Talkin' 'Bout an Evolution!
First, that was a pretty lame title, it could have been
much better, even if it was something like "Waves of Danger" that would have
been more tolerable IMO. Anyway, this whole Red Gyarados saga is a cool idea
since it fits right in with the games. This episode also explained Team Rocket's
plan in a little more detail than the games. We got introduced to Lance,
Champion of the Elite 4; he and his Dragonite were very cool. He also explained
that he was a member of the Pokemon G-Men, who protect Pokemon from being
exploited by humans. I've always thought that since the E4 were so powerful
and respected that they'd also have jobs like that, so it makes sense. Watching
the Gyarados in this episode, I had to wonder if it ever closed its mouth,
because even while sleeping its mouth was still wide open.
After our heroes found themselves lost yet again, I liked Meowth's quote:
"What's more ridiculous, gettin' lost or us followin' dem gettin' lost?"
And later when Jessie, James, and Meowth stumbled upon the base of operations
for TR's plan and were captured, James' quote was funny: "That's just not
right! Zero is a gross exaggeration, we are at least 2 to 3 percent worthwhile!"
Lance's detective work to find out about TR's operation was cool, it really
seemed like he was a pro at that sort of thing. He seemed a little younger
than I had him pictured though, but not by very much. The scene with J, J
& M diving down to lure the Gyarados was funny, what with Jessie and
Meowth wanting to hang back because they were scared of it. Then James turned
around to find it right there and it chased them all back to the surface
and got caught in TR's net. Adding a bit of ruthlessness to TR's plan was
their shocking Gyarados to lower its resistance first. We see trainers having
their Pokemon do that all the time for captures, but it just seems more cruel
when done with a machine instead of a Pokemon, and to a Pokemon that they'd
abused already by forcing it to evolve. It was interesting how Prof. Sebastian
explained the reason for the Gyarados being red though, I don't think that
was in the games; that it was a leftover trait from when it was a Magikarp,
so TR would need to study it to see how to improve their Evolution Inducement
Wave. And the explanation of that plan showed that TR really is a ruthless
organization, not the bumbling team of fools that J, J & M make them
out to be.
When Poliwhirl and Totodile were trying to help the Gyarados, and TR broadcasted
their wave to fend them off, Meowth's reaction was funny:
Meowth: "I'm gonna take a little nappy-poo." (puts its face down in the water)
James: "Meowth, you capsized!"
I don't understand why they all kept calling it "Lake Rage" in this and the
following episodes, it's called "THE Lake OF Rage." Anyway, the cliffhanger
ending with the trio being caged while TR got away with the Gyarados was
suspensful and did a good job of building up interest for the next episode,
especially seeing Lance, still disguised, driving one of TR's trucks.