The Battle According to Lenora (674)

[WaterDragon trainer]

I kinda liked this episode. I was a bit surprised at Ash losing, but I guess you can't win them all. Lenora was an interesting character.

[Littlemyuu]

Lenora is a good Normal type trainer, her Pokemon are awesome!

[fenris91]

Ash losing this battle doesn't befit the fact that everyone knows more over the years now. (Team Rocket, anyone?)

All I know is I beat Lenora with one Throh. If you can survive the initial Retaliate you pretty much got an even match. (Retaliate really is no joke though!)

[Lance The Champ]

Lenora's strategy was excellent but Ash with all his experience should not have been overwhelmed by it...

[Darkmagiciangirl]

Lenora's roar and mean look combination was a excellent strategy, and using normal types in such a superb way...you can't really blame Ash for being caught off-gaurd.
Team rocket stealing that meteorite and replacing it with a dummy was actually succesful in a sweet way...but where are the real dummies? ^^

[BurningSociety12345543210]

I didn't think Ash would win this battle. Not because of Mean Look and Roar, but mostly because Oshawott wasn't strong enough to beat a fully evolved pokemon that knew Thunderbolt just yet, and Tepig only knew two attacks. Good thing Ash is training them now.     Spoiler:- spoiler:

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Although he's started to do it WAY too much now.
 

7/10

[ForgottenPearl]

I’m usually not very big on the gym battle episodes, but I enjoyed this one a lot.

Let’s see... I thought it was neat how Lenora psychoanalyzes people based on how they interact with books (“She’s got your number!” Iris told Ash). I also like how the anime retained part of the whole book puzzle thing from the games. I also like how she referred to Cilan as “Connoisseur Boy.” I might have to start using that nickname for him.

Lillipup was so cute: I’d act just like Iris around it. But I liked how it got all tough as soon as the battle started. And Oshawott was funny upon being forced out of his ball. Although Iris and Connoisseur Boy did a little too much narrating, I liked how the anime really got into Lenora’s clever strategies. It was an interesting battle overall. And I have a funny feeling that somebody’s gonna evolve during the rematch.

And I’m kinda glad Ash lost... Lenora’s the only BW Gym Leader that kicked my fanny up and down the street the first time I battled her, so I’m glad I’m not the only one. Like Ash, I also had to regroup and rethink my strategy. It was touching how Ash blamed himself for the loss... But it was kinda weird that he got so emotional over that, but didn’t care when Trip gave him a good whippin’.

Oh, and I’ve always considered myself a Pokeshipper, but I must admit a part of me likes Negaishipping too. Iris holding Ash during that one scene, Iris telling Ash to go for it when the battle started, Iris concerned about Ash afterwards... A part of me really liked all that. Hmm.

Anyway, great episode... most of the BW episodes have been great. Still playing catch up, but it's fun.

[wobbanut]

I've never been that fond of using normal pokemon that aren't flying, but Lenora makes a great case for them in her gym episodes, pointing out that they have no natural weaknesses. I really liked her. Apart from Cilan, she's been my favorite Unova gym leader. Too bad Ash got his butt whipped so thoroughly, though.

It's also bittersweet to think that this would be the end of Team Rocket's astounding 672-episode (leaving out Japan's first unaired episode) attendance streak. I don't mind them not being in every episode, though it was weird at first, but I don't like when they have long absences, like at the start of season 15.

7/10

[BurningSociety12345543210]

Lenora points out that Normal types have no natural weaknesses.

-Fighting
-Steel
-Rock

Good job Lenora.

Aside from that, it was obvious and made sense that Ash would lose here. However I thought it was very cheap that Lenora was allowed to switch pokemon when no other gym leader has that luxury.