Kutie Pie
"It is my destiny."
There's potential in just about everything. Chronicles has potential to shed light on characters who aren't Ash and given them character development, and to broaden the world of Pokémon. For the most part, the series does succeed, but it unfortunately delves into “non-canon” territory. Why this is the case, I don't know (whether it's because of the fans or it was always meant to be non-canon), and I find it disappointing that these episodes aren't considered canon. In some cases, perhaps it's for the best the series doesn't count towards canon, but I personally don't see why they can't.
“The Blue Badge of Courage”, despite the title being a painful attempt at being a punny reference to the classic novel The Red Badge of Courage, is one of those episodes I feel I should like, but at the same time I'm left feeling empty. There are some good ideas here, such as Misty trying to end the long gag of Psyduck being unable to swim—which would help add to his character, and where gym badges come from. Are they bad ideas? No, of course not. Were they executed right? Depends on how you want to view them.
The idea of teaching Psyduck to swim isn't a bad thing because the entire episode doesn't revolve around it, however, it doesn't get resolved. Which is honestly fine, but there's no real explanation as to why Psyduck just can't swim, or why it is he refuses to get near water without a floatie. It was touched upon in the past that Psyduck is not a swimmer, but the question of “why”—far as I can remember—was just never answered. If he has a phobia of water, it's ironic, and it's funny, but it's an answer. But because nothing ever comes out of it outside of Misty being scolded for having a Water Pokémon that can't swim, it's pretty much a disappointment in the end.
As for where the gym badges are made, that is an excellent idea to explore, and that is one reason why I would like to consider Chronicles to be canon. I'm sure some gym leaders make their own badges, and the fact that we've seen different versions of identifiable gym badges seems to confirm this. However, considering on how many badges are given out and that gym leaders do have a life outside of the gym, it makes sense that someone makes the badges for them. I like to think that whoever produces the badges is certified by the respectful League of that region, because as Kinso said, there are thieves who sell badges for profit. Though I think this is more of a pain on the producer's side because they would have to file paperwork about the thefts so as to not be falsely accused of selling the badges themselves for extra profit, and if they don't get the badges back and overturn those payments, that's a waste of resources.
So one would think that someone like Kinso would have better security to prevent such burglaries from happening. But that's nitpicking.
Anyway, while still on the topic of making badges, is Kinso making Misty, Tracey and Sakura work to weld the badges themselves something he made up on his own? Because while I suppose it does make sense, does this mean he makes all of the gym leaders in the region do work for him in order to get the badges, or was just this a one-time thing for some reason? I'm sure they don't mind in the long-run, but I don't think the guy injures his leg so often that he demands them to run a lap around the mountain before they use tools and machinery they probably don't really know how to handle to make them. I suppose if it was just this one-time thing because he was injured, I'd let it pass, but it's just hard to tell whether the guy wanted to teach Misty a lesson, or if he's just so grumpy and getting old that he felt like making them do it.
[img139]https://i.imgur.com/nuh2DK4.png[/img139]
“Damn rotten kids and their sense of entitlement!”
I would comment on Sakura making her appearance here, but I honestly don't remember her very well as a character. All I know is she and Misty became friends in Johto, but over what and why, I can't say (and I could always look her up on Bulbapedia, but I don't feel she's worth researching). I personally don't find her battling skills that impressive here, especially since the Poochyena and Zigzagoon that the two thieves owned didn't look like they were well-trained in the first place. Her Espeon also seems to not have that great of a moveset (that was shown), as she ordered it on-screen to use simple moves when I know that an Espeon has some good special attack. Against the Poochyena, I can understand, but against Corsola, no. Corsola could've probably won, or at least stood its ground against Espeon longer had Misty not seemed to have held back with it. I know Corsola can do better than that.
That disappoints me.
So overall, I find this a mediocre episode. The interesting points were of some good insight as to how the gym system works, but we didn't see Kinso do anything except stand around giving orders, his Feraligatr did absolutely nothing, the thievery was just something slapped on to give some kind of conflict, and Psyduck's gag ended up going nowhere. I also found his Disable and Confusion to be not as impressive as the series in the past exaggerated it to be. I honestly look forward to when he does fight, but when it falls short for me, it makes me sad. At least the baffled looks of on-goers who have apparently never seen a Psyduck fight have remained, even if it raises a brow or two.
Oh, and Misty, a “few years” is incorrect, and everyone knows it. Tracey's only been there for maybe a year at best, because I doubt it took you, Brock, and Ash “a few years” to travel through Johto. I blame real time.
“The Blue Badge of Courage”, despite the title being a painful attempt at being a punny reference to the classic novel The Red Badge of Courage, is one of those episodes I feel I should like, but at the same time I'm left feeling empty. There are some good ideas here, such as Misty trying to end the long gag of Psyduck being unable to swim—which would help add to his character, and where gym badges come from. Are they bad ideas? No, of course not. Were they executed right? Depends on how you want to view them.
The idea of teaching Psyduck to swim isn't a bad thing because the entire episode doesn't revolve around it, however, it doesn't get resolved. Which is honestly fine, but there's no real explanation as to why Psyduck just can't swim, or why it is he refuses to get near water without a floatie. It was touched upon in the past that Psyduck is not a swimmer, but the question of “why”—far as I can remember—was just never answered. If he has a phobia of water, it's ironic, and it's funny, but it's an answer. But because nothing ever comes out of it outside of Misty being scolded for having a Water Pokémon that can't swim, it's pretty much a disappointment in the end.
As for where the gym badges are made, that is an excellent idea to explore, and that is one reason why I would like to consider Chronicles to be canon. I'm sure some gym leaders make their own badges, and the fact that we've seen different versions of identifiable gym badges seems to confirm this. However, considering on how many badges are given out and that gym leaders do have a life outside of the gym, it makes sense that someone makes the badges for them. I like to think that whoever produces the badges is certified by the respectful League of that region, because as Kinso said, there are thieves who sell badges for profit. Though I think this is more of a pain on the producer's side because they would have to file paperwork about the thefts so as to not be falsely accused of selling the badges themselves for extra profit, and if they don't get the badges back and overturn those payments, that's a waste of resources.
So one would think that someone like Kinso would have better security to prevent such burglaries from happening. But that's nitpicking.
Anyway, while still on the topic of making badges, is Kinso making Misty, Tracey and Sakura work to weld the badges themselves something he made up on his own? Because while I suppose it does make sense, does this mean he makes all of the gym leaders in the region do work for him in order to get the badges, or was just this a one-time thing for some reason? I'm sure they don't mind in the long-run, but I don't think the guy injures his leg so often that he demands them to run a lap around the mountain before they use tools and machinery they probably don't really know how to handle to make them. I suppose if it was just this one-time thing because he was injured, I'd let it pass, but it's just hard to tell whether the guy wanted to teach Misty a lesson, or if he's just so grumpy and getting old that he felt like making them do it.
[img139]https://i.imgur.com/nuh2DK4.png[/img139]
“Damn rotten kids and their sense of entitlement!”
I would comment on Sakura making her appearance here, but I honestly don't remember her very well as a character. All I know is she and Misty became friends in Johto, but over what and why, I can't say (and I could always look her up on Bulbapedia, but I don't feel she's worth researching). I personally don't find her battling skills that impressive here, especially since the Poochyena and Zigzagoon that the two thieves owned didn't look like they were well-trained in the first place. Her Espeon also seems to not have that great of a moveset (that was shown), as she ordered it on-screen to use simple moves when I know that an Espeon has some good special attack. Against the Poochyena, I can understand, but against Corsola, no. Corsola could've probably won, or at least stood its ground against Espeon longer had Misty not seemed to have held back with it. I know Corsola can do better than that.
That disappoints me.
So overall, I find this a mediocre episode. The interesting points were of some good insight as to how the gym system works, but we didn't see Kinso do anything except stand around giving orders, his Feraligatr did absolutely nothing, the thievery was just something slapped on to give some kind of conflict, and Psyduck's gag ended up going nowhere. I also found his Disable and Confusion to be not as impressive as the series in the past exaggerated it to be. I honestly look forward to when he does fight, but when it falls short for me, it makes me sad. At least the baffled looks of on-goers who have apparently never seen a Psyduck fight have remained, even if it raises a brow or two.
Oh, and Misty, a “few years” is incorrect, and everyone knows it. Tracey's only been there for maybe a year at best, because I doubt it took you, Brock, and Ash “a few years” to travel through Johto. I blame real time.
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