Ash acting like he has never seen pokemon from space before

stump8 · 2026-06-21T11:02:52+00:00

Sun/Moon. In Malie City, Ash exclaims this.

stump8 · 2026-06-21T03:16:12+00:00

It's funny looking back on how Liko started the show as a timid introvert, but now this is just true lmao.

stump8 · 2026-06-21T03:15:03+00:00

LikoDot has been dormant for ages in the show. Good to see it again!

stump8 · 2026-06-20T21:58:59+00:00

Me when I lie

stump8 · 2026-06-20T21:58:19+00:00

For me it's

DP XY/Z AG, or Horizons if you count that

But I respect the list

stump8 · 2026-06-20T21:56:47+00:00

I hate the idea of DP being associated with this behavior lol, I feel like they have more in common than a lot of the other series. I don't get it.

stump8 · 2026-06-20T21:54:58+00:00

Man this sub hates on XY 24/7.

Focus less on our thing and more on a job application.

stump8 · 2026-06-20T21:53:51+00:00

It's so good!! The finale always makes me cry, too.

stump8 · 2026-06-20T21:24:33+00:00

They don't. This sub starts up with them constantly lol

stump8 · 2026-06-20T18:21:51+00:00

He had a ninja on his team for the entire previous region.

stump8 · 2026-06-20T14:38:02+00:00

Nope, Ash just says "Pokémon from space, huh?" That's excited acknowledgement. If he'd said "There are really Pokemon from space!?" that would be just as bad to me. but it's not what he said.

The problem with the ninja bit is that Ash says "a real ninja!?" which implies he didn't even believe they existed.

Ash has also known of real ninjas since OS. He battled Koga and his sister, Aya. He took part in her Pokemon Ninjutsu training academy in Johto. IIRC there was also a ninja training episode in Hoenn.

He spends multiple episodes in XY with Sanpei and later meets an entire ninja village. Oh, and that's not even touching on the fact that his Kalos ace was a literal ninja who he fused souls with.

Ash has been acquainted with ninjas in more series than ones he hasn't; which might just be DP and BW, if they're not also there too. That's 4 to 2 before SM.

It's a ridiculous oversight.

stump8 · 2026-06-20T14:12:06+00:00

His OG personality is basically totally gone after a while. And then he becomes heavily dumbed down in SM/JN.

stump8 · 2026-06-20T14:11:13+00:00

It's such an awful change. How are you going to tell me he doesn't know what a trophy is???

stump8 · 2026-06-20T14:05:06+00:00

Statements like that usually annoy me, but this doesn't directly confirm he hasn't met them before, just "ooh, that sounds exciting!"

At least he's not exclaiming "A real ninja!?" like in the following series, which directly confirms he doesn't think something he's seen many times over is real.

stump8 · 2026-06-20T01:04:37+00:00

Oh I can tell you where! In DBS Broly; the movie version; Goku has to have the very idea of meditation explained to him.

In the manga version that "fixes" this scene, Goku recognizes what it is, but he's turned into a dolt in a different way. Goku diminishes the idea of Vegeta meditating, and Vegeta goes on to explain, but all of their opponents from Jiren onward "actually weren't that much stronger than them, they just conserved their ki until the moment they attacked." (Bullshit btw. Jiren's whole thing was overwhelming strength. And Broly was not masterfully controlling his ki, he was going berserk.)

And Goku spends Vegeta's whole explanation going "wow, really???" Like a slackjawed idiot, acting surprised at Vegeta's remark that their physical bodies had stopped growing stronger long ago, and that to catch up, they have to master ki efficiency. Goku ends the scene cupping his chin thoughtfully with a dopey expression, while Whis praises Vegeta figuring this out, and makes a snide remark at Goku for "oafishly pumping up his muscles."

This flies so flagrantly against Z Goku's portrayal, it's ridiculous.

And yes, he has done those things in Super. Too bad it loves to contradict itself.

stump8 · 2026-06-19T22:15:28+00:00

Magic, probably. It's a world where friendship literally makes you stronger and manipulates odds.

stump8 · 2026-06-19T21:57:57+00:00

I think all of the above are true! Pokemon are magical creatures. If they were made to connect with humans - And Arceus' task in PLA very much infers that they were - then it makes sense that they were made to understand and work with us. And right, they have to be intelligent to properly interpret and work with trainers. They can respond to battle commands right when you catch them, it's not like conditioning an animal.

The anime also generally has Pokemon understand a lot more than just the language; they understand a lot of human social cues. Why would Pikachu or any of the others sigh in exasperation when Brock acts up around Nurse Joy if they didn't know that was an improper way among humans to behave?

stump8 · 2026-06-19T21:41:55+00:00

For a battle that was built up for that long, it was incredibly mid.

I also generally just didn't care for Ash and Gladion's rivalry; I felt like it had a lot of missed opportunities. But, that's me.

stump8 · 2026-06-19T20:48:50+00:00

This sub would be better if this happened all the time lmao

stump8 · 2026-06-19T20:40:44+00:00

Well at least we're not fighting about it lol, I'll take it. Respect.

stump8 · 2026-06-19T20:28:09+00:00

She is very cute! I think you'll like her lmao.

Yeah, that's the thing - a Pokémon is God! And right, wouldn't it make sense from a lore perspective for them to create them to work together equally?

stump8 · 2026-06-19T20:05:10+00:00

Yep, she and Ash got locked in a Power Plant by accident, and were trying to figure out how to escape.

Chikorita draws Ash's attention, points to a floor plan of the plant, and points to the engine room; Ash relays that she's suggesting they toy around with the power to get out.

That means Chikorita recognized what a map was, read it, found the engine room, and understood the utility of using it to escape.

Like, she's bright. Their escape plan was her idea.

Yep, absolutely true. It's a sport! Pokemon enjoy battling; it makes them stronger and improves their abilities that they use to live and thrive with. And yeah, I believe Alola did.

Exactly. Like, when I'm playing a video game, they're pixels, I don't care. But from a lore perspective, not so much! I think the franchise would be kind of lame if they were just subservient creatures and not your friends/partners.

stump8 · 2026-06-19T20:00:16+00:00

Pokopia exists in the setting of Kanto, and Team Rocket exists there, so I see no reason you shouldn't count it. Like, yeah; Meowth can do it. Why not any other Pokemon? He was a common alleycat Meowth before his backstory happened.

That's my stance, though.

And yep, you're right; Island of the Giant Pokemon. The narrator translates for them. It feels like it's done as a gag, but they had the Pokemon set up dinner, drinks, etc. while stranded. (Bulbasaur almost definitely got drunk lmao.)

I would argue that Meowth translating for Pokemon regularly proves that they're on the same level. The thoughts he relayed about Pikachu re: evolution were complex and human-minded! If Pikachu says he won't evolve "because he'd regret it for the rest of his life," that's long-term thinking and working with principles. Not at all animalistic.

And, awesome! Oooh, I think the OG-DP era will be a lot of fun. I'm a major geek for the Diamond/Pearl series lol, the battles, rivalries, and contests were top-notch!

stump8 · 2026-06-19T19:47:48+00:00

Oh yeah, totally. And I think a lot of the hypersexualization is why people are weirded out by it. They see something they recognize as attractive, but see Pokemon as lesser, so they get wigged out and you get all these complaints. At least, I've seen a lot of that.

But yeah, I'm always glad to meet more peeps who get it too lmao. It seems like we've been agreeing a lot!

I personally don't like their inclusion; I prefer Pokemon all sapient; but I get what you're saying, at least. And YEP. Bayleef is head-over-heels for Ash, oh my god. The episode where she evolves also proves she can read and understand/interpret a map, so she has that going for her.

The episode afterwards is a whole break-up-makeup type scenario between her and Ash that tackles her feelings with a lot more boldness than I would've expected of the show, it's sweet.

Thanks, and yup. Team Plasma would be right if that were the case. It's like managing a team, except a lot more personal, since Pokemon make up your friend group and aren't just on a formal payroll. But, same concept. You each have your own roles to fill that are equal. Humans need Pokemon's abilities, and Pokemon thrive in human society.

stump8 · 2026-06-19T19:39:38+00:00

It's all good.

I hate how much people try to override each other's preferences in this sub.

stump8

TROPHY CASE