Gerawallstar

Hey guys! Gerawallstar here, and I am here to review a Blue Sky film called Ice Age, which was released in 2002. I love this movie as a kid, and I still love it to this day.
Story:
The story is about a group of animals going on a trip to return a lost baby to its tribe during the ice age while facing obstacles along the way. The story feels like a road trip movie mixed with three men and a baby. Honestly, I liked the story. The story provides excellent humor with amazing comedic timing of the characters. The climax is amazing with the fight scenes between the sabertooth Tigers, and the three main characters. The best part of the movie is when the movie explores Danny’s backstory. It’s really emotional and a tear-jerker. The scene where the mother dies is dark and the scene where the baby reunites with his father is touching. The main problem I have with the story is that sometimes the stkry does drag and some scenes are slow. Alas, The story is great. I give the story eight stars.
Animation:
I’m gonna level with you guys on this. I can’t hate the animation too much because this movie came out in 2002 back when CGI was in it’s intact. However, I will say that some of the textures are pretty lackluster. Some of the human characters are basic and sometimes unappealing. What I do love about the animation is the design of the animals and the effects like the snow. The snow looks really good for a 2002 film. The animation for the most part is just okay. I give the animation six stars.
Characters:
The characters are amazing. I love the characters in this movie. Sid is an amazing comedic goofball. He doesn’t ruin any scenes, nor does he try too hard. He is funny and serious at the same time. Manny is a stick in a mud, angry mammoth that is very enjoyable and relatable. Diego is very interesting as an anti-hero. The baby Roshaun is cute. He is not ugly that social media like to perceive him as. Scrat is anothe well-done comic relief. As a side character he’s very funny. I like that he doesn’t talk representing classic silent comedic characters from old school animated films. The sabertooth Tigers apart from Diego have a lot to be desired. The characters are outstanding. I give the characters nine stars.
Verdict:
Ice Age is a great first attempt from blue sky studios. The animation may be weak, but story and characters make up for the so-so visuals. Before Blue Sky cash cowed this franchise to death, they made a great movie that was a great start to their 19 years of making animated films. I give this film 8 stars out of 10.

Hey Guys! Gerawallstar here, and I am here to review Disney PIXARS Brave, which was released in 2012. When Brave was released, it was not only a critical disappointment, but it wasn’t the strongest financially either. In my opinion, this film is so mediocre. This film doesn’t look like a PIXAR film. It looks more like a Disney animated feature.
Story
The story is about a princess named Merida who is tired of the royal life she is expected to live at, so after an argument with her mother, she tries to find a way to make sure her mother will allow her to do what she wants to do. So she tries to feed her mother a pastry that has magical powers, which turns her to a bear. So she must turn her mother back into human before it’s too late. Thile story did have a lot going for. There was a lot of potential for this film to be good. I loved the beginning of the scenes with Merida and her mother bonding, I loved how it handles a realistic but decently well mother and daughter relationship with the conflict being surrounded by Merida and her mother arguing about which life Merida has to fulfill. While yes it is annoying, I think that their argument was handled very strongly. The scene where Merida accidentally transforms her mother into a bear with the magic pastry is unfortunately when the story went downhill. The middle half is just boring and forgettable. What’s even worse is that the trailers that showed us potential for a great story barely even mentioned Meridas mother as a bear. That is what really pissed me off about the story. Its ripping off Brother Bear, and the entire 2nd half is just Merida trying to get her mother back into human while also preventing bad things from happening to her mother. The scene where the three boys are the entire potion, and then also being transformed into Cubs was just randomly shown, and very pointless. While the story did had a potentially good start, the 2nd half is just dull and predictable. I give the story 5 stars.
Animation
The saving grace of the movie is the animation. The animation is phenomenal. PIXAR has done it again with the amazing visuals. Unlike Cars 2 where the animation, while good, was expected from the studio, I was jaw dropped by the animation. The backgrounds are gorgeous, the design of Scotland looks beautiful where it felt like I wanted to be there, and the effects such as the Wisps look great. I honestly don’t have any flaws with the animation. I think that the animation for Brave is wonderful, and groundbreaking. I give the animation ten stars.
Characters
With the amazing animation that PIXAR had done, the characters are sadly the opposite of amazing. The characters in this film are not good at all. I couldn’t stand most of the characters. Let’s start with Merida. With the trailers that promised us to have an independent and groundbreaking Disney princess, they presented us with anything but. While Merida does have some good aspects such as being athletic with her playing archery, and being free-spirited, she suffers from being a ripoff of Ariel from The Little Mermaid by having the princess cliches such as arguing with her parents, going to a stranger to throw her life away, and causing trouble with her parents. Merida is nothing but a forgettable Disney Princess. Queen Elinor is not that great. She does start off good because of her daughter and her relationship but once she was transformed into a bear, she lost all my interest. King Fergus is allright. He does have some funny moments, even though he is not that memorable. The three brothers Harris, Hubert and Hamish are all very annoying and obnoxious. The films tries way too hard to make them cute. I’m sorry, but it just doesn’t work for a film like this. The other characters are forgottable. The characters while have some decent potential, resulted in them being dull. I give the characters four stars.
Verdict:
Overall, Brave is a mediocre first attempt for a princess film from PIXAR. While the first half was good, and the animation being the highlight, the 2nd half, and the rest of the characters ended up being very bland and forgettable. I wouldn’t recommend this film at all.
5/10. Read the rest of this entry →

Hey guys! Gerawallstar here and I am here to do a review of A Goofy Movie, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this month as it was released in April 1995. I really loved this movie. It was part of my childhood, and it holds up even more to this day.
Story:
The film is about Goofy and Max heading on a road trip while having a complicated relationship with each other. Gee, I haven’t seen that type of movie before. But all seriousness, the way this story is told is phenomenal. It is one of those movies that tells a very repetitive storyline, and does a good job making it the focus between Goofy and Max. This story is outstanding with the wacky adventures Max and Goofy go to, and with how their relationship is tested through and through. There are also a lot of funny moments i.e the scenes between Goofy/Pete and Max getting humiliated. Poor Guy. I loved the fight scene between Max amd Goofy. I loved the performance of Powerline, and the sweet ending. The story is a story done before but done very well in it’s execution and humor/writing. I give the story ten stars.
Animation:
This is made from Disneytoon Studios, the studio responsible for the wretched Direct to DVD cheapquels. However, the animation in this film is breathtaking. It looks and feels almost identical to the animation styles of the Disney Renaissance movies from Disney animation studios. The designs of Goofy, Max, PJ etc are fantastic as always. But I loved the design of Powerline. He looks so cook and he is animated very well. The rest of the characters are animated spectacularly. I love the colors and the lighting animation in the Poweline Performance scene. The animation is full of beauty. I give the animation ten stars.
Characters:
The characters are outstanding and iconic and memorable. Goofy is a loveable goof. What’s not to like about him. I also loved his overprotective fatherly nature of his character which makes him very relatable and identifiable to father’s out there. Max is a typical teenager who wants to hang out with his friends and listen to popular music. I love his growth from being embarrassed by his dad to loving and accepting him in the end. The relationship between these two is the heart of the movie. PJ is a memorable friend to Max. Roxanne is an amazing love figure to Max. I.dont know why but she reminds me a lot of Maid Marain from Robin Hood. Pete is stubborn and very grumpy but I love him being that character. Powerline is a typical dated pop singer but he works well in this movie. The voice actors such as Rob Paulsen, Jim Cummings, Bill Farmer, etc do a great job voicing the characters. Tevin Campbell does an astounding job voicing Poweline. The singing voice and the voice work of him makes me love Powerline. The characters and voice acting are the iconic. I give the characters ten stars.
Songs:
The songs in this movie are wonderful and amazing. They do a great job moving the plot forward. Let’s start off with the worst song “Lester’s Possum Park.” The song is forgettable. “Out on the Open Road” however is my favorite song with its upbeat nature, Max and Goofy sing-fighting and having wonderful lyrics. It feels a lot like “why should I worry” from Oliver and Company. I enjoy “after today” and the iconic song “I2I” performed by iconic Tevin Campbell. “Nobody Else but you” I an emotional song that does a great job showcasing Max and Goofys father/son relationship. It gets me teary eyed. The songs in this movie are fantastic. I give the songs nine stars.
Verdict:
A Goofy Movie is one of my favorite movies with wonderful characters, engaging story, breathtaking animation, and stellar songs. It feels like a Disney Movie from the Disney Renaissance in the 90s. This is a must watch for everyone that grew up in the 90s and for father’s as this feels like a film that father’s can relate to. I may not be a father myself but I sure will be excited watching this film on father’s day. I give this movie ten stars out of ten.
10/10

Hey Guys! Gerawallstar here. It’s been a LONG time. However, I’m here to review the 1987 film The Chipmunk Adventure. This movie was released at the same time as the 1980s Alvin and the Chipmunks cartoon. I loved the series because of the clever writing, great songs, decent animation and memorable characters. However, I’m looking at the movie based off of the 1980s series called The Chipmunk Adventure.
Story:
The story is about Alvin ,Simon and Theodore taking a trip around the world with Brittany, Jeanette and Elanor. What they don’t know is that they are trying to get the jewels from the villains. I will give the story this, it does stay true to the cartoon giving it an episodic slice of life feel in the movie. There are also some funny and heartwarming moments. Unfortunately, the story is very predictable. We know that tye villians get arrested in the end, and that Alvin gets in trouble as well. It does make the story a little stale. Fortunately, I was very vested in the main story through and through. There were some entertaining moments as well a some thrilling moments such as the scene where Brittany was about to drown from losing oxygen underwater. The scenes where the chipettes reunite a penguin with its mother was touching. The story to sum it all.up is okay. I give the story 6 stars.
Animation:
What a difference animation can make when on the big screen. While the animation in the chipmunks TV show is good, the movie takes the animation on a whole another level. It is gorgeous and outstanding to watch. Fun fact: the animators that got laid off from working on Disney’s The Black Cauldron worked on this film. This definitely shows when there is breathtaking visuals, and top notch characters animation. One of the songs in the movie showcases how wonderful the animation is. The animation in this movie is the main highlight of the movie. I give the animation 10 stars.
Characters:
The characters are great to watch. Alvin is the same troublemaker that has a lot of heart and humor like in the tv show. Simon is the same smart character and Theodore is the same fat chipmunks…. you get what I mean. These characters in the movie still have the same character traits that we all love in the TV show. What surprises me about this movie is how it greatly gives the chipetees more screen time than the chipmunks considering that the title of the movie is called The Chipmunk Adventure. This time though, I don’t mind this change. This movie gives a lot more characters and personality to the chipetees Moreso than the TV show. Dave Seville is a hit or miss because the movie does represent his character from the TV show well. But, he doesn’t occur in the movie that much. The biggest problem i have with the movie are the villains. There are too many villains in the movie and they remind me too much of Cruella Deville from 101 Dalmatians and Madame Medusa from The Rescuers. The characters are great and a blast. I give the characters 8.5 stars.
Songs:
The songs are the second best part of the movie. What’s a chipmunks movie without the songs? The song off to see the world is fantastic. Getting lucky may be disturbing on the surface but it’s very catchy and cool to listen to. The song “Boys and Girls of Rock and Roll” is a beautiful song with the chipmunks and the chipettes having a ballad/dance number with gorgeous animation. It’s that fun to listen to. “My mother” is an emotional song that pulls your heartstrings. Diamond Dolls is okay. “Wolly Bully” is a catchy tune with a dark moment of the chipmunks about to be eaten by crocodiles. The songs in the movie are catchy, fun and awesome to listen to. I give the songs 10 stars.
Verdict:
The Chipmunk Adventure his is a well-done movie based off a TV show that has eye popping animation, enjoyable characters and catchy songs. It may have its issues with the villains and the story. But if you overlook these aspects, then this movie is soooo good. It’s 1000x better than the stupid live-action Chipmunk movies. I honestly would recommend the chipmunk movies that were 2D animation, including this one. I give this movie 8.5 stars out of 10

Hey guys! Gerawallstar here. I am here to review my favorite childhood show Kirby Right Back at ya! I remember watching this show every saturday morning. I reviewed the worst episodes of the show already. However, there are a lot of episodes of the show that are outstanding, memorable and funny. Without further ado, this is top 10 best Kirby Right Back at ya episodes.

10. A Sunsational Surprise

This episode is very interesting. It does a decent job tackling themes i.e. Global Warning/Ozone Layers. I also loved the climax where Kirby had to be strategic and use more than one copy ability to defeat the monster. The reason why this episode is so low is because the design of the monster is awfully dated which I understand can make some viewers tune off watching this episode. Second, Lady Like was so underutilized in this episode considering that this is somewhat an episode dedicated to her. The episode is on the list in the first place is because of the amazing climax.

9. Teacher’s Threat

Out of all the school episodes in the school trilogy, this is the best one. I love Mr. Chip as a teacher. He is an amazing role model, and I love his backstory of him used to work with Nightmare Enterprises. its amazing seeing characters having tragic backstories of having to work in evil corporation Nightmare Enterprises  Seeing King Dedede act so dumb not only uses great comedy but it also establishes more of his childlike, and arrogant personality.

8. Kirby comes to Cappytown

I always thought of this episode as a perfect introduction to Kirby, and the characters. The story is so engaging, and intriguing. The action sequence is so cool. I get chills watching Fire Kirby fight against the Octagon monster. This is a perfect start to the series.

7. The Big taste test/Delivery Dilemma

Warning: Theses episodes might make you go hungry. My favorite episodes of the show are the Chef Kawasaki episodes, and I decided to put both of these episodes in because they are both very strong episodes. The big taste test focuses on Chef Kawasaki as the villain as opposed to be the good guy supporting character. The episode does a good job making Chef Kawasaki antagonistic like he was in the games. Delivery Dilemma is a fun filler episode that does a unique take on the kids and Kawasaki doing food deliveries. Kirby resisting food that he must deliver was so funny and well-written. Watch these episodes.

6. Prediction Predicament Parts 1 and 2

Both two-part episodes are excellent in terms of story and characters. Seeing the Cappytown residents accept their fate as both them and the town are about to perish in a volcano is dark for a kid show. I loved how the episodes develops and establishes King Dedede, Mabel and even the villain Nightmare when he is shown as a legit threat causing destruction to the town. Two of these episodes are fantastic in driving the story forward, bringing kids intense action and being character driven.

5. Kirby’s Pet Peeve

This is the emotional episode you will ever see in this show. I loved how this episode uses Kirby and Robot Dog interacting with each other. Them not being able to communicate brings a great usage of “show don’t tell” approach in the narrative. The scene where Robot Dog dies is very sad. I cried when I saw Robot Dog die sacrificing himself to not maim Kirby. This serve as a well-written episode, and a tear-jerker.

4. Cartoon Buffon

This episode provides amazing commentary on how animators work in anime. I love how the episode goes further in delivering clever lines, showcasing accurate depictions of working in the animation industry, and in making relatable moments i.e. animators making the deadlines/paying for money loss on bad products. This episode will give you an insight on what working in animation is. I recommend this episode if you are curious about going into the animation industry.

The Star Warrior Episodes

3. Masher 2.0

Kirby’s star warrior episodes are the best ones in this show, and this episode proves it. Masher is the only time where a monster returns in the show, and he is more bigger, and powerful. All of this makes this monster much better than before. Knuckle Joe using the medallion that his father gave him to destroy Masher was intense. The climax was brilliant. I love this episode so much. It gives closure to the Knuckle Joe episodes.

2. Crusade for the Blade

This episode is fantastic.  I loved the backstory/lore of Meta Knight’s Sword, Galaxia. The battle between the monster and Kirby/Sirica was awesome. Even Sirica as a character is awesome that I wished that we got more episodes from her. This episode gives more detail into Meta Knight’s past. I love this episode.

1. Hour of the Wolfwrath

This is the best episode of the entire series. I loved the whole backstories of Sword Knight and Blade Knight. It gives them more character than being just Meta Knight’s allies. Wolfwrath is a threatening monster, and the best monster in the show. In fact, I prefer his name Wolfwrath in the English dub better than in the Japanese version. Wolfwrath is a threatening name than the silly Japanese name, Chillidog. This is also the ONLY time I recommend watching this episode in English dub. They improved a lot of elements from the Japanese version. The fight between Sword, Blade, Galaxia Kirby and Wolfwrath is awesome. This is the best episode of the show. The filler episodes give a nice laidback slice of life feel. However, it is the star warrior episodes like this that are the most impactful from the series. I recommend everyone to watch this episode, even if you are not a fan of the show.

Hey Guys! Gerawallstar here, and I am here to review the final part of the Indigo Series of Pokemon. I will be reviewing the Indigo Pokemon league Episodes. Onto the review!

76. All Fired up

Here we are folks. Were finally at the Pokemon league. While this is technically not a league battle episode, this is still a great start and buildup to the Indigo league episodes. I loved how Ash, Misty, Brock and even Pikachu got to carry the torch to the Stadium. It felt like watching a real-life event the way the indigo league ceremony opened up. It was wholesome seeing Ash went inside the stadium at night trying to see if he’s capable of winning the league. The only thing I disliked about the episode is Team Rocket interrupting the ceremony at the end of the episode. Great episode all the way. I give this episode an 8

77. Round one Begin

Right off the bat, this is the worst way to start off the Pokemon League battle. The problem with this episode is that we don’t get to the first league battle until two thirds of the episode. The rest of the runtime showed a bunch of pointless filler. Unfortunately, when we do get to the fight, all Ash did was used Krabby and his evolved Kingler the whole time. No strategies, no using different Pokemon. Just using the Krabby he barely ever used throughout his journey. This episode is very exasperating. I will give it credit for Ash using a different Pokemon rather than his usual ones. I can give that a positive, I guess. This episode gets a 4.

78. Fire and Ice

I don’t know why this isn’t the worst league episode, because there are a lot of problems with the episode. Start off, we don’t see Ash fully battle his opponents not once but twice. They skip the important battles in favor of team rocket/filler episode. Speaking of, Team Rocket really infuriated me in this episode. I give this episode a 4.

79. The Fourth Round Rumble

This whole episode is basically what the title of the episode is. And that’s what makes this a great episode. This is what the indigo league battles should’ve been. There was strategy going on, the animation during those battles was stunning, and Ash uses variety in his Pokemon instead of using the main ones he always uses. I also found Bellsprout to be a good representation of size doesn’t matter when it knocked out two of Ash’s Pokemon. I even loved how Gary’s loss gave Ash the confidence to work harder in competing in the league. What else do we get lastly? No Team Rocket filler.  Excellent episode all around. I give this episode a 9

80. A Friend In Need

You know what we needed? An Ash clone! Instead of an Ash vs Gary battle, we get another version of Ash whose name is Richie. That is the dumbest choice to use for Ash to battle in the league. Now on to the episode itself, it was pretty good. I loved the bond we got to see of Ash and Richie during the campfire scene. I loved the scene they both tried to get away from Team Rocket and enter the stadium. I even liked how smart Richie is compared to Ash. Great episode overall, but bad in its execution for Ash to battle against. I give this episode a 8.5.

81. Friend and Foe Alike

Before I get to the negatives, let me get into the positives. This episode does an amazing job teaching a moral that it is okay to lose. It’s a universal message that is rarely ever talked about in kids’ amines.  We don’t always win at things, and it’s best to keep trying when we lose. This episode does a great job exploring Ash’s journey throughout this series starting off as a novice trainer who is Arrogant, doesn’t think at times and wins gym badges and league battles by sheer luck. This loss shows that he can get better and better as his journey goes on. Now let’s get to the negatives. Although this episode delivers a powerful message, the problems with this episode is that it doesn’t get to the actual Ash and Ritchie battle, the battle that we have been building up last episode, until the last five minutes. And that battle was rushed and poorly paced. Why is that? Because we get to see the entire 15 minutes of team rocket shenanigans. They are the reason why Ash lost the league. And that was really frustrating. Also, we never got an actual Ash and Gary battle. They were building up their rivalry since the first episode. That was the battle we should have got. Not Ash vs a clone of himself. This episode was frustrating, and easily the worst league episode. I give this episode a 5.

82. Friends to the End

This is a definite improvement over the last episode and a good way to wrap up this season. Ash soaking about losing the Pokemon League was realistic. I loved the character growth between Ash and Richie when they both loss the league. The whole montage of the series since the first episode and playing the theme song in the mix made me shed a tear. It was wholesome. The ending in fact was strong and superb. What makes this episode not perfect is Team Rocket. After witnessing what happened last episode, I did not want to see them again. They almost ruined what I really enjoyed about the show up to this point. Overall, this was an excellent ending to this season, and a great way to get excited for more things to come. I give this finale of this season an 8.

That is the entire first season of the Pokemon Series Complete. I will not be doing the other season reviews. I will be only doing this one. I hope you guys enjoyed my episode reviews. I will do the overall season review eventually. I will see you guys later.

Hey Guys! Gerawallstar here, and I am here to review every episode of Pokemon Season 1. Here is Part 3. Enjoy!

51. Bulbasaurs Mysterious Garden

This is almost a perfect episode. Seriously, this episode brings out the best in Bulbasaur. I loved how the festival was used as a way to let the Bulbasaur clan evolve, with Venusaur being the ringleader. The whole festival scene in the mysterious garden was beautiful. The way Ash understands Bulbasaur when it didn’t want to evolve was wholesome. The only reason why this isn’t a perfect episode is because Team Rocket once again interrupted a very powerful moment with the Bulbasaur clan. I wish every episode did not have team rocket in it or at least being there to interrupt things and do their motto. I give this episode a 9.5. Very close to being a 10, though.

52. Princess vs. Princess

I have mixed feelings about this episode. I loved the backstories of both Misty and Jessie making their motivations of winning a Pokemon Festival justifiable. I even loved the battle between Psyduck and the new Lickitung that Jessie captured. The problem with this episode is that it’s boring. Nothing special or exciting happens. I also disliked the one hit knockouts in the battles. It’s just lazy writing. I give this episode a 5.

53. The Purr-fect Kid

This episode is nowhere near as Purr-fect(no pun intended). This episode annoyed me. I understand that the kids acting out are what kids do, but the kids were very irritating. The teacher constantly shouting at the kids was frustrating, and Team Rockets plan capturing Timmy is not only annoying, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense. There are way too many animation errors in this episode. I feel like this episode is unfinished. The only positive I can say about this episode is that I do love seeing Timmy’s love towards Meowth along with the reasoning why Timmy loves Meowth when he got chased by Beedrill. This episode is annoying. I give this episode a 3.

54. The case of the K-9 Caper

This episode has too many highs and little lows. The problems I have with the episode is that the beginning is very boring. The good things about this episode is Team Rockets plan using the voices to get the Growlithe to attack Officer Jenny and the three heroes was very clever. One of their best plans from this show. The Chipmunk voices of the three heroes/Pikachu coming from the smoke was funny. I loved seeing the wholesome moment of Growlithe remembering Jenny from when it was a puppy. I even like that Ash learned a lesson of accepting Pikachu as it is. Great message for kids It’s not as high as I would like it to be but it’s a solid episode, nonetheless. I give this episode an 8.

55. Pokemon Paparazzi

This is another episode where things just happen. Ash Misty and Brock encounter somebody, they help them out with whatever they need help with, team rocket shenanigans happen, they battle them, and they get blast off. Unfortunately, this episode’s filler centered story-line is just annoying and frustrating. Todd is very annoying and even a little unlikable harassing Pikachu to take a picture of him. He literally stalked the three heroes just to take a picture of Pikachu. I also hated how James tried to kill Ash with a bomb when was in a waterfall about to die. That’s dark in the wrong ways possible. The only good thing about this episode is the callback from a better episode Attack of the Prehistoric Pokemon with Todd getting a photo with Aerodactyl. That was cool. Except that why didn’t Todd appear in that episode let alone just for even a small cameo? This episode gets a 3.

56. The Ultimate Test

This episode is not good in the slightest. I mean I like that this episode features alternatives to competing in the Pokemon League by taking an exam instead of just getting 8 badges like a VERY early episode of season 1. The problem with this is that the testing itself is poorly administered with the test consists of having stupid answers for a few multiple-choice questions and people using random Pokemon to battle making it d@#n near impossible to pass. Also, I hated the test administrator guy where all he does is be a total a$$h0!e and being a horrible test provider. I’m getting very sick of these filler episodes. I understand that this is a long series and that they need to keep these episodes to let the show run longer. But the thing is that Ash has battled five gym leaders and he got five badges in a span of the first 25 episodes. And outside of the Koga Battle in the Ninja Pokemon Showdown episode, there has been over 25 episodes that provided nothing but filler. I give this episode a 3.

57. The Breeding-Center Secret

This episode is refreshing from a couple of abysmal episodes I have been given lately with the exception of the K-9 Caper episode. Butch and Cassidy are awesome and threatening coming from Team Rocket. The choice of using a fake breeding center to capture the Pokemon was brilliant. I loved that Jessie and James helped the three heroes out to beat Cassidy and Butch. I want to see more of Cassidy and Butch someday. The only problem I have with this episode is Misty’s behavior was extremely bratty. She literally trespassed into a building to get Psyduck in order to get a free buffet. I find that very out of character for her. I give this episode a 9.

58. Riddle Me This

YES! FINALLY, A GYM LEADER EPISODE! Like the title of the episode, this is an awesome episode. It’s not the greatest, because I hated Blaine’s attitude at the end of this episode. But the riddles, the gym fight, meeting up with Gary, etc. makes this episode really good. It’s been a long time since we got a gym battle episode this good. I hope it goes well in the next part. Excellent buildup for the gym fight. I give this episode an 8.

59. Volcanic Panic

This episode is even better than the last one. Blaine was a very competent gym leader. I loved the fight between Charizard and Magmar. It gives me chills to this day. It’s very, very refreshing to see Ash fight in order to get his badge, instead of gym leaders giving it to him. The whole scene where Ash, Misty and Brock help Blaine save his Volcano style gym was cool. I give this episode a 10.

60. Beach Out Blastoise

This episode is good. It was entertaining seeing Jigglypuff and the Squirtle Clan in the episode. The writers did an incredible job utilizing Blastoise in this episode. The problems I have with the episode is that it sometimes drags, and I was kind of bored in some places. I give this episode a 7.

61. The Misty Mermaid

I was not feeling anything with this one. We get another episode where things happen and team rocket shows up. It was nice seeing Misty’s sisters again, but this episode is truly boring. The animation in this episode was even absurdly poor. I give this boring episode a 5.

62. Clefairy Tales

Unlike the last boring episode, this episode is insane and has too many things going on. . I found it hard to believe that the Clefairy build the ship. I  hated how Ash let the Scientist Oswald stay in the spaceship to let him almost die when the spaceship took off in an explosion. That’s our protagonist right there. It was cool seeing Jigglypuff again. The rivalry between it and Clefairy was funny. Those were the saving graces of this episode. Watch the better Clefairy-Centered episode Clefairy and the Moon Stone. I give this episode a 5.5

63. The Battle of the Badge

The final Kanto gym battle. Its…. a little disappointing. Does that make up for it by being a good episode? Yes! Gary was a well-developed character in this episode. Finally, we get a side of him where he is selfless and doesn’t treat Ash like crap. It’s refreshing to see his arrogance be his downfall when Giovanni used an OP Mewtwo-like Pokemon to take out all of Gary’s Pokemon. Speaking of Mewtwo-like Pokemon, I loved how this episode gives us a preview of the Mewtwo that will actually be in the first movie. Lastly, I will give this episode a benefit of the doubt that Ash does try to battle in order to get the badge. Now this episode is disappointing because we don’t get to have an Ash vs Giovanni battle. That really sucks. Another issue I have with the episode is that when Togepi gets lost and is found by Team Rocket, Giovanni refuses to accept the Pokemon they were trying to give him. Togepi is THE rarest Pokemon at the time. That was so f@%$*n stupid for Giovanni to take it away. I give this episode an 8.

64. Its Mr. Mime Time

This episode is a whole lot of fun. I loved seeing Ash’s Mother in here. The jealousy between Ash and her Mr. Mime was cute. I loved how both Stella’s and Ash’s mother’s Mr. Mime helped together out making barrier shields to trap Team Rocket in. This is a fun filler episode surprisingly. I give this episode an 8.

65. Holiday Hi-Jinx

This was an incredible Christmas episode. I loved the backstory of Jessie not getting the Christmas present she wanted. The pacing was awesome, and I loved the whole Christmassy feel this episode gives. I give this episode a 9.

66. Snow way out

Get your tissues ready. I never expected this series to go off on an emotional baggage like that. I legit cried when Ash’s Pokemon all huddled up around him in the blizzard. Pikachu resisting to go in its Pokeball just to help Ash was touching. I got goosebumps seeing Pikachu about to die twice on a snowy hill. Team Rocket cracked me up in this episode as well. This is a stellar episode so far. I give this episode a 10.

67. Showdown at the Poke-Corrall

This episode is great, but man does it disappoint big time. It does a great job establishing how Pokemon function in the universe. I loved the rivalry dynamic between Ash and Gary. I enjoyed seeing Prof Oak and his day by day routine at his Laboratory. I also love the last appearance of the Mewtwo from the first Pokemon movie. This episode disappoints me because we don’t get to have a Gary/Ash rival battle. I exempted that issue from the Viridian gym episode. However, this time there’s no excuse. Team Rocket interrupts important things a lot lately and I’m starting to get sick of it. I give this episode an 8.

68. The Evolution Solution

This episode is okay. I loved the concept of evolution. It was an excellent idea of showcasing the reason why Slowpoke evolves into a Slowbro using a Shellder’s Tail. I also loved Psyduck as always. The issues I have with the episode is that despite this episode showing an incredible way of Slowpoke evolving, the way/reasoning Slowbro uses its attacks are confusing. I also disliked seeing the three heroes insulting both Slowpoke and Psyduck. That was mean coming from the protagonists. I give this episode a 6

69. The Pi-Kahuna

Oh, my word. I LOVE this episode. I love the backstories of Victor, Puka and Jan. The lore of Humanga-Dunga was fascinating. The message at the end of the episode was effective. The story and characters in this episode are astounding. I really want to see more of these characters in the future. I give this episode a 10.

70. Make Room For Gloom

This episode is boring. It’s another one of those episodes where nothing happens. I found the ending to be mean spirited. The only good thing about the episode is Brock supporting Florinda and her growth in battling with her Gloom. This episode disappoints me as it is filled with mediocrity. I give this episode a 5.

71. Lights Camera Quacktion

This was a disappointing episode looking back. I was bored by this episode. The movie director was kind of annoying, and I didn’t like the fact that the main characters were the movie stars. Psyduck was cool, but that’s all the praise I can give this episode. This episode gets a 5.

72. Go west Young Meowth

Man, what an episode this is. I never expected Meowth to get a backstory. I love it when the bad guys on any show get the most deep and complex backstories. The writing in this episode is stellar. Takeshi Shiudo did an amazing job writing this episode. The way that we get to see how Meowth can talk is interesting and excellent. It makes his motivation in joining team rocket a saddening one. I feel so bad when he was rejected by the shallow cat Meowzie repeatedly. I was so happy seeing him have some people that do care for him (Team Rocket). It was incredible seeing the three protagonists in the background throughout the episode since this season and series is all about them. This is one of my favorite episodes. Easily S tier ranking episodes. I give this episode a 10.

73. To Master the Onix-Pected

Coming from an deep and superb episode that we had previously, This one was a huge disappointment. There was so much wasted potential, because that this is the episode where we get to meet one of the members of the elite four. All this episode is about Elite Four Bruno ordering the three heroes around to do his dirty work. I even found this episode really boring. It sucks that we don’t get to have an elite four battle. I give this episode a 5.5.

74. The ancient puzzle of Pokemopolis

This episode is awesome. The episode is full of mystery and it’s a great mystery. I loved how the Gengar and Alakazam battle in giant form and I loved how there was a giant Jigglypuff that stopped both of them by singing when the normal one failed to sing to them.  I give this episode a 10.

75. Bad to the Bone

I had a lot of fun with this one. The story was great through and through. I loved the recaps of Ash getting his badges as it represented a reminder of how far the season has come since the first episode. I loved the relationship between Marowak and Otashi. The backstories of them were interesting. Team Rocket were even executed very well in the plot. I give this episode a 9.

Next post will be the League Battle episodes.

Hey guys! Gerawallstar here. This post will contain part 2 of Pokemon Indigo League Season 1 Reviews. I will cover 24 episodes in this post. Part 3 will contain 25 episodes. So, without further ado, here is Part 2 of Pokemon Indigo League Season 1 episode Reviews.

27. Hypno’s Naptime

Unfortunately, this episode is both confusing and stupid. It confuses me that Hypno’s hypnotic waves are the reason why the kids are sleeping and couldn’t wake up. They wake up by Drowzee using its hypnotic waves? What? Also, the fact there were posters of nine missing children, why the h@!! didn’t Officer Jenny search the freaking park three days ago?! I didn’t like that once after the kids woke up, Jenny never escorted the kids back to their parents. This episode bored me as well. I like the ending where Psyduck somehow touches a Pokeball with its nose and gets captured. I even liked the callback of a lesser good episode Beauty and the Beach with the flashback of Ash’s mom. This episode gets a 5.

28. Pokemon Fashion Flash

I love this episode. It’s a complete 180 over the last mediocre episode. The relationship between Brock and Suzie was well done. I wish we could see her in a few more episodes. It was brilliant for Team Rocket to use their salon to get more Pokemon. I love the message of learning about beauty on the inside that matters, and how that ties in with Suzie questioning her beliefs. Really strong themes coming from a kid’s show. Brock giving her confidence makes him a great character. Psyduck stole the show as usual. I love seeing Psyduck interacting with Team Rocket and being its usual dumb self. The ending was funny and wholesome. This is a strong episode. I give this episode a 10.

29. The Punchy Pokemon

This episode is really, really boring. I thought that things just happen in this episode. I also hated that Ash releases Primeape to fight in the Grand Prix. That was a lazy decision for the writers to not let Ash raise Primeape after capturing it 4 episodes ago. The only good thing about the episode is Ash and Primeape’s relationship. I love the character and relationship development between Ash and Primeape. Primeape came a long way since it was a wild Mankey. It trusts humans now which is good. I just wish the rest of this episode was more interesting. I give this episode a 5.

30. Sparks Fly for Magnemite

This is an amazing episode. The stakes were high, and this episode feels very action heavy. I loved seeing Magnemite’s personality and interactions towards Pikachu despite it being creepily obsessive towards it. The whole situation with the Pokemon being sick due to the power plant blackout was very intense. I loved that Ash finally captured a Pokemon by capturing Muk. Team Rocket were the minor problems with the episode. They started out having this ingenious plan but, in the end, the payoff was half-baked and rushed. This is an amazing episode. I give this episode a 9.

31. Dig Those Diglett

This is a boring episode. The pacing drags, and the evolution of Team Rocket’s main Pokemon was stupid. I hated how Ekans and Koffing evolved just by Jessie and James crying. B÷!!$#+t. My positives with the episode are that Diglett are cute to watch. I also loved hearing the catchy Diglett tune. This episode gets a 5.

32. The Ninja Pokemon Showdown

Alright, another gym battle episode. Is it any good? No. This episode started off pretty good. It’s just that when we get into the actual gym, the episode falls flat. It was basically a bunch of nothingness. Team Rocket interrupting things is starting to pi$$ me off. STOP interrupting important gym battles, dip$%!+s. Also, the whole gym battle between Ash and Koga was underwhelming. I do like Psyduck and seeing Psyduck’s abilities performed in the episode. That’s cool. I give this episode a 6. Very unsatisfactory gym episode.

33.  The flame Pokemon-Athon

Although this is a filler episode, this is very enjoyable one to watch. The pacing was great, and I was rooting for Ash to defeat Dario at the Lara Laramie Race. Team Rocket were a blast to watch. This is a perfect filler episode. I had a lot of fun watching it. I give this episode a 9.

34. The Kanghaskhan Kid

I’m not going to lie; I enjoyed this episode. Yes, I know this episode does have problems, and yes, this episode has some of the worst characters. Which I will get into the issues now. The main problem I have with the episode is that it has the worst character to come out in this show: Papa. I hated how Papa was an abusive father to his son Tommy. He dropped him out of a helicopter when he was a baby. He scold mama for it instead of taking accountability. I hated how he kept hitting Tommy with a bamboo stick, along with showing his nipples towards him to remember him by. Another issue I have with the scene is the ending where the parents both survive a helicopter crash. What the h@!!? They should’ve died in that helicopter crash. Now we got the negatives out of the way, let’s get to the positives. I love the animation in this episode. Its bright, fast paced, and I loved how creative the colors get during a soothing lullaby moment with Kanghaskan. I loved the action-packed pacing. It had a lot of energy making this episode feel action heavy. Lastly, seeing this episode use Tommy being raised by a herd of Kanghaskhan as a baby makes this feel like a decent adaptation of Tarzan. It’s nice seeing an anime make an episode feel Tarzan-esque. I noticed that in the Japanese version, there was a deleted scene where Misty punched Tommy when he asked her “Can I suck your breasts?” that was a smart move on the 4kids dub deleting that scene because to be honest, it was a very uncomfortable scene watching this in the Japanese version. I do like this episode despite its major problems. Sorry guys! I give this episode an 8.

35 . The Legend of Dratini

This is a great episode. I love hearing about the Lore of Safari Zones. The whole reunion scene between Kaizer and Dragonair was touching. It was really funny how Ash captured all 30 Tauroses in the Safari Zone. The only thing I didn’t like is how Kaizer attempted to shoot the three heroes including Team Rocket, which makes the reasoning why this episode is banned understandable. Plus, the whole interactions between Kaizer and Team Rocket was honestly creepy. I give this episode an 8.

36.The Bridge Bike Gang

This episode was great. I loved seeing the interactions between the three heroes and the bike gang members. Psyduck was hilarious as always. I actually do like how Misty respects Psyduck for the most part. The best thing about the episode is seeing Jessie and James get wonderful character development as they were a part of that bike gang. It gives us more insights of what they were like before joining Team Rocket. The only part I didn’t like is that it was wayyy too predictable seeing the bike gang members help the three heroes get the sick Pokemon medicine in time. I give this episode an 8.5

37. Dittos Mysterious Mansion

This episode is kind of boring. Duplica was forgettable, and I was bored out of my mind watching this episode. I really hated how Team Rocket used abusive tactics to get Ditto to transform properly. I know its tough love, but it was just too much, and it brings out an uncomfortable viewer experience/message to kids with that. The only thing I liked about the episode was the three heroes, including Duplica imitating the Team Rocket motto. That was gold. I give this episode a 5.

38. Electric Soldier Porygon

Unfortunately, this episode just…. exists. Aside from the fact that this episode is banned because it gave Japanese kids seizures, I don’t see a reason to watch this episode. Porygon is a cool pokemon to watch and I loved the battle between Porygon and Weezing. Plus this episode can get creative with the flashing light Pokeballs. However, this is an example of style over substance. This episode gets a 6

39. Pikachu’s Goodbye

This is one of my favorite episodes of the series. All the Pikachu’s were adorable to watch. I loved how this episode strengthens the importance of Ash and Pikachu’s relationship. Seeing Ash deciding to leave his Pikachu with the other Pikachu’s was very heartbreaking. I also love that the title of the episode doesn’t give away the ending. The fact that Pikachu chose to stay with Ash and the other Pikachu’s cheering him on was very emotional. Team Rocket get minuscule screen time, which makes this even better. Most of the episodes with them sometimes causes conflict in most of the plots of the episodes. This is a very touching episode. I give this episode a 10.

40. The Battling Eevee Brothers

Fun story: this was my all-time favorite episode as a kid. I related to the Mikey character a lot being the youngest out of all my siblings, and being overlooked. I also loved the battle between Eevee and Team Rocket. Now that I’m seeing this episode in an adult’s perspective, this episode is not as perfect as I thought it was when I was a kid. Don’t get me wrong: this is a great episode. But there are some problems with the episode looking back: 1. There are a lot of animation errors this episode. I never really pay attention much to the animation aspects looking at this show, but these animation errors i.e. miscolors of certain objects from characters are VERY noticeable here. 2. This episode does feel like an episode I seen before in ANY show in any medium: a couple of people fight over differences, they get into a big fight, one of the characters feel down about it and eventually they all resolve their differences and accept one another. It’s not a bad concept for this episode but a repetitive one. The good things about the episode is that I can really, really relate to Mikey, even as an adult. Mainly because I am still the oddball in my family compared to my two older siblings. I loved the relationship between Mikey and his brothers. They talk and act like real brothers. I loved that Team Rocket almost actually succeeded in capturing the Pokemon at the evolution party. The scene where Jessie breathes fire after Misty calls her an “old hag” cracks me up. Lastly, I loved the talk Misty had Mikey about siblings which establishes more about her relationship with her sisters. Great episode, not perfect as it was when I was a kid. I give this episode an 8

41. Wake up Snorlax

This is a wonderful episode. Yes, this is a filler episode but what I loved about the episode is the introduction of the iconic Snorlax. I was entertained seeing the heroes and Team Rocket wake up the Snorlax. The whole episode does a good job reflecting on the side plot of Waking up Snorlax and using the Pokeflute to wake it when you play the original Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow. This episode also has a secondary plot of a random town not having enough water and food, which it was good enough to tie into the plot of waking up Snorlax. I give this episode a 10

42. Showdown in Dark City

This is one of the weaker episodes of this season. The premise of two gyms i.e. Kaz and Yaz gym trying to become gym leaders is honestly a good idea. Unfortunately, it’s not executed very well. All we got is a generic gang story with gang members destroying the town Dark City and fighting to become an official gym leader. You know what would’ve been better? If these gym leaders tried to become gym leaders and were rejected by the official Pokemon League, which causes them to fight each other because the one of the leaders from each team stupidly thought that they caused them to get rejected. Then have Team Rocket get involved by having them accepted by the Kaz or Yaz teams because of them having interesting motives like those two gyms and fight alongside them. Then have the two gym leaders cause the destruction of town Dark City because of their endless fighting, and the heroes stop them from fighting by using Ketchup on them and the Pokemon, and they come to a resolution by fixing the town and change their ways from the help of Ash just like in the actual episode. I know this is a lot and some of it happens in the episode, but it would’ve fixed the story better than what we actually got. The motivations of these two unofficial gym leaders for fighting the town would make more sense, and Team Rocket would have a reason to be in the episode instead of being just shoehorned in just to say their motto. By the way, Pikachu crying because of the broken ketchup was cuteness overload. Just look at his eyes. I give this episode a 6.

43. March of the Exeggutor Squad

This episode is really bad. Melvin really creeped me out this entire episode. Seeing him act totally creepy towards Misty in the beginning of the episode was not fun to watch. Plus, I found him unlikable when he tried to hypnotize Ash, along with him having a motivation to hypnotize everyone by capturing Exeggutor so that everyone could see his show. The only things I liked about the episode is Charmeleon evolving. That’s it. This is one of the worst episodes of the series. I give this episode a 2.

44. The Problem with Paras

The problem with this episode (no pun intended) is that nothing happens. All this episode does is showcase Paras having low self-esteem and the heroes/Cassandra do everything they can to help Paras boost its confidence. I’m sorry but I find this just boring to sit through. I also don’t like Charmeleon being a d!#k to everyone, including Paras. It has that frustrating gag of him burning Ash. The only good things about this episode are Team Rocket. They’re the spotlight in this episode because they help out Paras and though creepy, it’s funny getting to see Mewoth’s innocent crush on Cassandra. I just feel so bad for the poor Pokemon. This episode is boring, and it goes by too fast. I give this episode a 6.

45. The Song of Jigglypuff

I love this episode. Jigglypuff is one of my favorite characters in the show. It has so much personality, and it is very adorable. The whole premise of using Jigglypuff to make the town residence happy is solid. The part where Jigglypuff draws on everybody’s face is funny. It never gets old. I hope Jigglypuff appears in more episodes. I give this episode a 10.

46. Attack of the Prehistoric Pokemon

This episode is wacky and goes all over the place. And I love it because of that. It is cool to see the fossil centered Pokemon in the show. I also love the flying scenes between Aerodactly and the Charizard who evolved after two episodes. It also brought back my favorite character, Jigglypuff and  it is as funny as it was in the last episode. I give this episode a 10.

47. A Chansey Operation.

Meh. This is an average episode. I loved seeing actual doctors treating Pokemon, and not just Nurse Joys. Having Team Rocket help cure some Pokemon when they were the ones that caused them to get hurt was neat. Chansey slapping Meowth repeatedly was hilarious. The problem with the episode is Doctor Proctor. The way he hits on Misty and Jessie is VERY disturbing. They are freaking minors for crying out loud. This episode can get boring at times as well. I give this episode a 7 to be generous just barely slithering on a 6.5 scale.

48. Holy Matrimony

This is one of the best episodes of the season.  I loved seeing James’s backstory explored here. Seeing him getting harassed by Jessabelle in the sex dungeon made me feel so bad for him. I loved the relationship he has with the Growlithe that saved him from her. The part where Jessabelle reveals herself and Meowth saying “this girl is nothing like Jessie” makes me laugh. My only complaints are that James doesn’t keep Growlithe on his team. It would’ve been cool to see him use an Arcanine. My other complaint is that Jessabelle harassing James in a sex dungeon is not only disturbing but very uncomfortable. Who in the h@!! made this script for a kid show? I give this episode a 9.

49. So near, yet so Farfetch’d

This episode is one of the worst in the series so far. The episode has a kid stealing backpacks from random people, including Misty. And instead of Officer Jenny pressing charges, she lets him get off Scot free. That’s a terrible message to give to kids about how you will not go to jail for doing bad things if you’re sorry. I also hated how idiotic Team Rocket was in this episode. They were really stupid in falling for every con the boy had. And why didn’t they give the Voltorb to the boss they successfully stole from that backpack guy?! THEY JUST TOSS THEM ALL AWAY!!!! sigh The only good thing about this episode is Psyduck and the battle between him and Farfetch’d. Even that doesn’t save this episode from being a train-wreck. I give this episode a 1.

50. Who gets to keep Togepi?

Togepi’s first appearance makes this episode very fun to watch. Togepi is one of the cutest Pokemon you will ever see. As it is the first ever Pokemon that was hatched from an Egg, Togepi is a great addition to the team. The sudden death tournament to get Togepi was kind of cool. It had a lot of funny moments between Pikachu shocking Meowth, or Psyduck being a dips#!t battling Bulbasaur. I also loved Meowth in this episode. It’s nice to see a sweet side of him whereas in the show he is the arrogant, heartless pr!%# we all love about him. I wish we get to see Meowth more like this. This is gonna sound controversial but the only complaint I have with the episode is that Misty gets to keep Togepi. I’m not upset about Togepi choosing Misty. That was good. I hated how Misty selfishly shoved Ash and Brock just to get a peek of Togepi hatching resulting in keeping it as a permanent Pokemon. It’s kinda out of character for Misty doing that. IMO, Brock should’ve been the one raising Togepi since caring for Pokemon is his specialty. He is a breeder! I know I’m going too deep into this. However, am I the only one who thought that the main female character raising a baby Pokemon to be sexist? This episode is enjoyable and great. I give this episode an 8.5

Hey guys. Gerawallstar here, and I am going to review all the episodes of the 1st season of Pokemon Indigo League. I will only be reviewing the first season. I will not be reviewing everything else after it. Since there are a LOT of episodes in this season, I will be categorizing these posts by reviewing  26 episodes in this post, and I will do the next 25 in a new post. I loved watching the series as a kid. This will be interesting seeing if these episodes hold up or not, now that i’m looking back at the series as a 27 year old man. Without further ado, here we go with the review!

1. Pokemon I choose you Review

This is a fantastic start to the series. I loved watching Ash and Pikachu’s relationship in this episode. It was realistic seeing them hate each other and then having them develop their friendship at the end of this episode.  It is funny seeing Ash’s Pokedex mock Ash. I get chills every time I see the scene where Ash makes a speech to the Spearows that chased him as well as Pikachu using thunder bolting on all of the Spearows. I also love the first appearances of Misty and Ho-oh. The episode’s direction, execution and pacing were perfect. This episode gets a 10.

2. Pokemon Emergency

This is an amazing continuation to the first episode. This is the first time we see Jessie, James and Meowth as Team Rocket. Team Rocket being serious rather than inevitably be a comic relief was interesting and awesome. The whole episode is enjoyable through and through. I give this episode a 9.

3. Ash catches a Pokemon

I really LOVE this episode. The scene where Pikachu and Caterpie interact was wholesome(I’m going to be saying wholesome a lot in these reviews). The comedic Team Rocket trio was hilarious to watch. Misty being afraid of bug Pokemon was funny. My criticism of this episode is that I honestly did not like that Misty was being so mean to Ash in this episode. He just started his Pokemon training. No need to be THAT harsh. This episode gets a 9.

4. Challenge of the Samurai

Oh boy. This episode. Challenge of the Samurai is a huge downgrade compared to the marvelous first three episodes of the show. Samurai is such a d!c% to Ash insulting him and calling him “Novice.” Jessie and James were frustratingly dumb in this episode.  The battle between Ash and Samurai’s Metapod dragged on for too long. The only part I liked about this episode was Ash’s character development by admitting that it was his fault he abandoned Metapod. Its great seeing Ash learn from his mistakes. This episode is just bad. I give this episode a 4.5

5. Showdown at Pewter City

Ash vs Brock. Does Ash’s first gym battle hold up? Sadly, no. This episode just features Ash battling Brock and winning by sheer luck. He did not earn the badge that Brock gave him out of nowhere. This is the first of many of Ash undeserving gets his Kanto Badges. This episode’s high points are that we get to see the gym leader’s life outside the gym where Brock spends his time taking care of his sisters. The whole backstory of Brock is very touching. I loved seeing kids shows go out of their comfort zone and tackle a bunch of heavy-handed themes like broken families. The episodes pacing is slow as dirt.  I give this episode a 6.

6. Clefairy and the Moon Stone

I had a lot of fun watching this episode. This episode shows the dynamic between Ash and Brock when they battle against Team Rocket. TR taking an approach that they had done in the games with the Moon Stone was great. I also loved seeing Clefairy evolve into Clefable using the moon stone. It was very wholesome. It’s an amazing episode with an amazing story. I give this episode a 10.

7. Water Flowers of Cerulean City

Ash’s second gym battle was better than the first one, but it has the same problems as the first gym battle. Once again, Ash gets his gym badges handed to him instead of earning it and it sucks not seeing him battling against Misty the whole thing through. The relationship between Misty and her siblings are cute and relatable. The story where Team Rocket invade Cerulean City was a nice nod to the games. It’s just that I wish we get to see a full-on battle between Misty and Ash. I give this episode a 7.

8. The Path to the Pokemon League

This episode is not good. I like A.J. and his relationship with his Sandshrew, and Team Rocket does have a few funny lines. The part where Jessie says “Music killed the cat” cracks me up. But where the episode falls flat is that Ash acts an arrogant a$$hole throughout this whole episode. It was very frustrating to see that. You know what else would have been better? If A.J. battled Team Rocket in the middle of the episode, and then he battles the two gym leaders as a learning experience in seeing how actual gym leaders fight. Even if those battles would’ve been very short, I would’ve loved to see that instead of Team Rocket cracking jokes throughout this episode. I give this episode a 5.

9. School of Hard Knocks

I actually like this episode. This episode does a cool concept of showing how Pokemon can enter the Pokemon league not just by competing for badges. I also love how this episode focuses more on Pokemon stats, attacks, move sets, etc. representing the games very well. I even love how Giselle and Joe are as characters… for the most part. The only things I didn’t like about this episode is Giselle’s arrogant and b!+^#y attitude towards Ash and Misty. She also comes off as a complete know-it-all. We had Ash in the last episode acting arrogant, now this? I also didn’t like how mean-spirited the students were towards Joe. He is trying so hard to learn, d@m$. Aside from those issues, this is a good episode. I give this episode an 7.5

10. Bulbasaur and the hidden village

This is a great episode. This episode left me wondering where it would go when Bulbasaur led the traps. My only complaint is that I didn’t like how Brock repeatedly hits Misty in the head even though she was asking dumb questions. Bulbasaur is a wonderful character. I liked that it has a tough but nurturing side when it wanted to protect the Pokemon from a health spa. The battle between Pikachu and Bulbasaur was decent. Melanie is a great character as well. The first half may start off slow, but it builds up when you get to the second half because it greatly establishes Bulbasaur’s motivations and I loved seeing Ash capture Bulbasuar. This episode gets an 8.

11. Charizard the Stray Pokemon

This is the best episode I have seen so far. It’s perfectly executed. It’s a touching story about a Charmander being abandoned by Its own trainer. I was moved to tears when the heroes helped healed Charmander’s Tail at the Pokemon Center. I loved seeing a kid show tackle heavy subject matters like abuse and neglect. It teaches kids that the world is not all about sunshine and rainbows. Team Rocket were funny and not distracting in this episode. The writers focused more on the story and let Team Rocket be in the sidelines. I was so happy when Charmander decided to join Ash and leave the a$$#@!e Damien. I give this episode a 10.

12. Here comes the Squirtle Squad

Why are the episodes where Ash catches a starter Pokemon are all so good? This episode’s execution, humor and story are done perfectly. The stakes were high, and it feels the most action heavy I’ve seen in this show. Team Rocket were a blast in this episode. They can really be amazing comedic villains in episodes like this. This episode also does a good job establishing Squirtle as a character. While not as emotional heavy like the last episode, this episode is still solid. The cameo from Gary was pretty funny. I give this episode a 10.

13. Mystery at the lighthouse

This is a great episode. I get a mysterious vibe watching the episode. I loved how this episode really goes into detail about how many Pokemon are in the Kanto Region. It was genius animation seeing Dragonite in silhouette form instead of showing an actual Dragonite. Bill was greatly utilized in the anime compared to the games where he is calmer and less creepy. Team Rocket were even greatly utilized in this episode trying to capture the Dragonite. The negatives from this episode is the beginning where Ash was bragging about getting the two badges he didn’t even earn. Plus, the whole characters facing the fourth wall explaining about Pokemon was weird at the end. It felt like watching a Pre-school show. I give this episode a 9.

14. Electric Shock Showdown

Finally. We get to see Ash battle a gym leader in its entirety. I love how Ash is more strategic this time around when fighting gym leaders. I was rooting for Ash to win in his rematch when he lost against LT. Surge for the first time. The scene where he allows Pikachu to decide to evolve with a thunder stone was touching and selfless for Ash. Team Rocket being very supportive to Ash in his gym battle was funny. I hope we get more episodes of Ash fighting gym leaders fully. I give this episode a 10.

15. All aboard the St. Anne

This is a wonderful episode. Normally we get to see Team Rocket as these bumbling idiots. Here, they are legitimately a threat in this episode, and I loved how they are portrayed more villainous just like in the games.  Ash’s hesitation on trading Butterfree was realistic and wholesome. It shows that they both bonded during a short period of time. James cracked me up in this episode. The ending showed a depressing cliffhanger. I give this episode a 10.

16. Pokemon Shipwreck

This episode is interesting. It was very dark seeing the main characters and team rocket about to face death on a sunken ship. The whole thing with Team Rocket joining up with Ash, Misty and Brock instead of fighting was cool. I love seeing the heroes and Team Rocket working together. The ending was very dark and mysterious. I give this episode a 8

17. Island of the Giant Pokemon

This episode is a better continuation from the last episode. Pokemon interacting with each other and using subtitles as part of their dialogue was awesome. I love seeing how Pokemon interact when they are not with their trainers. The way that the Pokemon talk in this episode delivers an amazing “show don’t tell” approach in the story. Even though the Legendary Birds were robotic, seeing them in anime form for the first time was very cool. The whole reunion scene was very sweet. This is an exceptional episode. I give this episode a 10.

18. Beauty and the Beach

This episode made me very uncomfortable. Not only the writers disgustingly show a 12-year-old girl dressing inappropriately, it gets worse. There was an old man hitting on Misty telling her that she reminds him of his granddaughter with a sexualized creepy face. There was a deleted scene where it showed James wearing fake boobs. That is very disturbing and creepy. Also, I thought that this episode was boring. I did like that moment where the workers told Ash’s mom about how great he is as a person. Speaking of which, it was cool seeing her and Oak in person since the first episode. This episode sadly was boring and uncomfortable. I give this episode a 4.

19. Tentacool and Tentacruel

This episode was cool. This episode feels like an apocalypse movie. The action scenes with Tentacool and Tentacruel were cool. Pikachu’s speech to the Tentacruel was awesome. We get into some insight of why Misty loves water Pokemon and it really distinguishes her character so well. This is one of my favorite Misty-Centered episodes so far. I give this episode a 9.

20. Ghost of Maiden’s Peak

This episode was weird. I never understood the whole point of the episode. Seeing Brock and James go gaga over a statuette of a woman is creepy. There’s nothing I remember about the episode. I like how the Maiden reveals to be Gastly in the end. I also like how the Maiden uses clever tactics i.e. Ferret and Lighter to defeat the Pokemon. This episode just exists. I give this episode a 6.

21. Bye Bye Butterfree

The entire beginning and the middle sections of the episodes were nothing to be honest. They are still good scenes like the scene where the heroes imitated the Team Rocket motto. However, the ending of the episode was powerful. Seeing Ash release Butterfree to be with the other Butterfree’s, was very emotional and an iconic moment in the series history. The whole scene where Butterfree leaves Ash was well executed and the fact that they played the Pokemon theme really shows how much Butterfree’s journey with Ash ends off with a bang. If you want to ignore the first and second half of the episode, then watch the third act. It’s where the episode really shines. I give the episode a 10.

22. Abra and the Psychic Showdown

This episode was enjoyable. I really like how this episode shows how much of a threat Sabrina is as a gym leader. The scene where Ash, Misty and Brock try to run away from Sabrina’s doll house was creepy. I loved seeing how much personality the gym leaders in this show have. I hope Ash’s rematch will be as exciting as it was when he rematches L.T. Surge. I give this episode a 10.

23. The tower of Terror

This episode was all right. I love seeing the characterizations of the Gengar Trio. It makes their scary but lovable appearance very cool.  They were very funny. The way Ash and Pikachu fly around with the Gengar Trio was cool too, I guess. Unfortunately, everything else from this episode was boring. I give this episode a 6.

24. Haunter vs Kadabra

Out of all the Gym Leader fights, this was the worst one. The main problem with the episode is that Ash doesn’t win the fight between Sabrina. The only reason he got a badge from Sabrina in the first place was because Haunter found a way to make her laugh. All that buildup from the episode we saw when he battled Sabrina two episodes ago, was a letdown after watching this episode. I can excuse Misty and Brock for handing Ash Gym badges because they are the main characters. But not here. I don’t know why Ash doesn’t just battle the gym leaders the normal way to earn badges. The good things about this episode is that it gives more insight into the gym leaders lifestyle. I loved the backstory of Sabrina and how she became very demonized. Haunter was very funny as a character. I laughed at the times when it almost killed Team Rocket. Again, all that hype from Ash losing against Sabrina, to him getting a ghost Pokemon in order to defeat her, made this results into a disappointment of an episode. I give this episode a 6.

25. Primeape goes Bananas

Oh snap! I love this episode. Primeape was amazing and hilarious being a d!c% to Ash. It was funny seeing Mankey try to taunt Ash. The whole battle between Primeape and Charmander was cool. I even love how Ash’s hat was established as an important item he won, making it justifiable to get it back. I thought the infamous dub changes from Rice Balls to Doughnuts was very funny. I give this episode a 10.

26. Pokemon scent-sation

This episode was good. It was funny seeing Ash being disguised as a girl, and I loved how menacing Team Rocket was throughout the episode. The fire scene was also intense. The only things I didn’t like about the episode was that Erika was a b!+^# towards Ash for insulting perfume. I get that he said something very awful. But did she really have to ban him from fighting a gym leader to get a badge for the Pokemon League? Speaking of, once again Ash was handed a gym badge instead of actually battling. That is my second major problem with the episode.  I know I’m harping on this but at this point, I am so sick of seeing Ash not winning gym battles for getting his gym badges. So far, the only badge he ever put up a good fight and won was in Electric Shock Showdown. I do appreciate this show giving more characterization for the gym leaders, but I hate that it had to result in sacrificing actual gym fights. It really makes Ash very incompetent as a trainer, and I bet that’s probably why he spoilers loses the Pokmeon league. I give this episode a 7.

Top 5 Worst Kirby right back at ya episodes

5. Pillow Case

I know what you’re thinking “youre adding a season 1 episode in here?” To be honest, This episode is just a random clip show. It also doesn’t make sense for a show early on to have a clip show. All this episode does is air a bunch of clips from the first 13 episodes. 13! Skip this episode.

4. Whale of a tale

This episode is just boring to sit through. I don’t remember a lot from this episode. Also, there should’ve been a monster in this episode, and Kirby get a copy ability to take a monster out. That would’ve been more interesting than….. an episode about whale watching. This episode is highly forgettable.

3. A Chow Challenge

Where this episode frustrates me is the execution and laziness. Let me explain: this episode had a strong start where Chef Kawasaki encountered his old classmate named Chef Nagoya. They had an food competition and Nagoya calls him out for being a bad cook. That scene alone is just like “A Recipe for Disaster”, and I loved it. Unfortunately the rest of the entire episode is just like that episode. The execution feels like a lazy rehash of that episode where King Dedede sabotages Kawasaki in a cooking contest, and the other chef complimenting Kawasaki’s cooking abilities. By the way, there was a random monster implemented in the episode at the last minute(literally). This episode had a promising start but fails miserably.

2. Shell Shocked

This episode made me very uncomfortable. King Dedede kept breaking Escargoons shell and he had to get a new one. I hated King Dedede’s behavior in this episode. The way he kept harassing Escargoon just because he wanted to look at the inside of Escargoon’s shell  was very creepy. It really makes this episode unpleasant to sit through.

1. Tooned Out

Out of all the worst episodes the show has to offer, this is definitely the worst one on the list. Lets get into the good first. This episode has an interesting take on CGI by having Diswalney make King Dedede and Kirby as motion capture to make a CGI cartoon. It was an interesting way to make this a sequel of Cartoon Buffoon. It doesn’t feel like its rehashing anything. It felt more like a commentary on how animation styles change over time. But where this episode falls flat is the choice of having three animators sexually stalk a minor. Its very disgusting and completely creepy. Why did the writers use this as a concept instead of the one where we get CGI animation commentary? Its gets worse in the end when the three animators did an actual cartoon about Tiff grown up and sexualized, and then doing a dance at the end flirting around Tiff. WTF were the writers thinking making this episode. Because of these choices, its very hard to see the good the episode has. The bad absolutely outweights the good in this episode. This episode is the worst episode of the Kirby series. Never, I mean NEVER watch this episode. Avoid it at all costs.

Hey Guys! Gerawallstar here, and I am here to review the Veggietales episode Dave and the Giant Pickle. I used to watch this episode heavily as a kid. I still loved this episode even as an adult. I remember loving the song “Little guys can do big things, too”, the introduction of Larryboy, and the message of self-esteem, which spoke to me a lot because I was very short as a wee lad. After seeing this episode as an adult, I find this episode perfect in its storytelling and message. First thing that makes this episode great is its relatable theme of people being insecure about themselves. While the story is about David defeating Goliath like in the bible verse David, it is also about Dave being insecure about himself when he is not being able to participate in a war because of his size. This is relatable because most times, a lot of us are insecure about ourselves and are judged by our appearance, skin color, personality, etc so we always try to fit in by changing our personality and act like what’s cool or popular in order to be liked. Its important to be yourself. This works well in a B plot when Larry acts insecure by being a superhero instead of himself. I loved that Bob tells Larry to be himself, and that he has a choice to be what he wants. I also loved the confidence Dave had when he decided to take on Goliath despite his small appearance. God giving him the courage and confidence to do great things no matter what people said was great. This message of being yourself is a message presented in thousands of animated movies, and this episode utilizes its theme very well. Another thing I loved about the episode is the score. The music in this episode is astounding. An example of this is in the Dave and Goliath fight scene. The music blend of the wimpiness sound of Dave Walking, and the threatening motif of Goliath when he appears was perfect. Although there aren’t a lot of songs in this episode, the song that they do have i.e. “Little guys can do big things too”, and the silly song “I love my lips” are both great songs.

Onto the story about David. This is a unique version of David from the bible. I loved this version of David because believe it or not, this version takes a lot of liberties from David in the Bible. What they got right was that David was an actual shepherd, David carrying food and supplies for his brothers to fight Goliath and defeating Goliath with a rock. Speaking of Goliath, Goliath was a perfect villain because he was exactly what the Goliath in the bible story was with him challenging Saul to fight him for 40 days, having no luck with the soldiers refusing to fight, and fighting David. The weapon Goliath used was changed from a sword to a boxing glove. The writers even went a step further by tacking heavy themes of slavery with the Philistines making the Israelites their slaves. Having something like that told in a kid show is pretty ballsy. The only thing that wasn’t accurate aside from the weapon Goliath used, was that in this version Saul was a mentor figure to Dave while in the bible version, Saul plotted to kill him because of his own jealousy of David. He feared that he would become king when his popularity soared after he fought Goliath and after winning a plethora of battles against the philistines. So, David eventually fled to the south with the help of his friend Jonathan and started his career, elsewhere. With that inaccuracy taking place, I don’t really mind that change from the bible version because this is a kid show and the writers wanted to make room for adding in the message onto the story.

Overall, Dave and the Giant Pickle is a perfect Veggietales episode. It is a simplified story of David from the bible done perfectly with most of the accurate portrayals from the bible, the message carrying the story forward, and the songs/music being brilliant. I am finally giving a Veggietales episode a 10/10.

Hey Guys! Gerawallstar here, and I am here to review the VeggieTales episode Rack, Shack, and Benny. This is the episode that I have never saw as a kid. I went and saw it as an adult, and I have to say this episode is fantastic. The story, characters, and the message are handled perfectly. The story is about a retelling of Shadrach, Meshac, and Abednego from the bible. In this version, Rack, Shack, and Benny work at a chocolate factory. Like I said, the story in this is brilliant. While the choice of having the titular characters working at a chocolate factory can be an odd choice, the changes to the bible version are not only clever but somewhat of an improvement in transitioning the story to a children’s program. The children had to worship a bunny statue, Mr. Nezzer almost kills Rack, Shack, and Benny through a furnace because they did not sing the bunny song. There is this big chase scene between Laura, the three main characters, and Nezzer. And the three main leads were saved from the furnace by god. All of these changes from the bible version are brilliant. The message presented in this episode is amazing as well. The moral of standing up for what you believe in, and avoiding peer pressure is a message that is honestly more suited for teenagers and adults since the majority of adults/teens are sometimes peer pressured into doing something that they don’t want to do i.e. drugs, joining gangs, etc. Kids can learn from this message, too, but I feel that this message is more relatable for older audiences. This is somewhat of a musical like Daniel in the Lion’s Den from the first episode. The songs do a good job of moving the plot forward. The opening song, Good Morning George, establishes the horrible working conditions at the chocolate factory and introduces the titular characters in an amazing way. The song “Think of Me” is a sweet lullaby, showcasing the episode’s theme. But honestly, I can live without seeing Shack as a baby. Sorry, y’all. The best song in this episode is “The Bunny Song” which fun fact: this song received a lot of controversy, because of the lyrics such as “I won’t go to church, and I won’t go to school.” Because of this, Phil Vischer removed that line in the rest of the re-releases of the episode, changing it to something more vanilla. This is the best villain song of the show. It is so catchy and memorable. This song is so good that it even has a solid reprise. The last song “Stand Up” is a great ending song to this episode with the message of standing up for what you believe in. I loved Shack singing this song. The characters were great. Laura’s first major appearance was good. The titular characters Rack, Shack, and Benny were enjoyable. Mr. Nezzer is an amazing villain. His character arc was great. Like King Nebuchadnezzar from the bible, Nezzer is a legit threat as a villain, and his character development is solid. The countertop scenes where Larry gets stuck in a sink are hilarious. The silly song Dance of the Cucumber is also hilarious. What makes this episode not perfect is because of the frame rate. The framerate in one of the songs was not rendered properly. Phil was on a tight deadline for making this episode, and they didn’t have time to finish the rendering. But you can really tell the rendering was very poor. In terms of the animation here’s an interesting fact: a month before Toy Story was released, PIXAR contacted Big Idea for some advice on how to do cheek puff animation. The animation overall is solid and innovative, with that cheek puff movement when the veggies are eating chocolate. Overall, Rack, Shack, and Benny is a fantastic episode. Its ambitious, creative with its storytelling, and a blast to sit through. This is definitely a top 5 or top 3 best Veggietales episodes in my book. I would recommend kids under 5 to see this with their parents mainly because of that fiery furnace scene. With this episode making Veggietales find its groove, this episode, in my opinion, is what made Toy Story an inevitable phenomenon, along with CGI, a force to be reckoned with. I give this episode a 9.5 out of 10.