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 Back to the Episode Guide Movie and Mini-movie Guide Back to the Pokézone