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May 10th: SM74 - This Tough Old Geezer's the Island King?!

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DatsRight

Well-Known Member
watch the companions be left behind for a few episodes only to have team changes that occurred off-screen when they come back!

Oh crap no. I mean subtle stuff like Snowy knowing Hail, that was forgivable, but sprucing up teams off screen and skipping development after all the time they've wasted would be plain out cheap.
 

Pokegirl Fan~

Liko>>>>>Ash
watch the companions be left behind for a few episodes only to have team changes that occurred off-screen when they come back!
That would even be worse writing :/

These writers and higher ups need to realize that the boy and Team Rocket aren't the only characters that matter.
 

IrieFuse

Unify To Thrive
Oh crap no. I mean subtle stuff like Snowy knowing Hail, that was forgivable, but sprucing up teams off screen and skipping development after all the time they've wasted would be plain out cheap.

Right? I mean who knows if that would actually happen. I hope it doesn’t! I’d like to see more main character evolutions happen on screen
 

DatsRight

Well-Known Member
Honestly I'll be skipping this entire arc if the companions are completely absent from it. It's really bad writing to not focus on the other main characters that need it when Ash and Team Rocket have had alot of focus episodes from the past series. I also just don't care for Ash and Team Rocket since they are clearly going nowhere and are stuck in a never-ending cycle for all eternity.

I don't mind Ash and Team Rocket because they have fun characters and I like this series is at least trying to keep them active throughout and instead of just 'same shtick, different backdrop' is actually attempting to keep them relevant to the story (which lets face it is VERY rare for Team Rocket who are usually just stagnant plot conveniences). But the companions REALLY need the screen time, and regardless, Ash and Team Rocket will very likely have loads of other chances to shine in later series than they will.
 
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Golden_Latias

#SlayQueenSlay
watch the companions be left behind for a few episodes only to have team changes that occurred off-screen when they come back!
I actually considered this possibility too lol. But I highly doubt that will happen. Assuming the classmates are to have two Pokemon apiece, there are actually some scenarios where it can't happen.

Because if that's true, nothing can happen to Kiawe or Soph because the former is done and the latter would need to be on Ula'Ula for Charjabug to evolve. Lillie would need to obtain an Ice Stone for Snowy to evolve, and she has no feasible way of obtaining one unless Gladion sends her one or something (Lusamine would probably be too busy with work). Given Lillie us the deutaragonist, there is no way the writers would evolve Snowy offscreen without an episode focusing on whether or not Snowy wants to evolve, kinda like when Ash lost to Surge.

If it happens, it would be Lillie magically having a second Pokemon or anything happening to Mallow or Lana.
 

DatsRight

Well-Known Member
It would just feel like a complete rip off though. I can understand 'retired' companions coming back with random team spruce ups because their time as the main cast is done, but you're meant to be invested in the guys around right now, why skip over some important transitions in their development, especially when we've had half a series of them barely doing much at all (sure it was still fun in places but there was plenty of time to fit it in).

It just wouldn't fit in with SM's direction at all either, the series just feels WAY more character driven, they don't move around and get change ups because 'the story says so'. As mentioned even Ash and Team Rocket have been relaxed a bit from their old formula and made to take a new approach to make them feel like proactive characters again.

Also one of the things I REALLY like about all the team changes this series is they are immersed enough to feel like adopted siblings, what with more frequent interactions with the trainer's previous Pokemon and the other teams (see Snowy, Litten, and Marowak for key cases). Having all that done offscreen and assuming we went through all the development would disappoint me.
 
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AznKei

Dawn & Chloe by ddangbi
I wouldn't like to see the Pokegirls having less Pokemon becoming a trend of the anime. From Misty to the Alolan girls, we can see the numbers of Pokemons they can get are decreasing as the anime goes further. Maybe the writers made the Alolan girls having one Pokemon each because there's too many companions, but I really don't want to see the next Pokegirl only having one Pokemon despite having like a 3 human member crew, that would be a disaster.
 

satopi

Life doesn’t end, …it changes.
I wouldn't like to see the Pokegirls having less Pokemon becoming a trend of the anime. From Misty to the Alolan girls, we can see the numbers of Pokemons they can get are decreasing as the anime goes further. Maybe the writers made the Alolan girls having one Pokemon each because there's too many companions, but I really don't want to see the next Pokegirl only having one Pokemon despite having like a 3 human member crew, that would be a disaster.
Ehh I don't know. I don't mind any character having less than a full roster of Pokémon. The one thing I liked about Serena was that she had individual bonds with her Pokémon and they all had different relationships with one another. They felt like a small, tight knit family. I feel the same with Ash's SM team. They all have chemistry with each other and the Pokémon actually interact with each team member rather than only Ash. And besides, it's not like they have to have 6 Pokémon. I feel like a full roster of Pokémon plus with the already large amount of characters to focus on and pre established relationships, it'll lessen the interactions and become more difficult to give each character to get some spotlight. We're already having that problem with Mallow.
 

DatsRight

Well-Known Member
I don't know. I mind any character having less than a full roster of Pokémon. The one thing I liked about Serena was that she had individual bonds with her Pokémon and they all had different relationships with one another. I feel the same with Ash's SM team. They all have chemistry with each other and the Pokémon actually interact with each team member rather than only Ash. And besides, it's not like they have to have 6 Pokémon. I feel like a full roster of Pokémon plus with the already large amount of characters to focus on and pre established relationships, it'll lessen the interactions and become more difficult to give each character focus. We're already having that problem with Mallow.

Same. Actually one of the best things about Serena's team was the progressing 'sibling' dynamic, with Braixen as the finicky oldest teen girl, Pancham as the troublemaking brat and Eevee as the timid baby. They felt like a family (which only made it more irritating when Eevee evolved and faded into the background, guess they thought she broke the dynamic by growing up).

TR, in spite of their fatigue that series felt similar. While the team was too small, I did like Inkay and Gourgeist's playful characters and how they almost felt as much part of the main group as Meowth and Wobbuffet.

Kiawe and Sophocles have only had one team change each, but it feels kinda the same. Marowak's been the obnoxious younger sibling to Turtonator (and sometimes the other Pokemon, see the Kanto two parter) that Kiawe is always trying to mediate, while Charjabug sorta plays the quiet older brother to Togedemaru and has a subtle but clear bond with Sophocles. I think that's another reason I'm excited about a potential team change for the girls because it could really spruce up the dynamic between them and help them stand out. I don't want a short cut past that, even if it means just one or two captures per trainer.

For Misty's team....well, yeah it was a full six but...what dynamics or personality did Staryu and Goldeen have? Hell, I don't think even Psyduck and Togepi interacted much. You could tell why at the end of the day they were more likely to just use Squirtle or Totodile for water type situations over the actual Water specialist's team.
 
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Rock Captain 99

Following the dreams!!
Is there any possibility that mimikyu vs pikachu happens in this episode only? I think so because of the preview.

And tapu bulu shot could be just a two second long clip that can fit any episode. I think it will have it's own episode towards the end of Ula Ula arc!
 

AznKei

Dawn & Chloe by ddangbi
Ehh I don't know. I don't mind any character having less than a full roster of Pokémon. The one thing I liked about Serena was that she had individual bonds with her Pokémon and they all had different relationships with one another. They felt like a small, tight knit family. I feel the same with Ash's SM team. They all have chemistry with each other and the Pokémon actually interact with each team member rather than only Ash. And besides, it's not like they have to have 6 Pokémon. I feel like a full roster of Pokémon plus with the already large amount of characters to focus on and pre established relationships, it'll lessen the interactions and become more difficult to give each character to get some spotlight. We're already having that problem with Mallow.
Of course, I would favor quality over quantity as well, and I understand that having a full roster of Pokemon can be more difficult to manage and make each of them unique. But I rather see a full team of Pokemon than seeing a companion being stuck with only one Pokemon during the whole series, worse if that lone Pokemon doesn't evolve or interact with another companion Pokemon. And sometimes, any Pokemon team changes can affect the companion's development. I also like Serena having 3 Pokemon team. I always had a thing with a 4 member team, it kinda remind me of the "Left 4 Dead" survivors where it's a perfect number.
Same. Actually one of the best things about Serena's team was the progressing 'sibling' dynamic, with Braixen as the finicky oldest teen girl, Pancham as the troublemaking brat and Eevee as the timid baby. They felt like a family (which only made it more irritating when Eevee evolved and faded into the background, guess they thought she broke the dynamic by growing up).
I can see Sylveon more like a motherly figure who comfort the team or other Pokemons, though I agree we didn't see much of her.
 

Slapstick-Olivia

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't like to see the Pokegirls having less Pokemon becoming a trend of the anime. From Misty to the Alolan girls, we can see the numbers of Pokemons they can get are decreasing as the anime goes further. Maybe the writers made the Alolan girls having one Pokemon each because there's too many companions, but I really don't want to see the next Pokegirl only having one Pokemon despite having like a 3 human member crew, that would be a disaster.

First that, but I also think it has a bit to do with the portrait of the girls and also the regional new Pokémon. I think the reason, why for example girl characters like Misty, Dawn and May had a lot of Pokémon, is, because the region, where the story took place in, offered a lot of Pokémon that fit the personality of the girls. May was more of neutral character, who was not to much to girly or to tomboyish, there for she got a lot of different types of Pokémon, which the Hoeen region could offer, Dawn on the other hand was more of a typical girl character, and this new generation could offer a lot of cute looking Pokémon.

With the Alola region on the other hand, the girls kinda are a bit more reduced with their Pokémon. All of the three girls are kinda the typical girl stereotype in someway and this region has not that many cute looking Pokémon that could fit the personality and the image of Lana, Lillie and Mallow. I mean sure, the writers could have gave Lana Dewpider, but a spider is not really an animal that fits the image of a typical girl-stereotype, and sure, you also could give Mallow an Exeggutor, but those a tall long-necked palm tree really fits the personality of a cute girl like Mallow?

The Alola region really offers not that many cute looking (and also marketable) Pokémon that would fit Lillie, Lana and Mallow.
 

Zoruagible

Lover of underrated characters
Oh please, this is just pathetic. It's not like the classmates would do anything but comment. I'm perfectly fine with this because Acerola will get more lines and it's been such a long time since the TRio actually got some focus, they did get cheated out of the Aether arc after all. It looked like they'd have a major role, then they were tossed to the side and did nothing but watch.

And honestly, this just makes me 100% certain that Ash will fail the Grand Trial this time around. He'll pass the Ghost trial but lose to Nanu, he's told to do another trial before trying again but he needs to go back. The classmates are around on the next trip, Ash gets Steelium for the Observartory trial and Soph evolves Vikavolt. Ash beats Nanu on his second attempt and evolves Torracat.

Also any episode without Kukui is a good episode

We've been down to the Tuesday before the next episode premieres occasionally, so I'm not surprised.
Also, why does everyone want Looker to appear? The UB capture plot from the games is being handled by Lusamine anyway. I guess he could do something with Necrozma once it shows up.

Continuity
 

Akkipeddi

All set to be a nice guy
Wait, so is it confirmed anywhere that Ash will be attempting the Ghost Trial, or are people speculating so just because he's facing Jessie in what seems to be the Thrifty Minimart?

Also, that scene, and the shot of Tapu Bulu seem to take place in this very episode as shown in the 2nd preview, so that should rule out a ghost trial (for now), since they wouldn't have a trial and Ash vs Nanu in the same episode.

Also, Nanu must be pretty damn annoyed with Acerola lol. He gave the cold shoulder to Team Rocket initially by telling them he wasn't the Kahuna, and he seems to be doing the same to Ash. Both times, Acerola has put him in the spot where he's forced to reveal himself as the Kahuna.
 
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DatsRight

Well-Known Member
Oh please, this is just pathetic. It's not like the classmates would do anything but comment. I'm perfectly fine with this because Acerola will get more lines and it's been such a long time since the TRio actually got some focus, they did get cheated out of the Aether arc after all. It looked like they'd have a major role, then they were tossed to the side and did nothing but watch.

Well last island travel, Lana and Kiawe got some limelight and development for their team, the same could happen here, especially due to location specific Pokemon. It is a nice change that Team Rocket are getting a boost for once though.

I'm starting to wonder if the writers noticed that the mainstays were starting to become vanilla compared to the new characters in previous series and are trying to give them new life, if sadly at the expense of the new characters' development. It would be nice to get a good balance, but at least we know the recurring cast can be given something fresh to do.
 

DragonKahuna

Dragon Master
The 2nd preview also features Tabu Bulu and Jessie with Mimikyu vs Pikachu and Ash. So all of these might happen in one episode, unless the preview was for upcoming episodes.
Anyway, I am waiting for some developments from the Ula Ula arc. Seeing how Lana and Kiawe got much from Akala, I think Mallow and Sophocles might get something here. Sophocles cuz of the obvious reason being Molaybe and Mallow because most of the pokemon found in Ula Ula/Maile Garden fit her. I think Lillie will be left for Poni and Lana will probably end up catching that Dewpider from SM071.

I just wanna see more of Acerola. She is so amazing animated and funny. I hope she will stick around more and we get to see more of her pokemon. Nanu on the other hand is great as well. I'm really curious about him and Giovanni/Sakaki relation, hopefully this episode will give tell us more about that.
 

Golden_Latias

#SlayQueenSlay
I dunno, maybe I'm wrong, but that preview seemed a little bit longer than normal.

And actually, I think Poni Island could potentially be big for Lana as well, assuming I'm correct about who gets to bond with which Ultra Beast and that Blacephalon is encountered at Poni Grove like in the games (could go either way; Buzzwole was found in Melemele Meadow like in the games, but Celesteela's location was changed).

Poni has both Seafolk Village and Blacephalon, after all.
 

DragonKahuna

Dragon Master
I dunno, maybe I'm wrong, but that preview seemed a little bit longer than normal.

And actually, I think Poni Island could potentially be big for Lana as well, assuming I'm correct about who gets to bond with which Ultra Beast and that Blacephalon is encountered at Poni Grove like in the games (could go either way; Buzzwole was found in Melemele Meadow like in the games, but Celesteela's location was changed).

Poni has both Seafolk Village and Blacephalon, after all.

A scenario could be that when Ash and the classmates visit Seafolk Village, Lana meets up again with I'a and Kanoa from SM040. And we could see some development for her and Popplio here, maybe even an evolution.
Now that we are in Ula Ula, we may have Kartana in Maile Garden (according to the games). So maybe it will be Mallow's turn now. The girls needs immediate development.
 

DatsRight

Well-Known Member
If we've learned one thing it's that the SM series seems to have long running plans for many parts of the series. A lot of subtle hints or bits of character that people thought were nothing or discarded early on end up coming into play into later episodes, just there tends to be a long gap.

Darkium Z, Mallow's brother, Lana liking the Waterium Z pose, Litten's battle cameos, they all ended up being key to development later on.
 
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