When an Iris Blooms: Episode 669 - "The Bloom Is on Axew!"

I've previously discussed an episode with Cilan, and now I want to discuss an episode with Iris, as the other companion of Ash in the BW series. She herself is an enigmatic character, especially in the early portion of the Unova saga. This episode from that period is a portrayal of that. Its title might refer to one of her Pokémon, but it's so much more than that.

Dragon Rage Sneeze?

The reason the episode is titled as such is because a key event of the episode is a problem that Axew faced early on, which was the failure of its Dragon Rage. As Ash and Cilan put it lightly over the course of the episode, it looked more like a "Dragon Sneeze" than a "Dragon Rage". This failure led Iris to feel down, which then led to a discussion with Ash and Cilan, including a reminiscence of how she received Axew.

A discussion and a reminiscence.

Of course, it wouldn't be an episode without some sort of chaos, and one occurred that involved Pikachu, Axew, and one very angry Scolipede. This chaos became apparent to Ash, Cilan, and Iris in part because of the use of the "Dragon Sneeze" by Axew. While the efforts of Ash and Cilan aided in the resolution the conflict, it was the efforts of Iris herself that helped the most in putting away the conflict, though not indirectly, and not through the help of Axew; instead, it was another one of her Pokémon that did the deed.

Beware of Scolipede!

Through the conflict, Iris realizes that she has the power to do some things too, though it doesn't have to develop at the same pace as the others, and that this applies equally well for all of her Pokémon. It is perhaps much of this episode that prompted even further development in later episodes. Regardless, in the episode, Iris really did step up to the plate and bloom just like the flower of the same name.

Axew blooms, and Iris does too.