[Image: yuu_ikura]
You thought the Pokémon Sun Moon was all silliness and sunshine? Wrong! The latest episode was a real tearjerker.
This week was an hour special with back-to-back episodes. The second episode, number 21, was a doozy. Sun Moon continues to surprise, because this isn’t the only weighty episode of this season. (That Mimikyu episode was something else!)
In episode 21, we see Stoutland suffering from a hacking cough. This old Big-Hearted Pokémon spends his days under a bridge, curled up on a sofa and comforted by Litten.
[Image: TV Tokyo via 2ch | Pokemongo Master]
During a confrontation with Team Rocket, a frantic Litten suddenly appears, begging Ash for help.
Ash, Pikachu, and Litten go to Stoutland’s sofa. Things do not look good, so Ash picks up the 61-kilogram Stoutland and takes it to the Pokémon Center.
ムーランド(61kg) #anipoke pic.twitter.com/sofGOfxRtZ
— なみのりラプラス (@SurfLapras) April 6, 2017
Stoutland is given an IV and put on a heart monitor.
[Image: TV Tokyo via 2ch | Pokemongo Master]
Nurse Joy says Stoutland isn’t injured and doesn’t have a serious illness.
ポケモンにも寿命があるっていうこれまで触れなかったテーマに斬り込んで来たね… #anipoke pic.twitter.com/bofTBQHw0P
— なずなず (@7272_Gyu) April 6, 2017
Then, Nurse Joy says, “Stoutland, Stoutland is…” The door is shut, and we cannot hear what’s said next.
[Image: TV Tokyo via 2ch | Pokemongo Master]
As Litten licks Stoutland’s face, we hear Ash saying, “I wonder if Litten knows.” Nurse Joy replies, “I think it does.”
葉っぱ… #anipoke #pokemon pic.twitter.com/kuKaeMb38K
— まかとら (@Macatora) April 6, 2017
Throughout this episode, leaves keep falling from a single tree, giving the episode poignancy and urgency.
[Image: TV Tokyo via 2ch | Pokemongo Master]
Stoutland goes back to its sofa under the bridge, and continues to have problems breathing. That night, Litten snuggles up with Stoutland and has a dream as another leaf falls.
In the dream, Litten sees the Big-Hearted Pokémon and runs towards its friend. But Stoutland fades away.
あ・・・あ・・・ #anipoke pic.twitter.com/pk2lKs9ogU
— すてら(公式アカウント) (@Story_terror) April 6, 2017
When Litten wakes up, the sofa is empty, and the Fire Cat searches for its friend.
ああああああ・・・ #anipoke pic.twitter.com/VQANEvuck0
— すてら(公式アカウント) (@Story_terror) April 6, 2017
Thunder rumbles in the background, the sofa collapses, and the last leaf falls off the tree.
[Image: TV Tokyo via 2ch | Pokemongo Master]
As rain pours, Litten cries out in saddens.
【ポケットモンスター サン&ムーン】 第21話 乗り越えられるか? ニャビー、ムーランドとの別れ – https://t.co/4bQjEUqL0q pic.twitter.com/2RR7N16rUs
— アニメだョ!全員集合 (@animedayoz) April 7, 2017
“Where is Stoutland?” asks Rotom Pokédex.
“Don’t ask that.” Professor Kukui replies.
ムーランドを助けるためにみんなで薬集めるとかそういう話だって思うじゃん、でも今日のポケモンは違うんだよなあ #anipoke pic.twitter.com/wIg7h06Wyv
— なずなず (@7272_Gyu) April 6, 2017
Suffering from grief, Litten spends its time refusing to eat and sleeping in Stoutland’s sofa with that last fallen leaf. Ash and other Pocket Monsters come and to try to cheer the cat up.
A gust of wind blows the leaf away, and Litten chases after it, seeing a rainbow in the sky.
昨日のニャビー回のツイート、定期的にいいねを押してくれる方が多くて嬉しい反面ムーランドのことを思い出して泣きそうになる… pic.twitter.com/AZ8zUq5rcx
— コド (@kod327) April 7, 2017
The clouds, Litten notices, look like Stoutland.
今更ポケモンの録画見たけどムーランドが死んでしまった様子。
よって、ニャビーはサトシとバトルして、サトシが勝ち、ニャビーはサトシのポケモンとなった。
画像はムーランドが雲になったと所。 pic.twitter.com/7oRP9R8wTa— アニポケ好きの人@Nstudio (@Team_R_Sakaki) April 6, 2017
And Litten appears to be moved by seeing its departed friend.
[Image: TV Tokyo via 2ch | Pokemongo Master]
The remaining minutes show Litten joining Ash’s crew, and the episode returns to the pacing and feeling of your typical Sun Moon episode.
All that came before it, which subtly and artfully dealt with death and grief, were anything but.
The 2nd half of Pokemon’s 20th-anniversary double episode actually tackled the topic of pokemon death head-on, and it was handled amazingly. pic.twitter.com/AsK2jWDca5
— ?Mad P? (@pancakeparadox) April 6, 2017
There is a fucking Pokemon Death in the new season of the anime. In the slice of life doofy ass SM season. This is so weird
— Jack (@jcamp_123) April 6, 2017
Just a reminder that Pokémon death can still happen, even in the most cheery seasons of the anime
— Pure Offmon (@starfyhero) April 6, 2017
今日ニャビー旅立ち回見返してまた泣いた…
雲の形がムーランドだったのはニャビーのことをいつも見守ってるという意味でもあってほしい… pic.twitter.com/nr0vqEO03g— 芥子 (@karashi_02) April 7, 2017
Bye stoutland ? pic.twitter.com/4kiZ2mYXIj
— Luquenhas fusquinha (@LuxxcaSousa) April 7, 2017
Comments
3 responses to “The Latest Pokemon Anime Episode Was Depressing As Hell”
First with Charmander, and now Litten.
Fire starters are depressing as hell.
Why…
I’m not crying.. i just have something my eye.. like a twig.. or a branch.. or a contact lens..