BW 029 "The Monmen in Love Rides the Wind!" Review Thread

[GreatLiver]

The problem is that we don't know what TR's doing at the moment, and it doesn't help that we don't know the circumstances surrounding the end of BW024. Before the two parter they were like doing missiony stuff. They don't seem to be doing that any more, and since the writers don't seem to want to write them out completely until missiony stuff starts up again, they've just gone back to their generic pre-BW stuff which everyone was happy to see them out of. The missiony stuff wasn't really terribly compelling, but we knew it was building up to something. Them trying to steal a bunch of weak cottonballs doesn't really seem to build up to much.

[Hellion]

Well, what makes it different from pre-BW "TR steals pokemon" plots is their lack of personality ("BW Rockets"). I think that's why you began to be annoyed by them...

But it has to lead somewhere, serve a purpose, which is my point. When they appeared in episode where they served no purpose in the past when they had their personality, it annoyed me and other people.

Let's take a more recent episode for comparaison. BW030. No problems with the Rockets in that episode. Why? Because they're presence actually moved the plot. They're the reason the gang means Crimgan, they force Emmy to put the stuff she learned into practice, showing some lovely developpement for Emmy.

Here, they don't do that. I'd have nothing against them stealing Monmen if that event actually showed the Monmen becoming more assertive, catching the eye of his beloved, but here, it doesn't.

[pharaohyami5000]

I enjoyed this filler episode, minus Team Rocket who had no explanation or reason of capturing these flying cotton ball Pokemon.

I enjoyed how well Ash trained Monmen and its progress. Now if only he gives time like this for his other followers, mostly Oshawott due to Aqua Jet. Unfortunately the only BS decision writers come up with for Ash to train harder is if he loses.

A somewhat recycled plot with beautiful animations (mostly at the end) and Ash's involvement in this episode, not ignoring the rest, made this a great episode.

[martianmister]

Let's take a more recent episode for comparaison. BW030. No problems with the Rockets in that episode. Why? Because they're presence actually moved the plot. They're the reason the gang means Crimgan, they force Emmy to put the stuff she learned into practice, showing some lovely developpement for Emmy.

Main audience likes them and writers did acknowledge this...It's look like a necessary cause for me. TR doesn't need to complete some subjective goals for appearing these episodes. They doesn't need extra reasons for appearing in this episode as well.

Here, they don't do that. I'd have nothing against them stealing Monmen if that event actually showed the Monmen becoming more assertive, catching the eye of his beloved, but here, it doesn't.

I would prefer this episode to a remake of "Bye Bye Butterfree"...

[Hellion]

Main audience likes them and writers did acknowledge this...

Your argument makes no sense. If the audience likes them, then all the more reason to give them something to do and make them relevant, make them interact more with the gang and each other... This wasn't an example of the writers giving the audience the Team Rocket they love, this is just lazy writing.

I would prefer this episode to a remake of "Bye Bye Butterfree"...

So we should have this episode be a remake of every original series filler in regards to Team Rocket instead?

Plus, I don't remember any training done or any interacting with Ash's pokémon in Bye Bye Butterfree. I also strongly remember Butterfree being in possession of Ash when this episode started...

[Ampharos King]

So your brilliant argument against my opinion that they were useless in this episode is that they were useless...

...I just don't get your point here.

I wasn't arguing that TRio was "useless" in this episode. I was arguing your apparent surprise that TRio had been forced into this episode to make up for the screentime. Your reaction suggested that something like this hadn't happened before, even though it clearly did in around 90% of the episodes in every series. TRio was shoehorned in almost everything.

Why should this have been any different?

The counterpoint is: If your gonna add TR to fill time, make them a critical part of the main plotline so that the plotline fills your 22 minutes. Don't just shove them in there as an irrelevant and purposeless break in the plotline that serves no purpose.

What else would you expect TRio to do in an episode that primarily involved one or two pokemon, with no supporting characters to fill in any gaps whatsoever? Hmm...

It is not like they have any missions from Giovanni that will get them distracted elsewhere...

You're acting as if this hasn't been done before... I guess when the fans are weaned off of something for so long, it is going to be harder to get them back on it.

The Cottonee episode was basically something that could have been solved in 10 minutes. There was only so much the writers could insert to keep it interesting... There was only so much the writers could do to "spice" up an episode by including one or two more of the groups's pokemon. We had no supporting characters like Bianca or Kenyan to keep this episode afloat without TRio's presence. Giovanni hasn't given them any orders to keep their presence as far away from this main plot as possible.

I personally enjoyed the episode and I didn't mind that TRio was included. Their presence only made up at the most 2 minutes of what could have simply been Ash and co. staring at the Cottonee eloping for a bit longer. Those 2 minutes would not have made any real difference as far as the execution went, with or without TRio.

[Dentogirl]

The one good thing about TRio's attack was we got to hear the ending credits music again! ^_^

[Hellion]

You're acting as if this hasn't been done before...

No I'm not. Never once in this thread have I said that or said hinted that it had never been done before. In fact, I've even said it had.

It's happened before and it was bad then, it's bad now.

The Cottonee episode was basically something that could have been solved in 10 minutes.

Tip to the writers: Your episodes last 22 minutes, write plots accordingly.

[D_Albertz]

Wow, another filler, man i thought it's going to be a non-filler seasons...

[Tsutarja]

And it was an enjoyable filler nonetheless, it's funny how small things can make this episode so enjoyable. I didn't even care that this was a filler and it didn't bore me either, it was rather amusing. :]

Positive aspects
- Zuruggu being funny and getting more focus.
- Kibago beating the crap out of Zuruggu. ;D
- Character interactions, I loved the scenes between Iris and Dento, especially when they both tried to figure out from where to wind came from. It's funny how such opposite characters can have such great chemistry together.
- Ash also made this episode for me, gotta love seeing trainer Ash helping out the Monment together with Iris and Dent.
- Kibago demonstrating how strong he was, wow. I'm so glad he's finally able to pull off that move. :D
- Dento singing. Period. + More Ishizumai! yay!
- Hatoboo getting more screentime.
- No Mijumaru!!!! :]

Negative aspects
- I personally feel that they could have replaced Team Rocket in this one with some bad, wild Pokémon. I dunno, it just feels like they shouldn't have been in this episode at all. I don't know if that's just me, but I dislike the fact they appeared in this one for nothing.

[Reila]

I like that Monmen sounded like a sheep. That was a nice touch.

This.
Cool episode, I love Monmen.

[Sollux Captor]

Yeah, TR really sucked in this episode. heheheheh

And I mean that in two ways.

[Meron Targaryen]

Yeah, TR really sucked in this episode. heheheheh

*giggles*

Oh, at least the Rockets didn't take up that much screentime. My favorite parts with them were the ones where they were playing with their iPad. XD The writers could have come up with some other solution for their final scene.

[The Puppetmaster]

A little hungry there, Iris? xD

This was a pretty good episode, but I don't know why Monmen liked the one that was attacking it; it was a little rude if you ask me. :P

As good as the episode was, I wish Satoshi had been training one of his own Pokémon (I feel like I've said this before...). He did a nice job with it, though, I must admit; he focused on its weaknesses, such as aiming and dodging. Cotton Spore is such a cool move by the way.

OMG IT'S HATOOBOO! I was a little thrown off by its appearance right after the eye-catch.

Rocket-dan's motto has that beautiful animation again. They felt a little meh in this episode, though, to be honest. :/

Dent's eyes sparkling and excitement over the two Monmen falling in love was priceless (not to mention his singing).

I absolutely loved Zuruggu throughout the entire episode. My favorite scenes with it were when it was tugging Satoshi's pants leg and was like, "LET ME BATTLE MONMEN!" and the scene where it didn't want to go back inside its Pokéball.

Lastly, was it just me or did anyone else find the Monmen nonchalantly spinning hilarious?

[j-dizzle]

Yeah, TR really sucked in this episode. heheheheh

And I mean that in two ways.

O.o wtf did i miss something....