Here it is folks- the last early episode of Pokémon Chronicles I found somewhat decent before the spinoff lost its way. It too has issues, so let's open up "Showdown at the Oak Corral" and talk about how they can be addressed.
We open on Oak labs, where Professor Oak and Tracey Sketchit are helping tend to the Pokémon there, unbeknownst that a helicopter is scoping them out from above. Even when it's covered up, that still would be quite the conspicuous sentry. It's Butch and Cassidy from Team Rocket, trying to set up to steal from the lab. I reiterate, couldn't they have sent a Fearow with a camera first; or some kind of drone? I just came off reviewing an episode where Team Rocket was trying to con people; why another so soon?
I also don't know why Cassidy is referring to Tracey as "dimwitted-" have you actually met him to justify this insult? I mean, calling Oak a "good-for-nothing do-gooder" I understand, as he's well-known enough in-universe to have that make sense. However, Tracey's comment about the Poké Chow and medicine seems to suggest their research is less thorough than the Wet Bandits.
Further proof is when the recurring Magikarp salesman comes to the door, trying to sell it; but Tracey and Oak aren't fooled. I know deadbolts aren't really a thing in this 'verse; but what about signs that say "No Solicitors?"
Thankfully, Delia Ketchum and Mimey coming for tea are a much more pleasant surprise. Coming in with some cookies, it's one of the better moments of the episode; but the animation is kind of dodgy. I again wonder if the main animators were occupied with the main anime. I mean, Takeda Yusaku may not be the most prominent; but he's typically better than this at least.
Elsewhere, Bulbasaur sees a Nidoqueen and Golem in the compound; which are actually Butch and Cassidy in disguise. Totodile also spots the two intruders, spraying them with Water Gun before Oddish goes to warn Bulbasaur. Cassidy steps on Cyndaquil, and Butch sprays him with a fire extinguisher! Was that really necessary, Butch? Predictably, this just alerts more monsters to their presence.
Back at the lab, Oak has found out Ash has made it to Petalburg City; and for some reason, Delia expresses love for the place and hopes he catches a Zigzagoon. Spoilers- He does not, and that aside; I do kind of like this approach to how they maintain in his absence. Bulbasaur comes to the window, and then tips off Noctowl after alerting Delia.
Then, Bulbasaur manages to catch up to Tracey while he's feeding some Jumpluff with Bayleef. To be honest, the slice of life aspects of this episode aren't the worst; but it's the shenanigans with Butch and Cassidy that honestly make me tune out. I can hold out till the next episode at least, but this is making me want to rewatch Peacemaker instead.
Halfway through the episode, Butch and Cassidy finally break into the lab; with Butch dismissing fellow operatives Jessie and James as "Messy and Lame." ... Here's where I will do something a bit different and talk about how this joke stands out. At the peak of the series' popularity, MAD ran a spoof of the franchise and the anime in particular (as they did); and the issue also held a reader poll on how Pikachu should meet its demise (with the winning method being dynamite placed where Sunny Day won't reach). As you can imagine, that didn't sit well with me at that age; only discovering it years later on a DVD-ROM of every issue from 1952 to 2005. By that time, I made peace with how many targets they poked fun at and how many people that seemed fine with it. They even made some sketches on the Cartoon Network show with the material; and I guess we'll just have to make do with archives given how WB has changed hands again. Besides, given how this electric mouse has fought plumbers, Hylian warriors, intergalactic bounty hunters; and most recently Keyblade wielders along with the King of Iron Fist; it's kind of quaint in hindsight.
Now that I'm done with that, let's continue. Tracey is alerted to their presence; and after tipping off Delia and Oak; they begin searching the lab for Butch and Cassidy. You two deserve this after having the brass to slight Tracey- Butch and Cassidy, you idiots.
Seriously- they even left their glass cutter behind where it could easily be found; which is a considerable downgrade from how they've been able to successfully pull off jobs before. In fact, my take on the story has them as admins in the Johto region, essentially filling the same role as the later Ariana and Archer from Heart Gold and Soul Silver.
Regrettably, what we get instead is Butch and Cassidy being made as they try to make off with the Poké Balls; and now they must escape before Oak, Tracey and Delia find them. This isn't the worst idea I've seen, but the execution once again leaves a lot to be desired.
One by one, the Pokémon at the lab find a trail leading to them. Even their efforts to disguise themselves don't exactly work. Cassidy is disguised as a Nidoqueen, and attracts a particularly amorous Nidoking. Breeding glitches aside, I just came off looking at a mons anime that invoked this song; so I might as well cue it up again.
Noctowl has also found out their chopper, and hiding their score under a Muk tarp also doesn't yield the intended result as Muk starts bonding with it for real! One by one, every Pokémon at the ranch comes to halt their escape, led in battle by Tracey, Delia and Professor Oak! This is actually the best moment of this episode: nowhere close to salvaging it as a whole; but there are clips of just this battle alone likely have more views online than people who even saw this spinoff, let alone enjoyed it.
To wrap up, Butch and Cassidy are sent blasting off; the Poké Balls are reclaimed, and we close on the professor finishing a poem he was working on before. Not a great episode, but also not terrible either.
"Showdown at the Oak Corral" is far from the best showcase for day-to-day life in the Pokémon world (Generation VII and VIII have done much better, as have the Pokétoon shorts); since the shenanigans with Team Rocket once again give off the impression they're trying to combine two different stories into one teleplay. Like other attempts with Chronicles, it doesn't really work. Somewhat rough animation doesn't help either, the final battle of the episode not withstanding. Still, it's far from the worst of what this spinoff has to offer.
Post-review follow-up: most annoying characters of the episode go to Butch and Cassidy for making baseless accusations against the people at Oak Labs while also being no better at burglary than the operatives they slighted. Yet, I'm not done with them or Oak yet. Their next combination is even worse.
The next Chronicles review will be on "The Blue Badge of Courage," which simultaneously wastes the characters of both Misty and Sakura and makes crafting Cascade Badges way less interesting than it sounds. That will be all for now.
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