Pokemon - Friends and Rivals (Vol. 26) [VHS]
The virtues of friendship, like loyalty and trustworthiness, are put to  the test in this trio of Pokemon adventures starring Ash and his new confidant, Richie. In the first episode, "A Friend in Deed," the menacing Team Rocket pulls off  "the biggest poke-haul of all," kidnapping the trainers' pokeballs in order to rig the Pokemon League in their favor. Pokemaniacs Ash and Richie join forces to thwart the deceptive scheme. In the end, however, a twist of fate pits friend against friend when Ash learns that his next Pokemon match will turn Richie into his opponent. This cliffhanger continues in the second episode, "Friend and Foe Alike," when Ash wonders if his friendship with Richie can survive their upcoming match. A funny thing happens on the way to the stadium though, as Team Rocket's shenanigans continue. Winning and losing gracefully is the theme of the final episode, "Friends to the End," when Ash and Richie discuss the lessons they have learned from defeat. But wait, a calamitous crater dug by Team Rocket traps the friends, giving them a chance for a final dual, this time as cohorts. In the end, viewers realize that the Team Rocket duo, in their attempts to win at any cost, are the real losers of these tales. While there are some worthy moral messages sprinkled throughoutFriends and Rivals, be warned that they come mostly by way of violent showdowns between pocket monsters. Parents concerned about imitative behavior should remain cautious.--Lynn Gibson