"You've been denouncing the evils of truth and love since you was just teeny and long before you could say 'truth and love!'"
Score: 7.5/10
In one minute and thirty-three seconds (a large part of which was the opening theme), Team Rocket captures Pikachu in a giant robot. At least they aren't wasting any time this episode. When the robot inevitably explodes, it sends everyone flying in different directions: the heroes and Team Rocket go flying in opposite directions, but Pikachu and Meowth together in another one. Once they land, Ash is of course intent on finding Pikachu.
You might be thinking that this is yet another "Meowth and [Insert Pokemon Here] are lost together and need to work together to survive," a plot that's been used at least three times by my memory but possibly many more. But you're being unfair. Just because the writers work for a kid's show doesn't mean they're going to resort to tired clichés we've all seen a thousand time before in this and every other show. You shouldn't be so judgmental: Pikachu hits its head and gets amnesia, so Meowth (the villain) convinces Pikachu (the hero) that it works for Team Rocket. Now don't you feel silly for assuming the writers would just bust out clichés for lack of talent?
Also, I get a new reaction image.
While wandering, Pikachu and Meowth come across a Zigzagoon and a Beedrill, the latter of which is attacking the former. Pikachu attacks Beedrill on the grounds that it has no idea what's happening. I'm serious, maybe this Zigzagoon attacked a Weedle or stole some food or something, what the hell does Pikachu know? Anyway, this scene is to show that Pikachu is kindhearted and brave. No, I'm not interpreting that: Meowth has an internal monologue about how this shows Pikachu is kindhearted and brave, those are his exact words. This is... this is how they teach you not to write. Futurama even made a joke about this.
Meowth's internal monologues keep restating how brave Pikachu is. I seriously have no idea why this is in the episode. Pikachu's bravery and kindheartedness have already been established. This wouldn't even be necessary for someone who had never seen an episode before. Pikachu saves Meowth's life when he almost tumbles off of a cliff, and Meowth begins to feel guilty. He feels even guiltier when Pikachu keeps acting incredibly kindly to him. Meowth starts to wonder if he's a horrible person, and keeps thinking about how brave Pikachu and how horrible he must be to take advantage of it like this. You might be thinking that this is going to lead to like Meowth's last speck of internal goodness and honor forcing him to admit the truth to Pikachu, which isn't completely unprecedented (he once defended a Miltank from Jessie and James and wanted to win that balloon race legitimately instead of cheating), but nope. It never comes up again and has no effect on anything except to underline that Pikachu is a good guy and Meowth is a bad guy.
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Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
Started: July 6, 2005