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Review HZ126: A Battle You Can’t Afford to Lose! The Bond That’s Put to the Test!!

First time I actually decided to record the Japanese premiere of a Pokémon episode

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What a wake up call episode for Dash from Liko about the danger of using the Laquium Strong Sphere effect on their pokemon. On top of that, Iono being undercover for RVT to gathering more information from Spinel claws.

While, the orange academy know the aware of the gang being label as public No.1 enemy intensifying.

Liko thankfully able to stop Dash's partner further up of losing bond from the pink crystal effect. Before joining back her friends. Thus, the training continues to grow even stronger for the final showdown against Spinel.

Overall rating: B -
 
At last, the fully evolved kitty cat FINALLY has a win under its belt after losing or being interrupted once. Can't believe it's had to wait this long for it to get a victory but I'm happy for Meowscarada. Now let's hope it doesn't have to wait until the final battle with Spinel to shine again cause it needs it.

Definitely up for more Penny and Iono as well.
 
It was an ok episode.
Nanjamo is not a corporate sellout at all, and is even actively helping.
The aesop of "don't do drugs, kids" was pretty loud and clear.
Liko and Meowscarada got to show off a bit, which was quite nice.
I don't really have a lot of thoughts about this.
 
We are so, so back

  • Episode plot tightly related to whole series story arc
  • Serious tropes (sinister marketing, value of truth, life in hiding)
  • Adult RVT with actual screentime
  • An interesting battle which is a part of the plot, but not its main point
  • An actual, current and legitimate political commentary?!?!?! In my anipoke?!?!?!

And between all that they found place for cute interactions for pokemons.

10/10 please keep it up

Also imagine getting so rich off youtube that you can own a whole airbase.
 
NumberOneSpinelApologist said:
It was an ok episode.
Nanjamo is not a corporate sellout at all, and is even actively helping.
The aesop of "don't do drugs, kids" was pretty loud and clear.
Liko and Meowscarada got to show off a bit, which was quite nice.
I don't really have a lot of thoughts about this.
Click to expand...
Like I was trying to say, Iono selling out like THAT feels really off with what is set up for her in the show and even over in Masters where Iono refuses to do certain things to get views. (Including, making stuff up to get views.) She knows those spheres are bad news, promoting that feels really out of character.
 
0cerge said:
Ahem, although Laquium is shown not as a drug, but as a "radioactive" substance that emits energy that causes abnormal changes in metabolism, which already affects the psyche. ;)
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Is it working through energy emission though? Every time Laqurium had an effect it had to be inhaled by a pokemon. Simply being around is not enough. Even being around the core (=huge concentration) isn't enough to affect pokemon, Spinel had to spread it in the air.
 
0cerge said:
Ahem, although Laquium is shown not as a drug, but as a "radioactive" substance that emits energy that causes abnormal changes in metabolism, which already affects the psyche. ;)
Click to expand...
Laqurium does not really work like radiation though, we know nothing about its radioactivity. It seems to work through diffusion in the air and into the Pokemons body
the nerd in me really wishes they expanded a little about the abnormal metabolism. As far as I remember, It was only mentioned that laqurium increases the tempo of cell multiplication. Which would obviously make it a potential carcinogen lol.
 
LegendsCelebi said:
Is it working through energy emission though? Every time Laqurium had an effect it had to be inhaled by a pokemon. Simply being around is not enough. Even being around the core (=huge concentration) isn't enough to affect pokemon, Spinel had to spread it in the air.
Click to expand...
The thing is, not all Pokémon need to breathe, like Sidian's Garganacl. Furthermore, it was shown that the effect itself depended on the charge of the Strong Spheres powered by the crystals within them. Therefore, in my opinion, the pink mist is more of a visual effect, showing the direct influence of Laquium energy, rather than a physical manifestation.
 
I do like the idea that Iono might be working undercover to dismiss Strong Spheres to her audience on behalf of the Rising Volt Tacklers. I do like that Liko was able to defeat Dash without even using her Tera Orb to combat Dash's Strong Sphere. Although, I kind of wish Meowscarada learned a new moves. I will say that I was a little disappointed that we didn't see how much the Strong Spheres were supposed to hurt a Pokémon until Dash's battle with Liko. I would have expected to see her Swanna in a bit more pain with how much she was using it since she received her Strong Sphere. I do kind of wish she gets her own power-up item to give her something of merit.
 
Dr. Gro 3001 said:
I do like the idea that Iono might be working undercover to dismiss Strong Spheres to her audience on behalf of the Rising Volt Tacklers. I do like that Liko was able to defeat Dash without even using her Tera Orb to combat Dash's Strong Sphere. Although, I kind of wish Meowscarada learned a new moves. I will say that I was a little disappointed that we didn't see how much the Strong Spheres were supposed to hurt a Pokémon until Dash's battle with Liko. I would have expected to see her Swanna in a bit more pain with how much she was using it since she received her Strong Sphere. I do kind of wish she gets her own power-up item to give her something of merit.
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Quick Attack is always a good thing to have, I'd probably also keep it if I was to face so many super-fast Laquirium pokemon. And I'm also not surprised that Liko won and relatively easily. At this point RVT are world's #1 team for dealing with Strong Spheres, Dash could not have picked a worse opponent for a Strong Sphere "showcase match" (and I bet Liko knew this and happily took the "bait")

0cerge said:
The thing is, not all Pokémon need to breathe, like Sidian's Garganacl. Furthermore, it was shown that the effect itself depended on the charge of the Strong Spheres powered by the crystals within them. Therefore, in my opinion, the pink mist is more of a visual effect, showing the direct influence of Laquium energy, rather than a physical manifestation.
Click to expand...
Good point with Garganacl, then maybe it's absorption through "skin". The charge in Strong Spheres can be simply explained: there's just so much of the substance inside, no matter what's the mechanism it is only enough for a limited number of uses. Then the Super Strong Spheres maybe pack larger charges or have the same substance in greater concentration (so that more of the bio-active/energetic mass is released per charge)
 
LegendsCelebi said:
Quick Attack is always a good thing to have, I'd probably also keep it if I was to face so many super-fast Laquirium pokemon. And I'm also not surprised that Liko won and relatively easily. At this point RVT are world's #1 team for dealing with Strong Spheres, Dash could not have picked a worse opponent for a Strong Sphere "showcase match" (and I bet Liko knew this and happily took the "bait")


Good point with Garganacl, then maybe it's absorption through "skin". The charge in Strong Spheres can be simply explained: there's just so much of the substance inside, no matter what's the mechanism it is only enough for a limited number of uses. Then the Super Strong Spheres maybe pack larger charges or have the same substance in greater concentration (so that more of the bio-active/energetic mass is released per charge)
Click to expand...
i knew that under strong spheres, sidian's garganacl was showing cracks and it was on the verge of falling apart
 
Just a small note. Leaf Storm looks just like leafage and magical leaf just a different shade of green. I was hoping Meowscarada would learn that move today
 

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I was pleasantly surprised by this episode! Given how ugly the preview looked, I expected it to be a flop, but it had a strong emotional core that's congruent with HZ's themes and tone, great pacing, and was just overall a good time. I'm not too thrilled about getting another training episode next week but I'm cautiously hoping it'll be good regardless
 
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