TLDR;
This Silph Radio episode discusses the third Pokémon movie, "Spell of the Unown," and goes into detail about its production, the themes it explores, and its impact on the hosts. They also discuss recent Pokémon games, a Pokémon dream, and the United Podcasters Pokémon League tournament.
- The episode explores the history and themes of "Pokémon 3: The Movie," including its original concept involving a rampaging T-Rex fossil.
- The hosts share personal anecdotes and discuss the movie's animation, music, and character development.
- They touch on the challenges of adapting Japanese anime for Western audiences and the complexities of the Pokémon canon.
- The episode also covers the hosts' experiences with the "Pokémon: Let's Go" games and their participation in a Pokémon tournament.
Intro [0:00]
The hosts of Silph Radio introduce a special episode dedicated to the third Pokémon movie, "Spell of the Unown." Brianna's audio was lost during the initial recording, leading to a salvage effort by Nathan. They express hope that listeners will still enjoy the episode despite the audio issues. They also discuss the possibility of doing a "rifftrax" style commentary for a Pokémon movie in the future.
Copyright Issues and Fan Art [4:10]
The hosts discuss a copyright issue they faced on YouTube with their episode about banned Pokémon episodes. The episode was taken down due to copyright infringement related to fan art and screen captures used in the video. They express frustration with the situation and share their efforts to resolve the issue with the Japanese animation production company. They also apologize for using fan art without proper credit and pledge to rectify the situation.
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee [7:16]
The hosts share their experiences with the "Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!" and "Let's Go, Eevee!" games. They praise the game's features, such as seeing Pokémon spawn in the wild and riding on the backs of Pokémon. One host expresses disappointment with "Super Mario Odyssey," as it didn't meet their expectations of an open-world Mario game.
United Podcasters Pokémon League (UPPL) [10:57]
Nathan announces his participation in the inaugural United Podcasters Pokémon League (UPPL) tournament, representing the Pewter City Fossils. He explains the format of the tournament, which involves 12 different podcasts and a draft system where each coach picks 12 Pokémon. Nathan admits he is not strategically minded and plans to pick Pokémon he likes, even if it means losing.
Brianna's Pokémon Dream [14:12]
Brianna recounts a Pokémon dream she had while playing "Let's Go, Eevee!" In the dream, she was playing the game in first person and jumped off a cliff, diving into the water below. She describes the realistic swimming and the presence of Pokémon in the water. The hosts discuss what Pokémon type they would be, with Brianna choosing water fairy.
Intro to Pokemon 3 Movie [18:36]
The hosts introduce the main topic: "Pokémon 3: The Movie," also known as "Spell of the Unown." They poke fun at the convoluted naming conventions of Pokémon movies. Craig reveals that this movie is his personal favorite due to the relationship between Molly and her father, which resonated with his own experiences.
Production History and Original Concept [24:38]
The hosts discuss the movie's production history, noting that it was the only Pokémon movie to date with more than one screenwriter. They that Takeshi Shudo, the writer of the first two movies, was responsible for the creation of Lugia. The original concept for the movie involved a T-Rex fossil coming to life and rampaging, but it was rejected due to concerns about financial success.
Rampaging T-Rex and Alternate Dimensions [31:28]
The hosts discuss the rejected concept of a T-Rex fossil coming to life and rampaging through the Pokémon world. They debate whether it would be a good idea to explore the existence of animals in the Pokémon universe. Brianna suggests the possibility of another dimension or reality where animals exist.
The Chosen Legendary Pokemon [40:18]
The hosts discuss the legendary Pokémon featured in the movie: Entei and the Unown. They clarify that the Unown are not considered legendary Pokémon, despite being referred to as such in the movie. They describe the Unown as hieroglyphic Pokémon representing letters of the alphabet.
The Movie Plot [43:09]
The hosts describe the beginning of the movie, where Molly and her father, Spencer Hale, are reading a book about legendary Pokémon. Spencer is researching the Unown and looking for Entei. The hosts discuss the absence of Molly's mother and the different interpretations of her fate in the Eastern and Western versions of the movie.
Spencer's Disappearance and Molly's Dreams [51:50]
Spencer leaves to investigate a disturbance at a temple related to the Unown. He discovers a box with Unown tiles, which triggers a portal to Unown space. Spencer is sucked into the vortex, and Molly senses that something is wrong. Molly uses the Unown tiles to spell out "papa" and "mama," and the Unown respond by transforming her world into a crystal landscape.
Entei Appears and Molly's New World [1:01:19]
Entei appears and becomes Molly's father figure, fulfilling her wish for a parent. The hosts discuss the changes made to Molly's character in the English version of the movie. Ash, Misty, and Brock arrive in Greenfield and discover the crystal landscape.
Ash Encounters Lisa and Team Rocket [1:02:17]
Ash, Misty, and Brock meet Lisa, who joins them on their journey. The hosts discuss the purpose of Lisa's character and the marketing of the PokéGear. Team Rocket appears and provides comic relief, but their role in the movie is limited.
Molly's Wish for a Mother [1:13:37]
Molly expresses her wish for a mother, and Entei kidnaps Ash's mom, Delia, to fulfill her desire. The hosts discuss the relationship between Delia and Professor Oak. Entei transforms Delia into Molly's mother, and the crystal landscape continues to expand.
The Team Enters the Crystal Tower [1:19:14]
Professor Oak and Spencer's partner, Schuyler, theorize about the relationship between Entei and the Unown. Team Rocket follows Ash, Misty, and Brock into the crystal mansion. The hosts discuss Team Rocket's comedic lines and their limited role in the movie.
Molly's Email and the Water Slide [1:23:36]
Molly sends an email to Professor Oak, claiming that her mother and father are with her and that they should be left alone. The hosts discuss Molly's computer skills and the foreshadowing about the water. Ash, Misty, and Brock enter the mansion by melting the crystal with fire and using running water to keep the hole open, creating a water slide.
Molly's Battle and Ash's Accusation [1:26:13]
Molly challenges Ash to a Pokémon battle, and Brock steps in to stall while Ash and Misty look for Delia. The hosts discuss Brock's limited Pokémon and his inappropriate behavior towards Molly. Ash accuses Entei of being an illusion, which Entei vehemently denies.
Charizard's Return and Team Rocket's Help [1:38:07]
Charizard returns and saves Ash from Entei's attack. Team Rocket helps save Ash, and they make a meta-franchise joke. The hosts discuss the significance of Charizard's return and the bond between Ash and Charizard.
The Climax and Resolution [1:42:51]
Molly stops the fighting, and Entei decides to help them escape. The Unown become erratic due to too much psychic energy. Pikachu, Charizard, and Entei fire their attacks at the Unown, breaking through the barrier and saving the day. Entei leaves, and Molly decides to go with Ash and Delia.
The Ending and Credits [1:45:14]
Spencer returns and is reunited with Molly. The hosts discuss the changes made to the ending in the English version of the movie. They also mention the post-credits scene, where Delia and Professor Oak are implied to be engaging in role-playing.
Final Thoughts and Opinions [1:47:49]
The hosts share their final thoughts and opinions on the movie. Brianna expresses her love for the movie and its inspiration for her own story writing. Craig acknowledges the movie's quality as a Pokémon movie but expresses reservations about its overall quality. They discuss the negative reviews of the movie and the critics' tendency to complain about the fans rather than reviewing the movie on its own merits.
Podcast Wrap-up [1:59:26]
The hosts thank each other for the discussion and promote their other projects. They encourage listeners to send in their Pokémon teams and stories. They provide links to their Facebook page, Twitter account, and subreddit. They also mention their website and Pretty Kitty Fuzzy from the Secret Room. The hosts sign off and announce that they will be back with a new episode of Silph Radio soon.
Brianna's Job at Disney [2:01:51]
Brianna shares anecdotes about her job as a photographer at Disney World. She describes the challenges of dealing with difficult parents and children. She recounts stories of parents giving their children unusual names.