“Battling a Thaw in Relations!” Review Thread

[Mijumaru]

Paul was still a bit of a jerk, but not as much as before.
This episode had many more bad points than it had good points. Thank you, dub!
Also... "So Ash won... wow." Brock actually gave a damn that Ash won!

[CommanderPigg]

Was the dialogue at least more of the same in the Paul/Ash exchange at the end?

Lol, I'm not surprised they used the word "Pathetic" again. Though for once it wasn't that much different from the original..in which he said something along the lines of "Is that all of your power? You continue to disappoint me/Don't disappoint me again."

Yeah, the dialogue stayed pretty true. not that I've memorized the last scene or anything like that

Neither am I. It was pretty much the same gist, I think he meant to be scathing at that point because he knew that infernape had a lot left in it and he knew that he's able to evoke it using petty insults :P Infernape was tired of that shit, he did NOT want to hear that from Paul ever again~

Paul was still a bit of a jerk, but not as much as before.
This episode had many more bad points than it had good points. Thank you, dub!
Also... "So Ash won... wow." Brock actually gave a damn that Ash won!

If only they built it up more gradually...I thought his attitude was fine in this episode.

Brock has actually been paying attention to his rivalry for a long time. That's why he's so perceptive of it...he could feel the tension! and we all know he's a comashipper *shot*

[Mijumaru]

Something that kept me relieved was that they kept the heartbeat near the end of the battle. In other episodes, such as Dawn's Early Night!, they kept the heartbeat, but drained it with dub music. That was a good aspect of the episode.

[Masurao]

Yeah, the dialogue stayed pretty true. not that I've memorized the last scene or anything like that

Haha. I've watched DP187-188 a few times now, and can pretty much remember what everyone said.

Oh well, Paul's now gone in the dub. So long again. Give Shooti some pointers on how to be a interesting rival when you get the chance.

[matt0044]

Unlike the others on this thread, I mildly enjoyed the dub for all that it was worth. They COULD'VE used the Japanese music but the English ain't too shabby. For me, the climax made it up to me.

[CommanderPigg]

Haha. I've watched DP187-188 a few times now, and can pretty much remember what everyone said.

Oh well, Paul's now gone in the dub. So long again. Give Shooti some pointers on how to be a interesting rival when you get the chance.

Oh tell me about it...I think it's my most re-watched episode since "Pyramiding Rage,"

Oh...that's right. That's the last we'll ever see of Paul...ever. I'd be more sad, but I think that his ending was decent enough so that even if he doesn't come back, I wouldn't mind. I don't want a great conclusion to be ruined by an obligatory cameo XD

Speaking of which, is Brandon still even in Snowpoint? Once Paul gets there, I want him to either completely miss Brandon or have Brandon say something like: "The first battle was a freebie, but don't think you can cut any corners! You have to go to the battle frontier now hahahah"

And Paul would have wasted his journey. :D

Unlike the others on this thread, I mildly enjoyed the dub for all that it was worth. They COULD'VE used the Japanese music but the English ain't too shabby. For me, the climax made it up to me.

I did enjoy the majority of it. But the parts that mattered to me the most could have been a lot better. I agree though, it was an amazing battle, I don't think I could have done better myself :)

[Dogasu]

So one thing that's always bothered me about this episode is that the issue that started the whole Ash and Paul rivalry in the first place - the fact that Paul treated pokemon like disposable tools - is never really addressed here. Everyone just goes their separate ways without us having any more insight as to why Paul used to act the way he did.

[BlazingQuilava.]

So one thing that's always bothered me about this episode is that the issue that started the whole Ash and Paul rivalry in the first place - the fact that Paul treated pokemon like disposable tools - is never really addressed here. Everyone just goes their separate ways without us having any more insight as to why Paul used to act the way he did.

I kinda wish they did that to. It would've been great to see Paul explain why he treats his pokemon like tools and a real reason why he doesn't bond with his pokemon. Seriously the slacker thing is just a sad excuse to not care about your pokemon. It would've been great to see Paul admit that he was a dick to his pokemon.

I loved this epic finale of Ash vs. Paul. The battle between Electivire and Infernape was great, and the closure of the rivalry was decent. And am I seriously the only one who doesn't complain about the BGM?

[Sweenix]

it wasn't really a bgm!! it was an instrumental version to a song we have all heard way 2 much

[Masurao]

So one thing that's always bothered me about this episode is that the issue that started the whole Ash and Paul rivalry in the first place - the fact that Paul treated pokemon like disposable tools - is never really addressed here. Everyone just goes their separate ways without us having any more insight as to why Paul used to act the way he did.

IIRC, Cynthia didn't say much of anything about Paul's training methods after she defeated him, and healed up his Pokemon. She just sat there and listen to Ash, and Paul argue about their way to gain power. I could be wrong though.

Edit: Though she did get after him about healing his Pokemon.

[Emboar]

The song when Infernape activates Blaze was pretty bad.

[Musashi]

Very disappointed, like just about everyone else in this thread. At least Team Rocket was more tolerable today. :/

But I will say the show (In Japanese anyway) couldn't be more right about Paul being Ash's greatest rival ever. You could just feel the anxiety and tension coming through the TV screen. And that part at the end with the heartbeats? Perfect. I don't think it's possible for Tomioka to ever top this battle.

[The Puppetmaster]

So one thing that's always bothered me about this episode is that the issue that started the whole Ash and Paul rivalry in the first place - the fact that Paul treated pokemon like disposable tools - is never really addressed here. Everyone just goes their separate ways without us having any more insight as to why Paul used to act the way he did.

Wasn't it addressed in the Brandon episode? Paul acted the way he did because he believed Reggie was weak for loving his Pokemon and that's why he lost to Brandon. When Ash finally beat Paul (whom Paul said acted like Reggie), he realized that loving your Pokemon isn't necessarily a bad thing (and if I recall he said, "Thanks Electivire," or something along those lines in the Japanese version).

[Miju Miju]

Wasn't it addressed in the Brandon episode? Paul acted the way he did because he believed Reggie was weak for loving his Pokemon and that's why he lost to Brandon. When Ash finally beat Paul (whom Paul said acted like Reggie), he realized that loving your Pokemon isn't necessarily a bad thing (and if I recall he said, "Thanks Electivire," or something along those lines in the Japanese version).

i think it was pretty much addressed in pyramiding rage. it wasn't as much detail as i wanted, but it explained the beginning of paul's mindset and what sparked it. his journey to the person he is in dp 188 is done through the sinnoh league, mostly and commenting on reggie during DP.

paul is strategic and intuitive, couple that with being pissed off that your brother sucks for his style, can send a person like that into treating pokemon as tools.

[matt0044]

Wasn't it addressed in the Brandon episode? Paul acted the way he did because he believed Reggie was weak for loving his Pokemon and that's why he lost to Brandon. When Ash finally beat Paul (whom Paul said acted like Reggie), he realized that loving your Pokemon isn't necessarily a bad thing (and if I recall he said, "Thanks Electivire," or something along those lines in the Japanese version).

I believe he said "Thanks, Electivire. You battled well."

And yes, it's implied that he learned that loving your own Pokemon isn't a bad thing from Ash.