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themattress · 6 years

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My Top 20 Pokemon BW Episodes

Pokemon: Best Wishes premiered on September 23, 2010 - exactly 8 years ago. The general Pokemon anime fandom who want different things out of the anime than I do loathed it and still do to this day, but I loved it and still do to this day (for the most part, that is - the Unova League and Decolore Islands can fuck right off). In honor of it, I wanted to share my thoughts on my favorite episodes (and many honorable mentions) that really made the show great.

20. Movie Time! Zorua in "The Legend of the Pokémon Knight"! ゾロア・ザ・ムービー！ポケモンナイトの伝説！！ Zorua The Movie! The Legend of the Pokémon Knight!!

This is one of the funniest BW episodes. Ash’s stagefright-based acting, Cilan’s hammy bombast as the villain, Iris’ sudden need to adapt to the situation by changing what character she’s playing, Team Rocket’s confusion when Cilan incorporates them into the movie’s plot - it’s all hilarious. And Luke is one of the most endearing CotDs (sort of) in the whole series.

19. A UFO for Elgyem! リグレーと未確認飛行物体！ Ligray and the UFO!

During BW’s second and third years, the writing for Cilan often pigeonholed him as “the zany, wacky one” of the group, maybe to overcompensate for Brock being so bland beyond his horniness gag for so long. That’s why I appreciate this episode in the first year where Cilan and his interests are shown to also be taken seriously and not just as a joke. His passion for science and admiration for Professor Icarus actually have real dramatic weight in the plot.

18. Crisis at Ferroseed Research! テッシード研究所！アイリスとバイバニラ！！ Tesseed Research Institute! Iris and Baivanilla!!

The previous Poke-girls had phobias of particular Pokemon (Bug-types for Misty, Tentacool for May, Plusle and Minun - kind of - for Dawn), but there was never any episode where they really had to grapple with their fear at close-range and resolve it. Iris, however, actually gets this episode where she has to confront her irrational fear of Ice-type Pokemon, and via a Pokemon that belongs to her rival Georgia, no less. This is also a great episode for Georgia, and for the Iris-Georgia rivalry / frenemy relationship in general. There’s no way I can’t love it!

17. The Dragon Master's Path! ドラゴンマスターへの道！キバゴVSクリムガン！！ The Road to Become a Dragon Master! Kibago VS Crimgan!!

This episode is a good example of good pacing: Axew’s problem with mastering Dragon Rage was introduced in episode 9, in November. 20 episodes and 4 months later, we’re at the point where this cannot drag out any further lest the audience lose all interest in it. And sure enough, the problem gets resolved here, at exactly the right moment. Aside from that, it’s a very good Iris-focused episode that really does a better job explaining what a Dragon Master is and what Iris has to do to become one, kick-starting her character arc in earnest. Lastly, this episode proved that even back in white, Team Rocket was still awesome in BW.

16. Drayden Versus Iris: Past, Present, and Future! ソウリュウジム！アイリスVSシャガ！！ Soryu Gym! Iris VS Shaga!!

The climax of Iris’ character arc. The battle with Drayden itself, the build-up it had been given throughout the series, and the payoff that was also heavily foreshadowed (Drayden and the Village Elder setting Iris up to become the apprentice Opelucid Gym Leader) is all excellent. But it’s really the flashbacks to Iris’ time at the Opelucid school that makes this episode truly brilliant, because it fully explains and informs everything about Iris’ character, why she’s been the way she has since we met her, and highlights how much she’s grown and how much she still has yet to go. Until Lillie came along, it made Iris’ the best heroine’s journey since May.

15. Explorers of the Hero's Ruin! 黒き英雄の遺跡！シンボラーとデスカーン！！ The Black Hero's Ruins! Symboler and Desukarn!!

The series goes full Indiana Jones in this episode, and I love it! Cedric Juniper is a highly entertaining character, and the archaeological quest he leads Ash, Iris and Cilan on is fraught with both hilarious and legitimately dark, scary moments. The mythology surrounding Zekrom and the Black Hero is fascinating, and the only downside is that, thanks to the changes imposed on the series by B2/W2, nothing really comes out of it. The Golden Dark Stone is forgotten about and Pikachu just remains Zekrom’s avatar. Such a disappointing waste...

14. A Night in the Nacrene City Museum! シッポウシティー！博物館で大冒険！！ Shippou City! The Big Adventure at the Museum!!

Hey, it actually IS episode 14, too! This episode is great for the comedy, the spooky fun, Lenora’s awesome entrance, and the dynamic between Ash, Iris and Cilan wonderfully displayed: Iris believing in supernatural spiritual matters, Cilan dismissing them and insisting there’s a rational scientific explanation for everything, and Ash being caught in the middle.

13. Scare at the Litwick Mansion! ヒトモシ屋敷のこわ～いお話！ The Scary Story of the Hitomoshi Mansion!

There is some good comedy early on in this episode, but unlike the previous entry on the list, this one is noticeable for being genuinely frightening. The atmosphere of being trapped in an abandoned mansion during a thunderstorm, the chilling revelation of the Litwicks’ true nature and plan, the increasingly zombified appearance of Team Rocket, the freaky-ass “Ghost World”...it all creates a perfect horror-themed episode. Plus, it features the first team-up between the heroes and Team Rocket in the show, which only adds to the climax’s intensity.

12. Saving Darmanitan From the Bell! ダルマッカとヒヒダルマ！時計塔の秘密！！ Darumakka and Hihidaruma! The Secret of the Clock Tower!!

This is the first time we actually get to see the dynamic between Ash, Iris and Cilan at play - the first time they truly work together as a team. And after a whole series of Ash and Dawn doing everything important and leaving Brock in the dust, it’s so nice to have an actual heroic trio again. Speaking of trios, Team Rocket’s two scenes are excellent, truly capturing the super-spy intrigue of the mission they’re currently on. Lastly, this episode is beautiful! The anime-exclusive village by the waterside that the story takes place in is simply gorgeous.

11. A Home for Dwebble! イシズマイ！自分の家をとりもどせ！！ Ishizumai! Take Back Your House!!

Hey, it actually IS episode 11, too! And as the first focus episode for Cilan, where he bonds with and catches a Pokemon, it’s a good one: well written and well animated, with the interaction between all the characters being spot-on and continuing to get you into the groove of this show’s tone. Also, Team Rocket’s subplot is perfectly paced with scenes in the beginning, middle and end of the episode that all align with one another and pushes their mission forward in an exciting way. By this episode, I was completely sold on this series.

10. Best Wishes Until We Meet Again! ベストウイッシュ！また会う日まで！！ Best Wishes! Until the Day We Meet Again!!

This is the REAL finale of the series, even though it’s technically the penultimate episode prior to the last one which is more of a pilot for XY. Clearly patterned off of “Gotta Catch Ya Later” from the OS (which was also the true end to that show before the AG pilot that followed), the episode is the Last Hurrah for both Ash, Iris and Cilan’s teamwork dynamic and Team Rocket as clever, competent threats. The only significant flaw is that when it finally comes time for Iris and Cilan’s send-off, it feels a little too rushed, with Iris and Cilan themselves just nonchalantly bailing on Kanto even though they literally just got there. Otherwise, this is a fantastic finish. Just skip DA!, jump straight to this one, and you’re good!

9. Expedition to Onix Island! イワークの島でサバイバル！ Survival on the Island of Iwark!

What can I say about this episode other than it’s the perfect “vacation episode” for the series? Everything just feels so nice and relaxing and fun. Even when the conflict happens, it doesn’t really change this, particularly due to the hilarious comedy pieces scattered throughout. Also hilarious to me is the shameless amount of repeated animation in this episode: the Pokemon jumping around in the ocean when the heroes arrive and when they leave, Iris and Dawn’s freakout and running away from an Onix, Piplup and Oshawott glaring angrily at each other nose-to-nose, etc. If any episode could get away with this, it’s this one. That’s why I love it!

8. Meowth's Scrafty Tactics! ニャゴシエーター・ニャース！ズルズキン説得作戦！！ Nyagotiator Nyarth! Zuruzukin Persuasion Tactics!!

Talk about unexpected! There were several stupid episodes in DP that entertained the notion of Meowth splitting up from Team Rocket and never following through with it, but in this episode it actually happened! Fired from Team Rocket after botching a robbery (or so he says), Meowth actually becomes a party member for the heroes and helps them rescue Axew from a rogue Scrafty. Meowth’s interactions with the various heroes are hilarious and help to remind viewers of how endearing he is. It almost makes one wish this new set-up for him was a permanent one. Almost. The TRio is just too good to keep apart, especially in this series!

7. Enter Iris and Axew! アイリスとキバゴ！ Iris and Kibago!

The second part of the series premiere, it was this episode that really piqued my interest. It’s got beautifully animated set pieces, Iris immediately being more endearing than I thought she was going to be, Team Rocket actually being menacing and competent, and overall a sense of adventure, discovery and child-like wonder that had been lacking in the Pokemon anime for over a decade. I wasn’t ready to declare this series good yet, but I actually had hope.

6. Dreams by the Yard Full! 夢の跡地！ムンナとムシャーナ！！ The Dream Ruins! Munna and Musharna!!

Hey, it actually IS episode 6, too! And it was this episode that did convince me that it was probably safe to declare this series good. Ash wins his first badge, we meet Dr. Fennel and visit the Dreamyard, Team Rocket makes progress on their mission with Giovanni letting them and us know that their actions are actually amounting to something, and the heroic Ash/Iris/Cilan trio is officially formed, making it one of the most important episodes too.

5. Stopping the Rage of Legends! トルネロスVSボルトロスVSランドロス！ Tornelos VS Voltolos VS Landlos!

I just love so much about this two-parter. That it actually turns the small island off the coast of Driftveil from the games’ map into a real location, the clever multi-purpose name of “Milos Island”, the island’s beautiful scenery and quaint yet vibrant culture, the mythology, the perilous atmosphere of the dark storm clouds, the fact that Iris plays a major role, the well-animated clash of the three weather-controlling titans that are Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus that is what a similar climax in AG should have been like, and the sense of an ancient legend becoming a prophecy that plays itself out in real life, which was part of what made the B/W games so good. The only major flaw is Team Rocket’s presence, which is only there to set up something important for them later on but could otherwise be excised here.

4. Battle for the Underground! 激走！バトルサブウェイ！！ Flat-out Run! Battle Subway!!

It took 23 episodes across 6 months to reach Nimbasa City, and the showrunners certainly made it worth the wait with this two-parter. Utilizing the popular Battle Subway with its popular boss duo of Ingo and Emmet, the show tells an awesome heist thriller story as Meowth reveals his true colors to both the heroes and the audience, rejoining with Team Rocket (which he was never fired from at all) to help them steal all the Pokemon from the Nimbasa Pokemon Center, which initiates a high-speed, high-stakes chase. These episodes are some of the best for Team Rocket, with Jessie, James, Meowth and Dr. Zager showing just how dangerous they can be and how meticulously they can put a plan together. If it wasn’t for a stroke of inspiration from Cilan at just the right moment and Pikachu taking it upon itself to act like a Pokemon trainer to the other captive Pokemon, the heroes would have lost, and even afterward it takes everything they’ve got to bring Team Rocket down. And Team Rocket still escapes without any real comeuppance in the end, a testament to their competence in BW.

3. The Club Battle! ドンバトル！ The Don Battle!

A four-parter airing over the Summer of 2011. If anything justified my love for this show, it was this. A tournament held by Don George where Ash, Iris, Cilan and all of their rivals (plus Luke) gather and have many varied interactions between them was just a brilliant idea, one I’m not surprised they recycled later on. It helps flesh out the characters and their relationships, which was much needed and appreciated. The battles are short and sweet, which is my usual preference, and the conclusion where Iris wins the whole thing by defeating Ash was great if not solely for the tears of rage from all the power-fantasy!Ash fanboys. Throw in scenes of Team Rocket preparing for their mission in Nimbasa City, and what more could you want?

2. Team Rocket vs. Team Plasma! ロケット団VSプラズマ団！ The Rocket Gang VS the Plasma Gang!

This two-parter currently exists as a Generations-esque short film after the 3/11/11 disaster caused the original versions to be lost, but the story still comes across just fine. It can be summed up in a single word: Meteonite. Everything Team Rocket has been building toward for the past several episodes comes together beautifully, and there is an escalating sense of action and peril as the Meteonite’s devastating power is unleashed upon Unova. Aside from all of the 3/11-related stuff, the main flaw with these episodes is Team Plasma. Team Rocket’s mission is executed so well and builds toward such a high in Part 1 that Team Plasma ruining it all for them by stealing the Meteonite almost feels like a wasteful bait and switch, and Team Plasma themselves are tailored after their B/W form and building toward a B/W-based arc that we know in retrospect sadly never happens. They encapsulate What Could Have Been.

1. Operation Tempest! さらば！？ロケット団 Farewell, Rocket Gang!?

And here we are, the high point of the entire series. This two-parter provides pay-off to what has been building throughout Summer 2012, what has been building since the first episode of BW, and even what has been building since Team Rocket’s introduction back in the original Kanto Saga. Giovanni is a fantastic villain, dominating the proceedings throughout. The atmosphere is like the Milos Island episodes, with an added Lovecraftian Horror edge making it incredibly dark. The peril and stakes are the highest in the show’s run (it’s not called “the greatest crisis Unova has ever faced” for nothing!) And unlike the other big two-parters, there is a real emotional investment in addition to the spectacle: you actually care about Meloetta and want to see it rescued for its sake as well as for Unova’s, and in a climactic moment you also care about Team Rocket and want to see them come out OK despite what they’ve done. It may have not been Team Rocket’s farewell, but it was most definitely their peak, and BW’s.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

In the Shadow of Zekrom! イッシュ地方へ！ゼクロムの影！！ To the Isshu Region! Zekrom's Shadow!!

The first part of the series premiere. It’s good, but not as good as the second part.

Triple Leaders, Team Threats! サンヨウジム！ＶＳバオップ、ヒヤップ、ヤナップ！！ Sanyou Gym! VS Baoppu, Hiyappu and Yanappu!!

Ash’s great battle at the Striaton Gym, with a cool Team Rocket scene for good measure.

The Bloom Is on Axew! ペンドラー暴走！キバゴを救え！！ The Out of Control Pendror! Rescue Kibago!!

Iris reveals her background and goal, while Giovanni reveals Team Rocket’s new objective.

Scraggy — Hatched to be Wild! タマゴからかえったあばれん坊！ The Wild Child that Hatched From The Egg!

Scraggy and Dr. Zager, two great new cast additions, make their debuts here.

A Connoisseur's Revenge! ソムリエ対決！イシズマイVSフタチマル！！ A Sommelier Showdown! Ishizumai VS Futachimaru!!

Introducing Cabernet, the craziest and most mishap-prone rival character on the show.

Dancing With the Ducklett Trio! ピカチュウVSメグロコVSコアルヒー！！ Pikachu VS Meguroco VS Koaruhie!!

Who doesn’t love the Ducklett Trio? Also, SG Sandile becomes SG Krokorok!

The Lost World of Gothitelle! スカイアローブリッジとゴチルゼル！ Skyarrow Bridge and Gothiruselle!

A fascinating, atmospheric episode with an emotional conclusion.

A Venipede Stampede! ヒウンシティ！フシデパニック！！ Hiun City! Fushide Panic!!

Can’t watch the “Team Rocket vs. Team Plasma!” short film without watching this first.

Ash and Trip's Third Battle! ライバルバトル！バニプッチ、ドッコラー参戦！！ Rival Battle! Vanipeti, Dokkorer Compete in a Battle!!

Trip comes into his own as a character and as a rival. Pity it doesn’t last...

Iris and Excadrill Against the Dragon Buster! ドラゴンバスター登場！アイリスとドリュウズ！！ The Dragon Buster Appears! Iris and Doryuzu!!

Georgia makes her debut, and Iris’ other long-standing Pokemon problem is resolved.

Gotta Catch A Roggenrola! ダンゴロ！ラスターカノン発射せよ！！ Dangoro! Let's Fire the Luster Cannon!!

Screw Ash getting another Pokemon, Team Rocket built a fucking Metal Gear weapon!

Ash Versus the Champion! サトシVSチャンピオン・アデク！ Satoshi VS Champion Adeku!

Alder appears in a more humorous but still faithful adaptation of his debut in the games.

The Mighty Accelguard to the Rescue! 快傑ア☆ギルダー VS フリージ男！ Kaiketsu A☆Gilder VS Freege Man!

A Kamen Rider parody that stands definitively as one of BW’s funniest episodes.

Battling the King of the Mines! 地底のジム戦！VSヤーコン！！ Underground Gym Battle! VS Yakon!!

Ash’s battle against Clay in Driftveil Gym is the best Gym battle in the series, IMO.

The Clubsplosion! ドンナマイト! The Donamite!

A rehash of the Club Battle - not as good, but still fun, with some great growth for Stephan.

A Restoration Confrontation! ネジ山の激闘！アバゴーラの奇跡!! The Fierce Fighting at Spiral Mountain! Abagoura's Miracle!!

Team Rocket is spectacular in this, but everything else is just average at best.

An Epic Defense Force! 映画対決！出撃イッシュ防衛隊！！ Movie Showdown! Sortie, Isshu Defense Group!!

Another fun movie-making episode with Luke, plus the unexpected debut of Meloetta.

Rocking the Virbank Gym! 激闘タチワキジム！VSホミカ！！ Fierce Fighting at Tachiwaki Gym! VS Homika!!

The second-best Gym battle after the one in Driftveil. It definitely earned its double-length!

All for the Love of Meloetta! 歌えメロエッタ！愛の旋律！！ Sing, Meloetta! The Melody of Love!!

Ash and friends finally meet Meloetta, and the Undella story arc begins in earnest.

Piplup, Pansage, and a Meeting of the Times! ポッチャマVSヤナップ！華麗なるバトル！！ Pochama VS Yanappu! The Magnificent Battle!!

Dawn’s return is pretty fun, and Team Rocket officially embark on their final great mission.

Iris and the Rogue Dragonite! アイリスと暴れ者カイリュー！ Iris and the Roughneck Kairyu!

A great episode introducing a great new Pokemon. Iris’ moral views are sketchy, though.

Unrest at the Nursery! ポケモン保育園は大騒ぎ！ワシボンとバルチャイ！ Pokémon Nursery School Uproar! Washibon and Valchai!

A fun breather episode before Operation Tempest: truly a case of the calm before the storm.

Beauties Battling for Pride and Prestige! 世界一華麗なポケモン！？チラチーノVSツタージャ！ The Most Magnificent Pokémon in the World!? Chillaccino VS Tsutarja!

Fancy dresses, goofy hairstyles, and noblewomens’ laughs. I fucking love this episode!

A Village Homecoming! アイリス、竜の里へ帰る！ Iris Returns to the Village of Dragons!

Not quite as big a deal as it should’ve been, but still a good lead-in to Iris vs. Drayden.

Episode N エピソードN Chapter of N

The 14-episode story arc taking place after the Unova League that wrapped up the Myth Arc of the Unova Saga. I mainly highlight episode 2 (N’s formal debut), episode 4 (Team Plasma and Looker appear on the scene), episode 6 (N joins the party), episode 8 (Charizard vs. Dragonite with beautiful animation), and episodes 9 through 14 (a straight-running plot that escalates all the way to its conclusion at the White Ruins). The arc has a shaky first half, lasts too short and is clearly a hastily cobbled-together substitute for the original plan the writers had in mind for the Myth Arc, but N’s character development is written well, Team Plasma (especially Colress) are well-portrayed, and the second half is excellent, making valuable practice for later efforts by the writers in XY&Z and Sun & Moon. You’ve gotta admire that.

And here’s the math for this post, because that shit always interests me.

TOP EPISODES: 20 [Really 27] Year 1 = 13 (65%) [Really 18 (65%)] Year 2 = 5 (25%) [Really 7 (25%)] Year 3 = 2 (10%) [Really 2 (10%)] --------------- HONORABLE MENTIONS: 25 [Really 39] Year 1 = 11 (45%) [Really 11 (30%)] Year 2 = 11 (45%) [Really 16 (40%)] Year 3 = 3 (10%) [Really 12 (30%)] --------------- TOTAL EPISODES: 45 [Really 66] Year 1 = 24 (50%) [Really 29 (45%)] Year 2 = 16 (35%) [Really 23 (35%)] Year 3 = 5 (15%) [Really 14 (20%)]

(The “Really” parts are for when despite being one listing, there are multiple episodes: the two-parters, the four-part Don George tournaments, and the 10 episodes from Episode N.)

As I’ve said many times before, Years 1 and 2 were great, only Year 3 was a disappointment. But even so, as a whole BW is still a good and significant show that I will always cherish.

#Pokemon #Best Wishes #Opinion

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