Recap: Steamboat Willies

Dedicated to the memory of Satoru Iwata

1959-2015

Hello again. By the time you read this, I will have moved into my new home. I have been wanting to recap this episode for some time; and given certain events, that time is upon me. This episode is among my favorite episodes of the Diamond and Pearl saga for many reasons; not the least of which for capturing what’s fun about Pokémon in a single episode. So, let’s open up “Steamboat Willies” and find out why. 

The episode opens, as they sometimes do in the Diamond and Pearl saga; with a little taste of what you’re in for when you press play: in this case, the Pokémon try to start a band, with Turtwig drumming despite having no fingers.

Pachirisu is also messing up the galley with balloons; reveling in the fact that it helped become a VGC champion. Definitely a contender for my favorite electric Pokémon (though Emolga and Dedenne are also on that list as well).

We then get the theme song, which is a rap theme. I personally find it to be delightfully cheesy; having grown on me after a while. It’s also at least better than the One Piece rap or the Transformers Cybertron rap; admittedly.

We open proper on Ash, Dawn, and Brock looking over a beautiful river; as well as a big riverboat which can take them to Hearthome City for Dawn’s contest and Ash’s battle with Fantina at the gym. Long story; won’t get into it since I’m running late with this recap as it is.

The captain is willing to take them along after his nap; being a proud senior citizen and all; so everyone decides to leave their Pokémon to survey the boat while they go into town for supplies. I imagine hijinks will ensue! 

So, with the boat setting sail at noon; the old man goes back to sleep as everyone decides to stock up at the Poké Mart. Oh yes, you never know how many Full Restores and Ultra Balls you’ll need for your journey.

With everyone gone; the Pokémon all have fun in their own ways; not just when they try their hand at ring toss.

Pikachu and Piplup are in charge; and Happiny just casually stops them from from falling overboard. Powerful little tyke.

Naturally, Team Rocket decides to take advantage of their absence by nipping them all for Giovanni. So, it’s once again time for the boss fantasy, courtesy of Meowth for what he’d do with all their Pokémon.

Frolic freely LIKE A BOSS!

Eat a luncheon LIKE A BOSS!

Go down the slide LIKE A BOSS!

Take a nap LIKE A BOSS!

Thank his subordinates LIKE A BOSS!

With this on the table; everyone revels in the opportunity to pull this job and line their pockets in Poké (the unit of currency in their universe). 

Big money! Big prizes! I love it!

As such; while their trainers are gone; hilarity ensues, much like some of those Pikachu skits they often have. Croagunk observes himself in the mirror.

You are one good looking poison frog.

Now comes the reason why I’ve been wanting to recap this episode for some time. Well, one of them anyway. The Pokémon start a band well before the skit accompanying this year’s movie (which I don’t know about, since its selling points; a cappella and the Little Glee Monster song are both things I’m not a fan of).

On the keyboards: Sudowoodo!

On the bass: Pikachu!

On the saxophone: Buizel!

On the drums: my personal favorite, Turtwig!

I'VE GOT BLISTERS ON MY FINGERS! ... I DON'T HAVE ANY FINGERS!

Everyone else heads to the supply closet; and Pachirisu’s face is even brighter than it was at the VGC Championships.

It finds some balloons, and has a fantasy of soaring with Staravia among the skies!

As Pachirisu ties the balloons on and flies off, Piplup starts practicing magic tricks!

Now if he could just figure out how to make Yo-Kai Watch disappear!

At the Poké Mart, as Ash and Brock look for Poké Chow ingredients; Dawn then pulls a prank on him with a Piplup mask. Now if only there were Turtwig and Chimchar masks as well; so these droogs could have the guise of all three Sinnoh starters.

She also spies a jar of hair gel; so Piplup doesn’t have to keep fixing her bedhead every morning. … We’ll talk once I look at “Setting the World on its Buneary” for rabbits in my Chinese Zodiac theme. I finally found something for rats; and incidentally, oxen in the cycle as well. That just leaves tigers to fill the gap. I haven’t seen too many Arcanine episodes I can work with; so it might be something on Gabumon. Closest I can think of to a tiger in the original Digimon; since i already cheated with roosters for Biyomon.

Naturally, without Croagunk to hold him back; Brock is free to fulfill the desires of his raging hormones. Yet, even becoming a doctor alongside Nurse Joy hasn’t opened up all that much; if that special with Cilan is any indication (by the way, not covering it; since I liked it and don’t have much to work with).

So, 10 minutes in, and we get an “unplugged” session of sorts with all the Pokémon. Yes, I’m old enough to remember when MTV actually played music videos and not bad TV series of even worse horror movies.

Of course, Staravia doesn’t like it. I too, would grow displeased with the top 40 by 2008. I still believe that record labels don’t throw their garbage out. They put it on Soundcloud. 

As Buneary and Aipom dance in the cargo hold in silky fashions: hold that thought for a few more scenes.

Even Happiny is joining the fun in a getup of her own! Whatever happens now: let’s party!

Piplup continues to work in prestidigitation amid all the magic equipment!

Pachirisu continues the journey through the galley on balloons!

Amid all the commotion, Pachirisu starts the ship! Yet, it’s still smoother than Carnival Cruise Lines!

The old captain is still sleeping. 

Kids these days and their Strongest Mega Evolutions and 3D graphics! In my day, we had limited color palettes and seasons choked with filler, and we liked it!

The boat sails away at full steam, all while the captain is still snoring! 

Somehow, Team Rocket has boarded the ship and is distracting the Pokémon in a stage show! I get the Plusle and Minun costumes on James and Meowth; but what’s with Jessie’s outfit? She looks like an extra in a Lionel Richie video! 

Come on and sing along all night long!

Pikachu enters the scene after the mishap in the galley; subtly indicating this makes no sense even though he can’t talk.

Of course, Team Rocket is all too happy to have their top bounty in the grand hall!

With that on the table; everyone continues to party down as the ship goes on!

Even Team Rocket is astounded at how easy this all was, right as Pachirisu hits the hard to port!

Understandably, the Pokémon are less than pleased at that stunt they pulled.

Outraged, they send Team Rocket blasting off all on their lonesome! 

Now, as the boat is speeding towards a waterfall; everyone has to stop it before they go over! 

As everyone returns from shopping; the captain sends out his Mantine in order to help stop the boat!

When Ash and Dawn grab onto Mantine to stop the boat; I submit the only thing keeping that skirt still is the collective will of all the viewers.

I'm Ash Ketchum, and welcome to Jackass.

Even as the ship is headed over the falls; Pikachu and Piplup assert their leadership and take control of the situation further!

Also, one part that amuses me is that apparently; Croagunk was so mesmerized by his own reflection that he never left the mirror! Pikachu has to physically drag him away!

Pikachu signals Ash and Dawn; and now they must board the ship before it goes over the falls!

With Dawn’s comment that “you girls look so cute;” we now get confirmation of Aipom’s gender, long after the Japanese version of “Aipom and Circumstance” did.

Thanks to some quick thinking by Ash and the Pokémon, the day is once again saved!

As a reward for their courage, everyone is granted passage to Hearthome City!

We close on some words from the narrator that it’s not just gym battles and contests that make one shine; and that anyone can be a hero when they need to in their lives!

“Steamboat Willies” is the perfect way for me to unwind from my move as well as how long it took for my recap of the second movie; not to mention certain events of the past few weeks. The animation and antics of the Pokémon are colorful and bouncy; as per the norm with the franchise. It’s just a fun little piece of the action that I’m dismayed Dogasu did not share my enthusiasm for; nor many others that dug it. 

As for what I want to do next: it might be a bit before I do my pieces for the rat and the ox in my Chinese Zodiac theme. I do; however, have a couple things I’ve wanted to talk about ever since I started this blog, and they should fit with the US release of Yo-Kai Watch looming. You’ll see how they’ll fit in soon; as my third target for Yo-Kai Watch won’t be talked about till Halloween at the earliest. See you, space cowboy.