Summary
After 13 episodes, Roy finally snags his inaugural untamed Pokémon, a Wattrel, upholding the time-honored tradition of capturing early bird Pokémon.In Pokémon Horizons, the emphasis on the narrative has curtailed chances for fresh acquisitions. However, Roy's successful catch heralds the commencement of an array of thrilling skirmishes.
Like Ash, Roy has showcased his prowess as a trainer by effectively utilizing his starter Pokémon, indicating his preparedness to venture into capturing additional Pokémon. Hopefully, Liko will soon follow suit and successfully capture her initial wild Pokémon.
The Pokémon Horizons animated series has adopted a deliberate approach in establishing team dynamics for its central protagonists. However, the long-awaited moment has arrived, wherein one of them is poised to make their inaugural capture of a wild Pokémon. This new acquisition proves timely, as it appears that the airship crew is on the verge of encountering a daunting new battle.
Roy's First Catch Follows a Grand Pokémon Tradition
Throughout the first 13 episodes, Liko and Roy were only able to rely on their respective starter Pokémon, Liko with Sprigatito and Roy with Fuecoco. This is a significantly longer period than Ash, who had already captured Caterpie by the second episode and Pidgeotto by the third. By the time Episode 13 rolled around, Ash already had a complete team of six Pokémon. Granted, the new protagonists of Pokémon Horizons have faced challenges in catching wild Pokémon compared to Ash, as they have been traveling by airship and constantly under attack, while Ash simply journeyed on foot through different Pokémon habitats. However, in the last episode, Roy became intrigued by a wild Wattrel, and Episode 14 showcased their growing bond.
Noticing that the particular Wattrel, which had previously stolen food from both Roy and Fuecoco, was incapable of flying, Roy couldn't shake off the thought. Determined, he returned the following day equipped with a specialized fishing rod rig intended to aid Wattrel in learning to fly without the fear of plummeting to the ground. Although facing a few initial setbacks, Roy's training proved to be successful as Wattrel soared effortlessly to the summit of the adjacent lookout tower, where fellow Wattrel eagerly awaited. Satisfied with his accomplishment, Roy prepared to depart, but Wattrel, desiring to accompany him, persisted and sought his attention. Murdock handed Roy a Poké Ball, and with his remarkable precision, Roy effortlessly captured Wattrel in midair.
Roy's capture of Wattrel, the common bird Pokémon of Paldea, follows a long-standing tradition of early bird Pokémon captures. In previous journeys, Ash has caught Pidgeotto and Fletchling as his second Pokémon, while Taillow, Starly, and Pidove were his first catches in new regions. Although Roy may be slightly slower than Ash, he is on the right track in terms of Pokémon capturing. Similar to Ash, Roy's exceptional skills as a trainer have already been demonstrated with his starter Pokémon, placing him in a favorable position to catch additional Pokémon. With any luck, this is just the beginning, and fans may soon witness Liko's first encounter with a wild Pokémon as well.
The plot-driven focus of Pokémon Horizons has left limited room for new captures, which is perhaps one of the few drawbacks of the series so far. Nevertheless, the series has managed to find a way for Roy to make his first capture, and even made it the central point of the episode, harking back to the days of Ash. As Liko and Roy increasingly venture into capturing wild Pokémon, Pokémon Horizons is sure to become even more captivating. Wattrel may very well play a significant role in the upcoming battles.
