Curbing The Crimson Tide! (443)

[Korobooshi Kojiro]

I wouldv'e settled with a Shadow Ball from Eevee, or Munchlax punching it *OMG I LOVE YOU MUNCHLAX!*....

But, Squirtle?

[JazzJazz]

The gang CANNOT lose.

That sorta goes with being a hero or a main character... you're usually going to win, often in spite of the odds.

[Yamato-san]

Hello Yamato - chan ... Haruka´s Squirtle rules!!!

[shrugs] Meh. Here's hoping you end banned for user-bashing and/or enciting flame wars real soon.

Woah, hold the phone. What was that song playing during the Scizor vs. Squirtle battle? I've never heard that one before, and it totally caught me off guard. I suspect it was used during one of the original versions of the movies?

That song was listed in the ending credits. It's titled "Watashi, Makenai! ~Haruka no Teema~" (I, won't lose! ~Haruka's Theme~).

As for the episode itself, I didn't really enjoy it that much. Sceptile got a decent battle with some great moves, but apart from that and Squirtle having a Hyper Beam rain down on top of it, that was the only decent part.
I didn't give a Ratata's arse about random filler girl and her plight, nor did I honestly care less about the Red Lighting's endevours. Though I must admit, I was rather surprised that he turned out to be an actual Scizor. Truth be told, I really wasn't expecting that at all ^^;

Also, the rematch between Squirtle and Scizor was total bullshit.

Agreed, on all counts. Zenigame finally got the loss it deserved after all of its over-glorification by the writers earlier on. Why the hell did they feel the need to redeem it? The episode should've just ended on Hassamu losing to Jukain (which, as nice of a battle as it was, was already pretty screwed up enough with Jukain riding on the wind as it did. And what was the deal with Hassamu using Hyper Beam on a window that Jukain jumped off of, only for it to result in a dust cloud like when it hit a brick wall earlier in the episode. Just a little glass shattering would've added for some nice realism there. For that matter, as rich as she may be, does Luna have any consideration for collateral damage?).

Although, there were a couple other things I enjoyed about the episode that Gravy didn't mention, like the fact that Satoshi-tachi were ordering around Rocket Dan to follow in their balloon (and they got blown away immediately afterwards, keeping their role to a nice minimum), and of course, the new opening had me f***in' psyched. Hassamu was also pretty cool and nicely shadey when he was disguised as the Red Lightning. Overall, this episode started off on a very good note, but turned to utter crap at the end (as I said in the speculation thread for next week's episode, this is further worsened by the fact that Glory Day's still the ending, and Zenigame's doing an appeal in the preview). Well, at least now I can happily say the turtle has a loss under its belt.... a loss that actually involved KOing and not running to mommy after one hit.

Speaking of screwed-up things in this episode, why did Takeshi say that Hassamu shouldn't be able to fly? Pretty much every Hassamu that's appeared in the anime thus far has been able to fly. The wings aren't for decoration (even though the games and such make it seem that way). Luna replies to Takeshi by commenting that her Hassamu's special, but it appears that it was just riding the gusts of wind (which was also screwed up, as I said before).

The return of the Unfailing Squirtle Bias. Figured as much.

Face it guys, it was a good fight. Squirtle got its behind kicked at first, which is how it should be, but when it battled Scizor without its tech, under the traditional conduction of a rookie trainer, a win really isn't that ridiculous. The girl just wanted someone to play/battle with, as far as I could figure out, and was clearly an inexperienced trainer, relying on Hyper Beam and Swift as its only attacks. So pitting her against an experienced coordinator who knows how to think on her feet in battle, what's so hard to accept about Squirtle winning?

May's strategy was simple, but effective. When Scizor dodged the Water Gun and it made a puddle, she noticed this and had Squirtle use Ice Beam. Scizor dodged too, but the Ice Beam froze the ground, effectively killing the speed advantage since Scizor couldn't get its footing. Then Squirtle slid along the ice in a Rapid Spin, powering it up with the extra speed, and won.

I really don't think there's anything to complain about here, once you look at everything.

You said it yourself: Hyper Beam and Swift. They're projectile attacks, and they're shot from Hassamu's claws. Seriously, as Zenigame was Rapid Spinning towards Hassamu while it was on its back, I was desperately hoping Hassamu would just lift one of its arms and blast that damned turtle to high hell again as it was approaching.

She could've learned from a Combusken Fire Spin instead, eh! Who's with me men!?

F*** yeah! I'm surprised they haven't shown more of that thing, considering A) it's Haruka's starter, and B) it recently learned a new attack in the form of Mega Kick, which it only showed off in one battle.

[Korobooshi Kojiro]

I have never ever ever heard of Haruka's Theme......a new song?

[Poké_Master]

Saw the pictures and I can't wait for the episode!

[Geodude]

You said it yourself: Hyper Beam and Swift. They're projectile attacks, and they're shot from Hassamu's claws. Seriously, as Zenigame was Rapid Spinning towards Hassamu while it was on its back, I was desperately hoping Hassamu would just lift one of its arms and blast that damned turtle to high hell again as it was approaching.

Again, rookie trainer. It probably never occurred to Luna that Scizor could do that.

I agree on the hilarity of Ash & co climbing in TR's balloon and making them follow Scizor. There's a first.

[Yamato-san]

No, but she certainly relied on Hyper Beam enough that you'd think she'd use it.

[~*Myuu the Ryuu*~]

i'm confused... was the scizor able to talk when it was in the machinery?

and that skyscraper with the house looks just like the one in the episode where misty captures psyduck. Hypno's naptime, i think.

[Geodude]

i'm confused... was the scizor able to talk when it was in the machinery?

No. Luna was talking through the speaker, except using her tech to alter her voice.

[thed3]

This episode is quite confusing to follow... even with all these explanations.

And once again Butterfree does absolutely nothing... From the episode pictures they really didn't need Butterfree in there. What a waste of major potential... once again... And what is up with it spinning away?

[Heracross]

This nauseates me.

-So the Red Inazuma draws on its victims' faces huh? That might have been amusing if it wasn't Purin's trademark gag.
-What's this? A strange crisis? Surely the source must be that mysterious rooftop mansion. Very original.
-And what do you know? Apparently it's a private residence all of a sudden. Or maybe there are two nearly identical mansions in the same vicinity both perched on top of skyscrapers. Right.
-To add salt to the wound, that girl who owned the Lucky looked just like the girl in episode 27 who thought she was a Butterfree.
-Even the damn park Haruka was in resembled the park in episode 27.

Ffs, have they no shame? If they're so desperate for material, why don't they just quit f***ing around and tie in with the first season already, instead of pulling s*** like this?

This episode is a travesty.

[Pika Hikari KT]

Again, rookie trainer. It probably never occurred to Luna that Scizor could do that.

The Scizor must be some sort of bodyguard for Luna. She's had it since it was a Scyther--not exactly a Pokémon you'd want to give to a 8 year old girl starting out...T_T

[Pokemon Fan]

-And what do you know? Apparently it's a private residence all of a sudden. Or maybe there are two nearly identical mansions in the same vicinity both perched on top of skyscrapers. Right.
-To add salt to the wound, that girl who owned the Lucky looked just like the girl in episode 27 who thought she was a Butterfree.
-Even the damn park Haruka was in resembled the park in episode 27.

It would have been fine I think if they had included some brief explanation about how the insomniac's group doesn't meet there anymore, the building was brought by a rich family and such. But I doubt they did.

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However, as pointless as Squirtle's rematch was I don't think anyone should be upset about the result. I mean think about it.

1. The Scizor had been battling all day beating little Pokemon.

2. It had just been seriously beaten and thrashed by Ash's Sceptile.

3. It had lost the tech it relied on for targeting its attacks.

I mean barely a few minutes passed between fighting Sceptile and it fighting Squirtle. OF COURSE SQUIRTLE WON!!! Its no example of uberness (nor was the Ariados battle, that Ariados was weak), any pokemon with any real training could have probably beaten an exhausted Scizor commanded by a rookie who formerly relied on gadgets in battle.

I personally have no real problem with Scizor appearing again. This is the first time we've seen it doing Hyper Beams that looked cool (the one Ash battled with Torkoal was poorly animated). Yes other Pokemon need screentime more, but I really don't think Scizor is as over presented as some think it is.

Of course, the spiderman-type fight by Sceptile was the most awesome part of the episode period. Can't go wrong with a giant gecko dragon leaping about on skyscrapers, I love how they're keeping his agility and ability to stick to smooth surfaces.

[Geodude]

Good points as usual Pokemon Fan, adding to Squirtle's defense. I never thought of a couple of those.

Or maybe there are two nearly identical mansions in the same vicinity both perched on top of skyscrapers. Right.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=penthouse

[Heracross]

I guess that was supposed to be clever. :/

How many penthouses have you seen that are built like a huge stone mansion? Ok, maybe there are a couple around, especially in a big city like Tamamushi, but these looked exactly the same. The hedges, the trees, even the fountain, everything was the same. Even the buildings in the background were somewhat similar. There is no way you're telling me those were supposed to be two different buildings.

[Geodude]

Then, the answer is that it was the same but it was different. Meaning, they were too lazy to design a new one so they copied the one from that old episode, thinking their audience, which is of course entirely composed of 7-year-olds and not a single older person, wouldn't know the difference anyway.

[Heracross]

And that's why they suck. The fact that Pocket Monsters is a children's show does not excuse such a revolting disregard for continuity.

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Decent episode. Zenigame did need the chance more then any of Haruka's other pokemon(Gonbe and Wakashamo just got their battles recently, Eievui gets one next week), so while Wakashamo would have made more sense, Zenigame got it.

I thought it was definitely better then the average filler episode, and I enjoyed the theme that played during the Zenigame vs. Hassamu battle.

[Yamato-san]

Kuwabara, in case you're unaware, that thing's going to appeal in the next episode, and it appealed in Gonbe's battle episode. It appealed in nearly every contest thus far, actually, and it's been shoved down out throats many a time, especially near the beginning of Battle Frontier. Did you ever stop to think maybe there's a reason it's been out of the picture lately? And yes, there're Pokemon plenty more deserving of glorification than it. In case you forgot, Gonbe lost its recent battle, and Wakashamo's nowhere near used enough for being Haruka's starter. Hell, even Eievui could've used a battle before its contest.

I mean barely a few minutes passed between fighting Sceptile and it fighting Squirtle.

I don't think there was any specific indication of time there. For all we know, Hassamu could've been given a nice break before it battle Zenigame. And whether or not the win was realistic, my beef with it is that they let that stupid turtle redeem its loss from earlier in the episode. They could've omitted that battle altogether or, if they must teach that girl a lesson, use a different Pokemon for god's sake. The damned thing's been asking for a loss since it was cheaply glorified in Yamabuki. It finally gets a f***in' loss, it should've kept that loss, let it get yet another win (because you just know the writers would give it another one eventually) in a later episode against a different opponent. Nope, it rematches the opponent that beats it.... I really hate whichever of the writers are favoring it so much, and I pray to god that whoever they are, they aren't the same ones who were making Battle Frontier good. I wanna curse someone's name, not even that out with appraisal.

[ChaosMage]

People saying that Scizor was undertrained- Hyper Beam is not an easy move to master. Only fuly evolved pokemon can use it, and that Scizor had certainly got it down to perfection. I realise that Donohan learnt it straight away, but he's hardly a weakling!