Brief Summary
The hosts discuss "Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel," analyzing its plot, characters, and place within the Pokémon movie canon. They share their likes and dislikes, focusing on the introduction of Mega Evolutions, the character of Volcanion, and the storyline involving Magearna. The group also debates the film's ranking compared to other Pokémon movies and concludes with a Pokémon poll challenge for the next episode.
- The movie is compared to "Pokémon the Movie: Black & White," but considered better.
- Mega Evolutions felt weak and underutilized.
- Volcanion's character was a highlight, but Magearna's purpose was unclear.
- The plot had recurring themes from previous movies.
- The group ranks the movie 11th out of 20 on their list.
Intro
The podcast episode begins with introductions of the hosts: Cherry, Blurred Tatiana, Hail, Kenai, Ranch Chris Taufer, and John. They announce that this week's movie is "Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel." The hosts mention previous discussions about "Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction" and "Magearna," setting the stage for their analysis of the film.
Initial Thoughts on Volcanion
Kenai shares his initial thoughts, placing the movie in the low-mid tier. He expresses frustration with the film's failure to adequately explain Magearna's importance, noting that every time an explanation is about to be given, something interrupts it. He also criticizes the weak implementation of Mega Evolutions, pointing out that only Gardevoir mega evolves properly, while others are just "fake angry mega." Kenai ranks the movie lower than "Keldeo versus the Sword of Justice."
Storyline and Visuals
The hosts discuss the storyline, with some feeling it's an upgrade from "Diancie," but not necessarily more enjoyable. They appreciate the visual excitement of seeing Mega Aggron and Mega Swampert, and find Volcanion a cool character. The group also touches on the shiny Pokémon distributions, such as shiny Gardevoir and shiny Gengar, with some confusion over Gengar's coloring.
Shiny Pokémon and Movie's Purpose
The hosts discuss the difficulty in differentiating shiny Garchomp and express disappointment with Pikachu's shiny form. They feel the movie fails to properly introduce Mega Evolutions and make Magearna a compelling character, instead highlighting Volcanion. The hosts also discuss Volcanion's running out of water, which they found illogical but somewhat forgivable due to game logic.
Plot Synopsis and Comparisons
The hosts read a synopsis of the movie from the Pokémon website, which describes Ash meeting Volcanion and their mission to rescue Magearna from an evil minister. They compare the movie to "Pokémon the Movie: Black & White," noting similarities in the flying city and random legendaries. The hosts also discuss how the trailers focused on the city setting, which was a cool aspect of the movie.
Complaints and Tropes
The hosts discuss their complaints about the movie, including Ash's clothes changing while trapped in Volcanion's ring and Clement's inventions always being met with Ash's "science is awesome" reaction. They also question why Pikachu wasn't more affected by Volcanion's steam eruption. The hosts note the recurring trope of Ash gaining the trust of Pokémon and discuss Charizard's canonical location.
Anime Connections and Plot
The hosts discuss the anime, mentioning Ash-Greninja and the possibility of Greninja returning. They then return to the movie's plot, noting that Volcanion's motivation to protect Magearna isn't clear until later. The hosts discuss the interesting way the movie ties Ash and Volcanion together, finding it better than Ash simply taking responsibility.
Magearna and Talking Pokémon
The hosts discuss Magearna, noting that it would have been better if it could talk instead of Volcanion. They found Magearna's beeping charming but felt its speech should have been more mechanical. The hosts also discuss Magearna's random flower attacks and the Pokémon hunter with an RPG.
Mega Evolutions and Team Rocket
The hosts discuss the mega evolution implementation, noting that an army of mega evolution Pokémon loses to Talonflame, Pikachu, Volcanion, and Greninja. They suggest that the anime character who is a master of mega evolution should have been included. The hosts also discuss how the bad guys' mega evolutions were weaker because they lacked a true bond with their Pokémon. Team Rocket's role in the movie is also discussed, noting their use of a gotcha mechanic to obtain Pokémon.
Errors and Flying Fortress
The hosts discuss an audio error in the movie where a character interrupts himself. They also discuss the flying fortress made out of city walls, finding it frustrating. The hosts then discuss Kimia's motorcycle that turns into a helicopter backpack, questioning why it started as a motorcycle.
Hyper Beams and Safeguard
The hosts note the lack of Hyper Beams in recent movies, but their abundance in this one. They also discuss Volcanion thanking Hippopotas for Safeguard, questioning the move's usage. The hosts then discuss Watchog's appearance, a Pokémon they like that is rarely shown.
Paradise and Gulpin
The hosts discuss the paradise where Pokémon trust humans quickly. They mention interactions between Pokémon, such as Zigzagoon and Dedenne sniffing each other, and Sylveon getting frisky. The hosts then discuss Gulpin melting the bands that connect Ash and Volcanion, noting that Ash should have died.
Ending and Trauma
The hosts discuss the ending, where Ash grabs Gulpin and Volcanion doesn't ask for Gulpin's story, respecting his trauma. They note that Volcanion acts as a mediator, explaining why the Pokémon don't trust humans. The hosts also discuss the plateau, noting that it added more character to Volcanion.
Reflective Moments and Sacrifices
The hosts discuss reflective moments in the movie, such as Volcanion saying all humans lie and Pikachu responding. They also discuss Volcanion's near-sacrifice, which they found annoying because it was a fake death. The hosts compare this to other Pokémon movies where characters sacrifice themselves, such as Lucario.
Recurring Themes and Nicola
The hosts discuss the recurring themes in the movie, noting that many of the plots have already happened in other movies. They also discuss Nicola's motivation for building the flying city, which they found made more sense than in "Pokémon the Movie: Black & White." The hosts also discuss the way Volcanion and Ash were linked together.
Fun Movie and Soul Heart
The hosts conclude that the movie was fun, but didn't give them what they needed to see. They note that Magearna's Soul Heart was never fully explained. The hosts then look up the Soul Heart ability, which raises the user's special attack when another Pokémon faints.
Meowth and Alva
The hosts discuss how Meowth was utilized in the movie, noting that he was bawling because he could hear Magearna cry. They also discuss Alva's beef, questioning why he was trying to blow up the planet. The hosts note that Alva's motivation wasn't solid, but he recognized that Magearna was still in there and wanted to destroy what it loved.
Gengar and Magearna's Colors
The hosts discuss Gengar, noting that he was mentally controlled. They also discuss Magearna's colors, noting that the pokeball form is its original form and the tarnished form is due to age. The hosts then discuss the pokeball Magearna distribution event, which requires a completed Pokedex.
Gen 4 Remakes and Soundtracks
The hosts express hope that all Pokémon will become accessible in the Gen 4 remakes. They also discuss the movie's soundtrack, wishing it relied more on the game soundtracks. The hosts then play the gym leader theme from Gen 8, which they love.
Gym Leader Theme and Durability
The hosts continue to discuss the gym leader theme from Gen 8, noting how much it hypes them up. They also discuss Duraludon, noting that it's a steel dragon.
Ranking the Movie
The hosts begin to rank the movie, reviewing their current list. They debate where the movie belongs, with some putting it above Diancie and below Lucario. The hosts ultimately decide to place the movie at number 11, right underneath Lucario.
Detective Pikachu and Poll Challenge
The hosts discuss Detective Pikachu, predicting it will break the top 10. They then announce the Pokémon poll challenge for this week, where viewers can vote for their favorite Pokémon from the movie. The hosts reveal their picks: Mega Alakazam, Greninja, Mega Mawile, Growlithe, and Sylveon.
Poll Challenge and Outro
The hosts explain the poll challenge rules and thank viewers for watching. They announce that next week they will be reviewing "Pokémon I Choose You." The hosts encourage viewers to subscribe and hit the notification bell.
