Pokemon Company
Airdate: February 28, 2002
Summary: Ash gets his shot at Pryce, and the viewer gets a look back at the last episode, so helpful. Ash and our heroes talk about his strategy against Pryce, which starts with Cyndaquil and then… who knows. Sheila and Pryce are talking as he brushes Piloswine, Pryce feels oneness with his Pokemon which is a change of tune from Ice-hearted Pryce. Meanwhile, Team Rocket hatches a plan to steal all of Pryce’s Pokemon. In Pryce’s gym there is a half ice sculpture/half pool setup, let’s see what Ash does. It starts with Dewgong vs. Cyndaquil, as Misty’s exposition tells us that Dewgong is Ice/Water… you learn stuff everyday. Dewgong uses Ice Beam and Aurora Beam, but Cyndaquil melts the Ice Beam to avoid the Aurora Beam. Dewgong spams Auroro Beam, Ash uses Flamethrower, and we are off. Cyndaquil uses Quick Attack underwater, which pushes Dewgong to use Headbutt, which Ash counters with Swift and Flamethrower, helping Cyndaquil win. Brock explains Ash’s strategy and Pryce sends out Piloswine. Team Rocket runs into a Seel outside the gym, igniting all the Pokemon against them. Back to the battle, Cyndaquil uses Flamethrower while Piloswine uses Blizzard, obscuring everything in sight. Piloswine uses the frost to hit a Take Down and beat Cyndaquil. Now it is Pikachu vs. Piloswine, a clear type advantage for Piloswine. Pikachu uses Agility and Thunderbolt to dodge Piloswine’s Fury Attack, but slips. Piloswine uses Blizzard and Pikachu uses Thunder, but Pikachu takes the brunt of it. Ash has Pikachu use the ice pillars to slide around and dodge Piloswine, an allusion to the gym format in the game itself. Pikachu runs circles around Piloswine, sliding under Piloswine as it uses Blizzard. Pikachu uses Thunder to directly hit Piloswine, but Piloswine uses Rest to gain enough energy to go for Round 2. Fury Attack/Take Down by Piloswine proves dangerous, Pikachu recovers enough to send a tough Thunder attack but it doesn’t work well until the ice cracks to get Piloswine wet so that the Thunderbolt is strong, paralyzing Piloswine. Piloswine uses Fury Attack, Pikachu is about to use a final Thunder but Pryce throws in the towel as Piloswine had enough for the day. Ash wins the Glacier Badge while Team Rocket is stuck in a glacier. Off to Blackthorn!
Best Trainer/Pokémon: Ash, that Cyndaquil starter move was perfect, he is becoming a thinking man’s trainer.
Worst Trainer/Pokémon: Team Rocket… again nobody was horrible but they got frozen out.
One thing I learned: Ash has some battling chops near the end of the campaign.
Who is that Pokémon?: Weedle, believe it or not, underrated. Kakuna’s design slaps, and Mega Beedrill is fun.
Best Quote: “We have more ice to choose from than a Slurpee stand” – James with the 7/11. Japan 7/11 is better for so many reasons except for Slurpees, an American classic.
Best Scene: When Pikachu slid under Piloswine, sick!
Will Reviews Things 