Episode Guide #113 - #120 The Underground Round-Up A Tent Situation The Rivalry Revival Don’t Touch That ‘dile The Double Trouble Header A Sappy Ending Roll On, Pokémon! Illusion Confusion! The Underground Round-Up Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Voltorb, Electrode, Diglett, Meowth, Dugtrio, Jigglypuff Story: On Hamlin Island, Ash and the group are close to Pallet Town, but the following bridge is too dangerous to cross and the town beyond it with the Pallet bound ferry is deserted. The group discover soon enough that the town is full of Electrode (and one Voltorb that Togepi befriends). They are saved by a man called Poncho, who is a Diglett Rancher, and his Diglett take the exploding Electrode underground. Poncho explains that an inventor experimented with Voltorb to generate power, but they escaped and made home in the town where they simply multiplied over time until it got so overcrowded with them that they got distressed and started exploding. Poncho’s Diglett dig under the Electrode and guide them down underground towards a prairie with lots of space. Poncho is called and informed that the mayor has hired someone else to do the job promising to do it faster and for cheaper. This turns out to be Team Rocket, who proceed to make the Electrode explode in order to capture them without any trouble. They get out of control; Poncho can’t stand to watch and intervenes by using Dugtrio to make Team Rocket take a fall. Poncho continues to do his work and soon all the Electrode are on the prairie and happy, but Togepi gets upset at having to say goodbye to Voltorb. My favourite Quote: Misty: “I can’t believe it, why would Team Rocket wanna help out move the Electrode?” Jessie: “For purely selfish reasons of course.” Things I’d like to point out: Since Poncho has a Diglett in his hat, one would assume he knows what the lower part of Diglett looks like, though that’s not necessarily apparent since I can’t tell if Poncho’s hat is hollow and the Diglett rests on his head, or if the Diglett sits in a special pocket of the hat. James stutters during the Team Rocket motto, perhaps because Jessie’s hair gets in his face, or more likely that there was more lip flaps than the translators knew what to do with. It’s just strange to see him alter the speech without a bigger factor affecting him. From one angle, it looks like Team Rocket’s transport has lots of room to contain the Electrode, but when we see it from an overhead shot, only four Electrode are seen, and they’re taking most of the space, how did Team Rocket expect to catch a decent amount with such a small container. Togepi once again uses Metronome, but seemingly gets the worst attack of all as a result: Splash. Team Rocket made their machine shockproof because of the Electrode, but at this point, Electrode don’t learn Electric attacks unless taught by trainers, and none of the hundred or so Electrode in this episode use the attack at all, pretty much proving my point. What’s with all the Pokémon related references, Poncho compares the Electrode to a Charizard’s breath and James compares the nimble Voltorb to a ‘greased Gengar’. Most fans will get them, but newcomers won’t know what they’re talking about. When Team Rocket’s transport takes a fall, what happens to the Electrode they caught and stored in the back? We see them about to fall out, but isn’t it cruel to give them a bumpy ride like Team Rocket? Now that Poncho gets to finish wrangling the remaining Electrode, we see how fast he can do it. At the rate Team Rocket were going, they would have taken longer than Poncho. Wasn’t the reason they were hired supposed to be because they could do the job faster? Obviously Team Rocket lied silly to get that job. Team Rocket end up on the Diglett path with the Electrode, but how come they don’t end up on the prairie? I assume the Diglett led them down a different path towards something they deserved (a chasm or something). Oh dear god, Jigglypuff’s back! And after such a long absence you can be sure it’ll be appearing in many episodes to come. Terrific... And if no one can tell from just my writing, I’m being sarcastic! Who’s That Pokémon?: Kingler Cameos in Pokémon Journey: None. A Tent Situation Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Jigglypuff, Mr Mime, Meowth, Muk, Snorlax, Vileplume, Dodrio, Rhyhorn, Tauros, Kingler, Nidorino, Nidorina, Lickitung, Victreebel, Nidoqueen Story: Ash finally returns home to Pallet Town, Tracey is excited about meeting Professor Oak in person. Ash is surprised to see Brock at his house, and he is questioned about why he’s no longer with Professor Ivy on Valencia Island, sadly, the mere mention of Ivy’s name gets Brock very depressed and he refuses to talk about it. Mrs Ketchum arrives and explains that she (literally) stumbled upon Brock a week ago in a bad state, since then he’s remained in the Ketchum household (but steps on Mimie’s toes by doing its share of the housework). Tracey reminds Ash about seeing Professor Oak, and he decides to leave his trophy at home with his mother before rushing to deliver the G.S Ball. The group see all of Ash’s Pokémon staying at Oak’s, Ash drops off his Tauros and Tracey has his work looked over by the Professor. Team Rocket cover up Oak’s research lab with a gigantic tent to trap them inside. While Ash battles them, a stranger appears outside hidden in a cloak. Team Rocket trap Ash and the group and then use a vacuum to get all the Pokéballs in the lab, luckily they are stopped by the robed stranger, who turns out to be Gary. His Nidoqueen makes short work of Team Rocket and frees everyone. While Gary is revealed to be working with a hard training schedule, Ash brags about his latest victory and that he did better in the Pokémon League than Gary did, before pushing things all the way and challenging Gary to a Pokémon Battle... My favourite Quote: Tracey (to Ash): “You must have enough Tauros to start your own private stampede.” Things I’d like to point out: Another title pun with ‘Tent’ replacing ‘Tense’. Okay, how the heck does Tracey get the amount of sketchpads he owns into his backpack? I’ve been known to cram a lot of things into one backpack but this is ridiculous. How does Brock and Mrs Ketchum know of Tracey? Either Ash and Misty kept in contact with Brock from time to time (although if that were true they should have known he left Valencia Island), or when Oak and Ivy conversed in the second movie maybe Tracey’s name came up because he was travelling with Ash, Oak and Mrs Ketchum seem to be in close contact so she probably passed the news on to Brock when he stayed with her. That or you can ignore all these theories and accept that it may have been a script error. Ash shouldn’t be doing the whole blue depressed thing at the mention of Gary, Brock does it because he’s obviously heartbroken or hurt, with Gary it’s different since Ash has no real liking for the guy, he’s just better than Ash at Pokémon Training. It’s really nice to see all four members of the group together since it’s never happened before. It’s nice to see Mrs Ketchum isn’t really going to use the trophy as a dumbbell like she said she would, since she’s polishing and displaying it. Why does Tracey stare at Oak and say “He’s really real!” It’s not like he’s never seen or talked to Professor Oak before, he’s seen the guy plenty of times and conversed with him on video phones so he shouldn’t act so differently around Oak in person since he’s gotten to know him well. Now that Snorlax is out of its Pokéball a lot more often, does that mean its old eating habits will return now that it no longer expends less energy inside the Pokéball? It ate several islands’ worth of grapefruit once and I don’t think Oak can afford to lose his apple trees what with several other Pokémon to take care of. I’m surprised Team Rocket remembers Brock left the group at Valencia Island considering they can’t even call them by their names, even more surprising is the fact that they even knew about Professor Ivy considering they didn’t get involved in that episode, they were too busy fixing the broken blimp back then. Lickitung must not have a sense of taste when attacking with its tongue, I mean, it licks Muk, a liquid ooze blob of poison, why doesn’t it get remotely sick or consume some of the slime. It is extremely strange when it comes to the rings Team Rocket use, first they tighten around their captive somehow, and the worse thing is that knots simply appear on them. And just how does Brock get out so fast to sit on the tightrope depressed? Where is Gary getting his Moon Stones from? He had a Nidoking and now a Nidoqueen, the only time Moon Stones were mentioned was back in “Clefairy And The Moon Stone”. In the fanfic, it’s in Mount Moon that fragments of Moon Stones remain so as to be able to evolve a Nidorino, Jigglypuff and Nidorina throughout the series, but in Gary’s case, he was ahead of Ash before the big Moon Stone exploded into several shards. Who’s That Pokémon?: Omastar Cameos in Pokémon Journey: Tetsubo met Oak and Mrs Ketchum all the way back in Chapter 3, but briefly mentions a second visit to Pallet Town on the way to the Pokémon League in Chapter 50. As for Brock, Tetsubo eventually visits Valencia Island, meets Ivy and learns of the Pokémon Breeder, but not the reason why he left and what occurred between them. The Rivalry Revival Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Eevee, Butterfree, Tauros, Onix, Parasect, Nidoking, Venomoth, Machamp, Beedrill, Arcanine, Gyarados, Electabuzz, Kadabra, Rhydon, Rhyhorn, Meowth, Mr Mime, Scyther, Marill, Venonat Story: The first Pokémon Battle between Ash and Gary is at hand, and it’s a 1-on-1 battle between Pikachu and Eevee, with Gary being the victor. He leaves shortly afterwards while Oak’s research on the G.S ball isn’t getting very far. Ash demands to know where Gary has gone and discovers he’s headed to the Johto Region to compete in the League there, Ash immediately decides that he’s going too. Brock establishes with Ash and Misty that he’ll be rejoining them in their travels, Oak gives back the G.S Ball to Ash and asks for him to deliver it to a famous Pokéball expert and designer called Kurt, and Tracey comes to a decision of his own. Ash’s mother hears the news and prepares Ash’s things and promises a large dinner to celebrate. Team Rocket sees Gary and attempt to get him back for beating them, but they fail absolutely. Back at the Ketchum residence, dinner is on and everyone talks about the journey ahead, Oak gives Ash a new model of the Pokédex which includes the news ones in Johto, and Tracey reveals that he’s staying behind to work as Oak’s research assistant. Team Rocket gate crash the dinner posing as a news crew and capture Pikachu, before Ash can use his own Pokémon, Tracey’s jump in and beat Team Rocket for what may be their final time. In the morning, the group says their goodbyes before the beginning of their long journey west to Johto. My favourite Quote: Brock (suspicious of Jessie disguised as a news reporter): “You look familiar...” Jessie: “I want to remind you viewers that we’re coming to you live, L.I.V.E, Live!” (I.V sounds like Ivy and immediately depresses Brock) Things I’d like to point out: I’ve heard it twice and already I’m sick of Ash going on about getting one round higher than Gary in the Pokémon League, in my opinion, Gary’s battle against Melissa looked much tougher than Jeanette (both battles occur in “The Forth Round Rumble”). At least Gary learned from his loss and used it to get better, while Ash lost the League because he risked everything on Charizard (“Friend and Foe Alike”), and he continued to recklessly use Charizard several times before learning an important lesson that got them working as a team from “Charizard Chills” and onwards (speaking of which, why didn’t Ash choose it instead of little Pikachu to battle Gary?). Personally I’m glad Ash loses this battle, I’ll support him someday beating Gary if he’s ever deserving of it. The battle between Ash’s Pikachu and Gary’s Eevee is also the line-up used in the first battle of Pokémon Yellow (a game which includes many events and characters from the series). Eevee uses Reflect, Double Team, Take Down and Skull Bash in the battle, which means Gary has been teaching it alternative moves and not just sticking with its natural attacks (like Take Down). I knew at the cliff-hanger of the last episode that Ash wouldn’t win, even before realising that Gary had become less conceited and a lot more caring about his Pokémon. Personalities seem to have altered today, around Gary; Ash becomes the conceited one, while Gary has become more compassionate about his Pokémon, now he has the best traits of himself and Ash in his new improved personality. That and he’s seemingly grown out of travelling with six cheerleaders in a flashy car, probably because of his loss in the Indigo Plateau. Oak’s description of New Bark Town is exactly what it says on the signpost of the town in the Game Boy games. Funny how Team Rocket knows Gary’s name and actually say it because he beat them the one time, but apparently not Ash’s, who’s beaten them virtually every episode (on average, at least 100 times). If the upgraded Pokédex accounts for Johto Pokémon, what was the point in the previous Pokédex upgrade that knew so little about Togepi (apart from a new voice)? The running gag about Brock and Ivy ends with this episode, and we never know for certain why Brock left her or became so heartbroken about her, although I can imagine why. Is Scyther a magician? The way is slashes the camera case in half makes seem as if it cut through Pikachu, except it doesn’t because that would be gross, but how did it cut the case completely in one slice without touching Pikachu? Also, after Scyther performs the slashing motion, it remains motionless, including the next shot where Pikachu goes into attack. The “Pikachu’s Jukebox” feature ends on this episode, and once again not on the final song, it’s one episode short of that, and wouldn’t be any different even if the four episodes shown out of sync had been in their correct order in their corresponding series. These songs may be leaving but a whole new line-up of jukebox songs begins from next episode. I’m going to end this on a light note (since most of the episodes I particularly like strangely seem to be the ones with the most criticisms or comments). Perhaps it’s because I like them so much that I’m more bothered about mistakes occurring in them because I watch those episodes more than others. This has got to be one of my most favourite episodes ever, it’s special seeing all four of the main characters together, and the dinner scene is one of the funniest ones in the history of Pokémon, from Jessie and James disguised as a news crew stuffing their faces to Jessie getting in the Ivy running gag in a clever way. Who’s That Pokémon?: Dewgong Cameos in Pokémon Journey: There’s a brief mention of Tracey at Oak’s in Chapter 50, who is still Oak’s apprentice/assistant and willing to give his honest opinion on Tetsubo’s League-worthy Pokémon. Don’t Touch That ‘dile Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Suicune, Jigglypuff, Meowth, Fearow, Totodile, Chansey, Growlithe, Cyndaquil, Bulbasaur, Weezing, Charizard, Victreebel, Lickitung, Squirtle, Arbok Story: Tradition happens upon Brock’s return and Ash gets the group lost on the way to Johto. Another tradition occurs as on the first day of this new journey, Ash (and the group) encounter a rare Pokémon (Suicune), but it disappears swiftly. Team Rocket are equally lost and end up at the New Bark research centre, where Professor Elm is deeply involved in his work which leads Team Rocket to easily trick him and make off with a Totodile. Ash and the group reach New Back Town, where in the Pokémon Centre Ash must register, but Joy isn’t around to do so and has left a message, Brock hurries the group to her destination, where the police are. Inside Elm’s lab, Joy scolds Elm for losing the Totodile meant for a new trainer, Elm tells the group about the starter Pokémon he gives to trainers, and his background with Oak. Meanwhile, Totodile has taken a liking to latching onto Jessie’s hair, and the good guys eventually catch up. Another Pokémon Battle ensues between Ash and Team Rocket (during which Totodile is separated from Jessie) but it’s no real contest and Team Rocket are easily defeated. Ash is now able to register for the Johto League while Elm is reacquainted with Oak. My favourite Quote: Jessie (referring to the Totodile latched to her hair): “This thing’s becoming a big headache!” James: “Jessie, just think of it as a Pokémon hair extension.” Jessie (stamping her foot on the ground several times): “I DON’T FIND THIS FUNNY!” Things I’d like to point out: The brand new theme tune (“It’s a Whole New World”) replaces the old, and it’s everything I hoped for in a new theme tune and opening credits considering this was the first time Ash moved into an official new region. Legendary Pokémon like Ho-Oh and Lugia begin the opening but it ends with the last Legendary shots showing Suicune and then Mewtwo and Mew though the latter two are not Johto Pokémon nor seen within the series (only a feature length episode with Mewtwo that wasn’t shown on TV). At the start of the episode, we hear the Mount Moon theme from the first set of Pokémon games, which is strange considering the Johto series has just started and this song in the cartoon has rarely been heard if at all. The title is a pun on the phrase “Don’t touch that dial”. Misty reckons they’ll see another Pokémon like they saw in the woods, but not only is Suicune most likely the only one of its kind, but it’s a Legendary Pokémon, and so it won’t be seen anywhere near as often as Misty figures. Kind of a coincidence that Ash saw Ho-Oh on his first day of training in Kanto, and that he sees a Suicune on his first day in Johto. Was the flashback of seeing Suicune really necessary? It was seen this episode and so making us see it again is kind of a time waster. With an appearance from Joy and Jenny, it’s clear that in Kanto and Johto, the uniforms are the same but exclusively in the Orange Islands (as far as we know) the uniforms are different. With the simple description of Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle as Starter Pokémon, Elm recognises that Ash’s sponsor is Professor Oak, proving that he’s known for having those particular Pokémon and handing them out to new trainers. It’s lucky for me really that the series’ other sponsors presumably give a choice of three other Pokémon as it secures the choice I made to have different sponsors hand out different Pokémon. For Tetsubo, the main character of Pokémon Journey’s sponsor, Professor Blossom gave the choice of Staryu, Growlithe and Voltorb, but the Growlithe gets stolen. Ash and Misty briefly refer to the first episode, but Misty brings up something not many people knew: Ash slept in until Four In The Afternoon before getting to Oak’s lab, no wonder he was too late to get one of the usual three Starter Pokémon. For a moment when James is trying to call the Boss, the glove on his hand momentarily disappears, but reappears in the next shot. Damn straight Oak shouldn’t accept praise for teaching Ash, because he hasn’t done, I’m sure if Oak had taught Ash, he wouldn’t make so many mistakes, Gary on the other hand was probably taught by his grandfather because he’s actually good at all aspects of Pokémon Training by this point in the series. Surprisingly there aren’t any other real criticisms to talk about, except that whoever Totodile’s trainer is going to be, she’d better give it lots of attention as this Pokémon naturally seems to wander off whenever it gets remotely bored. The new feature starting from this episode is “Pokémon Karaokémon”, which is basically like “Pikachu’s Jukebox” but with new songs that appear on the Pokémon 3/series soundtrack (“You & Me & Pokémon”, “Pikachu”, “Song Of Jigglypuff”, “All We Wanna Do” and “Two Perfect Girls”). Who’s That Pokémon?: Chikorita Cameos in Pokémon Journey: Chapter 62 and it’s a sure thing that Elm will be an occasional guest character throughout the series. The Double Trouble Header Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Chikorita, Rattata, Pidgey, Charizard, Meowth, Squirtle, Bulbasaur Story: The group converse after the encounters in New Bark Town when they meet Casey, an excitable hardcore baseball fan, with her Chikorita, after a Pokémon capture, Casey soon challenges Ash to a battle. It doesn’t bode well to say the least, and Casey is distraught by her loss, after remembering a promise she made to her family, she encounters Team Rocket, who convince Casey that Ash cheated. She meets Ash in a baseball field and another battle ensues, but Team Rocket interferes and nab both Pikachu and Chikorita with baseball related machines, Casey strikes back at their pitching machine and Team Rocket. Together, Ash and Casey send Team Rocket for a home run and go their separate ways with the same goal of being great Pokémon Trainers. My favourite Quote: Brock: “Yeah! That’s the spirit Casey!” Misty: “Er, Brock, aren’t we supposed to be on Ash’s side?” Brock: “I usually root for the underdog cos the underdog is usually Ash.” Misty: “I didn’t think of that, Destroy ‘im Casey!” Things I’d like to point out: With such skills in baseball, Casey will have no problems catching Pokémon, since her aim at throwing balls is top class. Casey should know better than to use a recently caught Pokémon in battle, but since it was against Ash’s Charizard, it’s not like it makes a difference. How did the group wind up in the baseball field? Did they end up there or did Casey bring them there, since they just appear there without a scene explaining how they arrived, we’ll never know. During the Rocket speech, Jessie and James run towards each other and hug after apparently winning a baseball game, but with the strange dress Meowth wears, it makes it apparent that this is probably a take on a film/Japanese cartoon I’m not familiar with. Ash’s comparison of a Pokémon match and baseball is more correct with the game (taking whatever the opposition throws at you), but in the cartoon what with all the 3-Dimensional freedom and real life aspects it’s not entirely correct comparing this the way he did. Casey really shouldn’t change the names of official attacks and replace them with baseball references, at least, not with Pokémon she just caught, they shouldn’t automatically know what she’s talking about since it’s hardly believable they would know anything about baseball unless they were trained and taught about it. Either Casey’s done more training in her first day than Ash ever did, or this is a mistake. Razor Leaf for a Chikorita isn’t learned until much later on, so this new one really shouldn’t have it yet. Who’s That Pokémon?: Heracross Cameos in Pokémon Journey: None at the moment but it’s a possibility, but don’t confuse this Casey and Scott’s sister in the fanfic, they’re different people. A Sappy Ending Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Heracross, Butterfree, Pinsir, Bulbasaur, Meowth, Lickitung, Victreebel Story: Ash and the group reach an area of a forest where the trees have lost their leaves; they see Heracross nearby sucking sap out of trees. Before Ash catches them, he’s warned by Woodruff the forest ranger that it could cause environmental damage, because the Heracross dig into the trees which allow the Butterfree to get to the sap as well. The damaged trees were caused by Pinsir, and a band of them scare off the Butterfree and Heracross to eat the sap themselves. The Heracross flee, apart from one that’s trapped protecting a Butterfree, Ash helps out and saves it. This particular Heracross loves sap more so than the other Heracross and follows the group in investigating why the Pinsir are leaving their own forest (despite Bulbasaur’s complaints since it tries to eat from its bulb). It proves to be a helpful accomplice, and its efforts get the group to where they need to go, where a gigantic Pinsir robot sucks sap from the Pinsir’s home. Team Rocket are behind it in a ploy to make money by selling the tree sap, when their Pokémon become preoccupied with the sap, Meowth sends the Pinsir after the group, but Bulbasaur’s and Pikachu’s efforts are in vain as it is just too strong and redirects Electric attacks. Heracross comes to the rescue and wrestles the opponent until Team Rocket mess up and cause the robot to stop functioning. The group separates the stolen sap and Heracross finishes the battle by hurling the robot into submission (and Team Rocket following), proving just how strong it really is. Everything returns to normal, and the Heracross that helped out decides to join the group in their journey and so Ash adds a new addition to his team. My favourite Quote: James (referring to tree sap between sucks): “It’s sweet, and it’s yummy, and it tastes like honey! It’s delicious, and nutritious and, it’s free!” Things I’d like to point out: The title is a pun of the term “A Happy Ending”. Vine Whip on Bug-types? If Bulbasaur wasn’t so experienced, I’d be angry that the Pinsir were beaten so easily by a type they theoretically should be strong against. Ash claims Heracross scared off the Pinsir, but it did nothing but protect the Butterfree (at least that’s what I personally think its goal was, I disagree it remained for the food), Ash’s Pokémon did all the work. I don’t think Woodruff should approve of Ash’s Bulbasaur slicing up bushes and flowers just to make the going easier, he really should have spoken up especially when Ash claimed to be helping (and for the cause of helping the forest as well, destroying one form of plant life to save another isn’t exactly justified). On the other hand, at least Heracross sacrifices a tree when it’s absolutely necessary (to get across a chasm), since the Heracross Forest will be ruined by Pinsir unless the group finds and stops the reason for the Pinsir leaving their own forest. Did anyone originally think what I did and think Heracross might evolve from Pinsir (seeing as Scythers got a new evolution)? It would have been nice but this was not meant to be. It’s nice that Misty’s opinion of Heracross (a Bug-type) changes in this episode, and it’s a good thing too since Heracross will be around for a while. Okay, a robotic Pinsir should Not become confused or dizzy, or at least not get spiralling eyes when it’s a mechanical being. Who’s That Pokémon?: Donphan Cameos in Pokémon Journey: None, but Tetsubo is set to catch a Heracross, but far later on in his Johto Journey. Roll On, Pokémon! Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Meowth, Donphan, Onix, Heracross, Zubat, Victreebel, Arbok, Poliwag Story: The journey takes the heroes into a valley, but a small earthquake occurs which harms Team Rocket much more so than the group. They encounter a young Donphan, and Brock attempts to capture and raise it but his Onix is defeated. Ash steps up and uses Heracross to overcome it, but a young lady called Rochelle jumps in and reveals the Donphan is hers, she then leaves. Rochelle trains a group of Donphan to sniff out and dig up rare gems in the mountains called Amberite. Meanwhile, Team Rocket searches the valley for Amberite, and know about Donphan being essential to finding it, and so they steal Rochelle’s youngest one. Rochelle finds the group and asks for their help in finding her Donphan. Team Rocket shows the Donphan some kindness in exchange for it sniffing out some Amberite. Rochelle calls for her other Donphan to help search for the little one, and soon enough they find Team Rocket who have been absolutely unsuccessful in finding Amberite. After beating Team Rocket, Rochelle reveals to the group that the Donphan they stole hasn’t been trained yet and so it can’t find Amberite. Rochelle demonstrates how she and her Donphan find Amberite, in return for helping her get her Donphan back, Rochelle agrees to battle Ash with one of her Donphan. Ash picks Heracross and its opponent, the Donphan with the largest tusks, but in the end, it’s all too much and Ash loses, but with dignity and then faith that Heracross will grow stronger. The group again says their goodbyes and continue their journey. My favourite Quote: Brock: “What a gem, so absolutely priceless, I never imagined there’d be such a treasure hidden in this valley, never imagined anything so precious and beautiful...” (Ash and Misty groan) Ash: “It’s just a rock...” Misty: “I think he means Rochelle...” Things I’d like to point out: The group see a Donphan for the first time... not! Donphan was introduced in the first Pokémon movie, and yet Ash doesn’t seem to show any knowledge or memory of it. It’s possible that the movie plots aren’t ever referred to (at least so far) but since the movies make the effort to be true to everything in the series and make references to it, the series should be willing to do the same sometimes. A small error because Rochelle knows Ash’s name when she shouldn’t. Even if she was close enough to hear Ash’s name when it was last said way before the battle, she wouldn’t have let Brock and Ash battle her Donphan for so long without intervening right away. Why didn’t Rochelle just call for her other Donphan in the first place? Instead of walking around searching for the stolen Donphan as if she’d find it that way since Team Rocket escaped with it by air. Victreebel should be ashamed of itself, losing to a Poliwag with only two attacks, a weak one (Doubleslap) and one it should be strong against (Bubble), the small Bind it received from Onix earlier is no excuse. I’m sure Heracross would have done much better in battle had Ash used Fighting- type moves instead of Normal attacks, but it seems it just doesn’t have them and might never do. Who’s That Pokémon?: Hoothoot Cameos in Pokémon Journey: None. Illusion Confusion! Pokémon seen: Togepi, Pikachu, Hoothoot, Meowth, Arbok, Victreebel, Bulbasaur, Dragonite, Beedrill, Venomoth, Kakuna, Metapod, Caterpie, Weedle, Haunter, Gengar Story: The group are once again lost in a forest, nightfall comes and so does ghostly illusions that scare the group, until a Hoothoot appears and wipes them away. Gary’s here after falling behind from catching loads of Pokémon and the Hoothoot with him helps him get through the forest without becoming lost. After failing to catch a Hoothoot of their own, the group winds up finding a scary-looking woman called Hagatha, who rents out Hoothoot to help trainers break through the illusions of the Ghost Pokémon that reside here. The only Hoothoot available is not reliable at all, but Ash and the group decide to take it despite Hagatha’s warnings so that they don’t fall behind. It despises Ash but gets along with Misty just fine since it only likes girls, Ash (or rather Misty since it only obeys her) convinces it to try harder and help them, right before Pikachu is ensnared by Team Rocket, but soon enough Pikachu is back in Ash’s hands. Before the next battle can get underway, Team Rocket are tricked by illusions and chase after an imaginary Dragonite, while the rest of the group face illusions of their own until Hoothoot acts responsibility and wipes them out, revealing a group of Haunter and Gengar to be the cause. The group finally finds the exit of the forest (though they’re at first deceived by a matching stone arch and Hagatha’s twin sister Nagatha), and are able to continue their journey, while Team Rocket believe they are in a happy place, but are actually surrounded by a hoard of Ghost Pokémon... My favourite Quote: Hagatha: “Oh I forgot to mention, since I’m the one who raised it, this Hoothoot only gets along with Pretty girls.” Misty: “Oh, is that right Hoothoot? Do you like pretty girls?” Hoothoot: “Hoot, hoot...” Ash: “Too bad there aren’t any here.” (Misty and Hagatha glare at Ash with demon-like expressions while Hagatha growls) Misty: “What did you say Ash Ketchum?!” Things I’d like to point out: What’s with the Brock eyes, Misty, Pikachu and even Togepi put them on when their confidence in Ash isn’t high, and Togepi usually doesn’t react to things apart from smiling and cheering at them provided they don’t pose a threat to or scare it. Why doesn’t Gary offer and why don’t the group ask him if they can accompany him out of the forest seeing as he has a Hoothoot, it’s not like a Hoothoot can’t accompany several people out of the forest since that’s what happens later on. What took Pikachu so long to attack the Hoothoot like Ash asked? It had plenty of time to attack and it even got to Ash to savagely peck him; Pikachu didn’t even come through with the attack let alone do it in time. Better late than never I say. Even though they haven’t been introduced to the series yet, it might have been better to have Meowth compare hanging around the forest like a Pineco instead of pine cones, since it’s a Pokémon in the shape of a pine cone that’s known for hanging in trees. Despite Hagatha’s description, I partly agree with Ash’s joke; Hoothoot only likes girls, not pretty girls, just girls in general. Hagatha is anything But pretty. Team Rocket slamming Ash’s body against the tree and printing the shape of his body is pointless, but comical none the less. I know I usually don’t add Pokémon that aren’t really Pokémon on the “Pokémon seen” area, but the Dragonite illusion looks real enough and moves like a real one, so it’s an exception, as are the Bug Pokémon. Speaking of the Bug Pokémon, either Misty is scared of every Bug-type except Venomoth, or she Is scared of it and therefore should have been scared of Tracey’s Venonat when he was travelling with her, since in “The Ninja Poké- Showdown”, she became aware of Venonat evolving into Venomoth. I’m very sure this isn’t mentioned, but the technique Hoothoot uses to break illusions and reveal the ghosts is called Foresight, which either neutralises an opponent’s evasiveness, or makes Ghost Pokémon vulnerable to physical attacks. One of the very few Normal-type moves that actually affects Ghost-type Pokémon. Despite the name similarity, Hagatha and Nagatha have nothing to do with the Elite Four member Agatha that has yet to appear in the series (unless they happen to be related). But she does appear a lot later on as does the final member of the Kanto Elite Four; Lance. When Team Rocket are under the illusion that they are sunbathing, apparently the deckchairs and parasol are real, so where did the Ghost Pokémon get them from? Who’s That Pokémon?: Bellossom Cameos in Pokémon Journey: None. Episodes #105 - #112 Episodes #121 - #128 Movie and MiniMovie Guide Back to the Pokézone