Early Diamond and Pearl second impressions

Second impressions? I watched up to the middle of Diamond and Pearl once ten years ago and never beyond that. Obviously the first time I wasn't a Pearlshipper or even thinking about shipping at all at the start of DP, as I didn't even know Dawn yet. So I watch this now, eagle-eyed for any shipping moments I missed the first time or anything else that's interesting to me. This is entirely based on the English Dub, unless I mention the Japanese version for certain bits.

The first twelve episodes is what I'll be commenting on, but not all of them and not all shipping related. This is sorta long and somewhat ramble-y, but believe me when I say this is the short version. This is not meant to be a review of every episode or an in-depth deep dive.

I had this post ready a week ago. Had my mouse hovering over that Create Thread button... then I thought, why not use a few images to help make sense of what I'm saying? extreme laziness at getting it all together and I might have gone a little overboard with them

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DP English Dub OP01: Diamond and Pearl

Lets get it out of the way, the first English dub opening is not good. Oi, I don't even have anything else to add. No need to worry, I always watch the Japanese OP/EDs before the Dub versions as to not ruin my experience with the originals. I think the second English opening was really good? Gonna be awhile before I get there.

I remember really adoring this one 10 years ago and now... yeah, same. It held up for me. This is definitely within my top 2 at this point, right up there next to "Ready Go!" from season 5. Looking back, I feel like they have the same kind of vibe going. I'm not sure which I like more, but I don't really have to choose do I? It's enough to say that I love this one. The constant use of Pokémon terms, moves/abilities and such, was great. Other openings also do this, but this one hits you with them in almost every line. The animation makes me really want to watch a speed boat episode... I wonder if fanfic writers are inspired by the random stuff that only happen in the opening animations?

That is some nice synergy between the titles of these two themes, huh? "Together, By Your Side" I don't think I noticed that before. This is my favorite ED so far. Even after not hearing this for so many years, I found myself remembering it all the time. Quickly I would try to get it out of my head as to make this moment more special. I guess it helps getting stuck in your head with all the various versions of this song and the ones used within the episodes. Good enough to become the "major comeback" or action-y type music used in the episodes, right along the other greats "The High-speed Liner" and.. whatever that other Johto and AG ones were called... As well as the softer emotional music. It fits everywhere.

The animation this time is a bunch of shots of Dawn in various poses. I mean, you can't really get any better than that. And most thankfully only characters I care about appear. I really like the grumpy and playful looking shots of Dawn just before any lyrics start and that serious one near the end. I had completely forgotten there was a mention of "Coin Toss" here. That's another thing I've been looking forward to seeing. I can't wait for that. "Wait hold on guys, first let me use this app to flip a coin!" Amazing. Dawn is just amazing and cute.

My favorite ending themes are ones that are more personal to the characters or settings they find themselves in; such as "Type:Wild", "Riding on Lapras", "Takeshi's Paradise" and "To My Best Friend". These I named here, as well as "By Your Side", are my top favs. Most have been ear-worms to me, I can't get them out of my head when I think about them.

--Lyrics From Ready Go!
胸に響いた声「キミなら大丈夫！」--- A voice in my heart cries, "You'll be okay!"
--Lyrics From By Your Side
「ダイジョウブ」って伝えたい --- I want to tell you "You'll be okay"

Is it just a happy coincidence? Doesn't matter; it's totally canon to me. I posted about that line from Ready Go on another post, but did not remember the one from By Your Side. I mean it's not just that, but the lyrics for By Your Side almost feel like a continuation of Ready Go. (TV size anyway, haven't looked over the full versions)

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Episodes

The first episode is completely focused on Dawn and a bit of Piplup. Immediate first thought on that was that I would've liked to see Ash to come in a bit earlier maybe? But then I remembered the start of AG where I honestly think Ash and Pikachu completely stole the show from May (she just stood around watching things happen), so this was probably for the best. It all works out in the end since the first three episodes are one big special.

I love everything about Dawn. I love how she acts of those little daydreams she has for contests with each starter Pokémon. I love how she tries to take a giant suitcase with her on her journey. I love her bad sense of direction when she tries to find Rowan's lab. I guess we know who to blame for the gang getting lost in future episodes! Every scene there's more and more to love. I can go on forever, but lets move on...

Dawn has kneecaps! How did it take this long for them to draw knees on characters? lol, I don't know why that made me excited to see. This is truly next-gen. Does Dawn have a fireplace in her room? what. There's another one in the living room, that makes sense. I... I've never seen a bedroom fireplace, this is new to me.

We also get this early tell that Dawn is a bit of a show off, which ends up having dire consequences for her in a future episode. I do remember that... I think? Usually what happens is that an episode will have a character doing something then it comes back to bite them later on within that same episode. That's going to continue to happen, I'm sure, but it's something I noticed here.

There's something else I noticed when I was talking to a friend about this: Dawn herself shows all those qualities they look for in Pokémon Contests (games) in the very first episode; those being Cool, Tough, Cute, Beauty and Smart. For Cute and Beauty, there's the daydream scenes. And the others...

Dawn is such a badass in this episode; dodging Pokémon projectile attacks (Tough) and quickly figuring out how to get the Ariados to attack it's own web to free Piplup and some other Pokémon (Smart). She even turns around to Piplup and winks at him while telling him everything is going to be ok (Cool, also backpack disappeared). Not to mention telling him to run away without her when she gets her leg caught. ...But then lets not forget what Professor Oak said waaay back in season 1, "Pokémon frequently take on the characteristics of the humans who capture them." Piplup jumps back in and protects her. Sure, Piplup isn't caught yet, but I like to think that's part of the reason. 

DP002-DP003

Dawn: Let's catch Pokémon!
Piplup: Attack anything that moves. Got it.

That Burmy Piplup attacked for Dawn to catch was pretty cute. Maybe it's just the high from entering a new generation of the anime and seeing Dawn again because I wasn't so big on Burmy in the games. Maybe I'll try using one this time in the remake! I liked Dawn and Piplup getting into a mini-fight while talking to Dawn's mom on the phone. Dawn's mom turning to Glameow and saying they're made for each other was a nice little touch. Dawn trying to catch Pikachu was good. I liked her angry spin Pokeball throw at him after he destroyed her bike.

Frustrating, Brock showing up while Ash and Dawn are running towards each other for their first meeting. I love Brock, but I wanted at least an episode or two with just Ash and Dawn. Dawn's mom saying she appreciates them taking care of Dawn would've felt so much more special if it was only Ash. Also they didn't have Ash's mom meeting Dawn here despite her being right there... whyyyy

Dawn's first look at Ash was seeing his ninja skills at work. Wall jumping off trees being the least of which. Really wish the anime had more of this non-comedic super human wackiness, especially since it's been around since the first season. I still remember one time during Johto with Ash wall-running... Went a long way from being impressed with how Bruno was jumping around all over the place. Now Ash is doing it too without even thinking about it.

First of all, huge shout out to Nando for being the first Pearlshipper within the anime, comin in immediately just as the true journey began. He was an S-rank Character of the Day and I'm going to miss him greatly for that. Dawn dug her own grave challenging Nando and his Budew after he had already set up Sunny Day... She and Piplup did really well though, I think she had that one if it wasn't for that. Though the anime really likes to play around with 2-turn moves being instant or not.

Finally, a big fight between the main characters that felt genuine for once in what, over 200 episodes now? Because it WAS genuine. Like Dawn said herself while apologizing, she had a legit reason to snap at Ash after he started it; and as I've mentioned on another post, Ash does tend to start these fights. I died when Dawn said, "How can you think without a brain?!" because of how her voice went higher and just that amazing insult overall. Ash's comeback, "You tell jokes as good as you catch Pokémon!" Rough. That make up scene was really cute, being at a campfire under a starry sky along with the Pokémon singing in the forest.

Something I found a little interesting were the differences between the JP and ENG dub version for the first part of the episode:
---After Ash tells Dawn to make the Pokeball bigger before throwing it to catch Buneary:
JP, Dawn is already obviously annoyed.
ENG, small hint of annoyance, could be interpreted as either directed at Ash or herself
---Continued fight after the opening:
JP, Ash and Dawn only yell about Dawn's future efforts at catching Pokémon turning out "fine" or "not fine." This is Ash using her "daijoubu" catchphrase against her.
ENG, they insult each other.

Honestly, I prefer the English dub's version more. For the first one, Dawn being overly annoyed right at the start of the episode before anything even happens is too quick, though it does technically make more sense from story perspective. Second one, it was funnier and felt like it fit better for them to be angry rather than just annoyed, considering how they're still fighting even after some time has passed. I will say, I like the idea of Ash using her catchphrase against her while they're mad at each other.

This is the first shipping episode to me. There was little things in the last episode, but this one just went all in. Fighting bringing people closer together, who would've thought

DP007

I haven't talked about Piplup much yet. He's been fantastic throughout all these episodes and this episode made me love him more. Goes off to train on his own and tries to help some wild Pokémon by being their leader. He is a man of action. Can't wait for him to be more of a regular character when Dawn decides to leave him out of his Pokeball more often like Pikachu, rather than making random appearances. At least that's what I remember happening later.

Dawn's tent, messy hair and Bubble Beam cure were things I remembered clearly. I love how Ash trips and falls on Dawn just as she exits her tent. Classic anime move. The only thing missing was a closeup of Ash's hands in inappropriate places. That wouldn't be new in this anime, but they probably won't have Ash grope anyone again. Even so, Dawn still moans out Ash's name, so there's that. She mentions using Bubble Beam on his hair to fix it... that I want to see.

This whole Buneary episode was great. Every time a Buneary popped up in other episodes I was thinking, "Already? Sure! Where's Pikachu?" Then got sorta disappointed when it didn't work out. I like how Dawn was so determined to catch a Buneary this entire time, which she mentions in the Japanese version of this episode, but I do not know if that was an actual goal of hers in earlier episodes because it's never mentioned in the dub. Very cute when Buneary crashed into a tree after getting embarrassed. Evil Pikachu making Buneary cry... though she did freeze everyone into a block of ice.

Pikachu wearing Ash's hat! That doesn't happen too often, so it was cool to see. Aipom too, not forgetting that.

DP010

Dawn seems to get mad fairy quickly, even Ash and Brock seemed to notice she was getting easily riled up. Her angry pacing in the Pokémon Center bedroom and the part where she saves the kid from the closing door are things I remembered. What a hero. I did not remember all that was part of the Poketch episode though, neat. Haven't seen it come into play yet up to the episode I'm at.

It's happened in a few other episodes already, but I'm not a huge fan of the "preview" before the opening. This episode showed Ash and Pikachu getting their friendship tested, then we get the same scene later on. I AM, however, a fan of episodes starting with Team Rocket already having stolen something with everyone chasing them down. If they're gonna do it anyway, might as well get it over with as fast as possible.

I did not remember that Dawn's mom was the one who made the contest dress at all. I guess that's something Ash and Dawn have in common, moms still choosing their outfits... But who am I to say anything? MY mom still buys me clothes... Dawn's line in episode 4, "My mom, what a mom." was highly accurate. Since the first episode, I do love that Dawn's mom acknowledges Dawn's catchphrase by saying she worries more when Dawn says that. Actually, that's another thing. I think Dawn has only said the full "no need to worry" once or twice so far. She seems to stick more to "Don't worry." or "I'm fine." That catchphrase gives me life. I need more.

Anyway, nice use of Dawn's instrumental theme when she gets out of bed and walks out to the balcony at night. I was starting to feel like it would take forever for that song to get used in the dub. Dawn basically tells Piplup and Buneary that she's too excited about the contest the next day to sleep. This reminds me of a Johto episode (EP216) during the Whirl Cup where the same thing happens, only that one managed to squeeze in a shipping moment. Ash, dude, wake up and take a look outside.

Wait, what's this? Am I seeing things or is Jessie is actually trying to do the contest FAIRLY? That's nice to see. I was getting tired of all the time wasted with tricks. Fun outfit too. I can still remember that one ending theme with her flying on a broomstick or something while wearing that.. I really enjoyed that one.

Great slow-mo high five late into the episode between Ash and Dawn, I loved it. I believe this is Ash's second (human) high five in the entire series so far? Doesn't seem right honestly, I probably missed others, but I definitely saw that one. ...yeah I've actually been counting that because I knew this was coming at some point.

DP012

Dawn calls her mom at the start of the episode after the opening. There's a shot of the outside of Dawn's house here, with her bike right outside, intact. So unless Nurse Joy fixed Dawn's bike like the one from Viridian City... no, it's probably just an error.

I could've sworn Dawn won her first contest. All this time, all these years, I was really thinking that. Huh. Jaw on the floor. After she lost, I started rooting for Jessie did not end well either

Zoey's problem with Ash doing both gym battles AND contests wasn't explained yet up to the episode I watched 10 years ago. Maybe it's never explained (please don't tell me if it is or not). The last time I saw Zoey back then, she was yelling at Ash about it around Snowpoint City. I had completely forgotten she was always like that. Such a weird thing because that's what you do in the games and there's other characters who do both, even in AG. Nando wanted to do both! A fellow Pearlshipper! Really hoping that does have some kind of explanation, because aside from the main characters' stuff, that's what's been bothering me the most.

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Final words

Ten years of raising my hype for coming back and watching Pokémon. Specifically Diamond and Pearl. More specifically my thoughts on Dawn. Hype level raised to the very tip top... and she did it. I'm happy to say that Dawn absolutely met my expectations. It WAS completely believable to me because that's just what I remember from her, to the point where I wouldn't even call it "relief" that I was right that she's amazing. It was a fact. But at the same time it was also absurd? It was a very strange feeling to have.

I'm enjoying it all so far, much more than.. the last series. I'm not going to go into that. Looking forward to watching more, but also never wanting it to end.

(Both from DP013. Cropped, but otherwise unedited)

Shield your eyes! I was prepared for errors involving Dawn's eyebrows on top of her hat, but not like this.