Post by ajnrules on May 22, 2007 14:19:39 GMT -5
One thing that's bothered me about Misty in the anime is that her portrayal is quite inconsistent. We all know that Misty is beautiful, smart, strong, kind, caring, and one heck of a Pokemon trainer. Sometimes she is portrayed as such in the show, but at other times she's been air headed and ditzy or mundane to the max. Portrayals such as these frustrate me, but because of this, we need to cherish the episodes that show Misty as she truly is. After listening to old episodes of Pokemon for several hours the past few weeks, I decided to count down the top ten Misty episodes in the Kanto series of Pokemon. (I restricted it to Kanto because I stopped watching Pokemon in the middle of the Orange Islands.) These episodes may not be about Misty, but they highlight Misty's strengths.
With that said, here we go.
10. The Ghost of Maiden's Peak
The episode did not start out on the best foot for Misty, as she had to withstand being called a "scrawny little blabbermouth" (a real scrawny one at that), but instead of caving into these insults, Misty showed off her strengths by standing up to them. She wasn't exactly the most elegant in how she dealt with it, but elegance never gets you anywhere in life. Later in the episode, she was the only person that did not back down to Gastly. Although her Stokerian plan wasn't effective, it did catch Gastly by surprise and stalled for enough time for the Sun to rise. Finally, to top it off, she made her famous appearance in a kimono with her hair down. What a lovely way to end the episode.
9. The Water Flowers of Cerulean City
Well, I'll admit, this episode didn't exactly have the most flattering portrayal of Misty. The bitter relationship with her three condescending sisters may be difficult to experience, and her premature withdrawal of Staryu had put her in a precarious situation in the battle against Ash. (If she had stuck with Staryu, it would have weakened Pidgeotto enough that she could have cruised to an easy victory with Starmie.) Still, the episode is invaluable in presenting Misty's life story, allowing for some rudimentary but good psychological study. Misty has got to be pretty resilient to have such good self esteem despite her life with her sisters. And her Pokemon skills did earn her some respect from her sisters. But the most impressive thing is Misty's jump during her first appearance in the gym. That ledge has got to be about 15-20 feet high, and she had to get a good 5-7 feet in horizontal distance to get across. Yeah, that was a great jump.
8. The March of the Exeggcutor Squad
Misty isn't perfect in this uniquely bizarre episode, as she was one of the two people to utter the line, "The forest is moving!" (yes, they uttered the exact same words). I suppose that can be overlooked, since this is the episode with the infamous Goldeen outfit. That one caused quite a ruckus among Misty fans back in the day. It's also nice to have Melvin acknowledge Misty as "such a beautiful girl." In addition, this was one pre-Togepi episode where her gentle and caring side had surfaced, possibly more so than any others. When the carnival manager informed the group about the time bomb, it was Misty that had the earliest and strongest reaction. Her concern for the Exeggcutor is genuine. Plus, it was she that figured out Ash's behavior, and it was her idea and motivational speech that brought Melvin out of a state of helpless self-pity and save the day!
7. The Breeding Center Secret
Very rarely had Misty's vices appeared so strongly in an episode. She was very callous towards Psyduck when entering it to the breeding center, voicing her contempt about its flaws very openly. Plus, her exaggerated reactions to the free buffet seem to suggest gluttony. These two eventually converge, and it appears that the only reason she wanted to get Psyduck back was so she can get free unlimited access to the dessert bar. Eventually you wonder if her wanting to get Psyduck out is genuine concern or desire for selfish gain. Not that I have a problem with her treatment of Psyduck, and it's fun to see the selfish side of Misty for once. However, it was Misty's courage and snappy thinking that saved the day in this episode, thereby redeeming herself from her earlier selfishness. And she gave all credit to Pikachu, thereby displaying her modesty. This episode shows that even in her strengths, Misty has some flaws, but that's what makes her human.
6. Riddle Me This
I suppose this episode wouldn't exactly pop up in people's minds as a great Misty episode, since it's a gym battle episode where Misty isn't involved with the battle. However, the title suggests that there will be riddles. Well, there were five riddles to be exact. The final tally for these riddles was: Ash 0, Brock 0, Misty 4. Only Misty has the ability to think outside the box quickly and accurately enough to solve the riddles. So she wasn't able to get the riddle that would tell the location of the gym (although she was on the right track), but her ability to solve the puzzles had helped them solve their food and lodging situation without having to sacrifice their pride. So even if Misty's role is limited in this episode, her strong mental abilities allowed her to be presented in a positive light.
5. Tentacool and Tentacruel
One reason this controversial and ultra-violent episode is special is that it underscores her love for water Pokemon. Everybody knows she specializes in them, but in this episode you see how intense this love is. It's borderline obsession, not that it's a bad thing. It's good to have passion. Passion is what allows somebody to stand up for their beliefs even in the midst of temptations, opposition, or even danger. As we see in several instances, Misty can be as materialistic as anybody else. However, when Nastina was luring Ash and Brock to her side with such worldly goods as $1 million and free access to a luxury buffet, Misty strongly held to her passion and stood on the side of reason by rejecting her. It's true that this passion could have blinded her to the danger at hand, but it is also her firm belief in water Pokemon that allowed her to risk her life to negotiate with Tentacruel. Isn't it nice to know that Tentacruel rejected the plea of all other Pokemon, but was quick to accept Misty's apology, even if it isn't the most stirring thing in the dub?
4. Pokemon Shipwreck
Misty comes out strong in this Pokemon tribute to The Poseidon Adventure. When all hope seemed to have been lost, it is Misty's strong leadership that saved the lives of all on board. Her leadership skills are visible throughout the entire episode. When the confrontation with Team Rocket appeared to not only break the unity within the group but also threatened to plunge the ship into the unknown abyss below, Misty's willingness to get her priorities straight and her ability to reason with others had helped the casualty list for the St. Anne disaster remain at zero. It's true that Team Rocket didn't do anything to help in the escape and probably even endangered their lives in the end, but Misty's compassion for her fellow man shines through in this episode. Her knowledge of the layout of the cruise ship was also instrumental in the group finding their way out of the ship. One thing that had bothered me was that the big bad Dragon Rage in this episode turned out to be such a puny attack in the game, but that isn't Misty's fault. In fact, Misty's knowledge of the phenomenon probably gave the group enough time to prepare for the waterspout, and probably saved their lives once again. Isn't it nice to know that every main character owes their life to Misty?
3. Princess vs. Princess
Princess vs. Princess is one episode that has "Misty episode" written all over it. She is, for once, one of the main focuses of the episode instead of being the bringer of sage advice or the voice of reason. However, unlike The Water Flowers of Cerulean City, which was also Misty-themed, you get to see the entire spectrum of Misty's personality in this episode: her beauty, her brains, and even her brawn. With only 64 spots open in the contest and possibly thousands of entrants, there has to be a lot of screening going on. And what do you know; Misty actually made it into the round of 64 despite being about 5-10 years younger than the other contestants. The screeners must have seen the beauty in Misty, and so we get the famous shot of her in the kimono with the mysterious hair extension. (The growth makes sense, considering the amount of time between The Ghost of Maiden's Peak and Princess vs. Princess, but the mystery is how she keeps her normal hair style the same.) The entire second half of the episode is about how Misty was able to command a diverse team of Pokemon and pull off six consecutive victories to win the tournament. It's true that her opponents are probably not the best Pokemon trainers in the world, as even Jessie was able to win five straight, but that doesn't diminish her skills as a Pokemon trainer. Not once in the montage do we see her use a water Pokemon, which means Misty probably had to deal with Pokemon outside of her specialty. Winning the tournament is also a plus. If you don't believe me about the brawn, just take a look at the shopping scenes, or how she gave Ash the beatdown after his disparaging comment. We can probably discuss her flaws in the episode, such as her materialism, her spite for her sisters, or how her contempt for Psyduck caused her to forget about its psychic powers...but all those pale in comparison with her strengths.
2. The Battling Eevee Brothers
Well, in the last entry I mentioned how Misty is often the bringer of sage advice, and there is no better example of this than in The Battling Eevee Brothers. Yes, the episode is about family tensions and miscommunication, but Misty's advice was crucial to the resolution of these tensions. A counselor may not be Misty's top career choice, but if she ever had the urge to get into psychology, she'd be terrific. It's apparent that her goal was to bring up Mikey's spirits and help relieve the mounting animosity between brothers. Her method to handling the situation was top-notch, except for maybe her strategy in punishing Psyduck (and right in front of her "patient", no less), but who really cares about Psyduck? She was able to ascertain the problem through naturalistic observation. She was able to quickly gain the trust of Mikey by appearing as a friend instead of a counselor. She confirmed her hypothesis with him before allowing him to tell his side of the story. She was quick to offer her approval at his viewpoints, but was not afraid to point out his flaws. Even so, she did it in a way that was not condescending, allowing him to quickly understand what he needed to do to resolve the situation. She remained behind him the entire time to offer her support. This is Carl Rogers's patient-based humanistic psychology at its best, and she did it not for any personal profit, but because of her honest concern for the well-being of others. Throughout the entire episode, Misty is like a graceful goddess hanging over the party and working out the strings to deliver a happy ending. Well, her vicious attacks of Ash and Psyduck weren't exactly graceful, but those two kind of asked for it. And as for Horsea, let's just say that such a smart Pokemon is fitting for a smart Pokemon trainer.
1. The Misty Mermaid
Ah, this is quite possibly the perfect Misty episode. First of all, the dub version has Misty in the title, which is always a good omen. Then again, so did Misty Meets Her Match in the Orange Islands, but that isn't half the Misty episode that this is. The Misty Mermaid is Misty's shining moment, a flawless portrayal of our favorite redhead at her stunning best. Her role as the magical mermaid helped earn her strong accolades from the fans present at the show, possibly win her a devoted set of fans in Cerulean City, rescue her sisters from their troubled financial situations, patch up her relationship with her domineering sisters, and even tugging at the heartstrings of Brock if only temporarily. It also factored in a couple of Pokemon Housou spinoffs, but that's beyond the scope of this thread. (Let's just say that Cerulean Blues would rank pretty high on this list if it was actually eligible.) Her special skills as a water Pokemon trainer also comes to life in this episode. Misty's travels with Ash are parasitic at best, as she spends most of her time in the background, thereby preventing her from training to the fullest. But with a proper set of water Pokemon, she is able to direct a battalion of them to victory over Arbok. And under Misty's leadership, Seel was able to fulfill its full potential. And she does all this with a sense of modesty, for when Ash complimented her for her skills in handling Seaking, her reaction is "Thank my sisters. They're the one who trained it." It's true, but do they know how to use it? Her ability to learn the part of the mermaid in only half a day is also a testament to her intelligence. It's just too bad that people trying to catch later performance wouldn't get the exact same effect even if the future performances included epic Pokemon battles.
One last thing that makes this episode so special for Misty is her ability to overcome her self-doubt to come to such achievements. One thing that we had learned about Misty is that her childhood was full of belittling experiences, being the baby sister of pompous divas. She probably developed a layer of self-confidence to hide her fear and her uncertainty about her self-worth. However, this internal layer is how she was able to aid Melvin and Mikey in their respective episodes. Now that I think about it, Misty's family situation is probably very similar to Mikey's. Mikey was the baby in his family, being pressured to a commitment that goes against what he wants for himself. Lacking a sense of confidence in his own beliefs, he chose to run away from everything by hiding Eevee, and only Misty was able to guide him back to the right way. In The Misty Mermaid, Misty had been pressured by her three older sisters to a commitment that goes against what she wants for herself. Misty had often dreamed of being a big star, but now that she is actually faced with being one, her sense of self-doubt had bubbled up to the surface. But having counseled Melvin and Mikey to resolve their only feelings of worthlessness, Misty has the courage to confront these feelings and went out to deliver the best performance that she can give. Her self-confidence had beat out her self-doubt, and everything turned out to be just fine. In the end, Misty's sisters still managed to convince her to give up her Horsea and her Starmie, but she probably did it out of love for her sisters and her Pokemon. Beauty, brains, courage, and compassion: these are Misty's major virtues, and they are all present in this episode.
Yeah. These are my top ten Misty episodes in the Kanto series. Since I've only seen the first 100 episodes of Pokemon, I'm missing out on a lot of other great Misty episodes, but I think this is a good list to begin with, since many people seem to agree that the Kanto episodes are the best ones anyways. You may or may not agree with ordering of the episodes, or feel that there may be some omissions even among the early episodes, but at any rate, you'd have to agree that these episodes show Misty in a positive light, and even her flaws just help to make her so much more human to us. This is the Misty that we know and love.
With that said, here we go.
10. The Ghost of Maiden's Peak
The episode did not start out on the best foot for Misty, as she had to withstand being called a "scrawny little blabbermouth" (a real scrawny one at that), but instead of caving into these insults, Misty showed off her strengths by standing up to them. She wasn't exactly the most elegant in how she dealt with it, but elegance never gets you anywhere in life. Later in the episode, she was the only person that did not back down to Gastly. Although her Stokerian plan wasn't effective, it did catch Gastly by surprise and stalled for enough time for the Sun to rise. Finally, to top it off, she made her famous appearance in a kimono with her hair down. What a lovely way to end the episode.
9. The Water Flowers of Cerulean City
Well, I'll admit, this episode didn't exactly have the most flattering portrayal of Misty. The bitter relationship with her three condescending sisters may be difficult to experience, and her premature withdrawal of Staryu had put her in a precarious situation in the battle against Ash. (If she had stuck with Staryu, it would have weakened Pidgeotto enough that she could have cruised to an easy victory with Starmie.) Still, the episode is invaluable in presenting Misty's life story, allowing for some rudimentary but good psychological study. Misty has got to be pretty resilient to have such good self esteem despite her life with her sisters. And her Pokemon skills did earn her some respect from her sisters. But the most impressive thing is Misty's jump during her first appearance in the gym. That ledge has got to be about 15-20 feet high, and she had to get a good 5-7 feet in horizontal distance to get across. Yeah, that was a great jump.
8. The March of the Exeggcutor Squad
Misty isn't perfect in this uniquely bizarre episode, as she was one of the two people to utter the line, "The forest is moving!" (yes, they uttered the exact same words). I suppose that can be overlooked, since this is the episode with the infamous Goldeen outfit. That one caused quite a ruckus among Misty fans back in the day. It's also nice to have Melvin acknowledge Misty as "such a beautiful girl." In addition, this was one pre-Togepi episode where her gentle and caring side had surfaced, possibly more so than any others. When the carnival manager informed the group about the time bomb, it was Misty that had the earliest and strongest reaction. Her concern for the Exeggcutor is genuine. Plus, it was she that figured out Ash's behavior, and it was her idea and motivational speech that brought Melvin out of a state of helpless self-pity and save the day!
7. The Breeding Center Secret
Very rarely had Misty's vices appeared so strongly in an episode. She was very callous towards Psyduck when entering it to the breeding center, voicing her contempt about its flaws very openly. Plus, her exaggerated reactions to the free buffet seem to suggest gluttony. These two eventually converge, and it appears that the only reason she wanted to get Psyduck back was so she can get free unlimited access to the dessert bar. Eventually you wonder if her wanting to get Psyduck out is genuine concern or desire for selfish gain. Not that I have a problem with her treatment of Psyduck, and it's fun to see the selfish side of Misty for once. However, it was Misty's courage and snappy thinking that saved the day in this episode, thereby redeeming herself from her earlier selfishness. And she gave all credit to Pikachu, thereby displaying her modesty. This episode shows that even in her strengths, Misty has some flaws, but that's what makes her human.
6. Riddle Me This
I suppose this episode wouldn't exactly pop up in people's minds as a great Misty episode, since it's a gym battle episode where Misty isn't involved with the battle. However, the title suggests that there will be riddles. Well, there were five riddles to be exact. The final tally for these riddles was: Ash 0, Brock 0, Misty 4. Only Misty has the ability to think outside the box quickly and accurately enough to solve the riddles. So she wasn't able to get the riddle that would tell the location of the gym (although she was on the right track), but her ability to solve the puzzles had helped them solve their food and lodging situation without having to sacrifice their pride. So even if Misty's role is limited in this episode, her strong mental abilities allowed her to be presented in a positive light.
5. Tentacool and Tentacruel
One reason this controversial and ultra-violent episode is special is that it underscores her love for water Pokemon. Everybody knows she specializes in them, but in this episode you see how intense this love is. It's borderline obsession, not that it's a bad thing. It's good to have passion. Passion is what allows somebody to stand up for their beliefs even in the midst of temptations, opposition, or even danger. As we see in several instances, Misty can be as materialistic as anybody else. However, when Nastina was luring Ash and Brock to her side with such worldly goods as $1 million and free access to a luxury buffet, Misty strongly held to her passion and stood on the side of reason by rejecting her. It's true that this passion could have blinded her to the danger at hand, but it is also her firm belief in water Pokemon that allowed her to risk her life to negotiate with Tentacruel. Isn't it nice to know that Tentacruel rejected the plea of all other Pokemon, but was quick to accept Misty's apology, even if it isn't the most stirring thing in the dub?
4. Pokemon Shipwreck
Misty comes out strong in this Pokemon tribute to The Poseidon Adventure. When all hope seemed to have been lost, it is Misty's strong leadership that saved the lives of all on board. Her leadership skills are visible throughout the entire episode. When the confrontation with Team Rocket appeared to not only break the unity within the group but also threatened to plunge the ship into the unknown abyss below, Misty's willingness to get her priorities straight and her ability to reason with others had helped the casualty list for the St. Anne disaster remain at zero. It's true that Team Rocket didn't do anything to help in the escape and probably even endangered their lives in the end, but Misty's compassion for her fellow man shines through in this episode. Her knowledge of the layout of the cruise ship was also instrumental in the group finding their way out of the ship. One thing that had bothered me was that the big bad Dragon Rage in this episode turned out to be such a puny attack in the game, but that isn't Misty's fault. In fact, Misty's knowledge of the phenomenon probably gave the group enough time to prepare for the waterspout, and probably saved their lives once again. Isn't it nice to know that every main character owes their life to Misty?
3. Princess vs. Princess
Princess vs. Princess is one episode that has "Misty episode" written all over it. She is, for once, one of the main focuses of the episode instead of being the bringer of sage advice or the voice of reason. However, unlike The Water Flowers of Cerulean City, which was also Misty-themed, you get to see the entire spectrum of Misty's personality in this episode: her beauty, her brains, and even her brawn. With only 64 spots open in the contest and possibly thousands of entrants, there has to be a lot of screening going on. And what do you know; Misty actually made it into the round of 64 despite being about 5-10 years younger than the other contestants. The screeners must have seen the beauty in Misty, and so we get the famous shot of her in the kimono with the mysterious hair extension. (The growth makes sense, considering the amount of time between The Ghost of Maiden's Peak and Princess vs. Princess, but the mystery is how she keeps her normal hair style the same.) The entire second half of the episode is about how Misty was able to command a diverse team of Pokemon and pull off six consecutive victories to win the tournament. It's true that her opponents are probably not the best Pokemon trainers in the world, as even Jessie was able to win five straight, but that doesn't diminish her skills as a Pokemon trainer. Not once in the montage do we see her use a water Pokemon, which means Misty probably had to deal with Pokemon outside of her specialty. Winning the tournament is also a plus. If you don't believe me about the brawn, just take a look at the shopping scenes, or how she gave Ash the beatdown after his disparaging comment. We can probably discuss her flaws in the episode, such as her materialism, her spite for her sisters, or how her contempt for Psyduck caused her to forget about its psychic powers...but all those pale in comparison with her strengths.
2. The Battling Eevee Brothers
Well, in the last entry I mentioned how Misty is often the bringer of sage advice, and there is no better example of this than in The Battling Eevee Brothers. Yes, the episode is about family tensions and miscommunication, but Misty's advice was crucial to the resolution of these tensions. A counselor may not be Misty's top career choice, but if she ever had the urge to get into psychology, she'd be terrific. It's apparent that her goal was to bring up Mikey's spirits and help relieve the mounting animosity between brothers. Her method to handling the situation was top-notch, except for maybe her strategy in punishing Psyduck (and right in front of her "patient", no less), but who really cares about Psyduck? She was able to ascertain the problem through naturalistic observation. She was able to quickly gain the trust of Mikey by appearing as a friend instead of a counselor. She confirmed her hypothesis with him before allowing him to tell his side of the story. She was quick to offer her approval at his viewpoints, but was not afraid to point out his flaws. Even so, she did it in a way that was not condescending, allowing him to quickly understand what he needed to do to resolve the situation. She remained behind him the entire time to offer her support. This is Carl Rogers's patient-based humanistic psychology at its best, and she did it not for any personal profit, but because of her honest concern for the well-being of others. Throughout the entire episode, Misty is like a graceful goddess hanging over the party and working out the strings to deliver a happy ending. Well, her vicious attacks of Ash and Psyduck weren't exactly graceful, but those two kind of asked for it. And as for Horsea, let's just say that such a smart Pokemon is fitting for a smart Pokemon trainer.
1. The Misty Mermaid
Ah, this is quite possibly the perfect Misty episode. First of all, the dub version has Misty in the title, which is always a good omen. Then again, so did Misty Meets Her Match in the Orange Islands, but that isn't half the Misty episode that this is. The Misty Mermaid is Misty's shining moment, a flawless portrayal of our favorite redhead at her stunning best. Her role as the magical mermaid helped earn her strong accolades from the fans present at the show, possibly win her a devoted set of fans in Cerulean City, rescue her sisters from their troubled financial situations, patch up her relationship with her domineering sisters, and even tugging at the heartstrings of Brock if only temporarily. It also factored in a couple of Pokemon Housou spinoffs, but that's beyond the scope of this thread. (Let's just say that Cerulean Blues would rank pretty high on this list if it was actually eligible.) Her special skills as a water Pokemon trainer also comes to life in this episode. Misty's travels with Ash are parasitic at best, as she spends most of her time in the background, thereby preventing her from training to the fullest. But with a proper set of water Pokemon, she is able to direct a battalion of them to victory over Arbok. And under Misty's leadership, Seel was able to fulfill its full potential. And she does all this with a sense of modesty, for when Ash complimented her for her skills in handling Seaking, her reaction is "Thank my sisters. They're the one who trained it." It's true, but do they know how to use it? Her ability to learn the part of the mermaid in only half a day is also a testament to her intelligence. It's just too bad that people trying to catch later performance wouldn't get the exact same effect even if the future performances included epic Pokemon battles.
One last thing that makes this episode so special for Misty is her ability to overcome her self-doubt to come to such achievements. One thing that we had learned about Misty is that her childhood was full of belittling experiences, being the baby sister of pompous divas. She probably developed a layer of self-confidence to hide her fear and her uncertainty about her self-worth. However, this internal layer is how she was able to aid Melvin and Mikey in their respective episodes. Now that I think about it, Misty's family situation is probably very similar to Mikey's. Mikey was the baby in his family, being pressured to a commitment that goes against what he wants for himself. Lacking a sense of confidence in his own beliefs, he chose to run away from everything by hiding Eevee, and only Misty was able to guide him back to the right way. In The Misty Mermaid, Misty had been pressured by her three older sisters to a commitment that goes against what she wants for herself. Misty had often dreamed of being a big star, but now that she is actually faced with being one, her sense of self-doubt had bubbled up to the surface. But having counseled Melvin and Mikey to resolve their only feelings of worthlessness, Misty has the courage to confront these feelings and went out to deliver the best performance that she can give. Her self-confidence had beat out her self-doubt, and everything turned out to be just fine. In the end, Misty's sisters still managed to convince her to give up her Horsea and her Starmie, but she probably did it out of love for her sisters and her Pokemon. Beauty, brains, courage, and compassion: these are Misty's major virtues, and they are all present in this episode.
Yeah. These are my top ten Misty episodes in the Kanto series. Since I've only seen the first 100 episodes of Pokemon, I'm missing out on a lot of other great Misty episodes, but I think this is a good list to begin with, since many people seem to agree that the Kanto episodes are the best ones anyways. You may or may not agree with ordering of the episodes, or feel that there may be some omissions even among the early episodes, but at any rate, you'd have to agree that these episodes show Misty in a positive light, and even her flaws just help to make her so much more human to us. This is the Misty that we know and love.
[url=http://www.dragonflycave.com 
[/url]