Double-Time Battle Training! (623)

[CyberCubed]

I wish Jessie won her 4th ribbon here, oh well.

I wonder why they're making such a big deal out of Zoey. She has about the same appearances as Paul does overall.

[Torpoleon]

So, Paul has 8 badges, but he got his 8th from Canalave? When did he go to Sunyshore?

Maybe he went to anime-only gym location like Barry.

As for the episode:

I liked how Paul was revealed to have 8 badges. Isn't ironic that Dawn's main rival, Zoey, has all the ribbons to qualify for the Grand Festival and Dawn only has 4 and now with Ash, Paul has all 8 badges for the Sinnoh League whereas Ash only has 7? Too bad Dawn VS Zoey was short although now Dawn has a strategy she can work on. Maybe we'll see something like what Mamoswine and Cyndaquil when the Asatsuki Contest comes all though it would be better. Nice to see Candice appear as well! (I wonder what Paul said to Rhonda so I can't wait for this episode to be in English.)

[FlameRose]

I haven't seen the episode yet, but I'm curious on why Paul even let Rhonda interview him. Was it explained, by any chance?

[Devastator1]

I

Anime-Leafeon looks terrible. No wonder they waited so long to debut it.

I was thing the same thing. in some scenes a look a bit dried up to me, I think it looks better than glaeon in the games but in the anime theres no comparison. it gets the award for being the ugliest Eevolution

[Charizard Lord]

Actually a pretty decent episode. Here's a few of my favorite parts:

-The battle with Zoey at the beginning was actually pretty cool. Shuckle, especially, was interesting to see in battle.

-Candice's appearance was pretty cool, actually. I like that we're seeing a Gym Leader appear more outside of her battle episodes, and that she's tied into Zoey's character a bit.

-The Paul cameo was appreciated, since we haven't seen him in months.

-Dawn's entire team was present, accounted for, and actually all got some decent training time.

-PIPLUP WAS FROZEN TODAY!

-Cyndaquil and Mamoswine's "Flame-Ice" combo actually looks pretty cool, can't wait to see it used in a Double Performance.

So yeah, I enjoyed this one. I was bothered by the fact that there wasn't much of a BATTLE between Dawn and Zoey, but Kirlia and Leafeon's appearances were decent enough. This pretty much just got my mouth watering to actually see these Pokemon in action, but seeing Dawn come up with an original strategy on screen again was a treat.

[J-boogie200]

I wish Jessie won her 4th ribbon here, oh well.

I wonder why they're making such a big deal out of Zoey. She has about the same appearances as Paul does overall.

And you see how much they've made a big deal out of Paul.

Overall, loved the episode. I love Nozomi/Zoey, so to see her in a contest, and to see her with Kirlia and Lefeon, is just so damn epic!

Zoey is an awesome character, and she's definitely earned my respect, she's one of the only reasons I watch DP, and is my favorite rival of the saga.

To see Candice be her crazy, yet lovable self was awesome.

As for Dawn, it's still clear she has a lot of work to do, but that's what makes her character great, because the writers actually show her work hard, try, and improve. All of her Pokemon looked great.

Surprised Buneary and Mamoswine didn't get showcased together, being they both have some Ice History.

Prays Buneary gets used soon, or at least gets an episode.

IDK, what people are talking about as far as Lefeon's design being off, I think because Zoey has it, and if Zoey gets a Gallade, people will probably be upset that Paul doesn't have one.

Zoey must have pulled a Drew, because she said that it was Kirlia and Lefeon's debut for the Grand Festival, and they must be pretty strong to have taken out Mamoswine and Cyndaquil so quickly.

Paul's appearance was nice, it really foreshadows Ash and Dawn stepping up their game for the last stretch.

Seeing every member of Dawn's team, I'm very curious to know how they all will work together, and begin to flow like the ocean.

This episode also raised the bar, showing more respect for Jessie. She really has passion for this, and if she doesn't make the Grand Festival, I'll be devasted.

I'm not that fond of understanding Japanese. However, this episode marks the 4th time I've heard Dawn and Zoey say that they'll meet in the finals of some sort, and this time, they mentioned the Grand Festival.

If Dawn and Zoey are the Final 2, it definitely is unpredictable, and a full turn around from May's past Grand Festivals.

Besides, Nando isn't all that great, and if he isn't epic the next time we see him, then he really shouldn't have the Grand Festival or League title.

I also loved how Dawn used the wonderful Fire and Ice combo with inspiration for the food Candice introduced. Classic

10/10

[magicallypuzzled]

have to admit i wasn't interested in this at all beofre it aired but it was a good episode for all my misgivinings.

[CyberCubed]

This episode was indeed better than I thought.

I just love Candice. The way she hugged Dawn in the stands just cause her BFF Zoey won the contest was great.

Its nice to see the writers promote lesbian relationships in a mature and sophisticated manner.

[Bliksem]

This episode was indeed better than I thought.

I just love Candice. The way she hugged Dawn in the stands just cause her BFF Zoey won the contest was great.

Its nice to see the writers promote lesbian relationships in a mature and sophisticated manner.

Or they could just have a friendly relationship.

[uber gon]

Who knew food could help creat a contest combo?

[Ragingmaiden]

dawn should train more with these combination attack

electric crystal [pachirisu and mamoswine]
and flame ice [cyndaquil and mamoswine]

as for her piplup...probarly will do the ice pool

[Platinum fan.]

I rewatched this episode this morning and the more I watch the more I seem to enjoy it. It's nice Dawn and her Pokemon team get these little training episode's. I also like how Dawn is a slow learner and that she must take her time to get the hang of thing's. Her development make's up for her lack of a nasty rival.

[Ragingmaiden]

probarly dawn only used mamoswine cyndaqull and pachirisu in next contest as for piplup and mamoswine combination attack about ice shard and whirlpool as the ice pool

[GalacticGrunt006]

Paul got his 8th badge !!!
wow I dint even know Ash did yet.

[firepokemontrainer]

Ash didn't get his 8th badge yet. That should be coming probably in february or march.

[CyberCubed]

Or they could just have a friendly relationship.

I think it was very purposely established that Candice and Zoey are more than just "good friends." People pegged Zoey as a lesbian right from her debut episode, but now with all this Candice stuff, it confirms it for me.

[Geodude]

I don't know, I tend to agree with what Dogasu said on Bulbagarden:

Nozomi and Suzuna are not lesbians.

I can kind of see why people *might* think that. By Western standards, the two do seem to act a lot...closer than regular old friends do.

But in Japan, that kind of thing is very normal. I often see little elementary school / junior high school girls holding hands with each other as they walk down the hall. Both girls and boys sit on each other's laps in between classes. Boys also give each other back massages.

This all pretty much stops by the time kids reach high school. But during elementary school and junior high school, it's quite normal. And nobody accuses these kids for being teh gei.

Nozomi and Suzuna are just acting like typical Japanese girls. It's a cultural difference that gets lost in translation.

[ZangooseLord]

I was expecting an epic battle between Dawn and Zoey in this episode.
I was hoping to see a combination attack between Mamoswine and one of Dawn's other Pokemon (which I kind of got).

Instead, the battle was only a few minutes long, most of it was Cyndaquil and Mamo finding their groove, and the only part that resembled a battle was Kirlia and Leafeon knocking out the two in one hit.

Seriously! Halfway through the episode, I wasn't expecting too much, but surely it could've been better than that! Three minutes? One hit?!

Sorry, but they really could've done a much better job with the battle. Then again, this was meant to help Mamo find its groove in doubles contests, so I could see what they were getting at.

Overall, while this episode wasn't very good, it wasn't all that horrible, either.

[Eevee7ways]

After seeing this episode it makes me wonder why didn't dawn enter this contest or hear about it?

[S.Suikun]

- Oh look another contest zzzzzz OMG ITS SUZUNA!!!
- It's the return of Suzumi - the hot lesbian fusion of Suzuna and Nozomi! (stop ruining our fun, Dogasu )
- Candice: "OMG I love you Hikari!" Dawn: "Don't you already have a lover?" Candice: "Oh yeah, huh?"
- Nice shot of Candice's skirt and nothing but, animators.
- Piplup's booster seat is a hysterical touch. Now, as to why it doesn't have to eat on the ground like other Pokemon, I have no idea.
- Dawn practices lame ice appeals that we've all seen before but still always pass the appeals round.
- Shinji on TV! And in Sinnoh Now HD, which really highlights his eyebrows!
- Candice summons Eddie the Mean Ol' Yeti and the duo engages in their mating dance.
- Loved Piplups' "Charlie Brown" expression when Dawn called on all her other Pokemon instead.
- Leafeon really isn't any uglier than its Sugimori image, which was never that elegant to begin with.
- That was the funniest use of Wobbuffet in years.

Good training episode, although Suzuna was clearly the reason I paid admission price. I'd imagine we'll have a series of sub-plots that involve perfecting this new attack/appeal before the final contest.