"Ash would sweep Leon with his aces."

Muh Articuno.

Muh Darkrai.

Muh Blaze (LMFAO).

Something about Budget cuts I guess

Ash and Torkoal were battling at the absolute peak of their capabilities. Every attack thrown at them that wasn’t with Lock-on was dodged and countered. Torkoal landed numerous super effective hits. Ash had a strategy and response for nearly everything until the end. It just wasn’t enough.

Even though Ash correctly used Iron Defense as his only option against lock-on Zap Cannon, it still did immense damage, with Brock even stating that Iron Defense saved Torkoal from getting one-shot. And even after several flamethrowers, body slams, and a heat wave, Registeel shrugged it off, with Brandon and Brock both stating that Registeel is now “motivated.” All that just to make Registeel “wake up.” And even after Torkoal was wailing on Registeel even more after that, one more Lock-on and Zap Cannon was all it took to eviscerate torkoal.

So even after countless super effective moves, body slams, being caught in a fire sandstorm and smashed into by a body slams inside of it, AND basically launching a zap cannon to its own head and creating a massive explosion, it still only brought Registeel to a knee at the end.

Just crazy.

Ash being more chill and focusing more on life and enjoying himself is a nice development for him. I'd also say it's pretty interesting that in BW he was too far on one end (not focusing on battles enough) while on XY he is too far on the other end (focusing on the next thing too much instead of enjoying the moment).

It's a balance between the two that should be the goal.

Cosplayer:http://xhslink.com/o/924PgmZudH1

They fail to realize meowth is the ONLY pokemon that learned to speak human language and uses it to translate pokespeak to them. Both the duo fail to realize how significant this advantage is.

While many trainers can learn basic pokespeak, meowth translates a 1:1 version of what they are actually saying. Nobody in the world has this. They really need to recognize how good this opportunity can be.

I am NEVER pausing in the middle of an episode again 😭

WHY WAS IT SCRAPPED

For my part, probably Ash vs. Steven or Ash vs. Nando.

Ash vs. Salvador and Ash vs. Gilbert are good and basic.

Ash vs Mandi and Ash vs Faba are hilarious.

Ash vs Trip...I might be one of the few people who doesn't hate Trip. But honestly, just a 1v1... Yeah, nah...

Ash vs Titus...I like Greninja vs. Altaria... And also... Well, nothing else, actually... The rest of the battle happens off-screen, just like the other Kalos League battles.

(Like Ash Could've Evolved his boldore into gigalith or dewott)

Part XXX: Farewell, Unova!

This is the thirtieth part (and very last!) of my rewrite series on the Black and White series of the Pokémon anime. If you missed out on the last entry, go to this post!

This 4-episode arc closes the group's journey throughout Unova, but their adventures are not over!

BW141 Best Wishes Until We Meet Again! (replacement for canon BW141)

Ash, Iris and Cilan are in Juniper’s lab in Nuvema. Juniper confirms Pikachu is perfectly healthy — and dare she say, stronger than ever before. Ash reminisces on the first time she had to examine Pikachu, it feels like it was an eternity ago!

Juniper receives a call from Bianca, who (sporting a new look reminiscent of her BW2 self) lets her know the new trainers from Aspertia have received their starter Pokémon — they look mighty strong! Juniper thanks Bianca, who also asks for her permission to investigate Reversal Mountain — there’s a few readings that caught her eye! Juniper gladly accepts.

As soon as the call ends, the group is surprised by Cedric, who is accompanied by Alexa (the reporter who cameoed in BW134). He’s showing her around as she films the place, and keeps messing up her footage with her already depicted peculiar form of speaking. Alexa says hi to the group again, and explains she’s here to compensate for the fact she missed the Pokémon League final — she’s to leave for her next destination later tomorrow, so she wouldn’t have time to go to Castelia City (where the final will take place now) and return in time to get on the plane.

Alexa explains she’s headed for Kanto next, where she has scheduled an interview with Professor Oak! Ash says he’s also going to return to Kanto, and so they agree on hopping onto the same plane. Iris and Cilan talk about the wonders of Kanto: Iris wants to one day challenge Dragon Masters like Lance, and Cilan talks about the wonderful Celadon City Restaurant! Ash invites them to travel with them, they could even stay at his place!

Cilan however refuses the offer. After the Plasma War, Ingo & Emmet invited him to a train exhibition world tour he’s beyond hyped about, since it will introduce him to many other Train Connoisseurs like him — he has a ton of growth ahead of him!

Iris at first is willing to join Ash and Alexa — after all, it’s likely her Dragonite came all the way from Kanto, where the species is originally from…, but is she truly ready? Ash soon understands what Iris is worried about and tells her to take her time. Iris is well aware she needs to head back to the Village of Dragons to further deepen her bond with her team before becoming a real Dragon Master.

As such, it seems clear this is the group’s last day together. Of course, the scene is heavy at first, particularly as the group’s Pokemon know they must bid each other farewell. They share a last meal outside, all having fun and joking around, with a last few exchanges. Team Rocket shows up and tries to steal Pikachu, but after they fail Cilan invites them over to grab a bite with them. They very hesitantly (and confused) accept because of how hungry they are feeling. Woobat, Yamask and Amoonguss love the company. They of course end up being sent flying away for the last time in the series with a combined attack of all of the gang’s Pokémon (like in canon BW142, but amp it up a little will ya?)

Seeing an opportunity, Alexa figures a farewell battle between three friends is something worth more than any league final she could have ever recorded! The three accept.

In a battlefield right outside the laboratory, Ash’s Pikachu, Iris’ Fraxure and Cilan’s Pansage face off in an all-out fight while all of their Pokémon root for them. It’s an intense exchange that has all of them showcase their impressive growth — Cilan shows beautiful strategies that seem almost contest-inspired, Iris and Fraxure communicate without even speaking, and Ash and Pikachu’s electric attacks are stronger than ever. The fight ends without a winner when Juniper calls them from inside: the finals of the Pokémon League are starting right now!

They all watch on the TV (very much like in DP they watched Flint battle Cynthia), and after a few cool exchanges we see how Virgil’s Sylveon gets the win over Benga’s Volcarona, being crowned the League winner. Sylveon’s victory seeds in Ash the interest of learning more about Kalos.

On the road Ash first met Iris in, Ash, Iris and Cilan say goodbye. Fraxure and Scrafty hug tightly, and the rest of the gang hopes to meet each other soon.

BW142 The Dream Continues! (adapted from canon BW142)

I sure hate canon BW141, how could I not… but canon BW142 is actually great. Like, by far the best episode in the whole season, what can I tell you.

As per usual, forced to make the slightest changes ever.

1. They arrive at Pallet Town in an airplane (same as Ash left)
   
2. Alexa’s Noivern is introduced for the first time instead of being brought back (because I can sure justify Alexa showing off her Helioptile and Gogoat in BW134 and 141, but where do I fit in a Noivern??; but I still want to keep the Professor Oak joke)
   
3. No mention to Oak’s Rotom since we got rid of that episode.
   
4. Ash still has all of his Unova Pokémon in hand — on that note, a quick observation: I don’t think the anime should be too bothered on the strict “carrying 6 Pokémon with you at most” if it’s never a bother; so Ash carrying his 6 Poké Balls plus Pikachu as a companion more so than a Pokémon makes enough sense to me, it’s not like I’m bringing out the logistics of it all.
   
5. The Unova gang meets with the rest of Ash’s Pokémon — Leavanny and Bulbasaur get off to a good start, Darmanitan joins the Tauros horde in their runs, Archeops flies with the regional birds, Oshawott looks at Sceptile’s Leaf Blade in marvel, Buizel tries on Krookodile’s sunglasses, Scrafty headbutts Torkoal’s shell…
   
6. Upon reflecting on his journey, besides Ash’s companions I wouldn’t mind seeing the PNGs of the series’ main rivals too — it’s a very cool scene as-is regardless, but still.
   
7. No Team Rocket one minute scene since we moved that back to BW141.
   
8. In the Team Rocket headquarters scene, we get Giovanni criticizing the group for having failed to procure anything of value from the Plasma confrontation — but at least they didn’t get publicly humiliated like those did! Their conclusion is the same: their Unova Pokémon stay in the headquarters, and Wobbuffet rejoins them.
   
9. In his room, besides his badge case, Ash also places a picture Luke took of he and Herdier when they separated in BW081.

BW143 A Connoisseur and a Doctor to the Rescue! (adapted from canon BWS01 Dent and Takeshi! Gyarados's Imperial Rage!!)

I actually kinda vibe with this special episode. In case you haven’t watched it (after all, it never got dubbed), it’s basically a Cilan + Brock episode taking care of a rampaging Gyarados that is being followed by a Pokémon hunter. Perfect breather if you ask me.

As for minor adjustments, well there’s just the two: specify that Cilan is in Johto because the train exhibition has come to a stop in Goldenrod for a while; and make use of his Tangela in some way – maybe build up the net or something?, I don’t know.

BW144 The Road to Becoming a Dragon Master! (adapted from canon BWS02 Iris VS Ibuki! The Road to Become a Dragon Master!!)

Okay so yet another special that was never dubbed. This one’s even less relevant to the plot since it’s one of those that was aired during the next series’ running, so… anyway.

This one I draw more issue with, not because of the episode per se (although that too), but mainly because it is impossible to justify Iris being in Johto with the new closure we’ve given her — which, may I say, at least doesn’t feel forced af!

So let’s just bring that episode’s elements over to the Village of Dragons’ vicinity. Iris is in the grotto where she first met Excadrill, training along and letting her Pokémon fly free. While at it, Dragonite calls her over — he’s spotted an injured Gible that may require tending to.

Iris runs there, and it so happens the Gible was faking it! The trickster Gible laughs and runs away using Dig. Excadrill tries to take pursuit but ultimately loses its track.

Iris gets back to the Village of Dragons, and there she learns that a wild Gible is digging holes all over! The Elder is not around, who will take care of that? Today is an awful day for this to be happening, since Johto’s Dragon Master Claire is coming over to visit!

Like in canon, Iris at first fails to connect with Gible. She however ultimately gets to him and learns Gible’s litter left without him a few days back. Iris introduces Gible to all of the friends she has in the grotto, and is congratulated by Claire, who has been watching such strong connection and, honestly, kinda envies it!

Claire still has to wait for a few minutes until the Elder returns and so asks Iris for a fight — she just caught a shiny Druddigon and he’s raring to have a good fight.

Okay so, I do not vibe with the canon battle at all because Dragonite reverts once more to his former berserk mode and I think, in this rewrite, we’re way past that point. So instead, make it a shiny Druddigon v. Fraxure fight where the two Pokémon tie.

The Elder then shows up and tells Iris she knew she had it in her, yadda yadda. She is actually carrying Gible in her hands, and says she thinks Gible belongs in Iris’ team for her journeys to come, which will be many. Her road to become a Dragon Master has only just begun.

Updated summary

• Ash's team: Pikachu, Oshawott, Leavanny, Darmanitan, Archeops, Scrafty, Krookodile
• Iris' team: Fraxure, Excadrill, Emolga, Zweilous, Dragonite

• Cilan's team: Pansage, Crustle, Stunfisk, Tangela

• Ash' status in the league: Lost in the Semifinals

• Season progress: 48/48

Deleted episodes: 55 - No new deletions

Many, many thanks to anyone who has taken their time to read all these entries — and especially to u/Latter_Disaster_6066, whose comments have been a great source of motivation!

It has been an incredibly rewarding experience, albeit challenging and time-consuming, and I hope you have found some entertainment in it. Long live Pokémon.

Sending much love

Yours truly,

With Navi join the RVT and Winds & Waves still being a way off, I've realized Horizons could become one of the longest Pokémon anime series since D&P. Think about it, it's already surpassed both B&W and X&Y. And with it reaching 144 episodes next week, it's soon going beat the S&M anime in EP numbers. And Journeys isn't too far either at 148 episodes.

I once made a post discussing how this series could be about 155-165 episodes. But with Navi joining the fray, it could be 170 episodes minimum. There's no way she'd join with like 25 episodes remaining. We have 23 weeks left in the year so even with holiday breaks that's like over 160 episodes. So, for the first time in over 15 years, we're getting a Pokémon anime that's surpasses over 150 episodes.

Overall, it appears Horizons really was in for the long haul. It's been over 3 years since the release of the first episode, and it looks like another we're getting another year at least. Remember, Pokémon games typically release before the anime. And it looks like Winds & Waves is gunning for a September release. And even if another anime does release, it might be a month gap. No way Horizons would end in March, a 6-month gap. But what are your thoughts on Horizons on its way to becoming the longest anime in over a decade?