Review- "Journey to the Starting Line" (Pokémon Chronicles)

Well, it's that time again- time to look at easily one of the worst episodes of Pokémon Chronicles. One that makes me seriously doubt those who pitched it as an alternative to the main series have actually watched it; let alone paid attention to it. Let's open up "Journey to the Starting Line" and get this over with.

The episode actually starts out all right- the opening bit of the Pokémon frolicking across the laboratory is nice; especially with Ash's Bulbasaur helping look over the others. I've made no secret that the professors have been my favorite characters for years (already looking forward to what Sada and Turo can offer in Generation IX), and me specifically mentioning Bulbasaur will be important.

Regrettably, that glimmer of hope is snuffed out when we're introduced to the new trainer: our character of the day, Gilbert. He's the mayor's son; and he will not stop using that as justification for his misbehavior. He could certainly use a sparring session with Commander Kamado.

Before that, Delia Ketchum comes to visit again with Mimey, and they are a bright spot in an otherwise mediocre story. She's brought over some herbs the Professor requested; and I will admit Muk trying to smother Tracey is actually kind of funny.

The 30 Tauros crash through the wall, spooking the starter Pokémon. Gilbert enters, and asks if something was blown up. I honestly don't care if it's the mayor's son or not; I already feel the need to dig out the MST3K Deathstalker quote.

Tom Servo: Is it too early to hate this guy?

Honestly- He doesn't even let Delia finish talking before sitting down in the Professor's chair and demanding a Torchic. Can't believe I'm typing this, but I actually miss those macros of Barron thinking of some toy or game instead.

Completely unaware of the region he's in; he starts rattling on about Hoenn and dismissing the starters at the lab as not worth it. Perhaps he could have a session as Hala's sparring partner instead- his Hariyama could use a new sandbag. 

Then, he actually requests a Pikachu; not caring the other starters got spooked and talking about another trainer who started with one. Gilbert just brushes that off and continues his demands. That tears it-

"How dare you stand where he stood!"

This is officially where this episode lost me; and illustrates my major issue with Chronicles- it isn't a good alternative to the main series; it's a test of patience for fans of the source material in the vein of Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation or Thundercats Roar. Seriously- when even Tracey is calling Gilbert out for being such a brat; that's saying something. He may be the mayor's son, but I get the feeling he'd be the kind of guy who'd torpedo his dad's aspirations for governor as a teenager.

Anyway, everyone pairs off to search for the starters; and Oak gives Tracey the Poké Balls to contain them. There's also a brief encounter with a shopkeep named Deena, and it doesn't really have much impact on the episode. The most she does is put out an APB on the missing starters; maybe start with Greek neighborhoods and bring back some of those "gyros."

Gilbert, of course, is less than receptive to her methods of help. Oak is getting just as irritated with him as I am. Have I made clear the professors are my favorite characters? The two groups search different areas of the hills; and though the animation of this episode is once again pretty weak, the hills are admittedly a highlight.

Tracey crosses a nearby river to scoop up Charmander; and this might be the same area in "I Choose You" where they did the waterfall dive. You make the call- reusing locations, or an actual decent instance of continuity in this spinoff?

Regrettably, Gilbert's demands have given way to a bunch of winging instead as they have to cross a ravine. Bulbasaur's expression in this picture speaks volumes.

Honestly- even Atreus in the 2018 God of War took more stock of the situation he was in; memetic dialog with his father Kratos and all. He continues making requests for stronger Pokémon even as the ground crumbles from under his feet. Though normally I'd be angrier about the liberties taken with Oak here; I actually agree with him basically telling off Gilbert as follows: "I'm not sure you have the right attitude here, Gilbert.  Maybe you should just call it quits and go home."

Not only does Gilbert seem to entertain the idea, Oak is right- it doesn't matter whether Gilbert is the son of the mayor or a gas station attendant- this behavior is completely unacceptable. It's not even malicious like Damian, Paul or Trip- it's just incredibly arrogant. Gary may have behaved like this at first; but he did have more than enough skill and knowledge from his grandfather to back it up and eventually become a researcher himself. So, while I might not put Oak's chastising of Gilbert on the same level as Picard calling out Wesley in "The First Duty," it does work in a similar context.

Before that happens, they find Squirtle hanging from a tree over the cliff! OK, here's the Speed Racer clip again.

Gilbert falls of the cliff; and Bulbasaur then rescues him and Squirtle! Two starters down, one to go. Hopefully they won't fall down any more traps. The way Bulbasaur calms the young Squirtle down is actually one nice moment in what's otherwise a pretty bad episode. 

Of course, Gilbert tries to get Squirtle out of its shell with his own faces; causing Bulbasaur to respond with his best Brock face. 

Still smoother than when he attended a Halloween party at Smiling Friends.

Yet, he does get through to Squirtle and get them to come out.. To reference that memetic board book, Squirtle is proud of who he is.

Back in town, Deena has been keeping watch over people responding to her APB, and Bulbasaur has been really getting around; even showing up in her vegetable stands.

STEALTH- 100

Deena then gets a call on old time candlestick phone; and gets a lead from "Miss Owens" about Bulbasaur being chased by a horde of "Mankeys." Again, it's "Mankey," it's already plural without an "s." That's like calling Bale, Affleck and Pattinson "Batmans."

Likewise, it turns they're Primeape now, which Tracey again erroneously calls "Primeapes" for plural form. (Sighs) Every scene makes me miss the dignity of "Primeape Goes Bananas" more and more. Gilbert then offers to just take Ash's Bulbasaur, and everyone tells him don't be a thief. Didn't even have to reach for that one, fellas.

Thankfully, Oak distracts the Primeape while Mimey uses Psychic to get Bulbasaur down from the tree. However, this plan goes south when Gilbert alerts the Primeape with a sneeze! Gilbert, you idiot.

Everyone starts running back and forth between the trees like an episode of Scooby-Doo, and I stand by my comment preferring "Primeape Goes Bananas." Furthering this is when Gilbert and the Bulbasaur pair off from the others down a fork in the road. He'd have never made it in Hisui.

With few options left, Gilbert says it's time to stop being afraid; when the issue was never that; but being an unlikable dingus. Also, bit late for that at less than three minutes left. His solution is to try to take on the Primeape himself, rather than use Bulbasaur. Ash's Bulbasaur has to bail them out.  OK, I may depict Ruby/Brendan as an adrenaline junkie; but even I don't have him act this recklessly. Gilbert just almost became a Darwin award candidate.

After lifting them across a ravine, Ash's Bulbasaur wipes out the Primeape with a single Solar Beam attack! OK, this episode should have officially been about Bulbasaur acting as the lab's bodyguard/peacekeeper; and not Gilbert's antics. I just came off looking at a video game anime that has ideas for a story more interesting than the one it's actually telling; so it's not my first go at this.

The episode mercifully ends on Gilbert choosing Bulbasaur; and we're thankfully spared further adventures with this character. This episode is going on my least favorite list for sure.

"Journey to the Starting Line" trips over its own feet right out of the gate, with its character of the day effectively destroying the intended appeal of both the episode and the spinoff as a whole. Replacing the main character doesn't always solve the problems with an existing one; and as I've detailed, it can just as often create an entirely different one instead. Some rather mediocre animation doesn't help either.

Post-review follow-up: Most annoying character of the episode easily goes to Gilbert. It doesn't matter whether a new trainer is the child of a mayor or a lathe operator- your background does not give you carte blanche to be human trash. 

Next Chronicles review is on "Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl," a vast improvement over this that incidentally also highlights a major missed opportunity with this spinoff. First, there's something else I've been wanting to address a while. You'll just have to wait and see what it is. That's all for now, take care.