Review S08 EP04: Training Wrecks

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Japanese Episode AG 096: "Muscle Battle! Double Battle!"
American Episode 367: "Training Wrecks"

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Kids' WB!, 10:00am ET
Encore airing on Friday, October 14th at 3:00pm
Ash and the gang come across an island shaped like a flexing bicep, where a group of pokemon trainers excel at exercising. As May, Brock, and Max try out the various exercise equipment, Ash engages in a double battle against a Walrein and a Quagsire. Can Ash win this double battle?

Also, the end of this episode pretty much sets up the big Groudon vs. Kyogre battle that will begin next week.

Post your thoughts about the episode here. Please mark any spoilers for episodes not that have yet to air in America in spoiler tags.
 
Oh my god, the ghey euphanisms! *headdesk* This whole episode is nothing but heavy suggestive hinting and...it freaks me out liek woah. Because I never, ever thought it'd happen.

Of course, James seems to be taking to this place full of bulging muscles and said muscles being shown off. It'd disturbing and fascinating and holy canole, @_@ this is just feeding my arm fetish and that's baaaad.

I also happen to like Rocky's teeth sparkle. It's just so Chip Skylark. :D And sweat should NEVER be compared to stars.

I can't even give a score on this episode, it's just that wonky AND bad.

EDIT: Don't get me wrong though, I still enjoyed it, even if I was reduced to giggles and covering my face from embarassment.
 
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First, a public service announcement.

JAMES. IS. NOT. A. HOMOSEXUAL.

Eric puts that little quirk in his voice that's like, "WOAH, stop." (I'm referring specifically to the line when he's looking at Rocky and the twerps and goes "Now I can see why this island has its name," or something to that effect. ::shrug:: Maybe I should just accept the bisexuality of the American James.

I thought that the middle question was worded poorly once again. I'm assuming people can infer correctly "the first in the evolutionary line", but it would have been nice to add it. First in what? Alphabetically? Line? You get what I'm saying.

Overall, the episode isn't lacking. It was kind of ordinary. I enjoyed Jessie and Meowth trying to get away, but James stopping them. "Guys, where's the UFO?" XD I love Ash swinging from the ropes, it's funny. Nice job. Perhaps a 6.5/10.

I'm kinda of excited to see the Groudon vs. Kyogre battle. I noticed that there's a new writer for the English version, as well. Let's see what happens. ^_^

EDIT: Yeah, sweat to stars? A stretch...
 
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I was totally looking forward to this episode b/c it had a bit more of TR than the usual episode.

It was cute that they all worked out. I found it funny that May and Jessie were the ones who objected in the beginning. It seems like the girls don't want/need to work out (seriously they don't. They're all sticks anyway)

I dunno, it was different, James generally whines over everything. It was kinda cute that he wanted to be buff. But. As for the whole gayness of the episode, omg I'm so done w/ this. I'm tired of discussing it and I'm tired of Eric.

Sadly the funniest line to me, was Jessie saying something on the treadmill. And I totally forgot what was said, but it was the only time I LOLed.

Rocky kinda reminded me of Ash when the show was more newer. He used to be concited. And LMFAO to the chip skylark comparision.

THE END KICKED ASS. 'Bout time team twerp blasted off.
 
They've been blasted off before. Remember A Scare To Remember? I think there were one or two others.

Once again, James' voice and manner of speech were weird. I especially noticed that he sometimes drew words out irregularly. His voice also had this odd tone. It was somewhat... flat or low or something. The combination of those was annoying.

Otherwise, the episode wasn't exceptional. James' newfound yet ardent passion for exercise was really cute. I think I was the only one who dudn't catch much innuendo. And Rocky did come off as a tad arrogant. I first thought, Hey, people can have some confidence. One shouldn't be allowed to bash confident people just because one has no self-esteem! Then later on, it became apparent that he was just a bit of a jerk. His tooth-sparkle thing was annoying. I was surprised how long it took Ash to figure out "take out Quagsire then Walrein," but I guess I'd have to be in his place. Also, why couldn't the other three say "We want out"? As far as I know, it's not like the other people were going to beat them up because of it. Is starting out with six sessions of 45 min runs healthy? o_O
Eh.... 7.9/10.

fruitsmoothierevenge said:
I thought that the middle question was worded poorly once again. I'm assuming people can infer correctly "the first in the evolutionary line", but it would have been nice to add it. First in what? Alphabetically? Line? You get what I'm saying.
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Poliwag comes first either way. :D But it did seem a little terse.
 
spokethewind said:
Sadly the funniest line to me, was Jessie saying something on the treadmill. And I totally forgot what was said, but it was the only time I LOLed.
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Do you mean the one about no oxygen to his brain? I thought that line was funny.
 
The "where's the UFO??" line made me giggle-snort. Also the one about the sub blowing up. It was an ok episode.
 
An improvment over the last few episodes, but still seemed pretty filler-ish to me. I didn't really see how all that exercise was going to help them become better pokemon trainers, unless the pokemon exercise too. I hate exercise, so I sympathized with May and Jessie. Team Rocket was hilarious in this episode, especially James, and it was nice that they didn't interfere with the main plot like they usually do. Rocky's arrogance was really getting on my nerves, I'm happy Ash kicked his butt. The battle itself had nice stratigys but the animation sucked. The ending was also cool. overall: 3 stars
 
Oh, I forgot to mention. If anyone's seen both versions, was there a cut made to the dub? A specific one: the group had just been introduced to Rocky and Max had said something along the lines of insulting May. And the way she was going looked as if she was going to him hit over the head. >.> Maybe it was my imagination, but she /was/ moving as the scene switch was made, and the movement itself was irregular, so I was just wondering.
 
Kthleen said:
I was surprised how long it took Ash to figure out "take out Quagsire then Walrein," but I guess I'd have to be in his place.
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I think the idea is that at the beginning, Walrein's Ice Ball attacks were coming at Grovyle so quickly that it would get hit with the ice attack before it could get close enough to Quagsire to take it out. Later, Grovyle was able to move in close enough because Walrein's Ice Ball attack was taking much longer to form than it did at the beginning of the battle.

Also, why couldn't the other three say "We want out"? As far as I know, it's not like the other people were going to beat them up because of it.
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I think they were just trying to be polite and quietly stick it out to not be rude. I don't think "Oh God, they'll beat us up if we make a break for it" was going through anyone's brains at all.

Luna Tiger said:
If anyone's seen both versions, was there a cut made to the dub?
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There was no cut at that point in the episode. The only edits that took place, other than the standard time cuts, happened during Meowth's Boss Fantasy.
 
Torva said:
Oh, lighten up, we're not all Rocketshippers! Let the anti-shippers have their fun.
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Yes, I must make myself aware of this. ^_^ But the problem is, he's getting worse than Brock in that he wants to jump anyone that moves. It seems like he's interested in every CotD. They play it that way. Ack. Perhaps they think he's a sexually frustrated Team Rocket member. (There's... a joke... somewhere in that, I think...)

They must have changed the meaning of the Fantasy, because the clips are identical, music and all.

Woah, wait... the guy in the sunglasses that talks to Max sounds like someone doing an imitation of Eric Stuart. o_O;;

Oh, and the writers didn't change, I looked at my tape wrong. Sorry.
 
Well, I'm not a Rocketshipper, but I don't think James is homosexual. Unless one of ye have seen him with another guy, he isn't. Sure, James squeals and such, but, IMO, he isn't.

Anywho, about the episode:

Pretty good if you ask me. Rocky was a bit too conceited, as others mentioned. Also, IMO, exercising might be somewhat good for ya as a trainer, but exercising the mind is just as important -a battle can't be won without strategy. Team Rocket was quite funny; some of their comments which I cannot remember made me laugh quite loud. The battle was pretty nice, Walrein looked quite ugly x.x. Overall, the episode was very nice, better than some recent ones.

So, 8/10 is my rating :-D.
 
There wasn't anything cut from the Boss Fantasy - they just changed the shape of Sakaki's wine glass. That was the only non-time cut edit of the episode.
 
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