Episode Guide #065 - #072

The Evolution Solution
The Pi-Kahuna
Make Room For Gloom
Lights, Camera, Quack-tion
Go West Young Meowth
To Master the Onixpected!
The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis
Bad To The Bone

The Evolution Solution

Pokémon seen:  

Togepi, Pikachu, Mr Mime, Slowpoke, Psyduck, Krabby, Magikarp, Persian, 
Meowth, Shellder, Weezing, Slowbro

Story:  

While Ash has got to train at home, Misty and Brock tag along with Mrs Ketchum 
for a trip to Seafoam Island.  
Oak can’t work out the mystery of the Slowpoke and their evolution, and Ash 
hurries to the island to find Professor Westwood, the man who programmed the 
Pokédex.  
Westwood is also trying to solve the Slowpoke/Shellder mystery, Psyduck 
appears but the conversation between it and Slowpoke is so slow, it’s 
pointless.  
The Boss is relaxing on the beach, and has Jessie, James and Meowth go to 
Westwood’s to steal his Pokémon (after they manage to catch a Shellder on the 
beach).  
Slowpoke is all Westwood has, so Team Rocket unleash their Shellder to evolve 
it into something worth stealing.  
Psyduck tries to prevent this from happening, and beats Team Rocket once, but 
Shellder manages to bite Slowpoke’s tail and they evolve.  
Luckily, Slowbro has loyalty towards Westwood, and beats Team Rocket for a 
second time.  
Westwood’s theory is complete, Shellder clamps onto and evolves with Slowpoke 
because both gain from it:  Shellder is able to travel on land while the 
Slowpoke is able to stand and use its front paws more effectively because of 
the Shellder’s weight.  
Ash and the others prepare to head home, as Ash seriously needs to begin his 
training.  

My favourite Quote:  

Misty (referring to Psyduck and Slowpoke):  “I’ve heard of not knowing how to 
say goodbye, but this is ridiculous.”  

Things I’d like to point out:  

It seems like the Westwood family suffers from the same thing that the Jennys 
and Joys do:  Family resemblance.  

If Westwood didn’t know about Togepi until Misty showed him hers, then who 
programmed Ash’s latest Pokédex with Togepi’s information (little as there 
was)?  
Hopefully someone from Johto is responsible since Togepi is actually a Johto 
Pokémon and Westwood doesn’t appear to have access to one to take the snapshot 
we saw in “Who gets to keep Togepi?” if not useful information about it.  

Haze is not meant to be a damaging attack, it’s supposed to cure status 
changes (I may have twisted it to a different use in the fanfic, but the 
writers of the cartoon are way off).  
I swear that the writers use all of Koffing and Weezing’s gas-like attacks in 
exactly the same way no matter what move is used.  

I think Ash saying he made up the Psybro thing would have been worth saying if 
Misty was still calling it that.  
But I suppose plenty of problems arise when trying to translate a foreign 
cartoon.  

Isn’t it unfair that trained Shellder effectively sacrifice their 
individuality to evolve with Slowpoke from the trainer’s perspective? The 
person who owned the Slowpoke/Slowbro would most likely take the Pokémon as a 
whole for their own, leaving the Shellder’s trainer high and dry, I think only 
wild Shellder should be able to evolve in this way.  

The Amnesia theory is all wrong, and since no one in the cartoon even mentions 
it again then why go against the game theory?  
Brock claims that Amnesia makes opponents forget, in the game, the user gets a 
boost in special stats/defence (depending on which game you’re playing).  
On the other hand, in Pokémon Stadium, the visual appearance of an Amnesia 
move makes question marks appear above the user’s head, and then a blue 
cylinder appears around them, and their stats are boosted, which is what 
Slowbro might have been doing since we did see the question marks.  

Good theory from Westwood about Slowbro having the use of its arms, but it 
doesn’t learn Mega Punch naturally, it has to be taught (but yes, it can be 
taught to Slowbro, but not Slowpoke).  

Who’s That Pokémon?:  

Raichu

Cameos in Pokémon Journey:  

None, although Emily passed by the area and ended up encountering an Articuno 
in “Cold Heart”.  

The Pi-Kahuna

Pokémon seen:  

Pikachu, Togepi, Meowth, Gyarados, Bulbasaur

Story:  

Ash and the others are still at the Seafoam Islands, training hard, although 
Ash gets sidetracked by a surfing event, in which a huge tidal wave occurs 
once every twenty years, and everyone is trying to surf the wave in order to 
plant their flag at the top of a huge rock like the legendary Jan did.  
Ash has an accident, and is saved by a man called Victor and his Pikachu, 
Puka.  
Puka came to Victor 20 years ago mysteriously from the sea, it can feel waves 
and sense exactly how they’ll form, and Victor has dreams to accomplish what 
his hero Jan did.  
Team Rocket nabs Pikachu and Puka, but are hindered by wild Gyarados, and 
their sub is destroyed.  
Victor saves Puka with his surfboard, and then it happens, Puka senses Humunga 
Dunga’s return, and Victor and Puka ride it and place their flag next to 
Jan’s.  
Victor does as Jan did, and inspires more children that they might be able to 
do it someday.  

My favourite Quote:  

(Team Rocket are trapped in half their sub on a tall cliff surrounded by 
Gyarados)  
Meowth:  “All we have ta do is wait for the next Humunga Dunga.  How long 
could that be? What? A couple of days? A week, Tops.  Right...  Right?!...”  

Things I’d like to point out:  

The title is a pun on the term “The big kahuna”.  

Puka is obviously the Pokémon figure of the Surfing Pikachu, (a mini game in 
Pokémon Yellow, an event in Pokémon Snap and the rare occurrences of Pikachu 
learning Surf in Pokémon Stadium).  
Although it can’t generate a Water attack like in the games, Puka knows how to 
surf and is tuned in the ways of the water.  

The way Victor describes the photos leading to his past; it doesn’t quite look 
right because of the way characters of different ages are drawn.  
Victor must have been between 25 - 35 when he first challenged Humunga Dunga, 
but he looks much younger than that.  

Who’s That Pokémon?:  

Gloom

Cameos in Pokémon Journey:  

None, but the Surfing Pikachu is referred to in Chapter 42, when Bolt’s Raichu 
seemingly knows the technique, Scott and Abby’s ’Chu’s seemingly learn it too 
but don’t show it until the Pokémon League.  

Make Room For Gloom

Pokémon seen:  

Dodrio, Pikachu, Mr Mime, Togepi, Gloom, Bulbasaur, Meowth, Arbok, Weezing

Story:  

Back in the Ketchum household, and Ash beats a hasty exit to avoid chores.  
The group ends up at the Xanadu Nursery, full of many plants, and another girl 
that attracts Brock.  
The group enter with a man called Potter, and learn of the owner Florinda; the 
girl Brock saw.  
Bulbasaur is released to enjoy itself with all the plantlife, but it smells 
the wrong flowers and needs to be healed.  
Florinda tells of her problems with evolving her Gloom, she doesn’t have a lot 
of confidence in herself because it didn’t work.  
It turns out that Team Rocket conned Florinda and sold her a fake Leaf Stone, 
they discover the Stun Stem and prepare another scheme.  
The group confronts Team Rocket and traps them, but Meowth intervenes and 
stuns the group and the bad guys prepare to leave with Pikachu.  
Brock encourages Florinda to fight with her Gloom, and it overwhelms Team 
Rocket and defeats them.  
Florinda believes in herself, but reveals her feelings towards Potter, much to 
Brock’s regret.  

My favourite Quote:  

Brock (falling to the floor in disbelief):  “Rejected by the one girl I loved, 
I’ll never find another one like her again.”  
Ash:  “Don’t worry Brock, you’ll find plenty of other girls to reject you.”  

Things I’d like to point out:  

Gloom’s not being gloomy preventing evolution?  
That’s completely wrong, evolving a Gloom should have nothing to do with its 
mood (unless it’s one of the Pokémon that require happiness to evolve), as 
seen in Pokémon Journey, Tetsubo’s Gloom was really excitable before it 
evolved.  

Arbok uses Toxic in this battle, but in the game, Toxic isn’t a smog-like 
attack, more like spitting liquid that greatly poisons.  

Who’s That Pokémon?:  

Clefable

Cameos in Pokémon Journey:  

None, but Florinda and Potter are briefly mentioned by her cousin, Alora, 
before Rick’s Gym Battle with her in Juniper City.  

Lights, Camera, Quack-tion

Pokémon seen:  

Pikachu, Togepi, Jigglypuff, Raichu, Meowth, Wigglytuff, Doduo, Weezing, 
Arbok, Hitmonlee, Tauros, Vulpix, Psyduck, Fearow, Pidgeotto, Staryu, Chansey, 
Raticate, Poliwrath, Blastoise, Cloyster, Gyarados, Magnemite, Krabby

Story:  

Ash prepares to train, but gets sidetracked by a movie director looking for 
Pokémon to star in his movie.  
But Wigglytuff is so violent and touchy, she drives all the Pokémon away, 
except Psyduck, who isn’t smart enough to realise it, while Team Rocket’s 
Pokémon are rejected.  
Team Rocket reappears during the shooting of the movie, but are attacked by 
the Pokémon, and the movie crew, but they manage to trap all the Pokémon 
except Psyduck, who eventually uses its Psychic attacks to save the day.  

My favourite Quote:  

Brock:  “Mr Spielbunk, you’re my hero! You directed my absolute most favourite 
movie of all time:  ‘I Saw What You Ate Last Tuesday’.”  
Katrina (gasps):  “You made that? Wow! I about saw that one!”  

Things I’d like to point out:  

The title is an obvious pun of the movie phrase “Lights, Camera, Action”.  

If Raichu could shock Team Rocket even in their net, how would Pikachu have 
been any different?  

Katrina’s Raichu is apparently called Raichi, but she calls it Raichu more 
than its nickname.  
Raichi is also the name of Scott’s Raichu in Pokémon Journey, but he always 
calls it by its nickname.  

Clevon Spielbunk’s motto is similar to Team Rocket’s motto, but it doesn’t 
make a lot of sense why, unless one stole it from the other.  

Clevon Spielbunk’s name is blatantly a parody of the famous director Steven 
Spielberg, the movie he made (see “My favourite Quote”) is a parody of the 
horror film “I Know What You Did Last Summer”.  
As for “Pokémon in Love”, the original script that he goes through to the 
group is blatantly a rip-off of Romeo and Juliet, although that makes me or at 
least my fanfic’s character guilty of the same thing in Chapter 10 (but at 
least he admits to copying it and that he’s aware Spielbunk copied it from 
someone else).  

Clevon’s apparent Golden Growlithe award is clearly a Golden Arcanine, a 
similar mistake (but vice versa) occurs later with a Growlithe being called 
Arcanine, can’t the translators tell the difference?  

The song used for the Pokémon dance is on the soundtrack (“Pokémon Dance 
Mix”), but it mentions Team Rocket in the lyrics, are the bad guys that famous 
(and that prone to losing) that they’re getting a mention in the apparent 
music of the Pokémon World?  

Pikachu and Raichu kind of disrupt the storyline in which there’s Normal 
Pokémon on one side and Water-types on the other, because they’re on either 
side but both Electric-types.  

What’s with the Team Rocket contraption? It works like a magnet but the 
Pokémon aren’t made of metal, so what is keeping them stuck to the disc?  

Who’s That Pokémon?:  

Snorlax

Cameos in Pokémon Journey:  

None, but Spielbunk’s original idea is mentioned, virtually planned to be 
used, and then overwritten (like this episode) in Chapter 10.  

Go West Young Meowth

Pokémon seen:  

Pikachu, Togepi, Meowth, Persian, Arbok, Weezing

Story:  

Ash begins training again, but the group get an invitation to the premiere 
of ‘Pokémon in Love’.  
We learn about Meowth’s past who began his life alone and had a harsh life.  
He went to Hollywood, lived on the streets with a gang of fellow Meowth, and 
fell in love with a rich female Meowth, but was rejected.  
He thought that by learning how to walk and talk like a human, he’d impress 
Meowsie, and worked hard to achieve that, but he was rejected again as Meowsie 
now saw him as a freak.  
Meowth finds his old gang in the present time, and is shocked that Meowsie is 
one of them because the rich lady had to give her up.  
Meowth aims to get her out of the gang, but the Persian boss won’t let her 
leave, and Meowth challenges the leader to a battle and wins.  
But Meowsie runs to the Persian because he took her in when she had nothing 
and it wouldn’t be fair to leave (and she still thinks Meowth’s a freak).  
As it turns out, Ash, Misty, Brock and some of the Pokémon were cut out of 
Spielbunk’s movie.  

My favourite Quote:  

Jessie:  “We don’t need invitations, we’re the stars.  All we have to do is 
show up.”  
James:  “And all they have to do is throw us out!”  

Things I’d like to point out:  

The title is a pun of a 1912 movie “Go West, Young Man”, which is also a 
phrase.  

For once, this episode focuses more on Meowth than the good guys; this is the 
first of the stories which focus on Team Rocket with “Meowth Rules!” following 
in the Orange Islands.  

The whole going west thing seems wrong, doesn’t the Pokémon events and 
characters all take place in Japan (even though I doubt all these colour towns 
and dangerous Pokémon should exist in the real world) or at least a Japanese 
environment? Which means Meowth should either have been heading to Tokyo, or 
gone east if he was Hollywood bound.  

An obvious observation but when the group imagine themselves all dressed up, 
Mrs Ketchum is dressed and posed like Marilyn Monroe.  

Meowth apparently goes to Hollywood because he sees a Meowth eating various 
food products, but isn’t that Meowth the same one he falls for? It’s likely 
Meowsie is something of a movie star.  

If the rich lady’s diamond studded Pokéball was new, then how did she recall 
Meowsie into it like that?  
It could either be an extra special Pokéball as suggested in the Things I’d 
like to point out section of “Pokémon Fashion Flash”, or the lady might have 
added diamonds to Meowsie’s actual Pokéball, or perhaps Meowsie was never 
issued a Pokéball until that day.  

Meowsie’s owner’s car’s license plate is 052-NYA, it’s most likely more than 
coincidence that the Pokédex number for Meowth is 052 and their Japanese name 
is Nyaasu.  

I realise the cook was angry and the Meowth were stealing from him, but 
technically, isn’t it animal cruelty to beat up Meowth like he did?  

Sources say that when Meowth learns to read, the music in the song is from one 
of the closing credits of the Japanese cartoon.  
They also bring up two important points; where did Meowth pick up his New York 
accent because it wasn’t from the speech classes or books, secondly it doesn’t 
snow in Hollywood but you can see snow while Meowth learns to read in where he 
claims in Hollywood.  

In Meowth’s fantasy of marrying Meowsie, she’s standing like a human as well, 
did he intend to teach her how to talk or at least walk like a human?  

I know Meowth wanted to get rich in order to impress Meowsie, but to join a 
group that captures and exploits fellow Pokémon? Would she really have gone 
out with him after becoming a traitor to his fellow Pokémon?  
Couldn’t he have used his human-talk ability as a way to make money instead?  

James claims that they’ll help as long as they aren’t exposed to physical 
danger, and then jump into the area full of Meowth.  
Meowth is known to scratch them occasionally, so couldn’t James consider that 
the gang of Meowth and the Persian might have possibly hurt them?  

I used to think that the movie Ash and the others were watching was about 
Meowth’s past, especially since Team Rocket appear on the stage afterwards as 
if they were stars now.  
However, it’s just as possible they watched Psyduck and Wigglytuff but were 
complaining because only they were cut from the film, not the Pokémon.  
The way this episode is done, it could go either way (since the scenes in 
Meowth’s past is set up as if it was the film, plus the End slate is shown 
immediately after), but let’s hope the flashback was for our sake only, since 
the movie posters would be falsely advertising who is in the film.  

Who’s That Pokémon?:  

Onix

Cameos in Pokémon Journey:  

None, but Veronica of Team Rocket claims she used to talk to Meowth under the 
light of the moon as they both had shattered pasts, and she knows of his 
heartbreak (“Darkened Heart”).  
She’s even inspired to train a Meowth and care for it to make up for Meowth’s 
lonely upbringing (Chapter 36 and onwards).  

To Master the Onixpected!

Pokémon seen:  

Hitmonchan, Pikachu, Togepi, Meowth, Onix, Staryu, Squirtle, Sandslash

Story:  

Ash is meant to train, and decides to take it to the mountains to find Bruno 
of the Elite Four to teach them the secret of Pokémon.  
On the way, they encounter Team Rocket, but don’t have to lift a finger to 
stop them.  
They learn of huge Onix in the mountains, but one particular Onix takes the 
cake, but Bruno saves them from the gigantic Pokémon.  
They end up doing many chores for him, thinking that they’re improving their 
skills, but it’s all for Bruno’s stew.  
Brock tests Bruno but in the end, his image of Bruno is shattered, Bruno says 
there is no secret, he’s only here to catch the huge Onix.  
Team Rocket take a shot at it, literally, but their lives end up being 
threatened by it, so Ash, Misty and Brock fight the big Onix to rescue them, 
but the Onix is simply too big and powerful.  
Team Rocket are ejected from the battle, but now Ash is put in danger, Bruno 
makes a last minute rescue, and then challenges the Onix without using a 
Pokémon.  
He dodges the Onix’s attacks until it calms down, and then he frees a 
Sandslash trapped in the Onix’s body that was making it mad, finally, he talks 
the Onix into joining him.  
Bruno reveals the secret of Pokémon is:  There are no secrets, Pokémon and 
people must live, work and share the world together and care for each other.  

My favourite Quote:  

(Ash has cleaned a twig of its bark for Bruno)  
Ash:  “It’s as clean as a whistle Master Bruno, What lesson does it teach 
us?”  
Bruno (taking the twig and breaking it in two to make chopsticks):  “It 
teaches an important lesson you must always remember:  If you’re ever going to 
go camping, Bring a Fork!”  

Things I’d like to point out:  

The obvious title pun here is simply mixing the words ‘Onix’ 
with ‘Unexpected’, which is repeated in the episode by Team Rocket, followed 
by the same kind of pun but with ‘Unacceptable’.  

Bruno matches the silhouette that was seen in the first episode on Ash’s TV 
(“Pokémon I choose you!”), but if it was him using Pokémon like Nidorino and 
Onix, it weakens Ash’s statement about Bruno being a hardcore Fighting Pokémon 
Trainer since Nidorino is a Poison-type; at least Onix is used by Bruno in the 
games.  

Weird how Meowth’s remote can speed up the Team Rocket motto, that’s meant to 
be the viewer’s privilege to fast forward the motto should they have taped 
Pokémon but gotten tired of the same old lines (I don’t by the way).  

Once more with feeling:  It’s Ground Pokémon That Electric Attacks Don’t Work 
Against, Not Rock!  

Who’s That Pokémon?:  

Alakazam

Cameos in Pokémon Journey:  

Bruno appears in Chapter 33, where he owns a Gym, he tests Tetsubo close to 
the way he does Ash, by being lazy and unhelpful, but the real test is not to 
prove physical strength, but compassion and care, the huge Onix also makes an 
appearance.  

The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis

Pokémon seen:  

Pikachu, Vulpix, Togepi, Jigglypuff, Meowth, Arbok, Gengar, Krabby, Muk, Onix, 
Pidgeotto, Alakazam

Story:  

Ash finally seems to be training, but during a training battle, the guys 
accidentally unearth a hidden temple, and an artefact.  
A group of archaeologists hurry to the area to excavate the temple, and 
uncover a second artefact.  
But strange events start happening, especially after Arbok uncovers a third 
artefact and is absorbed inside, followed by Team Rocket.  
In the morning, the dark device claims more victims, and then reveals itself 
to be part of a huge ancient Gengar, who heads towards Pallet Town.  
The Pokémon are helpless against it and are unable to fight it, but another 
ancient Pokémon can:  A giant Alakazam.  
But their battle gets out of hand and threatens to destroy the world, the 
group tries everything, including setting Jigglypuff on them, but nothing 
works.  
Luckily, Jigglypuff’s song activates the final relic, and a huge Jigglypuff 
appears to stop the fighting with its song (but it does resemble a certain 
Jigglypuff in terms of personality).  
When the group comes to, the ancient Pokémon are gone, and all is right 
again.  

My favourite Quote:  

Brock:  “Eve what are we waiting for, let’s both start digging and solve that 
mystery!”  
(Brock runs away with a shovel and brush chuckling)  
Eve:  “Brock must love mysteries.”  
Ash:  “He loves Something!”  

Things I’d like to point out:  

For the first time, Jigglypuff directly encounters the group but doesn’t even 
sing to them, Pikachu’s and Vulpix’s attacks nearly hitting it probably scared 
it off.  

Brock is wrong to judge the ancient civilisation for honouring Psyduck, not 
all Psyducks are as brain-dead as Misty’s and he doesn’t seem to have seen any 
other Psyducks.  

Arbok is seen being absorbed into the dark device, but after Team Rocket 
enters, Arbok pretty much disappears, although it’s likely that Jessie 
recalled it to save space if the dark device allowed Pokémon transportation to 
go on within it, seeing as it acts like a Pokéball with an infinite number of 
possible Pokémon or people it can store inside.  

Bind attack wouldn’t have worked against a Normal Gengar as Normal attacks go 
right through Ghost-types, but this one did worse and absorbed Onix into its 
dark device.  

It’s quite feasible that Gengar and Alakazam could rival each other and even 
be old enemies, seeing as Ghost attacks are strong against Psychic-types and 
Psychic attacks are effective against Poison-types.  

This must be the first time Jigglypuff has sung more than a quick verse of its 
song that didn’t affect the good guys, but I guess it’s down to the distance 
between them in this instance.  

It’s way too coincidental that among the giant Pokémon, there was not only a 
Jigglypuff, but a giant Jigglypuff that also gets angry at sleeping audiences 
and draws on them (though it uses a paintbrush to do so).  
It’s just too much.  

Who’s That Pokémon?:  

Jigglypuff

Cameos in Pokémon Journey:  

None.  

Bad To The Bone

Pokémon seen:  

Pikachu, Togepi, Mr Mime, Bulbasaur, Marowak, Scyther, Raichu, Hitmonlee, 
Magmar, Meowth, Pidgeotto, Arbok, Doduo, Flareon, Nidoran Male, Hitmonlee, 
Chansey, Weezing

Story:  

Training time is over.  
Ash departs from Pallet Town to head for the Pokémon League, but on the way, 
he’s confronted by a trainer called Otoshi, but all his badges are put on the 
line.  
Ash wins, but it turns out that Otoshi has no badges to give, because he was 
robbed of them.  
Team Rocket are the culprits and Jessie double crosses her group and tries to 
enter the Pokémon League by herself.  
Ash and the group stop James and Meowth, but discover they don’t have the 
badges.  
Unfortunately, during that time, Marowak gets impatient and leaves Otoshi 
because it worked so hard for nothing.  
Jessie tries to steal off another trainer, but the rest of her group catch up 
with her, as does Ash’s group.  
Otoshi battles Jessie with Doduo but doesn’t fare well, while Marowak 
encounters some trainers and remembers its friendship with Otoshi and comes 
back to him.  
Together, they beat Team Rocket and retrieve Otoshi’s badges, and Ash is 
complimented on his doing the right thing even though they may be late for the 
Pokémon League.  

My favourite Quote:  

(Ash has refused to battle Otoshi with all his Gym Badges on the line and 
walks away)  
Otoshi:  “If that is your attitude you need not hurry to the Pokémon League.”  
Ash (stopping):  “What did you say?”  
Otoshi:  “If you are so afraid of losing to me in a private match then what 
chance do you have of winning in a Pokémon League match? Lose your badges 
now... or lose them later.”  

Things I’d like to point out:  

Ash bends the rules without thinking again, he uses two Pokémon to beat 
Otoshi, and Pikachu uses an Electric attack to beat Marowak, even though 
Ground-types shouldn’t be affected.  
It’s not mentioned once that Marowak is a Ground-type, but that doesn’t excuse 
Pikachu from shocking it, the only excuse anyone could use in defence would 
be:  “Since Cubone and Marowak use their bones to defend against Electric 
attacks, because it had its back turned, it couldn’t block with its bone.”  
Still, you wouldn’t catch that happening in the games.  

Otoshi seemingly won four of his badges from Fuchsia Gym, Vermilion Gym, 
Saffron Gym and Cinnabar Gym.  
But the Pokémon seen in the flashbacks don’t all match the Gym Leaders we know 
about.  
Why a Bug-type in a Poison Gym when it’s not also a Poison-type like Venonat, 
Venomoth or Beedrill? Why a Fighting Pokémon in a Psychic Gym (unless it’s 
from the Fighting Gym next door from the games), and obviously, Otoshi took on 
Blaine before Ash, since the original Gym is seen.  

An inaccurate voice mistake methinks:  When Team Rocket stole Otoshi’s badges, 
they had a specific box to put them in (as does another trainer in the 
episode), but Meowth seems surprised that they have discovered Gym Badges.  
Obviously the English writers overlooked that one.  

There are serious mistakes about Otoshi’s badges; the flashbacks suggest he 
won a Soul Badge, a Thunder Badge, a Marsh Badge and a Volcano Badge.  
When we see what Team Rocket stole, there’s a Boulder Badge, a Marsh Badge, a 
Soul Badge, a Volcano Badge, a Cascade Badge, a yellow rectangle badge, a blue 
square badge and a green triangle badge, but the Thunder Badge is missing.  
What’s even worse is that later on when Jessie shows off the badges and when 
Otoshi gets his badges back, there’s now a Boulder Badge, a Cascade Badge, a 
Thunder Badge, a Soul Badge, the yellow, blue and green badges mentioned above 
and a red badge that isn’t the Volcano Badge (now the Marsh Badge has gone).  
What were the animators thinking?! Or were there different people working on 
this episode but with crossed wires about the badges?  

Many original badges are seen in this episode, showing just how many Gyms 
exist but are not seen.  
This is why in Pokémon Journey I introduced twelve new Gym Leaders, all 
specialising in a type or themed Pokémon specialty which include the Elite 
Four.  

Ash thinks about the hard work he went through for his badges, but the 
flashbacks shows some of the battles in which he didn’t finish.  
Saffron City and Pewter City he won because Sabrina was unable to battle and 
because Brock gave him his badge, the battle against Misty was unresolved 
(although Pikachu could have won hands down), the battle against Surge is a 
battle which Ash actually earned a badge fairly, the battle against Venonat 
was against Aiya, not Koga the Gym Leader, the battle against Erika was cut 
short and I don’t think he deserved that badge, the Viridian Gym Battle he 
barely deserved, although Jessie’s not really a big challenge, even with the 
Pokémon she used, and finally, the Cinnabar Gym Battle can go either way, it 
was a good battle, but didn’t Charizard (who doesn’t exactly obey Ash) do all 
the work?  

Meowth claims that Team Rocket ran around to all the Gyms for badges, but they 
were never out for Gym Badges, only Pokémon.  

Jessie could never win the Pokémon League by herself, she only has two 
Pokémon, one of which she’s barely used since she got it, and trainers need at 
least three Pokémon for the first five rounds and six for the others.  
She or the trio should have delivered the badges to the Boss as surely he’d be 
able to send a competent trainer to represent him in the League.  
In the fanfic, the winner of the League gets a moment in front of the camera 
and a big prize fund, and one of my Rocket characters is given stolen badges 
in order to compete for the above.  

Out of the six disguises James recalls, at least three of them were women’s 
clothes, I guess when James explains how he shares a certain sense of style 
with Jessie, he’s talking about the female clothes aspect more than the 
style.  

When looking through Team Rocket’s belongings, some familiar items are seen, 
the binoculars, the old rose James used to hold, a mallet and James’s 
significant bottle cap collection that is brought up many times in future 
episodes.  
There are also pictures of James, which he apparently likes to look at in his 
spare time.  
That’s very sad.  
I wonder what the original Japanese writers made of this.  

James claims that he and Jessie share a sense of style and he can see through 
her disguise, why couldn’t he do the same in “The Ultimate Test”?  

Jessie tries to break a rule that trainers are forced to obey:  Never attempt 
to catch other people’s Pokémon with a Pokéball.  
In the games, the trainer would throw themselves in the way of the Pokéball 
but the cartoon differs, so shouldn’t it have simply bounced off the Doduo? 
Why was Otoshi so scared for something that should have been useless?  
And on the same subject, Doduo loses first and even though Jessie breaks the 
rules and tries to catch it, Marowak enters the battle and beats Arbok, and 
then Weezing is called but Pikachu interferes.  
What right does Ash have to interfere with Otoshi’s personal battle? Marowak 
could have beaten Weezing just fine with its Ground-type bone attacks.  

Who’s That Pokémon?:  

Moltres

Cameos in Pokémon Journey:  

None, but the trainer that Jessie nearly robs bears a resemblance to the 
original character design for Tetsubo (and I swear I realised that after 
designing Tetsubo from scratch).  

Episodes #057 - #064
Episodes #073 - #080
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