>>53500588-The next moment is also well done, setting up the final confrontation (this was just part 1 of the fight). The Hunter fucks off, knowing that Latios will want to chase after him, he tries and fails due to his injuries. Ash sends out Swellow to follow him and attends to Latios. This is the turning point, where at first Pikachu pleads with Latios to trust them, and then Ash reinforces the idea, they both genuinely want to save Latias. Latios' pain from using the potion is meant to show his resolve, making us feel the struggle he's willing to endure for Latias' sake.
-Cutting to outside, Ash rushes on Latios to save Latias, while Brock and Misty follow behind on Steelix (Brock really pulling his weight this episode for real). Misty's "Hayai" (so fast) coupled with her expression reads to me as more concern for Ash than being impressed at Latios. This is the *only* Pokeshipping hint of the episode at all.
-Swellow is basically used as a means to take Brock and Misty out of the picture again, but him being petrified does a good job of making it personal. Steelix is later also petrified to compound the same effect.
-Animation error again with Misty's mouth when she congratulates Steelix.
-Now alone, the hunter takes Ash/Pikachu/Latios into a biome that is particularly difficult for it to fly in, raising tension.
-My least favorite moment of the episode... Brock seems to know that destroying the Hunter's gauntlet will unpetrified all the Pokemon out of nowhere. This is a complete asspull and to my knowledge has no basis in Hunter J's gauntlet or anything. It deflates the tension of the moment and cheapens the final battle... but so it goes.
-Ash gives Latios his plan, and it directly involves trusting Ash with the wellbeing of Latias, which he does (growth!). Ash gets to be a shonen hero again by catching the petrified Latias, and then Pikachu's iron tail destroys the mechanism. Another cool moment for sure.