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Okay, so I watched the first two episodes of the new Best Wishes series in the Pokemon anime. Since I don't speak or understand even a lick of Japanese, I've had to rely on character body language, what I'm seeing on screen, and fan translation/interpretation to get the gist of what's going on (last of which isn't exactly reliable). So most of this info is not 100% accurate, but it’s the best I could muster with watching the Japanese episodes with no English subs and with very little additional info.


PLOTS:
WARNING: Spoilers!













The first episode involves Ash going with his mom and Prof. Oak into the Isshu region; according to some, they're just going for vacation, to others...Ash is set on competing in yet another league. Regardless, he eventually decides to travel throughout Isshu anyway. Upon arrival, Pikachu senses something is amiss. As Ash turns to Pikachu to investigate, he sees a new Pokemon, and then sees what Pikachu has discovered: black clouds heading towards the port. Team Rocket immediately shows up sporting their new emo-wannabe look. They try to capture Pikachu (for the zillionth ******** time), but then all of a sudden, Zekrom, an entity of electricity and pure awesome, shows up from out of the black clouds like a bat out of hell. s**t around the entire port gets ******** up from exposure to Zekrom's electromagnetic badassery and Pikachu is zapped with some of his lightning. It’s unknown to me as to why it did this, possibly some message of some sort, or a carrier power. Whatever.

It is at this point we are treated to the first sight of Iris and her Kibago. We'll get to them later, but damn is she good at Tarzan impersonations. Zekrom disappears, Pikachu appears to be fine and everybody is happy-diddly-dandy. Oh, and Team Rocket disappeared too. Don't worry, they'll be back; they always come back. Araragi, the region’s professor, shows up and takes everyone back to her lab to give good ol’ Pika a checkup.

Araragi introduces Ash to Shooti, the designated rival for Ash this generation, because ya’know, no Pokemon series is complete without a rival, right? Shooti is a Pokemon photographer (how original…) and thinks Ash is a hick foreigner from some backwater region. On the plus side, he’s miles less of an a*****e than Paul. Paul was a real douchebag to everyone; Shooti’s more like just a cocky pseudo-intellectual. Araragi shows both of them the starter Pokemon and Shooti has to chose one. The new starters show themselves off, especially Mijumaru, who acts so cute and eager that it is now officially fully absolved of “derp” status and now goes into “******** adorable” status. He picks Smugleaf (breaking poor Mijumaru’s heart) and takes off with his new Poke’dex and set of ‘balls. Or at least he tries to until Ash…wait for it…challenges him to a battle.

Pikachu vs. Smugleaf; I can’t spell the grass starter’s real name off the top of my head, so I’ll just stick to the fan nickname. During the battle, it appears Pikachu has been rendered unable to use electrical attacks, obviously due to Zekrom’s lightning (obvious to viewers; the characters don’t know what the ******** is going on). Despite knowing Iron Tail and some non-electrical moves, Pikachu still gets his a** handed to him by a starter…a STARTER…with an insanely overpowered move for such a low level ‘mon. Shooti gets full of himself and leaves.

Ash, distraught over what might have happened to Pikachu, takes the rat back to Araragi for a second exam. During the session, Zekrom appears and proceeds to ******** s**t up again. It sends a shockwave down through the antenna right to where Pikachu is being treated. The rat begins getting electro-raped. End of first episode.

In the second episode, Zekrom finishes ******** Pikachu and takes off. Pikachu is once again able to use electrical attacks, and Ash celebrates by having Pikachu abuse him. Ash decides to travel throughout Isshu and begins his journey with Pikachu. Mijumaru also takes interest in Ash and begins secretly tailing him.

Along the way to the next city, Ash spots what he thinks is a wild Pokemon. Being overly enthusiastic, he makes a n00b mistake and immediately throws a Poke’ball without battling it. Turns out, however, it is not a Pokemon, but rather the new girl Iris. Smooth moves, Ash; hitting a girl with a Poke’ball isn’t exactly the best way to land some p***y. But, hey, at least you didn’t trash her bike like you did with all the other girls (not like she had one anyway; she doesn’t need one). Anyway, Iris is initially understandably pissed. Ash apologizes and she calms down a bit. However, seeing Pikachu probably caused her to forgive him overall. She proceeds to baw over Pikachu, because the little guy is just so damned kawaii (I can’t believe I just used that word…). Lesson learned guys; you piss off your b***h, show her a Pikachu and she’ll forgive you.

Iris is a rather interesting character, and might I say, on her way of being possibly the best female main character in the entire anime series. She’s not fanservice-y like May and Dawn were, but she does have a more wild personality. She swings on vines, jumps up trees like crazy…she appears to be ready for practically anything nature can throw at her, like Sapphire from Pokemon Special. And good lord, the hair; it’s so long and poofy, her Kibago hitches a ride in it. She already appears to be interested in Ash too, possibly due to Ash being from so far away.

Anyway, the two travel for a while. Ash fails to catch a new Pokemon, Iris sighs, hilarity ensues overall. At the end of the day, the two sleep in the woods together (no, not like THAT). Mijumaru’s still stalking Ash. The next day, Ash goes out with Pikachu and catches a new Pokemon (I forget it’s name; it’s the pigeon pokemon). By the way, he turned his cap backwards for the first time since Johto doing it, so rejoice fandom. Iris shows up, they talk and then out of nowhere, Pikachu and Kibago get nabbed.

Surprise surpise, it’s Team Rocket, with their new uniforms and apparently a new motto. Here’s the pitch, however…get ready for it, because it’s a huge ******** shocker.

You ready? Team Rocket is actually acting competent. Dun-dun-DUUUUNNNN!!!!

Yeah, that’s right. They’re totally uber-serious this time. Though all of their old Pokemon are no longer present, Jesse defeats Ash’s new Pokemon with her new Isshu region bat Pokemon. After making an escape attempt (Ash actually climbs a tree like crazy to try and catch them, surprising Iris), Mijumaru shows up and uses its shell as a boomerang to pop TR’s balloon (I’m not even kidding…). Team Rocket, Ash, and Iris battle. Even with the combined effort of Mijumaru, Pikachu, and Kibago, Team Rocket are only barely defeated. Just when Pikachu is about to deliver the Volt Tackle, James throws down a smoke bomb and TR disappears ninja-style, no “blast off” or anything.

Yep, that’s right. Jesse, James, and Meowth have apparently gone from being a ragtag, bumbling, incompetent band of morons whose comic relief potential expired years ago to being dedicated, serious, high-level TR operatives who now actually pose a threat to the main characters. You smell that, fanboys? It’s called “character development,” and it smells wonderful. Keep it up, writers.

After almost losing to Team Rocket, Ash and Iris thank Mijumaru and rush Pikachu and Kibago to the nearby Pokemon Center to heal them. We see a new nurse, everybody’s healed, and Iris decides to travel with Ash. Everybody’s happy and it’s the start of a wonderful new adventure.

And Mijumaru is STILL stalking Ash.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Great way to start off the new series, and it looks like this one will be very enjoyable. It’s reportedly going to be fast-paced and have a “back-to-basics” approach, with affectionate nods to the very first season of the show. Plus, there's been no word of any Pokemon Contests this season. Ash makes some n00b mistakes, but I can let that slide since its tradition, plus someone with as much enthusiasm as he displays in the episodes is bound to make a mistake or two. I already like Iris a lot; I think she’s a very interesting character. Shooti is meh…I already like him a lot better than Paul, but he’s still a p***s. Team Rocket has also gotten some much needed development; they’re actually a viable threat and they act competent. I hope this behavior continues in the future; their “comic relief” has been repetitive and annoying lately, to the point where I just skip over parts involving them, and seeing them acting less idiotic is refreshing. Opening to the anime is a little weird, but no biggie.

Overall, looking forward to the new saga.

oh my god, where is pikachu?

Could you possibly give a less detailed review cause I'm not feeling like sitting down for a good 1/2 hour just to read that.

It takes about 3-5 minutes to read. xp

Okay, dyslexia I can buy.

Lack of motivation to read is another matter entirely.

Seriously?

Oh.

The whole delivery of your review was just delicious, especially this part:



Although it may be easier than getting an Aggron for her, it won't be as exciting, what with no "Happy Ending" to follow immediately afterward.

All in all, I'll be looking forward to seeing this stateside. I'm gonna miss Wobbuffet though; he was the most badass of Team Rocket's arsenal.