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Pokemon Journeys Episode 48. Let’s review:

1. I’m honestly confused on why Ash and Goh didn’t bring Dragonite and Greedent with them to Unova. Greedent was the mon responsible for getting them the all-you-can-eat pass and while Dragonite lost, they still helped out as much as they could, so where’s the credit?

2. That Pretty-Much Pikachu / Hikachu mech was Tails Doll level creepy in its inactive state. Eugh. And the fact that it can behave pretty sentiently when active honestly does not help matters.

3. This is an issue for the entire episode, but why is Cinderace trying so hard to be friends with Lucario? While it’s appreciated that he’s actually trying to bond with a Pokemon that isn’t smaller than two feet, with how much he’s putting into in making friends with Lucario, it just seems..... forced in order to establish the comedic theme for this episode. It especially doesn’t help that this is actually the first time Lucario and Cinderace have interacted in a non-battle manner, which makes this whole plot point come out of nowhere.

If they’re trying to establish the two as future rivals, then that shouldn’t work either because of their trainer’s different goals and the fact that if Cinderace ever tried to take on Lucario in a no-holds-barred battle with their trainers without any plot-induced stupidity, Cinderace would get absolutely bodied. Lucario has already done so much more impressive things than Cinderace, that in a fighting sense, it wouldn’t be a contest. Not to mention, Goh’s goal is about catching while Ash’s is about battling, but why set this up if Goh and his Pokemon are somehow just as strong as Ash? It doesn’t make sense and, like I said in an anon ask, it ruins the power balance of the show.

4. And here’s a problem I have specifically for Lucario: Why is he now suddenly acting like he’s too good for anything? Now only is this hinted in the new opening where Dragonite basically has to force him to appear on-screen, but in the episode proper, when Ash offers him a snack, he just coldly stares off. Ummm, why? He has no qualms following Ash’s directions in battle, they never had a previous spate to warrant this behavior from Lucario, Lucario showed no hesitation to cheer with his friends after defeating Eternatus, and he was completely loyal to Ash as a Riolu both inside and OUTSIDE of battles to the point he was basically a 2nd Pikachu.

If they’re trying to make him a stern and stoic type, that would be cliche because we’ve already had those Lucarios with Sir Aaron, Maylene, Ryley, and Korrina in the past. It wouldn’t be original or anything, it would be completely boring. Heck, as much as it pains me to say this, freaking CAMERON’s Lucario had more personality than this! Plus, the anime has established that baby Pokemon usually take more of their trainers after hatching, and since Lucario showcased more of that as a Riolu, it honestly feels like his character is taking a step back in development, it especially doesn’t help that we JUST had the whole “stoic-guy develops more” stuff with Raboot. Writers, DON’T reuse past elements. Try new things!

5. While the snacks Ash and Goh get do look good, it honestly would’ve been cooler if they got snacks pertaining more to the signature of Iris and Cilan as a little callback to the Best Wishes series, like maybe an Axew Chocolate figure or a Mint Pansage treat. The anime did one with Dawn and Brock with the Piplup and Croagunk episode, so why not here?

6. Also Goh only prefers plain vanilla and that’s just too relatable to me cause I love vanilla.

7. Another issue with the overall episode, but Unova just seems so dead. There are no additional people or Pokemon at the park nor at the city. This is a problem because, not only is it important to keep your worlds alive, but this is UNOVA we’re talking about, and it doesn’t help that the episode takes place in the Pokemon World equivalent of New York City.

8. And now Lucario hates getting his fur dirty? When and why??? He had no issue going his fur scorched a billion times over with Eternatus and Mewtwo and this is also a repeat of Lycanroc’s whole thing with getting messy. While I doubt this will become a big development thing that Lycanroc had, it’s just disappointing they’re reusing past gags for Pokemon instead of trying new ones.

9. Apparently Cinderace’s time as a Raboot never made it learn the value of personal space.

10. ANOTHER overall issue with the episode is how choppy the animation is. There are just some parts that look very poorly put together. Examples being Lucario and Cinderace flying around the city and Team Rocket blasting off. It literally just looks like a bunch of different frames grouped together without proper transitioning. C’mon animators, you’re better than that! Literally almost every battle scene we’ve received from this season alone so far is proof of that.

11. I do love the canine-esque sounds Lucario makes throughout the episode, something I don’t believe other Lucarios have done.

12. I really wish episodes like this where it’s the Pokemon with the most focus had either subtitles (like in OG’s Island of Giant Pokemone) or the narrator translating for them (like SM’s Pikachu’s Exciting Adventure). It would be a good way to know their characters more and help build connections. Heck, not even Meowth bothered to translate for TR when Lucario and Cinderace started arguing. Missed opportunity right there.

13. The gag where TR, Lucario, and Cinderace started swinging around the city right behind Ash, Pikachu, and Goh lasted WAY too long.

14. Nice touch of TR’s rental Pokemon of the day being Sawk and Throh.

15. Wait, so it was Cinderace, the lesser experienced of the two who’s owned by the catcher, who thought of the idea of using their glued-together palms to their advantage? Not Lucario, the one who’s been through more battles and owned by the battler? What the what?

16. Defeated by two mons who were on a basic handicap and didn’t had their trainers on their side. Further proof of how absolute jokes Team Rocket are.

17. I’ve said this for past regions, but plump Ash can either be really blessed or really cursed.

18. Hahaha Lucario got dirty again and he’s chasing Cinderace now. Can I please be done with this review now? I can? Cool.

Overall.... yeah this episode wasn’t good imo. Weird animation, forced and/or inconsistent character moments, an environment close to dead, and unfunny gags that lasted longer than they should have. Hecks, not ever TR made me laugh in this episode. I’m seriously hoping they aren’t trying to establish some kind of “ace rivalry” between Lucario and Cinderace. I’ve already discussed this issues and problems with that, so I’m not gonna repeat myself.

Sorry fellow fans, but I gotta score this episode a 3/10 for all the reasons above.

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