Strategy With a Smile (547)

[ash_forever]

Folks, I'm really afraid but I just do have to disagree with those who liked this episode!
The final battle was disappointing and didn't live up to my expectations.
Oh man, even I myself hate having to criticize an episode which I've been looking for for a whole,strenuous week and, believe me, I'm kinda feeling down right now,but...I just can't help mentioning some scenes which really bothered me and kinda destroyed this episode which could have been so awesome:

Dawn vs. Kyle was rushed and therefore quite messed up. I know, I know, some of you might object now that this was just a not so important filler-battle et cetera, but just shortening the battle wasn't an appropriate solution either! Conceivably, just leaving out the whole battle would have been cleverer than messing it up by rushing it

Now today's exeception: The battle between Zoey and May was terrific! The strategy of both female competitors was excellent and Glameow creating a wall of water to block Beautifly's way and using that water to launch a still more powerful Shock Wave was undoubtedly the best and most impressive scene today.

But now, I've reached the aforementioned battle which has kinda left a bitter aftertaste of discontentment:
May's and Dawn's battle unfortunately lacked that grace and ingenuity due to which Zoey's and May's battle stood out. It was definitely an intense battle... but a gym(!) battle, as there was nothing which reminded you of a contest battle.
And what I couldn't get at all was, why Dawn would have been better than May. Admittedly, it was very very close, but if you're honest, you mustn't deny that May/Glaceon launched more attacks which furthermore looked more impressive! Here we have it again: The annoying deus-ex discussion! Frankly, I think that the writers were (perhaps desperately) looking for a way to let Dawn win But in my opinion this battle was a clear tie. It wasn't worthy of the final battle of such a prestigious event like the great Wallace Cup.

Every time an episode ends with an insufficient result, I'm confused and feel depressed, because Pokemon is usually one of my biggest highlights of the weekend.

Well, perhaps you can cheer me up a bit ^^

Let's say 6 out of 10 points

[jolteonjak]

I think it's pretty funny that people expected May to win. This is DP not Advanced. It's Dawn's time to be in the spotlight. Should we get another Wallace Cup in the 5th generation you can bet the main character doing contests will win it over Dawn (and possibly May) as well.

[piplup_777]

even though i knew dawn was going to win it was a good episode

[the1stpkmnfan]

I felt bad for May that she didn't win, so she can make Drew, Harley, and Solidad proud in Johto. But I feel happy for Dawn that she got the Aqua Ribbon. (SPOILER >) She was so happy, she burst into tears. :,)

I hope we see more appearances of May, Max, Misty, Gary, Drew, Harley, and Solidad sometime in the rest of DP.

[Vixtro]

It was pretty obvious from the start that Dawn was going to win, it wouldn't look too good now having May beat her considering her previous Contest losses and that she is now the main female lead. I was thinking they could have had a draw and split the ribbion like Ash and May in that unofficial contest at the end of Battle Frontier but I'm glad they didn't because that's something special just between Ash and May.

It was nice of the writers to have May use Glaceon to lesson the blow of defeat since it had just recently evolved and was May's least experienced Pokémon anyway. Also I think it was just their way of showing that May wanted to be fair to Dawn and put herself on as much an even playing field as she could instead of just using something like Venusaur and totally blitzing Dawn. And even though I don't like Dawn when compared to May and (pre-Johto) Misty, I'm glad she won. Maybe I just felt sorry for her, I dunno but she deserved to win.

The one thing I hate though is how over-powered her Piplup is. I know I shouldn't though cause just look back to how it was the same with Ash's Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander which were his side starter Pokémon, they were all pretty much power houses from the start.

This is an even sillier annoyance but when Piplup throws the whirlpool I just can't help but think "Goku from DBZ throwing the spirit bomb".

[flyboy1308]

Why is it that in the anime, a move's power usually coincides with its power in the games, but Piplup uses Whirlpool like a magic weapon/shield/merry-go-round that can win any battle for it despite the fact that its obviously the weaker Pokemon?

[HoennMaster]

She was so happy, she burst into tears. :,)

Well she just won a contest after not making it past the appeal rounds in her past two.

[the1stpkmnfan]

Well she just won a contest after not making it past the appeal rounds in her past two.

I'm just glad that she got a ribbon, since she hasn't gotten another since the Floraroma Contest.

[KevinSun242]

I'm glad Dawn won lol. Kinda sad watching loss after loss.

[HoennMaster]

I wish they would have done Sudden Death overtime like they did in the final BF Contest. It would of been a better battle.

[Cobalt_Latios]

Well, I finally got around to seeing this episode, which is highly unusual for me. Meh, maybe I'm just suddenly busy all of a sudden? Anyway, I gotta say, as far as all the battles went in this arc of 5 episodes, these 3 battles were pretty decent. A 20 minute episode consisting of 3 separate battles in which 2 of them are decent, and one of them is very good is pretty impressive. Of course, it's nothing most of us haven't seen from this show already (battle count, not the quality mind you).

The first battle of Dawn vs. Kyle (was that his name? I'll have to check later) was good. Spinning Bide was great, and the use of Dark Pulse from Crawdaunt was good to see too (though, three special moves and only one physical move, despite his physical stat being the highest baffles me. Oh well, it's not uncommon in this show anyways. I'll just leave it be).

Then, May vs. Zoey wasn't half bad either. I actually thought it was rather ingenious that Zoey create a wall of water and used Shock Wave to follow suite. Now, why is it that even though it was super effective it didn't appear to knock down all that many points? Are super effective hits not that "super" anymore? Eh... The rest of the battle was enjoyable enough.

And of course May vs. Dawn. I honestly was amazed at how good the battle ended up being. I was particularly impressed that they used Secret Power's game mechanic to a good extent. Ice Shard was good to see too; I was really expecting much there. Is it just me, or does Glaceon's tail and head flap things seem like ribbons the way they're animated? (Maybe I should just stick to my basics...) Piplup did pretty well too, in fact this might be it's best performance yet. I was surprised to see Glaceon with Mirror Coat. There's one thing that I knew was a factor: Ice types aren't very effective towards Water types, yet in reverse, Water types are neutral towards Ice types.

Dawn won by a hair. It was close. In fact, this might be even closer than the last contest May had in Kanto.

Jessie hogging the camera was hilarious. Both May and Dawn were just, "what??"

Johanna: the mainstream media sure has changed.

Great end to the whole Wallace cup.

~C_L~

[jwla]

I don't really remember the battle being so repetitive when I saw the episode in Japanese. It was actually kind of boring this time around. It was still good, and I am still happy for Dawn.

[Genome]

Indeed. I'm surprised May didn't teach Glaceon a good freezing move. Platforms and ice traps over this PEW PEW and dodge/reverse.

I'm not really sure why I am quoting myself but WHOA. How did May not use A SINGLE ICE BEAM (which apparently it did know) in this match? It was sure long enough for some tricks. Could it have forgotten it overnight? Do contests only allow you to register 4 moves(they haven't broken the move limit rule..yet), or is this a claim for future May that she went easy here? Dirty, dirty May.

This is an even sillier annoyance but when Piplup throws the whirlpool I just can't help but think "Goku from DBZ throwing the spirit bomb".

I will now see that every time. NONONONOONONONOOONNON

[wobbanut]

Ah, it was nice to hear somebody besides Ash recite the episode title. They did that quite a bit in season ten, but it's been a while.

Great end to the Wallace Cup. I loved May and Dawn's battles, and the one they had together. It was surprising that Zoey didn't advance, and that Dawn beat May, but at least it was fun to watch. I'm glad Dawn finally got her second ribbon.

I also thought the part where Jessie gets all fired up was downright scary, especially the way she said that one line (I can't remember it off the top of my head). I did LOL at the part where she said Dawn's stuttering words were "profound". That reminded me of those weird reporters in the RSE game, who will say any weird combination of words you say are "profound". Dawn's mother's comment about the media was funny too.

Overall, awesome end to the Wallace Cup. I hope we do see May again in the future.

[Ayra]

I wasn't too pleased that Dawn beat May. May's much better, in my opinion, but, I'm glad Dawn got her second Ribbon, but I was even more displeased that she won by luck. I don't think luck has any place in a Contest. But, that's just me. But, May untaught Glaceon Ice Beam. Its four attacks go: Ice Shard, Mirror Coat, Secret Power, and Shadow Ball. Not too smart on her part.

~Ayra~

[HoennMaster]

When will people learn that the win was fair and not luck? Apparently Never.

[milenadrg]

I am glad Dawn got another win under her belt. She's been needing one for the longest time and anothe rribbon. It'll be handy for her and her quest. Besides, there's al ot of time before the Grand Festival. Who's to say Piplup will remain Piplup? A lot of us thought May's Torchic would remain Torchic, but she ended up evolving into Combusken.

Bryon

How do you know Blaziken iz SHE?

[uber gon]

So the guy's name is Kite? Great, now we have Dot.Hack in the series.

What's next? Balmung, Orca, Cubia?

[HoennMaster]

No, his name is Kaito in Japanese and Kyle in English.

[Anime-Ash]

Didn't May's Glaceon know 6 movies: Ice Beam, Iron Tail, Ice Shard, Shadow Ball, Secret Power, and Mirror Coat.

[Blue Snover]

This was a great battle, but i'm surprised that Dawn managed to beat May.

At least we got to see her Glaceon which was nice, and it was a really strong battler.

[Ash-kid]

I'm sure 100% that if Glaceon was using his Ice Beam on Piplup's whirlpull every time, he was winning.

[Torpoleon]

I'm sure 100% that if Glaceon was using his Ice Beam on Piplup's whirlpull every time, he was winning.

Hmm. I don't remember it using Ice Beam. I think it was Ice Shard it used that time. I know it has Ice Shard.

[Ash-kid]

Hmm. I don't remember it using Ice Beam. I think it was Ice Shard it used that time. I know it has Ice Shard.

he has also ice beam and if he was using it he was winning.

[HoennMaster]

IT IT IT. We don't know their genders. And you can't win by just using one attack. Not to mention that Glaceon is still a NEW addition to May's team overall. Plus, who would want to watch a stupid battle with just Ice Beam.