It is safe to say that Pokemon Journeys revolves around the World Coronation Series, and after over 100 episodes, the deciding matches have finally arrived. The quarterfinal battles captivate the audience and the excitement builds upon the realization of who has advanced to the semi-final rounds, but alas, more patience is required because it's now Chloe's turn to shine.
Right in the middle of the Masters Eight Tournament, episodes 119 and 120 will feature a non-contender in the major event, but it may all be worth it, as fans might finally witness the highly anticipated Eeveelution in "[Chloe] and Eevee, the miracle of evolution!" and "[Chloe] and Eevee, the possibilities are endless!"
The Highly Anticipated Eeveelution
Chloe has officially fulfilled her mission of introducing Eevee to each of its eight evolutions while the pair traveled with Ash and Goh across the regions. The goal is for Eevee to get first-hand experience with these Pokemon and make an informed decision about what she wishes to evolve into. Each event left a distinct impression on the Pokemon, possibly influencing this life-changing decision, but which encounter was the most successful?
Sylveon's style seems to match Chloe's energy the best, and, if she dreams of pursuing a career in the performing arts then choosing one of the most beautiful Pokemon in the world is a smart choice. Flareon and Jolten also left quite an impression on Eevee, and have also proven themselves to be skilled entertainers, which could be advantageous. Umbreon and Espeon may be awesome, but having "two Chloe's" (ie: Soleil, the doppelganger) with the same Eevelutions would be kind of pointless. Eevee accessed its Razor Leaf capabilities and artistic side after meeting Leafeon, and developed a possible interest in perfumes, but this path does not seem like the right fit. There is arguable too much high-school drama when the pair met Glaceon for that event to hold much significance, however, her icy skillset could create some beautiful results.
Chloe met Eevee at the Vermilion City Eevee Evolution Lab and was told that this particular Pokemon had not evolved after being offered all 8 stones and therefore potentially has significantly "unstable DNA". Could this be a hint of miraculous things to come? Especially when this statement is placed alongside the episode titles including the terms "the miracle of evolution!" and "the possibilities are endless!" Eevee has become infamous for surprising fans with a brand new evolutionary type, but it has been almost a decade since such an event has occurred (with Syleon in Pokemon X & Y.) What better time to create some additional showmanship at the already trendy Masters Eight Tournament than by gifting viewers with a spectacular new Eeveelution?
The (In)Significance of Chloe
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Considering the influential impact that some of Ash's other female companions have left on audiences, such as Misty, Iris, and Serena, Pokemon Journeys fails in comparison with its female representation. Chloe has the potential for much more, as the daughter of Professor Cerise with a troubled past with Pokemon, and a childhood connection with Goh to boot; all the possibilities for a profound and colorful character. Chloe, however, is anything but that, and her side-quest often fades into the background.
Not only did Chloe resent Pokemon for stealing all her father's attention, but she also had some traumatic experiences in the past that left her terrified of the creatures. Finally managing to overcome these fears, Chloe befriends an Eevee and spends all her energy exploring the evolutionary options. Her integration into the Pokemon world has been rather tense and forced, not to mention the storyline is all too similar to Lillie's case in the Alola region.
Chloe shows no hints of wanting to pursue a career as a Pokemon trainer and, much like Misty, seems to spend much of her time reprimanding the boys for their poor decisions. She only joins Ash and Goh on their travels intermittently, and when she does, the affair is usually more about Eevee's progress than Chloe's. There are a few episodes of Pokemon Journeys that are predominantly dedicated to Chloe and Eevee but, overall, if Chloe were to disappear, the storyline would barely feel it.
Some fans are dissatisfied with the way Chloe's character has been handled, not necessarily due to their love for the girl; this is all about paying Eevee the respect it deserves. Pikachu may be the official face of Pokemon, but Eevee is arguable the runner-up in the mascot division and has a lot of pull in the popularity department. Even if the writers were not sure about what to do with Chloe, they should have given Eevee more justice than being the star of the filler episodes.
Girls, Interrupted
Taking a break from the Masters Eight Semi-Finals just to see what Chloe and Eevee are up to seems like a strange decision, and fans are questioning this interruption and its relevance to the major event. One theory suggests that Chloe plans to own the infamous stage with a memorable Pokemon Performance. The girls have shown a great deal of interest in the performing arts so far, and what better time to test out their skills than in front of thousands of people?
When analyzing where Chloe has devoted most of her attention during her travels, emphasizing the beauty of Pokemon seems to captivate her the most. Following this trend, the most seamless transition for Chloe is into the Pokemon Performance sector, and the fact that the focus is suddenly shifted to Eevee and her trainer right in the middle of the Masters Eight Tournament could indicate that the pair are set to dazzle the World Coronation Stage with a performance of their own.
Chloe has shown minimal interest in becoming a Pokemon trainer, but maybe the spectacular battles at the World Coronation Series will inspire her to follow in Ash and Goh's footsteps. Considering how late she will be coming to the game, however, this choice seems unlikely as Chloe has only ever used her Eevee for battle when absolutely necessary. She also does not seem particularly concerned with catching many more to create a fighting team, but this is Pokemon, and as the title states, "the possibilities are endless!"