Thread: Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader!

BW049 - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia

Ash and his travelling party, now in Nimbasa City, run into their friend Bianca, who shares Ash's ambition to challenge the city's gym leader, Elesa. But when Bianca's father shows up with the intent of forcing his daughter to return home with him, Bianca's future as a pokemon trainer could now be at stake. Her father agrees to let the decision rest upon the outcome of her gym battle with Elesa. But does the inexperienced Bianca really stand a chance against a gym leader as powerful and electrifying as Elesa?

To discuss the new "Rival Destinies" opening, please use this thread: "Rival Destinies" Opening Discussion Thread

This was an interesting ep, but it made me think of all those parodies where the fate of everything can be wagered on something trivial. Are we going to have a separate thread on the new opening?

Originally Posted by Samurott

Are we going to have a separate thread on the new opening?

Yep. I've updated the OP with the details.

Well at least I know that I've been pronouncing Elesa wrong - her voice isn't too bad - but her dialogue could have been better. Surely a Gym leader should have been trying to talk Bianca's father into letting her stay on her journey, just as much if not more than Ash? A line about the potential Bianca showed in battle would have been nice. Of course that would have required Bianca to actually show some potential in that battle, a double knockout of Pignite and Zebstrika at the end wouldn't have done any harm. It just all plays in to the huge inconsistency in power levels with regard to Ash and who he wins and loses to.

The father's line to Ash about what Bianca's situation had to do with him seemed to be oblivious to the fact they were all there as a group just seconds earlier. That said, Ash's answer just raises the question of why exactly they don't travel together all the time, more than it gives a reason Bianca should have continued on her own. Either way I don't like the whole lose the battle - go home, thing. The only thing that annoyed me more about the episode was Oshawott - are they trying to make me hate it?

Ash also seemed more interested than his character should have been in the fashion show. Sure, it fits Cilan perfectly and I can kinda understand Iris being interested - but this is the sort of thing Ash usually would usually have to be dragged along to and be annoyed the entire time, but instead he seemed fairly excited. It'd have been nice if Elesa patted Pikachu - it would have made those introductions a bit less awkward.

This is the second (I think, I missed a few dub eps) that Ash has called Razor Shell "Shell Blade."

Writers, if you're going to change the moves name, then please use the changed name.

Pretty solid ep. Not the best, but solid. Bianca's battle against Elesa was a bit too curb stomp for most of us I think, but Hey, pignite kicked some ass....briefly. Bianca's dad's battle transformation was amusing too, even though him smiling after his daughter got her shit wrecked seemed a like a dick thing to do.

You know, we may complain the execution of this ep, but you have to admit they did clearly try to pump some solid emotion and drama into it.

I wish the episode had Bianca's battle against Elesa wasn't a curb stomp and it actually showed Bianca working hard. It could've ended with her winning or her losing after a great battle (with Pignite and Zebstrika as the last ones out) but with her father bewildered over how his daughter had became a good trainer, allowing her to continue her journey. That honestly would've been better since we'd see Bianca's dad's face going from smug prick to shocked (no pun intended) and pretty happy. Seriously, I wanted to punch the bastard for being happy over his daughter's sadness. No wonder we never see many fathers. Norman's cool but this guy... somebody please deck him in the schnoz.

BTW, people said that the season's title "Rival Destinies" might refer to some event later in the season similar to "Galactic Battles"... I think that it actually refers the early episodes of the season, like this ep which dealt with Bianca's "destiny" and one of the next eps that deals with Trip's connection to Alder...

Originally Posted by Moe

The father's line to Ash about what Bianca's situation had to do with him seemed to be oblivious to the fact they were all there as a group just seconds earlier. That said, Ash's answer just raises the question of why exactly they don't travel together all the time, more than it gives a reason Bianca should have continued on her own.

I think it has to do with her moving at her own, eccentric, pace which is much more sporadic than everyone else's. Not to mention, think how long it sometimes takes Ash to win a gym battle (Brock? Lt. Surge? Brawly? Clay? Lenora?). Now imagine double that because we have two people trying to earn a badge.

Originally Posted by Jo The Marten

I think it has to do with her moving at her own, eccentric, pace which is much more sporadic than everyone else's. Not to mention, think how long it sometimes takes Ash to win a gym battle (Brock? Lt. Surge? Brawly? Clay? Lenora?). Now imagine double that because we have two people trying to earn a badge.

Oh yeah, I understand that, but from the trying to justify it to her father perspective - "she should travel alone because of how good it is when we travel as a group" isn't the most convincing answer.

Hahaha, yeah. It could have been worded better. Like, "She needs to realize her own independence, so I'm glad that she has friends like you to help her out when she needs it." since the writers always make it so convenient that when someone is in need, Ash and co. will be there.

Originally Posted by Eitarou

This is the second (I think, I missed a few dub eps) that Ash has called Razor Shell "Shell Blade."

Yeah, BW028 (Stephan's debut episode) was the only other time so far when Razor Shell has been called by its Japanese name.

Originally Posted by Eitarou

Writers, if you're going to change the moves name, then please use the changed name.

This is only the second time that this has happened with the TPCi dub, so it was perhaps the scriptwriter of this particular episode who had failed to change the name of the attack to suit that of the English version.

Originally Posted by Eitarou

This is the second (I think, I missed a few dub eps) that Ash has called Razor Shell "Shell Blade."

Second? I'm pretty sure it's the first time. But whatever.

I'm glad Pignite put up a fight. Remind me why she wanted to trade it for Luke's Zorua again?

The one thing I can say is that I'm glad Elesa didn't mention being "dizzy" all the time like she did in the Japanese version. I was thinking "If you're dizzy that often, you should go to the hospital!" but yeah, I think it was a good place to start a new season. I liked the episode a lot. Pignite is pretty strong! Elesa's Zebstrika is pretty fast too! Bianca's dad is kind of annoying though. Personally I think that was pretty messed up of him. Waiting until she has 3 badges and is about to try for her 4th, knowing she travelled all the way to Nimbasa City just to take her home. I don't care what the excuse was, it was pretty wrong. Nimbasa City is pretty far from Nuvema Town and travelling that far for no reason would've been pointless. If he didn't want her to go on her journey, why did he say yes in the first place! You don't say yes and wait for her to get halfway across the Unova region and change your mind and force her to come home.

...Bianca's dad sounds kinda sleazy.