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The insatiable quest to catch 'em all winds its way down to the coast--Seafoam Island, in specific--on Hang Ten, Pikachu. In "The Evolution Solution," the first of this video's three episodes, Ash takes a breather from Pokémon League training to tackle a mystery that only the island-based Professor Westwood V, creator of the Pokédex, can solve: Why does the dopey Shelder latch onto the equally dopey Slowpoke's tail, creating the Slowbro? Episode 2, "The Pi-Kahuna," pits Ash plus Pikachu and Puka, a curve-shooting, tube-riding new friend's fellow pet Pikachu, against Humunga Dunga, a gigantic rogue wave that hits the island every 20 years, and "Make Room for Gloom," the third episode, tracks the troop of Ash, Brock, and Misty back in town, where they bolster the dragging spirits of a diffident greenhouse operator on the brink of bankruptcy and, in the process, help blast off the terrible Team Rocket again. The first two segments' altered scenery--the shore setting--effectively shuttles fans off on a good-time Pokémon getaway; it's the equivalent of vicariously vacationing in Hawaii with the Bradys for parents. As usual, the dialogue escapes flatness--each character is exceptionally well drawn, and most are believable--and never condescends. Also, all three stories chug along at a pace that sits right with the skimpy attention-spanned. This video is only the latest in a miles-long testament to why this craze-generating series continues to keep kids watching--every "to be continued" closer seems to guarantee that more quick-witted, adventure-crammed cartoons are on the way. --Tammy La Gorce
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