92. Navel Manouevers 7/10
Ash and company land on Navel Island and find Danny, a nice guy with a nice smile who starts complimenting Misty. Misty starts flirting with him. Cue retching. Ash and Danny head to Navel Gym, and find it is prelude to a tremendous cliff, a long mountain journey that a trainer must undertake without Pokemon assistance. Ash follows Danny with some difficulty, and Danny beats Team Rocket along the way by turning their own weapons against them.
At the top, Ash finds that Danny is actually the Navel Gym leader, and the cliff was a challenge to determine who was gutsy enough and had the right to fight. There are three challenges for Navel Gym competition, and a challenger has to win two of them to get the badge. First, Lapras vs. Nidoqueen Ice Beam a geyser to freeze it, which Nidoqueen wins. Then the two trainers choose three Pokemon to carve an ice sled out of the frozen geyser. Ash's Charizard miraculously carves it to perfection with a single Flamethrower! (It was aiming at Ash, *lol*)
The final contest is a sled race, with Ash-Bulbasaur-Squirtle-Pikachu against Danny-Geodude-Scyther-Electrode. Team Rocket interrupts, with a grudge against both Ash and Danny, but using some quick thinking and an exploding Electrode, Team Rocket are sent flying. The two trainers finish the race and Ash wins, albeit awkwardly. He gets the Sea Ruby Badge, and Misty is upset, because she liked Danny and had been rooting for him.
I don't get how you can go from having a hot, tropical beach to having snowy mountains. I mean, yeah, it's high up, but would there really be snow in such a place?! I notice that any race Ash is in has Ash behind, then surge ahead - but as soon as he has cought up to his opponent, he levels out with them, and the two alternate between being ahead and behind before Ash wins. ^_^. The competition in Orange League really is tougher (and specific; I mean, what if you don't HAVE a strong water or ice type?), and the trainer seems to have to get involved. You could literally kill yourself quite easily; climbing such a cliff is not a matter of being 'brave', it's kind of, like, illegal to encourage such things without harnesses and ropes!
And Misty is annoying me yet again! Okay, so she doesn't receive many compliments or affection from Ash or Tracey. I can understand that. But just because Danny's a nice guy, doesn't mean you have to give some guy you met half an hour ago more encouragement and support than your best friend! And isn't it, like, pedophilia, he's an adult for goodness sake...
93. Snack Attack 2/10
Ash-tachi land on an island full of grapefruits, which have been specially grown by Ruby, a cute girl, and a large team of assistants. They spent a lot of effort cultivating those grapefruits, caring for every tree on seven different islands. But theives have been taking grapefruits - wait, not a thief - a Snorlax. The Snorlax lumbers around, being annoying, and eating lots of grapefruits. Ash-tachi try to help stop it, as do Team Rocket (who want to steal it), but the lump of lard is too fat to be hurt by any attacks.
Snorlax devours all the grapefruits on one island, effectively ruining a year of hard work by many people, then swims to the next island. Team Ash and Team Rocket continue techniques to try to stop it, while Ruby orders her assistants to pick grapefruits as fast as possible. Finally, they come up with the idea of using Jigglypuff to sing Snorlax to sleep. Attracting Jigglypuff by setting up a stage and pretending to be fans of it, it appears, sings, and sends Snorlax to sleep. Just before Ash dozes off, he catches it. Where Snorlax ate the trees, new saplings are already beginning to grow... perhaps this is a special power of Snorlax? Next year's grapefruit crop will be fabulous!
This episode had a coupla funny moments, like the Rockets singing Snorlax a lullaby (and James looked funky with hypnosis there ^_^.) and Tracey with coloured pen all over his face, but overall, watching Ash watch my least favourite Pokemon guts itself is not my ideal way of spending an episode. And people ask me why I hate Snorlax! Ugh, it's annoying! And gee, GREAT way to get on my good side, by falling on Arbok, the epitome of coolness. I hope Ash doesn't intend to use that thing. Heheh, I'm so biased.
94. A Shipful of Shivers 4/10
Ash and company want to see a special Orange League trophy that is three hundred years old and was found on an old sunken ship. But Team Rocket steal the cup. By accident, Ash-tachi stumble upon Team Rocket (who are hungover, I think ^_^.) and give chase. The Rockets steal a Seadra boat, and Team Ash goes on Lapras. They all travel through fog until they come to an empty, ancient ship - the same one from which the trophy was taken.
Team Rocket is getting spooked, seeing sheets moving, and when Ash-tachi follow, Togepi gets lost. Misty finds it near some ghosts, and is scared, but tries to rescue it. However, these sheets are really Gastly and Haunter. They use Meowth to talk, telling Ash how their master was the captain of that ship, who won the trophy using them at Pokemon League. They were so proud to have helped him to win, as he was a good trainer, and have protected the trophy ever since. Now it is where it belongs. Team Rocket tries to steal it back, but the ghosts and Pikachu defend it, sending them off again... Gastly and Haunter take their ship high into the night sky, hoping to find a place where they won't be disturbed.
Pretty boring episode... that captain's hair was pretty funky. And through ghosts' hypnosis, we saw old-time Pokemon League battle, which Tracey duly sketched - I wonder what people thought of that?
95. Meowth Rules! 10/10
Team Rocket discuss failure and positive thinking. Meowth is happy over a catlike singlemindedness - happiness at finding a clam that he can eat. James gets annoyed at him for being so cheerful, saying that if he wanted to make himself useful, he should use Pay Day to get them cash. But Meowth can't Pay Day, having expended such energy in learning to speak. The closest thing to a coin that James has at the moment are his prized vintage bottlecaps, that he keeps on him at all times because they're important to him. ^_^.
Then, seeing Ash-tachi, the Rockets attack them, but Ash has Squirtle send Jessie and James off the horizon. Meowth managed to avoid, but gets hit with a second water gun, being thrown - alone - onto an island. Here, the islanders revere Meowth, expecting a special Meowth of Bounty to be their saviour and bring them wealth and good luck. They mistake Meowth for it - especially because he can talk, and this Meowth should have special powers.
The islanders suck up to Meowth to bring him to good spirits. But Meowth sees Ash and his friends riding to the island on Lapras, and advises the islanders to throw them off. They do so, having to obey their legend. Meowth doesn't want them to reveal that he is really from Team Rocket, and thus ruin his one chance at happiness. Then, Jessie and James also come - and Meowth, feeling bad, orders them removed too. The two are devastated, feeling betrayed. They spy on Meowth.
Meowth's pampering turns sour when it is declared that it is time for the ceremony in which the legendary Meowth of Bounty will use Pay Day to send forth the coins that will initiate the prosperity of the islanders. But Meowth can't use Pay Day. Islanders assume that Meowth just forgot, and needs battling experience to 'jog its memory'. But Jessie and James know Meowth can never learn Pay Day, and follow.
At an arena, Meowth desperately runs from a Nidoking, but still can't use Pay Day. So they kindly send out an Onix as an opponent. It attacks him viciously, slamming him continuously. Jessie and James, watching, cringe, and finally decide that regardless of how he betrayed them, Meowth is still their friend. They sneak "backstage" and Jessie throws coins. Everyone thinks it is Pay Day and is thrilled. Jessie throws her last nickel for Meowth. James has no coins, so he throws his precious bottlecaps.
Jessie and James decide to leave Meowth without saying goodbye, pleased that their friend can have happiness for once. The islanders ask Meowth to stay and rule their island. Meowth knows that here, he will have anything he ever wanted, and be respected... but then, in the pile of coins, he sees James' bottlecaps and is shocked. He realises that his friendship with Team Rocket was all that really mattered.
Meowth goes to find Jessie and James, but the islanders confront him. Jessie and James hide behind a rock (Meowth doesn't know they're there) while he tells the people he realised the most important happiness is being with the only two people who ever cared about him - and that he was sorry for how he treated them. Jessie and James appear then, giving their motto for friendship with Meowth, and Meowth, ignoring the islander's protests, leaves with them. Meowth gives James his bottlecap back.
On their Magikarp sub, James and Jessie tease Meowth, saying that maybe battle experience IS all that's needed to make him learn Pay Day. They send out Arbok and Weezing, and the episode ends with good-natured fighting.
About time for another sympathetic Rocket episode, people have been mean to them lately. ^_^. I felt like doing a longer summary. Ash and company weren't very nice to Team Rocket... I mean, they were drowning and he had Squirtle attack them. But this episode was great, showing rare soft side of Jessie especially. She has NEVER been as nice/kind/understanding as in this episode. The islanders were real weirdos though, with a giant golden mechanical Meowth statue and all of them wearing cat costumes. Freaks. Not that Meowth isn't cool, mind you. ^_^.
96. Tracey Gets Bugged 8/10
Ash and his friends land on Murdoch Island, famous for bug Pokemon. Misty is naturally displeased with this turn of events, but goes with the group after Tracey calls her a chicken. ^_^. Tracey's Marril and Venonat track bugs until they find a Scyther which is badly injured. Despite its terrible condition, the Scyther won't let them heal it, so Venonat uses Sleep Powder and Tracey captures it to take to a Pokemon Center.
This Scyther was a long-time leader of its swarm, but lost in a battle for leadership. When a Scyther loses such a battle, it has to leave its swarm and live alone, unless it can rechallenge the new leader and win. Tracey, understanding this, encourages his new Pokemon and after it has recovered a little, it flies off. However, it has not gone to challenge the new leader, but has sensed that its former swarm is in trouble and wants to help its old friends.
Team Rocket were confronted by Scyther and one of them chopped Jessie's hair off, giving her a nasty haircut and an even nastier temper tantrum! Team Rocket avenge the fallen hair by capturing the whole swarm, but Tracey's Scyther appears, and given attacks by Tracey, fights all FOUR of Team Rocket's Pokemon in its weakened condition, and manages to win. It gets respect from the new leader of the swarm, and then happily goes with Tracey, who it also respects.
Yaaay, an episode for Tracey, he's so cool. At the end, he mimicked Ash, and Ash gave him lessons on how to do the "I caught a -whatever-" pose. ^_^. I'm not a huge Scyther fan, but this episode was decent nonetheless. Felt rather sorry for Jessie; her hair really WAS important to her. Still, the bad haircut was better than that mohawk. O.O.
97. A Way Off Day Off 4/10
Finding an empty island full of delicious fruit, Ash-tachi decide to have a day off. They let all their Pokemon out, and relax. However, Snorlax wants to eat too much (although not as much as on the grapefruit islands; being in its Pokeball means it requires less energy) and Scyther has hostility towards Charizard, as it accidentally charred it. Scyther and Charizard help beat Team Rocket, and develop a grudging respect for each other.
This episode was cute, I like episodes where all Pokemon get a chance to come out, show some personality and get a bit of air time doing something other than battling. However... er, not much happened. ^_^; Team Rocket use their Lickitung and Victreebell more frequently now, and Victreebell occasionally does more than eat James' head (although it still does that, with relish). I was disappointed to find that Ash is keeping Snorlax on his main team. Uggh.
98. The Mandarin Island Miss Match 6/10
Ash has been winning lots of matches on Mandarin Island, and has gotten a big head. The reason so many trainers are willing to battle is because they are there for the talk of Prima, a talented Pokemon trainer with a chest to rival Professor Ivy's. Prima actually comes up to them, and Ash nags at her, wanting to battle, but she ignores him, acting like a wafty twit and babbling on about how wonderful the ocean is. Ash gives up and challenges a man, beating his Persian and then letting loose Charizard, who is untrained and wreaks havoc. Prima uses her Slowbro to stop Charizard, and Ash can recall it.
Later, they all watch Prima battle, and win. She is very skilled, but Ash still wants to battle her. So he does. Prima did not want to battle him, and is sorry for Pikachu after her Cloyster clobbers it, but tells Ash he needed to learn what she was trying to tell him - losing is an important part of being a trainer, an ego is not beneficial, and Ash needs even stronger friendship with his Pokemon and the ability to go with the flow. Ash learns this, then Team Rocket show up to steal his Pokemon. Prima's Jynx sends them away. Ash-tachi part, promising to remember what Prima taught them.
How about The Mandarin Island Misspelling. Actually, I think the best title for this episode would be The Constant Camera Focus on Lorelei's You-Know-What. Honestly. And why did they call Lorelei Prima? There was no benefit in depriving us of a character we know from the game. Ash was stupid in this episode. He was actually quite out of character - it's annoying, because he was one of the few characters who had some character development - he had grown up and matured from his old bragging ways. But no, now he reverts to how he was in Path to the Pokemon League, which just goes against his nature.
This ep actually had several things happen in it, which isn't usual, but it was ruined by characters acting stupidly. Prima annoyed me, although her voice was cool. She was so... I dunno what. Kind of air-headed, although not in the commonly accepted meaning of that word. And how could Pikachu not beat a Cloyster, regardless of how well trained it was. Ash's friendship with Pikachu is just fine. Oh, and of course, Misty was starstruck by Prima, just as Brock was with Bruno.
99. Where Fore Art Thou, Pokemon
I missed this episode too. Yay me.
100. Get Along Little, Pokemon 4/10
Ash and company are walking on an island through a vast plain, and are tired. A thunderstorm starts up, with some Magnemite and Jolteon appearing. A man with a Tauros-drawn wagon drives up and tells them to get in, to protect them from the storm. His name is Ethan, and he trains the Magnemite clan. They chase thunderstorms and absorb the lightning into themselves, so that Ethan can sell their electricity to earn his living. He uses the Jolteon to round them up; Magnemite are highly magnetic, and if they wander off - particularly #6, who is the black sheep - Jolteon can thunderwave to attract them back.
Travelling, they hear that the nearest town has had a power shortage, and the hospitals and so on will soon be unable to run. Team Rocket attacks, and they fight them off, but Ethan and Jolteon are injured in the process. Ash jumps on a Tauros and takes nine of the Magnemite to the nearest town. He meets Team Rocket on the way, who have an electromagnetic gun, but Pikachu competes with them for charge, and manages to keep the Magnemite from being captured. Magnemite #6, who Ash specially rescued, evolves into Magneton. They all beat Team Rocket (ouch) and go to successfully give the next town electricity.
Is it really that much of a challenge to be able to write a four-word title without grammatical errors? ^_^;; I've been noticing several little dubbing errors, like in the Gastly-Haunter ep, Tracey talked without words, and Joy did in another episode. And this one, Ethan introduced himself but his name wasn't said. ^_^; What I did like in this episode was how Magnemite's one solitary eye is used to express all those emotions. ^_^.
101. The Mystery Menace 6/10
Near another town, one of Team Rocket's tricks go wrong, and they, and Ash-tachi, fall into a sewer. Ash and company go to find a way out, but are scared by a long green monster/vine coming out of the water. Ash sends Bulbasaur, and the vine grabs Bulbasaur and pulls it under the water! At that moment, an Officer Jenny pulls off a manhole above them, and helps them out (Ash is tied up and dragged out by an insensitive Misty and Tracey, because he wanted to stay and help Bulbasaur). Ash and company find out that the mayor of the city is trying to keep this monster a secret, so that the townspeople won't know and neglect to re-elect him.
The mayor hires a SWAT team to destroy whatever monster is there, ignoring Nurse Joy's pleas; it could be a new species of Pokemon. Ash and company sneak back into the sewer to find Bulbasaur before it's too late, using Muk as a guide. They find Bulbasaur, who is with a larger Bulbasaur - this Bulbasaur has been living in the sewer for a long time, and has the mayor's symbol on its collar. This Bulbasaur belonged to the mayor as a child, but he abandoned it in the sewer when it wouldn't evolve. The story comes out and the mayor's popularity plummets. The Bulbasaur is now safe with Nurse Joy, and the kids are pointed towards Trovita Island, which is very close by.
Tracey's little game of "let's state the obvious" begins to grate on my nerves. If he said the things he does in a dry sort of voice, it would be better, more realistic. Instead, he says it in this wafty, this-is-a-statement-of-great-gravity voice, "looks like a tunnel", or "it's Nurse Joy!". >_<. I felt sorry for the poor young Bulbasaur. And the fact that it was still happy to see the mayor! That's such loyalty!
102. Misty Meets Her Match 9/10
Off the coast of Trovita, Misty and Ash save a little girl, Mauri, and her Seel from drowning. Mauri's older brother, Rudy, is immediately smitten with Misty, and is also the gym leader. Rudy gives Ash a challenge, to use his Pokemon to shoot down targets while on a boat ride. Ash wins, although Rudy wasn't paying attention to it half the time, spouting romantic cliches at Misty. That night, Rudy and Mauri have Misty over for dinner, and Rudy asks Misty to stay with him on the island.
The next day, Misty is thoughtful and sad. Rudy is a nice guy who appreciates her, and Mauri wants a big-sister figure. But, there's Ash... Ash and Rudy have a battle, matching Pokemon types 3-on-3. Electabuzz beats Pikachu, Bulbasaur beats Exeggutor, and Misty still can not decide... after Starmie incapacitates Squirtle with an unexpected Thunderbolt, she snaps out of her reverie to shout at Ash, encouraging him to keep fighting. He does so, and wins, as Squirtle learns Hydro Pump. Misty wanted Ash to win, and at that moment, knew she had to keep travelling with him. Rudy is sad but accepts it, telling Ash he's a very lucky guy. Ash doesn't know what he means. ^_^.
The point out of ten was lost for Team Rocket, whose presence added nothing to the episode (although the positions they had to get into to keep their balance in the sub were funny) yet detracted from it. Ash seems like such a KID still. I wonder why Mauri was so surprised that Misty wanted Ash to win. I mean, she'd been travelling with him for over a year, yet had only known Rudy for a day. I didn't really like Rudy, although his voice was pretty cool. He was a bit of a try-hard, and teaching your Pokemon to dance is okay except when don't naturally stand on their hind legs (that Ninetales looked like it was in pain).
103. Charizard Chills 9/10
A young man, Tad, challenges Ash to a Pokemon battle, having heard about his reputation. He uses an extremely talented Poliwrath, which beats Pikachu. Ash decides to use Charizard, which is a mistake, as it is not trained and is ice beamed solid. Tad says he will rechallenge when Ash has trained it properly. Ash is panicked and struggles to get his Charizard out. Once it is, its tail flame is almost dead, and Charizard is very cold.
All through that night, Ash, Misty, Pikachu and Tracey rub Charizard with blankets, Ash rubbing his hands almost raw. But while Misty, Pikachu and Tracey take turns, and also do other things like get firewood and rest, Ash is there all night. He tells Charizard he knows he isn't a good trainer, and may make a lot of stupid mistakes, but he just wants Charizard to get well, and some day be good enough for it to respect him. Charizard remembers its past as Charmander.
The next day, Team Rocket steal Pikachu, and Charizard flies off with Ash on his back to rescue them. Charizard actually follows Ash's recommendations to get Pikachu back. Tad, hearing the disturbance, has come to see what's going on, and realises that Charizard is now obedient. They fight again, and Ash wins. He has earnt Charizard's respect after so long.
You wouldn't think an ice beam would do so much damage, even if Charizard is weak to it... but this was a pretty good episode. I'm glad it finally obeys. You know, every time someone tells Ash he needs to train his Charizard better, I wonder - how? If a Charizard flamethrowers you every time it appears, how do you get it to do what you tell it to? And when Ash DOES use it to try to train it, everyone lectures how he should train it first - um, that's what he is trying to do! I liked Ash in this episode. But I think Poliwrath should have used its swirl for hypnosis, like it is supposed to. And how did it water gun out of its BELT?
The story so far: Ash, after doing well at Indigo League, now sets his sights on Orange League, travelling from island to island to get badges. He has one so far, and four are required for entrance to Orange League...
