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Hey guys, kanna here. Well, after going through the excitement of episodes 39-43 of Pokémon XY&Z, it's time we wrapped up the series with episodes 44-47.
Not much really happens in episode 44, except for everyone rebuilding Lumiose City. Clemont fixes Clembot, but its memories are gone because he kinda-sorta died (see previous post). A challenger comes in, wanting to challenge the Lumiose City Gym and won't battle anyone but Clembot for a rematch. Despite the fact that Clembot needs assistance with battles, the challenge takes place and the challenger gets his Gym Badge. Yay...? This was basically a filler episode, I think.
The next episode is a Serena focused episode. If you remember the beginning of the series, Serena went on her journey because she didn't want to become a Rhyhorn racer like her mom, and decided to become a Pokémon Performer. To cheer up the citizens of Lumiose City, she decides to put on a showcase with her friend and rival, Shauna. Jessie, in disguise, also joins in the showcase.
After the showcase, Serena has thoughts about her path going forward and she doesn't know what to do. Her mom arrives in Lumiose City, and Serena spends the night at the hotel with her mom as she thinks about what she wants to do going forward. Her mom decided not to keep her at home to be a Rhyhorn racer, so Serena wasn't sure what she wanted to do going forward.
The day after, Serena's mom leaves. We then find out the paths that Shauna, Trevor, Tierno, and Sawyer have chosen, before Ash suggests to Serena that they have a battle: Pikachu vs. Braixen. During the battle, Serena comes to a decision. She calls Palermo, Kalos Queen Aria's manager (?), who had previously offered to take Serena under her wing and mentor her so she could become Kalos Queen.
Serena declines the offer and reveals to Palermo that she wants to go places other than the Kalos region and thinks that she would behave like a spoiled child if she went with Palermo. Palermo reveals that this was her intention and that Serena was the first person to turn down her invitation. Serena reveals that she has no destination in mind at the moment, but then Palermo suggests that she go to the Hoenn region, where they have Pokémon Contests, and show her Pokémon off there.
Serena reveals her plan to Ash and co., who wish her the best.
The next episode is definitely on the more emotional side of things.
Ash releases Numelgon--I mean Goodra--back to its home, the wetlands. It's a pretty emotional goodbye. Even little Dedenne is in tears over it. It really kind of sucks that they had to release Goodra, but I understand why they did it.
After leaving the wetlands, Greninja jumps out of its pokéball and suddenly, a vine...ivy...thing from when the mind controlled Zygarde attacked Lumiose City comes up from underground. Greninja manages to destroy it by becoming Ash-Greninja, but we then find out why the vines are still coming up. One of Team Flare's members, Xerosic (I have no idea what his name is in the English dub, but this is how the subs refer to him, so we're going with it), wants to revive Team Flare and re-obtain Zygarde's power to get the world Lysandre wanted. He kidnapped a few Zygarde cells, as well.
Clemont gets kidnapped and Ash has Greninja follow the van...truck...thing that has Clemont. Xerosic reveals his sinister plan: he wants to reform Team Flare by brainwashing humans, and Clemont will be his first "member." Clemont gives up and asks to wipe his glasses as a last request. This is granted.
Cut back to Serena, Ash, and Bonnie. Ash continues to see through Greninja's eyes what's going on, and it's basically a game of cat and mouse, until they finally manage to catch up with the truck...van...thing that can apparently fly and turn invisible. Greninja manages to get them on board, and they climb inside the thing.
They see Clemont, but Xerosic is there, as well. He orders Clemont to go after Ash and the others, before Clemont reveals that Xerosic's plan was a failure. When Clemont went to wipe his glasses, he attached a device that...you know what? It's basically techno-babble from here, so I'm just going to move on. Point is, Xerosic's plan didn't work.
Ash and Clemont battle against Xerosic, who loses in the end. He then decides to (I'm not kidding here), jump out of the plane without a parachute. But Clemont manages to catch him with the Aipom Arm (one of his inventions) and Xerosic is later arrested by Officer Jenny. All seems well and good, until another vine comes out of nowhere and is about to attack Bonnie. A green light slices through the object, cutting it in two. The smoke clears, and...it's Squishy!
Bonnie hugs Squishy, but now isn't the time for a happy reunion, as Squishy asks Greninja to come with it. Greninja follows Squishy, and Greninja is followed by Ash and co., where they see Zygarde in its 50% forme. Zygarde and Squishy use telepathy to explain that the vines...ivies...whatever that were coming up throughout Kalos originated from negative energy deep within the land. What Zygarde destroyed was only the surface.
However, the wound from the incident with Team Flare caused was deep, and Squishy and Zygarde's 50% forme have been wiping out the vines scattered throughout Kalos one by one. You'd think this is easy, right?
You'd be wrong. Very wrong indeed. Pinpointing the location of the negative energy is a difficult task, even for Zygarde, but for whatever reason, Gekkouga--I mean Greninja--is able to see the negative energy. Zygarde asks for Greninja's help, but everyone realizes that this means they'd have to say goodbye to Greninja.
Ash asks Greninja what it wants to do, but it's unspoken that Greninja wants to help Zygarde. They can't have another incident like the one Team Flare caused happen again. After some sentimental stuff about how their meeting might have been fate, Ash wonders if it all led up to this moment in time.
In the end, Greninja decides to go with Zygarde, and the two share a pretty emotional goodbye. I mean it. They hug and everything. It's not as sad as when Ash released Charizard to the Charicific Valley, but it's still pretty emotional.
Squishy tells Bonnie it might be a while before they see each other again, but Bonnie understands and says that when she becomes a Pokémon Trainer, she'll find Squishy and they'll go on another adventure together. Everyone says goodbye to Gekkouga--I mean Greninja--and we go on to the next (and final) episode.
In the last episode of the series, this is the one where everyone goes their separate ways. Serena is off to Hoenn to participate in Pokémon Contests, Clemont is going to stay in Kalos with Bonnie, and Ash is heading back to the Kanto region. The only one who hasn't quite come to terms with all these goodbyes is Dedenne, as it's still a young Pokémon.
When everyone gets to the airport, all the Pokémon say goodbye to each other, but Dedenne throws a fit and runs away. Bonnie explains that she feels the same way as Dedenne, but understands that everyone has their own dreams they want to follow and tells Dedenne that her dream is to become a Pokémon Trainer, with Dedenne as her partner. Dedenne jumps out of hiding and right into Bonnie's arms.
All right, so after that, it's time for Serena's flight to Hoenn. Everyone says their goodbyes to her, but Serena has one last request from Ash. She goes up the escalator that's going down, and (I'm not kidding here) kisses Ash.
Okay, to be fair, that was more implied if anything. But if you saw the looks on Clemont and Bonnie's faces afterwards, then you could be pretty sure that they kissed.
Serena then heads off to her flight, and everyone says their goodbyes. It seems as if Ash has a lot of time, since his flight isn't until the evening. So Clemont suggests they have a battle: Bunnelby vs. Pikachu. And...that's kind of where it ends.
We get this little montage of flashbacks and what the characters are doing currently (including Goodra and Greninja), before Ash finally arrives in his hometown.
Thoughts: I WAS NOT READY FOR THIS SERIES TO END.
Seriously. It was that good. The animation was great, the writing was excellent...I feel like I could go on and on about how amazing this series was. Both XY and XY&Z were fantastic. When the final episode aired and I saw it (granted, it hasn't aired in the US yet, so I saw it with English subtitles), I was almost in tears because I wasn't ready for it to end.
There were so many twists and turns. I didn't expect for Ash to release Greninja, let alone for the idea to even come up. This series was emotional, and you could connect with each of the characters on an emotional level.
Well, see you guys next time! ~k
Not much really happens in episode 44, except for everyone rebuilding Lumiose City. Clemont fixes Clembot, but its memories are gone because he kinda-sorta died (see previous post). A challenger comes in, wanting to challenge the Lumiose City Gym and won't battle anyone but Clembot for a rematch. Despite the fact that Clembot needs assistance with battles, the challenge takes place and the challenger gets his Gym Badge. Yay...? This was basically a filler episode, I think.
The next episode is a Serena focused episode. If you remember the beginning of the series, Serena went on her journey because she didn't want to become a Rhyhorn racer like her mom, and decided to become a Pokémon Performer. To cheer up the citizens of Lumiose City, she decides to put on a showcase with her friend and rival, Shauna. Jessie, in disguise, also joins in the showcase.
After the showcase, Serena has thoughts about her path going forward and she doesn't know what to do. Her mom arrives in Lumiose City, and Serena spends the night at the hotel with her mom as she thinks about what she wants to do going forward. Her mom decided not to keep her at home to be a Rhyhorn racer, so Serena wasn't sure what she wanted to do going forward.
The day after, Serena's mom leaves. We then find out the paths that Shauna, Trevor, Tierno, and Sawyer have chosen, before Ash suggests to Serena that they have a battle: Pikachu vs. Braixen. During the battle, Serena comes to a decision. She calls Palermo, Kalos Queen Aria's manager (?), who had previously offered to take Serena under her wing and mentor her so she could become Kalos Queen.
Serena declines the offer and reveals to Palermo that she wants to go places other than the Kalos region and thinks that she would behave like a spoiled child if she went with Palermo. Palermo reveals that this was her intention and that Serena was the first person to turn down her invitation. Serena reveals that she has no destination in mind at the moment, but then Palermo suggests that she go to the Hoenn region, where they have Pokémon Contests, and show her Pokémon off there.
Serena reveals her plan to Ash and co., who wish her the best.
The next episode is definitely on the more emotional side of things.
Ash releases Numelgon--I mean Goodra--back to its home, the wetlands. It's a pretty emotional goodbye. Even little Dedenne is in tears over it. It really kind of sucks that they had to release Goodra, but I understand why they did it.
After leaving the wetlands, Greninja jumps out of its pokéball and suddenly, a vine...ivy...thing from when the mind controlled Zygarde attacked Lumiose City comes up from underground. Greninja manages to destroy it by becoming Ash-Greninja, but we then find out why the vines are still coming up. One of Team Flare's members, Xerosic (I have no idea what his name is in the English dub, but this is how the subs refer to him, so we're going with it), wants to revive Team Flare and re-obtain Zygarde's power to get the world Lysandre wanted. He kidnapped a few Zygarde cells, as well.
Clemont gets kidnapped and Ash has Greninja follow the van...truck...thing that has Clemont. Xerosic reveals his sinister plan: he wants to reform Team Flare by brainwashing humans, and Clemont will be his first "member." Clemont gives up and asks to wipe his glasses as a last request. This is granted.
Cut back to Serena, Ash, and Bonnie. Ash continues to see through Greninja's eyes what's going on, and it's basically a game of cat and mouse, until they finally manage to catch up with the truck...van...thing that can apparently fly and turn invisible. Greninja manages to get them on board, and they climb inside the thing.
They see Clemont, but Xerosic is there, as well. He orders Clemont to go after Ash and the others, before Clemont reveals that Xerosic's plan was a failure. When Clemont went to wipe his glasses, he attached a device that...you know what? It's basically techno-babble from here, so I'm just going to move on. Point is, Xerosic's plan didn't work.
Ash and Clemont battle against Xerosic, who loses in the end. He then decides to (I'm not kidding here), jump out of the plane without a parachute. But Clemont manages to catch him with the Aipom Arm (one of his inventions) and Xerosic is later arrested by Officer Jenny. All seems well and good, until another vine comes out of nowhere and is about to attack Bonnie. A green light slices through the object, cutting it in two. The smoke clears, and...it's Squishy!
Bonnie hugs Squishy, but now isn't the time for a happy reunion, as Squishy asks Greninja to come with it. Greninja follows Squishy, and Greninja is followed by Ash and co., where they see Zygarde in its 50% forme. Zygarde and Squishy use telepathy to explain that the vines...ivies...whatever that were coming up throughout Kalos originated from negative energy deep within the land. What Zygarde destroyed was only the surface.
However, the wound from the incident with Team Flare caused was deep, and Squishy and Zygarde's 50% forme have been wiping out the vines scattered throughout Kalos one by one. You'd think this is easy, right?
You'd be wrong. Very wrong indeed. Pinpointing the location of the negative energy is a difficult task, even for Zygarde, but for whatever reason, Gekkouga--I mean Greninja--is able to see the negative energy. Zygarde asks for Greninja's help, but everyone realizes that this means they'd have to say goodbye to Greninja.
Ash asks Greninja what it wants to do, but it's unspoken that Greninja wants to help Zygarde. They can't have another incident like the one Team Flare caused happen again. After some sentimental stuff about how their meeting might have been fate, Ash wonders if it all led up to this moment in time.
In the end, Greninja decides to go with Zygarde, and the two share a pretty emotional goodbye. I mean it. They hug and everything. It's not as sad as when Ash released Charizard to the Charicific Valley, but it's still pretty emotional.
Squishy tells Bonnie it might be a while before they see each other again, but Bonnie understands and says that when she becomes a Pokémon Trainer, she'll find Squishy and they'll go on another adventure together. Everyone says goodbye to Gekkouga--I mean Greninja--and we go on to the next (and final) episode.
In the last episode of the series, this is the one where everyone goes their separate ways. Serena is off to Hoenn to participate in Pokémon Contests, Clemont is going to stay in Kalos with Bonnie, and Ash is heading back to the Kanto region. The only one who hasn't quite come to terms with all these goodbyes is Dedenne, as it's still a young Pokémon.
When everyone gets to the airport, all the Pokémon say goodbye to each other, but Dedenne throws a fit and runs away. Bonnie explains that she feels the same way as Dedenne, but understands that everyone has their own dreams they want to follow and tells Dedenne that her dream is to become a Pokémon Trainer, with Dedenne as her partner. Dedenne jumps out of hiding and right into Bonnie's arms.
All right, so after that, it's time for Serena's flight to Hoenn. Everyone says their goodbyes to her, but Serena has one last request from Ash. She goes up the escalator that's going down, and (I'm not kidding here) kisses Ash.
Okay, to be fair, that was more implied if anything. But if you saw the looks on Clemont and Bonnie's faces afterwards, then you could be pretty sure that they kissed.
Serena then heads off to her flight, and everyone says their goodbyes. It seems as if Ash has a lot of time, since his flight isn't until the evening. So Clemont suggests they have a battle: Bunnelby vs. Pikachu. And...that's kind of where it ends.
We get this little montage of flashbacks and what the characters are doing currently (including Goodra and Greninja), before Ash finally arrives in his hometown.
Thoughts: I WAS NOT READY FOR THIS SERIES TO END.
Seriously. It was that good. The animation was great, the writing was excellent...I feel like I could go on and on about how amazing this series was. Both XY and XY&Z were fantastic. When the final episode aired and I saw it (granted, it hasn't aired in the US yet, so I saw it with English subtitles), I was almost in tears because I wasn't ready for it to end.
There were so many twists and turns. I didn't expect for Ash to release Greninja, let alone for the idea to even come up. This series was emotional, and you could connect with each of the characters on an emotional level.
Well, see you guys next time! ~k
Hey guys, kanna here. Well, now that this season of Pokémon has concluded, it's time for me to give it what it deserves. Let's get started!
I'll be talking about the tail end of the series (episodes 39-47). Because this is so many episodes, I'm making this two parts. So this post will cover episodes 39-43, and the next will cover 44-47. Not that the rest of the series isn't important, but I feel that these last few episodes were the highlight of this season of Pokémon. Additionally, I'll be using the names of the characters and Pokémon that are used in the English dub and the games. I feel it will make things less confusing. However, if I slip up, I slip up. I'll correct it.
So, after a long and intense battle against Alain in the final round of the Pokémon League, Ash lost (again). I have to ask: is it statistically impossible for this kid to win a Pokémon League? It seems like there's some mathematical formula the writers are following to make it so that he loses every single time. I just...ugh! Writers, sometimes you make no sense.
Anyway, after a long battle against Alain, these vines...ivies...whatever come out of nowhere and start destroying everything in sight. A Zygarde in its 50% forme
created by merging Z-2 (one of the sentient cells to form Zygarde) along with other Zygarde cells
wreaks havoc on Lumiose City as it's controlled by Team Flare. Squishy (aka Z-1) merges with other Zygarde cells to form Zygarde's 10% forme (I don't know why the spelling is the way it is), which takes the form of a large dog for some reason (don't ask; I don't get it, either. Also, sorry I can't put a picture...stupid Blogger).
Meanwhile, Ash gets kidnapped by Team Flare and he and Alain find out that Alain was being used by Team Flare's boss, Lysandre, the entire time. Lysandre tries to use the same energy that controlled Z-2 (aka Mega Evolution energy) to control the power of the Bond Phenomenon between Ash and Gekkouga--I mean Greninja (told you there would be slip ups). However, he fails in this, and Ash is set free thanks to the Bond Phenomenon between him and Gek--I mean Greninja. This is REALLY hard.
Ash and co. find out that Puni-chan--I mean Squishy...G-d this is hard--is actually Zygarde. Alain decides to join forces with Ash and fight Lysandre. However, just when things seem to be taking a turn for the worst, Malva (I might have her name wrong, but that's how I think it's spelled; in the Japanese version, it's Pachira), a member of Team Flare, turns against Lysandre. She didn't realize that he wanted to destroy the world, and wants to put her faith in Ash and Alain. So the fight becomes three on one.
Cut to Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont. They're fighting off Team Flare admins to regain control over the Lumiose Gym, when they're joined by Prof. Sycamore, Blaziken Mask, and Mega Blaziken. Bonnie goes after Squishy, because she can "sense" (I'm using that super loosely) Squishy is losing. Clemont leaves to go and take back his gym with Clembot, and the two manage to take the gym back, but not without great sacrifice.
Yep, Clembot sacrifices himself to destroy the machine controlling Z-2. While I'm sure there are a million other ways this could have been done, it was actually pretty sad for Clemont to sacrifice his invention. The two actually share a pretty emotional moment before Clemont is forced to push the button that will ultimately destroy Clembot.
Squishy tries to communicate with the mind-controlled Z-2, but Z-2 can't hear anything because of the mind control. Eventually, Squishy ends up transforming into Zygarde's 50% form, which looks like the Zygarde we all know and love. This is exactly what Team Flare wants. They brainwash Squishy, and both Z-2 and Squishy start wreaking havoc on Lumiose City.
Serena, Mairin, and Prof. Sycamore infiltrate the Team Flare Laboratory with the help of the Hoenn League Champion, Steven Stone and Team Rocket. They rescue Mairin's Harimaron--I mean Chespin--who is still asleep and glowing green. Well, that can't be a good thing.
Cut back to Bonnie, who has gone after the mind-controlled Squishy with Mega Blaziken and Blaziken Mask. Upon finding Squishy, she shouts at it and says stuff like "You don't really want to do these things, do you?"
Unfortunately, this doesn't work and Bonnie is nearly killed by an attack from Squishy, until she is saved by Blaziken Mask. She continues to try to reach Squishy, but ends up falling to her hands and knees in tears. In one last attempt, she sings Squishy's song, and through the power of love, is able to break Squishy's mind-control. I couldn't make that up if I tried.
OK, maybe it wasn't the power of love. But that's what I'm going with, because...I have no other explanation. They don't share a Bond Phenomenon like Ash and Greninja do, so I'm going with the whole "power of love" thing (as cheesy as it is).
For the record, it's probably going to be better in the original Japanese than the English dub. The English dub of episodes 42-47 haven't aired in the US yet.
Ash, Malva, and Alain defeat Lysandre, who says that this won't be the end of his plan, and he (I'm not kidding here) falls off the edge of Prism Tower. I really wonder how they're going to handle this in the English dub. I mean, it's not like they show people falling off of tall buildings to their untimely demise in kids shows. Right?
Um...following that, Ash and Alain go to Clemont at the Lumiose City Gym, as he grieves over the loss of Clembot. He regains his resolve and rejoins the fight. They all board this giant helicopter...thing.
We cut back to Serena, Mairin, Steven Stone, and Prof. Sycamore, who are trying to...I'm not really sure what, but there's this crystal in the room that emits the same energy as Mega Stones during Mega Evolution. Mairin's Chespin gets absorbed by the crystal, and it comes to life. Serena, Mairin, Steven Stone, and Prof. Sycamore manage to escape the laboratory, but the crystal transforms into a giant crystal Zygarde (the English subs from the original Japanese referred to this as a megalith. I'm not sure what they'll do in the English dub).
Meanwhile, Bonnie and Squishy encounter Z-2, who still has hatred towards humans after being mind-controlled and forced to wreak havoc on the city. Squishy urges Z-2 to give the humans a chance, so Z-2 joins Bonnie, Blaziken, and Blaziken Mask as it observes the humans' attempt to defeat Lysandre.
The giant crystal Zygarde starts heading to Anistar City, home of psychic Gym Leader Olympia, who issues a psychic call (don't ask). All hope seems lost until our heroes are reunited with the Kalos League Champion, Diantha, as well as the gym leaders. Everyone makes a pathway for Ash and Alain to get through so they can get inside the crystal Zygarde and get Mairin's Chespin out. They do, and everyone attacks the crystal Zygarde, just to make sure it's down for good.
Unfortunately, this doesn't work, as Lysandre survived the fall (no, I don't get it) and the device he wears around his wrist is what's controlling the crystal Zygarde. It continues to advance and attack, and ultimately knocks our heroes and everyone else to the ground. Blaziken Mask's identity is revealed to be Clemont and Bonnie's father.
Z-2 comes to the realization that there are good humans in the world and it needs to believe in them. So Z-2 and Squishy join together with every Zygarde cell in the world to form Zygarde's 100% forme (sorry for the lack of a picture...apparently Blogger will cooperate with some pictures and not with others). Zygarde defeats Lysandre. Rather, it kills Lysandre (I'm really not sure how they'll do this in the English dub), and Lumiose City is left to rebuild and ultimately start over.
Thoughts: I freaking loved these episodes. I was a little sad because this conflict meant that we were drawing close to the end of the series, and this is arguably one of the best series since the Diamond and Pearl era. I'm sorry, but Black and White sucked. This definitely made up for it. Diamond and Pearl was just okay, Black and White sucked, but XY and XY&Z were ultimately the best since Diamond and Pearl.
The animation is fantastic, and while it does feel like the "Ash-Greninja Show," we see almost all the Pokémon helping out. The "bond phenomenon" is an interesting concept that had never been done before in Pokémon. While it isn't explained how it differs from Mega Evolution, other than the fact that it doesn't need a Mega Stone or a Key Stone, it's still an interesting concept that I wish the writers had delved a little deeper into.
Overall, these were some of the best episodes in all of XY and XY&Z. See you guys in part 2, where I talk about episodes 44-47.
I'll be talking about the tail end of the series (episodes 39-47). Because this is so many episodes, I'm making this two parts. So this post will cover episodes 39-43, and the next will cover 44-47. Not that the rest of the series isn't important, but I feel that these last few episodes were the highlight of this season of Pokémon. Additionally, I'll be using the names of the characters and Pokémon that are used in the English dub and the games. I feel it will make things less confusing. However, if I slip up, I slip up. I'll correct it.
So, after a long and intense battle against Alain in the final round of the Pokémon League, Ash lost (again). I have to ask: is it statistically impossible for this kid to win a Pokémon League? It seems like there's some mathematical formula the writers are following to make it so that he loses every single time. I just...ugh! Writers, sometimes you make no sense.
Anyway, after a long battle against Alain, these vines...ivies...whatever come out of nowhere and start destroying everything in sight. A Zygarde in its 50% forme
 |
| Zygarde 50% forme |
 |
| Zygarde Cell |
 |
| Zygarde Core (this is Squishy) |
Meanwhile, Ash gets kidnapped by Team Flare and he and Alain find out that Alain was being used by Team Flare's boss, Lysandre, the entire time. Lysandre tries to use the same energy that controlled Z-2 (aka Mega Evolution energy) to control the power of the Bond Phenomenon between Ash and Gekkouga--I mean Greninja (told you there would be slip ups). However, he fails in this, and Ash is set free thanks to the Bond Phenomenon between him and Gek--I mean Greninja. This is REALLY hard.
Ash and co. find out that Puni-chan--I mean Squishy...G-d this is hard--is actually Zygarde. Alain decides to join forces with Ash and fight Lysandre. However, just when things seem to be taking a turn for the worst, Malva (I might have her name wrong, but that's how I think it's spelled; in the Japanese version, it's Pachira), a member of Team Flare, turns against Lysandre. She didn't realize that he wanted to destroy the world, and wants to put her faith in Ash and Alain. So the fight becomes three on one.
Cut to Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont. They're fighting off Team Flare admins to regain control over the Lumiose Gym, when they're joined by Prof. Sycamore, Blaziken Mask, and Mega Blaziken. Bonnie goes after Squishy, because she can "sense" (I'm using that super loosely) Squishy is losing. Clemont leaves to go and take back his gym with Clembot, and the two manage to take the gym back, but not without great sacrifice.
Yep, Clembot sacrifices himself to destroy the machine controlling Z-2. While I'm sure there are a million other ways this could have been done, it was actually pretty sad for Clemont to sacrifice his invention. The two actually share a pretty emotional moment before Clemont is forced to push the button that will ultimately destroy Clembot.
Squishy tries to communicate with the mind-controlled Z-2, but Z-2 can't hear anything because of the mind control. Eventually, Squishy ends up transforming into Zygarde's 50% form, which looks like the Zygarde we all know and love. This is exactly what Team Flare wants. They brainwash Squishy, and both Z-2 and Squishy start wreaking havoc on Lumiose City.
Serena, Mairin, and Prof. Sycamore infiltrate the Team Flare Laboratory with the help of the Hoenn League Champion, Steven Stone and Team Rocket. They rescue Mairin's Harimaron--I mean Chespin--who is still asleep and glowing green. Well, that can't be a good thing.
Cut back to Bonnie, who has gone after the mind-controlled Squishy with Mega Blaziken and Blaziken Mask. Upon finding Squishy, she shouts at it and says stuff like "You don't really want to do these things, do you?"
Unfortunately, this doesn't work and Bonnie is nearly killed by an attack from Squishy, until she is saved by Blaziken Mask. She continues to try to reach Squishy, but ends up falling to her hands and knees in tears. In one last attempt, she sings Squishy's song, and through the power of love, is able to break Squishy's mind-control. I couldn't make that up if I tried.
OK, maybe it wasn't the power of love. But that's what I'm going with, because...I have no other explanation. They don't share a Bond Phenomenon like Ash and Greninja do, so I'm going with the whole "power of love" thing (as cheesy as it is).
For the record, it's probably going to be better in the original Japanese than the English dub. The English dub of episodes 42-47 haven't aired in the US yet.
Ash, Malva, and Alain defeat Lysandre, who says that this won't be the end of his plan, and he (I'm not kidding here) falls off the edge of Prism Tower. I really wonder how they're going to handle this in the English dub. I mean, it's not like they show people falling off of tall buildings to their untimely demise in kids shows. Right?
Um...following that, Ash and Alain go to Clemont at the Lumiose City Gym, as he grieves over the loss of Clembot. He regains his resolve and rejoins the fight. They all board this giant helicopter...thing.
We cut back to Serena, Mairin, Steven Stone, and Prof. Sycamore, who are trying to...I'm not really sure what, but there's this crystal in the room that emits the same energy as Mega Stones during Mega Evolution. Mairin's Chespin gets absorbed by the crystal, and it comes to life. Serena, Mairin, Steven Stone, and Prof. Sycamore manage to escape the laboratory, but the crystal transforms into a giant crystal Zygarde (the English subs from the original Japanese referred to this as a megalith. I'm not sure what they'll do in the English dub).
Meanwhile, Bonnie and Squishy encounter Z-2, who still has hatred towards humans after being mind-controlled and forced to wreak havoc on the city. Squishy urges Z-2 to give the humans a chance, so Z-2 joins Bonnie, Blaziken, and Blaziken Mask as it observes the humans' attempt to defeat Lysandre.
The giant crystal Zygarde starts heading to Anistar City, home of psychic Gym Leader Olympia, who issues a psychic call (don't ask). All hope seems lost until our heroes are reunited with the Kalos League Champion, Diantha, as well as the gym leaders. Everyone makes a pathway for Ash and Alain to get through so they can get inside the crystal Zygarde and get Mairin's Chespin out. They do, and everyone attacks the crystal Zygarde, just to make sure it's down for good.
Unfortunately, this doesn't work, as Lysandre survived the fall (no, I don't get it) and the device he wears around his wrist is what's controlling the crystal Zygarde. It continues to advance and attack, and ultimately knocks our heroes and everyone else to the ground. Blaziken Mask's identity is revealed to be Clemont and Bonnie's father.
Z-2 comes to the realization that there are good humans in the world and it needs to believe in them. So Z-2 and Squishy join together with every Zygarde cell in the world to form Zygarde's 100% forme (sorry for the lack of a picture...apparently Blogger will cooperate with some pictures and not with others). Zygarde defeats Lysandre. Rather, it kills Lysandre (I'm really not sure how they'll do this in the English dub), and Lumiose City is left to rebuild and ultimately start over.
Thoughts: I freaking loved these episodes. I was a little sad because this conflict meant that we were drawing close to the end of the series, and this is arguably one of the best series since the Diamond and Pearl era. I'm sorry, but Black and White sucked. This definitely made up for it. Diamond and Pearl was just okay, Black and White sucked, but XY and XY&Z were ultimately the best since Diamond and Pearl.
The animation is fantastic, and while it does feel like the "Ash-Greninja Show," we see almost all the Pokémon helping out. The "bond phenomenon" is an interesting concept that had never been done before in Pokémon. While it isn't explained how it differs from Mega Evolution, other than the fact that it doesn't need a Mega Stone or a Key Stone, it's still an interesting concept that I wish the writers had delved a little deeper into.
Overall, these were some of the best episodes in all of XY and XY&Z. See you guys in part 2, where I talk about episodes 44-47.
