[#14] Electric Shock Showdown (2/2)

It's been over a week since the last Poké-post. I don't want another sudden break from the blogging so let's soldier-on with the second half of Electric Shock Showdown.

Oh, by the way. it's Raichu. Which is to be expected, I'm sure.

[#14] Electric Shock Showdown (1/2)

The face of sheer happiness. Do you know what this means, people?

"After two weeks of being lost..."

"...our heroes reach Vermillion City!"

Thank mercy for that.

"Congratulations! You finally made it!"

The gang are far too hungry to get a bath / hit the laundromat / challenge the gym so that needs taking care of. Cue title-card, monsieur!

Pizazz, motherfrogger, do you speak it?

[#13] Mystery At The Lighthouse

This episode starts with, you guessed it, the gang being lost. Well isn't that a doddle. We've come to expect as much. This episode also covers some more game mechanics - carrying six Pokémon and Pokémon computer storage. It also introduces an important character in the games (though of much lesser importance in the show). So let's get on with it.

"Well here's a familiar scene!"

Yeah, we know that Narrator. Care to provide anything useful?

"Wandering in a forest? It appears our friends have once again lost their way."

That's right.

"It's been quite a while now since Ash left his home in the town of Pallet, and a lot has happened since he began his Pokémon journey. He's already earned two of the qualifying badges--"

Are we really doing this!? ARE WE? ARE WE REALLY DOING THIS NOW, IN FRONT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE!? I THOUGHT WE WERE HAPPY TOGETHER, I REALLY DID, BUT NOW I CAN SEE YOU'RE JUST A HARLOT.

"--for participation in the Pokémon League."

This is why his wife left him, he's married to the job.

"A Boulder Badge and a Cascade Badge."

The characters continue the exposition, as they discuss the badges Ash has, how he obtained them and what that means in the grand scheme of things. Rather than give you the inane fluffing drivel the Narrator goes on to say, let's just say, CUTTING TO SAVE TIME.

It's going to be a bumper post, both parts together. So let's cut out the twaddle.

[#12] Here Comes The Squirtle Squad (2/2)

It's Pikachu! Squirtle. Obviously. The episode is called "Here Comes The SQUIRTLE Squad". If you couldn't get that, then what the crap is wrong with you? SQUIRTLE SQUAD. It's not going to be a Pupitar, now is it? Get with the program, Pokéman masters.

[#12] Here Comes The Squirtle Squad (1/2)

"You'll remember in an earlier Pokémon adventure our hero Ash achieved his dream of catching a Bulbasaur. It was a shocking victory."

They show Pikachu winning with Thundershock here, hence the terrible pun.

"And so Bulbasaur joined the ranks."

Uh-huh. Any reason for the recap?

"Soon Misty, Brock and Ash lost their way... but found a Charmander! Braving a fierce storm, Ash and his friends came to its rescue. Abandoned by its trainer, the fire Pokémon recovered its strength and gained some new friends."

C'mon, hurry up for the love of all that is--

"Charmander became Ash's newest Pokémon... and that's how Ash caught Charmander and Bulbasaur."

And that's how I met your mother.

"He's pretty pleased with himself, as he skips down the road, singing our favourite theme."

Uh-huh, our favourite theme...

"Becoming a Pokémon Trainer looks like it'll be a snap! Or will it? Can things continue to go so smoothly? Maybe Ash is too confident--"

Whoa, hold on. First, who gave you permission to be so judgemental, especially after you fell asleep a few episodes back you bloody idiot. And why have we spent so long reminding everyone about how Ash caught Bulbasaur and Charmander, it's like, we already know! WE ALREADY KNOW. But don't let me stop you.

"He'd better keep his eyes glued to the road ahead! Who knows what pitfalls are waiting to swallow up our young hero?

"What did I tell ya?~ A pitfall."

Oh shut up.

Here they come to wash away this crappy cartoon.

[#11] Charmander - The Stray Pokémon (2/2)

It's Agumon! NEXT.

[#11] Charmander - The Stray Pokémon (1/2)

"With Bulbasaur as his newest Pokémon, Ash and friends are making their way triumphantly to Viridian City... Aren't they?"

We're still lost folks, and from the name of this episode, it's pretty obvs what Ash's newest Pokémon will be. It starts with C and ends with Harmander.

"Our friends have gotten off track... just a bit."

Yeah, I gathered. Thanks for telling us what we already know, Narrator guy. Jokes about Misty hating bugs and some slapstick presides until Misty comes face to face with a large, silhouetted object.

Looks kind of like a sock puppet on top of a dustbin.

Ash, Brock and Misty approach the object, which on closer inspection appears to be a Charmander resting upon a rock.

Cue slide!

[#10] Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village (1/2)

"Our young hero Ash, leads his friends deep into the forest. Since he doesn't have a compass, Ash must rely purely on his instincts, and that means trouble!"

After a head splitting, headache inducing and thoroughly annoying excerpt from the world famous "We're Lost" opera, we're finally presented with the episode title card. Now could we please stop making jokes about not knowing where you are?

Oh goody, they've already run out of ideas. This is the start of the short three episode arc that explains how Ash, the fraud Pokémon trainer steals legitimately obtains the three starter Pokémon.

[#9] The Path To The Pokémon League (2/2)

It's VLC having problems! Also, it's Sandshrew.

[#9] The Path To The Pokémon League (1/2)

Oh, I got Episode 8 and 9's order mixed up. That's OK, it's not like they're important. Oh yes, it's another filler episode. So I'm not going to spend too much time on this episode... said the guy who started the first draft of this article in November 2013. Ha! The irony.

It's an already familiar scene. Ash and his friends are lost. So lost, in fact, that they've lost the plot. Literally. They've lost the video game plot. Never you mind, at least they're on the way to Vermillion City after all. A sigh of relief, Gentlemen and Ladies.

Only a sigh though. Not a gasp, or a yawn, merely a sigh.

[#8] The School of Hard Knocks (2/2)

He was born to be bone... it's Pikachu Cubone!

[#8] The School of Hard Knocks (1/2)

"As our story continues, we once again find our friends travelling together on their Pokémon journey in perfect harmony..."

Yeah, right. They're bickering as usual, and then Brock makes a fourth wall breaking reference to the fact they've got to start the show. It's filler time, people.

[#7] The Water Flowers Of Cerulean City (2/2)

Oh good, you got it. We're still friends.

[#7] The Water Flowers Of Cerulean City (1/2)

The episode begins with a flashback discussing how Ash Ketchum, the determined young fraud trainer from Pallet, is on a journey to become the world's greatest Pokémon fraud Master. The flashback focuses on his 'fierce' battle with Gym Leader Brock. Let me assure you, there was nothing fierce about that battle!

Hold it! Is that sign in Japanese? You missed one, 4Kids. Anyway, with the flashback safely over, we can begin the episode. Title card, please.

[#6] Clefairy and the Moon Stone (2/2)

Yeah, it's Clefairy. Obviously.

[#6] Clefairy and the Moon Stone (1/2)

Wow, did I say I'd post more often? I've done completely the opposite. It's time for another episode review - Clefairy And The Moon Stone!

[#5] Showdown in Pewter City

It has been a while since my last transmission here on Pikachu Made Me Do It. I wrote to a bunch of gaming journalism websites not expecting much luck and all of them said they were interested in me writing for them. I wasn't expecting that much success to be honest, so I'm now thinking it through really hard.
Also, I just started a Sonic Adventure 2 HD Let's Play on my YouTube channel and I've been to two quizzes over the weekend and had my own shit to deal with on top of all of that. But now I'm back to talk Pokémon.
...

[#4] Challenge of the Samurai (Part 2)

I went to a boot fair today. Amongst the finds was Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Blue Rescue Team for the Nintendo DS, and I picked up some knock-off multi-cart containing a handful of weird looking Pokémon games including what appears to be some kind of Pokémon Green translation. I doubt any of them support saving.
My brother scooped up a boatload of Pokémon Cards, and I managed to get a hold of a DVD of Pokémon The First Movie. I can't wait to talk about that, but that's going to be near the end of the first season, wherever the movie best fits in with the rest of the series.
But what does this have to do with the Pokémon cartoon, or more specifically, Challenge of the Samurai?
Nothing, so let's get on with it!
Oh yeah, it's Metapod by the way!

[#4] Challenge of the Samurai (Part 1)

This episode's recap goes all the way back to the beginning. It tells us about Ash, Pikachu, Pokémon Training and his journey up until this point. It's quite an in-depth recap, covering everything of merit from the first three episodes. It also goes to show how little story we've had so far.

[#3] Ash Catches A Pokémon (Part 2)

I've been playing Pokémon Ranger recently, and it's pretty much crippled the rest of my day because it's just so addictive. Between that and making the kitchen and living room spic-and-span, I've had very little time to myself. Now I finally do, let's get back to Pokémon.

Oh by the way, it's Caterpie.