Tag! We're It! (518)

[Ash-kid]

Why Paul used Chimchar in this battle? Maybe Torterra wasn't here too, but it's OK

[STICKTOPIA]

Talk about the luck of the draw. This was a great episode. Paul just knows how to get Ash mad doesn't he? Paul just says "hmph" and Ash gets angry. Ash-kid he wants Chimchar to go against fire types remember?

[Ciccone]

Why Paul used Chimchar in this battle? Maybe Torterra wasn't here too, but it's OK

He wanted Chimchar to gain experience probably. Paul isn't a showoff so he didn't need to use his strongest Pokemon.

I liked the fact that it was Filler with a purpose; to showcase Paul, Ash, and Chimchar's bond.

Conway's debut. I thought he was creepy before but now he's cool. I think he likes Dawn. Anyway, great way to start off the the tournament. 8/10

[CrazyYanmega]

I found the part where Slowking stopped Gyro Ball with Psychic helarious! But my favorite moment was when Magmar and Pikachu were powerfighting Fire Punch vs Volt Tackle. Magmar's "Oh sh-- expression when Chimchar came out of the ground was absolutely priceless!

[KGB13]

I liked the battles and thought it was funny that Paul and Ash ended up as partners. Great episode.

[vipsoccermaster]

This was a great episode, though Paul and Ash being paired together got me thrown off for a second. Conway was just funny, with his glasses.

[wind21]

One of the difficulties of daily writing for me is trying to remain sincere and not fall into the trap of writing to impress.

Well, on to this episode. Cartoon Network showed all three episodes of the Tag Battle arc in a marathon when I first saw these, so I tend to think of them as as one episode, even though I should not. The Tag Battle tournament is the second "side event" for our heroes (the first being the dress up competition won by Brock and Croagunk); it is also the "episode" I am not quite sure whether to call one of the 3 most influential ones in Sinnoh (I am sure there are two, the first being Cynthia's intro). Regardless, though, the Tag Battle tournament is AMAZING, and even if it has little impact on Ash in the long run, it is one of the best stories (if not the best) Sinnoh has to offer.

The intro of this episode does a world of good for Zoey, who redeems herself for her steely reaction last episode to Dawn's first round loss in the contest. Turns out, she was more sympathetic than she showed, and the result of that is Dawn finding herself being handed an entry card by Ash for the Tag Battle tournament (Ash and Brock already said they were going to enter last episode). Dawn is surprised that Zoey discussed this with the guys without saying anything to her, but Ash says it doesn't matter since the idea is a good one. Eventually, after being encouraged by everyone, she accepts the entry card from Ash. I wish Zoey had been able to express herself better last episode in person when she had the chance, but at least this off-episode discussion with Ash and Brock is something nice, too. Maybe this shows how difficult it is for Zoey to say something comforting when her habit is to be sarcastic and bossy? (Laughing) I never thought of it this way. One other thing I want to say is this scene is one of my favorite interactions b/w Ash and Dawn. Ash does what Zoey cannot do, and that is put on a smile while trying to talk Dawn into entering the tournament.

So everyone is in, and off they go to the tournament. When the pairings are done, Dawn is paired with Conway, who makes his first appearance in the dp anime; Conway is probably the second of Sinnoh's truly memorable rivals to have made an appearance in the dp anime up to this pt, with the first one of course being Paul. Speaking of Paul, that is whom Ash is paired up with. Brock is paired with a girl COTD, who lays down the law that there will not be any romantic thing b/w them (a depressed Brock is pecked by Piplup). Oh, I just forgot how amazing this episode is! When Ash finds out he is paired with Paul, Pikachu trys to make peace with Elekid to set an example for the two trainers and is given a cheap shot. Pikachu gets back up and is ready to unleash a thunderbolt, which Ash tries to stop and ends up taking the hit. So many great moments in this episode. Well, again, the pokemon of Ash and Paul make this rivalry work; we are still at the extremely chippy stage between the two, so hence Pikachu's and Elekid's "fight."

And then we get to see all 3 teams' 1st round battles; it is amazing how much the writers can fit into an episode when there is no real Team Rocket plot to eat up time. Conway's battling style is shown to be very technical; he provides the defense while leaving the offense to Dawn. Brock's battle is pretty fun as well, and in the joy of celebration he grabs the girl COTD's hands and then lets go as he remembers what she said. But she grabs his hands right back and says they are a great team. Amazing, entertaining stuff this all is. Then Ash and Paul take to the field (I'm ignoring what Dawn said about Cynthia b/c I'm not sure at all where that is going; that's something to watch for at the League), and the battling atmosphere rises to the a new level. Their opponents release a Magmar and Rhydon, while Ash and Paul go with Pikachu and Chimchar. Oh yeah! Chimchar is the main reason Paul is entering this tournament as he is trying to power up Chimchar's flamethrower by battling fire type pokemon (I think this episode marks the first time Chimchar is seen using flamethrower, which would be an improvement; for sure, though, Ash does remark how much stronger Chimchar's flames have gotten- Chimchar has put in some tough, honest training). Well, the battle gets under way with Pikachu's thunderbolt at Magmar being absorbed by Rhydon's lightning rod. That's no good as it leaves Pikachu pretty much reliant on Iron Tail in this battle. Paul, though, is able to implement his strategy for this tournament, as Chimchar takes a Lava Plume from Magmar to power up its flamethrower. It's still not able to penetrate Rhydon's defenses, though, and Pikachu has to come to the rescue with an Iron Tail. This brings things back to a standstill now, when the opposing team unleashes a combination that left me absolutely stunned when I was watching this episode for the first time: Rhydon uses Surf while Magmar uses Protect. I never imagined something like that would be brought out in an episode like this, and really I felt like the intensity of the match was befitting something I would expect to see at a Pokemon League (and I can say, having seen Ash's first battle in the Sinnoh League, I think the battle in this episode got the atmosphere much more right). Paul orders Chimchar to take the surf head on with a flame wheel, much to Ash's and Pikachu's dismay as they realize what that means, but it suits Paul's battling style: power battling, with not much dodging other than Protect. Ash puts on his thinking cap and, remembering the appeal Zoey made at the last contest, has Pikachu use Iron Tail at the base of Rhydon's wave to disrupt the surf, and then follow up with an Iron Tail on Rhydon to ko it. Chimchar and Pikachu team up then to knock out Magmar.

This episode is just fantastic to watch.

The reference to Zoey during the battle was not too bad, since the move was a "It fits!" thing and not a "Zoey's amazing!" compliment. And Ash made it work, so...

[saar]

Conway and Dawn is one team is a good idea of the writers. The could get along pretty well.

Chimchar and Pikachu as a team is a good combination. It was funny to see how Magmar and Rhydon, the big ones, have lost to the small pokemon. Liked it.

[Lance The Champ]

Ash and Paul teamed up was amazing even though they have such different training styles... It was the strongest team easily

[hever]

Ash and Paul = eww.

6/10

[G50]

This episode was good. It was cool to see Ash, Dawn, and Brock participating in this Tag-Battle competition. It was interesting how Ash ended up being paired with Paul. It was very creative for Magmar to use Protect while Rhydon did Surf as a combination. It was cool to see Lava Plume used for the 1st time. Brock's partner needed alot of his help to get through the 1st round. Dawn's partner was definitely a very useful battler who basically protected her Pokemon and then attacked the opponents.

90/100

[RocketTwurpSLR]

did anyone see an error at 7:29 (or somewhere beyond that)

it was the part where they picked dawn/conways opponants

but conway wasnt in the picture XD... I WONDER *fangirl screams*

[Caseydia]

This episode was sparks. Dawn and Conway talked too much in this episode and the next. They're both annoying that's why I'm so glad they lost in the next episode.

[Angel~]

I don't know why Zoey cares so much about Dawn, that doesn't really make her a rival but more friend wise.

Dawn: "Fact of the matter is both trainers and pokemon have to constantly think about each other in a tag battle, that is what Cynthia said"

Paul: "When a light meets another light, something will be born"

Dawn in no way was gonna figure out that perplexing riddle & what he meant by it. Paul's shallow attitude & the way he treats Chimchar makes me feel sorry for it.

[Sorren&Rocko]

When I go to the Sinnoh Region, I want to enter the Tag Battle competition! It's our dream! Now, I'm going to be busy with my er... our Trainer Interview.