Episode Guide #169 - #176 A Better Pill to Swallow Power Play! Mountain Time Wobbu-Palooza! Imitation Confrontation The Trouble with Snubbull Ariados, Amigos Wings ‘N’ Things A Better Pill to Swallow Pokémon seen: Togepi, Pikachu, Shuckle, Machop, Machoke, Charmander, Squirtle, Gyarados, Beedrill, Spearow, Bellsprout, Meowth, Weezing, Arbok, Wobbuffet, Victreebel, Ursaring Story: On the journey ahead, Ash has a stomach ache from eating too much and the group is out of medicine to help. A short old man turns up offering his help, and his medicine (used on both Pokémon and people) works immediately. The group follow him back to his hut to see where he makes his elixirs from natural ingredients. Old Man Shuckle reveals his technique in that he fills Shuckle shells with ingredients and seals them, this forms the basis of his potions, tonics and elixirs which can heal and boost Pokémon. He is searching for a purple shelled Shuckle so that he can create a potion to allow a person the ability to tame all Pokémon, something that appeals to Brock. But he requires the group to find the rare Shuckle themselves, assisted by his Bellsprout, Spoopy. Team Rocket overhears it all and plan on taking the potion themselves. Spoopy’s a skilled tracker who can tell where Shuckle are and if they have completed making juice. Old man Shuckle reveals that it takes a while for the juice process to be completed, which is why he leaves them in the wild for a year after inserting the ingredients. Spoopy is stupidly faster than the group anticipated, so they must hurry to keep up, especially when it uncovers several completed red Shuckle which the group must pick up for the old man. While Brock slips up, takes a fall and is discovered shortly afterwards by the others, Spoopy finds the purple Shuckle and the group manage to catch up to it. Team Rocket appears and make off with the Shuckle, but Spoopy easily tracks them down. After feeding it to Meowth, Jessie and James consider it safe to drink, but soon discover that drinking it undiluted is producing a pheromone which is attracting all Pokémon in the area to them, and this will last for three days and three nights. The scattered Shuckle brought together by this chase the Rockets to the group, but they refuse to give up the purple Shuckle, they attempt to fight but their own Pokémon won’t stay away from them. Ash has Pikachu attack but it too is manipulated and cuddles up to Jessie. Old man Shuckle hurls a dust around which temporarily neutralises the pheromone and restores the Pokémon. Jessie is momentarily distracted by the Shuckle and drops it, and since the effects have worn off, Pikachu is unaffected now and shocks the two away. Brock decides he doesn’t want the potion, due to seeing first hand how artificial the Pokémon’s love for Team Rocket was, he prefers to do things the fair and proper way. With that decision made, the group head out on their journey, while poor Team Rocket are completely surrounded by fierce and dangerous Pokémon currently attracted to them but likely to attack after the effects wear off in three days. My favourite Quote: Brock (to Old Man Shuckle): “I’ve never asked you for a favour before mainly because I’ve never met you before! But I’d be the happiest person in the world if you gave me that Shuckle juice!” Things I’d like to point out: The title pun is from the phrase “A bitter pill to swallow”. How powerful was the explosion in Ash’s stomach?! The light not only shined through Ash’s skin but his black shirt as well. The methods Old Man Shuckle uses is similar to a trick in the games, by giving a Shuckle the item Berry and letting it hang onto it, it eventually turns into Berry Juice, which is much more effective curative item. Why do the Spearows in Brock’s vision sound more like Pidgeotto or Pidgeot? In the games, Shiny Shuckle are more of a light blue colour compared to the light purple Shuckle seen here, but even if the purple Shuckle was meant to be a Shiny Pokémon, why should colour define such a huge difference in the type of potion it can create? Old Man Shuckle speaks vaguely about the Purple Shuckle as if he’s never been able to find one, or at least as if he’s never caught one before, but the Purple Shuckle has corks in it so he must have done in the past. And surely the term ‘catch’ shouldn’t have been used considering he explains a minute later that only wild Shuckle can produce powerful potions. When James questions what’s wrong with Meowth’s eyes, is he seeing something we’re not or are the fact they’re heart shaped visible in reality? And why does Meowth only go after James when Jessie drank the juice first? Apart from certain complications to do with her being female (if you don’t catch my drift you’re probably too young to understand or be reading what I’m getting at). Apparently the effects of the powder neutralise affected Pokémon to normal but don’t get rid of the pheromone completely. It’s the only reason why the Pokémon surrounding Team Rocket in the finale are affected but not Meowth again. Who’s That Pokémon?: (This Pokémon is the most unique Pokémon of all!) Eevee Cameos in Pokémon Journey: None. Power Play! Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Alakazam, Umbreon, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Noctowl, Blissey, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Staryu, Poliwhirl Story: The group cross a quiet mountain area and quickly discover a Pokémon Battle in action in the forest below between a boy called Alex, and Gary Oak. Gary’s Eevee has evolved into Umbreon and now faces an Alakazam who starts off with Zap Cannon which is dodged; Alex next uses Psychic which is completely ineffective. Umbreon dodges a Heat Butt and tackles; a more effective Dynamicpunch proves more of a threat but is dodged around with Agility. Double Team is next, but the Umbreon is able to sense the real Alakazam from the fakes, a Teleport gets around its Quick Attack but Gary navigates around its hidden opponent preparing Hyper Beam, and Hidden Power ends the battle. Ash is determined to battle Gary and jumps down to make his presence known, but his challenge is turned down due to Gary’s knowledge of Pikachu’s attacks. Ash brings out his other Pokémon but their strange behaviour and traits make Ash look bad, and once he rounds them up, Gary has simply walked away. The group move into town and Ash has to listen to constant compliments towards Gary and his Umbreon, it doesn’t dampen his determination though. Team Rocket plan another scheme while Meowth’s reverie of the sunset is ruined by Wobbuffet who deflects Meowth’s claw attack onto himself, this gets Jessie and James thinking about their next strategy. The Pokémon Centre’s power suddenly cuts, and the group leave the cafeteria to inquire about the power cut which has happening all over town. Nurse Joy explains that she can do nothing if a Pokémon is brought in without her machines and there’s no word from the workers at the power plant so the group soon decides to check up on this. Gary notices the blackout and the group head towards the source where the workers are tied up and Team Rocket are stealing power to run their new Wobbuffet robot. They appear before the group and get the battle started; Pikachu’s electricity is absorbed into the machine and sent back at the group with double power like a real Wobbuffet’s abilities. Ash next uses Totodile and Misty her Staryu and Poliwhirl, but their attacks are sent back too. Team Rocket approach the group but a weakness is found in that the power cord isn’t long enough and holds the Rocket’s machine back. Umbreon destroys the cord which puts a stop to the machine’s power. As the group run back to the power plant, Jessie reckons there’s another way to get their machine going. The workers are freed and a plan to restore the power is briefed, but the Wobbuffet robot returns, powered by James and Meowth’s cycling motion. Ash outruns a punch and barely avoids a chop, but James and Meowth are too tired to go on and the robot stops in its tracks. Pikachu attacks and the electricity isn’t countered, but this unfortunately restores power to the robot, Cyndaquil and Chikorita appear next and Ash devises a brilliant strategy; as the robot counters the Fire attack, Chikorita binds the doors shut, and the fire heats up the robot before blowing it up outright. Ash catches up with Gary at the secondary dam, where the water gate must be opened. The group must bust into the storage room where the handle is kept, Umbreon lights up the room with its abilities and with Cyndaquil’s and Totodile’s abilities (used in the past to weaken metal); Chikorita is able to break the chain holding the handle. Together the group and Gary manage to get the handle turning to open the gate, and finally, Pikachu’s electricity jump starts the secondary generator to restore power to the town. Ash thanks Gary for his help; in return Gary compliments Ash’s progress as a trainer and tells him not to be surprised if he’s the one to challenge him next time. Joy thanks the group as a Pokémon was indeed brought in last night, the group march on to their next location, with Ash’s spirit on a high. My favourite Quote: Meowth: “Ahhh... Ain’t that beautiful?... Nuttin’ makes me more peaceful an’ calm than sittin’ an’ watchin’ a sunset.” Wobbuffet (rising up behind him): “Wo-bba!” Meowth: “Hey! Pipe down! Can’t ya see I’m calm an’ peaceful here ya dopey blob?!” Things I’d like to point out: I reckon this is the first time a trainer actually sounds like a child, rather than a teenager/adult or voiced by a lady. To be totally honest, the fake posh accent and the low believability of the emotions pretty much proves they actually got a child to do this one rather than the adult regulars. It seems to me that the group is surprisingly... not as surprised as they should be by the discovery that Eevee can evolve into something other than the three evolutions they knew of. Gary and very well all trainers shouldn’t stand so close to their Pokémon during a battle, that Zap Cannon looked (and if the attack level in the games has anything to do with it, IS) powerful, and Gary’s a cool customer not to flinch at all. I’m glad Psychic indeed didn’t do a thing to Umbreon, but Gary could have explained it better, in that it’s not just Umbreon that’s immune to it, but All Dark-types. Apparently Alex may have gotten that though, as he uses no other Psychic attacks and even uses Dynamicpunch, a Fighting-type move which Dark-types are weak against. Oh look; Teleport’s being used in battle, even though in the games the Pokémon would attempt to flee, the series simply has the Pokémon warp to another location. What was that junk Ash mouthed off about way back in “Abra and the Psychic Showdown” about it being against the rules to leave the stadium even through teleportation?... Regardless of where he heard that rubbish, it was dead wrong. Cool move from Wobbuffet and (unlike usual) a legitimate one since Meowth’s Scratch attack is physical and therefore could be countered, it’s good that Wobbuffet can look out for itself and use Counter as a defence mechanism without Jessie’s instruction. Does Misty honestly have to ask where Brock is planning to go? Brock has heard about the situation and then asked where the power plant is, so where else would he go? Out of town while the crisis is happening? That wouldn’t be like him, especially when the respect of Nurse Joy is a possible prize. There’s a big flaw in Team Rocket’s plan, in that the wire from the power plant to the robot isn’t nearly long enough to reach the Pokémon Centre. It’s mentioned that they were aware Ash and Pikachu were at the Pokémon Centre, so why does Jessie later claim it’s lucky when they spot Ash and the group coming towards them? Unless the robot was built specifically to battle them, what’s the point in Team Rocket using it on the Pokémon Centre? If they could apprehend four workers and tie them up, why can’t they do the same to all in the Pokémon Centre, which is more than likely just one nurse and maybe a handful of young trainers with injured or resting Pokémon? This is the only time the cartoon can get away with using Counter for everything, since Team Rocket built a whole mechanism to send attacks back to their source, but usually Mirror Coat would be all that a normal Wobbuffet could use to send back the majority of attacks seen in the episode. When the gate opens and the group are shown on the screen in separate quarters, Gary’s one expands when he nods, maybe his head is too big for his area and therefore pushed it forward when he nodded. To be honest, Ash shouldn’t be so thankful towards Gary, he didn’t actually do very much, he surely must have seen the Wobbuffet robot attacking Ash and yet didn’t return later to help even though he couldn’t do anything due to the missing handle. All he did in the course of the episode was smash an unguarded plug, light a storage room (even though I’m sure the handle wasn’t that hard to find in the so-called darkness plus Cyndaquil should have lit up the room) and help rotate a handle. Ash should take more credit for his deeds, as for once I respect him for the strategy used to defeat Team Rocket’s robot today. Who’s That Pokémon?: (This Pokémon teases its opponents by spitting in their eyes!) Shellder Cameos in Pokémon Journey: None, although a certain Eevee has already been written into the series and is awaiting its Dark-type evolution. Mountain Time Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Ledian, Pidgeotto, Meowth, Victreebel, Noctowl, Wobbuffet, Bulbasaur, Weezing Story: The group arrive on a mountain range, and Ash discovers a Ledian while burning off some energy and running around. He follows it but a sudden gust stops the both of them, it comes from a Pidgeotto who was training the Ledian’s skills. The Pokémon are owned by a mountain ranger and his son Benji, trying to enhance his Ledian’s skills to help with any situation they might need to deal with. Benji’s father goes into town and the group remain with his son, Ledian is trained again but caught in Team Rocket’s vacuum, Team Rocket blow Ledian back but suck up Pikachu and Togepi. Ledian attempts to rescue them but is blown back, before strong winds send the balloon flying off course. Benji takes responsibility, first ringing his father before taking the group to help. Team Rocket are caught hanging off a spike in a mountain wall, and soon they and the captured Pokémon take a fall on it, which lands on a spire and in a perilous situation. The group are blocked off by falling rocks in the way of the road, and climbing isn’t an option since they’re shifting too easily. The group take a detour, climbing an old rope ladder, Benji tests it before the group follow, but winds start again and the supports break, making Ash, Misty and Brock take a fall. Benji, Ledian and soon Noctowl assist in holding the rope ladder and pulling it up. Team Rocket and the Pokémon must remain perfectly still to support the ‘see- saw’ rock. Team Rocket gets into a fight over a chocolate bar and threatens to topple the rock, it balances out but Togepi’s obliviousness and Wobbuffet’s appearance brings it crashing down. Luckily, Togepi saves the group with its teleportation, placing the group back on the spire, (although Jessie puts it down to it all being a dream). Ledian finds the spire and the group close in, Bulbasaur attempts to grab them but is out of range, Ledian suggests it flies through the current winds despite Benji’s worries, but he soon agrees they must try. The victims jump into a net which is ferried down a makeshift wire, the rock topples but Ledian is able to bring the group down safely, Team Rocket realise their safety is guaranteed, and so recapture Pikachu. Team Rocket’s Pokémon battle the fatigued Ledian and attempt a smokescreen to escape, but Benji’s dad returns with his Pokémon, his Pidgeotto blowing the smoke away and then attacking. The two Ledian attack and free Togepi and Pikachu, the latter defeating Team Rocket. Ash thanks Benji for all his help and the first star of the night is noticed which causes the two Ledian’s spots to glow; a sign that Benji’s Ledian is well trained and proving he’s ready for the mountain patrol job. The group will move on in the morning, something that can’t be said for Team Rocket, trapped upon another rock on a spire and soon taking another fall. My favourite Quote: Ash: “Hey! What are you guys tryin’ to pull this time?!” Jessie: “The same as always. We’re taking your Pikachu.” Brock: “You can’t be serious!” Misty: “After we just saved all of you!” James: “It isn’t our fault that you have bad judgement.” Things I’d like to point out: The intro to the Zapdos theme in the second movie is played during the brief windstorm with Ledian. Why is catching Togepi along with Pikachu lucky? Unless Team Rocket have another use for Togepi, this is a mistake to say, since the Boss was completely unimpressed the last time they brought Togepi to him (“The Battle Of The Badge”). It’s really farfetched to believe that Benji alone could hold the combined weight of Ash, Misty and Brock, maybe if Ledian had helped from the start, it’d be believable, as Ledian’s strength could be anything the writers need it to be. Either this wasn’t thought through, or Togepi’s looking to be an extremely strong Pokémon. It teleports a group of seven including itself, which is more than it’s done in the past, but it also brings the rock, and balances it on the spire (and to a lesser extent, teleports the chocolate as well). One question though? Why couldn’t Togepi just teleport everyone to a safe place instead of back on the spire? Jessie should think clearly, if what happened to them was only a dream, why is Wobbuffet with them? The rock toppled as soon as it appeared the first time round. Meowth claims they wouldn’t save Ash and his friends despite their saving them, but it’s disproved by the movies, in which Team Rocket always end up helping Ash somehow, especially in the third movie in which they save him from a fall and claim if Ash died, they’d be out of show business. Who’s That Pokémon?: (This Pokémon can use a 10, 000 volt Thunder Wave attack!) Raichu Cameos in Pokémon Journey: None, but count on seeing a Ledian, coupled with the most unlikely trainer. Wobbu-Palooza! Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Wobbuffet, Meowth, Hitmonlee, Machoke, Primeape, Chikorita, Poliwhirl, Golbat, Arbok, Victreebel, Staryu, Weezing Story: The group finish a break of theirs, and a Wobbuffet appears, naturally the group think Team Rocket’s around but then a whole group of Wobbuffet appear around them. The group enter a village full of Wobbuffet in which the citizens adore them and are currently having a festival to honour them. Team Rocket wander into town and are mistaken for regular visitors due to their Wobbuffet. They are waited on by a friendly woman called Lulu and stuff their faces; while their Wobbuffet is given a headband to distinguish it from the others. Above, a trio of vandals prepare to wreck the festival with their Hitmonlee, Machoke and Primeape, they start by knocking out a young girl’s Wobbuffet, and work their way through the town. The group assumes it’s Team Rocket’s doing, but currently, they’re trying to steal food. They manage to defend themselves from the accusations with Lulu’s help and the group dash off towards the real culprits, while Team Rocket get back to their own crime. This isn’t the first time the vandals have done this sort of thing, they were here a year ago raising their Pokémon by having them vandalise the town, but Lulu’s Wobbuffet defeated them, they’re here now for revenge, taking it out on all the Wobbuffet. Ash wants to battle but Lulu and Officer Jenny stop him due to a tradition which prohibits all Pokémon Battles during the festival, due to the fact that no Wobbuffet can ever attack first. Ash agrees but the vandals don’t and turn their attention to the giant Wobbuffet statue in the centre of the village. Team Rocket have been watching and decide to help, partly for Wobbuffet’s empathy with the town’s ways and values and its fellow Wobbuffet, but also because they’ve been treated so well by Lulu. Ash must be told again not to fight but the vandals are attacked by Team Rocket, who don’t care for the rules. Arbok and Victreebel fight the Pokémon but can’t match their strength and Wobbuffet is sent out, it deflects all attacks with Counter so the vandals attack together in the hopes of overpowering it, but Wobbuffet surprisingly is able to repel everything, and the vandals flee. Team Rocket are thanked but are in trouble for their actions despite them being selfless, they accept the wrong they did and willingly leave town, a noble act it seems, until their balloon lowers and picks up the food for the festival. The group chases after them and Staryu brings down the balloon, they attempt to use the no battling rule in their favour, but Jenny reveals it’s not active outside the village; Pikachu defeats them and regains the food. Ash’s group is invited to stay for the festival due to their deeds, while Team Rocket is out in the cold that night with their Wobbuffet. My favourite Quote: James: “I feel guilty stealing food from all the people who fed us so well.” Meowth: “All we’re doin’ is cuttin’ out the middleman.” Things I’d like to point out: The title is based on “Lollapalooza”, a certain Rock Festival. Misty says she’s never seen so many of one Pokémon in one place, what about all the Pikachu back in “Pikachu’s Goodbye”, there were so many of them, the only other kind of Pokémon in the episode was Meowth. There’s a tiny Wobbuffet in this episode, but it’s something of a contradiction due to the later appearance of a pre-evolved Wobbuffet, Wynaut. Because of this, there shouldn’t be any Wobbuffet babies (stunted growth maybe, but not babies). No one seems to have a nickname for their Wobbuffet; in a town in which everyone owns one it must get confusing sometimes and possibly demeaning always referring to a single Wobbuffet as someone’s property just to tell it apart. After/during the scene where Team Rocket first view the Wobbuffet statue and Wobbuffet gets the last line, there seems to be a sound error straight after it speaks as less than a second of someone’s voice, most likely one of the vandals, is heard. It must be noted to take things literally, in that the vandals came about a year go, not exactly, or else Lulu’s Wobbuffet would not have been allowed to defend against them. This episode is proof that Pokémon in a real life setting would be a bad thing as anyone it seems can catch a Pokémon and terrorise people and/or destroy property with them, surely all trainers should need a clean police record and to pass various tests before being able to catch or own a Pokémon (like people who own guns), that or join Team Rocket who are usually the villains in every setting. I’m getting sick of this common mistake, first Jessie gets to counter everything with Counter, and now it seems the rest of the world is making mistakes, when the man claims Lulu’s Wobbuffet defeated the Fighting Pokémon with Mirror Coat (but Counter as well). Mirror Coat deflects only special attacks, something Fighting Pokémon have virtually nothing of and weren’t using at the time if the visual interpretations have anything to do with it. This is a relevant episode to mention that Wobbuffet aren’t/shouldn’t be invulnerable, I like some of the uses in Counter within the series but in the games a Wobbuffet must not only select the right sort of counter-attack (Counter for physical and Mirror Coat for special attacks) but also endure/survive the hit in order to send it back with double strength; if this wasn’t a factor like in the series, then a Wobbuffet could theoretically deflect every single attack and therefore not be able to lose a battle. It’s ridiculous that Wobbuffet aren’t allowed to defend themselves against violent attacks during the festival simply because it could get dubbed as a Pokémon Battle, if the festival truly honours Wobbuffet for not attacking first, they should have the right to deflect those who seek to harm them without being subject to breaking the silly rules or accepting to fight in an OFFICIAL Pokémon Battle. Besides, a Pokémon Battle is subject to rules and regulations and the fact the trio are likely using all three Pokémon against solo Wobbuffet means they’re just out to attack them, not compete in an official battle (they even admit they want revenge on all Wobbuffet). Why can’t Officer Jenny see the difference, or even use her own Wobbuffet in the line of duty (which should also not count as an official match)? Ash shocks Team Rocket all the time and most of those incidents don’t count as official Pokémon Battles, Ash should have at least been allowed to shock the bullies in the hopes they retreated from the village followed by their Pokémon. The ‘Round the Moon’ based Seismic Toss shouldn’t be possible for Machoke, no other Pokémon has used Seismic Toss in that way apart from Charizard but it can Fly! I wouldn’t even mind if the Machoke was spinning in a circle while descending, but the clouds in the background aren’t moving and therefore neither is the Machoke, not downwards anyway. Who’s That Pokémon?: (This vicious Pokémon feeds on Pidgey’s eggs!) Sneasel Cameos in Pokémon Journey: Surprisingly, I’ve decided to include Lulu and the Wobbuffet festival in a future story. Imitation Confrontation Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Ditto, Meowth, Chansey, Onix, Totodile, Wobbuffet, Ursaring, Mareep, Spinarak, Dragonite, Scizor, Dragonair, Clefairy, Omastar, Arcanine, Noctowl, Arbok, Weezing Story: At the local Pokémon Centre, the group comes across a Nurse Joy impostor whom Brock immediately realises; it turns out to be their old acquaintance Duplica, along with Ditto pretending to be a Chansey. The real Nurse Joy comes out of an examination with another Ditto, nicknamed Mini-Dit. Duplica demonstrates the abilities of her newest Pokémon, and why she brought it into the Pokémon Centre. It imitates small Pokémon like Pikachu and Togepi fine, but big Pokémon like Onix it can only imitate its form, but not alter its size to match. Team Rocket having recognised Duplica earlier see Mini-Dit and decide to steal it). Ash raises Duplica’s spirits with how impressed he is with Duplica’s level before challenging her, and uses Totodile so Mini-Dit transforms as such. Scary Face doesn’t faze Totodile who retaliates with Water Gun, Duplica’s next attack fails due to asking for Hydro Pump (an attack the real Totodile hasn’t learnt yet and so can’t be carried over to Mini-Dit). A Tackle depletes Totodile’s strength and Duplica moans at Ash for not training enough, but the remainder of the battle is interrupted by Team Rocket’s (dressed as Ash and Duplica) motto while Meowth swipes Mini-Dit and they disappear. The group enter the damaged Pokémon Centre where it’s discovered Team Rocket ran away straight after their escape. Team Rocket passed up the other Pokémon as being greedy is usually their downfall, Meowth has an idea: Transform Mini-Dit into a mini Pokémon, trade it for a rare Pokémon, steal Mini-Dit back and repeat the first two steps. Soon Nurse Joy reports a trainer’s news of two suspicious characters with a miniature Arbok. Team Rocket rejects most of the Pokémon offered for it and Ash and the others catch up. They try to convince Ash to trade for Pikachu but he refuses despite their pestering, Meowth gets impatient and angry, and by mouthing off reveals Team Rocket completely. They are beaten by Pikachu and Mini-Dit is returned, but Team Rocket attack. Meowth convinces Jessie to use Wobbuffet so it and Arbok prepare to battle, Duplica decides to fight them with her two Ditto, the first transforms into Arbok and Mini-Dit into Wobbuffet. Ditto’s Tackle and Arbok’s Poison Sting are both countered by the opponent’s ‘Wobbuffet’. James and Meowth plan a sneak attack on Pikachu, but Weezing’s Sludge attack is stopped by Ditto’s Wrap. Because of this, Pikachu legitimately joins the battle and uses Thunderbolt, but it’s countered. Duplica baits Jessie to attack Mini-Dit, and using Counter and Mirror Coat, Tackle and Sludge attack are repelled, Jessie questions this and Duplica explains another method of countering involving the technique Mirror Coat. Mini-Dit’s skill and trust in Duplica is realised by the Rockets, before Meowth attacks Mini-Dit and gets Fury Swiped himself. James tells Jessie to beat them at their own game using Wobbuffet’s counter- attacks in the same way as Duplica, while all Ditto transform into Pikachu and use Thunder. Jessie botches it and can’t remember which technique to use, she leaves the decision to Wobbuffet, who responds too late, and Team Rocket is blasted away once more. Duplica puts on a little show at the Pokémon Centre showcasing her Mini-Dit becoming little Pokémon, Ash and Brock compliment Mini-Dit’s skills despite the ability it doesn’t have. Duplica decides to continue catching unique Ditto to create a team but wants to finish her match with Ash, while Team Rocket stuck on a tree branch confirm Duplica’s theory and Jessie complains that her Wobbuffet shouldn’t have lost to Mini-Dit. My favourite Quote: (Duplica’s Ditto imitating Ash’s Totodile is unable to perform Hydro Pump attack) Duplica: “I don’t understand what the problem could be Ash, your Totodile Knows Hydro Pump, doesn’t it?” Ash: “Uh, well... Not exactly, no.” Totodile: “To-to-to-to-to-to-to. Dile!” (Duplica moans and her head hangs down in disappointment/disbelief) Duplica: “I guess what ya don’t know can’t hurt ya...” Things I’d like to point out: There’s a HUGE error that tends to get overlooked, look at the Pokémon Centre at the very start; it has scaffolding poles on the roof, but when Team Rocket attacks, they’re gone in the midst of the explosion, but at the end of the episode the poles are back again. Clearly the reason for the poles was because Team Rocket caused the explosion and the Centre needed to be immediately repaired, so the shot of the damaged Pokémon Centre was either mistakenly or purposefully used at the start of the episode. Come on animators, it’s just one background, and laziness to this degree Will get spotted. It doesn’t make much difference but only real Pokémon are listed above, not Ditto’s impersonation of them. As far as can be told, the voice actress for Duplica has remained the same, that or the change is extremely subtle and sounds almost alike to the old voice. This is nice as the changes with Suzie (“Beauty and the Breeder”) and Aiya in a few episodes time (“Ariados Amigos”) are noticeably different. Brock gets one word wrong that invalidates his statement, Ditto can’t use attacks that the Pokémon they Copied hasn’t learned yet, seeing as the Pokémon they’re battling could get switched for another. Team Rocket might feel like imitating the group as revenge for the insults they were done in kind the last time Duplica was present, but they should have got matching clothes in their size; the trousers and sleeves are way too short (and where did James get the rare limited edition cap?!). For once Wobbuffet’s appearance in the motto is intentional, and a good trick, seeing as the group put it down to it’s doing its own thing as normal while Meowth sneaks up from behind and swipes Mini-Dit. Don’t the group get it as fast as normal people do? Nurse Joy’s explanation of how Team Rocket escaped and Brock figuring the explosion was a diversion should be enough proof that Team Rocket swiped Mini- Dit. Yet the group continue hanging around the Pokémon Centre like it just wandered off, all the while not calling the police. Jessie describes the Mini-Arbok as a rock/Rock Pokémon in her sales pitch; considering Ditto is a Normal-type and normal Arbok are Poison-types, words that are also Pokémon types should be carefully inserted into any line that refers to a Pokémon as it can easily be confused with their actual type. If Jessie meant the latter rather than Mini-Arbok being an amazing Pokémon, then the Mini-Dit nor Arbok are Rock-types (unless Mini-Dit impersonates one). James seemingly impersonates the style of the Magikarp Salesman in slapping a paper fan on the counter during the sales speech, funny how he does this yet doesn’t recognise the man the next time he is seen. Team Rocket shouldn’t have set their sights so high (some of the Pokémon offered are ones they set out to catch in previous episodes), even though a Dragonite is probably the only thing they could bring in for the Boss’s complete forgiveness, hardly anyone is going to own one given how rare they are in the cartoon’s world, and even if someone did, they surely wouldn’t trade it for a novelty little Pokémon. Also, the series has sometimes had small but evolved Pokémon anyway, like Nidoqueen in the Mewtwo feature film, Rhyhorn in “Bulbasaur’s Mysterious Garden” a tiny Cloyster in “Friends to the End”, a short Hitmonchan in “Pikachu Re-Volts” and small Electabuzz in “Pikachu Re-Volts” and “Pokémon Double Trouble”. Doesn’t one person think they might be passing baby Pokémon or Pokémon with stunted growth off as rare little ones? Why didn’t Mini-Dit say anything or revert to normal when Duplica was trying to prove it belonged to her with Team Rocket? James later claims it played along to protect itself but it could have done more to expose Team Rocket. It’s not like the cage prevented it from speaking or transforming, I don’t get the impression (pun not intended) that Team Rocket threatened it, despite their threatening the other Ditto in “Ditto’s Mysterious Mansion” (who also didn’t speak up when Duplica needed it to). And how many times has Ash said “There’s something awfully familiar about you two.” or to that effect to Team Rocket, without going with instincts and attacking. Jessie and James rarely bother to change their hair, and considering the group were looking for them while they tried to trade a Pokémon in the nearby streets, they should have made an effort, and it’s not like they can’t after costumes they’ve worn in the past. Duplica explains that physical attacks can be countered by Counter, and specialised attacks by Mirror Coat. She’s closer to being right than Team Rocket getting to counter everything with Counter but not completely accurate to the games’ rules on Wobbuffet since the various attack types either fall into the physical (based on Attack power) or the special (based on Special Attack power), and Counter and Mirror Coat counteract them respectively. My proof is that Poison Sting and Sludge attack, both Poison in nature, get countered by different techniques from Mini-Dit (plus Duplica speaks as if it’s better to use the correct counter than what Team Rocket do, not the fact that the wrong counter would normally result in no counter-attack being performed). The only exception to Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet is on the off chance it knows the difference and used Mirror Coat wherever necessary contrary to Jessie’s constant orders to use Counter. For future reference, one source I trust lists Ground, Poison, Flying, Steel, Rock, Normal, Bug, Fighting and Ghost attacks to be Physical types and Ice, Fire, Dragon, Psychic, Dark, Electric, Grass and Water to be Special types. Unfortunately, this is the only time things are remotely explained and the system pretty much returns to the way it was before from the next episode onwards. Meowth should have known better than to use claw-related attacks on any kind of Wobbuffet after his experience in “Power Play!”. Who’s That Pokémon?: (Use a Fire Stone on Vulpix to get this Pokémon!) Ninetales Cameos in Pokémon Journey: Duplica again, but her appearance in Chapter 30 is her only one planned, and Mini-Dit did not appear then, it joined her long afterwards. The Trouble with Snubbull Pokémon seen: Togepi, Pikachu, Snubbull, Meowth, Mankey, Granbull, Wobbuffet, Arbok, Weezing, Cyndaquil Story: The group relaxes by a riverside when Ash and Pikachu notice Madame Muchmoney’s Snubbull running around. Team Rocket wanders around famished; Snubbull discovers them and bites down on Meowth’s tail. Jessie and James are kind of happy to see it again but Meowth isn’t, and screams out how much he hates her before managing to throw Snubbull away some distance. The group continue searching when they come across a tired out man, he turns out to be Jeeves, the attendant of Madam Muchmoney. The two have been travelling for some time searching for Snubbull and the old lady is much more energetic, healthy and strong than she used to be. She explains that Snubbull still wasn’t happy with its surroundings and left home, so she’s been on a long and hard journey searching for her Pokémon. Ash notifies them that he saw it a few moments ago, and using an old ribbon Pikachu picks up Snubbull’s scent and tracks down the lost Pokémon. Snubbull is depressed having heard Meowth’s dislike for her, a rustling brings about a daydream of Meowth, but it turns out to be a Mankey who heavily damages Snubbull. She’s found by the group and seen to at the Pokémon Centre where Muchmoney promises good things for her Snubbull, including a nature park replacing the garden for her to play in, but Snubbull is saddened by her ‘loss’ and ends up leaving at night seeking Meowth. Team Rocket enter town having gotten some food from apple trees, they discover Muchmoney is around, and despite Meowth’s protests, decide to catch Snubbull in order to receive a reward for her. Soon enough Snubbull hears Meowth’s cries as Jessie and James have tied and hung him from a tree to lure Snubbull to them, but it backfires in that Snubbull evolves and attacks, thinking Meowth is in trouble. Wobbuffet turns tail and runs, Arbok attacks but its tail is chewed on, Weezing uses Smokescreen which allows Arbok to escape and Meowth frees himself and brings in a new robot shaped like him, the tail on it attracts Granbull to bite it, but she won’t let go to be caged. The group appear and mistake the situation for Team Rocket’s usual schemes but Jessie and James make out as if they’ve constantly been searching for Snubbull as an act of good will. Unfortunately for them, since Granbull won’t let go, and Meowth’s accidental shocking of it, Muchmoney and Jeeves, Team Rocket are accused of tricking everyone and end up having to threaten to take Granbull if Pikachu isn’t handed over so it’s not a total loss. Pikachu can’t fight with Granbull attached so Cyndaquil heats up the machine, and Granbull is accidentally launched. Muchmoney’s muscle is used to catch her Pokémon despite the force of the missile tail, and the bond between them is restored. Muchmoney fights with her Granbull, who dodges fired missile gloves and goes on to tackle and use Dynamicpunch on the robot, which causes the monitors to break and cut off Team Rocket’s vision, Pikachu finishes things in the usual method. Muchmoney thanks the group for their help and prepares to return home... by foot! My favourite Quote: (At the end of the Team Rocket motto) Meowth: “Meowth! That’s right! Agh! But what you’re doin’ ta me is dead wrong! You’re supposed ta be my friends!” Jessie: “We Are your friends Meowth and sometimes friends have to make sacrifices.” James: “What’s the big deal?! Once we get that reward we’ll buy you a new tail!” Meowth: “I don't wanna new tail! I want this one!” Things I’d like to point out: I brought it up in “Snubbull Snobbery” but the group shouldn’t know Madam Muchmoney’s name, mainly because it was never mentioned in the story and they haven’t seen her since. Occasionally some episodes go by in which the group will spend a day with someone but not get their name, and if that happens they shouldn’t suddenly know it later nor meet again with anyone whom they didn’t have the decency to ask the name of. What does Nurse Joy mean about bringing Snubbull to the Pokémon Centre for tests? As the opening background suggested, everyone was already in the Pokémon Centre so she should have better phrased things and just described what room Snubbull needed to be moved to. Just one question, how did Snubbull open the window on her own? I don’t think she’s got the digits for it, and the window Was closed as when Nurse Joy discovers Snubbull’s vanished, the wind from outside is blowing the curtains around. I hate it when characters are too prepared or conveniently have back-up plans to perfectly suit a situation. Meowth’s machine (from “Two Hits and a Miss”) is too convenient since it looks like a Meowth and has a tail to bite on, and he certainly changes his tune, usually he’d punish or get back at Jessie and James after what they did to him. I’m getting sick of Misty saying “You can’t shock Team Rocket, you’ll shock (insert relevant Pokémon here) too.” (or something to that degree). What difference does it make in this particular situation? Granbull’s already been shocked by Team Rocket, and doesn’t look any worse off for it. Either Muchmoney’s car is really fast to be able to get from the mansion to her current position, or it’s been driven around nearby whenever she and Jeeves went. Either way, it shows how filthy rich she is to have such a service. Who’s That Pokémon?: (This Pokémon uses mostly its feet to battle!) Hitmonlee Cameos in Pokémon Journey: None, although a Granbull is seen fairly early in Series 2. Ariados, Amigos Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Ariados, Venonat, Gloom, Scyther, Hitmonlee, Starmie, Pineco, Spinarak, Hypno, Houndour, Bulbasaur, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Pidgey, Arbok Story: At a mountain lake, the group freshen up and prepare to eat one of Brock’s special lunches. Misty goes off alone to pick flowers but comes across an Ariados which scares her silly before moving from its perfectly still position. Aiya appears with her Venonat but it’s revealed she was meant to locate and defeat it for her test, Ariados is cut down in its run but before Venonat can finish it, it’s caught in Ariados’s Spider Web. Its trainer is Aiya’s tutor who runs a dojo which teaches Pokémon Jujitsu techniques. Brock wishes to try it and the entire group talks their way into one free day of lessons. Ash will learn battle techniques, Brock in a technical class to enhance and make attacks more effective, and Misty for beauty treatment, although she’d prefer a battle class she goes along with it. It’s not what she thinks though and the treatment involves a Spinarak’s webbing being shot into her face. Brock works well together with Pineco until it explodes again, and Ash battles Aiya with Bulbasaur, with similar attacks from their last battle, Venonat escapes Leech Seed but it’s all in vain and Bulbasaur manages to win without any real trouble. Team Rocket spy and plan on a major heist of the Pokémon here. At night, Aiya is noticed training with her Pokémon; Ash commends her for the commitment to her training but Venonat soon runs back to the dojo where several trainers have had their Pokéballs stolen. Team Rocket appear and soon leave on their balloon but abduct Pikachu too, Aiya’s teacher and Ariados activate a kite to reach the balloon and ninja stars soon pop it, but Arbok does the same for the kite. The old man frees the Pokéballs and passes them towards Aiya and the others in order to land safely with the torn damaged kite. Team Rocket crash and are separated from Pikachu, Ash has to retrieve it from a tree while Team Rocket has Arbok attack Aiya and her teacher, Ariados is exhausted and Aiya and Venonat must fight, despite her doubts that she hasn’t completed her training. Arbok dodges Stun Spore and two Poison Stings are overpowered by Arbok’s, her teacher reminds her to remember her training from earlier, leading her to order her Venonat to rest. Arbok uses Wrap attack and gives Venonat the squeeze when it suddenly unleashes Stun Spore and catches Arbok off guard and follows up with Tackle. Before Aiya faces off against the other Pokémon, Ash appears and has Pikachu shock Team Rocket before they can release the others and they are defeated. Aiya’s technique was similar to the Ariados’s win over her, in making the enemy overconfident of an apparent fault and turning weakness into strength, this is the key to Pokémon Jujitsu. The group prepare to leave and are welcome to take a refresher course in the future (including Misty but she declines), and the group soon leave with new lessons to help them on their way. My favourite Quote: Misty: “That treatment made me look like a movie star all right, the star of a Horror Movie!...” Brock: “At least you didn’t get your face blown up...” Things I’d like to point out: The title is a pun of “Adios, Amigos” (Spanish for “Goodbye, Friends”). Aiya shouldn’t be so happy in locating Ariados, what with the group blowing its cover, anyone could have seen it. Brock should not have said he recognized Aiya’s voice, at least not with the fact that the voice actress has changed and it’s extremely noticeable even for those that saw the Fuchsia Gym episode “The Ninja Poké-Showdown” but haven’t replayed it in a while, they even have the cheek to re-dub a clip with the new voice to justify Brock’s statement, effectively through a lie. I would have thought Misty wouldn’t want to follow not only Ariados with the others but Venonat too (even though Venonat somehow doesn’t register on her Bug Pokémon fear radar). Ash claims there’s got to be fifty different Pokémon in the dojo courtyard, but we only see a fraction of that, there are however about that many trainers scattered around in the following shots. Pineco seemingly floats because it descends slowly after it comes out of its ball and is grabbed by Brock. Why is Ash wearing his cap when he dresses in uniform? Can’t he take it off for once to look remotely smart for a serious course? And as for the red, blue and yellow costumes, they might be inspired by the first Pokémon games; Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Yellow. I’m not gonna moan at the use of Spikes attack, Brock uses it to pierce several balloons in a test, in the games it’s used to litter the floor and hurt any new Pokémon that are called into battle, but who’s to say those spikes that Pineco fired didn’t make the floor dangerous like its primary use? On the other hand, Rage is used all wrong again, as a means to charge forward, not charge attack power, and has the visual aspect of Quick Attack which ends with Flamethrower. I’m Hating the new Hypno voice, I was quite content with the mellower slightly echoing voice from the old days. Luck is right, I wouldn’t really say Ash has a strategy, at least not very often, he just reacts by instinct primarily, however this isn’t always a good thing as everyone should know from Ash’s past mistakes. Again Team Rocket seem to have gotten their hands on some Pidgeys solely to release in their intro, that or a scriptwriter just didn’t think this through. If Wobbuffet wasn’t meant to be a part of the motto or be remotely involved in the magic themed introduction, why is it wearing a similar costume and when did put it on (when it was in its Pokéball, I don’t think so)? Aiya was all set to actually battle Team Rocket, but then Ash intervenes saying he wants to get rid of the bad guys himself, and instead of battling Team Rocket he blows them up with Pikachu before they can even release their Pokémon. In dealing with Team Rocket, Ash is becoming more like them in his methods to defeating them. Who’s That Pokémon?: (This Pokémon has the ability to copy an opponent’s DNA!) Ditto Cameos in Pokémon Journey: Aiya’s appearance in Chapter 38 is all she gets, and of course took place before she began training here. Wings ‘N’ Things Pokémon seen: Pikachu, Togepi, Yanma, Meowth, Victreebel, Wobbuffet, Chikorita, Poliwhirl, Arbok Story: The group notice a Yanma, who flies off with Ash’s cap, it’s ordered down by its trainer Zachary Evans and the possession returned but it soon flies off again. It flies into town, making people retreat into their homes and board up their windows, when Zachary gets close, it starts flapping its wings at such a rate that shock waves are created which crack several of a sleeping baker’s windows. He drags Zachary to his father, who promises to replace the windows (one of his duties as a glassmaker) and then orders Zachary to get rid of Yanma for the good of everyone. Zachary is reluctant to do so, and reminisces about finding the Yanma soaked, taking it home and restoring its health, but it’s a born troublemaker. He tried to train it in order to tame it but failed on that part; he hasn’t any other choice and releases Yanma into the wild despite how much he hates to do so. He soon finds himself rushing back but Yanma has now flown off, and into the clutches of Team Rocket who quickly discover its ability to shatter windows which gives Jessie an idea. They send it rushing through town with Meowth and Victreebel and destroy all the windows, and then Jessie and James trundle in as glass merchants, but are later revealed to have sold off sheets of ice instead. The group find his father in the Pokémon Centre, while Zachary enters town and is blamed for Yanma’s actions, and for being part of the scam when all the ice melts away. The group are shown stained glass windows decorating the Pokémon Centre, it was hard work and another reason why Mr Evans had to ask Zachary to drop Yanma, but Nurse Joy explains Yanmas are naturally difficult to train. Zachary is brought to them by the townsfolk while Team Rocket foolishly pass by and expose themselves. A battle is set but any action from Yanma will destroy the stained glass, which is used as a threat if Ash makes any moves at all. Yanma is recalled and Zachary is endangered when he tries to retrieve the Pokéball, but now Misty and Ash can fight back with Poliwhirl and Chikorita, although they are bested in battle this time. Zachary’s father decides to give Zachary and Yanma a chance to battle and be a team, despite the possibility he might have to make more stained glass as a result. The group realises that the shock waves are a part of the Sonic Boom attack and soon enough its aim is focussed and the attack successful on Arbok. Chikorita, Poliwhirl and Yanma team up for a Tackle attack, the money is returned and Team Rocket goes flying. The townsfolk apologise for their wrongful accusations, the stained glass window is soon finished and Zachary and Yanma can be together; all’s well that ends well. My favourite Quote: Jessie: “If you added wings to Caterpie... It would look just like a Yanma, see?” James: “Jessie, I think you may have an honest to goodness talent.” Meowth: “Yeah, but not for poetry.” Things I’d like to point out: Team Rocket should study the guidebook they seem to carry around with them more often and not just when they need it, they learn useful things whenever they do and it couldn’t hurt for them to brush up on all Pokémon facts given their low standards nowadays in attempting to catch whatever they come by. Victreebel doesn’t bite anyone in this episode, with the exception of Meowth literally riding it from inside its mouth; it seems content as long as something is within its jaws. Why did Zachary have to throw the entire Pokéball at Yanma? Surely he could have just used the recall laser instead, and we know Yanma isn’t wild or uncaught as we’ve seen the Pokéball used earlier. Why does the Pokédex refer to the attacks of Yanma being two of the strongest attacks when it lists three moves: Tackle, Double Team and Sonic Boom? It says Tackle Double Team as if one attack but we all know different and everyone should what with both the attacks being used again and again next episode (“The Grass Route”). Tackle is Yanma’s opening attack but Double Team and Sonic Boom aren’t exactly Yanma’s strongest moves; and they’re typically learnt after two other attacks (Foresight and Quick Attack) that go unmentioned in the episode. Who’s That Pokémon?: (This Pokémon sings a sweet lullaby for all to hear!) Jigglypuff Cameos in Pokémon Journey: None; save for a troublesome Yanma. Episodes #161 - #168 Episodes #177 - #184 Movie and Mini-movie Guide Back to the Pokézone