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The Guardian's Challenge! (945)

DatsRight

Well-Known Member
The heroes getting full focus the first two episodes was probably a good idea. I'm liking the dynamic so far (eg. Mallow immediately takes to Ash, while the two boys look set up like smug but friendly rivals who want Ash to earn their respect first), and Ash seems to be as fans hoped; competent but full of life and quirks, his hardships being more from inexperience to the new gimmicks and his usual denseness than a reset. That said I will likely remain wary for most of the series, since XY had a lot of good things going for it at the start that slowly withered into nothing by XYZ (keep in mind the first couple of XY episodes also had a decent goofy but competent Ash compromise).

The animation is a bit rough around the edges, though the expressiveness more than makes up for it. Deformed or not, I'd watch this Ash any day over the static one of most of BW and XY. Oh, and liking how expressive Pikachu is this series too. Hope that continues.

That Z-Move animation though. Looks like we got AshPikachu after all. XD
 
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Irina

ready for Gen 8
Indeed, that Tapu Koko was surprised and even bothered to protect itself was supposed to signify that the attack was very powerful.

I'm not doubting that the move wasn't powerful. We all saw that Tapu Koko's eyes changed and he underestimated the incoming attack from Pikachu's Gigavolt Havoc. Then he shielded himself.

My quote was the answer to this. It sounded to me, that Tapu Koko is just another normal Pokémon. It does need more to get a legendary Pokémon down (Anime logic).

Pikachu's Z-move looked more powerful than it actually is. The Z-move didn't even leave a scratch on Tapu Koko.
 

Pokemon Fan

Knuckle Trainer
I'm not doubting that the move wasn't powerful. We all saw that Tapu Koko's eyes changed and he underestimated the incoming attack from Pikachu's Gigavolt Havoc. Then he shielded himself.

My quote was the answer to this. It sounded to me, that Tapu Koko is just another normal Pokémon. It does need more to get a legendary Pokémon down (Anime logic).
Oh, I understood that, I was agreeing with you.
 

Satomine Night

The Power of Z!
Another awesome episode. This one was also a little fast-paced (though not quite as fast-paced at the first one, but once again, that didn't really bother me. I wonder if Ash's running late for school is going to be a perpetual running gag. :p So, my prediction that Principal Oak was dressing up as Exeggutor to teach the students the difference between Alolan Exeggutor and Exeggutor of other regions proved to be correct.

I like that we got to see each classmate's specialty. Ash may have lost the challenges, but at least he lost because his opponents and their Pokémon were specialists, and not because of his own skill level. I feel for Kiawe. I'd be upset, too, if a foreigner received a precious item like a Z-Ring from my island's guardian deity, while I had to put effort into earning mine.

Tapu Koko still be trolling, LOL! I really liked the chase scene through the forest. Ash proved, once again, just how nimble he is, but we also got to see how nimble (or not so nimble) his classmates are. It made me laugh that Kukui had to help Sophocles over the log, and Lillie was just sitting there watching.

The battle against Tapu Koko was a sheer joy to watch, especially the Z-Move activation. The lighting in that scene was spot on; you could really feel the energy of the Electric Field. Pikachu being exhausted after using Gigavolt Havoc was a nice touch and really shows just how taxing Z-Moves are on a Pokémon. Since Tapu Koko is the one who taught Ash and Pikachu the Z-Move, it now makes sense that Gigavolt Havoc is the first Z-Move they learn (rather than than Catastropika). It's the one Z-Move that Pikachu can use that Tapu Koko can also use.

Rockruff is so adorable! It appears that this one, at least, belongs to Kukui, but I still have hope that Ash will either catch one of his own or Kukui's will decide to go with Ash if/when Ash starts traveling. It's already taken a liking to Ash, and to Pikachu. The way it cuddled them and rubbed its ruff against them... Ah, I can't take the cute! Ash needs a Rockruff!
 

Sprinter1988

Well-Known Member
Ok, so I complained about Ash's design in the first one because he looks like he doesn't match the design style of Mallow and the others, but in this one he seems to match up just a bit more somehow, at least at times. Maybe its just a matter of getting used to it.
Ash needs to own that Rockruff.
 

CelebiAS

Well-Known Member
Yes please, give that Iwanko to Ash.
It's an adorable dog. I saw mine in that little thing and it was just too cute.
 

DatsRight

Well-Known Member
Ok, so I complained about Ash's design in the first one because he looks like he doesn't match the design style of Mallow and the others, but in this one he seems to match up just a bit more somehow, at least at times. Maybe its just a matter of getting used to it.
Ash needs to own that Rockruff.

I get the feeling the animators might fine tune things as the show goes on. The early episodes of each series always have bits that are rough around the edges (look how cartoony Serena looks compared to everyone else in some of the early XY episodes).
 

Satoshi & Touko

Peanuts aren't just a nut.
A lot of character interaction in this episode. Ash is instantly popular and the girls are all friendly with him.

Speaking of which, Ash X Mallow SHIIIIIIPPPPPPP!!! :D Lots of hints to suggest that Mallow may like him. (And so far I support it.) If this continues, I may be tested on my own advice about not being too emotionally invested in the repetitive 20-year-old commercial that markets the games.

Ash got a fair bit of minor embarrassing moments this episode. But the crew all loves him. I like that they have shown Ash as "new" to the kind of environment that he's in without regressing him. His Pikachu as of now is not reset.

Tapu Koko makes Ash feel like a true main protagonist. But he's still a somewhat funny troll. I also like that everyone got to see him up close.

Lana often appears to look curious. She loves her cuddly little circus seal. She's fairly quiet, but at the same time does not "sit in the back of the class" so to speak.

Forgettable electric-type specialist is forgettable.

Kiawe is kinda cool, but he reminds me of Paul. I'm glad he's still relatively friendly to Ash though.

The character dynamic overall is wonderful. Ash fits in beautifully and he's showing the potential to be popular with the girls (especially Mallow! <3 ) I think it's safe to say that Ash isn't reset to a complete noob. If anything, there may be potential for this to be Ash Glory Season Number 2.

Overall, another 9 out of 10 I think. SM anime is second best so far for me with the potential to become number 1! :D
 

Jorgesnoopy

Well-Known Member
I wonder if they will justify at some point why this whole school was built when they apparently only house a few students at any given time? Are their admittance standards that high?

There are scenes which show a lot more other side character students
 

dman_dustin

Well-Known Member
Dento- It's tasting time!

One thing I will say about the Sun and Moon Anime. It looks like it will be a much better Unova region. Because Unova tried to hard to balance humor and competency, and ended up in favor of the former, but I feel like now with the beginning of the Alola region they honestly found a really nice balance between humor and competency.

The characters and the anime itself is extremely likable. It may not be 6th generation (for me) but I do look forward to the Alola region. I don't entirely like that Ash doesn't really have a badge collecting goal (as it seems right now), but I am curious to see what overall goal Ash will be trying to achieve within the 7th generation anime. I guess for right now, its to graduate? Then maybe we'll move on to the Island trials.

All that said, and I will be reading the previous comments but I'm curious about what was going on with Ash's Z-crystal.
 

Satomine Night

The Power of Z!
Ash got a fair bit of minor embarrassing moments this episode. But the crew all loves him. I like that they have shown Ash as "new" to the kind of environment that he's in without regressing him. His Pikachu as of now is not reset.

The character dynamic overall is wonderful. Ash fits in beautifully and he's showing the potential to be popular with the girls (especially Mallow! <3 ) I think it's safe to say that Ash isn't reset to a complete noob. If anything, there may be potential for this to be Ash Glory Season Number 2.

I agree, and that's what I really love so far. Ash had a few embarrassing moments (though he laughed, but most of those are brought about by his over-enthusiasm - basically, Ash being Ash - and unfamiliarity with his new environment. He had no way of knowing that he shouldn't touch Alolan Exeggutor's tail, but it was because he was so excited and curious that he went over to touch it in the first place.

Also, can we stop and take moment to appreciate Professor Kukui's house? The dude has a floor-to-ceiling fish tank in the middle of his family room! Don't forget that widescreen TV/Skype monitor and his workout room.
 

Jorgesnoopy

Well-Known Member
A lot of character interaction in this episode. Ash is instantly popular and the girls are all friendly with him.

Speaking of which, Ash X Mallow SHIIIIIIPPPPPPP!!! :D Lots of hints to suggest that Mallow may like him. (And so far I support it.) If this continues, I may be tested on my own advice about not being too emotionally invested in the repetitive 20-year-old commercial that markets the games.

Ash got a fair bit of minor embarrassing moments this episode. But the crew all loves him. I like that they have shown Ash as "new" to the kind of environment that he's in without regressing him. His Pikachu as of now is not reset.

Tapu Koko makes Ash feel like a true main protagonist. But he's still a somewhat funny troll. I also like that everyone got to see him up close.

Lana often appears to look curious. She loves her cuddly little circus seal. She's fairly quiet, but at the same time does not "sit in the back of the class" so to speak.

Forgettable electric-type specialist is forgettable.

Kiawe is kinda cool, but he reminds me of Paul. I'm glad he's still relatively friendly to Ash though.

The character dynamic overall is wonderful. Ash fits in beautifully and he's showing the potential to be popular with the girls (especially Mallow! <3 ) I think it's safe to say that Ash isn't reset to a complete noob. If anything, there may be potential for this to be Ash Glory Season Number 2.

Overall, another 9 out of 10 I think. SM anime is second best so far for me with the potential to become number 1! :D

Eh ash and mallow interactions didn't feel shippy at all. I picture mallow as more of an older but very friendly guide
 

DatsRight

Well-Known Member
Dento- It's tasting time!

One thing I will say about the Sun and Moon Anime. It looks like it will be a much better Unova region. Because Unova tried to hard to balance humor and competency, and ended up in favor of the former, but I feel like now with the beginning of the Alola region they honestly found a really nice balance between humor and competency.

Keep in mind XY had a humorous and competent Ash as well...for the first two or so episodes. And then there's Serena's misleading characterisation at the start. Early instalment weirdness is common. I am hopeful with this series, but it can still all come crashing down fast. BW and XY had cool gimmicks and ideas they teased and then either barely developed or just completely ditched later on.
 

patrickab7

Active Member
Ash has become a real chick magnet...AT LEAST Lillie and Mallow seem interested in him.

Somewhere, Misty and Serena sense a disturbance in The Force...
 

Firemaker

Mammoth Master!
I wasn't a big fan of this episode either. I'm not sure why Tapu Koko has to be the one to teach Ash when there's other people. It felt a bit forced. I wonder if the Z-Move titles will be dubbed in other languages or if they'll just keep the raw Japanese (maybe with subtitles). It's not clear since they usually don't put writing in the episodes.

It's just personal preference. While Ash is still competent but more lively, the tone is clear that this is a kid's show.
 

Satomine Night

The Power of Z!
I wasn't a big fan of this episode either. I'm not sure why Tapu Koko has to be the one to teach Ash when there's other people. It felt a bit forced. I wonder if the Z-Move titles will be dubbed in other languages or if they'll just keep the raw Japanese (maybe with subtitles). It's not clear since they usually don't put writing in the episodes.

It's just personal preference. While Ash is still competent but more lively, the tone is clear that this is a kid's show.

But Pokémon has ALWAYS been a kid's show. :confused:

Tapu Koko teaching Ash Gigavolt Havoc might have something to do with why it chose Ash as the Z-Ring holder in the first place. IMHO, that's why it called Ash out for a battle in the first place. It wanted to test Ash and Pikachu's overall strength and power, as well as the strength and power of their Gigavolt Havoc.
 
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