I liked it~ Barry had some funny moments, and it looks like some of his characteristics are starting to rub off of Ash. XD Riley's voice was perfect, and Mars appearing alone this time was a surprise.

The first part of the Iron Island Two-parter and so far we have a mystery situation solved but not yet resolved. However we finally meet Riley and his Lucario of course. Now, I'm just gonna say it here to not get anyone's hopes up and to point out why I'm not putting it into my reviews: No, Riley will (unfortunetly) not be giving Ash a Riolu Egg (sad to say). With that out of the way, here's the said review:

Steeling Your Senses:
* Oh, this is a surprise, we're starting the episode off with Barry training. Looks like that training he did is really paying...
* What's wrong with Empoleon, it's all static-y... Glowing blue eyes usually aren't a good thing... GAH! It Hydro Cannoned Barry and Heracross!
* Hmm, Ash and co. are planning on going to Chocovine Town, how will they get intangled into what's going on on Iron Island?
* Guess we don't need to worry about that now, we just found out that Chocovine Town is below Snowpoint City.
* Phone call for Ash? I wonder if it's... yay, Barry. Seems calm even though his Empoleon turned on him... enough so to act like Ash is "worthy" to be a rival even though Ash wiped the floor with him.
* Oh, I guess Barry was able to subdue Empoleon enough to take it to the Pokemon Center. And the Iron Island Pokemon looked to have revolted! At least the Steel-types like Empoleon is half of.
* And here is when Ash and co. get involved... Barry, Ash and co. are experienced in this kind of stuff, so it's not that you can't solve it but Ash and co. can solve it faster, probably.
* Looks like Ash and co. are missing the express boat to Chocovine Town, but how exactly is a boat suppose to get there without travelling around Sinnoh? Oh look, Magikarp Sub!
* Sounds like Team Rocket did a bit of homework (then again they always seemed to know where Ash and co. have been heading). Though today they'll be going a bit off course.

Steeling Your Target:
* Calm down Ash, your running like Barry does (which Dawn pointed out). Which is kind of funny, as this time Ash is in a hurry but Barry is the one waiting around.
* Nevermind that "Barry waiting around part", Barry already hsot off to probably solve the mystery himself. But before Ash and co. go chase after him, Croagunk, please subdue Brock from flirting with Nurse Joy. Thank you and let's go.
* Oh, so Barry left his Empoleon in the Pokemon Center, along with other aching Steel-types. Luckily Ash and co. don't have any Steel-types (unless Pilpup evolves two times all of a sudden).
* Poor little Diglett, even hiding underground won't help them escape being attacked by a Steel-type, though it looks like Lairon switched its view on bashing rocks.
* Um, I just saw two Skarmory flying in the background. Though looks like Ash is going to try and knock it out of its misery (luckily Electric-types resist Steel-types).
* Uh oh, Lairon is in so much pain that being attacked doesn't do much, except possibly make it angrier. But Ash, I don't think stepping right in front of it is a good idea... thank you Pikachu.
* Great, now they have a Metang and those Skarmory I saw before to deal with! In addition there in a middle of a Geodude and Graveler panic. But of course, we can't leave the most famous Steel-type out, Steelix.
* Man, this is like Super Smash Bros. but Steel-type Pokemon styIe. You (Steelix) plan on taking out one opponent (Ash) but are taken out by another (Aggron)! Huh? What just saved Ash (this time)?
* GASP... It's Riley! But of course let's take care of Aggron first with none other then Lucario. Luckily Fighting-type moves like Close Combat is super-effective against Steel-types... hold it, why isn't Lucario acting crazy, it's a Fighting/Steel-type?

Steeling Your Spotlight:
* Oh yay, Aura, like we haven't had enough of that already? So, being Riley is based off Sir Aaron, let's take bets to see if he knows how to use Aura.
* Okay, now that everyone can take a breather, everyone can be properly be introduced. Ah, so Lucario is using its Aura from going insane, should of figured.
* No sign of Barry yet... at least for Ash and co. (+ Riley). But for us, we get to see him get chased off a cliff by a batch of Magnemite (Lucky he has Heracross to catch him) (Bet Magnemite wished they weren't retconned to be Steel-types right about now).
* Hm, looks like someone is mining, or at least were if we follow the game's story. Eek, there is that Skarmory again... and here is Team Rocket again as well (right about time we ought to be "dropping" in on them ).
* Wow, for all the quirks Barry has to him at least he's smart enough to know that you can attack Team Rocket while they are doing their motto.
* Oh, so that's what happening, a low frequency only Steel-types are sensitive too is causing them to go crazy and fell no pain.
* Sorry Riley, you're not getting rid of Ash and co. that easily, besides with Barry confronting Team Rocket there is bound to be some trouble they'll (Team Rocket) cause, intentional or not.
* It won't be easy? Ash and Pikachu just tried (but failed) to take down a Lairon, now suddenly they are having a problem in deciding to do just that?

Getting Tired Of All This Steeling:
* Oh Barry, you can't fine Team Rocket, not because it doesn't make sense which it doesn't, but because Team Rocket never have any money as they spend it on mechs which get destroyed soon after.
* Hey, that's the "key" Team Galactic had... and there is Team Galactic with Mars and her Purugly keeping watch! Hm, wonder what they are trying to do (in the games you and Riley stopped two of their grunts on Iron Island).
* Looks like Team Galactic have prepared a batch of Pokemon to take care of any invading Steel-types, but can't say the same for Team Rocket and Barry against a Steelix.
* Ouch, Heracross is down and out, but looks like Barry and Team Rocket are getting ready to face Team Galactic. Ash and co. (+ Riley) better get there before they get overwhelmed by Golbats.
* Well so much for putting up a fight, though at least they escaped Team Galactic (for now). Oh, a mural of Dialga and Palkia, so I guess this is sorta why Team Galactic is here I guess.
* Why is Barry returning Staraptor? Sure it's hurt but they are stuck in a hole and Mars just walked off, they could have Staraptor fly them out and sneak away!
* Oh, now statues of Dialga and Palkia (along with some black obelisks). That's very interesting but what's the point in all this? Hey, there is writing on one, so, what does ti say?
* Oh good, Ash and co. (+ Riley) are just on time to hear why Team Galactic is here. Oh, wait, first we find out that it wasn't Team Galactic causing the low frequency but rather a strange metal ruin they dug up.
* That slot is in a pretty familiar shape... at least we know why they kept referring it as the key now. Hey, the Dialga and Palkia statues and mural are glowing. Don't tell me Dialga and Palkia are going to...
* What exactly is that beam firing off into space suppose to do? Oh, it hit the top of a mountain (Mt. Coronet?). However Ash and co. (+ Riley) have something else to worry about as Lucario's Aura Shield just broke...
* And so end part 1 with an explosive beam firing into a mountain and Lucario going crazy. I don't know about you, but sounds like they'll be starting off easy at the start of the 2nd part.

i liked this episode alot but a couple of things bothered me...

how is it that barrys pokemon were defeated so easily?

i dont know if that attack golbat used was sludge bomb or mud slap but whatever it was, it shouldnt have had any effect on those skarmory whatsoever. i didnt think about it back then but i just realized these are steel type birds if anything they should have the advantage