"Freeze Frame" Review (Pokémon Johto League Champions)

Welcome to the final review of this three-part story arc! With the recent critical and commercial success of New Pokémon Snap; I proudly present my look at "Freeze Frame!"

We open on the base of the mountains, where Ash's Noctowl is helping search for Articuno. Though they initially have no luck, Brock's Golbat has found something near Snow-Top Mountain: it's Jigglypuff frozen in ice!

After the intro, Ash uses Cyndaquil to thaw Jigglypuff out, and Todd believes Articuno is responsible for this. Elsewhere, Team Rocket is trying to scale the mountain to set a trap for their enemies; but a series mishaps trap them on a ledge!

Todd gets some pics of some Stantler; and everyone reaches a Pokémon Center cabin near the base of the mountain. Brock then remarks that he'd like to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and a warm Nurse Joy... then corrects himself and says fire. ... Good night, everybody!

All joking aside, I do like this part where they're all warming up around the kettle; and seeing this when I was 10 did answer a question I had about Misty: Yes, she did wear socks depending on who was animating the episode. This time around, definitely don't want one's feet to get cold and blistered in the red lightning bolt running shoes.

Anyway, the next step is to figure out how to take a snapshot of Articuno. Ash suggests using Jigglypuff to make it sleep; but Todd declines on the grounds that he doesn't need shots of the Legendary Bird sleeping. I've got loads of objectives in the new game that would be inclined to disagree.

Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy then inform everyone that Articuno has made a refuge in the mountains; and a wooden statue has been a key marker of its being ever since.

Joy continues to exposit that the statue was brought there over 1200 years ago; and that Articuno has been a guardian over people's journeys ever since. If the upcoming Legends Arceus has something similar going on in its world building; I know that alone will be worth the price to me.

Elsewhere, Team Rocket is stuck on a ledge after losing their climbing gear in a previous scene; and Meowth fantasizes about resting on a coffee table; which is actually a kotatsu. My associate Dogasu turned me onto this, and it's apparently a play on the Japanese colloquialism about that.

Back with Jenny and Joy, as they finish their story; everyone pledges to help Todd find Articuno in the mountains. Todd only gets a glimpse of the legendary in the snow, and Team Rocket is brought inside! As they thaw out near the kettle and Meowth gets his wish; they tip off everyone about Articuno! Despite the risk involved, Todd vows to find Articuno in the mountains; and everyone else decides to help search after bundling up.

Of course, Team Rocket has their own ideas about Articuno, stealing Officer Jenny's snowmobile to head up the snowy mountains! Side note as this storm kicks up: I do rather like the matching snowsuits they wear on this trek up the mountain as well.

As everyone tries to navigate the blizzard in the mountains, they see Articuno appear before them! Articuno could not have come at a better time, as they almost walked right off a cliff!

Todd readies for a momentous photo of Articuno, but Team Rocket has other ideas for the Legendary Bird! I do believe it's time for a sudden change !

Ill-concerned that Articuno saved them before; Jessie and James intend to bag the bird and deliver it to Giovanni! Old habits die hard, don't they?

Predictably, Articuno doesn't appreciate the thievery attempt; and as Team Rocket is blown away by a blizzard; the Legendary falls into a crevasse with Ash, Pikachu, Jigglypuff and Todd! That's why we have the Zero-One and now the Neo-One. 

Articuno is able to slow their fall, and Pikachu is using Jigglypuff to float down. Well, it is the balloon Pokémon after all: it's the 99 red ones you need to watch out for.

Team Rocket is also in the crevasse; and they still want to abscond with Articuno! Still, their attacks do little to slow Articuno down; and they're quite literally blown away and sent blasting off with one last Blizzard attack! The sky clears; and a way out of the crevasse is revealed; but not before Todd finally gets his picture of Articuno! 

Todd decides to stay in the mountains to continue his photography research; and he and Ash go their separate ways. I don't know about this Easter egg with the new movie (which I still intend to review upon its EN release); but with many characters from the past returning in the new series, I am very much open to Todd returning with the success of the new game (finally got a pic of Xerneas earlier today).

We close on a stinger with Meowth warning Jessie and James not to fall asleep; saying they might freeze in the cold mountains... right as Jigglypuff appears at the opening of the cave. Insert cheesy creepypasta reference here.

"Freeze Frame" is a good end to this trilogy of episodes that saw Todd Snap reappear; and I'm pleased to say that I enjoy them as much as I did when I was 10. The fact that it took multiple console generations to get a sequel to the original game, yet the original is still held in high regard by many is a sure sign of the impact this part of the series has left on me and others. It's personally one of my favorite spinoffs ever, and I do love it when other parts of the series pay tribute to it. As previously stated, with the Journeys series having brought back characters from all corners of the series with more to come in the near future; I would have no objections to Todd showing up again. Thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you all, and I will see you again another time. Later.