#xy059

Thoughts

Considering the content of this episode I guess I should start with a bit of background with how I felt before this came out. When this episode was first announced, it could go without saying that I, like countless other amourshippers, was extremely excited about it. February 5th couldn't come soon enough! I pretty much knew from the beginning that this was not going to be an actual "date" the way we think of a date as, but I figured it would still be a fun episode and tried to keep my hype way down as I enjoyed all the other episodes leading up to it. But as we got closer...the screenshots...and the summary...a-and the prev- and the previ SHE TRIED TO HOLD HIS HAND OH MY JIDFS;OHGIODFSJDSPOJFFJS. I gave in. I went into the episode with too much expectations for my own good.

For an episode that flat out puts Ash and Serena's names in the title, there is very little time with them together based on what was implied. However the times that they were together were still nice for what they were and the rest of the episode was great as well. I really enjoyed a lot of stuff at the ending. All the presents that the characters gave their Pokemon were really sweet and appropriate. I thought Team Rocket having presents prepared ahead of time for their pokemon was really sweet, Serena's mom giving her the dress along with a nice callback to when she was choosing what where with her mom at the beginning of the series was great. And of course the final scene. It's a really touching scene that wraps everything up nicely (get it? wrapping like a present?). The gift Ash gives her already meant a lot on it's own, but it plays even more significance in the next episode, but that's another review.

Extras

-Clemont reading the title card was a nice touch.

-I thought the monorail employees narrating the Pokemon Quiz segment was pretty funny.

-As great as the whole ribbon thing is, the idea of it is kind of silly. You give out a prize to the one millionth customer like it's a big deal and all you give them is a ribbon? If I was Ash that moment I would've been pissed.

-Face of the episode:

Come on. How could I not give it to this? So sad and so adorable at the same time!

-I'm REALLY interested in how the English dub handles this episode.

Closing

Was this episode the episode it was hyped up to be by many? No, not really. Did I still enjoy it for what it was? Yes! I'm really glad this episode is what it is and nothing more. It just leaves for some amour progress to happen later! A lot of people seem to blame the fans' over-hyping the episode for the amount of disappointment some had, but I'd argue the show itself is at fault as well. Although I'm sure it was intentional, some of the promotional material was a bit misleading, but I'm not sure if it really benefited them or not. If this episode were just called "The Vow Tree and the Present" and they didn't give so much away in the previews and straight up lie in the summary amourshippers would've gone NUTS when this episode came out since this all would've been a surprise. No expectations would've been had and people would've enjoyed it that much more. But hey whatever. I still really liked and served an excellent lead in into the next episode. Now THAT will be a fun review to write.

Anyway hope you all liked my first review. Feel free to agree or disagree with anything I said. Would love to hear from you!