she appeared like she could be related to the Jennys.
I thought she was...
I also have to question why those traps were still smack-dab in the middle of the friggin hallway for anyone to trigger. It's like a 'what the hell?'.
That's the whole purpose of a
trap. They're supposed to be there to catch people who
shouldn't be there. Granted, the traps are a litte too "vicious" for the general purpose.
Not a bad Episode, Luxray's voice wasn't what I expected. And the fact he had no electrical moves at his disposal till this. This was really an average filler episode.
Considering the Shinx, Luxio, Luxray line are quite limited in good moves anyways does make this a lot more... viable.
Huh, Bulbagarden's still down. Guess I'll just have to post my opinions here. ;P
So I was distracted during the beginning where we were being introduced to the setting and such, so I have to ask: was Marble explicitly confirmed as a young Officer Jenny, or are we just supposed to get that because of common sense? Whatever the case, I liked her; she was funny.
Those words leads me to question quite a few things. How many people who watch this show will claim to have "common sense", let alone use it?
Like has already been pointed out, this ep reminded me of that Johto Journies Spinarak episode. The "maze underneath a mansion" plotline reminded me of Brock's Zubat's evolution episode from Johto League Champions, too.
Oy, what a tiny fragment.
Wow, Luxray's voice was terrible. First Manectric, now Luxray? Depsite that, I thought its rivalry with Pikachu was fun. Pikachu pulling up Luxray with its teeth reminded me of it throwing Milotic over its head. XD
Well, Pikachu has proved it's strength, it's a shame it can only use that when the situation calls for it. Frankly I can not be surprised with
anything Pikachu can do, because he's Pikachu.
I was going to say the same thing!
Don't make me hate that line more than I already do.--
I really liked this episode. I thought the animation was great and that was something I really liked since my favorite pokemon is featured and I wanted to see it at its full glory. I didn't watch this episode when it first came out so I was happy it was a great and enjoyable filler.
Had you seen the episode beforehand, I can almost guarantee your answer would be different.
I never understood why people make such a big deal about background music. Does it really matter if it's the original Japanese track or not?
Not really. Granted, there are some fun music pieces, but that's generally not the main focus of "watching" television in the first place. Unless it's a music video, but that's not the case here now is it?
But the good news is that Piplup was kept in its pokeball for the whole episode.
Well waddaya know, I didn't notice that. Heck, Dawn didn't send
anyone out this episode. Too bad her best moment was ruined by el Brocko.
hehehe...
Off Topic:
I assume you don't watch the japanese version at all. The difference is - quite big -, cause the american bgm don't fit the scenes at all, and they don't have any pace, thus making a lot of scenes boring compared to the original.
This right here is very true.
The original japanese track is filled with different scores of music that make the scenes what they are. Sure I wouldn't mind if PUSA filled in SOME of the silence with music that would actually fit (I'm getting REALLY sick of hearing the same person ATTACK that poor violin over and over and over again). But other than that, they need to keep the score the way it was, And someone needs to contact them and tell him how bad their music actually is. I don't mean send an e-mail, someone needs to have a full blown conversation with the person in charge of the music section.
Honestly, the majority of us grew up with watching this show in our "native tongue", so I do believe it doesn't exactly matter to us. FYI, I do watch the original, but only if it's an episode that catches my fancy. And frankly, I hardly ever listen to the music, considering "listening" isn't really that viable of an option due to lack of lingual comprehension. "Watching" it is really the only way to go(for the right people anyway), and that works wonders.
C'est tout que j'ai a dire. Aurevoir!
~C_L~