Aspects That OS Trumps Other Sagas In

[megaevolvedmushroom]

To me, the following are better in OS than other sagas:

Characters that didn't wear out their welcome.
COTDs that were actually compelling instead of just stock characters (mostly Kanto)
More creative stories that aren't just copy and paste from the games
A more grand sense of adventure
Better battles that weren't drawn out, nor did they try too hard to be "epic", which they're not (that last part is not referring to OS battles, in case some people are confused).
Marketing didn't get in the way of putting out a good quality product crafted with effort and passion.
Aimed at a wider age range, which meant there was something for everyone.
Actual emotion that wasn't forced (both characters and stories).
Best character interactions.
More iconic Pokemon, as well as better personalities for them (well, most of them).

 

[Zexy]

Well, i can only say OS was better because Ash 10-year-old-replacing-Pokemon was not too forced, and the humour was better (FAR better).
COTD, sense of adventure, creative stories, battles, and Pokepersonalities weren't that great.
Marketing was part of a problem even back then. Focus on Pikachu and Ash's Kanto starters was apparent. Still, it was not negative since it did not affect the female lead like later sagas. Ash gets the spotlight, his pokemon get the spotlight, no problem with that. It's Piplup/Axew that seem forced.

And NO! Battles were awful! In fact, they could not handle them until Ash's fifth badge, and gave him the Badges out of chores! The Orange League was not about battling, and the best battles were arguably vs Clair, Drake and Harrison (yes, he lost, but the battle was better than most others)
Ash v Gary at Johto League was awful compared to Ash v Paul, Ash v Brandon and such. (well, better than Ash v Cameron, anyway...)

And last but not least... NO CONTESTS (again, Best Wishes falls back...)

 

[megaevolvedmushroom]

COTD, sense of adventure, creative stories, battles, and Pokepersonalities weren't that great.

Umm...it just looks like you CPed a few words I typed and then put "not that great" at the end xD Not saying you did, just pointing something out.

Marketing was part of a problem even back then.

Maybe, but it didn't affect the quality of the actual show, and they still had to put in lots of effort, since Pokemon wasn't established then, which meant you couldn't slap "Pokemon" on anything and expect it to be lapped up.

Focus on Pikachu and Ash's Kanto starters was apparent. Still, it was not negative since it did not affect the female lead like later sagas. Ash gets the spotlight, his pokemon get the spotlight, no problem with that. It's Piplup/Axew that seem forced.

I can agree on the last part. I don't dislike Piplup/Axew as much as most people, but still.

And NO! Battles were awful! In fact, they could not handle them until Ash's fifth badge, and gave him the Badges out of chores!

"Pity" badges broke the norm, and had a good storyline to back it up.

The Orange League was not about battling, and the best battles were arguably vs Clair, Drake and Harrison (yes, he lost, but the battle was better than most others)

Those battles were good, I'll admit.

Ash v Gary at Johto League was awful compared to Ash v Paul, Ash v Brandon and such.

I'm sorry, but Ash vs Brandon (final battle) sucked. Also, Ash vs Paul was just a forced "epic".

(well, better than Ash v Cameron, anyway...)

And last but not least... NO CONTESTS (again, Best Wishes falls back...)

Almost anything's better than Ash vs Cameron.

No contest (which didn't even exist) is a good thing, at least for me.

 

[Moe]

Being chronologically first?

 

[Cybersai]

As long as we're not including the repetitive Johto saga with the OS, I can say the show had fewer bad episodes back then.

If we include Johto than retract my statement times 1000.

 

[Jukain]

*ignoring the rest of the thread*
There is only one thing I will credit the original saga for, and that is that it was plainly written as a comedy. In that aspect, it far surpasses every other saga. There is literally nothing else I can give it too much praise for, except perhaps for being such a large deviation from the games. The companions are vaguely better than the others that Ash would eventually have, except that May and Dawn actually have plots. TR was only really impressive for two things, but that could be what they would eventually become weighing down on them. Ok, maybe I will admit that the background established for TR would serve as the most depth any character was given on the show. What I cannot stand far outweighs these things, though. This is why I changed my opinion and made the original saga the bottom of the barrel for me, although the Unova League saga is not too far behind it.

 

[BugMite]

Aimed at a wider age range, which meant there was something for everyone.

lolwut? It may have felt that way when you're, you know, watching the series as a kid rather than a teen/adult, but in reality, the show always has, and always will be, aimed primarily at kids ages six to twelve-ish. About the only thing that might be considered "more mature" about the OS is the anime-style slap-stick humor (ie: fan-slapping) that was toned down after the series became worldwide - and even this is questionable - but otherwise, the show was just as much for kids then as it is now.

 

[Cybersai]

Aimed at a wider age range, which meant there was something for everyone.

lolwut? It may have felt that way when you're, you know, watching the series as a kid rather than a teen/adult, but in reality, the show always has, and always will be, aimed primarily at kids ages six to twelve-ish. About the only thing that might be considered "more mature" about the OS is the anime-style slap-stick humor (ie: fan-slapping) that was toned down after the series became worldwide - and even this is questionable - but otherwise, the show was just as much for kids then as it is now.

There were real handguns shown in a few episodes, but I agree that's it.

 

[megaevolvedmushroom]

Aimed at a wider age range, which meant there was something for everyone.

lolwut? It may have felt that way when you're, you know, watching the series as a kid rather than a teen/adult, but in reality, the show always has, and always will be, aimed primarily at kids ages six to twelve-ish. About the only thing that might be considered "more mature" about the OS is the anime-style slap-stick humor (ie: fan-slapping) that was toned down after the series became worldwide - and even this is questionable - but otherwise, the show was just as much for kids then as it is now.

Yes, it was aimed at kids, but again, it had something for everybody. It was darker back then, had a real sense of tension and urgency, and nothing was toned down.

 

[BugMite]

There were real handguns shown in a few episodes, but I agree that's it.

Right, forgot about that. Well, we have had missle launchers and the like in later series too, even if they may not have been as blatant or anything that looks too much like a handgun.

Yes, it was aimed at kids, but again, it had something for everybody. It was darker back then, had a real sense of tension and urgency, and nothing was toned down.

I think you may need to elaborate on the "real sense of tension and urgency" part, because I could name some examples of that in later series too, such as just about any episode involving Pokemon Hunter J in DP. I'd say probably every series had something for everybody.

 

[megaevolvedmushroom]

I think you may need to elaborate on the "real sense of tension and urgency" part, because I could name some examples of that in later series too, such as just about any episode involving Pokemon Hunter J in DP. I'd say probably every series had something for everybody.

When I say "something for everybody", I mean it wasn't limiting itself to a child audience. Just from the top of my head: Charmander being left in the rain (they even said it could have DIED if its tail flame went out), SS Anne, the whole Sabrina thing.

 

[BugMite]

When I say "something for everybody", I mean it wasn't limiting itself to a child audience. Just from the top of my head: Charmander being left in the rain (they even said it could have DIED if its tail flame went out), SS Anne, the whole Sabrina thing.

Okay, but even still, in later series (or I guess, DP for both of these examples) we've had (at the top of my head):

Paul's intense training with Chimchar
Pokemon Hunter J throwing Ash out of her air ship when they were high above ground and then later even DYING when her whole ship sunk to the bottom of a lake

 

[megaevolvedmushroom]

When I say "something for everybody", I mean it wasn't limiting itself to a child audience. Just from the top of my head: Charmander being left in the rain (they even said it could have DIED if its tail flame went out), SS Anne, the whole Sabrina thing.

Okay, but even still, in later series (or I guess, DP for both of these examples) we've had (at the top of my head):

Paul's intense training with Chimchar
Pokemon Hunter J throwing Ash out of her air ship when they were high above ground and then later even DYING when her whole ship sunk to the bottom of a lake

The second one is arguable, but the first one doesn't even come close to Damien abandoning Chimchar, since it was filled with melodrama, plot "convenience", and whining (after the tag battle arc). Both of them are pretty dark, but not compared to dark OS episodes for me.

 

[Satoshi_Pikachu]

I can't honestly say I agree to any of these. OS is second to worst in my book, only slightly better than BW. I like that episodes were more humorous, and I love that they were actually Japanese. But god, are they boring episodes. There are a few fantastic episodes, and some are awesome for being so insane, but most are just plain boring.

 

[agramugl]

In terms of darkness in the original series, the first thing that comes to mind is one name: Sabrina. If you can tell me that, as a kid, you saw those episodes and didn't feel even a bit of dread fill you, then...this metaphor would kinda fall apart, wouldn't it?

I'll let that sit there for awhile.

Now, one thing that the OS had that was far better than the later seasons, in my opinion, was pacing. Not so much Johto, which moved at the pace of a snail, but Indigo and Orange Islands were brisk, fast seasons. They felt snappy. They felt intense. They finished one gym? Onto the next! None of this twenty episodes without a gym fight nonsense. Just straight to the throat.

Now, another thing that made sense? Ash being a novice. As a character, he was still learning the ropes. When he made stupid mistakes, it made sense. It felt like, even at the end of Indigo, that he had grown up as a character. It makes whenever he acts like an idiot later on seem a little silly and stupid.

Now, I will agree that most of the fights were pretty brief and simple in the OS. Higher budget later on? Yeah, you're gonna get better battles. Still, do you know what the OS had more than the later seasons? Tear jerkers. REALLY big tear jerkers. Like, the kind that left scars growing up. Pikachu's Good-bye, Butterfree's Goodbye, and Gotta Catch you Later. Tear jerkers to the extreme!

...plus, the original series had Ash's mom.

I can go on and on, but you can probably tell I'm a little biased toward the OS. I may not be a fair judge. However, I do really feel that the original series shined in certain respects.

 

[Cybersai]

In terms of darkness in the original series, the first thing that comes to mind is one name: Sabrina. If you can tell me that, as a kid, you saw those episodes and didn't feel even a bit of dread fill you, then...this metaphor would kinda fall apart, wouldn't it?

I'll let that sit there for awhile.

Now, one thing that the OS had that was far better than the later seasons, in my opinion, was pacing. Not so much Johto, which moved at the pace of a snail, but Indigo and Orange Islands were brisk, fast seasons. They felt snappy. They felt intense. They finished one gym? Onto the next! None of this twenty episodes without a gym fight nonsense. Just straight to the throat.

Now, another thing that made sense? Ash being a novice. As a character, he was still learning the ropes. When he made stupid mistakes, it made sense. It felt like, even at the end of Indigo, that he had grown up as a character. It makes whenever he acts like an idiot later on seem a little silly and stupid.

Now, I will agree that most of the fights were pretty brief and simple in the OS. Higher budget later on? Yeah, you're gonna get better battles. Still, do you know what the OS had more than the later seasons? Tear jerkers. REALLY big tear jerkers. Like, the kind that left scars growing up. Pikachu's Good-bye, Butterfree's Goodbye, and Gotta Catch you Later. Tear jerkers to the extreme!

...plus, the original series had Ash's mom.

I can go on and on, but you can probably tell I'm a little biased toward the OS. I may not be a fair judge. However, I do really feel that the original series shined in certain respects.

Agreed. This is what I liked about Kanto and Orange Islands. There were flaws in Kanto, (too many releases, getting pity badges, etc.), but the good parts made up for it.

I can't include Johto with this, because while that saga had some good parts, it was a massive step down from the first two seasons and when the show truly began its boring repetitive filler formula. The sense of darkness that Kanto had also completed disappeared when Johto came along.

 

[Satoshi_Pikachu]

No, you know, the Sabrina episode didn't freak me out as a kid. I was around 4 when I first watched it. It freaks me out now because now I can see how fucking messed up it was XD

But I do love the tear jerkers. Especially Pikachu's Goodbye and Snow Way Out. Those were so adorable. My favorite tear jerker is from AG, though. Nothing beats the Lucario movie. I've watched it at least 15 times XD

 

[agramugl]

In terms of darkness in the original series, the first thing that comes to mind is one name: Sabrina. If you can tell me that, as a kid, you saw those episodes and didn't feel even a bit of dread fill you, then...this metaphor would kinda fall apart, wouldn't it?

I'll let that sit there for awhile.

Now, one thing that the OS had that was far better than the later seasons, in my opinion, was pacing. Not so much Johto, which moved at the pace of a snail, but Indigo and Orange Islands were brisk, fast seasons. They felt snappy. They felt intense. They finished one gym? Onto the next! None of this twenty episodes without a gym fight nonsense. Just straight to the throat.

Now, another thing that made sense? Ash being a novice. As a character, he was still learning the ropes. When he made stupid mistakes, it made sense. It felt like, even at the end of Indigo, that he had grown up as a character. It makes whenever he acts like an idiot later on seem a little silly and stupid.

Now, I will agree that most of the fights were pretty brief and simple in the OS. Higher budget later on? Yeah, you're gonna get better battles. Still, do you know what the OS had more than the later seasons? Tear jerkers. REALLY big tear jerkers. Like, the kind that left scars growing up. Pikachu's Good-bye, Butterfree's Goodbye, and Gotta Catch you Later. Tear jerkers to the extreme!

...plus, the original series had Ash's mom.

I can go on and on, but you can probably tell I'm a little biased toward the OS. I may not be a fair judge. However, I do really feel that the original series shined in certain respects.

Agreed. This is what I liked about Kanto and Orange Islands. There were flaws in Kanto, (too many releases, getting pity badges, etc.), but the good parts made up for it.

I can't include Johto with this, because while that saga had some good parts, it was a massive step down from the first two seasons and when the show truly began its boring repetitive filler formula. The sense of darkness that Kanto had also completed disappeared when Johto came along.

Agreed, especially with season 3. That had the slowest pace, the least amount of cool story arcs, etc. Though I love the third Pokemon film, season three was otherwise the OS's weak point.

No, you know, the Sabrina episode didn't freak me out as a kid. I was around 4 when I first watched it. It freaks me out now because now I can see how fucking messed up it was XD

But I do love the tear jerkers. Especially Pikachu's Goodbye and Snow Way Out. Those were so adorable. My favorite tear jerker is from AG, though. Nothing beats the Lucario movie. I've watched it at least 15 times XD

lol! More proof that the original series was kinda messed up. It's still crazy! >_< Just think about it: the only other villain that comes close to sheer creepiness in the series is J, and even she is more just sociopathic, not existentially terrifying.

And yeah, the Lucario movie was a really powerful film in general, one of the best of the films. Just--that ending...still, I dunno whether it's necessarily when I saw the scenes, or just proof of their writing, but Pikachu's goodbye just always gets me... >_<

 

[Cybersai]

Now, one thing that the OS had that was far better than the later seasons, in my opinion, was pacing. Not so much Johto, which moved at the pace of a snail, but Indigo and Orange Islands were brisk, fast seasons. They felt snappy. They felt intense. They finished one gym? Onto the next! None of this twenty episodes without a gym fight nonsense. Just straight to the throat.

IMO the second Johto season, "Johto League champions" is the worst part of Johto and the OS. The season was 52 episodes and only like 15 of them actually had any purpose. Of course that's "middle Johto" in general, where all the bulk of Johto's fillers were located.

 

[Almonds]

The OS was at least better than BW.

And Gary was in it.