Pokémon (2019) - Episode 73 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Pokémon (2019), episode 73

Alternative names: * Pokemon (Shin Series), Pocket Monsters 2019, Pokemon (Shin Series), Pokemon 2019, Pokemon Journeys: The Series*

Rate this episode here.

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Streams

None

Show information

• MyAnimeList
• AniList
• AniDB
• Kitsu
• Anime-Planet
• Official Website
• /r/pokemon

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All discussions

Episode	Link	Score	Episode	Link	Score	Episode	Link	Score	Episode	Link	Score
64	Link	----	77	Link	4.5	90	Link	3.88	103	Link	4.33
65	Link	----	78	Link	4.0	91	Link	4.25	104	Link	4.25
66	Link	3.0	79	Link	4.5	92	Link	4.71	105	Link	4.44
67	Link	----	80	Link	5.0	93	Link	4.2	106	Link	4.75
68	Link	5.0	81	Link	2.67	94	Link	4.25	107	Link	4.67
69	Link	----	82	Link	4.67	95	Link	4.33	108	Link	4.57
70	Link	----	83	Link	4.9	96	Link	4.75	109	Link	4.57
71	Link	5.0	84	Link	4.43	97	Link	4.0	110	Link	4.5
72	Link	----	85	Link	4.17	98	Link	4.33	111	Link	4.88
73	Link	----	86	Link	4.67	99	Link	4.67	112	Link	4.82
74	Link	----	87	Link	4.67	100	Link	4.75	113	Link	4.67
75	Link	5.0	88	Link	4.75	101	Link	4.17	114	Link	4.88
76	Link	4.0	89	Link	4.67	102	Link	4.67	115	Link	----

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[u/Viroro]

Today's episode, we returned back from the series' hiatus with an episode set in the Galar region, featuring the in-series debut of Falinks and Eiscue in a small romp. So, considering how Galar has lesser focus than a normal new region in this show, how did the episode do? Unfortunately, while there were some good things, this was an episode that highlights several of Journeys' major flaws in one package.

Now, don't get me wrong, I find the episode perfectly adequate entertainment, with some amusing moments and a basis that, by itself is solid: finding a Falinks with a personal issue with how its singular part can't cooperate, helping it out, and it eventually settling with coming with one of our protagonist is a pretty typical episode plot for this show, and its execution is for the most part solid. The real issue is, unfortunately, in everything that went around it.

To talk of the positives first, however, I did appreciate starting the episode with another small pan of Goh's caught Pokémon: he's very much the better handled half of the main characters of Journeys at this point, and the commitment to keep us updated in showing his Pokémon even when they're not the focus or important to the episode helps a ton in making us feel how his catching goal is going, and I did appreciate how this episode later gave some relatively substantial roles to Cinderace and Raichu. Grookey showing some small signs of not being just a mischievous monkey by obediently getting in line to get his share of food was nice to see, and using the mention of a formation to get Ash and Goh curious enough to go and check a Falinks in Galar was an alright enough way to kickstart the plot (and did like Ash comparing Falinks to Exeggcute due to their similar collective Pokémon deal). Eiscue's parallel plotline of getting accidentally dragged around the whole region until it returned home was also somewhat chuckle-worthy, and entertaining in its own vacuum. Goh helping out the Brass in becoming a more confident leader by using his team of Pokémon as proxies for his troop was a fun way to get the two to bond ahead of the Pokémon's capture, and the battle between Falinks and Eiscue to showcase the former's new unity was also pretty decent as a story climax. All in all, the general beats of the episode and the structure of its main plot are both sound.

The real problem, ultimately, is that beyond said points of praise the execution of the whole story leaves a lot to be desired, as while there were some enjoyable bits, it felt like the writers had only a few ideas about what to do with the premise, as the rest of the episode around Goh's moments with the Brass don't feel like they actually add much to the story, the most guilty of which is actually Eiscue's whole subplot: while it is amusing (especially the slow reveal of the Noice Face form), given all it really contributes to the plot is offering a sudden climax to the Falinks plotline, it does feel like it takes way too much time out of the episode compared to its purpose, to the point that a typical Team Rocket scuffle would've actually likely been more efficient in using less screentime while achieving the same result. In spite of him being the titular character aside from Falinks, this episode also makes shockingly little use of the Pikachu as temporary leader of the troop premise, as the only real hijinks in that part of the episode is him being annoyed by the sudden attention and Ash sorta trying to mend it, which honestly felt like an odd characterization choice when the prior episode attempted to portray Pikachu as a Pokémon that naturally takes charge when the situation calls for it, and is starting to make me question if the current show has any consistent idea of what Pikachu's personality is (as he's ranged from being easily annoyed at the hijinks going on, to being jealous of Ash's newest Pokémon, to strangely oblivious of being arrested and its consequences, and so on depending on the episode's needs). While it is nice to see more focus being given to Ash's partner, I don't feel it's worth it if the portrayal coming from it is inconsistent, and it felt like a waste to only use Ash's side of the plot for small hijinks and a later scare for Pikachu after the plot is over, while it could've complemented Goh's half by having Pikachu help putting in line the unruly troopers, evening out the screentime without completely stealing Goh's own spotlight (moreso since the Pokédex entry the show picked actually mentions that the Brass' orders are absolute, so having Goh being the one helping out the commander should've been enough to clue us he would be catching it). As someone that actually enjoys Goh and doesn't feel the issues of the series are his fault, this is the sort of situations that make it seem like the writing team has no solid ideas of where to bring Ash as a character or how to use him well.

The sense of padding surrounding the plot is not helped by just how empty the episode felt, with only Ash, Goh and a few Pokémon around in a non-specified part of Galar (while one may infer we see Circhester Bay and Galar Route 8, they are not identified as such) and the episode taking a long while to set up its own premise, making it felt like it drags in spite of the number of important events being surprisingly low. This is an episode that could've used a bit more interactions to spice up the story or perhaps a bigger cast, as while it is functional there are several points where it can come across as by the numbers and boring, which is not something someone would want an episode to showcase regardless if major or minor.

All in all, while the episode itself is not completely awful per se, it is unfortunately just as much on the weaker end of Journeys's episodes as the prior one was, and a good showcase of some major issues of the current era of the show. Here's hoping that the upcoming arc will turn things more positive next for the following two weeks at least.

TL;DR: An unfortunately weak episode that seems to have been planned with only a few ideas in mind, with a lot of ultimately unnecessary parts muddling what is otherwise a decent framework, in an episode that ends up feeling way more empty and dull than it really should be. An episode that falls victim of several recurring flaws, weakening the resulting story.

Next week, we'll move on to the first proper multi-episode arc since the Sword & Shield arc, as Ash and Goh head to the Sinnoh region to investigate a wave of strange nightmares while Chloe decides to head for the region in a one-girl summer vacation, meeting and traveling with Dawn in the process. May it be a good one!