Pocket Monsters: Sun & Moon

[Astro Dude]

Imo Bewear thought that they were up to no good and be like "I must stop them from doing what they are doing!"

Then I guess Bewear really is their mom.

[~British Soul~]

Then I guess Bewear really is their m​um.

We don't know (and probs won't find out) its gender though to be fair.

 

To add, I think (and this is speculation on my part), there's only like 65-odd episodes of SM left, so we're practically halfway through the series.

[Astro Dude]

We don't know (and probs won't find out) its gender though to be fair.

 

To add, I think (and this is speculation on my part), there's only like 65-odd episodes of SM left, so we're practically halfway through the series.

We should have more unless this is it for the anime.

 

The next games are Lets go Pikachu and Let's go Eevee.

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

Usually each generation lasts around 3 years at most nowadays, well past the original generation and around the 140 marker. 

 

Original: 276

Advanced: 192

Diamond/Pearl: 191

Black/White: 142

X/Y: 140

S/M: Probably around the same, but they could add on some more if needed (probably promote Generation 8 or something during the end).

 

Thursday is episode 77, so...if prediction is right; yeah. This also means that Ash needs to get his ass going and do the remainder of the trials (well, he did skip a few of them); also for Guzma to get proper screentime as Team Skull leader. No, I didn't forget about the UB arc, though they do need to get through that as well. 

 

We got the new games coming out, but likely those will be their own thing from S/M continuity. 

[~British Soul~]

We should have more unless this is it for the anime.

 

The next games are Lets go Pikachu and Let's go Eevee.

Those aren't the next core series games though. The next core series game come out in the second half of 2019, and we should assume the gen 8 anime will start around the release of them.

[Astro Dude]

Indeed, we already went back to Kanto in the anime once bafore, why go through that again, to see the other gym leaders in the new art style?

[~British Soul~]

It's likely that Nintendo are releasing another Kanto game as an incentive to get a Switch before the next core games come out in 2019. These games will have like no effect on the anime.

[Astro Dude]

[spoiler battle]

Ash wins and gets Lycanium Z

 

 

 

[spoiler next week]

Splody head vs. Xurkitree

 

 

[~British Soul~]

New episode titles;

Episode 1022: Meteno and Bevenom: A Promise that Got Lost in the Starry Skies! (June 14th)

Episode 1023: A Sand's Storm! An Ice Hole Double Battle!! (June 28th)

 

Ula'Ula is getting more focus. The first episode takes place at Hokulani Observatory and is focused on Minior and Poipole, whilst the in the second, Lillie gets separated from the others and encounters an Alolan Sandshrew in a cave.

[Astro Dude]

New episode titles;

Episode 1022: Meteno and Bevenom: A Promise that Got Lost in the Starry Skies! (June 14th)

Episode 1023: A Sand's Storm! An Ice Hole Double Battle!! (June 28th)

 

Ula'Ula is getting more focus. The first episode takes place at Hokulani Observatory and is focused on Minior and Poipole, whilst the in the second, Lillie gets separated from the others and encounters an Alolan Sandshrew in a cave.

Man was it a hassle getting Miniors in all seven colors.

[~British Soul~]

Man was it a hassle getting Miniors in all seven colo​urs.

I didn't bother with getting all colours of Minior as no one colour is superior than another.

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

I didn't bother with getting all colours of Minior as no one colour is superior than another.

 

Neither did I, since I don't have enough space in box to keep all of the attempts in getting all 7. 

 

Anyway...

 

[spoiler=SM077]

• Ash had to beat 3 'mons with just 1. (I mean, it is possible to do it if you're sufficiently strong enough and don't screw up [usually meaning overleveled]; in this instance, Lycanroc doesn't appear to be like that)
• Lycanroc goes berserk, but controls itself in the process.
• Nanu trash talking Ash for being a shitty trainer (hey Ash-haters, this man just said everything on your minds), but that was mental warfare. It's a dirty technique, but even he mentioned "Did you expect a Dark-type user to play nice?" (heh)
• Tapu Bulu giving Lycanroc a Sitrus Berry.
  • Well, you gotta kill 3 'mons on your own so...unless you're Level 100 or something, yeah. 
• Ash gets Lycanium-Z instead of Darkinium; makes more sense since Ash does not own a Dark-type 'mon (well, not on his person right now)
• Back to Melemele.

 

 

 

On another note, Rowlet, time for you to stop being lazy bird. 

[~British Soul~]

Neither did I, since I don't have enough space in box to keep all of the attempts in getting all 7. 

For me, I was content with just the one, I didn't have the motivation to go for the other colours to be fair.

[Astro Dude]

Neither did I, since I don't have enough space in box to keep all of the attempts in getting all 7. 

 

Anyway...

 

[spoiler=SM077]

• Ash had to beat 3 'mons with just 1. (I mean, it is possible to do it if you're sufficiently strong enough and don't screw up [usually meaning overleveled]; in this instance, Lycanroc doesn't appear to be like that)
• Lycanroc goes berserk, but controls itself in the process.
• Nanu trash talking Ash for being a shitty trainer (hey Ash-haters, this man just said everything on your minds), but that was mental warfare. It's a dirty technique, but even he mentioned "Did you expect a Dark-type user to play nice?" (heh)
• Tapu Bulu giving Lycanroc a Sitrus Berry.
  • Well, you gotta kill 3 'mons on your own so...unless you're Level 100 or something, yeah. 
• Ash gets Lycanium-Z instead of Darkinium; makes more sense since Ash does not own a Dark-type 'mon (well, not on his person right now)
• Back to Melemele.

 

 

 

On another note, Rowlet, time for you to stop being lazy bird. 

What I do is engage in battle. Around half health, it's shell opens and you see what color it is. If it's a color I already got, I either beat it up or run away. Once I have all 7 colors I move on.

 

[spoiler anyway...]

Nanu must've taken lessons from Yami Yugi when he smack talks PaniK.

 

 

[~British Soul~]

Hypothetically speaking if I wanted to hunt all 7 colours, I'd use one of the following; Parasect, A-Marowak, Shedinja, Decidueye or the Honedge-line as all of them are immune to Minior blowing itself up and can learn False Swipe, but like I said I'm not bothered by hunting all colours. One is enough for my living dex.

Game-talk aside, back to anime;

 

went in blind boys;

[spoiler=Thoughts on SM077]

- Acerola headed to the Shrine to make an offering and remarks that perhaps Nanu had changed, of course Nanu says he wants to get it donion rings ASAP, stating that heading to the altar every once in a while isn't that bad.

- Nanu sets the rules as a 3-on-1 fight (this was known info already) stating the reason as a proper Grand Trial entails overcoming a great challenge. (I can see that given that defeating 3 'mons with 1 can be a challenge if you factor in stats, typing, etc)

- During the fight with Krookodile, Lycanroc gets red-eyed again, but projects it into power. Ash also got worried about Counter and spammed Rock Throw, but Nanu picked up on this and declared him as gutless, reiterating that battles are about putting one's moves against one another. Lycanroc was able to stop Counter with speed (it is decreased priority, so that's no surprise)

-  When Lycanroc went red-eyed against Sableye, whilst Ash is telling it to calm down Nanu notes that Lycanroc is keeping its vital organs from harms way and ponders if Lycanroc is stronger when it's angry and red-eyed, that being said, Lycanroc took control and took out Sableye with Stone Edge.

- Tapu Bulu gives Lycanroc a Sitrus berry before the final fight and of course Nanu had no objection as he can't defy it.

- When A-Persian is sent out, Nanu descends to underhand tactics, wondering if Lycanroc is better off without Ash and saying it could've gotten strong on its own, (claiming that he's stating facts), saying that Ash isn't a good enough trainer, which in turn annoys Ash which Nanu says that his short fuse will be his downfall (Wouldn't be the first time that Ash has lost as a result of a short fuse. This was also the case with Shinji vs Brandon in DP). I can see why Nanu would say such things as being a dark-type specialist, he doesn't have to play fair, so saying that Ash is worthless and making trainer and pokemon self-destruct is not out of the ordinary.

- When Lycanroc tackeled Ash off the field, Ash realises that Lycanroc's eyes going red isn't due to anger, but due to it increasing in power, in addition to admitting that he was an idiot for falling for Nanu's insults.

- Lycanroc learns Counter. (I didn't expect that, then again dusk-Lycanroc can use both Lycanroc specific moves and it had Accelerock already, so I guess it isn't as surprising, but still)

- Nanu laments that he didn't think he'd have to resort to using his Z-move, which is countered by Ash using his own Z-move. At least Future Connection wasn't used as an insert song like it was in 4 of the previous 6 episodes.

- As a reward, Nanu was going to give Ash a Darkinium-Z, but figures that he isn't a dark kinda guy, so gives him Lycanium-Z instead.

- Rowlet and Torracat only gets 13 seconds of screentime, on the boat back to MeleMele. They might as well not have appeared at all and it wouldn't have made any difference to be fair.

- In the post credits scene, Ash asks Rotom-dex what Lycanroc's Z-move is called.

- This is the first time that Shadow Sneak was used in the series (despite being introduced in gen 4), so now all variations of Quick Attack have been used in the series

- Also, this episode sets a new record of least number of humans appearing in one episode at three, surpassing the previous record of four that is shared by EP003 and BW018.

All in all, this episode did a fine-enough job with addressing Ash's shortcomings as a trainer, as the problems in this fight stemmed from Ash himself; misunderstanding the situation with Lycanroc's eyes, worrying about it going berserk, getting flustered and losing focus during the fight. Lycanroc's performance was basically affected as a result.

 

 

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

[spoiler=SM078]

• Fireworks stuff after Ash returns to Melemele; chance encounter with Blacephalon, but at the time, Ash and co. are unaware that it is a UB.
• Discovered that there were 2 UBs; Xurkitree and the above. Also battle of the performances, I guess (Blacephalon making fireworks and Xurkitree, idk)
• Trying to throw Beast Balls with high air pressure; uh, that's a terrible idea, guys.
• Ash gets crazy idea to outshow their "performances" with their own. (What is this, ARC-V but with less sappy egao stuff?)
• Lycanroc uses its new Z-move. 
• Lana and Lillie were actually useful for once here, except latter can't throw Poke Balls for sheet and required Snowball to knock it. (Then again, she doesn't actively battle so...)
• Thing went smoothly.
• Sophocles still scared of dark when power goes out and running around like chicken without head. 
• Apparently Melemele wanted to see the Ultra Guardians fireworks special again, so...let's see the order.
  • Pikachu's Electroweb
  • Togedemaru's Zing Zap and Charjabug's Discharge
  • Popplio's Bubble Beam (I think)
  • Charizard and Turtonator's Flamethrower
  • Garchomp, Flygon and Altaria's Fire Blast
  • Snowball's Powder Snow.

 

 

[~British Soul~]

[spoiler=Thoughts on SM078]
- Everyone is viewing a fireworks display and during the display, a Blacephalon turns up, clowns about and entertain everyone with its own performance, taking in the surprise of the locals to grow in power. Also Blacephalon was channelling its inner Michael Jackson, by doing some of his moves like the moonwalk, nice touch.
- Whilst Blacephalon is performing its own show, another wormhole opens and a Xurkitree appears.
- The next day, everyone is speculating whether Blacephalon is an Ultra Beast, which is confirmed by Lusamine and during the meeting, the power goes out (scaring Sophocoles shitless), which was caused by Xurkitree (However the Aether Foundation didn't know this at the time as the focus was on Blacephalon)
- On their way to the location, Pikachu and Togedemaru sense Xurkitree's presence and it's upon their arrival that they learn of Xurkitree being a UB, of course it didn't appreciate them trying to interrupt it trying to drain the electricity. At least Aether Foundation were able to stop the electricity flow to that (misplaced) Power Plant.
-  Ash had a decent idea of having him and Sophocoles distract Xurkitree so the others can catch it, shame Blacephalon had to cockblock them by suddenly turning up. (It's like being ambushed by your rival and them wanting to fight you)
- Blacephalon and Xurkitree are having a performance showdown by using the energy that the both of them absorbed (WTF? did it suddenly become Arc-V or something?), and the Ultra Guardians though it'd be a good idea to try and catch them, of course it failed due to the air pressure repelling the balls. Upon the failure, Ash and Kiawe's faces became that of Popuko from Pop Team Epic. (I mentioned in a status about watching/reading it. Perhaps I should go through with that)
- Ash suggests that they make a flashier performance of their own (considering that he's watched 20 billion contests/showcases, it isn't surprising that he'd suggest this), and then use Lycanroc's new Z-move to make them flinch so they can snag them.
- Back to me moaning about the use of insert song again. For the 5th time in 8 episodes, Future Connection was used as an insert song.
- Lana and Lillie were the ones to get the UBs this time (with help from Steenee on Lillie's end, and I like that she's practicing her throw in the post credits scene).
- After the mission, Kukui informs the Ultra Guardians that event venues across MeleMele request that they do that performance again, and Lana says that this is a business opportunity. (Sure it is)
All in all, I enjoyed the portrayal of Blacephalon more than Xurkitree. Blacephalon certainly showed more character imo, and I didn't think we'd see Splintered Stormshards here tbph. Though I definitely thought this was better than the last UB episode which featured Celesteela.

 

Also, we had a new episode title
Episode 1024: The Young Flame of Alola! The Birth of Royal Ash!! (July 5th)
So we see more of the Battle Royals and Ash stepping in after the Masked Royal's opponent employs dirty tricks.

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

[spoiler=SM079]

• Ash and friends are here to see Minior shower, but Sophocles is noticeably upset about what happened last time.
• The girls declare they get to look first in the telescope and make pouty faces; well, not like any of them do anything notable nowadays. 
• One Minior doesn't have its shell broken off, but breaks inside the Observatory and it's orange
• We find out that Minior die after its shell comes off, so true to its Moon dex, I suppose. 
• Poipole wanted to make friends with said Minior, but yeah, it dies like that. (This is also what happened last time with Sophocles; make friends with one, but then it dissolves into the air)
• Some other stuff happens between said Minior core coming out and it dying on-screen.
• Ohai Rayquaza.

 

 

[Astro Dude]

[spoiler=SM079]

• Ash and friends are here to see Minior shower, but Sophocles is noticeably upset about what happened last time.
• The girls declare they get to look first in the telescope and make pouty faces; well, not like any of them do anything notable nowadays. 
• One Minior doesn't have its shell broken off, but breaks inside the Observatory and it's orange
• We find out that Minior die after its shell comes off, so true to its Moon dex, I suppose. 
• Poipole wanted to make friends with said Minior, but yeah, it dies like that. (This is also what happened last time with Sophocles; make friends with one, but then it dissolves into the air)
• Some other stuff happens between said Minior core coming out and it dying on-screen.
• Ohai Rayquaza.

 

 

[spoiler ah man...]

This is just brutal. I mean there was Latios and Darkrai but this?

 

You know, 4kids.

 

 

[~British Soul~]

[spoiler=Thoughts on SM079]

- Kukui takes Ash​...Russian Spy Vera and the rest of the class to Hokulani Observatory and after everyone makes a wish (Lana's being unrealistic as always), Sophocoles states that the "shooting stars" were Minior which is what they're here to study.

- Kek, Vera making pouty faces when the girls say that they get to look at the telescope first

- Throughout this episode, Sophocoles gets flashbacks to similar events happening when he was a kid; finding a Minior in its shell, its shell breaking before him (like it did with Poipole), and the sad part, Minior's death.

- Not gonna lie, but Molayne kinda looks older in the anime than he does in the games.

- Generic moan: that's 6 in 9 episodes now regarding the insert song. It's like the writers don't know how to change the bloody record.

- Seeing Poipole becoming friends with Minior and everyone playing with it was cute

- I have to say, it was gutsy of the writers to showcase Minior's deaths on-screen, though as sad as it was, given that it's touched upon in its Moon dex entry, it isn't really as impactful tbph (Stoutland dying of-screen in SM021 had more of an impact).

- I will say this though, with it seeing Minior die in front of it, Poipole got to experience/cope with loss, and this is more or less forshadowing for when it has to leave Vera later in the series and go back home.

- I certainly didn't expect to see Rayquaza tbph, but given that it lives in the ozone layer, its appearance does kinda make sense.

All in all, this episode is more or less skippable. Noone really got anything out of it tbph, except from learning more about Sophocoles' past.

 

 

 

[spoiler ah man...]

This is just brutal. I mean there was Latios and Darkrai but this?

 

You know, 4kids.

 

 

[spoiler=Response]

The circumstances here and those examples are different;

1. Latios was 4Kids, Darkrai was TPCi and the latter was revived by Dialga/Palkia at the end of M10 anyway

2. Latios and Darkrai sacrificed themselves, Minior's death was a natural occurrence that was touched upon in its Moon dex entry.

3. Also Minior's death isn't as impactful as Stoutland's in SM021.

 

 

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

[spoiler ah man...]

This is just brutal. I mean there was Latios and Darkrai but this?

 

You know, 4kids.

 

 

 

[spoiler=Response]

1. Latios died at the end of movie 5, but he chose to sacrifice his life to save Altomare. Same with Darkrai in M10, but yeah, got revived later. 

 

2. Like BS pointed out earlier, this one is just a natural occurrence that tied into its Moon entry; core's exposed, thing dies after a while. It didn't choose to die, but just an unavoidable thing that happens. I guess you can compare it to dying of oxygen deprivation in space or exposure to a toxic substance that'll kill you with protection gone. 

 

IDK, figure out an analogy you can compare it to for real life. 

 

But other than that, it wasn't as emotional as Stoutland's implied death 58 episodes ago (yup, that's about right); that gave Litten incentive to join Ash. Here, it doesn't offer much incentive except to Poipole to learn that things don't last forever.

 

 

 

As for the next episode, let's see how it pans out for Lillie and the rest of them (well, if she does catch a Sandshrew or not). Then again, it's not like she really does much with Snowy in the series right now.  

[~British Soul~]

Whatever happens in the next episode, there will be a 1-week break, presumably for a sporting event I reckon. Last time we had a 1-week break in June was back in 2016 (it also happened in 2014).

As for what I think will happen, I do think it will be Alolan Sandslash's debut episode. Given an Ice Stone was shown in the preview, I'm sure it'll have some importance, and I'm fairly certain it'll be used on Sandshrew to give it an edge in the fight with Tyranitar. I also remember merch from last year (which showed Torracat and the recurring Jigglypuff) showing Alolan Sandslash, and though whether or not Lillie captures it is up in the air, though I do think the more likely scenario is evolving it and have it be the leader of the group of Alolan Sandshrew.

[Astro Dude]

And it seems the dub is also taking a break. No clue when well see dubbed Drampa.

[~British Soul~]

I was watching a secondary preview for the next episode and it shows that Vera/Kiawe gets separated from the others due to Marowak and Turtonator fighting, whoops.

[Astro Dude]

I was watching a secondary preview for the next episode and it shows that Vera/Kiawe gets separated from the others due to Marowak and Turtonator fighting, whoops.

That's not good.

 

[spoiler Also]

Lillie gets an Icium Z. Maybe Hapu will give her a Z-Ring.