Hey fellas- now that I've dealt with my 650th post; it's time to resume work on the remaining episodes of Pokémon Chronicles. This is thankfully a better episode than the last, but still not without issues. Let's open up "Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl."
The episode opens with Professor Oak and Tracey Sketchit boarding a ship to see Gary; who's on a research expedition on an island in the sea. They're greeted by a lab worker named Jared. I know there's a joke here; but I'm not going there.
They're also being tailed by Butch and Cassidy, who are being sent by Professor Namba to case what Gary has discovered. Fitting- not long after I come off looking at Lupin III The First; I deal with far less likable thieves.
They reach Sayda Island (a location I'm not familiar with); and I also note how we're more than halfway through this anime and it took this long to get an episode featuring Gary. I reiterate what the point of this spinoff is if you're not going to justify its existence. I continue to be baffled how Ritchie and Casey got more showcases than Gary (believe me when I say I have more to discuss in the near future), while numerous others didn't even appear at all.
I digress: Oak, Tracey and Jared disembark on Sayda Island; and the experiment Gary was working on breaks out- an Aerodactyl! Insert Dr. Ian Malcolm scene here.
Other colleagues trying to contain Aerodactyl are Dora (no relation to the infamous explorer) and her younger sister Crystal. Ironically, despite being a borderline Deus ex Machina; she's actually closer to the game's depiction of Crystal than Marina (age lift notwithstanding).
Butch and Cassidy make landfall, and the latter mixed up the measurements on Aerodactyl, confusing feet for inches. .,. This joke was funnier when they did it in This is Spinal Tap, to be honest.
Back with Gary, Professor Oak and the others; one subplot that doesn't make much sense is Gary having his confidence shaken by his new post as researcher, as it never came up before this episode; and never came up again after.
Crystal can even summon Lapras as sentries with a simple whistle! Already liking her better than Gilbert, honestly. She can also summon Farfetch'd, and warn about Aerodactyl without moving her lips like a ventriloquist!
Crystal has managed to help track the Aerodactyl with the aid of the Farfetch'd sentries; tracing it back to where the fossilized egg was found. They find it sleeping on top of the mountain, but Crystal falls over; and the beast is spooked. Tracey grabs ahold of Aerodactyl, who carries him around the island!
Crystal sends the Farfetch'd to tail Aerodactyl, and I honestly wish we had more characters like her and less like Gilbert in this spinoff.
Tracey lets go of Aerodactyl, and it turns out he was only a few feet off the ground. Butch and Cassidy make their move against Aerodactyl; catching it in a net to take it back to HQ. Gary sends out Umbreon, and Crystal sends out Ivysaur to do battle against Houndour and Hitmontop. Hit flashes aside, it's a good sequence.
Aerodactyl breaks out of its bonds, and once again escapes. Everyone tries to find a way to settle Aerodactyl down, about as easy a task as dealing with my nephew- He's back in town; and got digestive issues.
Speaking of which, Gary deduces they could try finding food to calm down Aerodactyl; and Dora concurs as they found seeds in the other fossils where they found the fossilized egg. They're able to find the fruit they belong to; and not a moment too soon as Butch and Cassidy make one more play for Aerodactyl. They fly up in a chopper, but Gary sends out Dodrio to fight it off! Aerodactyl, refueled from the fruit, sends Butch and Cassidy blasting off!
We close on Gary continuing his research path, and Professor Oak returning to the mainland with Tracey. Not a great episode, but not a godawful one either.
"Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl" is an under-inflated outing for Gary's showcase; but better than the previous episode I wrote about involving Professor Oak and Tracey. The plot is a bit more coherent, and it helps that the animation is better this time around (I've been quite open about my enthusiasm for Masaki Iwane). Not great, but not a total disaster either.
Post-review follow-up: most annoying characters of the episode go to Butch and Cassidy. I did intially consider Crystal during the writing process; but ultimately decided she was more fun and useful even as a deus ex machina.
Next Chronicles review will be on "Luvdisc is a Many Splendored Thing," another showcase for Misty that gets wasted on a plot that would barely pass for a cheesy romantic comedy from the 2000s. That's all for now.
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