There’s three certainties in life: Death, taxes and Ash Ketchum failing at the eleventh hour to win a regional Pokémon League tournament. It’s a story as old as time, dating back to the original anime and continuing through the decades, with the plucky trainer battling with all his might and usually coming up short in the process.
This week, the Pokémon anime did something different with Ash’s latest attempt to best the Elite Four of the Alolan Islands. A plot twist so out of left field, that I’m convinced up is now down, left is right and that John Cena can actually be seen. Spoilers below, but HOO BOY WHAT A TWIST!
Right, so in the current Pokémon anime, Ash has managed to make it to the finals. Only one trainer can be the champion, and the rival standing before him is none other than Gladion. The battle is fierce, each trainer bringing out their very best pocket monsters. With Silvally, Lycanroc, Umbreon and Zorark on his side, Gladion may have been Ash’s toughest opponent to date. That is, until that happened. In one final effort between duelling Lycanrocs, Ash managed to turn the tide and knock Gladion out of the competition.
Dudes…Ash just won a Pokémon League tournament.
And that’s freaking monumental. The Alolan arc of Pokémon takes place across the seventh generation of the anime series, which began airing in 1997 in Japan originally. That’s a journey which saw Ash lose six other Pokémon League competitions along the way, which if you’re keeping score, created this record:
- Kanto – Top 16 finish
- Johto – Top 8 finish
- Hoenn – Top 8 finish
- Sinnoh – Top 4 finish
- Unova – Top 8 finish
- Kalos – Runner-up finish
Seventh time’s the charm, am I right? The Ash Always Loses meme can now be officially retired, Japan is probably going to declare a national holiday in honour of ol’ Satoshi and if you mention the Orange Islands arc then get out it doesn’t count that’s not a real Pokémon League challenge. After all these years, for one shining moment, Ash is finally the best like no one ever was.
And I bet all those Simba Tazos I saved up are now going to be worth a fortune.
Last Updated: September 16, 2019
Mark Treloar
September 16, 2019 at 15:02
So what you are saying is that you have a box of suicide tokens?
Pariah
September 16, 2019 at 15:02
I recommend Scyther for efficiency.
Yahtzee
September 16, 2019 at 15:02
And Dodrio for satisfaction…
http://images7.memedroid.com/images/UPLOADED196/5518d454d8f94.jpeg
Pariah
September 16, 2019 at 15:02
“Oh God” is about right… wtf? XD
Yahtzee
September 16, 2019 at 15:02
Gotta love the OG Pokemon lore
Pariah
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
Wait… Wait wait wait… What if Scyther got a bit overzealous in the wrong area around a Dodrio and that’s how Dugtrio came about?
G8crasha
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
Ya’ll speaking Chinese to me!
Yahtzee
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
Good. Because it’s a Japanese based story 😛
G8crasha
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
The whole “Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, give me money please” nursery rhyme springs to mind. There are other versions around the world, but some call it a racist nursery rhyme. Dunno really.
Pariah
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
镰刀怪物砍掉了三头鸟，然后变成了三个香肠的怪物。
G8crasha
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
“Scythe monster cut off three birds and then turned into three sausage monsters”
That’s what Google gives me!
Pariah
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
Yeah that’s what it translates to in Chinese. You asked for it.
Llama In The Rift
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
https://media2.giphy.com/media/26ufdipQqU2lhNA4g/giphy.gif
BradeLunner
September 16, 2019 at 15:22
Oh my god.
The D
September 16, 2019 at 18:15
I prefer to think of them as ChipCoin.
G8crasha
September 16, 2019 at 15:02
Member berry time:
Member Tazos; Member them smelling like chips; Member collecting them; Member pogs; Member slammers!
Geoffrey Tim
September 16, 2019 at 15:02
The titanic was thuppothed to be unthinkable.
Raptor Rants
September 16, 2019 at 15:32
But what was it thinking about?
Jacques Van Zyl
September 16, 2019 at 15:02
Wait so 7 really is a magical number?
Pariah
September 16, 2019 at 15:02
LOL
G8crasha
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
I was thinking the same thing – the irony of league competition 7. This is all very Feng Sui, Ying Yang, qi, etc. You know, balance and all that!
It’s also a Holy number by the way!
CrAiGiSh
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
Did the animation get worse or something?
Yahtzee
September 16, 2019 at 15:12
Now if only Netflix would add the rest of season 2 Sun and Moon episodes, ill be able to watch this unfold without going to some dodge site with singles in my area.
Dresden
September 16, 2019 at 15:22
I sometimes feel bad for all the hot and single mature ladies in Cape Town waiting just for me that I keep ignoring.
Yahtzee
September 16, 2019 at 15:21
That Kalos league though can’t be beat with the WOW factor. Damn XYZ was the best series of the whole franchise.
Son of Banana Jim
September 16, 2019 at 17:07
But what will happen on the 8th? Will Ash win again? Or will the fates beat him over the head with the epic mallet of failure…. ? Tune in next week on DragonBall.. uh.. Pokemon.
Guz
September 16, 2019 at 17:27
WTF happened to his face??
Magoo マグ
September 16, 2019 at 18:34
For the first time in the 10-year old’s 20-year career. So proud!
Yahtzee
September 16, 2019 at 15:02
22 years. But you did it you crazy son of a bith. Your face looks like trAsh now, but you did it!
Chris
September 16, 2019 at 16:12
Can someone explain to me why the orange league does not count? Ash won that as well.
The D
September 16, 2019 at 18:15
Basically boils down to two things: The Orange League isn’t properly tied to any generation of Pokemon games, and the quality of competition while fierce, isn’t exactly up to the same standard set by other Leagues and the Elite Four in charge.
Chris
September 17, 2019 at 09:01
Okay cool yeah I get it. Personally i thought The Orange League was one of the best seasons.
The D
September 17, 2019 at 13:19
Hey, no complaints there! If it’s your fave season then that’s rad!