Recap: Love, Petalburg Style!

My first recap is on its way.

The first subject I will cover is Pokémon Advanced Challenge.

I concede that I never watched the Advanced Generation of Pokémon when I was young, instead watching it years later, when I was more willing to.

However that does not excuse the fact that sometimes there were just bad episodes in it. Nowhere is that more apparent than with “Love, Petalburg Style.”

We begin with Ash, May, Max, and Brock arriving in Petalburg City from North Petalburg, which was the subject of the previous episode, “A Double Dilemma.” That episode was also infamous amongst fans, but that will be a matter for another day.

What is notable is that this is May and Max's home, as they are the daughter and son of the gym leader,

Norman, and his wife, Caroline. This clearly lifted from the Ruby and Sapphire games, where Norman is the father of you, the player; while you and your mother live in Littleroot Town. With this tidbit in mind, you will find out in this recap why I consider this episode to be so offensive.

Ash is here to get his fifth gym badge. May notices all the new stores in town. I personally did not enjoy the fact that May was given this stereotypical obsession with shopping in the anime; as her game counterpart, Sapphire, did not exhibit this type of behavior.

Anyhow, the gang notices a poster of Norman adorning a window. Max notes that it is cool that there are big posters of his father in town, and May says she is proud of him. I will now give an aside to talk about Max. At the time the Advanced Generation series was airing, most of the older Pokémon fans were growing up and moving onto other things. More than often, they still played the games, but drifted away from the anime in favor of other adaptations, such as the Pokémon Special manga. As such, Max was added to the anime in an attempt to attract more children to the show. He was based off the schoolchild NPC (Non-Player Character) class from the games. He is considered to be a major point of contention among fans. Some consider him to be cute, others hate him for supposedly ruining the show with his constant know-it-all personality. At first, I was irritated by the character to the point of wishing he was dead. As the years went by, though, I softened up a bit and put him in with other anime nerds, such as Conan Edogawa or Izzy from Digimon Adventure.

But I digress. Ash says that when he wins his badge, it will be from someone famous. I will talk about “A Double Dilemma” at another time to address this notion, but I must move along. Ash then states that he may have lost to Norman last time, but this time will be another story. I personally considered the match he had with Norman in the third episode of the Advanced saga to be an unofficial match; as he did not have the minimum three Pokémon required to make it an official one. He only had Pikachu with him at the time, and wanted to use only Pokémon caught in Hoenn. Team Rocket then interrupted the match anyway.

Brock says that Norman will be pretty tough to beat. Max chimes in that his father has gotten a lot stronger since his last battle. This is one of the reasons why many of the older Pokémon fans considered Max a nuisance of Scrappy-Doo proportions. Ash retorts that he has been practicing pretty hard himself. The element of Ash and Max bouncing off each other is actually a pretty entertaining side of the Advanced Generation. You have a trainer who has a large amount of experience and a kid who only knows of Pokémon by what he's read in books. This is actually what Ash would do if he had a protégé to take under his wing. He then tells his friends to go on ahead while he takes his Pokémon to the Pokémon Center to heal.

It is now that I get to talk about the theme song. The Pokémon Advanced Challenge theme song, “This Dream”, is consistently among the most well-regarded theme songs in the Pokémon franchise. It does a good job of getting one pumped up for what will happen in a given episode, as any good theme song should.

Then, we get our title card, an indication of what lurks ahead.

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.

Cut to Petalburg Gym, as Max remarks they are home, with May remarking it hasn't changed a bit. We then get their gym's caretaker, Kenny, who is dressed in a blue gi and sandals with green cuffs.

Max asks if his mother and father are home, and Kenny completely flips out, stuttering and tripping over his sentences. I have no idea why 4Kids decided to dub him this way, but we will soon discover that is not the main problem with this episode.

Brock asks how Kenny has been, and Kenny states that he has been doing well, and is glad May and Max have returned. Kenny then whispers that there is a bit of a problem going on; to which May and Max ask if it is serious. Kenny states that is is probably nothing they need to worry about.

Are you ready for why this episode lives in infamy among Pokémon fans? I'm not sure I am, with how hard it was to watch this episode the first time around.

Caroline comes out and says she's glad May and Max are home. Keep in mind that we are only about 2 ½ minutes in, and the reason why this episode is remembered for the wrong reasons comes on like a train.

I will spare you the rest of the banter between May, Max and Caroline to talk about what follows. Max makes on offhand question about his dad; but Caroline brushes him off. This is going to hurt.

Kenny then goes nuts again, and starts maniacally sweeping the front porch, creating a large cloud of dust.

I better keep up my pace, I don't want to be shipped to "Mew Mew Power!"

May asks what's wrong; but Caroline again denies that something is amiss. Anyone can see that this is not a normal reaction, and further exemplifies that this episode was not made with the best intentions.

Kenny then scoffs of the situation, while May looks around dumbfounded as to what is going on.

Cut to the Pokémon Center. Ash enters and sees Norman with Nurse Joy, talking and giggling like children. Nurse Joy asks if Norman is sure, and Norman replies that he trusts her 100%

This symbolizes the unfortunate implications rising further. I will not stop you from turning back now.

Norman then notices Ash and welcomes him back, as does Nurse Joy. Norman asks Ash if he has any new Pokémon, and Ash gleefully responds that he does, and is ready to win. Norman agrees to a rematch and says he will follow up with Nurse Joy. Joy replies that he can depend on her anytime. I know that I have been building up the major reason this episode is so infamous; but I don't blame you if you haven't already guessed.

Anyway, Ash asks what the big secret is, and this is the face that Norman makes when he claims that he has nothing up his sleeve.

You sure you don't want to turn back?  I'm sure Everything Is Terrible has something interesting!

It is now that I bring up what is the main problem with this episode: the conversations between Norman and Joy are played similarly to an extramarital affair, hence Caroline attempting to avoid the issue. In fact, this was the actual plot of the Japanese episode. Understandably, 4Kids attempted to tone this plot down, but parents and adult viewers could still put it together that Norman was possibly cheating on his wife.

With that on the table, I will ask you this question: what do you think of when you think of Pokémon?

Battles? Contests? Ten-year-old children wandering the country unsupervised with small creatures that contain otherworldly powers? Evil organizations that want to rule the world with said creatures?

You may notice that implied adultery is not on my list, nor did it cross your mind. So, I put this to the anime staff-why? Why would you make an episode that has such an unsavory topic at its core? I can understand using a tactic like this to attract more 18-49-year-olds, but I just don't see where a person like Norman cheating on his wife would fit in this type of show! IT MAKES NO SENSE!

Oh dear, I daresay I'm getting off on a tangent again. So, how far am I into this episode? (Checks loading bar) Four minutes. Wonderful. Not even halfway through the episode and I've made three pages of detailed notes of what's wrong with it. Well, since you've stuck around this long, I might as well keep going.

We cut to a greenhouse, whereupon Team Rocket makes their entrance. When Takeshi Shudo was head writer of the show, Team Rocket did lose, but were still fairly intimidating. When he left, they effectively became the coyote to Ash's roadrunner. It wasn't until the recent Best Wishes/Black and White saga that they became a threat again. Meowth quips that this is Norman's greenhouse. While this would normally be unremarkable, I always admired Maddie Blaustein's performance as the snarky “top cat” of Team Rocket. Every time I watch an episode dubbed with her in it, I always know we lost someone great when Maddie Blaustein passed on. The roles weren't always the best, but she'd give it her all, like any good actress would. Jimmy Zoppi does his best in the episodes dubbed by The Pokémon Company International, but what Blaustein left behind will last forever.

I'm sorry for the gushing, but I must get back on track. Jessie and James think nothing of the greenhouse, despite the fact that a gym leader owns it. You'd think they'd be more impressed with it, but I'm not one to judge, me recapping an episode of a children's anime and all. Meowth then states that “the twerps” will battle in the greenhouse, setting them up to steal their Pokémon. James whines about what happened last time they tried to steal from Norman, but Meowth claims he is worrying too much.

There is a bit about who's the dumbest for attacking the same place twice, but I'm skipping it; for there are bigger fish to fry.  

Cut to indoors. Apparently, the Petalburg Gym is connected to a house in the anime, but they are two separate locations in the games. Max finishes a story about being attacked by Team Rocket. Caroline asks if they were in trouble, but Max snidely replies they could take care of themselves. I am really trying to resist the urge to bring up “A Double Dilemma,” but with all the references this episode seems to be making to it, trust me when I say its day will come.

So then I told him, "Yeah, I have a place where you can put your plans
for Dinosaur King, but you won't like to hear it!"

May replies that if he says things like that, they won't be able to leave again.

I have to record lines for April O'Neil in a couple of hours, so don't push it!

May once again brings up when Norman is coming back, and she coolly replies, “Not today.”

Anyone who's gone through their parents breaking up will inevitably cringe at that line. I know I did.

And once again, Kenny goes cuckoo at that notion. I am sparing you a screencap, since his antics are not enough for this episode's subject matter to be softened.

May brings up she caught a Beautifly. Well, it actually evolved from her Wurmple, but that's beside the point. It is at this time that Caroline reacts to what her daughter says in a condescending manner. Max mentions Beautifly again, and Caroline further seethes inwardly. Caroline then starts stirring her pot of soup faster and faster as her anger grows. She then attempts to handwave it as working exercise into her housework. I wouldn't be surprised if she starts showering her children with gifts and attention in this situation.

Caroline then attempts to justify this statement by doing squat thrusts with the soup ladle still in her hand. This is the stuff that turns a woman into Annie Wilkes, folks.

Kenny then herds everyone into the greenhouse to talk. You know, this episode is awkward enough. It really doesn't need your help.

You're sure this Chris Hansen person won't find us here?

Max then butts in, commenting on the Vigoroth in the greenhouse. May states that Norman keeps his Pokémon he uses for gym battles in the greenhouse. Max runs up to hug Vigoroth, and May says that Norman never let them watch any of the battles in the gym. Er, wasn't that fight in episode 3 one you were watching? Never mind, I'm getting off track again. She then states it was because Norman thought they would distract the challengers. Wouldn't this mean all the times that Brock and Misty watched Ash battle would be distracting? Here I go again. Brock replies it must have been frustrating not being able to see their dad in action. May retorts that a good gym leader is a strict gym leader, and he always played with them after the battle was done.

You know, given how Norman was quite laid-back in his previous appearances, I'm not convinced of this whole “strict” trait.

Moving right along, Max notices a Slakoth, and may scans it with her Pokédex, which in the Advanced Generation has a female voice, which fans have dubbed “Dextette.” I felt that the female voice never really sounded right. I know it's a machine, but the “Dextette” voice always sounded so listless in the way its lines were read. For a good female machine voice, I suggest that one watch “2010: The Year We Make Contact” and listen to SAL 9000.

I apologize. Once again, Kenny freaks out at the distractions, but then Max points out a Slaking. My word, did the writers have ADD when the script was being written? I know they had to dress up this plot, but this is only making things harder to swallow.

So finally, at 8 minutes and 15 seconds into the episode, Kenny finally addresses that there is something “weird” going on between Norman and Caroline. Kenny states that Norman is at the Pokémon Center every day, and Caroline is constantly yelling at him over nothing.

Kenny, a man possibly having an affair is not nothing. Don't try and sugarcoat the situation, it's not worth it. Max retorts that lots of people go to the Pokémon Center every day and yell.

Cut to Caroline packing her bags, laid over with Kenny continuing to talk with the kids about the whole situation. He adds that Beautifly being brought up is a trigger for a bad mood. Caroline then turns her picture of her and Norman over. This is a point of no return. The next step would be Caroline putting her ring on the ground and hopping a taxi.

Kenny claims the situation does not make sense, and she won't talk about it.

Kenny, I will put this to you bluntly: You're an idiot.

Ash then meets up with everyone, and cut to Team Rocket, who whine that they have gotten lost in the greenhouse. They then spot the “twerps” and wish to grab Pikachu, but Meowth states that Slakoth, Vigoroth, and Slaking would be much better targets as three evolutionary levels. He elects they should catch them instead and give them to the boss.

Cut to what is a staple of the Advanced Generation: The Boss fantasy. This is when Meowth imagines what use the Pokémon they seek can be of to Giovanni. These are the most insane skits they have on this series, and they are the funniest to watch in otherwise unremarkable episodes like this one.

We begin with Giovanni in bed.

He awakes to see a Vigoroth swinging above his belfry.

The Vigoroth then envelops Giovanni in a massive hug.

The Vigoroth also almost crushes Giovanni in said hug.

Giovanni then falls on the floor, and cuddles up with Slakoth and Slaking.

Giovanni then vows to reward Jessie, James, and Meowth handsomely for.

Cut back to the greenhouse, where Ash states he just saw Norman at the Pokémon Center.

It's too late for this episode, but you can still back out of Tai Chi Chasers.

May asks what they will do, and Brock says to “leave it to the original love doctor.” I admit that Brock is a good breeder, but he couldn't be a love doctor for Lisa Ortiz. Kenny then flips out AGAIN for Brock calling himself the “love doctor.” They then go after Brock. I think you may want to eat a breakfast cereal with less sugar in it, Kenny.

Vigoroth then jumps on top of Ash. Okay.

Cut to the Pokémon Center, where the gang is too late, as Norman is seeing Joy again. So naturally, they react the way any normal person would when they discover someone is an adulterer-they are horrified.

May and Max are visibly distraught at this fact as Norman asks them what is wrong. Then Brock asks to speak with Norman. You know, of all the time Brock was on the show, I was hoping there would be a potion that would turn him from an awkward person around women to a smooth Casanova; like the one Sherman Klump used to become Buddy Love. Alas, no such story came to fruition.

Anyway, Brock sees Joy, and as usual, he goes nuts.

Kenny drags him away, and we cut back to the greenhouse. We have passed the halfway point, and the tone has been all over the place in the last minute and a half. The episode is going further downhill, but I must press on.

Team Rocket is still lost in the greenhouse, and they are arguing until they come across a door.

I had to screencap that to show how insane this is. Let me get this straight. There is a door on this climate-controlled greenhouse that anyone can just waltz through? I am beginning to question the sanity of Norman, and not just as someone who would throw away years with his wife for a Joy.

The door leads to more greenfields.  

I can't shake this feeling that we've been here before...

Team Rocket discovers a gadget hidden in the bushes, and ponder what it is. Jessie doesn't care, and orders them to turn around.

Ash comes across a Slakoth, and he and Pikachu say hello. He also notices the Slaking, and determines they are Norman's Pokémon. I've indoctrinated myself to this episode, and even ate a piece of cheesecake while watching it.

Back at the Pokémon Center, Brock notes that when Norman married Caroline, he said to love her and hold her, in sickness and in health, or words to that effect. He then orders Norman to apologize for not keeping that promise. Norman doesn't even bat an eye at this, and asks what Brock is saying.

Then Brock goes right back to fawning over Nurse Joy.

My word, Brock makes Pepé La Pew seem chaste.

May then complains that Brock is creating more problems, and Norman again asks what is wrong. Mark from “The Room” wasn't this oblivious to having an affair.

Caroline arrives with a suitcase in hand, and threatens to leave Norman. Norman finally gets the message and is genuinely shocked at his actions.

No, wait, he asks to help with Caroline's luggage.

When words failed, Caroline turned to interpretive dance
to announce her annulment.

Kenny then very carefully explains that Caroline is leaving Norman, but he still doesn't get it and asks Kenny to pick up kitchen detail. You know, Norman, when you act this dumb about a divorce announcement, you deserve to be alone.

Cut back to the greenhouse, and Ash wonders what's keeping everyone.

Did I make the right decision to lend my image
to that horrible parody trailer?

After spending the better part of the episode lost in the greenhouse, Team Rocket finds Ash, Pikachu, and the Slakoth evolutions, and say their motto. And I notice that a lot of these mottos start with the camera panning up, giving us a good, long look at Jessie's midriff and bust.

You can thank me for this screencap later.

They begin to battle Ash, and Cacnea tries to eat James, as every grass Pokémon he has owned has.

We cut away from the battle to show that Kenny has finished laying all the information down on why Caroline is leaving him. And to add to the blow, this day is their wedding anniversary. Even John Edwards would consider this cold.

Max does not take this well, and breaks down. Sorry, but my sympathy for a person runs its course when vows are broken. Norman claims it is a huge misunderstanding. In that case, start talking. I can wait.

Norman proposes they go home and straighten this mess out, and we cut back to the battle. Seviper lands a hit on Pikachu with its Poison Tail, and Cacnea lets loose a hail of Pin Missile on the Slakoth evolutions.

Jessie remarks on her skills, and for some reason, the animation goes into a Dutch angle while she says this.

Wonderful. Now I'm having "Battlefield Earth" flashbacks.

Ash and the Pokémon make a run for it, and the animation is still Dutching as they beat feet.

The episode is sinking! Abandon ship!

Then, the wall explodes for no reason as Ash and the Pokémon are on the ground. What, did they hit one of those special barrels?

Everyone else comes running up at that moment. Ash fills Norman in on the theft attempt, and Norman is quick to label them as clowns.

Team Rocket attacks again, and another explosion destroys the gadget in the bushes; which leads to yet another explosion. What, did Michael Bay direct this?

And if that's not enough, we get another Dutched shot, from the perspective of Norman's boot for some reason.

Yes, I am screencapping an angled shot from
the perspective of a guy's shoe. That's what this episode has done to me.

Caroline exclaims “Good Lord!” at Norman going after Team Rocket.

He wakes Slaking, who promptly uses Focus Punch to send them blasting off.

Lucky ducks.

Norman runs over to the broken gadget, and laments that his anniversary gift to his wife is ruined-a fireworks display.

That's justification for tricking your wife into thinking you're having an affair? Setting up an anniversary fireworks display? Joy adds she can have another fireworks display ready that evening, as she is also a licensed pyrotechnician.

…

No. No! NO!

This is not an excuse for leading your spouse on like that! You should be ashamed of yourself!

I know people surprise their spouses on their anniversary all the time, but you do not lead her on like that! You could have ended your relationship on the day you were supposed to be celebrating it, you jackwagon!

I don't care about this anymore! I'm still angry at you!

And just to top it off, Caroline forgives Norman for the whole fiasco and they celebrate their anniversary like a sitcom couple. Good grief.

It gets even more clichéd than that. The Beautifly are the Pokémon that surrounded them on they day they got engaged. Somebody call the papers, we got a real story here.

Even moreso, she is GLAD that he kept this a secret through days of deception. Then Norman tells Ash of their battle the following day, and the episode mercifully ends.

Boy, this was a hard one. I like Pokémon, and I go a lot easier on the Advanced Generation episodes than I used to but this was crap. “Love, Petalburg Style” is a vile piece of work for taking a ludicrous element like an extramarital affair and trying to include it in a family-friendly series like this. Alarmingly, this is not the worst episode of the season. That honor belongs to the aforementioned “A Double Dilemma.” I will take care of that later, and I shall decide on the next recap soon.