"Strategy With a Smile!" Episode Discussion

i think may was good she almost won too wow
 
It was very predictable that Dawn was going to be the winner. I still cheered for May, and I thought it was a great battle overall. The opening battle: Piplup vs. Crawdaunt was amazing. I haven't seen Crawdaunt in the anime for awhile!
 
you can sure tell that going to johto helped may out alot.
 
It was a nice episode. Dawn beat May like most of us already knew and we saw some great battles that took place. Of course, they had to fit three battles into one epsode, so they were kind of rushed, but they were still pretty good. Overall, I'll give this a 8.5/10, only because of Mr. Sukizo. He said nothing more than "remarkable".
 
I have decided I'm going to change my reviewing style. It used to be easier to write lists, but I think it's easier to read as paragraphs and people will pay more attention to it hah. Well, anyway

I LOVE how they're keeping Dawn's spinning thing. She used it twice in this episode and of course Ash used Dawn's ice Aqua Jet last episode. Dawn actually IS smart! Yay for continuity! I don't remember Zoey VS May being so long in Japanese, seriously. In Japanese it seemed to go through everything quickly, even the May VS Dawn battle, but it seems slower in the dub, oddly. Dawn seemed so surprised she won! She deserved it

Music: Interesting dub music for Zoey VS May, it's like they're trying to imitate game music. Not Pokemon, just game music haha. Seriously, what's up with the circus music with Team Rocket? Predictibly, it's dub. Oh, the music's horrible that replaced Symphonic melody. This is one of the tracks the dub needs to cut out their collection, it seems like filler music. It isn't "oh no" or "yay! I'm winning" or "aahhhh what is happening!?" it's just nothingness. To put it very simply.

Music kept: (7, I think)

RBY Opening Theme
Fight! Real VS Copy Pokemon! (Movie 1 OST)
Satoshi's Battle Decision (Movie 1 OST)
Start of Dawn and May battle (unsure here if it's original)
DP Gym Battle
Kimi no Soba de (happy/battle version) it was very quiet
Route 214

Quote:

Dawn's mum: *Jessie's face in camera* Wow, the mainstream media sure are changing

Overall, I'll give this a 8.5/10, only because of Mr. Sukizo. He said nothing more than "remarkable".

When does the Remarkable Man say anything but "remarkable"!? You shouldn't rate an episode down because of him (one of my most hated characters...although, it was pretty funny when he said "this is NOT remarkable" XD but that wasn't this episode, so yeah)
 
This episode was great just like it was in Japanese. I still wish May could have won. The battle between May and Dawn seemed a little lame because they both were monotone giving commands and didn't show any emotions but other than that it was fine.

Want more episodes with glaceon please:)
 
Not a dreck episode. The animation was good and commanding, as was May's, Zoey's, and Dawn's battles (Piplup against Glaceon comes to mind here, to expound). I was also rather pleased to hear the Kanto BGM kept after May parted away from her battle with Zoey as the victor - I don't have vivid recollection of hearing the track since the days of the Indigo league first beginning (Ash's trepidations and nervousness just before the league started, to specify). I still find the original BGM from those days superbly composed, holding it in very high regard, as to me it has a way of calming the ears and exploring the characters, concepts, and themes of the series in a way that the other BGM doesn't (not to say the other BGM is bad by any account, just personal preference). Not all the original Japanese BGM was kept, of course, but still.

But yes, this episode set a good pace with animation and battles of equal merit. I wouldn't expressly deem it a great episode, but it was good. May does seem more mature this time around. It isn't a half-bad way to end the Wallace Cup.
 
Last edited:
i think may was good she almost won too wow

After Dawn won, I was a bit confused. So I rewound the TV and paused at the hit of 00:00 and saw Dawn had LESS points then May. I think they didn't notice that and they wanted Dawn to win too. But overall, it was really good episode
 
After Dawn won, I was a bit confused. So I rewound the TV and paused at the hit of 00:00 and saw Dawn had LESS points then May. I think they didn't notice that and they wanted Dawn to win too. But overall, it was really good episode
yea it was very good next comes misty
 
This was an awesome episode, worth waiting 2 weeks to see.

I'm glad Dawn won, but in a way I was sad May lost! This fight was so intense even in the japanese version, but it was a great battle. Dawn FINALLY won one! You GO HIKARI!!

Dawn: No Need to worry now!

Dawn earned it guys, I mean she had to really overcome her pervious losses, and breezed through it, thanks to the others, and I think May gave Dawn that boost in confidence.

This makes me miss May now....we'll miss you MAY!!! I hope she comes back, or at least makes another cameo.

Haha Max, Caroline, Norman, Drew, Harley, and Solidad made final cameos!! Did you guys see how Harley was staring into the screen? XD

Dawn's Mom: That's my girl

:P

Awesome episode, but I hope May comes back someday, she needs more of a backstory, and yes I agree that she has matured ALOT since going to Johto, that's our May for ya.

Episode Rating: 10/10
 
FACT: Glaceon's voice is a huge letdown. Frankly, it's terrible. Glaceon is pretty much the most beautiful pokemon there is IMO, and they ruined her with a stupid scratchy voice.

The Bide+Dark Pulse combo was pretty sweet, I must admit.

Also, Beautifly is just freakin adorable. I love it now.

After Dawn won, I was a bit confused. So I rewound the TV and paused at the hit of 00:00 and saw Dawn had LESS points then May. I think they didn't notice that and they wanted Dawn to win too. But overall, it was really good episode

Um, that's incorrect. Here's the screen-cap.

[PokeCommunity.com] "Strategy With a Smile!" Episode Discussion


As you can see, Dawn's bar is a SLIVER more than 1/4, where as May's is right on 1/4.
 
Last edited:
FACT: Glaceon's voice is a huge letdown. Frankly, it's terrible. Glaceon is pretty much the most beautiful pokemon there is IMO, and they ruined her with a stupid scratchy voice.

Yeah, that's what I thought when I watched it in Japanese. It's the same voice. But being beautiful doesn't mean you'll get a nice voice, I suppose haha.
 
Instead of the review of just the one episode, allow me to sum up the Wallace Cup:

-HOLY FACKBALLS IT'S WALLACE. :O
-May came back. Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Eevee evolved. (As did Drew's Roselia.)
-Ash saw AAAAAAZZZZZEEEEEELLLLLLLFFFFF. Wicked stuffs is wicked.
-Lack of Kenny = fail. Kenny > Zoey. (Or maybe I'm wrong, and Kenny got wtfowned. I didn't watch the whole thing, just saw the synopsees [sp?] on Serebii.)
-MAJOR, MAJOR slip-up in Dawn beating May. I mean, for the sake of character development, it's due, but SERIOUSLY, WHAT THE FACK. :\

Blah stuffs is blah.
More Ambipom, less Piplup.
In fact
Hand Ambipom to Kenny
Then kill off Dawn

Except for the hardcore fanboys, nobody will care. She'll be gone, and everyone else will go about their business. The only one who will be out is Dawn's mother, and frankly, her, her poofy hair, and GLAMEOW (:<) can go to hell. :<

Spoiler:
 
After Dawn won, I was a bit confused. So I rewound the TV and paused at the hit of 00:00 and saw Dawn had LESS points then May. I think they didn't notice that and they wanted Dawn to win too. But overall, it was really good episode

What?! May should've won? Yet they let Dawn win the match? This is nonsense!
 
What?! May should've won? Yet they let Dawn win the match? This is nonsense!


I agree, but you see the writers wanted Dawn to win since she was still choking on those losses that THEY handed her in Hearthome and Solceon. So you see this was all for charcter development, they didnt want her to be what May was. May had a rocky start with her Contest career, but she rocked in Season 7-9. Minus ing season 6 since she lost in Slateport. But yeah May a ton of almost all of her contests in Hoenn/Kanto. They wanted The new girl (Dawn) to be a loser for most of the contest since Sinnoh is LONG, hence her losing and Ash to catch up faster with his Gym Battles.

And yes I agree I wish May could have won, but thems the breaks, HELL least we got to see her again right?!

XD
 
It was great to see Dawn finally win a contest again, May's outfit was, IMHO, beautiful.
 
Piplup used Bide. I thought they forgot about that move, since I don't think it was used in the DP series since the the first DP episode.

I remembered something while watching this. My Glaceon in Pearl knows Shadow Ball and Mirror Coat too!! And it knew Ice Shard, but I deleted that move. ;)

And since when are there contests in Johto? I coulda sworn they were only in the Hoenn and Sinnoh regions.

But anyway, another great episode!! Especially since all three battles were really close wins...by like one or two points!! o.o
 
Back
Top