Review: Pokemon The Series: Sun and Moon “The Guardian’s Challenge!”

The challenge has been set. Will we accept?

Spoilers Below

It’s Ash’s first day of Pokemon school, and Professor Kukui and the other kids throw a party so as to welcome him to the community. And by welcome party I mean a number of challenges for Pika and Ash to battle the other kids in different types of contests i.e. swimming, popping balloons, and racing bulls. Professor Kukui makes a challenge but lunch is served first. Tapu Koko challenges Ash to battle Pikachu but first he teaches him how to use the Z-Ring.

During the meal, Tapu Koko challenges Ash to battle Pikachu instead of the Professor but it’s really a lesson to teach Ash him how to use the Z-Ring. Ash and Pikachu’s Z move is known as the Gigavolt Havoc.

In use, Pikachu and Ash’s Z-moves actually shatters the Z-crystal due to the immense power. As a result, Ash and Pikachu to have to go through the island trials so as to get a new Z-crystal. Before we let out, Ash gets a Rotom Pokédex  that is capable of human speech from the Professor as a gift.

Our Take

You can tell that a lot of this episode was setups for future episodes, but was an integral part to help launch the whole season with both short-term and long-term deals at stake. For example, Ash now has to harness the power of his Z-ring, but he’s gotta complete trials in an effort to gain what powers said ring. That said, can anything defeat Tapu Koko? The Z-move was most effective, but it looks like more needs to be done.

I think the concept of Ash needing a ring with immense power is an idea that pops up way too often in other franchises with the obvious forefather of this trope being Lord of the Rings. Granted, this ring is being used the purpose of Pokemon battles, but still, the basic principle is the same. Hopefully, there’s enough here from the producers to make a common idea present itself with challenging twists and turns. We’ll find out next year now won’t we?