XY75 'Three-Match Rival Battle! Towards the Future!!'

This episode was kind of all over the place. It was clear that they wanted to accomplish 3 things: 1) new Showcase in Dendemille for Serena and establishing it as the next traveling goal, 2) the splitting up of Scottie from the Ash & Co team, and 3) Scottie's Treeko. However, they couldn't think of a way to make that take up a full 20 minutes, so we have the kind of weird and short first section with Team Rocket picking up the journal and that abbreviated battle, then the latter half is where everything else happens. So kind of 2 short half-episodes rather than 1 full one.

I really wish I knew what Scottie said to Team Rocket about their dreams/thoughts about Steven. If this weren't a kid's show, I'd think he might have told them that Steven is gay and that's why Jessie's dream of marrying him was shattered. :p My Japanese isn't really good enough to tell what James's thoughts were about.

Also, in terms of next episode, I'm pretty sure Ash is going to end up with Noibat, adding a 3rd flyer onto his team. It would probably have been better ending up in Serena's hands, but it seems like she'll be getting an Eevee soon, so I guess I can't complain. :p
 
It sounds like a good episode... I just wish they had had Slurpuff use a move it can actually learn, rather than Electro Ball.
 
Yeah it seems to me too that Noibat will end up with Ash, especially following Goodra's release. I think in a way it's sad to see that dragons have fallen so low. I mean for YEARS Ash would never have caught a dragon because they were so strong but the fairy type changed all that. I mean, look at the very rarely featured Gible as compared to the rapid evolution of Goodra. It'll be interesting to see what path they take with Noibat. Now if only Ash would catch a Skiddo, it's odd to see him not have a grass type.

As for Serena, I'm also glad to see her catch another Pokémon. I kind of hope it eventually evolves into Sylveon, or she catches a fairy type of her own.

Yeah, it is odd that Slurpuff uses Electroball here. On the other hand, maybe this is a preview of what Slurpuff can learn in X2Y2/Z via Move Tutor...or just because they could for the anime. As it stands now Energyball would have been better.

I think it would be neat to see Scottie again, have a rematch between the two. Sometime in between Grovyle became Sceptile and then during the fight Frogadier can become Greninja. That would actually be kind of neat considering how this battle went.

Jesse's dreams of marrying Steven could also have been shattered because he's already married too. We just don't know. Of course if this weren't a kids show Team Rocket could be a real villainous team, far surpassing even their brief evil stint in Hoenn in BW, rather than the clowns they are now.
 
Now that I've read summaries from people who either know Japanese or watched the fansubs, the little TR subplot was based around the fact that they thought the journal belonged to Steven because of the picture and they were imagining that they could return the journal to him for some kind of reward, and of course Jessie blew it even more overboard with hopes that their meeting would turn into true love and marriage. Their dreams were shattered because Scottie told them the journal was his and not Steven's. Mystery solved!

Usually it's pretty easy to tell what's going on based on context and the little Japanese that I do know, but some stuff like that is just a bit much for me. :p I never would have guessed that their reaction was what it was because, logically, they picked up that journal so fast that they must have seen that it was Scottie who dropped it. Besides, who keeps a picture of themselves in their own journal, anyway? :p So language knowledge would have been really useful there.
 
Possibly I had forgotten that Phantump/Trevenant was also grass type, but no main character has truly trained a ghost Pokémon in all of this time and I don't necessarily see that changing now. Just as no main character has had a psychic type since Misty (and Starmie barely counted honestly) and no main character has captured a steel type during their tenure in the group (Brock didn't get Steelix until after he had left) and to date no trainer has caught a fairy type except Dedenne who isn't really a battler and has really been more showcased as electric though I'd like to see Serena change that, either with Eevee evolving into Sylveon or capturing something fairy type, I would think Spritzee. On top of that, if they want to give Ash a ghost type I truly think that Honedge/Doublade/Aegislash (yes I want that full line) would be better, his first steel and his first ghost type.

Haunter way back in the first season doesn't count as a ghost capture because Ash didn't truly capture it.

Skiddo/Gogoat on the other hand is just grass and doesn't face that little quandary. Also for what it's worth, when Ash saw Alexis's Gogoat he did say he wanted one though of course that means very little.
 
Pikachu6319 said:
Possibly I had forgotten that Phantump/Trevenant was also grass type, but no main character has truly trained a ghost Pokémon in all of this time and I don't necessarily see that changing now. Just as no main character has had a psychic type since Misty (and Starmie barely counted honestly) and no main character has captured a steel type during their tenure in the group (Brock didn't get Steelix until after he had left) and to date no trainer has caught a fairy type except Dedenne who isn't really a battler and has really been more showcased as electric though I'd like to see Serena change that, either with Eevee evolving into Sylveon or capturing something fairy type, I would think Spritzee. On top of that, if they want to give Ash a ghost type I truly think that Honedge/Doublade/Aegislash (yes I want that full line) would be better, his first steel and his first ghost type.

Haunter way back in the first season doesn't count as a ghost capture because Ash didn't truly capture it.

Skiddo/Gogoat on the other hand is just grass and doesn't face that little quandary. Also for what it's worth, when Ash saw Alexis's Gogoat he did say he wanted one though of course that means very little.
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That's not entirely true. No main protagonist has ever trained a Ghost-type, but Jessie and James count as main characters, do they not? James had Yamask, and Jessie has Pumpkaboo. Same with Psychic-types- Jessie had Woobat, and James has Inkay. And you're outright wrong about the Steel-types, I'm afraid- remember Forretress? The lack of Fairy-types is more forgivable, given the type's relative newness. Though to be fair, before the Fairy type was a thing, Misty had Togetic and Azurill, Dawn had Togekiss, Tracey had Marill, and James had Mime Jr.

As for Serena's Eevee, I'm actually in favor of it evolving into Umbreon. It was shown playing underneath the moon at night, and while that could be hinting at Sylveon, it's just as possible it was hinting at Umbreon. Plus, if it becomes Umbreon, then that'll allow her Pancham to evolve into Pangoro, and I think there's definite potential there, in having Serena and Pangoro having to work on a whole new approach to Showcases to compensate for its larger size. I did always want Serena to catch a Swirlix, personally, but due to two separate rivals owning Slurpuff, I'm forced to admit that that may just not be happening.

And finally, it's true that no main protagonist has owned a Ghost-type (unless you count Haunter, which few people do), but there's a first time for everything. For the longest time, Dragon-types were off-limits for main characters, and then suddenly Ash gets Gible, Goodra, and now a Noibat, to say nothing of Iris. And for a long time, Dark-types were off-limits for main characters, and then Ash gets Scraggy and Krookodile. Maybe this is when he finally gets himself a Ghost-type. And I'm not so sure about the Honedge line. It's very cool, no question, but I'm just not sure I could see Ash with one of those.
 
It's true I did forget about Forretress, that is my bad. Stupid oversight on my part.

Team Rocket are main characters granted, I should have actually used your wording of protagonists, while they are (pathetic in my mind) antagonists. That is the reason I personally do not count them. Furthermore even if I did count them Mime Jr. was psychic in type as Starmie but wasn't really showcased that I remember. Don't forget in that vein though that James also had a Chimecho. I find it ironic though that the antagonists have had more psychic types on their roster than the protagonists, not that it did them any good.

I don't count Togetic, Azurill, Marill, or Togekiss. Are they fairy types? Yes...now. As you pointed out when Tracey, Misty and Dawn were protagonists those Pokemon didn't have the fairy classification. Also since it is highly unlikely we'll ever see any of the three again it seems to have no bearing on the here and now. Nothing in those past episodes will ever reference those four Pokémon as fairy types. That is the reason I also wouldn't count Mime Jr. even if I counted Team Rocket.

It's because I hope Serena's Pancham will eventually evolve into Pangoro that I would prefer her Eevee not evolve into Umbreon. Like most of the girls in the protagonist group she is likely to never have a full team, why waste space with two Pokémon with the same type? You're right it would be interesting to see Serena work with Pokémon bigger than her, though if Braixen evolves to Delphox we might see that none the less and a protagonist would have a main roster psychic type. I almost think though that Ash should catch a Swirlix (which could evolve into Slurpuff later and give him his first fairy type) with a personality that is the exact opposite of how one would expect it to act despite its looks.

I agree there is a first time for everything. Ash did catch Gible before Iris was a protagonist, never mind Goodra and Noibat. Also true about dark types, although Scraggy did so little that it really doesn't matter there but I can completely go with Krookodile. I can see Ash with the Aegislash line as easily as the Trevenant line, perhaps more so. To each their own though in that regard. For all we know this could be the first time were Ash doesn't have a grass type in addition to continuing the no ghost trend.

I guess all we can really do is wait and see what happens.
 
Pikachu6319 said:
It's true I did forget about Forretress, that is my bad. Stupid oversight on my part.
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It happens, don't worry about it. :) Hell, I did that myself in forgetting to mention James's Chimecho.

Pikachu6319 said:
Team Rocket are main characters granted, I should have actually used your wording of protagonists, while they are (pathetic in my mind) antagonists. That is the reason I personally do not count them. Furthermore even if I did count them Mime Jr. was psychic in type as Starmie but wasn't really showcased that I remember. Don't forget in that vein though that James also had a Chimecho. I find it ironic though that the antagonists have had more psychic types on their roster than the protagonists, not that it did them any good.
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Alright, fair enough.

Pikachu6319 said:
I don't count Togetic, Azurill, Marill, or Togekiss. Are they fairy types? Yes...now. As you pointed out when Tracey, Misty and Dawn were protagonists those Pokemon didn't have the fairy classification. Also since it is highly unlikely we'll ever see any of the three again it seems to have no bearing on the here and now. Nothing in those past episodes will ever reference those four Pokémon as fairy types. That is the reason I also wouldn't count Mime Jr. even if I counted Team Rocket.
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True, yeah.

Pikachu6319 said:
It's because I hope Serena's Pancham will eventually evolve into Pangoro that I would prefer her Eevee not evolve into Umbreon. Like most of the girls in the protagonist group she is likely to never have a full team, why waste space with two Pokémon with the same type? You're right it would be interesting to see Serena work with Pokémon bigger than her, though if Braixen evolves to Delphox we might see that none the less and a protagonist would have a main roster psychic type. I almost think though that Ash should catch a Swirlix (which could evolve into Slurpuff later and give him his first fairy type) with a personality that is the exact opposite of how one would expect it to act despite its looks.
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Ordinarily I'd agree with that, but there is Pancham's unique evolution requirement to keep in mind. If it's going to evolve, Serena's gonna need another Dark-type. And I like your idea for Ash with a Slurpuff. If he wasn't about to catch a Noibat and still not have a Grass-type, I might be guessing that for his next Pokémon.

Pikachu6319 said:
I agree there is a first time for everything. Ash did catch Gible before Iris was a protagonist, never mind Goodra and Noibat. Also true about dark types, although Scraggy did so little that it really doesn't matter there but I can completely go with Krookodile. I can see Ash with the Aegislash line as easily as the Trevenant line, perhaps more so. To each their own though in that regard. For all we know this could be the first time were Ash doesn't have a grass type in addition to continuing the no ghost trend.

I guess all we can really do is wait and see what happens.
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That could be. It's already the first time Ash hasn't been the one to get the Grass starter (which disappointed me, since I really like Chespin, and I'd want it to at least have a chance at showing up again), so who knows?

Athena said:
Yeah, that really did seem kind of off. :p You'd think they could have at least used Energy Ball or something.
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I know, right? And it's not even as though Slurpuff's movepool is lacking that much, either. It's got Energy Ball, it's got Play Rough and Dazzling Gleam, it's got Flamethrower, it's got Surf- hell, they could've had it use Thunderbolt, an Electric move it actually can use! And this is hardly the first time they've screwed up with moves in recent episodes, either- remember Gulpin's Water Gun, and Treecko's Razor Leaf?
 
I'd forgotten that Pancham needs that to evolve at least in game. But to what extent in the anime? Could another team mates dark type being around (*Greninja, cough*) be enough to precipitate it? Of course currently no one she travels with has a dark type Pokémon. How about just fighting against a dark type Pokémon? Does this requirement even hold true in the anime? I suppose only time will tell us that one.

There is a difference though between Ash not getting a grass starter and Ash not getting a grass type at all. Though until this generation he had always gotten the grass starter (Bulbasaur, Chikorita/Bayleef, Treecko/Grovyle/Sceptile, Turtwing/Grotle/Torterra, and Snivy). We now know short of an unlikely trade or a rare duplication among protagonist Pokémon he won't have Chespin (note May and Ash both have had a Bulbasaur and a Squirtle while Ash and Dawn both have a Quilava so while unlikely it's not out of the question) but another grass type is always an option as it was in the past with non starters of the same type such as Ash getting Torkoal because May had Torchic/Combusken/Blaziken.
 
Pikachu6319 said:
I'd forgotten that Pancham needs that to evolve at least in game. But to what extent in the anime? Could another team mates dark type being around (*Greninja, cough*) be enough to precipitate it? Of course currently no one she travels with has a dark type Pokémon. How about just fighting against a dark type Pokémon? Does this requirement even hold true in the anime? I suppose only time will tell us that one.
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That's not a bad point- they could take that kind of liberty with Pancham's evolution, just make it work for any Dark-type any of the protagonists have on them. And given Greninja's popularity, I highly doubt Ash's Frogadier will stay in that stage forever, so it could easily work that way. And we don't know if the requirement holds true in the anime, but they've come a long way from a Weepinbell just randomly evolving with no Leaf Stone in sight, I'd like to think. They did hold true to Sliggoo's requirement of it needing to rain, albeit they bent the rules a bit by allowing Rain Dance rain to trigger it, whereas in the games that wouldn't do it, so Pancham's requirement could go either way.

Pikachu6319 said:
There is a difference though between Ash not getting a grass starter and Ash not getting a grass type at all. Though until this generation he had always gotten the grass starter (Bulbasaur, Chikorita/Bayleef, Treecko/Grovyle/Sceptile, Turtwing/Grotle/Torterra, and Snivy). We now know short of an unlikely trade or a rare duplication among protagonist Pokémon he won't have Chespin (note May and Ash both have had a Bulbasaur and a Squirtle while Ash and Dawn both have a Quilava so while unlikely it's not out of the question) but another grass type is always an option as it was in the past with non starters of the same type such as Ash getting Torkoal because May had Torchic/Combusken/Blaziken.
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I meant more along the lines of, they broke one tradition already, so breaking this one too isn't out of the question. I do want Ash to get a Grass-type (Phantump in particular), I'm just saying I guess it wouldn't surprise me too much if he didn't, considering how much they've strayed from tradition so far with his team this time.
 
Well not on the grass level until now, but they strayed from the all starters being Ash's a long time ago in gen 3. I just think Ash needs a grass Pokémon in general regardless of whether it be Skiddo, Phantump or something else we're not thinking about.

He's already managed to at least stay with the four 'core' elements plus flying; Pikachu/Bulbasaur/Charizard/Squirtle/Pidgeotto didn't evolve till leaving, Pikachu/Bayleef/Cyndaquil/Totodile/Noctowl not to mention having each of his kanto starters for a while too, Pikachu/Sceptile/Torkoal/Corphish/ who should have evolved/Swellow, Pikachu/Torterra/Buizel who should have evolved/Inferape/Starpator and Pikachu/Snivy/Pignite/Oshawott all of which should have evolved/Unfezant and now we just need something to fill the role of Pikachu/?/Fletchinder which hopefully evolves/Frogadier which hopefully evolves/Hawlucha or Noibat assuming it stays around and should evolve.

It's more personal preference; when I build a team I make sure to have grass, water, fire and electric at the least. That's why I like dual typed Pokémon so much as it can cover two birds with one stone.

I'd forgotten that Sliggoo needed rain to evolve. They did it in a sense. That could mean IF they choose to have Pancham evolve they could find a way. In some ways I doubt it would be by Greninja, more like Serena fighting a dark type for whatever reason.
 
Pikachu6319 said:
Well not on the grass level until now, but they strayed from the all starters being Ash's a long time ago in gen 3. I just think Ash needs a grass Pokémon in general regardless of whether it be Skiddo, Phantump or something else we're not thinking about.
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Definitely. And honestly, if not Skiddo or Phantump, I can't see what else. Chespin and Pumpkaboo are already spoken for, and repeats are not common. And even when they do happen, it's generally not until the first one isn't in the group anymore. Unless they decide to pull an Aipom and give Ash an older Grass-type that ends up getting an evolved form in Generation VII.

Pikachu6319 said:
He's already managed to at least stay with the four 'core' elements plus flying; Pikachu/Bulbasaur/Charizard/Squirtle/Pidgeotto didn't evolve till leaving, Pikachu/Bayleef/Cyndaquil/Totodile/Noctowl not to mention having each of his kanto starters for a while too, Pikachu/Sceptile/Torkoal/Corphish/ who should have evolved/Swellow, Pikachu/Torterra/Buizel who should have evolved/Inferape/Starpator and Pikachu/Snivy/Pignite/Oshawott all of which should have evolved/Unfezant and now we just need something to fill the role of Pikachu/?/Fletchinder which hopefully evolves/Frogadier which hopefully evolves/Hawlucha or Noibat assuming it stays around and should evolve.
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Yeah, that's why I'm still waiting for him to catch a Grass-type, even now that Chespin's not an option- he's always had the Grass/Fire/Water triangle covered one way or another.

Pikachu6319 said:
It's more personal preference; when I build a team I make sure to have grass, water, fire and electric at the least. That's why I like dual typed Pokémon so much as it can cover two birds with one stone.
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I hear that. I generally go for at least Grass, Fire, and Water on my own in-game teams (though not always- my team in Omega Ruby was Sceptile, Pelipper, Dustox, Wobbuffet, Claydol, and Sharpedo).

Pikachu6319 said:
I'd forgotten that Sliggoo needed rain to evolve. They did it in a sense. That could mean IF they choose to have Pancham evolve they could find a way. In some ways I doubt it would be by Greninja, more like Serena fighting a dark type for whatever reason.
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Either one of those could happen, I guess, though I'm more inclined to think they'd at least stick to the idea that the Dark-type that triggers its evolution would at least be an ally, even if it's not owned by Pancham's Trainer.
 
All I could see is doing an Aipom thing and giving him a grass type that would do something different in gen 7. Of course the thing is Ash got a Gible and, aside from being Ash's first dragon type, accomplished nothing. Repeats are not too likely after all. If it weren't for the fact that Ash already has all 3 Kanto starters I'd say they could do that like they did in the game. Of course that was also because of mega evolution, and there is debate there as to rather Ash or any other main will ever get to that point.

Too bad there is no electric/dark types. Then Clemont's Pokemon could be the trigger for Pancham's theoretical evolution. Well I guess it's either Greninja, Umbreon, or an opponents Pokémon. Unless some supporter or minor does it. Best guess here would be a tag match with Shauna who uses a previously unknown dark type in her team.
 
I don't personally put all too much stock in hypotheses about future Pokémon based solely on precedent; it seems like XY (and Pokémon in general, lately) has been hoping to buck trends and do new stuff where they can.

I do hope Serena will evolve her Eevee into a Sylveon... but that's mostly because I really love Sylveon and would love to see it in more episodes, just like how I was super excited when Ash got his Goomy. :p I think any of the Eeveelutions would be a nice addition to her team, though.

I'm kind of wondering if Ash will get a Grass-type at all. Options this gen are pretty limited. Phantump/Trevenant would be cool, but I don't think it's super likely.
 
It's hard for a Pokémon not to make a nice addition to a team when that trainer only has two or three Pokémon in their party. Serena isn't the only one with this one either, Clemont only has three Pokémon if one ignores Dedenne (who really does belong to Bonnie) and the gym Pokémon he doesn't carry. Cilan only had three, Iris had four, with Dragonite coming in rather late and Gible not even present as part of her team when she was a protagonist.

Problem is we all know what happened with Ash's Goomy/Sliggoo/Goodra. It's gone now. I hope we don't see this happen to often.

As for a grass type for Ash...yeah I have my doubts now too as Ash has just gotten his fifth badge in Japan. He's over halfway done. I just think it's wrong. In many ways I think he should have gotten Chespin too, I mean Clemont has come off as rather an electric trainer, Bunnelby and Chespin not withstanding
 
Yeah, it'd definitely be pretty weird if Ash gets his Grass-type this late into Kalos. Still not completely out of the question, but very weird.
 
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