Pokemon Journeys Show Guide: What To Expect From This Anime?

Pokémon Journeys is the twenty-third season of the Pokémon anime. As well, it serves as the first season of Pokémon Journeys: The Series. Overall, this season is comprised of 48 episodes in total. The story revolves around two trainers, Ash and Goh, and their Pokémon dreams and journeys.

The series starts most of the episodes in Vermilion City, where the Cerise Lab is located. Although, the nature of the show takes Ash and Goh on journeys across all the eight regions of the Pokémon world.

Pokémon Journeys Characters

Ash

Ash, from Pallet Town, has always been the main character of the Pokémon anime. Furthermore, Pokémon Journeys is no exception to this rule. This time around Ash continues chasing his dream to become the strongest Pokémon trainer in the world.

To achieve this, Ash befriends Goh and becomes a research fellow for Professor Cerise. As well, he enrolls in the World Coronation Series, a worldwide Pokémon tournament. The investigation journeys during this season bring new Pokémon mysteries and partners for Ash.

Goh

Goh is a native of Vermilion City. He is decided to learn as much he can about all the Pokémon that exist in the world. To achieve this, he also joins the Cerise Lab research fellow program. His personality resembles Ash’s temperament. Goh is highly energetic and very goal-driven.

As he progresses in his dream to learn all there is to know about Pokémon he decides that his ultimate goal is to catch one of every Pokémon in existence. He intends to end this journey by capturing his most desired Pokémon, Mew.

Chloe

A scholar and a master of dedication. Chloe is Professor Cerise’s daughter, Goh’s childhood friend, and also a Vermilion City native. During this season, she faces many personal struggles. Namely, she wants to build her own path in life and not just follow his dad’s footsteps as a Pokémon Professor. Additionally, she is not comfortable with Pokémon battles, but this takes a surprising turn as the season progresses.

Professor Cerise

Professor Cerise is an old student of Professor Oak. He is a native of Vermilion City. There, he built his laboratory and Cerise Park which serves as a haven for the Pokémon Goh and Ash catch during their journeys. During this season, Professor Cerise entrusts Ash and Goh with the task of being research fellows of his lab.

He sends both of them to all the corners of the Pokémon world to observe and analyze unusual Pokémon phenomena. Through this observation and analysis, Professor Cerise believes that peaceful coexistence can be achieved between humans and Pokémon.

Leon

During this whole season, Ash’s ultimate goal is to defeat Leon and become the greatest trainer in the whole world. Leon, so far, is the undefeated champion from the Galar region. He plays a particularly prominent role in the Sword and Shield arc of Pokémon Journeys.

Sonia

Sonia is Professor Magnolia’s grandaughter. She investigates many occurrences in the Galar region. Her research revolves around the mysterious ancient legend of the hero that saved Galar in the Darkest Day. Even though Sonia is not present in the majority of the episodes, she does play a significant role in the Sword and Shield arc of this season.

Where Can I Watch Pokémon Journeys?

Pokémon Journeys debuted on Netflix in the US. Furthermore, the season has already finished airing on most territories on which it was transmitted on TV. For this reason, you can most likely only watch it on-demand. Luckily, Pokémon Journeys is now available on Netflix in most territories. Additionally, the show is available for purchase on Amazon’s Prime Video in select regions.

Pokémon Journeys Plot

The story of Pokémon Journeys focuses on the trips of Ash and Goh. In addition, some of the season’s plots revolve around Chloe, Professor Cerise’s daughter, and her family. Mainly the whole series follows Ash and his dream to become a Pokémon Master and Goh’s dream to catch one of each Pokémon in the world and eventually catch Mew.

This is one of the best Pokémon shows to date, with so many references to the video games and previous seasons of the anime. The traveling nature of the show makes most episodes exciting, as you don’t know what region will be visited next or what the story arc might bring this time.

Unfortunately, the Sword and Shield story arc by the end of the series is not exactly brilliant. Although, it does the job of bringing part of the story from the games into the anime.

Episodes Synopsis

Episode 1: Enter Pikachu!

Pallet Town – Chloe, Ash, and Goh

This episode starts with the introduction of Pallet town. Soon after, Ash is introduced as he asks his mom for permission to go to Professor Oak’s Pokémon Camp. His mom agrees to fill the form for him, but she states she has an early appointment that day and that Ash would have to wake up early by himself to attend camp.

Shortly after, Pichu is introduced as he plays with three Butterfree in the forest and is later attacked by an Ekans, who he defeats by using Thundershock. Here, we are also reminded that Pichu can’t really control his electricity as he is slightly hurt by it every time he uses it.

Contrary to other Pokémon in the forest, Pichu is all by himself. To continue his bad luck streak, he is attacked by a group of Koffings and falls down a cliff. Luckily, he is caught by a Kangaskhan. This Kangaskhan notices Pichu is all alone and decides to carry him on her pouch alongside her child. Kangaskhan then proceeds to take Pichu and her child to an Oran berry tree, where she feeds both of them with the berries.

After these events, the episode jumps ahead in time a number of weeks later, to the day where the Pokémon Camp begins. All the kids and Professor Oak are ready to leave. As usual, Ash is delayed and they have no option but to wait a bit for him. Here we meet Chloe, who is the daughter of the brilliant Professor Cerise. We also meet Goh, Chloe’s friend who regularly visits her to watch the research her dad is working on.

Ash finally wakes up and leaves his house running while still wearing his pajamas. In the meantime, the kids and Professor Oak have already departed to the nearby woods.

Right after beginning their trip, they witness how a trainer catches a Caterpie by commanding her Squirtle to use Bubble Beam and then catching it with a Pokéball. Professor Oak then proceeds to let the kids know that’s how you catch your own Pokémon. He also tells them that when they reach the age of ten, they can begin their own Pokémon journey.

As the trip goes on, Goh states there’s probably no fact out there he doesn’t know about Pokémon in a cocky manner. Then proceeds to provide several facts about Pokémon they find along the trip impressing the other kids. After a while, Chloe gets annoyed and tells Goh that Professor Oak is right there to provide those facts.

Even though Chloe is clearly upset, Goh continues to interrupt Professor Oak’s presentation to add more facts he knows about Pokémon. As the group is crossing a bridge, Chloe and Goh slow down in pace and are left a little behind the group.

Chloe takes this opportunity to tell Goh that his attitude is the main reason why he is not able to make any friends. In the same cocky tone, Goh tells her that he doesn’t really care about making friends and that his goal is to catch a Pokémon no one has ever seen before.

The Mysterious Pokémon

Right after crossing the bridge, both Chloe and Goh spot a Nidoking who is battling a mysterious Pokémon that they have never seen before, a Mew. The battle ends as Nidoking is defeated by Mew, who counters every attack by replicating each move and attacking Nidoking with it.

As Mew flies away, both kids follow along. They eventually arrived on a prairie, where they randomly find a Magmar who was actually Mew using Transform. Both kids continue to follow Mew as it shows its Transform ability by transforming into a Tauros and then a Lapras.

The scene cuts and the story returns to Pichu and the Kangaskhan, who are being treated with eggs provided to them by a trio of Chanseys. Mew eventually reaches this place. As Mew finds the child of the Kangaskhan who rescued Pichu earlier, it proceeds to play with the baby and eventually saves it after falling from a cliff by using Psychic. After this, Mew reunites the child with its mother and Pichu.

Goh and Chloe witness this and see Mew fly away once more. At this point, both kids are found by Professor Oak, which after hearing their story about the mysterious Pokémon informs them he thinks this might be Mew. Professor Oak then explains that Mew is actually capable of transforming into any Pokémon because its DNA resembles that of all other Pokémon.

Pikachu and Ash

Years have now gone by and Pichu and the baby Kangaskhan have grown bigger. Kangaskhan is running to seek shelter from a storm and carrying her child and Pichu on her pouch. Pichu then notices that carrying him is proving to be a bit too much weight for Kangaskhan to carry. Pichu jumps out of the pouch to walk by himself, but Kangaskhan lovingly grabs him and places him back into her pouch.

As they are all sleeping in a cave that night, Pichu leaves Kangaskhan’s pouch and filled with sadness decides to leave them behind as he is now too big to be her responsibility. As he is leaving, he turns back and see’s them all sleeping. He starts remembering all the good times they lived together.

Filled with sadness and tearing up, he decides he needs to be strong for them and search for his own path in life. As the moon sets behind him, Pichu evolves into Pikachu. Then, Pikachu waves goodbye at the sleeping Kangaskhan and leaves excited for the adventures that await him.

Ash is finally 10 years old and on the day he is going to become a Pokémon trainer and get his first Pokémon from Professor Oak, he is also late. When he arrives at the lab, there is just one Pokémon left. Here, Ash meets Pikachu for the first time and so, his Pokémon Journey begins.

Pikachu is not fond of Ash and as he hugs him, he electrocutes Ash. Time moves forward once again, and we learn that Pikachu and Ash grew to be the closest of friends and that together they have experienced many adventures. We also get to see Chloe and Goh who even though are now grown, continue to follow their dreams and ambitions.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Pichu
Pokémon featured in this episode: Pichu, Kangaskhan, Dodrio, Koffing, Butterfree, Kakuna, Dugtrio, Diglett, Lapras, Tauros, Chansey, Pikachu, Rattata.

Episode 2: Legend? Go! Friends? Go!

Vermilion City

Pikachu and Ash wake up and they are both late, like always, to a meeting with Professor Oak. When they arrive at the lab, Professor Oak informs them that a protégé of him is opening a new research facility in Vermilion city and that he wants to invite them both for the open ceremony.

Ash’s mom and Mr. Mime arrive with the lunch Ash forgot and invites herself to the event. All of them jump into Professor Oak’s car and start the journey to Vermilion City. As they arrive at the city, Ash encounters a Yamper which he cuddles and gets electrocuted as a result. Chloe walks into the scene and we learn this is her Yamper. She walks around Ash as he is still on the ground, stunned by Yamper’s shock.

The opening ceremony start and Professor Cerise, owner of the research lab, walks on stage. Shortly, he explains how Pokémon inhabit every corner of the world and that knowing Pokémon is knowing the world. He concludes by stating that this is the key to making the world a better place. Swiftly after, Chloe is right on the second story of the building waiting for Goh to arrive.

She receives a text message from Goh announcing he is going to be late since he is about to have a “fateful encounter”. Right after, Goh and Professor Cerise both analyze meteorological data and announce an extremely rare Pokémon will appear over Vermilion Port.

Lugia, Goh, and Ash

Upon hearing this, Ash, Pikachu, and everyone else rushes out to the port. As they are heading there, they find a Snorlax blocking the path. In the meantime, Goh is already at the port waiting, when he is startled by a Psyduck. Shortly, a big pillar of black clouds starts to swirl in the sky producing a dark cloud sphere that burst mid-air revealing Lugia.

Several trainers proceed to attack Lugia in a Raid Battle, failing almost instantly as Lugia defeats them. Ash finally arrives and challenges Lugia to a battle as he commands Pikachu to use Thunderbolt.

In return, Lugia counters with Aeroblast and flees. Goh is running along a road following Lugia as it tries to fly away, Ash follows closely. Both Goh and Ash, jump trying to reach Lugia and land on it. Lugia swirls in the air trying to get rid of both trainers, eventually failing as both are able to climb to its back.

As they ride Lugia’s back, it inadvertently dives down towards the sea and uses Hydro Pump to split the water surface. Taking advantage of the gap created in the surface, Lugia dives into it and then proceeds to submerge itself along with Ash and Goh into the sea, a voice saying “Here we go” is heard at this point.

There, they are able to see many aquatic Pokémon, including Starmie, Magikarp, Tentacruel, Goldeen, Dewgong, Omanyte, Kingler, Shellder, Cloyster, Horsea, and Seadra. As both trainers are running out of air, Lugia emerges back to the surface. While still on Lugia’s back, Ash and Goh agree that the experience was awesome and both start a friendship.

Lugia continues to fly over a prairie with some running Rapidash on it. Lugia finally rolls midair, dropping both trainers and Pikachu which land safely on top of a Vileplume. Lugia roars and flaps its wings creating a shower of petals from the prairie as a farewell as both trainers wave goodbye as it soars away.

Research Fellows

As they are left far away, Ash and Goh take a long time to return to Vermilion city. Once they finally arrive home, they are greeted by Chloe who has all of Goh’s pending homework printed and ready for him. Goh learns from Chloe that Professor Oak is inside and rushes to meet with him. In the meantime, Ash learns that Chloe is Professor Cerise’s daughter and that Yamper is actually hers.

Goh shares all the data he collected from Lugia while riding on his back and Ash claims he is certain they both became friends with Lugia and that at some point he heard a voice saying: “Here we go!”. Professor Cerise is impressed by this and asks both trainers to become research fellows for his laboratory.

Both agree and Professor Cerise shows both of them their rooms. Ash Mom leaves for Pallet Town with Professor Oak but leaves Mr. Mime behind to take care of Ash. The episode closes with Professor Cerise offering Goh his first companion Pokémon. As he is asked to choose from a Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle, Goh states his first Pokémon will be no other than Mew.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Lugia
Pokémon featured in this episode: Mr. Mime, Pikachu, Diglett, Butterfree, Yamper, Snorlax, Psyduck, Wartortle, Jolteon, Gengar, Sudowoodo, Garchomp, Sableye, Bisharp, Fearow, Corviknight, Starmie, Magikarp, Tentacruel, Goldeen, Dewgong, Omanyte, Kingler, Shellder, Cloyster, Horsea, Seadra, Rapidash, Vilepume, Oddish, Gloom, Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle

Episode 3: Ivysaur’s Mysterious Tower!

The Ivysaur Mystery

Ash and Goh wake up and have breakfast as Chloe leaves for school. Professor Cerise goes to the lab, and both trainers follow him. There, they are introduced to Ren and Chrysa, the lab assistants.

As all of them are in the lab, it is announced on TV that Vermilion City is suffering a traffic jam caused by a mass outbreak of Ivysaur. Ash and Goh task themselves to investigate this phenomenon. Before they leave, Professor Cerise gives them two Rotom so they can convert their phones into Rotom Phones, which also serve as Pokédex.

The Secret Weapon and the Argument

Giovanni is introduced alongside Team Rocket, composed as usual by Jessie, James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet. They talk about their mission, which is to steal every powerful Pokémon they encounter to create an unstoppable Pokémon force. Giovanni then talks about a secret weapon he has for this means but doesn’t disclose what he actually means. Team Rocket is then dismissed to complete their mission.

Ash and Goh arrive at the city, where they meet with Officer Jenny, who shows them the Ivysaur marching in a line across the city streets. Officer Jenny also shows them a sketch of Team Rocket’s faces since they are rumored to be stealing Pokémon from the locals. Pikachu hears something in an alley and goes to investigate, Ash and Goh follow him.

They found an Ivysaur bumping against a wall. After this, Ash tries to help and Goh tries to stop him telling him he can’t intervene as they are both investigating this matter and the Ivysaur needs to learn how to get over the wall by itself.

Ash approaches Ivysaur and he is tackled by it, just as Goh predicted. As a result, this causes them to argue and they decide to investigate on their own instead of working as a team. Ivysaur finally uses Vine Whip to get over the wall and they both follow it, discovering the Ivysaur is heading towards the area where the construction of a Pokémon Gym is located.

Following the sweet scent produced by Ivysaur, Goh theorizes that this construction might be the place chosen by these Ivysaur to evolve, as Ivysaur are close to evolving when that sweet aroma wafts of their flower.

As they approach the gym in construction, Goh asks his Rotom Phone for more info on the site. There, while watching Ivysaur and Bulbasuars arrive, they learn that the construction site used to be a sunny field where these Pokémon used to soak up the sun. Ash expresses that he is sorry to see how sad the Pokémon are, and Goh is surprised by how he can learn from Pokémon’s emotions. Ivysaur and Bulbasaur start climbing the gym structure, Goh and Ash follow them. Here, both trainers start collaboration once again to successfully climb the structure.

Team Rocket

When both Goh and Ash reach the top of the structure, they confirm Goh’s theory. All the Pokémon there climbed the structure to get more direct sunlight and finally evolve. As all the Pokémon are in the midst of evolving, Team Rocket shows up in their iconic Meowth balloon and captures the Ivysaur and Bulbasaur with a net, interrupting their evolution. At this point, Goh is mesmerized to see a talking Meowth. Ash commands Pikachu to use Iron Tail to destroy the net. After a successful iron tail, the Ivysaur and Bulbasaur are freed.

After their main plan fails, Team Rocket lands their balloon, and Pelipper flights by and drops the secret weapon Giovanni mentioned before. It is a machine that looks like a gumball dispense and contains several Pokéballs inside. Jessie and James take out a couple of Pokéballs from the machine.

They release a Gyarados and a Tyranitar and command them to attack. Pikachu dodges the attack, uses Electro Web to counter, and strikes both Tyranitar and Gyarados with a Quick Attack. This is not enough and Pikachu gets a direct hit by Tyranitar’s Stone Edge. As both Gyarados and Tyranitar are preparing a last double attack on Pikachu, the Ivysaur attack jointly with multiple Solar Beams and stop them.

Gyarados and Tyranitar try a double attack once again after the Solar Beams, and Ash gets in front of them protecting the Ivysaur and commands Pikachu to use Thunderbolt. Finally, the battle ends when Pikachu’s massive Thunderbolt sends Team Rocket and their Pokémon flying away.

Right after, all the Pokémon are able to evolve. All the Venasaur then release their sweet scent, which makes all the plants on Vermilion City bloom. Both trainers bring the result of their investigation back to the lab, reconcile, and learn from each other’s differences and personalities.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Ivysaur
Pokémon featured in this episode: Ivysaur, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Pikachu, Pelipper, Gyarados, Tyranitar.

Episode 4: Settling the Scorbunny!

The Scorbunny Heist

Goh watches the news and discovers Pokémon are growing to immense size in a distant land. Professor Cerise then explains this is a common occurrence in the Galar region and sends Goh and Ash there to investigate this phenomenon. They both arrive at the Galar region after a flight, but unfortunately, the next train for their next destination departs in three hours.

To take advantage of their free time both trainers end up having some scones in an open area restaurant. There, they are distracted by a brown Scorbunny that’s throwing rocks at them while a group of three Nickit steals Ash’s backpack where their tickets for the Wild Area are.

After chasing them for a while, they found the Nickit gang and Scorbunny going through Ash belongings in the backpack. After Goh uses his Pokédex on the Pokémon, he is able to get information about the Nickit, but the Dex can’t identify the brown Scorbunny. Due to this, both Ash and Goh believe this is a new species of Pokémon. Scorbunny takes the scones out of Ash’s backpack to feed the Nickit, even giving them its part of the scones.

Right after, Ash tries to recover his backpack but he is unable to as Scorbunny kicks it away from him. This triggers a Pokémon battle between Pikachu and Scorbunny. Scorbunny taunts Pikachu, while Ash commanded Pikachu to use Iron Tail. Scorbunny dodges Pikachu’s many attacks using Quick Attack, but eventually gets hit by Pikachu’s Electroweb, which ends the battle.

The Truth About the Scorbunny Gang

Right after the battle ends, the owner of a coffee shop runs by as he is trying to catch the three Nickit as they are stealing from him as well. Scorbunny gets involved and tries to defend its friends. Scorbunny is confronted by the coffee shop owner and Goh intervenes, asking for forgiveness and stating Scorbunny is actually his Pokémon.

After things calm down and all of the crew is back at the coffee shop, the owner reveals that this is no mysterious Pokémon but just a Scorbunny covered in mud to fit better with the Nickit. As well, he reveals that the Nickit had lived there since anyone has memory and that Scorbunny joined their group to help them get food as there were always hungry.

Upon hearing this, Goh tells Scorbunny that he doesn’t have to just do this for a living, that he can go anywhere they want in the world and make new friends as they go along. At this point, almost three hours have gone by and it’s time for Ash and Goh to leave for their train, and so they wave goodbye at Scorbunny and the Nickit. After watching how kind Goh is with Scorbunny, the Nickit group decide Scorbunny needs to go with Goh. Reluctantly, Scorbunny insists to stay.

The three Nickit use their tail to carry Scorbunny to the train station, where they throw it insi0de the train where Ash and Goh are traveling. Lastly, the Nickit kick a can and then do tricks mid-air with it to show Scorbunny they are ready to subsist on their own and finally wave goodbye with their tails.

Scorbunny tears up and then smiles as the train doors are closing. The episode ends with Scorbunny clearing the mud from its fur and getting ready for his next adventure along with his new friends.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Scorbunny
Pokémon featured in this episode: Sneazel, Pikachu, Scorbunny, Nickit.

Episode 5: Mind-Boggling Dynamax!

Scorbunny and Goh

We pick this episode right where Episode 4 ends, with Scorbunny on the train trying to find Goh. Scorbunny fails to catch Goh’s attention and before it notices, both Ash and Goh are leaving the train. Before he can catch them, the door of the train closes and starts moving to its next destination. Scorbunny is now on the train, unable to get off and en route to the next city, while Ash and Goh have arrived at their destination, the Wild Area.

A few moments later, Scorbunny is able to jump off a window in the train. While he tries to run back to Wild Area trying many routes, Ash and Goh are watching and a vast array of Pokémon. Here, they trying to find a Dynamax Pokémon, which they now know is the right term for the giant Pokémon they heard about.

Finally, Scorbunny reaches the Wild Area and finds Ash and Goh who are debating if a regular sleeping Snorlax they are observing is actually a Dynamax Pokémon. After many attempts, Scorbunny is able to get their attention. Reunited with Goh, Scorbunny shows its interest to become Goh’s companion. To Scorbunny’s surprise, Goh tells it he is flattered but he has set his mind to catch Mew as his first Pokémon. Just after this, the sleeping Snorlax starts Gigantamaxing right on top of the train tracks in the Wild Area.

Gigantamaxing

The next train is going to cross the tracks that Snorlax is sleeping on in the next eight minutes. For this reason, both trainers are trying to wake it up and move it from the tracks. Ash commands Pikachu to use Thunderbolt but barely does anything to the Gigantamax Snorlax, who responds to this by using Hyperbeam while still asleep. Ash and Goh climb to the belly of the Snorlax where there is a tree with a huge Sitrus berry hanging from it.

The plan is to make the berry fall from the tree and guide it to Snorlax’s mouth so it wakes up to eat the berry. Ash climbs the three and jumps into the berry as Pikachu uses several Iron Tails to sever the berry from the tree. Once it lands on Snorlax’s belly it rolls down in the direction of its mouth, but it is stopped in the way by some bushes that have grown on the Gigantamax Snorlax.

Goh tries to push the berry as the train starts getting closer to the area where Snorlax is. To speed things up, Scorbunny jumps into action and climbs Snorlax to help Goh pushing the berry. After seeing the flames Scorbunny is creating with its feet, Goh has a moment of inspiration and commands Scorbunny to use Double Kick on the berry.

With its attack, Scorbunny is able to release the berry from the bushes, but due to its momentum, it also falls into Snorlax’s mouth. Snorlax starts eating the berry, wakes up, and moves right in time to avoid collision with the train. Immediately, it also starts shrinking to its original form. Scorbunny is safe as Snorlax spits him out.

Scorbunny is now free and Goh is happy to see the amazing work they have done and how Scorbunny saved so many people on the train. Scorbunny is saddened since it is time to say goodbye. It turns around, waves goodbye to Goh, and starts walking away with teary eyes. Goh stops Scorbunny and tells it he has decided it will be his first Pokémon. Goh throws a Pokéball to Scorbunny in a curveball style, which misses it entirely.

To remediate this, Scorbunny jumps, kicks the Pokéball mid-air, and hits it with its head, finally entering the Pokéball. The episode ends with both trainers returning to the lab in Vermilion City, sharing all the information of their newest adventure in Galar and introducing Scorbunny to everyone.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Snorlax
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, and Snorlax.

Episode 6: Working My Way Back to Mew!

The Catching Spree

This episode has Ash and Goh catching Pokémon in the same forest where Goh saw Mew as a child. After many failed attempts, Goh finally catches a Caterpie. After this, Goh manages to catch all the bug Pokémon in the Kanto region in that forest.

After this, both trainers return to the lab and let their Pokémon enjoy Cerise Park, a building designed for Pokémon right next to the lab. Chloe askes Goh what happened to his dream of catching Mew first. He replies that Mew has every Pokémon’s DNA, and so he will catch all the other firsts and catch Mew lasts. Goh closes his argument with his usual catchphrase: “The future’s in the palm of my hand!” The episode closes with Ash expressing his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Scyther
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Caterpie, Diglett, Dugtrio, Venomoth, Paras, Parasect, Metapod, Butterfree, Pinsir, Scyther, Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Venonat.

Episode 7: Serving Up the Flute Cup!

Battle Frontier Flute Cup

The adventure in this episode starts with everyone doing some martial arts at Cerise Park. Shortly after, Ash rushes in and tells Goh to get ready for the Hoenn region. Right after arriving at the Hoenn Region, it is disclosed why Ash is so hyped about going. There is a 2 vs 2 event called The Battle Frontier Flute Cup, in which the winner will receive a five-color flute set. Ash chooses Pickachu and Mr. Mime as his two companion Pokémon for the competition, while Goh chooses Scorbunny and Scyther as his challengers.

Goh leaves Ash behind to go and catch some Hoenn region Pokémon. Ash meets a mysterious guy who rides on top of a Hariyama. This mysterious character is a bit upset with Ash as he is blocking the trashcans but ultimately seems friendly. Later on, we meet with Goh again, who successfully catches a Taillow, but manages to accidentally upset a Mightyena.

Hodge from Lavaridge Town

Returning to Ash, the mysterious character introduces himself as Hodge, from Lavaridge Town, and his Hariyama. Ash asks Hodge what his second Pokémon for the competition would be, and Hodge states that he doesn’t want to reveal his secret weapon as he might eventually battle Ash.

In a surprising way, Goh, Scorbunny, and Mightyena storm out of the woods just behind where Ash and Hodge are having this conversation. Goh is about to battle Mightyena with Scorbunny as Hodge gets in the middle and unveils that Mightyena is actually his Pokémon. As all the groups are having fun together, the matchups for the tournament arrive at Hodge’s cellphone. Here, we learn that Hodge’s first opponent will be Goh.

The Flute Cup

The tournament immediately begins and the first battle is Hodge’s Mightyena versus Goh’s Scyther. Scyther beings with a Sword Dance to boos stats, while Mightyena quickly ends the battle with a super-effective Fire Fang against Scyther. Keeping the battle going, Scorbunny jumps into the match and uses Double Kick.

Swiftly, Mightyena counter with Snarl and ends the battle using Crunch against Scorbunny. Ash and Goh go to the nearest Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy and Chansey nurse both Scyther and Scorbunny back to health. Quickly after that, Goh storms out of the Pokémon Center, seemingly upset because of his loss and stating that catching Pokémon is way more fun than battling. As he is leaving, Ash asks him if he is going to be there when he battles, he says nothing and leaves.

Ash and Hodge both manage to win all their assigned battles in the Flute Cup. Eventually, they are up against each other for the championship match. Goh arrives right in time to watch the battle. Ash chooses Mr. Mime against Hodge’s Hariyama. The battle ends as Mr. Mime uses Psychic on Hariyama.

Hodge’s Mightyena jumps into battle, and Mr. Mime turns back and with gestures tells Ash it can’t battle anymore. Ash understands and retrieves Mr. Mime from the battle arena while Pikachu takes its place. The battle starts with Mightyena using Snarl and Pikachu dodging it and landing a Quick Attack on Mightyena.

Mightyena uses Crunch, which collides with Pikachu’s Iron Tail mid-air. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, but Mightyena’s Snarl makes the lightning bolt divert in an upwards direction. Pikachu’s Thunderbolt ends up creating a massive hole in the stadium’s ceiling.

Mightyena uses Sucker Punch and sends Pikachu flying towards the hole in the ceiling. Ash commands Pikachu to use Electroweb, which he uses to cover the hole and bounce off from it downwards in direction of the arena. With the momentum gained from bouncing on the Electroweb, Pikachu is able to end the battle by delivering a massive blow to Mightyena as he lands on it using Iron Tail. After this victory against Hodge, Ash is declared the champion of the Battle Frontier Flute Cup.

The episode ends with Goh admitting battles are fun and both trainers returning to the lab. Here, Goh reveals that he watched three Wurmple because there is no way to know if they will evolve into Cascoon or Silcoon.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Mightyena
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Caterpie, Metapod, Pinsir, Scyther, Beedrill, Venonat, Hariyama, Taillow, Mightyena, Wurmple.

Episode 8: The Sinnoh Iceberg Race!

The Piplup

This adventure starts with both Ash and Goh near a port area. There, Goh catches a Tentacool. A few moments later, they both observe something in the sea coming in their direction. They believe it’s either a Gyarados or a Sharpedo. To their surprise, it ends up being an exhausted Piplup.

After taking Piplup to the lab, the lad assistants look online for a missing Piplup and find its respective owner. Surprisingly, the owner is Lauren from Snowpoint City, which is a town in the Sinnoh region which means Piplup actually swam all that distance, explaining its exhausted condition. Piplup looks reluctant to going back to its trainer. It is decided that Ash and Goh will take Piplup back home.

Piplup and Croagunk

Ash and Go arrive by ship to the Sinnoh region. Here, they learn of an event taking place in the area, called the Pokémon Iceberg Race. Also, it is revealed that Team Rocket is following both trainers using their famous Magikarp submarine. Shortly after arriving, Goh catches a Mantyke and both trainers meet with Lauren, Piplup’s trainer.

Both Ash and Goh ask Lauren if she has an idea as to why Piplup ran away. Lauren tells them that Piplup has been her Pokémon for a while after it helped her getting her glasses back from the sea once and that it has always been an amazing swimmer. It even won the last Iceberg Race.

Everything was perfectly fine between them until a month ago Lauren caught a Croagunk after it helped her with her glasses, just like Piplup did. Piplup slowly grew jealous of it as Lauren’s attentions were now divided between the two of them. One day to Piplup tries to show Lauren how fast it can swim to get her attention from Croagunk. But, to Piplup’s surprise, Croagunk was considerably faster. That triggers Piplut to swim to Vermilion as a form of training to defeat Croagunk in swimming.

The Iceberg Race

Now that Piplup is back, it challenges Croagunk to the Iceberg Race. Goh decides to enroll Mantyke in the race and Ash enrolls Pikachu. The race begins and shortly after Team Rocket interrupts the race and catches the Pokémon competing in a net, with the exception of Pikachu, Mantyke, Piplup, and Groagunk.

Piplup and Croagunk ignore this and continue in the race. Pikachu uses Iron Tail to release all the other Pokémon. A Pelipper flies by and drops the Pokéball machine Giovanni is using to help Team Rocket. From it, Jessie and James release a Beartic and a Machamp.

Mantyke and Pikachu start battling against Beartic and Machamp. Mantyke uses and Agility and Pikachu, who is riding Mantyke, uses Thunderbolt on Beartic, Machamp, and Team Rocket. Beartic attacks the boat where everyone is watching the race and this causes Lauren to fall from the ship. Upon seeing this both Piplup and Croagunk cooperate to save her. Pikachu attacks with other Thunderbolt and sends Team Rocker and their Pokémon flying away.

The race is finally canceled due to the whole mess Team Rocket cause. After working together to save their trainer, both Piplup and Coragunk now get along. Ash and Goh take a boat back home. The episode ends with Lauren dropping her glasses in the sea once again. A Psyduck saves her glasses and she starts telling it how much of an amazing swimmer it is. Piplup and Croagunk have a face of horror after hearing this.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Piplup
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Tentacool, Mantyke, Croagunk, Horsea, Octillery, Chinchou, Empoleon, Finneon, Dewgong, Bibarel, Machamp, Psyduck, Beartic.

Episode 9: Finding a Legend!

Chad and His Grandpa

Goh announces Ho-Oh has been sighted in Ecruteak, Johto. So, both trainers head there to see if they can catch it and battle it. They arrive and head near Bell Tower, where the sightings were reported. There, Goh is able to catch Sentret. Immediately after, both Goh and Ash see Ho-Oh in the sky.

They both run after it and Ash commands Pikachu to use Thunderbolt. What seemed to be Ho-Oh immediately falls in the yard of Bell Tower. As both trainers arrive at the area, they discover this was obviously not Ho-Oh, but a Fearow in disguise and a Cyndaquil in its back to emulate Ho-Oh’s majestic trail as it flies. These Pokémon are owned by a kid called Chad.

After Chad’s fake Ho-Oh is exposed, Chad’s grandpa walks in and confronts him, telling him Ho-Oh doesn’t exist. Ash interjects and tells him it does exist, as he saw it with Pikachu on the very first day of their Pokémon journey. Chad’s grandpa still claims that Ash might have been tricked by his senses back then, and that Ho-Oh is not real.

Chad then explains that his grandpa once told him long ago that he had seen Ho-Oh and that he had collected a rainbow wing (which is a feather from Ho-Oh). He said that the day he saw it, it was cloudy, and couldn’t get a good look. After that, Chad’s grandpa left in a trip with the hopes of seeing Ho-Oh once again.

Chad claims that his grandpa returned from that trip, with a very hopeless way of acting and stating Ho-Oh never existed. His hopelessness led him to throw away the rainbow wing, which Chad grabbed and took care of as he knew it was important. For these reasons, Chad faked the sightings of Ho-Oh, to give his grandpa courage and happiness once again. Upon hearing this, Ash and Goh decide to help Chad to find the real Ho-Oh for his grandpa.

Ho-Oh and the Rainbow

Goh shares with them that there is a legend about Ho-Oh. The legend states that if you climb to the top of the Bell Tower and wave the rainbow wing in the air, Ho-Oh will appear. Chad then expresses that his grandpa did this countless times, with no result every single time. All of them enter Bell Tower, where they see a huge mural of Ho-Oh and a rainbow.

Then Goh thinks about it deeply and remembers that in a picture shown to them by Professor Cerise, Ho-Oh is also accompanied by a rainbow. Adding to this, Ash also tells them that a rainbow was in the sky the time Pikachu and he saw it.

After all this, they conclude that the key to getting Ho-Oh to appear is waving the rainbow wing at the top of the Bell Tower when a rainbow is present in the sky. Goh checks the weather on his Rotom Phone and learns that the rain clouds currently looming in the area will leave soon, creating a high chance for rainbows.

Everyone is excited about this idea and Chad goes to take his grandpa with them. In the beginning, Chad’s grandpa is very skeptical of this plan, but upon seeing that Chad actually took care of the rainbow wing, he decides to join them in their quest of climbing Bell Tower.

The Bell Tower

As all of our characters climb the stairs to the top of Bell Tower, they are trapped in an illusion created by a Misdreavus and a Stantler. This illusion is rapidly dismantled by Chad’s grandpa Hoothoot, who uses Foresight. Once the illusion dissipates, Goh catches both Misdreavus and Stantler. After helping each other climb a set of broken stairs, everyone reaches the top.

Chad starts waving the rainbow wing and everyone is calling Ho-Oh to the top of their lungs, a rainbow appears but nothing happens. Following this, a gust of wind sends the rainbow wing flying away from Chad’s hand. His grandpa is able to grab it in the air and then expresses how he has learned an amazing lesson of perseverance from Chad, Goh, and Ash. Chad’s grandpa continues to wave the rainbow wing which is now glowing when a complete rainbow appears in the sky. After this, nothing happens and Ho-Oh is still nowhere to be seen.

Chad’s grandpa states it’s time to quit, but that tomorrow will be a new day to try. Everyone starts descending the stairs of Bell Tower, while Chad’s grandpa is left behind. There, he is able to see Ho-Oh for a brief moment, and as he calls the others to come back and see it, Ho-Oh is no longer visible.

The episode closes with Ash and Goh returning to the lab in Vermilion, sharing their newest adventure with Professor Cerise at Cerise Park.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Fearow
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Sentret, Fearow, Cyndaquil, Hoothoot, Misdreavus, Stantler, Ho-O

Episode 10: A Test in Paradise!

This is a filler episode that covers Ash and Goh’s trip to Dragonite Island. There, Ash helps a Dragonair out with its inability to fly. Dragonair eventually evolves to Dragonite and joins Ash in his adventures.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Dragonite
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Dragonite, Dewgong, Shellder, Wobbufett, Dragonair, Dratini, Wailord.

Episode 11: Best Friend…Worst Nightmare!

Yamper’s Favorite

The episode starts with Chloe waking up for school and later on having breakfast with her family. During breakfast, all her family mentions how Yamper shows more affection towards her since she is its favorite. The episode continues with Ren working on the lab as a fuse goes off and power is cut. He goes to the basement to change the fuse when both he and his Magnemite Francois are attacked by a Gengar.

Gengar

Moving forward with the story, Ash and Goh arrive at Professor’s Cerise lab, where Chloe is about to go to school. After their arrival, she promptly leaves. Ash and Goh have a brief conversation about Chloe’s lack of interest in Pokémon.

Goh states that she wasn’t always like that, but that everyone has a different type of goal and relationship when it comes to Pokémon. Meanwhile, Chrysa and Professor Cerise are going inside the lab, where they find Francois all startled, and eventually, they also find Ren, completely scared and motionless in the basement.

Once Ash and Goh are inside, Yamper, Pikachu, and Scorbunny all detect Gengar. Yamper tackles him even he is completely translucent and mid-air. Shortly after this, Gengar shows himself and attacks Pikachu with a Shadow Ball. To counter, Pikachu uses Iron Tail and he is able to deflect Gengar’s attack. Gengar continues its mayhem by using Psychic and moving around many objects in the room. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt and slams Genger against a wall with it. Following this, Genger banishes and drops all the levitating objects to the ground.

Chloe and Talia

Chloe is at school and the teacher is asking students what they dream to become when they grow up. When it’s Chloe’s turn, everyone assumes she will become a researcher and a scientist, just like her dad. This overwhelms her, as she knows that’s not the path she wants to go through.

After class, her mom, Talia, visits the school to bring her lunch. After telling Talia what happened, Talia tells her about how she became an illustrator. Talia explained that after several road bumps in her career, she was ready to quit drawing altogether. At that point, a young Professor Cerise insisted that she looked happy drawing and that she should consider not quitting.

Talia goes on to say that this argument was certainly true, and she chose that road that makes her happy. She also explains that she hasn’t seen much success as an illustrator, but that she loves what she does every day. Chloe feels better after hearing all this, since now she realizes she doesn’t have to have everything figured out at such a young age and that pursuing what you like is the most important thing.

Chloe and Yamper

Ash and Goh continue looking for Gengar at the lab, while Chloe arrives at the lab as she is coming back from school. Here she is faced with Gengar, Yamper immediately starts growling at Gengar. Then, Gengar uses Psychic on Ash and Goh, so they are unable to help Chloe. Professor Cerise and his aids enter the room.

He commands Yamper to use Spark, but Yampers ignores him as it is concentrated on protecting Chloe. Professor Cerise tells Chloe that she needs to give the command as she is the one that Yamper is protecting. Chloe commands Yamper to use Spark. Gengar uses a Shadow Ball, which Yamper destroys with its powerful Spark, resulting in a direct hit to Gengar.

After the hit, Gengar is sent flying away from the house. The episode ends with Chloe feeling much closer to Pokémon. Additionally, Gengar is shown looming on the top of the house as the episode closes.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Magnemite
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Yamper, Tailow, Wurmple, Cascoon, Mangnemite, Gengar

Episode 12: Flash of the Titans!

Professor Cerise hands Ash and Goh tickets for the finals of the World Coronation Series, an event in the Galar Region. Generally, each region has its own championship and crown its own Pokémon champion. But, at the World Coronation Series, the champion is considered the champion of the entire world. Ash and Goh depart for the Galar Region to watch the event. As both trainers arrive at the stadium where the event is taking place, we learn that Team Rocket is also there to steal Pokémon that can Dynamax.

The World Coronation Series

The event begins and the two finalists for the title of Monarch are introduced. Lance, the famous dragon-type trainer, is representing the Kanto region. Leon, the Galar Champion Cup winner, represents the Galar region. It is also revealed that the final will be decided by a single match. Leon chooses Charizard as his Pokémon, while Lance invokes his shiny Gyarados to the arena.

The battle starts on a high note with Charizard’s Flamethrower, which is countered by Gyarados’ Hyper Beam. Charizard continues with an Air Slash, that is promptly blocked by Gyarados. After a series of Aqua Tail moves from Gyarados and some Thunder Punches from Charizard, both trainers decide to retrieve their Pokémon and use Dynamax.

Lance chooses his Dynamax Gyarados, while Leon brings his Gigantamax Charizard to the arena. After several Max-Moves, the battle is decided with Charizard’s signature G-Max Move, G-Max Wildfire. Right after the secondary effect of this attack kicks in, Gyarados is not able to take another direct hit and faints, giving Leon the victory and the title of Monarch at the World Coronation Series.

Team Rocket and the Angry Dreadnaw

After everyone is leaving, Team Rocket finds a Drednaw in the bushes near the stadium. Pelipper once again drops the Pokéball machine to aid them. Jessie uses the machine and releases a Bellsprout. Furthermore, Bellsprout attacks Dreadnaw, which angers it. The episode ends with a very angry Dreadnaw that starts Gigantamaxing and attacking the stadium while Team Rocket and Bellsprout try to run away from the chaos.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Charizard
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Charizard, Gyarados, Dreadnaw, Meowth, Wobbuffet.

Episode 13: The Climb to Be the Very Best!

Pikachu vs Drednaw

This episode immediately kicks in with the Dreadnaw disaster that began in episode 12. Both Ash and Goh start battling against the Gigantamax Drednaw. After one of Dreadnaw’s attacks, the ground breaks and some energy spills out. This causes Pikachu to Dynamax.

As the battle rages on, Leon notices the battle and is surprised because Ash is participating in a Dynamax battle without a Dynamax band. Right after Dreadnaw used its Rock-Type G-Max Move, Leon tells Ash that he should command Pikachu to use G-Max Volt Crash. Pikachu uses this move, ending the battle. Once the battle ends, Ash asks Leon for a favor, he wants a Pokémon battle.

Leon and Ash

The next day, Ash and Goh are having breakfast. Here, Goh catches a Skwovet. Ash continues to think about how much he wants to battle Leon and Goh decides to help him by looking for information on his phone. Goh discovers that there there is a ranking system for the Coronation Series that spans through several tiers, starting with the normal rank up to the master rank where Leon is. So, if Ash wants to battle Leon, he needs to climb all those ranks till he reaches Master rank.

After all this discussion is happening between Ash and Goh, Leon arrives and states he wants to help Ash fulfill his dreams. Meanwhile, Team Rocket finds a Chewtle and decides it is the perfect size to bring it back to Giovanni, their boss.

Leon takes ash to the arena and lends him a Dynamax band. Then, Leon and Gog explain all the details about Dynamax, the Max-Moves, and the fact that Pikachu can Gigantamax and use G-Max Volt Crash. Right after, the battle between Ash’s Pikachu and Leon’s Charizard begins. Pikachu begins with Quick Attack, which is countered by Charizard’s Thunder Punch.

To keep it going, Pikachu uses Iron Tail and Electroweb, both countered by Charizard’s Thunder Punch. Charizard attacks with Air Slash, which Pikachu is able to dodge. Pikachu followed with a Thunderbolt, which Charizard counters with Flamethrower. Both Pokémon continue these attacks as their lightning and fire collide mid-air. As Charizard’s Flamethrower is about to finally win against Pikachu’s Thunderbolt, Pikachu starts Gigantamaxing without going back to his Pokéball.

Leon calls back Charizard to its Pokéball, so it can Gigantamax as well. The battle goes on with many Max-Moves but ends as both Pokémon use their G-Max Move and Pikachu is defeated. Leon gives Ash an Oran berry for Pikachu and also gifts him the Dynamax band. They both agree to have another battle, but next time it would be in an official tournament.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Dreadnaw
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Dreadnaw, Skwovet, Chewtle, Charizard.

Episode 14: Raid Battle in The Ruins!

Episode 14 starts with both Ash and Goh in the Desert Resort in the Unova region. Shortly we learn that both are here because of an archeological discovery, Colossus Ruins, where a ton of Pokémon has appeared.

Not long after discovering they can’t travel through the scorching desert as freely as they thought, they meet Kira, a Pokémon Ranger. She shows them how to cross the desert using sandboarding with a flying Pokémon. Ash chooses his Dragonite and Goh uses his Beedrill for this purpose, while Kira uses her Braviary.

The Ruins

After sandboarding all the way there, Ash and Goh arrive at the ruins entrance where Goh catches a Darmanitan. Additionally, here they meet the leader of the excavation team and his Litwick. The Leader reveals that the digging site used to be the city border and that the Colossus was built back then to protect the city.

One of the aids at the digging informs that they found even more ancient writing. So, the leader invites Ash and Goh into the ruins to explore. While both Pokémon trainers are going into the buried ruins, they found a Sandile, which Goh catches after defeating it in battle with Scorbunny.

Ash and Goh soon discover that the underground ruin is filled with traps a la Indiana Jones. After surviving many traps, Ash falls into a pit trap. As he is falling, he is saved by Kira’s Meditite, who uses Psychic to rescue him.  As they all move deeper into the ruins, they encounter a room with some Cofagrigus that were holding a trainer and his Pokémon captive within them.

Pikachu used Thunderbolt on the Cofagrigus, rescuing Shame Seeker and his shiny Psyduck. Shane introduces himself and states that he is a trainer that only catches shiny Pokémon. After solving a puzzle in the room, the Colossus appears, revealing that it has been a considerably big Golurk all this time.

Golurk

Golurk starts attacking everyone in the room with beams of light. Everyone joins in a Raid Battle against Golurk. After a long battle in which Golurk defeats many Pokémon, Goh catches Golurk. Concluding the battle reveals the path to the ancient city Golurk was protecting. The episode ends with both trainers admiring Darmanitan and Golurk at Cerise Park, while Gengar is silently creeping at the entrance.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Golurk
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Meditite, Dragonite, Beedrill, Braviary, Darmanitan, Litwick, Sandile, Woobat, Yamask, Lampent

Episode 15: A Snow Day for Searching!

Goh and Ash are asked by Professor Cerise to return to their homes as there is a problem with the lab systems and due to maintenance it will be closed for some days. Even though it is a weird occurrence, it’s snowing in Vermilion City. As Goh takes the bus home, Ash notices he dropped a souvenir package he prepared for his mom and dad.

Goh and His Visit Home

Goh arrives at his home. In the meantime, Goh’s mom and dad continue to work at their company. They both worry there might be something wrong since Goh has returned. As well, they both mentioned they feel somewhat sad because they are always working and Goh only had Chloe as a friend.

Unfortunately for Goh, his parents call him and inform him they might be late home as there is an emergency with the nearby hospital’s system. Goh tells them it is fine and that he is accompanied by his grandma and the stew she made. Both Goh’s mom and dad state they are hungry and will be home as soon as possible.

Even though Goh has spent a lot of his childhood time alone, he actually admires his parents for the job they do and how much they help people out. After learning about his parents being late, Goh decides to take some stew and bring it to his parents at the hospital. At this point, Goh finds out he lost the souvenir package he prepared for his parents but gives it little importance.

The Park, Cubone, and the Mankey

On their way to the hospital, Goh and Scorbunny find a Cubone that’s being attacked by three Mankey. Ash reunites with Goh, and together they help Cubone find his bone. Goh catches Cubone and Ash gives Goh the lost package so he can give it to his parents. The episode closes with everyone returning to Goh’s home for stew and Goh’s parents proud of how many new friends Goh has made.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Cubone
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Cubone, Mankey, Scyther, Tailow, Beedrill, Butterfree, Bellsprout, Geodude, Fearow, Dragonite.

Episode 16: A Chilling Curse!

Gengar strikes back, attacking Ren at the very beginning of this episode. Upon discovering this, Ash and Goh decide they are going to try to catch it.

The Haunted House

Ash and Goh hunt Gengar all around the house, Gengar creates a mess in Chrysa’s office. Ash and Pikachu battle against Gengar. In the heat of the battle, Ash screams at Gengar demanding for it to stop. Gengar then disappears and quietly hides within Ash’s shadow.

All of them, including Ren and Professor Cerise, start cleaning the area. Professor Cerise mentions that the person who sold him this place for the lab mentioned that there were rumors of it being a haunted house. Additionally, Professor Cerise started sharing the many paranormal activities he has witnessed in the house since he moved the lab to it. This triggers many theories of why Gengar might now be more active.

Goh theorizes that Gengar got no reaction from his shenanigans with Professor Cerise, so after successfully scaring Ren in the basement on episode 11, it got more enticed to keep on terrorizing the house. Chrysa adds that things have gotten much more lively with many more people and Pokémon now living in the house, and that might not be of Gengar’s liking. Suddenly, Ash starts acting weird and has a purplish spot below each of his eyes.

Following this, one leg of the chair he is sitting in breaks and then he drinks water from a flower vase that’s on top of the table. He then almost fell while climbing the staircase. This trend of unfortunate events continues to befell Ash, as Gengar is attached to his shadow, but no one notices it.

The Curse

Ash is a bit scared now because of all this bad luck, and Goh states that it is definitely weird. He then runs away from the house to Vermilion city, trying to convince himself that he isn’t cursed by Gengar. Here in the city, Team Rocket is in disguise, enjoying a coffee at an outdoor restaurant when they see Ash and Pikachu running in the street. Ash Ash continues to run, he accidentally bumps into a random trainer.

This trainer is accompanied by another trainer that asks him: “You’re not still cursed, are you?” This triggers a memory from Gengar, who remembers that this trainer left him there at this home, and told him not to move from there. Gengar waited for an extremely long time for its trainer to come back to no avail.

The trainer then says that he is no longer cursed, as he left that Gengar behind 3 years ago. Upon hearing this, Gengar gets upset and leaves Ash shadow to attach with its old trainer with a Shadow Ball. After failing to hit him, Ash tries to convince the trainer to talk to Gengar, but he runs away and leaves Gengar behind. Gengar disappears and Ash is determined to find him and make things right for him. Team Rocket is in the corner of the street watching all of these and decide they want to catch Gengar since he is really powerful.

Team Rocket and the Vacuum

This is certainly one of the most hilarious scenes in the series so far. Team Rocket finds Gengar and tries to convince him to join them, as they are also familiar with failure and rejection. Gengar rejects their offer to join their team and James uses a vacuum cleaner to capture it. Ash and Goh find Team Rocket and Pikachu uses Iron Tail to release Gengar from its vacuum prison.

Ash eventually convinces Gengar to battle by his and Pikachu’s side against Team Rocket. Pelipper once again shows with the Pokéball machine Giovanni crafted to help Team Rocket. Jessie and James use the machine and get two Pokéballs, each containing a Dusclops. Jessie commands Dusclops to use Shadow Sneak, which Pikachu dodges with Quick Attack.

The other Dusclops, commanded by James, uses Ice Punch on Pikachu, freezing him on contact. Gengar unfreezes Pikachu with a Shadow Ball. The battle ultimately ends with Gengar sending the Dusclop and Team Rocket flying away as Ash commands it to use Shadow Ball. The episode ends with Gengar dropping a Pokéball on Ash’s head and basically asking him to capture it.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Gengar
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Gengar, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Yamper, Dusclops.

Episode 17: Kicking It from Here Into Tomorrow!

Darmanitan challenges Scorbunny to use a fire-type move. After many tries, Scorbunny couldn’t make it happen. Goh believes that if you’re not good at something you should quit. Ash, Chloe, and certainly Scorbunny feel differently about this.

Fire Move

While everyone is having breakfast, Scorbunny is still outside practicing Ember. With effort and after many tries, Scorbunny is finally able to produce a very speck of a flame that lasted less than a second. Scorbunny follows Ash and Goh to the city since they are trying to catch Pokémon there.

It tries to get their attention to show them its progress with Ember but fails every time. After looking for some time, Ash and Goh find no Pokémon in the city and they take a break in an area with some benches. There, Scorbunny finds Team Rocket’s Pelipper.

Both Goh and Scorbunny follow the Pelipper until they reach a phone booth that is secretly the entrance to Team Rocket’s underground hideout. Goh gets inside the booth as Team Rocket is trying to get out from below, all of them get stuck. Moments later they are finally able to all get out of the booth and they discover Pelipper accidentally guided Goh and Scorbunny to their secret underground hideout. Ash arrives at this moment and Pelipper drops the Pokéball machine for Team Rocket before it leaves flying.

Jesse and James use the Pokéball machine, releasing a Poliwrath and a Chewtle. Yes, this is the same Chewtle from Episode 13 and it is still as cute and inoffensive as it looked back then. Pikachu is battling Poliwrath when Jessie commands Chewtle to use Water Gun on Scorbunny, and to her surprise, Chewtle is able to pull off a massive stream of water.

Goh, tells Scorbunny to dodge it and use Double Kick, but Scorbunny decides to ignore him and tries to use Ember again, this time producing merely a little ball of light that vanished almost instantly.

Scorbunny’s Ember

Scorbunny is defeated by a direct hit of Chewtle’s Water Gun. Shortly after, the battle ends when Pikachu´s Thunderbolt sends Team Rocket and all their Pokémon flying away. When Scorbuny regains consciousness, Goh asks why he didn’t use Double Kick and used Ember. Scorbunny keeps trying to show Goh it can actually use Ember but continues to fail at it. Goh gets upset and tells him it is not good enough. Scorbunny kicks Goh, and Goh just says that Scorbunny simply can’t pull it off.

Scorbunny runs away while Goh and Ash follow him. Scorbunny keeps practicing Ember, but it is still not able to do it. In frustration, it kicks a rock, which flies away covered in a red aura caused by the friction of the impact. Goh notices this and approaches Scorbunny stating he has an idea.

Scorbunny sees him and runs away as it is still upset with Goh. As Scorbunny runs away y bumps against Team Rocket. A battle between Scorbunny and Team Rocket’s Chewtle starts, and Goh tells Scorbunny he has an idea on how Scorbunny can pull a fire-type move. As the battle goes on, Goh asks Scorbunny to use Quick Attack, but instead of moving forward, he asks it to run in place creating massive friction.

As this friction is created, Goh throws a small pebble in the air and tells Scorbunny to kick it, which creates a bullet-like attack that leaves a trail of fire as it flies in the air. Goh calls this their own version of Ember. Chewtle uses Water Gun to block this attack, but at this point, Scorbunny is already pumped because it finally mastered a fire-type move and it starts evolving. Raboot uses the same technique again, sending Team Rocket flying. Goh is proud of Raboot and offers him a fist bump, which Raboot completely ignores and just walks away.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Darmanitan
Pokémon featured in this episode: Scorbunny, Pikachu, Darmanitan, Meowth, Pelipper, Wobbuffet, Poliwrath, Chewtle, Raboot.

Episode 18: Destination: Coronation!

Ash and the Coronation Series

Ash enrolls in the Coronation Series. Ren explains that the competition goes in tiers, everyone starts at Normal Rank, then goes up to Great Rank, Ultra Rank, finally reaching Master Rank.

This is a reference to Pokéball tiers, which include Normal Pokéballs, Great Balls, Ultra Balls, and Master Balls. It is also mentioned that if Ash wants to up his rank fast, he will need to battle someone that is already on a higher tier of the competition.

Professor Cerise suggests doing research to see who is up in the ranks in Vermilion City. Ash found out a trainer and Professor Cerise states that’s the acting Gym Leader of Vermilion City. Ash then mentions Lt. Surge who is the Gym Leader at Vermilion, which he battled back in the Indigo League. Professor Cerise clarifies that he is out of town as he is on a trip to strengthen his Pokémon’s electric-type moves and in the meantime, Visquez is the acting Gym Leader.

Visquez

Ash and Goh set en route for the gym. In their way, Goh sees a Spearrow flying by and wants to catch it. Raboot immediately starts running after the Spearrow, completely ignoring Goh’s commands. Ash eventually reaches the gym. Visquez receives him and explains that she wanted to meet Ash since Lt. Surge mentioned how impressed he was by a young man from Pallet Town and his Pikachu.

After the greetings and formalities are done, Visquez accepts to battle Ash and a Rotom Drone arrives to serve as referee of this official battle of the Coronation Series and to explain the rules. The battle is a 2 vrs 2, in which swapping Pokémon is allowed at any time. The battle will end once both of the Pokémon of either trainer can’t continue. At this point, Goh arrives, and he lets Ash know he was able to capture the Spearrow.

The Gym Battle

Visquez chooses Raichu and Ash chooses Pikachu. After an even battle, Ash retrieves Pikachu and chooses Gengar as his next Pokémon. The battle ends after Gengar uses Psychic on Raichu, who was charging at it using Bolt Tackle, and throws it against a wall. Visquez now chooses Electrode as her second Pokémonwhich defeats Gengar.

Pikachu goes back into the arena and after a strategic set of moves, he defeats Electrode. Ash wins the battle and his rank in the Coronation Series scales up to 3763, from the original rank of over 10,000 he had at the beginning of the episode. This gets Ash much closer to the Great Rank, which starts at 999.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Raichu
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Spearrow, Raichu, Hypno, Electrode.

Episode 19: A Talent for Imitation!

The Frightened Ditto

This episode starts with Goh catching a Rattata. Ash and Goh prepare to visit a movie set where a movie featuring Pokémon is being filmed. The movie features twin Gardevoir, but one of the Gardevoir is really a Ditto. In the studio, Ditto is frightened since the director of the movie constantly screams and demands perfection out of everyone in the worst tone possible.

The manager at the studio is trying to convince Ditto to remain calm. In the meantime, Team Rocket is in disguise and trying to get into the premises. Jessie is claiming she is an international actress and demands to speak with the director. Her shenanigans fail and they are escorted out of the facilities.

Ash and Goh watch as the filming of the movie begins. After almost completing the scene successfully, Ditto is not able to sustain its Gardevoir transformation and turns back into Ditto. The director is furious because of this, yells at Ditto, and threatens with replacing it with another more capable Pokémon. Ditto is overwhelmed and runs away, the manager of the studio, Ash, and Goh all follow Ditto.

Jessie’s Acting Class

As Ditto is trying to escape, it climbs a tree and jumps into Jessie’s bag who is passing by the street below the tree. The manager reveals that this Ditto is famous because its transformations are even more real-looking than the original Pokémon Ditto is copying. As well, the manager reveals the director was the one who discovered Ditto and its abilities and wants to make it a movie star. Ash and Goh decide to help her find Ditto.

After Ditto is finally discovered by Team Rocket, Jessie decides to help Ditto out by using her acting skills. She designs a Pokémon heist which consists of a magic trick in which Pokémon are teleported from one box to another box. In reality, there is no teleportation, it’s just them stealing the Pokémon and Ditto in the other box copying the Pokémon they just stole. They go to the park to practice this heist, but it fails over and over as Ditto is not able to fully replicate the other Pokémon as its eyes remain unchanged and trainers immediately notice Ditto is not their Pokémon.

After all this failure, Team Rocket decides to take a break. Ditto is devastated as he has once again failed to complete a task because of how poorly he is handling this Transform skill. Jessie tells Ditto that handling failure is part of being an actor and treats it with kindness. Ditto is rejoiced with her kindness and transforms successfully into Wobbuffet. Here, Team Rocket discovers that Ditto is able to Transform perfectly. They realize that the problem is not Ditto but the lack of confidence it had due to the hostile environment that the director creates in the studio.

The Worst and Most Fake Pokémon Heist

Once Ditto has perfected Transform, Team Rocket tries the magic heist again. Ash and Goh run into them, and even though it clearly Jessie, James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet, they fall for their costumes and Ash hands Pikachu to them to participate in the magic trick. Pikachu is placed in a box and then captured in a tube contraption, while Ditto transforms into a perfect Pikachu on the other box. Even though the transformation is perfect, Ash notices that is not his Pikachu.

After this, Team Rocket reveals their true identity. The manager of the studio is there as well, she begs Ditto to come back to the studio as it has a promising path as a movie star there. Ditto is still frightened of returning and just stays there with Team Rocket.

Jessie and Ditto

Raboot frees Pikachu from the tube contraption he is trapped in and Team Rocket runs away with Ditto. After hearing the promising future Ditto has, Jessie develops a really good understanding of what’s going on in its life. She decides to create a fake hostage situation in which they’ll trade Ditto for ransom money.

Once they meet with Ash, Goh, and the manager to exchange Ditto for the money, Raboot attacks using Ember disobeying Goh once again and Wobbuffet blocks its attack. At this point, Jessie is basically hinting that Ash should command Pikachu to use Thunderbolt. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt and Team Rocket is sent flying away. Jessie is now relieved that Ditto is going to have its shot at fame.

Ditto is also aware of the cool thing Jessie just did for it. After all this, Ditto finally returns and the scene is finally shot without a problem. The director is finally happy and states that’s what he wanted from the very beginning. So, in summary, the director is the villain and Team Rocket, especially Jessie, are actually the true heroes of Ditto.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Ditto
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Rattata, Gardevoir, Ditto, Wobbuffet

Episode 20: Dreams Are Made of These!

Pokémon Orienteering

Pokémon orienteering for young kids starts. Chloe’s younger brother Parker is in the group of kids present. Professor Cerise divides the kids into three groups, each of the groups will take a different route from the park in Vermilion City, and all of them will reunite at Vermilion Port. The idea is that the group that is able to observe more Pokémon will win.

The Mighty Solar Beam

Chloe and Goh’s group are able to observe a Pidgey, which Goh proceeds to catch. Soon after, Goh proceeds to catch a Poliwag, an Oddish, and a female and male Nidoran. A Farfetch’d suddenly appears and Goh tries to catch it. But, Farfetch’d use its leak to hit the ball and sent it directly to Goh’s face.

Ash and his team are admiring a flock of Pidgeot and Pidgeotto fly by when Ash’s phone starts ringing. It is a trainer that’s just right behind them requesting a ranked battle for the Coronation Series. The kids convince Ash to join the battle as the trainer introduces himself as Oliver from Goldenrod City in Johto.

The Rotom Drone serves as referee and indicates this battle will be a 1 vs 1 battle. Oliver chooses Stanium his Meganium and Ash chooses Pikachu. After a long battle, Meganium attempts a Body Slam and Pikachu uses its momentum against itself, landing an Iron Tail that ends the battle. Once the battle ends, Ash’s ranking on the Coronation Series is 1512.

Lugia?

Goh catches a Grimer and an Ekans. As well, Farfetch’d returns, and the same happens, Gog is once again struck in the face with his own Pokéball. Shortly after, all the teams arrive at Vermilion Port. Here, Team Rocket is waiting for everyone in disguise and with what is clearly a balloon in the shape of Lugia.

They convince everyone to participate in a “Raid Battle” to capture Lugia. Once all Pokémon are in position, they capture Pikachu, Yamper, and Raboot in a cage and use the Lugia balloon to fly away. As they are escaping and in the most unexpected turn of events, the real Lugia appears and destroys Team Rocket’s balloon with Aeroblast.

Once the cage falls to the ground, Pikachu destroys it with Iron Tail. Pelipper appears in the sky and drops the Pokéball machine Team Rocket has been using as an aid from Giovanni. They release a Skarmory and a Crobat and command them to use Air Cutter. Rabbot and Pikachu dodge the attack and use Ember and Thunderbolt respectively, but failed to reach Skarmory and Crobat as they are flying way too high. Both flying Pokémon continue to use Air Slash, which Raboot and Pikachu dodge. Ash has the brilliant idea to do a combination attack.

Raboot uses Ember in Pikachu’s direction and Pikachu uses its Iron Tail move to propel the projectile far into the sky, hitting both Skarmory and Crobat. This attack make both Pokémon fall from the sky, landing directly on Team Rocket, which sends all of them flying into the horizon.

Once the commotion is over, Professor Cerise announces that the Yellow team, which he led, was the winner of the Pokémon Orienteering observation contest. Farfetch’d shows up once again and Goh finally catches it with a very slow throw of his Pokéball. The episode ends with a brief glimpse of Lugia in the sky and it transforming into Mew, revealing that the one who helped all this time was Mew in disguise.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Farfetch’d
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Rattata, Persian, Meowth, Raticate, Growlithe, Pidgey, Pidgeot, Pidgeotto, Nidoran, Poliwag, Farfetch’d, Yamper, Skarmory, Crobat.

Episode 21: Caring for a Mystery!

Episode 21 starts with Nurse Joy taking care of an egg at the Pokémon Center. This scene cuts back to Cerise Lab where Professor Cerise is mentioning Professor Elm, one of Professor Oak’s past students, is an authority in Pokémon eggs research and the mystery of why no one has ever seen a Pokémon laying an egg. Goh states that he has never seen a Pokémon egg before, so Ash and Goh leave with the mission of finding an egg.

Hayden and Tauros

Goh catches an Exeggcute. Right after this catch, Ash is challenged by Hayden, a trainer from Fuchsia City and ranked 1024 in the Coronation Series. Ash accepts the challenge and Rotom Drone informs them it is going to be a 1 vs 1 battler. Hayden chooses Tauros and Ash chooses Pikachu.

Tauros starts the battle with Horn Attack and Pikachu counters it with Iron Tail. Shortly after, Pikachu receives a direct hit from Tauros’ Iron Head. Pikachu then uses Thunderbolt which ends the battle. As this battle is taking place, the egg in the Pokémon Center starts behaving strangely. Coincidentally, when Pikachu used its Thunderbolt, the egg began to release an eerie glow.

The Egg

After the battle is over, Pikachu climbs on Ash’s shoulder as usual and Ash discovers Pikachu’s tail is slightly scrapped after the hit he got from Tauros. Ash feels that there is something calling him, this is represented by some sort of blueish wave that traversed the area. They arrive at the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy takes care of Pikachu’s tail. Ash still feels that feeling like something is calling him, he follows this feeling and gets into the room of the Pokémon Center where the egg is located.

Nurse Joy tells him that this was a very unusual egg that was given to her by a daycare. For some reason, the egg didn’t want to hatch. After seeing that Ash was basically guided there by a mysterious call from the egg, she insists Ash should take care of the egg. Ash takes the egg with him and that night the egg hatches.

Inside the egg, there was a Riolu. Riolu attacks Ash with Vacuum Wave and escapes through the window to the forest outside. Ash and Goh follow it as it is just a newborn, they split to cover more ground. As Riolu is in the forest he battles many Pokémon, receiving many hits in the process.

Eventually, Riolu reaches what seems to be a rocky mountain and faces an Onix. As Riolu is fighting Onix, Ash and Pikachu arrive. Pikachu lands an Iron Tail on Onix, but Riolu then attacks Pikachu. Then Ash notices that Riolu actually wants to become stronger, Ash accepts this and commands Riolu to use Vacuum Wave on Onix. Onix runs away after this attack and Ash takes Riolu to a Pokémon Center. Here, Riouli asks Ash to catch him and joins his team.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Chansey
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Exeggcute, Tauros, Dugtrio, Rattata, Onix, Poliwrath, Poliwag, Poliwhirl

Episode 22: Goodbye, Friend!

Ash and Goh arrive at the Hoenn region, heading to Littleroot Town where they will be staying for 4 days. Professor Cerise sent them there as there to observe the annual Beautifly migration. As they are heading to the Pokémon Center, Goh sees a Wurmple and tells Raboot they are going to catch it.

Raboot completely ignores Goh once again and the Wurmple disappears in the tall grasses. Goh still wants to catch a Wurmple as his Wurmple evolved into Cascoon.

The Beautifly Migration

This episode revolves entirely around Raboot being rebellious and how that affects Goh. After arriving at the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy tells Ash and Goh that it is exactly certain when the migration will begin, but what is certain is that a north wind blows when it’s time for it to happen.

After not being able to see a single Beautifly and with an opposing wind, Goh theorizes that what they should look for is Silcoons. They eventually find the Silcoons and are able to witness the migrations. Both Ash and Goh are so mesmerized by it that they don’t even try to capture one.

Raboot and Goh

During the nights Goh has observed that Raboot tends to leave the Pokémon Center. He shares this with Ash after not being able to follow Raboot’s track one night. Ash and Pikachu join Goh the next night and they both discover Raboot is helping a Lombre and a pair of Zigzagoon by teaching them how to dance.

Raboot is teaching them some moves and rhythm since a group of Loudred is going to take them on a dance battle for control of the area, which is full of berries and resources. As the Loudred corner Raboot and his friends, Goh, Ash, and Pikachu intervene by clapping and creating a rhythm. Everyone ends up dancing and sharing the territory.

At dawn, Goh believes that Raboot will be better off there. He believes Raboot is having more fun without him as it was finally smiling there, dancing with its new friends. So, he goes to see Raboot one more time where the dance battle occurred. Goh sees Raboot is sleeping, so he just says, “Goodby, friend!” and leaves.

Goh gets on the train with Ash and Pikachu, leaving Raboot behind. Goh starts remembering all the good times he spent with Raboot, and as he is having second thoughts about this decision, he tries to run and get out of the train, but the door closes before he can reach the exit.

Goh runs inside the train, crying for Raboot, trying to get to the last wagon and escape. He is too late and he is just able to stare out of the window how the train gets farther and farther from the station. As he continues crying, a door in the train opens and Raboot enters the wagon where Goh is. Then Goh realizes that even though Raboot is going through a rebellious face, it still loves him. Goh hugs Raboot and takes a selfie with it using the Rotom Phone. The episode ends with a closeup on the photo, where you can see Raboot smiling as it hugs Goh.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Beautifly
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Exeggcute, Beautifly, Wurmple, Raboot, Zigzagoon, Lombre, Loudred,  Whismur, Seedot, Lotad.

Episode 23: Panic in the Park!

The Missing Food

Goh and Ash feed the Pokémon they’ve caught at Cerise Park. After a few moments, Goh’s Beedrill and Grimer complain there is no food left in the trays. They both realize that, in fact, food has been disappearing from the trays really fast. The next day, the same issue persist.

To solve this, Ash and Goh decide to sleep at Cerise Park and see if they can figure out what or who is causing the food to disappear. A series of crazy events happen due to Pokémon fighting each other out of hunger. At the end of the episode, Ash and Goh discover that Skwovet was the one hiding the food in a cave, as it is part of its nature.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Skwovet
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Venonat, Misdreavus, Beedrill, Grimer, Sandile, Oddish, Spearow, Tailow, Riolu, Parasect, Skwovet.

Episode 24: A Little Rocket R & R!

Matori, part of Team Rocket, informs Jessie, James, and Meowth that due to their unconditional service they have been ordered to take vacations. In the meantime, Professor Cerise informs Ash and Goh of a mysterious Pokémon located in the lake of the Resort Area in the Sinnoh Region. Ash and Goh decide to go there and try to catch the mysterious Pokémon.

The Big Fish

Team Rocket is in disguise taking sun at the beach when Goh and Ash pass by. Goh approaches them and asks for directions on how to get to the lake. After this Team Rocket believes this is the perfect opportunity to steal Pikachu but decides to stick to their orders of taking a vacation.

As Team Rocket is enjoying a town nearby, they bump into Ash and Goh once again. James ends up helping them pick fishing gear, as both trainers are planning to go fishing at the lake. On the other hand, Jessie ends up saving Pikachu from a skater that almost hit Pikachu as he was skateboarding around.

The scene cuts to Matori getting out of a helicopter, and stating that Giovanni’s, the leader of Team Rocket, goal is to conquer the world and create a world filled with order. To achieve this, Giovanni believes that creating an army of powerful Pokémon is necessary. Here we learn that Matori is actually at the same lake where Ash, Goh, and Team Rocket are currently located. Her plan is to steal all the rare and powerful Pokémon trainers bring to the lake in hopes of catching the mysterious lake Pokémon.

While fishing at the lake, Goh catches a Goldeen and a Magikarp. After many attempts of trying to fish the giant Pokémon, Goh finally catches something that he can’t reel to the surface on his own. Ash helps but even with the two of them is not enough. Ash looks that Team Rocket in disguise is behind them and asks for help. All of them working together manage to reel a massive Magikarp.

The Big Lie

Goh is able to catch the giant Magikarp by battling it with Oddish’s Sleep Powder. Shortly after, an explosion is heard back at the resort. Ash, Goh, Jessie, and James arrive at the resort and discover that Team Rocket is stealing the Pokémon there. Additionally, Jessie and James overhear Matori stating that it was a great idea to send them on vacation for this operation, as they would’ve ruined the whole operation.

Ash and Goh start battling Team Rocket to save the captured Pokémon. Ash chooses Riolu and Pikachu, while Goh asks Raboot to help out. Their Pokémon are rapidly defeated by Team Rocket’s Toxicroak, Purugly, Rhyperior, and Skuntank. Once Pikachu is defeated, a Team Rocket grunt captures it. After this battle, Team Rocket is able to escape with all the stolen Pokémon, Pikachu included.

The Rescue

Team Rocket, still in disguise, is upset because of Matori’s move and decides to help Ash find Pikachu. James was able to put a tracker on one of Team Rocket’s Pokémon during the battle, and due to this, they are able to determine the exact location where Pikachu was taken. At this point, personally, I wonder why they didn’t present this information to officer Jenny instead of going alone.

They are successful at infiltrating Team Rocket’s camp. Goh distracts Team Rocket grunts with his massive Magikarp while Ash and James open the cages to release all the captured Pokémon. Ash finally reunites with Pikachu. Team Rocket starts battling Ash, and all the free Pokémon join the battle against them. As they are cornered and at the edge of defeat, officer Jenny appears out of nowhere to charge them for stealing Pokémon. Rhyperior creates a rock barrier and Team Rocket is able to escape.

Goh and Ash are grateful to Jessie and James and ask their names, as Jessie is about to spew the usual “Prepare for trouble” line, James covers her mouth, and they all escape without Ash and Goh figuring out their true identities. The episode ends with Jessie and James having fun after Matori’s stressed face in a video call for their next mission. As well, the last scene shows the giant Magikarp at Cerise Park, where it jumps so high that breaks the dome ceiling above.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Meowth
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Goldeen, Magikarp, Riolu, Oddish, Toxicroak, Purugly, Skuntank, Rhyperior.

Episode 25: A Festival Reunion!

Battle Festival Challenge

Ash and Goh head to Shalour City in the Kalos Region for the Battle Festival Challenge. Right after arriving, Goh catches a Binacle. This episode cuts directly to the action, where Pikachu is battling a Clawitzer in the Battle Festival Challenge. Pikachu is able to win the battle by landing an Iron Tail on Clawitzer.

After this win, Ash just needs another win to climb up to Great Class in the Coronation Series ranking. At this point of the episode, we learn that the Battle Festival Challenge is a gathering of trainers, in which any trainer can challenge any other trainer. The objective of this festival is to build up wins to climb up in the Coronation Series rankings.

While Ash is battling, Goh is outside catching as many Pokémon from the Kalos region as he can. He catches two differently colored Flabébé, a Phantump, a Fletchling, and a Scatterbug. Not long after, Rioulu detects an Aura and follows it to discover a Lucario. Ash recognizes this Lucario and an instant later, Korrina, the Gym Leader of Shalour City, appears.

Ash and Korrina met previously when Ash was traveling the Kalos Region and challenged her gym. Korrina is participating in the Battle Festival Challenge. Upon hearing this, Ash challenges her to a battle.

Korrina and Lucario

Goh is still in the vicinity catching Pokémon. There, he meets Korrina’s grandpa and his Lucario. The scene cuts directly to Ash and Korrina’s battle, which was dictated to be a 2 vs 2 battle. Ash chooses Gengar and Korrina decides to battle with her Mienshao. During the battle, Mienshao uses U-Uturn, landing a hit on Gengar and immediately swapping places with Lucario.

Korrina’s Lucario manages to defeat Gengar by using Bone Rush and landing several consecutive hits. Ash chooses to continue the battle with Dragonite and Korrina brings Mienshao back to the battle. To defend itself from Mienshao’s attacks, Dragonite uses Dragon Dance. Eventually. the battle ends with Dragonite connecting a Dragon Claw on Mienshao.

Lucario jumps back into action as Korrina commands it to use Mega Evolution. Dragonite uses Dragon Dance once again to boost its stats. Mega Lucario uses an Aura Sphere and Dragonite tries to counter it with a Hyper Beam, but it is too slow and receives a direct hit from the Aura Sphere. Taking advantage of its previous hit, Mega Lucario uses Power-Up Punch several times on Dragonite.

After landing on the ground, Dragonite is able to regain its ground and uses Hurricane, hitting Mega Lucario with the flying rock debris many times. Mega Lucario is able to stop the Hurricane with an Aura Sphere. The battle ends with a tense simultaneous hit from both Pokémon as Mega Lucario lands a Power-Up Punch on Dragonite and Dragonite connects a Dragon Claw on Mega Lucario. After it, both Pokémon remain standing, but the tension moment ends once Mega Lucario finally faints.

Once the battle ends, Ash’s ranking is announced to be 921, which gets him into de Great Rank of the Coronation Series and one step closer to battling Leon. Right as the episode is ending a White Flabébé, which is now the only color Goh is missing, flies by and Goh goes after it.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Binacle
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Binacle, Sudowoodo, Lapras, Poliwrath, Clawitzer, Flabébé, Phantump, Fletchling, Scatterbug, Riolu, Lucario, Gengar, Mienshao, Dragonite.

Episode 26: Splash, Dash, and Smash for the Crown! / Slowking’s Crowning!

This is a two-part filler episode. The first part of the episode consists of Goh entering a Magikarp jump competition. His Magikarp jumps so high in the competition that gets disqualified for reaching outer space and never returning to the landing platform. The next part of this episode is Ash and Goh going to Slowpoke Island, where they have a weird encounter with a Slowking. At the end of this episode, Magikarp falls from the sky and lands on the Slowking Island right where Goh and Ash are.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Magikarp
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Magikarp, Machamp, Slowpoke, Slowking, Meowth, Wobbuffet.

Episode 27: Toughing It Out!

The World Coronation Series Master Class

Professor Cerise gifts Ash and Goh tickets to an official World Coronation Series Master Class battle. So, both trainers head once again to the Galar region to see Leon battle. Rapidly, the episode transports us to the day of the battle. Here, the Dragon-type Gym Leader of the Galar Region, Raihan, is going to battle Leon, the current champion of the World Coronation Series.

The referee dictates this is going to be a 1 vs 1 battle. Raihan chooses Duraludos and Leon goes with his faithful Charizard. Duraludon is defeated after its Max Steelspike is countered by Charizard’s G-Max Wildfire. After Leon is announced the winner, the presenter of the match also adds that Chairman Rose (from the Pokémon Sword and Shield games), the man who first endorsed Leon is watching the match and he couldn’t be happier.

Galarian Farfetch’d

Additionally, Ash and Goh meet Sonia (the same character from the Pokémon Sword and Shield games)at the stadium lobby. She explains that the statue in the lobby is not Leon as they thought, but the hero from the Galar region. Sonia proceeds to explain the famous legend of the Galar region, in which a hero wielding a sword and a shield saved the Galar Region from giant Pokémon that were devastating everything.

As well, Sonia adds she is investigating this myth and see how much is real. She is especially interested to find more about the Sword and Shield. Ash and Goh are impressed and ask if she is doing this as some sort of homework, she then explains that her grandfather is a Pokémon Professor, and she is his assistant.

Later on, Ash and Goh learn about the regional differences of Pokémon as they find a Galarian Farfetch’d in a bridge. Ash ends up catching Galarian Farfetch’d. Just as the episode is ending, a Sobble is seen going around in the bushes.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Duraludon
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Riolu, Farfetch’d, Duraludon, Charizard, Indeedee, Sobble.

Episode 28: Sobbing Sobble!

Sobble

Ash and Goh are enjoying some curry, when a Sobble turns invisible and eats all their food. After being discovered, Sobble starts crying and its tears have the mysterious effect of making everyone cry. As everyone is crying it disappears once again and flees. After some time looking for it, Goh catches Sobble. As Goh and Ash are near the fountain, Team Rocket descends on the balloon with a net to capture Pikachu, but they are blown away by a wind gust. Shortly after, Riolu finds a Silicobra and Goh battles it with Sobble.

During the battle, Sobble gets hit and runs away crying. After some time Sobble eventually gets to the area where Team Rocket’s balloon crashed. Here, Jessie, James, and Meowth are furious because not only they crashed, but a wild Morpeko ate their supplies. Jessie is so upset that she throws an empty tuna can at Morpeko, who dodges it and the can lands on Sobble, revealing its presence as it was invisible all this time. After this, Jessie captures Sobble in a cage.

Powerful Tears

Eventually, Goh and Ash find Team Rocket. Pelipper shows up once again, delivering the Pokéball machine. This time they get a Magnezone and an Armaldo. Raboot, Riolu, and Pikachu battle them, but everyone is paralyzed by Magnezone’s Supersonic. Jessie calls Sobble weak because it cries so much.

Goh defends Sobble and tells it no matter what he will save it. This gives Sobble courage, and it breaks free from the cage it was trapped in. Armaldo steps on Sobble, which uses its cry as an advantage making everyone cry. Goh, Ash, and their Pokémon wear goggles to avoid the effect of Sobble’s tears and finally defeat Team Rocket with a mixed attack of Ember, Vacuum Wave, and Thunderbolt.

The episode ends with Team Rocket in a wooded area, where a Morpeko finds them. After a little while, Morpeko’s Hunger Switch ability kicks in and it attacks Team Rocket, sending them flying away.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Sobble
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Riolu, Farfetch’d, Sobble, Indeedee, Silicobra, Morpeko, Armaldo, Magnezone.

Episode 29: There’s a New Kid in Town!

Pidove

Episode 29 starts with Professor Cerise’s family having breakfast. As they are having a conversation Yamper comes in, dragging a stunned Pidove with his mouth. After seeing it is hurt, the family decides to keep it and nurse it to full health. They also figure out that the Pidove must have hit Chloe’s window by accident as it was flying.

Meanwhile, Ash and Goh are at Cerise Park, trying to find Sobble, as it has disappeared again. They eventually find it and calm it down with the help of the Pokémon at the park, as it was causing everyone there to cry.

Jealousy

Back at Professor’s Yamper is jealous of all the attention Pidove receives. As well, for some unknown reason, Pidove loves to stand on Yampers back. Professor Cerise tells a story about Chloe’s childhood, back when she was jealous about Yamper. Chloe told Yamper to go away, and it left the house. Chloe missed Yamper and went out to to look for it in the middle of the night. As she was looking for it in a park, she was startled by some Venonat. Yamper defended her from the Venonat and so their friendship began.

Once the story is over, Yamper and Pidove are outside being attacked by a Fearow. Here we learn that Pidove crashed against Chloe’s window as it was trying to escape from this same Fearow. Everyone runs outside and Yamper is clearly ready to battle Fearow.

Chloe beats her fear of Pokémon battle with her dad and Ash’s encouragement and commands Yamper to use Spark, hitting Fearow directly and causing it to fly away. The episode ends with the Cerise family giving back Pidove to its trainer, who saw a post about a lost Pidove Professor Cerise posted online.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Pidove
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Yamper, Pidove, Scyther, Venomoth, Butterfree, Dragonite, Venonat, Fearow.

Episode 30: Betrayed, Bothered, and Beleaguered!

Riolu’s Training

This episode starts with a World Coronation Series battle between Ash’s Riolu and a trainer’s Electabuzz. Riolu is able to win the battle using Vacuum Wave. After this battle, Ash’s ranking climbs up to 901. Pikachu asks Ash if he can battle next time, and Ash states how cool Pikachu’s motivation is but that Riolu is on a winning streak and that it will also battle next time. Pikachu is less than happy about this.

That day, Ash continues training only with Riolu, even though Pikachu clearly wants to participate. Eventually, after many hours have passed and the sun is almost completely setting down, Ash asks Pikachu if he wants to train. At this point, Pikachu is fast asleep.

He wakes up as Ash is telling him that he had a slack day and that Riolu worked hard. Additionally, Ash states that he won’t be able to use Pikachu in an official battle if he continues slacking like that. Pikachu gets rightfully upset and shock him with electricity. Ash’s mom shows up and cooks dinner for everyone at the lab.

The Escape

After dinner, Ash leaves Pikachu once again and goes out to train with Riolu. Pikachu is pretty sad and decides to stay with Ash’s mom for the night. The next day, Ash’s mom leaves, and Ash tells Riolu that he will be training with him that day as well. Pikachu is notoriously upset and Ash just tells him to be patient and wait for his turn. Pikachu is beyond upset at this point and runs away as Ash’s mom’s transport is heading away.

Mr. Mime tries to stop Pikachu but fails and ends up following him. They eventually get through a city, a prairie, and both even try to ask for a lift on the road. This scene is particularly hilarious as Mr. Mime tries to ask for a ride the usual way by sticking his thumb up but every single driver ignores it. Pikachu then decides to try another way, and he waves his tail in direction of the road, and immediately a truck driver stops and asks if they need a ride.

Once they reach the road that leads to Pallet Town, Pikachu and Mr. Mime get down of the truck and continue their journey. Soon after, they are attacked by a group of Spearrow. After a brief battle, they are able to escape. Here, Pikachu remembers when Ash defended him from a Spearrow attack the very first day they met.

Nostalgia kicks in, and as both Pikachu and Mr. Mime are arriving at Ash’s mom’s house, Pikachu turns back and decides it’s time to return to Ash in Vermilion City. As he is turning around, Ash gets out of his mom’s house and tells Pikachu he knew he would come back home.

Ash apologizes and states that Chloe helped him realize the mistake he had made. Pikachu forgives him and hugs him. As well, he shocks Ash with a Thunderbolt in the process, because of course, he also deserved some sort of punishment for what he did. The episode ends with Goh, Ash, and his mom having dinner together with all their Pokémon.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Mr. Mime
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Riolu, Mr. Mime

Episode 31: The Cuteness Quotient!

Jinny and Feeby

Parker, Chloe’s brother, calls her for help. He requests for her to go to the park and help him with an argument he and other kids are having with a friend of his. Chloe decides that since the argument is Pokémon related, she’s going to take Goh and Ash with her. When all of them arrive at the park, they find all the kids are arguing if a Feeby, Jinny’s Feebas, is cute or not. All the kids eventually leave, and Ash and Gog invite Jinny to Cerise Park.

At Cerise Park, everyone talks about how Feebas eventually evolves into the majestic Milotic. But, Ren and Chrysa add that this takes a lot of training, sync, and work. Chrysa then suggests that Jinny should join the Friendship Festival to prove Feebas is indeed a cool Pokémon.

The Friendship Festival is a contest at Slateport City in the Hoenn Region and it is aimed at kids and solely for water-type Pokémon. After Jinny gets excited about this, everyone learns that she can’t swim, which will make it impossible for her to join. Chloe decides to help and teaches Jinny how to swim.

Ash and Goh help, and with the aid of their Pokémon, they teach Feeby many cool swimming techniques and tricks to impress at the competition. After the first day of training, everyone notices one of Feeby’s scales is rainbow-like and quite beautiful to see.

The Friendship Festival

The next day, Chloe, Ash, Goh, Jinny, and their Pokémon arrive via ship to Slateport City. Finally, Feeby’s turn to perform arrives. Jinny and Feeby deliver a magnificent performance, but as they are about to execute their closing swimming move, Team Rocket attacks.

Team Rocket start stealing plenty of Pokémon with the aid of their submarine, which now has mechanical hands. Additionally, Pelipper appears with the Pokéball machine once again and drops it to help Jessie and James. They take out two Pokéballs from the machine, each one containing a Carvanha and a Kingler respectively. Both Pokémon start battling Pikachu and Raboot.

Meowth tries to steal Feeby from Jinny, and Feebas tries to battle. As it jumps high, Meowth viciously attacks it with Fury Swipes. As Feeby falls to the ground, its multi-colored scale falls off. After this happens, it is now clear the scale is actually a Prism Scale. Jinny grabs the Prism Scale from the floor and she cries believing Feeby is hurt.

She then places the scale on top of Feeby and it starts evolving into Milotic. Together, Milotic and Pikachu are able to defeat Team Rocket. Finally, Milotic sends them flying away using Twister. At the end of this episode, Jinny and Milotic are awarded as winners of the Friendship Festival.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Feebas
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Feebas, Yamper, Goldeen, Magikarp, Wingull, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Corsola, Seaking, Carvahna, Kingler, Milotic.

Episode 32: Time After Time!

The Memory

Goh and his mom and dad go on vacation at Azalea Town in the Johto Region. Just as they arrive at their cabin, both, Goh’s mom and dad fell asleep as they were both exhausted from working all night long the previous day. Goh remembers that this exact same thing happened back when he was younger and they visited this place.

He leaves to the woods trying to enjoy the trip and to see which Pokémon he can catch. Once he arrives at the woods, Goh sees an incredible amount of Pokémon and believes that even Mew can be here.

As soon as he thinks that, he starts remembering something from his past, and memory starts. In his memory, a mysterious shadow flies by and he starts following it screaming at what could be Mew. A few seconds later he bumps into another kid who was following the same shadow and screaming “Celebi.” The kid introduces himself as Horace, from Cianwood City. Both Goh and Horace share a passion for mythical Pokémon, so Horace decides to help Goh in his search for Mew.

Instead of that, Goh ends up helping Horace find Mew with a device his parents gave him that collects sighting information of mythical Pokémon. After some research, Goh finds out that there have been sightings of Celebi in a shrine located on Ilex Forest, which is very close to where they are.

On their way there, they encounter an area with a considerable amount of tall grasses. Due to the wild Pokémon living in the grass, they can’t move forward. Goh returns to the place where he is staying with his parents and asks the man that works there to borrow his Sunflora. Now, with Sunflora’s Razor Leaf, they are able to cut the grass. Unfortunately, they are not able to reach the shrine before sunset as Sunflora falls asleep once there is no sunlight. Goh and Horace agree on meeting there the next day to continue their journey to the shrine.

Celebi

The next day, Goh shows up with Sunflora, but Horace never arrives. Goh feels very bad about this and as it starts raining. He then leaves the places completely disappointed as he is once again alone during vacations. Here, Goh’s memory ends with him saying he never saw Horace again.

He added that ever since that happened, it had been harder for him to make friends. Now, as a young trainer, Goh goes back to the tall grasses, and with the help of Scyther and Farfetch’d he is able to traverse the grasses. Now, instead of fearing the Pokémon living there, he ends up catching an Ariados and a Pineco.

Goh finally arrives at the shrine. There, he finds a note from Horace, who let him know that he didn’t arrive that day because he had a fever. As well Horace says in his letter that he had been trying to find Celebi every day so it can help him travel through time and be able to fulfill his promise.

As Goh finishes reading, Horace and his Chikorita arrive and both trainers finally reunite after so many years. As they are walking towards each other, Celebi and a Shiny Celebi fly away without Goh and Horace seeing them.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Sunflora
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Ariados, Pineco, Sunflora, Bellossom, Scyther, Farfetch’d, Celebi, Shiny Celebi, Chikorita

Episode 33: Trade, Borrow, and Steal!

This is yet another filler episode. Ash and Goh attend a Pokémon trading event at the Pokémon Center. There, they found Kricketina Kylie, the self-proclaimed Bug-Type Queen of Sinnoh. Ash challenges her to an official World Coronation Series battle and she accepts the challenge. Ash chooses Pikachu and Kylie sends her Heracross to battle. After Heracross is not able to land a Mega Horn, Pikachu uses Electro Web and ends the battle with an Iron Tail. After this victory, Ash’s ranking climbs up to 890.

After the battle, Kylie asks Goh if he could trade his Pinsir for her Heracross. Goh says he can’t part ways with Pinsir, but that he is willing to help her get one.After a long day and even fighting Team Rocket off, Goh captures a Pinsir and trades it for Kylie’s Heracross. As well, we learn that Team Rocket hasn’t been able to eat a bite since Morpeko found them back in Episode 28.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Heracross
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Farfetch’d, Spearow, Heracross, Sobble, Pinsir, Weedle, Nidoran, Venonat, Parasect, Ekans, Wobbuffet, Meowth, Morpeko.

Episode 34: Solitary and Menacing!

This is one of the most straightforward episodes in the series so far. Ash and Goh visit a dojo located in Saffron City. There he battles Bea, the gym leader from the Galar region. The battle is set to be a 2 vs 2. Ash, as usual, seems overconfident about his opponent. Ash starts the battle with Galarian Farfetch’d and Bea chooses her Hawlucha. After connecting a successful Brutal Swing, Farfetch’d is defeated by Hawlucha’s Flying Press. This battle is really quick and Farfetch’d was clearly below Hawlucha’s level.

Tha Amazing Grapploct

The battle goes on as Ash chooses Riouly and Bea brings her Grapploct to battle. In the whole series, this is by far one of the most intense battles.

Riolu does everything it can to connect attacks, but his Vacuum Waves are dodged by Grapploct’s Detect. To make matter worse, Riolu is hit directly by Grapploct’s Liquidation. After a failed Force Palm and Reversal strategy from Ash and a successful sequence of Octolock and Liquidation from Grapploct, Riolu loses the battle. Then again, this is an intense battle! Personally, I recommend this episode as a must-see episode.

Ash’s ranking changes from 890 to 930 after his loss. Once the battle is over, Goh receives a Hirmonchan after defeating the Karate Master at the dojo. The episode ends at the Pokémon Center where Farfetch’d and Riolu were nurtured to full health.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Riolu
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Farfetch’d, Riolu, Grapploct, Hawlucha, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan.

Episode 35: Gotta Catch a What?!

Pikachu

This episode doesn’t do much to advance Ash’s story in the World Coronation Series. But, it does introduce one of the nicest Pokémon in the series so far. Everything begins when Goh sees how good friends Pikachu and Ash are. So, he decides he wants to catch a Pikachu as well. Coincidentally, Professor Cerise sends them to a mountain area to investigate a recent Pikachu outbreak.

Once they reach the place, they are invited to have some berries by an incredibly kind female Pikachu. This female Pikachu actively looks to feed and take care of all the other Pikachu in the area. Goh catches this Pikachu. Soon, both Ash and Goh discover that the Pikachu are there because they are digging the area searching for Thunder Stones to evolve into Raichu. As well, it is revealed that Goh’s Pikachu, like Ash’s, prefers to avoid evolving.

Raichu

Shortly after, Team Rocket shows up with a yellow car that has a special container and a vacuum arm to capture Pikachu. They successfully capture most of the Pikachu. A battle is in order, and Pelipper delivers the Pokéball machine once again. This time, Jessie and James receive a Buneary and a Minccino.

Raboot and Pikachu battle Team Rocket’s Pokémon, but the match ends abruptly as Pikachu is captured by Meowth who uses the vacuum arm on him. Team Rocket manages to escape, but not for long. Ash and Goh quickly find them and a battle breaks loose once again. As Raboot is fighting Buneary, Goh’s Pikachu is trying to save the others that are trapped in the car. As Meowth sees this, he tries to stop Goh’s Pikachu with the vacuum arm.

Goh’s Pikachu is about to be absorbed by the vacuum arm, but she signals Goh to throw the Thunder Stone at her. Immediately, Goh throws the stone at her and she grabs it. Pikachu lets the vacuum take her away and as she is traveling through the machine ducts she touches the stone and evolves.

Her new size is too much for the duct to handle and the machine ruptures. The Raichu use Thunderbolt on the ruptured machine, releasing all the Pikachu. All the Pikachu team up, line one on top of the other and release a massive Thunderbolt, which sends Team Rocket flying away. The episode ends with Raichu sharing berries with everyone at Cerise Park.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Riolu
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Sobble, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Raichu, Buneary, Mincinno.

Episode 36: Making Battles in the Sand!

Normal Class

This episode focuses entirely on Ash’s confidence in battle. Right from the start, Ash is defeated two times in a row during official World Coronation Series battles. Ash chooses Rioulu both times. The first battle is against an Octillery and the second battle is against a Tentacruel.

In both instances, Ash has seconds thoughts about using close combat attacks, as these Pokémon have tentacles to defend from Riolu’s attacks. Clearly, Ash is having flashbacks of how badly Bea’s Grapploct defeated Riolu using its tentacles. After both losses, Ash’s rank descends from 930 to 1021, which removes get him back to Normal Class.

The Draco Meteor Shower

Sometime later, Goh and Ash are sent to Mauville City in the Hoenn region to investigate a mysterious sandstorm. This sandstorm started randomly at the very entrance of the city, and a mysterious chant from within is luring people inside the storm. Once both trainers arrive, they get into the storm and Goh catches a Trapinch and a Vibrava.

Quickly after that, they discover that the sandstorm is caused by a Flygon that’s using its wings to create the vortex of sand. Goh asks Ash to help him battle Flygon so he can capture it. Ash chooses Pikachu, but quickly remembers Flygon is a ground-type and Pikachu’s electric moves won’t affect it. Then he gets Riolu into battle, but Flygon quickly gets Riolu and Ash out from battle with Dragon Rush.

Ash lays there on the sand, just paralyzed with doubt on how to tackle this battle. Goh sees this and decides to take the lead with Raboot. After Raboot dodges some attacks, Flygon uses Draco Meteor. Goh decides to take a completely out-of-the-box approach and asks Raboot to jump on the falling meteors to gain the higher ground. Once Raboot is high enough, Goh asks him to kick one of the meteors using Ember.

A storm of fiery rocks brings down Flygon and once it crashes on the floor, Goh is able to catch it. Ash is amazed by Goh’s strategy, to which Goh replies by stating that he learned all this from Ash and his creative way to sort things out. This gives Ash back his confidence on how to tackle battles with Riolu.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Trapinch
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Sobble, Octillery, Tentracruel, Trapinch, Vibrava, Flygon.

Episode 37: That New Old Gang of Mine!

Alolan Trip

Yamper finds a Leaf Stone and brings it to Goh. He uses it to evolve his Exeggcute to an Exeggutor. Ash tells him that Alolan Exeggutor is completely different and that he would love to show it to him. Professor Cerise tells them they should visit the Alolan region and so, both trainers depart.

This episode serves to reconnect all the characters that Ash met during his Alolan trip. Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet once again take him to their home in Melemele Island. They, of course, also host Goh. Ash meets again with Incineroar, Rowlet, Lycanroc, and Melmetal.

Soon after Ash and Goh got to catch local Pokémon. Here Goh catches a Pyukumuku and falls into the see after following an Alolan Dugtrio to the edge of a cliff. Goh is literally fished from the water by Lillie, who takes him to a welcome party that was planned for Ash and him at the school.

At the party, Mallow gives everyone Pinap berry juice. As well, Lana reads a letter from Lillie addressed to Mallow, Sophocles, Kiawe, Ash, and herself. The letter states that she, her mom, and her brother, are still looking for her father but getting closer every day. After reading the letter, Kiawe challenges Goh to a Pokémon battle, because he wants to see if he is good enough to be Ash’s rival.

Kiawe and Goh

The battle begins and Kiawe chooses his Turtonator, while Goh chooses Raboot. Turtonator starts strong with Dragon Tail, which Raboot dodges. As Raboot is descending from its dodge, it connects a Double Kick on Turtonator. Kiawe then says he is going to use a Z-Move, and prove if Goh is good enough to be Ash’s rival. Goh then states the he has never been Ash’s rival, nor has any intention to help him achieve his goal.

Goh believes you have to fight for your goals using your own power, and he states he believes his future is in the palm of his hands. Goh goes on to say he is no rival to Ash, but his fellow research partner and his good friend.

Kiawe then commands Turtonator to use its Z-Move, Inferno Overdrive. Raboot tries to stop it with Ember, but the fireball is so big that Ember does nothing to stop it. Right before Goh and Raboot are hit with the massive Inferno Overdrive, Kiawe’s Marowak saves them. Apparently, this was part of Kiawe’s plan all along. Both trainers end up being friendly to one another at the end of the battle. The episode ends with Goh catching an Alolan Exeggutor and taking it back to Cerise Park.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Alolan Dugtrio
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Sobble, Exeggutor, Exeggcute, Yamper, Incineroar, Rowlet, Lycanroc, Melmetal, Pyukumuku, Grubbin, Turtonator, Marowak.

Episode 38: Restore and Renew!

Goh, Ash, and Chloe visit the Pewter Museum of Science. There, after a long day of searching for fossils, Gog finds an Old Amber. With the help of the Museum of Science curator, the Old Amber DNA is restored. As a fun fact, the museum curator looks exactly like the excavation leader in Unova back from Episode 14.

The process is supposed to last all night long, but Team Rocket gets inside the lab and tinkers with the machine that’s doing the process. This causes the machine to explode and finish the process immediately. The resulting Pokémon is an Aerodactyl.

Goh battles Aerodactyl with Raboot and Golurk. In the meantime, Ash battles Team Rocket who used the Pokéball machine to get a Nidorino and a Graveler. Ash defeats both of them with Pikachu’s Electro Web. After a while Golurk defeats Aerodactyl with Flash Cannon and Goh catches it.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Kabutops
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Omanyte, Kabuto, Kabutops, Shieldon, Geodude, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Anorith, Golurk, Sobble, Nidorino, Graveler, Aerodactyl.

Episode 39: Octo-Gridlock at the Gym!

Ash and Goh travel to the Cianwood City Gym in the Johto region to get a rematch from Bea. The battle is determined to be a 2 vs 2. Ash chooses Pikachu as his first Pokémon and Bea chooses her Hitmontop. After an intense battle, Pikachu wins the battle with a winner combo of Electro Web, Iron Tail, and Quick Attack. Bea sends her Grapploct to battle and Ash keeps battling with Pikachu. Octolock connects a sequence of Octolock and Liquidation, which ends the battle for Pikachu.

Now, Ash sends Riolu for the much-expected rematch. Riolu falls into Grapploct’s Octolock, and breaks free by synchronizing with Grapploct’s tentacle movements and releasing a devasting Force Palm. After a clash between Close Combat and Force Palm, the match was declared a tie. Since the battle ended in a tie, there were no changes made to the official World Coronation Series ranking. The episode ends with Goh revealing back at Cerise Lab that he had captured a Chinchou back in the Johto region.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Grapploct
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Poliwrath, Grapploct, Hitmontop, Riolu, Chinchou.

Episode 40: A Crackling Raid Battle!

A huge storm cloud forms above Vermilion City and Goh believes this is Zapdos. After the cloud dissipates and there’s no Zapdos on-site, Goh theorizes that Zapdos might have head to the local power plant. There, they find Team Rocket and also encounter Zapdos, who is zapping electricity from the power plant.

Team Rocket us the Pokéball machine once again, this time getting a Rhydon and a Stunfisk. Ash, Goh, Jessie, and James start a Raid Battle against Zapdos. After not being able to connect any attacks even though all of them are cooperating, Zapdos flies away. Goh follows Zapdos, and Ash is left behind battling with Team Rocket.

Goh battles Zapdos with his Flygon. Ash defeats Team Rocket and eventually joins Goh. Raboot joins the fight and lands a Blaze Kick on Zapdos. The direct hit leaves Zapdos on the ground, and Goh is able to throw a Pokéball at it. As the Pokéball is on the floor and Zapdos appears to be caught, a bolt of lightning descends from the sky and lands directly on the Pokéball destroying it.

Zapdos breaks free, summons storm clouds, shares its electricity with the electric Pokémon, and then leaves the area. The episode ends with Professor Cerise analyzing all the data Ash and Goh collected from Zapdos.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Grapploct
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Rhydon, Zapdos, Stunfisk.

Episode 41: Pikachu Translation Check… / Up to Your Neck!

This is in its entirety a filler episode. Meowth is sick and tells them in his sick rambling that Team Rocket is missing something. Jessie and James decide that what they are missing is understanding themselves what Pikachu feels and what he says. They watch clips of Pikachu and just try to predict what he says. While they are doing this, the same Morpeko from Episode 28 and 33 is seen in the corner of Team Rocket’s hideout eating their food.

In the second part of the episode, Goh and Ash find a Marshtomp that is trapped in dried-up mud up to its neck. Both Ash and Goh fail many times to get Marshtomp out of the mud. Luckily, a wild Ludicolo appears and uses Rain Dance, softening the mud and rescuing Marshtomp. The episode ends the next day with Goh and Ash visiting the same spot the next day. There, they found several Marshtomp trapped in the mud again.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Marshtomp
Pokémon featured in this episode: Meowth, Pikachu, Wobbuffet, Marshtomp, Raboot, Sobble, Ludicolo.

Episode 42: Sword and Shield, Slumbering Weald! (The beginning of the Galar Arc)

A reactor ran by Chairman Rose and Oleana overloads with Galar Particles. A massive surge of energy spills across the Galar region. Right after, Goh and Ash are sent to the Galar region to investigate mysterious Dynamax events in the Wild Area. As they are getting closer to their destination, their train stops due to thick fog.

The train doors open and both trainers get out. Goh and Ash follow a Bunnelby that Goh wants to catch and end up lost in the splitting in the forest called The Slumberig Weald. Here, Ash founds Zacian and Goh finds Zamazenta. After trying to battle and catch them, both trainers realize their attacks and Pokéballs went directly through both legendary Pokémon. Goh and Ash end up falling sleep in a thick fog.

Goh wakes up and ends up finding Sonia. He teams up with her to investigate the ruins in Turffield, as they might be connected to the events in Galar and the legend of the hero from Galar. Ash on the other hand, ends up in a village with a rampaging Centiskorch.

Here we realize that all the energy released from the reactor at the beginning is making Pokémon Gigantamax and Dynamax all across the Galar region causing havoc. Leon eventually arrives and defeats the Centiskorch. Ash teams with him to stop all the other rampaging Pokémon in the area. This episode ends with Goh and Sonia being followed by a mysterious car as they are heading to the ruins.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: This is the first episode in the series that doesn’t include a “Who’s that Pokémon” intermission.
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Sobble, Bunnelby, Centiskorch, Riolu, Dragonite, Charizard, Pangoro.

Episode 43: Sword and Shield: The Darkest Day!

This episode progresses the plot in regards to Chairman Rose’s true intentions in regards to his Galar particle reactor. As well, the story moves forwards with Sonia’s investigation about the hero of Galar and the mysterious sword and shield legend. Goh and Sonia theorize, based on some tapestries from Hamerlocke, that the hero is not a single person, but two heroes instead.

As well, based on what they see on the Turffield geoglyphs, they now believe that Darkest Day described in the legend, is actually a Pokémon arriving and that the Sword and Shield might be Pokémon as well.

They both shared this information with Professor Magnolia, Sonia’s grandma who worked together with Chairman Rose to develop the Dynamax bands. Sonia gifts Goh a Dynamax band she made for him for a Wishing Star that landed near them as they were speaking of their dreams.

Eternatus

Team Rocket is shown to be working on the Galar particle reactor. Here, they overhear Chairman Rose state his true goal, bring back Eternatus. Ash and Goh find a Gigantamax Coalossal near the mines. After defeating it they find Chairman Rose and Oleana in the area. Ash then gets invited to a gourmet dinner with Chairman Rose, where he expresses his wish Ash joining his team of powerful trainers, just like Leon. Ash politely declines and he states he wants to travel around and learn more from Pokémon around the world.

The next day Goh and Sonia head to the ancient mural in Stow-on-Side to get more clues about the whereabouts of the Sword and Shield Pokémon. Before they leave, Professor Magnolia warns both of them about Chairman Rose, as she saw some evil in him when they worked together. At this point, it is revealed that the person following Sonia and Goh all this time was a spy under Oleana’s orders. They reach the mural and a fight between the spy’s Dynamexed Garbodor and Goh’s Dynamaxed Raboot starts. The episode ends with Raboot falling against the wall and breaking the mural down, revealing statues of the heroes and Zacian and Zamazenta.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: No intermission.
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Sobble, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Coalossal, Dragapult, Gengar, Garbodor.

Episode 44: Sword and Shield: From Here to Eternatus!

At the very beginning of the episode, Raboot defeats Garbodor. After seeing the statue both Sonia and Goh finally understand the legend of the two heroes defending Galar from the Darkest Day, a mysterious Pokémon, with a couple of sword and shield Pokémon.

Sonia and Goh head to the Slumbering Weald, to convince the Sword and Shield Pokémon to help them defend Galar once again. In the meantime, Leon continues to be suspicious about Chairman Rose, so he infiltrates the facility in Hammerlocke. There, Leon finds the reactor reaching its limit, eventually exploding and revealing that Eternatus was the core of the reactor all this time. Ash sees this beam of energy from afar and heads to Hammerlocke.

Chairman Rose

Eternatus reaches the gym area of Hammerlocke and shoots a beam of energy that makes Team Rocket’s Meowth Gigantamax. Back at the Slumbering Weald, Sonia and Goh and Goh find a rusted sword and shield and take them. Both head to Hammerlocke after this.

At Hammerlocke, Chairman Rose finally reveals his true intentions to Ash and Leon. His plan is to return Eternatus, to its full potential. Then he aims to have his army of trainers, Leon included, catch it and use it for infinite power for the Galar region. A battle starts between Ash and Chairman Rose, as Leon heads to the upper level of Hammerlocke to catch Eternatus and hide it away forever for safety.

Sonia and Goh arrive at Hammerlocke. This sets a battle between Raihan, Hammerlocke’s gym leader and Oleana’s grunts who were trying to stop Sonia. As well, Oleana herself battles Goh to stop him from stopping Chairman Rose’s plan. As the battles are about to begin, the episode ends.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: No intermission.
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Sobble, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Garbodor, Eternatus, Duraludon, Milotic, Copperajah, Ferrothorn, Charizard, Steelix, Riolu.

Episode 45: Sword and Shield… The Legends Awaken!

At the beginning of this episode, Eternatus absorbs all the Galar particles it can to reach its final form. This causes Meowth to return to its normal state and makes Dynamazing impossible in the area.

Furthermore, this episode concludes all the battles that began in Episode 44. Ash defeats Chairman Rose’s Copperajah and Ferrothorn with Pikachu and Rioulu, who evolves into Lucario at the very last moment of this battle. Goh defeats Oleana’s Milotic as Raboot evolves to Cinderace. Eventually, everyone reaches the upper level of Hammerlocke.

After a failed attempt to catch Eternatus from Leon, Eternatus finally reaches its ultimate final form, EternaMax, as it did on the Darkest Day. Ash and Goh fail to do any damage to Eternatus with their Pokémon. Ash and Goh grab the rusted sword and shield and state they are going to become the legend themselves. The rusted sword and shield start to glow. As Eternatus is about to release its full power with Eternabeam upon them all, Zacian and Zamazenta arrive just in time to block the Eternabeam.

Zacian and Zamazenta

Zacian and Zamazenta take the rusted sword and shield and turn them into their ultimate Crowned versions. Together with Pikachu, Lucario, and Cinderace, both Pokémon cause massive damage to Eternatus. This prompts Eternatus to launch multiple energy beams all around. One of these beams hit Chairman Rose’s helicopter damaging it. After the damage taken, Eternatus falls from the sky into Hammerlocke. Goh, with Ash’s help, hurls a large Pokéball and successfully catches Eternatus.

All the Pokémon return to their original size and Galar is saved. Professor Magnolia states that Eternatus is now dormant in a safe location underground. As well she reveals that Chairman Rose and Oleana haven’t been found yet. Lastly, Sonia is finally appointed as a Pokémon Professor. At the end of the episode, Goh and Ash go back to the Slumbering Weald and return the rusted sword and shield, ending the Sword and Shield saga.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: No intermission.
Pokémon featured in this episode: Raboot, Pikachu, Sobble, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Garbodor, Eternatus, Duraludon, Milotic, Copperajah, Ferrothorn, Charizard, Steelix, Lucario, Cinderace, Zacian, Zamazenta.

Episode 46: Getting More Than You Battled For!

This is one of the most special episodes of this season. It starts with a complete rundown of all the habitats of the Pokémon world, and the legendary Pokémon in them. Professor Cerise send Ash and Goh to inspect Cero Island. He detected a high-frequency signal coming from the island he believes comes from Mew.

Goh and Ash arrive there and start to investigate the area. Goh catches a Krabby and a Mankey here. As their expedition continues, they eventually fall from a waterfall and wake up in a mysterious area on the island full of Pokémon who seem to be scared when they see both trainers.

Mewtwo

They reach the center of this area and discover that Mewtwo is the one that’s there and not Mew. Mewtwo asks what are both trainers doing there. Ash and Goh explain they are looking for Mew. Goh proceeds to explain his dream of catching one of each Pokémon in the world and Mew to learn from them.

As well, Ash shares his dream of becoming a Pokémon master. After both trainers express their dreams, they request Mewtwo to battle them, which it accepts. Mewtwo wins the battle and sees that the friendship bond between them and their Pokémon is real. It is now revealed that the Pokémon here are Pokémon from all around the world that Mewtwo rescues from human mistreatment.

The episode ends with Mewtwo thanking both trainers for the enjoyment they brought to him with the battle. As well, the transports them back to Cerise Lab. Lastly, Mew flies over Cerise Lab once everyone is inside.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Gyarados.
Pokémon featured in this episode: Pikachu, Cinderace, Lucario, Dewong, Heracross, Mewtwo, Mew.

Episode 47: Crowning the Chow Crusher!

This is a filler episode in which Goh, Ash, and a disguised Team Rocket enter an eating contest for Pokémon in Vermilion City. Team Rocket plays their usual shenanigans to trick and get rid of the completion. They are competing with their Morpeko, which reaches the finals against Goh’s Skwovet.

At the very end of the competition, Morpeko transforms to its original form once it is full. As well, Goh’s Skwovet evolves into Greedent, defeating Morpeko and getting crowned as the winner.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Morpeko
Pokémon featured in this episode: Pikachu, Dragonite, Skwovet, Greedent, Morpeko, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Snorlax, Blaziken, Glalie, Lickitung, Muk.

Episode 48: A Close Call… Practically

This is another filler episode and the ending of this season. In particular, this episode doesn’t offer much and it is just Ash and Goh enjoying a day in Castelia City in Unova. They are there to enjoy a gourmet eatery tour that Goh won in the eating contest of Episode 47.

Here, Team Rocket is waiting for them with another of their crazy plans to steal Pikachu. This time they are using a robot Pikachu that’s “practically” identical to Ash’s Pikachu. The episode goes on with Ash and Goh enjoying their day, while Lucario and Cinderace try to stop Team Rocket’s shenanigans. This is certainly not the best episode to close a season, but it has its fun moments.

Who’s that Pokémon intermission: Morpeko
Pokémon featured in this episode: Pikachu, Cinderace, Lucario, Meowth, Wobbuffet.

Voice Actors

This is the list of voice actors that lend their talents for the English version of Pokémon Journeys:

Ash Ketchum – Sarah Natochenny
Pikachu – Ikue Ōtani
Jessie – Michele Knotz
James – James Carter Cathcart
Goh – Zeno Robinson
Professor Cerise – Ray Chase
Chloe – Cherami Leigh
Ren – Billy Kametz
Giovanni – Ted Lewis
Lance – Wayne Grayson
Leon – Alejandro Saab

FAQs

Pokemon Journeys Show Guide: Final Thoughts?

In general, the answer to this question is yes. Pokémon Journeys is definitely a ride! It has some really memorable episodes that do bring a lot more insight to characters that have been in the series and in the video game before. At least in the first half of the season, many episodes play the nostalgia factor. There are plenty of references to previous seasons that will surely be loved by veteran fans of the series.

Of course, there are some filler episodes that just miss the mark and are borderline boring. Nonetheless, the great majority of chapters in this season hold up with a great sense of humor. There are some events and Pokémon appearances that the show keeps bringing back for comic relief in a masterful way. That humor mixed with some remarkably deep emotional moments scattered through the season makes Pokémon Journeys worth the watch.

The only real downside is that the season ends with a lot of unsolved situations. In particular, the Sword and Shield arc’s culmination is a bit stale and does very little to close with an impactful conclusion. Aside from that, Pokémon Journeys sets a very interesting stage for its successor, Pokémon Master Journeys.

Recommended Reads:

• Pokemon: The Johto Journeys Anime Guide
• Pokemon Battle Frontier Anime Guide
• Pokemon Sun and Moon Ultra Legends Guide