In The Shadow of Zekrom (660)

[WaterDragon trainer]

This episode was cool. I must be honest, I do not like the new theme song for Black and White. Nice to see so many new pokemon. I was amazed that they broght back the "Who's That Pokemon?" Besides having the world's worst name, Trip also sounds and acts like Paul

[Cobalt_Latios]

The voices are better than the preview showed, oddly. Juniper doesn't sound like Dawn anymore, but Trip sounds like Barry, and I can't not hear it. The Pokemon's voices are good. Axew isn't annoying.

A more "serious" Barry.

Also, now that I'm "hearing" the dialogue as opposed to "reading" the dialogue, it seems Trip is like a cross between Conway (analyzing things and going "by the book", sort of) and some of Paul (in the "condescending" sort of way).

I thought it was amusing that Ash doesn't think having a Pikachu in Uknowva (Yes, I actually think it sounds somewhat better than "Unuva"... oh well), while Trip is just all over it... not as much as Iris though.

A nice start to a new region. unggghhhh I want to play BW so much right now

Axew didn't sound like I thought he would (I figured it'd be more like Gible), but it's not bad.

No... no... no... That would not have worked well. I like the way it sounds.

I like Trip, even if he does seem a bit elitist. I'm really surprised they let him use "boonies"; it's not something you hear at all much less on children's tv shows. At first I thought maybe he'd be Paul-but-with-a-camera, but he seems to care for his Pokemon (I liked his comment towards Snivy after the battle) and overall have enough differences that I see I was kind of ridiculous in my assumption.

On that note, he seems to be a cross between Paul, Conway and Barry... based on what I can tell. Or hell, Conway and Gary even.

The Who's that Pokemon?! section returning made my day. It's been, sheesh, since Advanced Generation since we've had that? A shame they didn't put in voices, though.

It caught me off guard, yes, but I didn't mind it. I mean, the only reason I liked it was because I could actually get the pronunciation of the Pokemon names that way. But, they didn't add voices, so it's a tad trickier. At least it'll be easier to memorize them now.


Also, I don't know why, but Iris sounds like a cross between Candice and Lyra in terms of voice.

And finally, serious Team Rocket... with the old voices? :/ This could take some getting used to. At least it's good to know that they'll have better exploits that truly demonstrate the change they've taken.

That, or maybe it's because I'm so used to hearing the Jap voices for them in the serious tone that I associate it more with that... I don't know.

Overall... (Unuva, it flows better than Uknowva, but it sounds "lazy". Oh, nevermind then, it's perfect )

/CL

[_Taidow_]

Trip has something from every rival.
Gary: Arrogance
Barry: Voice
Paul: Attitude
Conway: Analyst

[The Eleventh]

And finally, serious Team Rocket... with the old voices? :/ This could take some getting used to. At least it's good to know that they'll have better exploits that truly demonstrate the change they've taken.

Team Rocket's old voice actors are back? O.o
Or do they just sound like they used to sound?

[firepokemontrainer]

Team Rocket's voices are the same from the end of Sinnoh Victors. That's what Cobalt_Latios meant.

[G4Pokefan]

I must say, I was pretty excited to see these 2 new episodes of the new series! I actually wanted to stock up on my favorite food and drink and watch it.

-First let me get this out the way: I was hoping the VAs would change for this. But i should've known better. Like Oak's, Delia's, and Team Rocket.
-I like how much screentime Oak and Delia are getting seeing as they haven't been seen in ages.
-I liked Ash's enthusiasm about seeing a whole new region and all new Pokemon. I actually understand why Ash would think that a Pikachu in Unova isn't that big a deal 'cuz he's been with him for practically 15 years. Yet he's still 10. (GTFOH)
-Seeing Zekrom was kind of a "wow" to me. Never in all the years of the anime has the main legendaries appeared in the very first episode. (Well, I guess Ho-oh counts but was introduced in the 2nd gen)
-Trip! I like that name! Definitely urban for an urban region like Unova. He seems ok to me.
-The Pokemon starter voices was okay especially Oshawatts. I really hope that they put some uniqueness into these voices this time around.
-Team Rocket. ACTUALLY didn't annoy me in the first 2 eps. I'm loving it! But how i wish the original VAs from the first season could take over this time around. I don't mean Maddie B. (R.I.P) I mean the very first Meowth VA before Maddie took over. He would be perfect for new TR.
-I also like how Giovanni's VA is back and that he's going put in alot of appearences this time around. No more dream sequence Giovanni!

I'm giving this a 9/10 Great start to a new gen. I'm actually looking forward to future eps and the games themselves which really surprises me that the new series is already starting and the games haven't come out yet until next month. They usually tie in within a week or two.

I'm really liking this new gen so far. Makes me wish I could change my user name from G4Pokefan to G5Pokefan. Because I wasn't a fan of the 4th gen that much anyway.

[Lucario770]

Liked the episode. Trip wasn't very nice to Ash, but he isn't a jerk to his pokemon like Paul. And Team Rocket was cool, and *Gasp* serious.

[Orton155]

Ok, lets start at the beginning with the opening which at first sounded awful the first time I listened to it but on a second attempt I really enjoyed it. Maybe because it has a similar rhythm to sinnoh league victors which grew on me in exactly the same why and I should think it will grow in the same way for some of you guys. What I really wanted to comment about on the opening was the words I think they really suit and there are some clever lines too . Gamefreak wasn't kidding when they were doing a totally new start, they have invaded the anime too :S.

The episode I see less of an opening and more of a transition episode, at least the first half of it anyway. I thought it was nice to see the travelling from kanto to sinnoh and as mentioned before the flight number was a good reference. The rest of the episode was good overall with Zekrom and the visit to Juniper's lab. The only bit that really frustrated me was the battle. Even though I could understand why pikachu lost I was really frustrated it lost in the way it did, infact it should not have lost at all.

My final comment is on trip. As a character he is very niave, not particularly streetwise (so to speak) and everything is by the book. The boonie reference was interesting but was it a reference to just pallet town or generally the other four regions in general as we know those are linked by boat routes as Unova is accessed by Boat-plane. Nonetheless, I find Trip a symbol for the west/east divide in our lives. There is a general feeling in our world where we look down on the eastern world and we deem them inferior (even though this is gradually dying out due to the west and east getting closer and closer) which I think is quite clever.

Overall, I quite enjoyed the transistion episode.

------

WARNING: Please do not take the statement I am about to tell seriously. You have been warned.

Oh my word. Already, Tobias' newly captured Zekrom of the Unova region has taken revenge on the pest of the pikachu which brought down his precious Latios in the Sinnoh League. However, has Tobias returned with his Zekrom a second time to finish off the job?

[Cobalt_Latios]

Liked the episode. Trip wasn't very nice to Ash, but he isn't a jerk to his pokemon like Paul. And Team Rocket was cool, and *Gasp* serious.

Just wait till episode 7 hits. Then you'll see something that has hardly ever happened before. And then it becomes consistent.

Like I've mentioned before, I was very excited for Black and White for specifically this reason.

/CL

[locomo]

Thats the basics

I dont like team rocket being so serious... i really really liked them goofing off and like going phyco...

im glad the voice actors where kept, it wouldve been hard for me to adjust with new voices.... was ash's voice actor kept as well?

[the1stpkmnfan]

Higlight of the premiere: Who's That Pokemon? is making a comeback. Fully surprised.

IT'S PIDOVE! Omg, I'm so glad that the episodes are flowing very well, along with this awesome side game of the show.

The opening theme song was amazing. The tune and sound of it was real catchy; I'll need to go listen to it again. I dont like the opening itself though; the 3D models and no anime clips are kind of meh to me. Hopefully they change this in Season 15 and onward.

I loved the whole episode to it's potential; this was so much better than the DP premiere by far, and I was growing excited after each minute.

Jessie and James' new Black TR outfits are super uber awesome in Black, and more Giovanni! I like how Team Rocket is working well, while not taking time from the show for sidewalk humor. I look forward to the rest of their BW appearances.

Iris and Axew are awesome as well; so I look forward to having them in the gang from now on.

Trip is pretty cool too, and I'm glad he starts off different in the series than Paul. He may be cocky, but he sounds like a interesting rival later on.

Wonderful first two episodes so far, I really cant wait for next weeks episode. SO AMAZING.

[A_Merry_Snowrunt]

the backgrounds in the episode were simply beautifully put. Also, I recognized most of the actors and secondly you'll never guess who Prof. Juniper is voiced as; Khristine Hvam. She also voiced Alice from the Darkrai film and Francesca in "The Bells Are Singing!"

Barry > Trip
Dawn > Nurse Joy ( says bulbapedia ) and Giovanni's secretary
Iris > Jupiter ( mind blown ) , Lyra (obvious), and Zorua.

[garfield15]

Barry > Trip

NO WAY? That's the same voice? I never even would have guessed.

[Cobalt_Latios]

the backgrounds in the episode were simply beautifully put. Also, I recognized most of the actors and secondly you'll never guess who Prof. Juniper is voiced as; Khristine Hvam. She also voiced Alice from the Darkrai film and Francesca in "The Bells Are Singing!"

Barry > Trip
Dawn > Nurse Joy ( says bulbapedia ) and Giovanni's secretary
Iris > Jupiter ( mind blown ) , Lyra (obvious), and Zorua.

Hmm... I thought Alice sounded more like Dawn, so I thought it was her too. Guess not.

Eileen Stevens is Iris's VA, whoever told me it was Colleen O'Shaughnessey who voiced Zorua, I have a bone to pick with you...

So that leaves us with Emily Bauer/Jeness for the new Nurse Joy/Giovanni's Secretary.

Wow, talk about a new roster this time around.

edit:

NO WAY? That's the same voice? I never even would have guessed.

It's subtle, but that may be because this character is more "down to earth" than Barry.

/CL

[fenris91]

--I REALLY like the new theme song, but what's up with soft ballads two seasons in a row? (This new one more on the pop/rock side)

--Team Rocket being serious is a disconcerting change. But their earnestness in actually being of use to Giovanni is notable. I hope they don't get the idea that they've always been like this though!! Also, Meowth realizing he's a foreign Pokemon was cute. I'd be like "If anyone asks, I'm a local!! Really!"

--Iris is warm, likable and slightly tougher than I thought she'd be. Of course, knowing who she is in the game I shouldn't be surprised. I wonder why she's all the way out near the starter village? Does she have an annoying home life like Misty and Brock initially? I'm really curious!

--Trip reminds me of this old wives tale of a certain guy who in the pre-digital era took all kinds of obsessive pictures in Venice. When asked if he had any fun he said "I can't wait to go home just to see all the wonderful sights I took in!" He seems flippant, but it feels more of an actual disconnect on his own situation than any sort of true meanness. I guess it's odd that he's not terribly excited about the entire affair and even lacking any brutal ambition that Paul had.

--The "family dinner" with Ash, Oak, and Delia was noted. If I were Ash I'd ask why Prof. Oak feels the need to hang out with my mom so much.

--Ash (or more precisely Pikachu) being the hot new thing on the block was quite refreshing. As was the "He's just my friend" stance Ash took on the whole thing.

--Who's That Pokemon was the true mega shock of this outing!

--At the end, if I were Ash I'd be wondering if Professor Juniper knows if she's down one Pokemon or not.

[Profesco]

Okay. The english dub was good. The voices are all pretty fine. Still can't stand Oak's voice, and Ash's voice is just not as good as it was with Veronica, but Ash does indeed sound a tiny bit better to me. Iris is nice. Trip sounds older than 10, and if "That's basic" becomes a catchphrase, it'll wear out its welcome pretty fast. Still a disappointingly unbelievable battle between Pikachu and Snivy, but seeing Trip half-compliment Snivy at the end was wonderful (especially since Snivy's looking-backwards pose was adorable).

Also, the animation seemed brighter, cleaner, and more expressive than DP did. That might be the effect of brand-new-series-itis, but I liked it.

[uncutpokemon]

Not sure why people are so harsh on the new opening, I'm actually ok with it seeing as it's a nice short song, and it doesn't make me feel embarrassed about watching the show. ok first off BGM is all intact keep it up guys. and holy they brought back the who's that pokemon bit (though I find it odd that when revealing the pokemon we don't hear it making its cry), I haven't been this pleasantly surprised since Vegeta yelled the OVER 9000 line on the tv dub of Kai. I'm very pleased with the dub, keep it up guys that are in every way superior to 4kids!

[Aquanova]

Im really impressed with the dub episode, I thought it was good. Really good dubbing i daresy it

[Braviator]

Agreed. Trip's "That's basic" will get annoying really quick. He said it three times!

- "And here are your Pokeballs. You can carry up to six Pokemon around with you." "Yeah that's basic."
- "Goin' for Gym battles?" "That's basic."
- "I think you two had better start over with the basics!"

This is gonna get old.

[Articuno_rocks]

Agreed. Trip's "That's basic" will get annoying really quick. He said it three times!

- "And here are your Pokeballs. You can carry up to six Pokemon around with you." "Yeah that's basic."
- "Goin' for Gym battles?" "That's basic."
- "I think you two had better start over with the basics!"

This is gonna get old.

I think Trip's "basic" and "boonie" will become as annoying as Paul's "pathetic."

Loved this episode! I really like how they made Pikachu's Iron Tail made of iron. When the "Who's That Pokemon" part came, I almost screamed, "IT'S PIDOVE!" I was so joyful that the "Who's That Pokemon" part came back. Unfortunately, I ended up pronouncing Pidove's name wrong.

I <3 the new song; its style is different in a new way, with coolish 3-D Pokemon!