80. Pallet Party Panic 10/10
Ash, who ranked in the top 16 at Pokemon League, has a party held for him in Pallet. Everyone's Pokemon come out to enjoy the food, except Charizard. However, Team Rocket - the caterers - make their food incredibly spicy, setting people's mouths on fire and distracting everyone to steal Pikachu. They then fly off in their balloon, Pidgeotto following, but Arbok (it can fly too?!) poison stings it, hurting it badly. He sends Charizard, who actually saves Pikachu before wreaking havoc. But Ash determines that some day, Charizard will obey him like Pidgeotto - who is brave and strong - does.
Professor Oak asks everyone to go to Orange Arcapelago to Valencia (sp?) Island to get a special Pokeball from Professor Ivy. They agree, and set off, but find some Pidgey and Pidgeotto who are very scared because there are lots of fierce Spearow and Fearow attacking them. Ash's Pidgeotto helps them, but is beaten by the extremely strong Fearow. Fearow has a grudge against them, as it is the Spearow Ash hit in the first episode. Pidgeotto evolves, and Pidgeot flies, attacking Fearow with the Pidgey and Pidgeotto in its wake. They beat the enemy flock, and Ash lets Pidgeot stay to keep an eye on them for a while, promising to collect it on his way back from Orange Arcapella...
"Pidgeot-to!" This episode had it all. Charizard was hilarious, some great quotes, Ash-Team Rocket interactions very funny, Brock fantasising, all the main character's Pokemon appearing, and of course, Pidgeotto, who is very cool, finally gets a chance to shine, and to be appreciated. Not to mention, my favourite non-snake Pokemon showed up - Fearow! I felt so sorry for it though. *sniffu* There was also a lot of stage set here for the future episodes, although I got a little lost with the new terminology. From what I can tell, they are going to Orange Arcapelago, whatever that is. ^_^;
Also, does Ash have some kind of past track record with not changing his underwear? If so, I really do not want to know about that, thank you Mrs Ketchum, who has compulsive need about reminding him. ^_^; Lots of scenes I liked. Charizard totalling the party area, everyone complimenting Pidgeotto, and the way that when everyone sent out their Pokemon to enjoy the food, they looked solemn and did fancy posing as if it were a tough battle. ^_^; I didn't know Squirtle was a fire type! ^_-. And, Ash has a bad time with flying Pokemon carrying him off. ^_^;
81. A Scare in the Air 7/10
The gang have set off, but realise it will take them several weeks to reach Valencia, unless they go by blimp ride. Ash then wins blimp tickets. ^_^; Meanwhile, Jessie/James/Meowth have been 'promoted' to Team Rocket's blimp brigade, and are happy because they think it's a good thing, not realising that Giovanni is setting them up; the blimp is in a terrible state of repair. They all fly off, Team Rocket thinking they have to do their best, and steal Pikachu this time. Jigglypuff accidentally tags along, mistaking a control for a microphone.
On the blimp, despite Team Rocket's best efforts, the heroes are feeling hard done by; the blimp is falling apart - Ash almost falls OUT - everything is kind of dirty and ragged, and the food is not very good. Poor Meowth, the chef. Misty realises she has misplaced Togepi, and everyone looks for it. When finally finding it, Misty endangers her life to rescue it - it is on a high beam, above a great drop over the sea. Team Rocket appear, and everyone battles, before the Rockets are thrown off, clutching a piece of cloth which Meowth hurriedly makes into a parachute. But Jigglypuff falls on the parachute, singing and making them fall asleep and lose their grip... :(
Ash-tachi use their Pokemon and fly the now-very-ragged blimp to the nearest island. They manage to crashland, and find they are on Valencia Island - their desired destination!
You know, I don't think Togepi WANTS to be liked. I mean, I was just starting to tolerate it, not mind it, and then it goes and jeopardises everyone again, acting like a pitiful, disobedient little TWIT. Stupid. The number of times it runs off, I think should tell us something... IT WANTS TO LEAVE THE SHOW. LET IT. LET IT! *ahem* Team Rocket's outfits - cool, man. And Jessie's hair. ^_^. Poor Jigglypuff; she spent half this episode hanging from a rope from the blimp, getting drenched when TR let out the ballast water. *heheh*
Despite everything bad that happens to them, Ash has extremely good luck. ^_^;
82. Pokéball Peril 6/10
The gang leave the crashed blimp and find Professor Ivy's house. Her assistants take them to her. She is a beautiful lady (Brock notices immediately) and has well trained, powerful Pokemon that she is working with. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is panickedly working hard to fix the blimp, as Ash-tachi have return trip tickets and the team want a second chance. Ivy shows everyone the Pokeball they are to pick up. It is an odd ball made of gold and silver, with 'G' and 'S' engraved on it. They cannot open it, and cannot transport it. It's a total mystery.
Ivy gives everyone a tour. She and her assistants know, monitor and care for all the Pokemon on the island. Valensia Island's Pokemon have different colourings to those on the mainland, as the climate is quite different there (very hot). Brock finds it all very interesting and even gives advice here and there, like helping adjust a Butterfree's diet. Ivy is impressed with his knowledge of Pokemon and breeding. They return to her house, which is an absolute STY. Brock, who loves cleaning, goes into overdrive and fixes everything up in about ten seconds.
That night, Ivy and her assistants monitor some Vileplume who spray pollen to keep other Pokemon out of their territory. However, when a Raticate accidentally comes too close, Ivy runs to get it out of the pollen's range. Both end up badly poisoned and are taken to the hospital. Apparently, Ivy has often rushed to save the life of Pokemon in such a way. The next day, when Ash-tachi go to leave Valencia Island, Brock says that Ivy and the Pokemon on the island need him more than they do - and he can pursue his dream of being a Pokemon breeder.
So Ash, Misty, Pikachu and Togepi leave their friend and go back to the blimp, which has been fixed. They go back, but Team Rocket attack them again. Jigglypuff, who is as usual present, sings, sending Team Rocket falling out the window asleep, and Ash-Misty-Togepi-Pikachu asleep in a big cage. The blimp is without a pilot, and just drifting along... what will happen?
I have lots of opinions on this one. ^_^; They sure didn't give Brock a very stirring farewell. I mean, Pikachu got more than Brock did, and it didn't even LEAVE. Even Butterfree was better off, and arguably Pidgeot... man. -_-; Anyway, it was just a called "see ya!" and later "it'll be weird without Brock"... YOU'VE BEEN TRAVELLING NON-STOP WITH HIM FOR A FULL YEAR! Can't you show a LITTLE more emotion? He's one of your best friends, and you may never see him again.... gah.
*grins* Team Rocket cool... I can't believe they managed to fix the blimp that impressively that quickly! GS Ball I would imagine stands for Gold Silver. Maybe something from new Pokemon game? What else to say... Ivy's assistants were fairly annoying (at first I thought they were boys... then I thought they were about 8 years old... then I saw they had figures... then I groaned and wondered why every girl had to be either drop dead gorgeous or nerdish and ugly) and I think Ivy and Brock are meant for each other... neither can fully open their eyes! *gets thwapped* Seriously, I'm not sure what I think of Ivy... the animators liked showing her cleavage a little too much, and she seemed to not care in the slightest for Brock. This is a reasonably significant episode, so I recorded it a little more. ^_^;
83. The Lost Lapras ?/10
Missed first half of episode (since when does Pokemon play on Fridays? ^_^;;). It starts with the blimp crashing on an island. Friend of mine, Chris, kindly wrote: "Er, Ash and Misty are travelin on a beach. and they find some kids torturing a Lapras. Then the kids torturing it get into a Pokemon battle with Ash. Tracey comes along and tries to get all sorts of scientific readings on Pikachu. He more or less invites himself with the group."
Ash and his friends try to convince Lapras to go with them so they can take it back to the ocean, but it refuses to budge, it doesn't trust humans. Team Rocket shows up and predictably steals Lapras. Tracey's Venonat uses its radar eyes to find them, offering Ash a chance to risk his life (honestly, as if he could REALLY catch up to their truck using a bike and jump from one to another!) and win the trust of the transport Pokemon. Lapras decides to stay with Ash.
This was the start of the second season of Pokemon. (Not so in Japanese version I think, but here is where the new theme song was introduced, along with new travel partner - Tracey - and mode of transportation for the Orange League - Lapras. I'm really annoyed at myself for missing it, especially since I was home, but I just didn't know. ^_^;
I don't very much like Tracey's voice. Reminds me of Potter and the badge guy, but it doesn't fit as much coming out of a younger person. Still, he looks as though he might be a pretty good character.
84. Fit to be Tide 8/10
Ash, Misty and Tracey arrive on Mikan Island, where Ash is going to get his first Orange League badge. He meets the gym leader, Cissy (gee, nice name) and her little brother. They taunt him, saying that Orange League is harder than Indigo League, but Ash still wants to try. Orange League competitions go beyond battling; it is a matter of skill. Cissy's Seadra and Ash's Squirtle have a water gunning contest, shooting precision blasts of water at targets. It is a draw.
Due to this, Cissy calls a race, sending her Blastoise against Ash's Lapras. Before they can begin, Team Rocket show up after being stuck in their submarine for a long time (and James almost drowned). They try to steal Blastoise, but it is too powerful and escapes them. Then the race gets underway, with the trainers actually riding their Pokemon. With a little strategy, Ash and Lapras win the race, and receive the Coral Eye Badge.
Orange League sounds ridiculously hard. I mean, her Seadra must be specially trained to hit targets, to expect someone who has never done anything like that to be able to effectively compete is foolish. I was amazed that Squirtle could succeed (even if Squirtle is cool ^_^.)... They didn't show Team Rocket much sympathy, did they! And where did that tidal wave come from? How can Lapras so effortlessly freeze all that water in the tropics of Orange Islands? Etcetera. ^_^.
Ash didn't recognise Seadra (predictably), despite having battled one about a fortnight earlier! Seadra is not ugly, especially compared to other Pokemon out there... I don't like the way Lapras is drawn. It seems as though it should be a beautiful, graceful beast, but they tried to make it cute, and it looks kinda fat and dopey instead. ^_^; I really liked Cissy even if she was mean; she was one of the few characters who actually looked like a NORMAL person! a) her chest size wasn't unnatural, b) she wore clothes that are popular-ish, people wear them in real life, c) her hair looked pretty normal too. And she was so cuuute! I liked her bro too.
85. Pikachu Re-Volts 10/10
On Mandarin Island, Pikachu and Togepi act strangely, and run away from their masters along with some other Pokemon. When Ash complains panickedly to an Officer Jenny (who has an annoying Gastly), she says that a lot of Pokemon have been running away from or even turning on them. Everyone speaks to Professor Oak via videophone (strangely, Tracey doesn't wig out, he's an Oak fan) and Jenny suggests that a psychic Pokemon might be causing the disturbances, and that's why Gastly isn't affected.
Meanwhile, Meowth runs away from Jessie and James, but they chase after him and find themselves in a warehouse with Butch and Cassidy! The four Rockets compete with mottos, and then when JJ go to fight, a Drowzee shows up, attached to a special machine, which enables it to take control of their Pokemon! Their Pokemon, even Meowth, attack them, and Officer Jenny and company find the duo lying unconscious on the street. After some urging, Jessie and James, who feel really bad/unhappy that their Pokemon are gone, decide to help (because other trainers feel the same way, and they want revenge too ^_^.).
Jessie and James sucker their way back into the warehouse, sneaking Ash-tachi with them. Drowzee has all the Pokemon combine attacks, and Gastly tries to fend them off, while Pikachu attacks Ash. Ash lures Pikachu to shock him *and* the machine, which destroys the whole operation, leaving Drowzee's psychic powers useless to control the others. All the Pokemon are freed, but Butch and Cassidy still want to fight. Arbok, Weezing and Pikachu are used, but in the end...
Drowzee uses Metronome, waving its fingers. Togepi smiles and mimics the motion... and then, a huge explosion is caused... nobody knows about this hidden power, as Drowzee was about to attack and they must have assumed it was its fault. Butch and Cassidy are carted off to gaol again, and everything works out peachy.
It's funny how Butch and Cassidy boasted about catching so many Pokemon, when almost all of them were common, or weak ones. ^_^; This episode was great. It was so funny when all the Rockets were arguing about mottos and then competing... made Butch and Cassidy seem more... I dunno. Human? And some sweet/serious moments here too, like Jessie and James throughout the whole thing, and Ash taking a strong electric attack to save everyone.
86. The Crystal Onix
I missed this episode. Stupid VCR.
87. In the Pink 6/10
Ash and his friends accidentally land on an island where ALL the Pokemon are pink. Tracey silently crawls up close to a pink Rhyhorn and sketches it, but Ash doesn't take the same care and the Rhyhorn ends up chasing all of them. As they find themselves near a dead end, a cliff face, Togepi waves its arms, using Metronome, to teleport the group a little way away. Being stupid, the Rhyhorn runs right off the edge of a cliff, hanging over the sea above on a tiny outcrop of rock. Officer Jenny appears and tells them that humans are prohibited from this island - what are they doing here? But first they have to rescue the Rhyhorn, which they do.
Team Rocket land on the island also, with intent of stealing great rare pink Pokemon and starting a theme park. Meanwhile, Officer Jenny explains to them - and they consult Professor Oak via videophone also - that this is Pinken island, and the pink berries are what causes the Pokemon to turn pink. Pikachu eats one and its cheek/tails turn pink, but it's only temporary. This island is a well-kept secret, as the Pokemon need protection from poachers. Then Jenny-tachi get a warning of poachers, and go to find Team Rocket. Team Rocket have unwittingly angered a pink Nidoking, but fainted it using their own Pokemon (yay!).
Unfortunately, now that the Rockets are about to capture a Pokemon legitimately, it happened to be in a place where it's illegal to do so. Pikachu electrocutes, which wakes up the Nidoking. Team Rocket are sent flying, and the furious Nidoking chases after Jenny and the kids in the police car. Togepi Metronomes a barrier which protects them from Nidoking's Hyper Beam, and then Jenny manages to pacify the Nidoking by lassoing it in a truly remarkable display of driving!
Finally saw Marril in this episode, very briefly. It's rather cute... wow, and I thought I'd hate it. ^_^. Also, Jigglypuff is getting SO old. I mean, this is Orange League, they have to travel through the ocean constantly, so why is that stupid pink puffball STILL following them? Jiggs, you were funny the first time, the second time, but you sure as heck are not funny now.
Tracey draws cute girls. He has Brock tendencies, but at least he doesn't go so overboard. It's kinda dumb how when you see the pictures he draws (which are very good, btw), he's already completely finished them in about one second, and is just smoothing a couple of lines over. ^_^.
88. Shell Shock 6/10
Ash and company land on an island and see a news crew; the female reporter is speaking about the finding of a mysterious Kabuto fossil. An explorer Joy (no indication of being a nurse) is working with a team of archeologists, Machoke and Rhydon, to try to find more fossils. Joy speaks of a rumour of special Kabuto oil, legend has it that it can give immortality! Ash-tachi team up with the archeologists, but as they travel to where the original fossil was found, but almost meet a grisly fate as a number of boulders "fall" towards them, Machoke and Rhydon stopping them just in time. Yet this is no accident... a shadowed figure watches the team.
The reporter narrates the journey, and Pikachu finds the man who has been following them. The man defends trying to kill them, saying he was trying to scare them off so they would leave the island alone. He warns of a prophesy that says on the night of the red moon, the island will be brought to ruin... and this will happen if they don't leave it alone. Nobody believes him, of course.
Everyone finds a cave that is full of Kabuto fossils - no, the very walls and ceilings are made of them! Team Rocket appears to steal the fossils, and night has fallen... with a red moon. In the rays of the moon, the fossils come to life! As the whole island is composed of Kabuto fossils, and all the fossils are now alive and swimming away, everything collapses underneath them, and our heroes all narrowly escape on a hastily-made raft. The island is no more, the prophesy was true... and it seems to be true that Kabuto oil brings immortality.
This episode reminded me of the Pokemopolis one, a little. I liked the reporter girl. She was cool, so enthusiastic about her job. ^_^. I don't know why the Kabuto island had to remain a secret. I mean, such terrific findings, and caught on camera...
89. Stage Fight 5/10
Ash and company go on a showboat to watch a Pokemon drama, where the Pokemon speak English! But going backstage, they find that humans are voice acting them, and the Pokemon are lip synch-ing. A girl, Kay, had a Raichu performer, but it wouldn't listen to her. Later, Ash-tachi get a ride on the showboat, which is large and easily accomodates them. Because Ash gets along with his electric mouse, Pikachu, he offers to try to help Kay get along with her Raichu.
Raichu is always looking sad; it likes its trainer, but doesn't react well to her because it knows Kay is afraid of it. When they first met, and Raichu dove in for a hug, it instinctively let off electricity, which scared her. Kay was nervous of being shocked again, but she does really want to be Raichu's trainer...
Team Rocket appears to steal Pokemon from the Show Boat, and Kay dives to save Raichu. Scared, it shocks her again, but this time she isn't afraid. Team Rocket tie up the humans and go to steal the Pokemon, but the humans do voice acting with their Pokemon (Meowth goes starry eyed, thinking he can really relate to them for being able to talk!) and fight back. Raichu does not fight, but Kay convinces it she is not afraid of it any more, and it teams up with Pikachu to send Team Rocket blasting off!
I love Raichu, they're soooo cute. But I would be a bit like that girl (except not with a prissy voice ^_^.), I wouldn't want to be constantly shocked either. I've noticed this before, but especially in this episode... Pokemon look really, REALLY stupid when they dance. ^_^. And yay me, I finally saw an episode from the very beginning - this was the first time I'd ever seen the new theme song. *lol* It's not very good, is it! I mean, I think the choreography (is that the right word?) is good, and it all fits nicely, but the song itself... haha, it's so stupid it's funny!
90. Bye Bye Psyduck 9/10
Misty's Psyduck falls off Lapras and is found by a girl, Marina, and her Tentacruel. Marina is a water Pokemon trainer too, and she and Misty get along instantly, babbling manically about how cool water types are. Marina comments that Psyduck looks like it's ready to evolve, which pleases Misty (she loves Golduck). The two decide to have a battle, and it is tied, when Misty calls out Psyduck to fight Marina's, which is well-trained. But she threw the wrong Pokeball (first time she voluntarily chooses Psyduck, and it doesn't show up!) so Ash throws her her bag (which has Pokeballs in it). It falls in the water, and Golduck comes out.
Misty is thrilled, and Golduck is strong and impressive, but Team Rocket spy it and come to steal it. They accidentally get Marina's Tentacruel and Psyduck, and ransom them for Pikachu. But Golduck and Marina's Starmie go to get them back, and Golduck saves them impressively. Misty is so happy with her Golduck, and finishes her battle against Marina. But afterwards, when she goes to recall Golduck in her Pokeball, Psyduck comes out! The Golduck was a WILD one, it was a "Pokemon version of Brock" (^_^.) and liked to show off to impress pretty girls! Her friends cheer up the distraught Misty by pointing out that it showed much skill on her part to be able to command an extremely powerful, WILD Pokemon.
Lots of cool-drawn eyes in this episode. I felt really sorry for Misty; her Psyduck must have decided not to evolve. It was a good episode though. Mostly battle, and Misty being happy. Golduck was cool. It gets my vote for Pokemon-call-that-sounds-most-like-the-Game Boy-game's-call. ^_^. It kept giving the thumbs-up and winking, woulda been cool for Psyduck to really have become this! And I guess Misty's Psyduck really IS stupid (it's not just an attribute of the breed ^_^.). Lapras has nice eyes... oh, and I don't get why Team Rocket always go around in a Magikarp sub if James loathes that Pokemon so much.
Marina is cool too. I find it funny how attacks like Poison Sting and Swift can almost faint the enemy in the show. ^_^; I mean, what's next?
91. The Joy of Pokémon 7/10
Ash-tachi on Lapras are overtaken by a Joy in a kayak. They go to follow her, but lose her, and find a giant Magikarp flopping angrily on the shore. They want to help it but it won't let them get near. But Joy - who wears different clothes, is strong, and has a dark tan - comes with Chansey and helps Magikarp before returning it to the ocean. When Joy was little, she helped this Magikarp, and it saved her life in return, so they've been friends ever since.
Nurse Joy and her Chansey travel all around islands that are too small to have their own Pokemon Centers, healing sick Pokemon. Tracey and the others want to help her, so they travel around helping. After Ash nearly drowns, they take five, but Joy has one more island to visit before her daily rounds are over. Tracey can sense a hurricane approaching, and doesn't want her to go, but she is worried about some sick baby Seel, and paddles off. Tracey can't let her go alone, so he follows her, and then Ash/Misty follow him. They wanted to help Joy, but she ends up helping them when a large wave makes them all nearly drown again. -_-; Still, at least it temporarily dissuaded Joy from confronting the hurricane.
Team Rocket appears to steal Pikachu, trapping Ash-tachi and Joy in a big net. Joy is really worried about the Seel and struggles to break free, but she can't. She is worried, when Magikarp appears, attacking Team Rocket's submarine, but the metal is too tough. So Magikarp evolves and beats the Rockets. Yet Gyarados, a normally fierce Pokemon, remembers its friendship with Joy and is still kind-hearted.
This Nurse Joy was decent. It showed a little of her past - with several other family members who were Joys. ^_^; And she was a tough nurse, not one of those wimpy ones that always depends on Ash for help. ^_^. I also like Tracey in this episode. I think he will be my new favourite. Unlike Brock, who wanted to be a breeder and did precious little about it, Tracey is an avid Pokemon watcher, and has impressive observational and drawing skills. And he looks cool. ^_^.
The story so far: Ash Ketchum passed through Pokemon League, losing an important battle but learning much in the process, and all that other sappy stuff that the narrators say about him being a winner anyway. -_-; So it would seem he has hit a dead end in term of his goals. Let's wait and see...?
