Solid As A Solrock (376)

[sCiZoR]

On an only slightly related note, is my memory faulty, or was that new music that came with this attack?

Nah, the music's been around for a little while. There was new music at some point in the episode, but I can't pin-point the exact spot though.

[~May~]

well he won It was obvious that he'll win...by the way whAT WERE SWELLOW AND PIKACHU DOING when they become um...shiny or something???what are they using brick brake or somethin'???

[ChaosMage]

LAME!!! Ash has given Swellow plenty of catching up time, let Corphish and Torkoal battle as well. A Grovyle/Corphish combo would have been great, and I am very disappointed with Ash for this choice. This battle sounds too unpokemonlike to make any sense. He could have sent grovyle or Corphish out with swellow. But Ash has to use pikachu all the time in gym battles. Is it me or was Brawley the only one he didn't use pikachu against!

[Mew2]

As had been stated before, speed could have been an issue. SUre Grovyle is fast, but Corphish doesn't have a lot of speed. And it is still only a first level evolution against powerful psychic types. As for not using Grovyle, there's the issue that both pokemon had attacks that could counter Grovyle. Also, Ice Beam seems to freeze the target no matter what it hits, so Ash probably went with fast and strong pokemon with more resistance to Solrock and Lunatone's attacks for the battle.

[pokeplayer984]

As I see this, it was yet another way for the writers to try once again to get through everyone's head that the Anime is not like the game, and never will be.

Pikachu getting Supercharged like that was no big surprise, but when I think about it, I believe I can give a simple explanation as to how Swellow got supercharged as well.

As I have found several times, when two Pokemon battle together in the anime, and are near eachother where they are touching, they can combine their abilities as well. As stated earlier, Ash's Swellow can't be effected by electric attacks, so they do no damage, and when Pikachu got the ability of supercharge, it passed that ability temporarialy to Swellow. Think of it as them being merged together, in its own strange way.

Also remember, Pokemon are mysterious creatures, and we still don't know all the secrets to them yet. They could hold abilities that we don't understand, and this episode proved that.

So just enjoy the show, and find out just how many abilities they could possibly have.

-----------------

Anyways, this sounds like a good ep, IMO. I can't wait to see the dub version of it here in the US. Hopefully they'll do good at it and hardly change a thing. Maybe they can add in a bit of Brock explaining how it works.

I also loved the look of the Supercharged duo. It just looked so cool.

*waits patiently for the dub version of it.*

[Pokemon Fan]

Ah who am I kidding, it's a freaking excuse for Ash to once again use Pikachu and have a use for another unlikely Pokemon to battle. I'm surprised Brock didn't tell him to remember how Rock-types are impervious to Flying-types.

They aren't imperverious, they're resistent. And Swellow has some of the highest attack strength of any Flying type.

Anyway, wow... a bit of an unusual gym battle. It mostly sounds and looks great, but my criticisms include:

I don't particularly like it when Ash gains an advantage in battle because the previous arena was destroyed (i.e he couldn't have gotten Pikachu and Swellow super-charged on the original field). However, given that Fuu and Ran were losing the match in the original field due to lack of cooperation, it evens things up a bit (i.e they would have lost in the first field if they hadn't struggled to get their Pokemon back from TR).

And I kind of wish that the whole Double Team scene had been what led up to the victory instead of the clever but failed attempt that it was. Usually when one of the group's pokemon is shown using a move for the first time it is successful, even if it is shown as one they didn't just now learn (what that true here?)

And actually, in a way it makes sense that Swellow could get powered-up from electricity. It's ability is Guts, which causes its attack power to rise by 50% if it suffers a status ailment. If that lightning strike partially paralyzed it then it would get a power boost. Pikachu of course would get the boost from absorbing a lot of the lightning, probably helping to keep Swellow from being knocked out (though since it learns moves like Endure, Swellow wouldn't have needed it necessarily) since even Ash's Swellow takes damage from electricity, it just is able to resist and push through the effects more than most Flying types.

<><><>

So in conclusion I don't think most people's criticisms here are warranted. They went for a unique approach in this gym battle, using rules that don't exist in the games to showcase just how far Ash has come as a trainer. And I'm sure the scenes will make more sense once we know the dialogue.

V Faction, I don't see how it was "WAYYYY" too convenient. Ash thinks on his feet, and a good trainer in the anime utilizes whatever he or she can on and around the battlefield. If the clouds weren't there than Ash would of thought of something else, but they were there so he took the opportunity.

And you have to admit, Golden Swellow/Pikachu looked AWESOME.

[The Big Al]

That last attack was a ripoff of G Gundum.

Anyway Team Rocket were their typical idiot selves, going way over the top just to see it all blow up in their face.

The Battle was interesting. Liked it when they were crashing into the fake planets.

[~May~]

ah told yas he'll win..he almost always wins...anyway it was cool

[Murgatroyd]

Nah, the music's been around for a little while. There was new music at some point in the episode, but I can't pin-point the exact spot though.

I've listened again, and the music during the attack itself comes from the fifth movie. The music while they're charging, however, doesn't seem familiar at all.

[Bulba the Great!]

Well, I'm dissapointed, I can't help it... I won't waste an entire post complaining, previous posts about the golden Swellow sum up my feelings. I was really hoping Grovyle would be used, along with Corphish. They make such a good team! Ash really should have lost, he hasn't lost since Brawley, which was conveniantly the only time he didn't use Pikachu in AG. I really think he'll lose against Wallace, because he seriously needs another loss under his belt! He's becoming too powerful. And so is Pikachu!

[ChronoAzn]

That music when Pikachu and Swellow are being shocked appeared in Kyogre vs Groudon part 1 when Kyogre escaped. But I haven't heard it in any previous episodes before.

[wobbanut]

Isn't this episode the first time Ash has EVER used double team (with swellow)? I know I've been dying to see him use double team since I started watching the show, and I've never seen any of his pokemon (or any pokemon he was temporarily commanding) use it. I know it annoyed the heck out of me, because he was at a disadvantage so often when pokemon like scyther (in "Getting the Bugs Out") would use it. It's ABOUT TIME!!!

[Hales]

Well, I'm dissapointed, I can't help it... I won't waste an entire post complaining, previous posts about the golden Swellow sum up my feelings. I was really hoping Grovyle would be used, along with Corphish. They make such a good team! Ash really should have lost, he hasn't lost since Brawley, which was conveniantly the only time he didn't use Pikachu in AG. I really think he'll lose against Wallace, because he seriously needs another loss under his belt! He's becoming too powerful. And so is Pikachu!

Whats wrong with Ash getting more powerful? isn't that what trainers and Pokemon are supposed to do in order to become Pokemon Masters? *confused*

I always wondered about Swellow and Double Team, I also believe it's the first time Ash has asked one of his pokemon to use it too.

[Golden Darkness]

That music when Pikachu and Swellow are being shocked appeared in Kyogre vs Groudon part 1 when Kyogre escaped. But I haven't heard it in any previous episodes before.

It's actually from the 6th movie, played during the scene when Ash and co try to run from the false Groudon. Oddly, it's not included on the 6th movie OST.

Other songs played included the song when Flygon saved Ash and Max from the false Groudon, and the water canal chase scene music from the 5th movie.

[ChronoAzn]

Thanks for the clarification Golden, I knew the music sounded a little familiar.

And in the anime type difference doesn't matter(quick attacks and aerial ace being effective on rock types) and speed is a big factor, which is probably why the writers made Ash choose Pikachu and Swellow. Hopefully when Ash makes it to the Hoenn league, Torkoal and Snorunt/Glalie will by used in most battles.

[RaikousThunder]

It seemed like an ok ep. The golden super charge thing was cool yet stupid. I'm so sick of Ash using his little rat all the time. Use another pokemon. He always has to have Pikachu show off. Every episode its Pikachu use Thunderbolt, Pikachu use Thunder. And no matter what he always has to blast Team Rocket off. No other pokemon is allowed to do it. Its like his job to blast them off. And we all know Pikachu will be the star in his next gym since its a Water gym. He will probably use Pikachu, Grovyle and possibly Swellow. I cant see him using Torkoal for obvious reasons. I dont think thed put Corphish up against strong Water pokemon. I don know about him using Snowrunt in a Water battle. Anyway eve if i didnt like the ep i cant wait to see it on tv.

[~May~]

Isn't this episode the first time Ash has EVER used double team (with swellow)? I know I've been dying to see him use double team since I started watching the show, and I've never seen any of his pokemon (or any pokemon he was temporarily commanding) use it. I know it annoyed the heck out of me, because he was at a disadvantage so often when pokemon like scyther (in "Getting the Bugs Out") would use it. It's ABOUT TIME!!!

well actually he used double team with pikachu...don't remember when but he did....

[Heracross]

This episode was ok, but not that great. The battle was pretty dissappointing. Not only did I not like the whole golden power-up thing, I found it odd that Swellow and Pikachu kept taking direct hits from Solrock and Lunatone's attacks and coming back without a scratch. Pikachu (as well as Swellow) got slammed into a cliff and smashed solid rock with it's body, you'd think that would KO the poor thing instantly. Overall I think this could possibly be the worst Gym episode I've ever seen. The concept of the double battle and all was very interesting, but it just wasn't done very well IMO, although I must say Liza was really cute so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

[Pokeballs]

I thought the golden power up was strange but cool and different for the series ^^

and why don't ppo think he'll use pokemon w/ a disadvantage in the next gym (torkoal), you must've seen pretty much every gym battle Ash has ever been in

[Chris]

That last attack was a ripoff of G Gundum.

Oh yes, because we all know G Gundam was the first thing to ever involve a fighter turning entirely gold and being powered up greatly. e_e If anything, this is a change in the Golden Warrior tale that goes around Japan. Instead of a Warrior, these are Pokémon. >_>

I really don't see what's everyone's obsession with using Corphish and Grovyle. I've mentioned it about a thousand times. Neither one can touch Solrock or Lunatone as long as they can fly. Their ranged attacks (Bullet Seed and Bubblebeam) are both limited in how far they can reach. Corphish isn't exactly fast and is weak against Solrock's Solarbeam. Grovyle may have speed, but if Lunatone and Solrock can avoid it, a simple Ice Beam would slow Grovyle down tremendously. Pikachu and Swellow were the best choices he could make against Psychic-types that can fly. They both had speed and power. Type advantage doesn't always matter in the anime like it does in the games. As long as the Pokémon is well trained and can handle things properly, it can overcome them (ala Swellow being able to handle electric attacks since it was a Taillow).