Episode Guide #273 - #280 Get the Show on the Road! A Ruin with a View There�s no Place Like Hoenn You Never Can Taillow In the Knicker of Time! A Poached Ego! Tree�s a Crowd A Tail with a Twist Get the Show on the Road! Pok�mon seen: Duskull, Pikachu, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Wingull, Beautifly, Poochyena, Mudkip, Treecko, Torchic Story: The story begins with an introduction of a ten year old girl called May who is on her way to Littleroot Town to collect her first Pok�mon, after a Duskull scares her she admits she doesn�t exactly like Pok�mon and is going on a journey more for the travelling. Ash has nearly arrived at Littleroot Town and Pikachu is still not feeling well, Team Rocket are on the boat where Jessie�s morale appears to have lowered all of a sudden. Ash arrives and phones Professor Birch�s laboratory immediately after finding no Pok�mon Centre here, his assistant Joshua says he�ll try to get in touch with him and Birch arrives in his jeep in fast time. They drive towards the lab and Birch diagnoses that Pikachu isn�t able to release its energy regularly because of its exposure to the electromagnet; it gets worse as Pikachu�s fever is confusing it. Birch drives recklessly to get to his place quickly, there he and Joshua connect Pikachu to a device that will rid it of excess electricity but there�s too much, the machine explodes and a confused Pikachu leaves the lab. Ash chases after it and Birch takes three Pok�balls set aside for May to choose from, while Team Rocket watch, Birch warns Ash that any disturbance could cause Pikachu to explode. They split up, meanwhile May reaches the lab but decides to look for Birch rather than wait for him to get back. Birch accidentally falls down a hill which results in his angering a Poochyena who calls for two of its friends to attack, while he�s chased around and then driven up a tree, May arrives. Birch asks her to use a Pok�ball inside his bag and she eventually does so randomly, a Mudkip appears but it misunderstands and blasts May with water, Birch requests its help and is more specific in having it attack the Poochyena so that they leave. Pikachu is confronted by Ash but its vision and hearing are distorted so it shocks him, Ash is warned to keep his distance as Birch catches up but Pikachu�s confusion sends it over a cliff. Ash takes a dive to grab it and it helped back up by a rope, on the way Pikachu struggles, expels more electricity and even bites Ash but its senses return to normal and it�s sorry for what it�s done. Team Rocket appear in a giant battery-shaped robot and snatch Pikachu as always, it�s connected to suction wires and its electricity is drained, but this is a good thing as Pikachu�s excess electricity is removed and it�s returned to normal. Pikachu releases a standard electric blast to overload the machine but May�s bike is shocked and destroyed in the process, Team Rocket go flying but the realisation that Pikachu is valuable and worthwhile of the villain�s time and the shocking energizes Jessie and restores her passion. Pikachu faints after the battle but will be fine after some rest, May introduces herself to Ash before Birch shows her the Pok�mon she can choose from, she dislikes Treecko and the earlier experience affects her opinion of Mudkip but Torchic warms up to her so it�s an easy choice for her. She cuts Ash some slack about the bike after seeing how dedicated Ash is for his Pikachu, the two are directed to register for the Hoenn League in Oldale Town, because she no longer has her bike May is able to convince Ash to go with her in order to guarantee safe travel. My favourite Quote: Jessie: �James, have we ever truly blasted off at the speed of light?� James: �Is she speaking hypothetically?� Meowth: �If that means wacky then Yes.� Things I�d like to point out: May�s introduction is similar to Ash�s from the first episode in that she introduces herself through narration as if to the audience. However, she differs from the game�s character of the same name and visual design who is very much the opposite in character and technique. Coincidence or purposefully? Misty was Ash�s first female companion and now May replaces her, their names together are Misty May; a top professional volleyball player, given several Rocket duos whose names combined make up famous historical figures the latter is quite possible. The brand new theme tune �I Wanna Be A Hero!� and intro kicks off here, the ones introducing new regions always seem to become favourites of mine. Treecko and Taillow are shown and immediately confirmed as two of Ash�s Pok�mon to be in a Double Battle against Vigoroth and Pelipper, both opponents Ash faces early on in the series. The first of May�s and Brock�s new Pok�mon are revealed as Torchic and Beautifly for the former and Mudkip and Lotad for the latter. Max is the first long term forth character the group has ever had (Snap/Todd doesn�t count), however new Pok�mon Corphish is nowhere to be seen in the intro. Like �A Whole New World� in Johto, there are many scenes showing off the new Pok�mon in Hoenn, next Ash is seen in his new gear throwing a Pok�ball. The group are seen running across slowly exploding ground in a cave, a scene which does not occur, at least not in this series. The shrouded form of Kyogre with Team Aqua members and the same for Groudon and Team Magma are seen, the legendary Pok�mon are referred to this series but don�t come about properly until the series after the next. Team Rocket�s first new Pok�mon Cacnea and Seviper are seen and where would intros be nowadays without more legendary Pok�mon, Latios and Latias are seen as is the supporting Pok�mon of the next movie Absol. Finally is a battle against Mightyena which Pikachu wins against and then a closing shot of the group with Pikachu and all three Starters though for the first time Ash only gets one of them and the others are shared among the group. Why does Birch grab all three Pok�balls with Starter Pok�mon inside after asking if Ash had any Pok�mon that were strong against Electric attacks? Mudkip definitely isn�t powerful enough for that and Treecko although strong in type against it should be too low level to deal with Pikachu�s power. It�s not a mistake on May�s part that Mudkip blasted her with water, Birch specifically said to say �Use Water Gun now.� and even though May didn�t add �now� to the sentence it didn�t really make a difference since it was facing her and did exactly as it was told. Birch should have said specifically to ask it to aim at the Poochyena or better yet, he could have just commanded it himself like he eventually does. Anyone who has played the third set of Pok�mon games will see this scene is clearly based on the way the trainer gets their first Pok�mon, except it�s only one Poochyena chasing the professor and the Pok�mon chosen becomes the player�s Starter Pok�mon. Shouldn�t Ash have been partially shocked when Pikachu expelled energy while biting his arm? Even if the teeth didn�t conduct the electricity Pikachu clearly had contact with Ash�s skin from other parts of its body, including the cheek pouches where the electricity is coming from. A minor point but after Pikachu comes to its senses while Ash climbs the rope, even though its eyes are clearly open in the shots before and after this, its eyes return to the confused closed look as seen in an almost identical climbing shot; the only difference is that the background moves as Ash does in the later shot so it�s fairly clear that some of the frames were simply reused. After two hundred and seventy so episodes, Team Rocket finally get a new background theme during the motto, the dialogue however remains more or less the same. Any other place and I�d moan if someone had to ask who Team Rocket are given that there�s been plenty of activity from them lately (the whole group as well as the trio we know and love/hate), in Hoenn however there genuinely isn�t anyone from the team here, only Team Magma and Team Aqua. Instead of the more often blackened or undamaged look, Jessie and James�s hair becomes a yellow colour from the extreme shocking they get, this only happens once in a while throughout the series. Come on Ash, does Treecko honestly look like a Water-type? After the two different Starter Pok�mon he�s seen he should know that a green Pok�mon is more likely to be a Grass-type. His interest in it clearly shows he likes it though unlike past traditions this is the only Starter Pok�mon he gets, and the others are distributed among the rest of the group. Contrary to what May says Mudkip did exactly as it asked her to do, she just wasn�t specific enough, but she makes out like she gave it several orders that weren�t obeyed. Is May the only one who�s getting a Pok�mon from Birch? If not then why is she the first and therefore the one who gets a choice between all three Pok�mon? In the scene after May receives Torchic, her pupils change to a darker colour but return to normal in the next scene. May is fickle in this episode (aside from her feelings on Pok�mon and travelling that seem to switch throughout the series), she whines about her bike getting destroyed but then claims she doesn�t care but then brings it up later in the series whenever she�s moaning about having to walk. Whose idea was it to have the bike destroyed? It just seems too coincidental that this happened to Misty in the very first episode, and now that there�s finally a new female main character she has her bike destroyed as well. The Hoenn season does seem like a fresh new start since unlike past seasons, there are costume changes, two new characters and a total of four on the party; possibly a vague link in that unlike the past games being able to link up to each other, the third set of games can longer do this with the first and second set. For any who haven�t noticed, May and Ash are voiced by the same voice actress, you�d think that�d complicate matters (even if Misty and Jessie were voiced in the same method they were on different sides as do Brock and James), but for now it seems to work and I hardly notice anymore. Who�s That Pok�mon?: (This Pok�mon blinds its prey with bursts of light!) Lanturn Cameos in Pok�mon Journey: An older Professor Birch (and possibly Joshua) makes an appearance in the third series. A Ruin with a View Pok�mon seen: Pikachu, Azurill, Torchic, Azumarill, Marill, Wobbuffet, Meowth, Persian, Kabuto, Aerodactyl, Omastar, Omanyte, Kabutops, Relicanth, Houndoom, Arbok, Weezing Story: Ash and May are almost at Oldale Town; May slows down and convinces Ash to do so by reminding him that it was his fault her bike was destroyed. May is introduced to some of the basic factors in being a trainer but fails to catch an Azurill... miserably. The two come across some ruins and meet Professor Alden who is investigating them, he directs them to the Pok�mon Centre where May has Torchic healed after its utter defeat. Ash contacts Oak after registering while Team Rocket contact the Boss, he denies them any more funding but uses the fact they�re in Hoenn as a way to spy on the area�s current criminal groups Team Aqua and Team Magma despite the possible dangers. May blatantly pulls Ash from a conversation regarding the Petalburg Gym Leader, while Team Rocket dig a tunnel to the Centre. Ash and May are later greeted by Alden who mentions a stone chamber that is said to be a portal between this world and the ancient Pok�mon world, but he�s unable to get into the chamber without four special spheres that serve as keys. The power to the Centre is cut and they are confronted by members of Team Magma who force Alden to go with them to open the chamber, the others are locked away and after considering the danger the power cut could have on the Pok�mon here by Joy the two kids escape through an air duct. Team Rocket finish their tunnel but end up outside the Centre where the Magmas are, their Pok�mon are scared back into their Pok�balls by a group of Houndoom�s Roar technique provoking the Rockets to flee. Ash and May escape, reset the power and free Joy before heading back to the ruins where Team Magma provide Alden with the very keys he needs to gain entry, he has no choice as they threaten to hurt those in the Pok�mon Centre if he doesn�t comply. The Magmas enter, take pictures but don�t find specific information they are searching for so they leave. Team Rocket swipe the key spheres but are defeated effortlessly by Pikachu along with their Pok�mon, when the spheres are returned to the stone slab the sunlight activates a mechanism that reveals a secret chamber. There they find an underground water supply with the ancient Pok�mon Relicanth living there. The group return to the Pok�mon Centre where Torchic is healed, Alden reports proof that ancient Pok�mon and people lived together in peace before saying his goodbyes, the two then head towards Petalburg City. My favourite Quote: Meowth: �Soon as we set up a Team Rocket shop in the Hoenn region we�re number one!� James: �Uh, but just a minute, since we�re the Only members of Team Rocket in the Hoenn region we already Are number one, aren�t we?� Meowth: �He-llo!... Slick t�inkin� James!� Things I�d like to point out: The first title pun of the season is based on the term �A room with a view.� I�m surprised Ash can be so confident in explaining how to catch a Pok�mon, considering how many of his joined him out of choice and the fact he made the same mistake when he first started out (regardless if Pikachu was unruly back then). I only realised recently and completely overlooked this but despite its evolved forms Marill and Azumarill being Water-types, the baby version Azurill is not; it�s a Normal-type! At least Ash didn�t make or at least admit this mistake, all he said was that Torchic is weak against Water attacks, not that Azurill was that type. The back to basics and retelling of all the factors of Pok�mon makes it clear that the only way it seems possible to truly heal a Pok�mon is to have it rest for a night (unlike the games where healing in a Pok�mon Centre is immediate), I can�t guarantee the same restrictions will apply to the fanfic as exceptions have been made already. May shouldn�t be lying to Oak, not when her heart�s not truly into Pok�mon Training. Once again the Boss is willing to sacrifice the Team Rocket trio for his own gains, and like �A Scare in the Air� with the Boss aware the blimp would crash so as to claim the insurance money Team Rocket are completely clueless that this is going on. Um, does Ash have authority to show May around the Pok�mon Centre? Certainly some rooms are off limits to all except Joy and the local Chansey. Oh dear, Pikachu�s back on the ketchup again (see �Showdown at Dark City�), it seems to be an addict for the stuff. The Houndoom are the only Team Magma Pok�mon seen today and the only Pok�mon to wear armour of any sort, this doesn�t apply to the more common Magma Pok�mon Mightyena though. The first of the new songs based on music from the third set of games begins here with a short version of the Wild Pok�mon theme, despite past traditions the Trainer Battle song hasn�t been used, but since there are so many other songs in the games that are used in differently themed battles it�s no big loss. A full version of this song can be heard in the next episode. Who�s That Pok�mon?: (Evolution gave this Pok�mon wings where it had legs!) Crobat Cameos in Pok�mon Journey: Oldale Town considering it�s a game landmark but that�s about it. There�s no Place Like Hoenn Pok�mon seen: Pikachu, Torchic, Vigoroth, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Arbok, Weezing Story: Ash and May arrive in Petalburg City, where May continues to act strange in regards to her knowledge of the Gym Leader. Ash ends up going on his own and meets a young boy who recognises him from videos of the Johto League, he points out Ash�s flaws and claims he could have done better in the battle Ash lost, he claims to be the Gym Leader but is lying. May appears and reveals that the real Gym Leader Norman is her father and Max her brother (Ash also meets her mother Caroline). The family and Ash eat together before a Gym Battle is requested but Max�s earlier claims that the Petalburg Gym rules are three-on-three Pok�mon Battles are true. Norman allows Ash to battle with just Pikachu and though it�s not an official Gym Battle, Ash is eager to compete against new Pok�mon and against someone of Norman�s calibre. Pikachu is up against a fast and powerful Vigoroth but is overpowered, straight after the battle, Team Rocket burst in and a brief battle occurs in the following smokescreen, in the middle of it Team Rocket disappear having accidentally caught Torchic instead of Pikachu and not realised it. They discover this later but decide to use it as bait to catch Pikachu, May�s parents find the balloon but they and their kids fall into two pitfall traps. Pikachu fights Arbok while Ash helps everyone out, Norman unleashes Vigoroth while Torchic is freed by Max, Pikachu is briefly overpowered but Vigoroth sets the defeated Pok�mon and Rockets up for a group shocking that sends them on their way. Ash and May prepare to leave but Max manages to convince his parents that he would benefit his sister by coming along and advising her. Norman gives the trainers a badge case each and Max a Pok�mon Navigator which has a mapping function as one of its features, now with a new addition to the team, the group set off on their journey. My favourite Quote: Jessie: �That�s okay; we�re not your run of the mill criminals.� James: �We do bad things with panache and style.� Meowth: �We�ll rob ya but we�ll do it wit� a smile.� Things I�d like to point out: The title pun is painfully obviously from the phrase/movie quote (�The Wizard of Oz�) �There�s no place like home.� Seemingly another tradition carries over in that like Misty, May tries to deter Ash from going to his Gym Battle because she�s related to the Gym Leader. It�s possible that she was embarrassed with herself and didn�t want her family to see her but the whole thing doesn�t lead anywhere since May soon reveals the truth to Ash and there was no reason to hide it before. In the games, the character you play as is the son/daughter of Gym Leader Norman but you live in and begin the journey from Littleroot Town. Ash should know better than to dash into a Gym Battle with only his Pikachu and it�s proven why in the episode, there�s always the possibility of a Gym Leader requesting a battle with more than one Pok�mon a side (usually two or three at least). Saying Ash lost in the second round makes it sound like he didn�t get far in the Johto League Silver Conference, anyone who saw the whole thing will know there were at least three preliminary fights and the Round Robin system which had two battles. You�ve got to give Ash some credit since the first and second rounds were full six-on-six Pok�mon Battles, Ash technically reached the quarter finals which is a big deal since only eight trainers were left at that point. Also Max phrases the following wrong: �You lost in the second round, and then you got knocked out by Harrison and his Blaziken.� Both events were the same thing; the second round match was against Harrison. It has to be said how obnoxious Max is acting in this episode, it�s true how it�s one thing to read and see Pok�mon Battling and another to experience it, given the 3-Dimensional aspect and the freedom Pok�mon have to move and fight there�s plenty of possibilities as to how a battle can go. Max�s claims are completely falsified in �Gonna Rule The School!� where an interrupted match is all that keeps him from losing it with flawed techniques. Once again a flashback is dubbed but this is ridiculous, the event shown took place only two episodes ago and retains the same dialogue but is noticeably dubbed by May. Speaking of which, May and Max are the only long term characters in the group to have both parents around since we�ve never really seen Ash�s father (unless a certain rumour is true regarding Giovanni), Misty�s and Tracey�s parents have never been seen and Brock�s father has only been in the basic episodes of the series (excluding the now altered storyline in Pok�mon Chronicles). Like May�s, Ash�s new Pok�dex has a female voice; making it apparent that all the new model Pok�dex devices may do so too. Another of the new songs debuts, today it�s the legend Pok�mon song played in the games whenever you face the fearsome Kyogre, Groudon or Rayquaza. Ash shouldn�t complain that tracking would be easier with Noctowl, nothing�s keeping him from phoning Oak and having it transported other than his personal choice of using only Pikachu and Hoenn Pok�mon. Looks like all the experience has taught Ash some lessons at last as he suspects a pitfall trap from Team Rocket, it�s a shame everyone else around him doesn�t listen and are amateurs on the subject. This is getting old, what with Ash trying to use Bayleef when he left her at Oak�s for the second time! Worse is the fact that Ash acknowledged he didn�t have Noctowl with him earlier. Thank goodness he finally gets a new Pok�mon next episode and therefore stops trying to use his non-available ones. Another new song and possibly the most recurring song in the series is the Team Aqua/Team Magma Battle theme which is fine by me; it was one of my favourites in the game and it�s my favourite tune in the series. Weezing seems to vanish in the battle; it appears to counteract the appearance of Vigoroth but doesn�t help Arbok in the slightest. One of Vigoroth�s leaps (apparently for a Scratch attack) is seen before other events are shown so unless Weezing was defeated by this (we don�t actually see the result or even who this particular attack was aimed at) or a part of the scene was cut it�s somehow gotten itself lost briefly. Also, why do all of Team Rocket leave the cage completely unguarded? Their Pok�mon don�t count since they�re engaged in battle. The Amber/Ember mistake doesn�t explain the mushroom that floats across the screen; I suppose the mistake was a pun or similar word relating to it in the original version. On first appearance it would seem May isn�t being specific enough again but since Torchic was facing towards the battle, it obviously had to turn left in order to use Ember on Max, the only logical reason lies in Max angering Torchic earlier with his preference of Treecko over it. Who�s That Pok�mon?: (Some believe this Pok�mon came to Earth on a meteor!) Cleffa Cameos in Pok�mon Journey: Possibly Norman, but since this series takes place twenty five odd years after this, the Gym Leader title will probably move on to a certain someone. You Never Can Taillow Pok�mon seen: Pikachu, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Taillow, Forretress, Torchic Story: The group travel through the Petalburg Forest, Ash is torn between May�s desire to stop for lunch and Max�s to keep going and find some Pok�mon, he makes a compromise to do both but the group discover they forgot to bring food (even Pikachu�s supply is empty). Ash mentions Brock and his fine cooking while Team Rocket are actually getting a meal and prepare to get the drop on the group. Max has some emergency chocolate but it�s swiped by a Taillow, the group chase it down but it eats the entire thing, the group are now near some fruit trees but the local Taillow don�t allow them to have any of the fruit and attack. Pikachu defends the group with electricity but the Taillow aren�t about to stand down, a second shock doesn�t change this; they don�t back down from any fight, Team Rocket watch and see the Taillow as worthy catches. The chocolate thief appears to be the leader but continues to fight on no matter how much damage it�s dealt, the Taillow close in on the group but Brock makes a flashy entrance and his Forretress�s Explosion deals with the Taillow for now. The group rests outside the forest and after treating Pikachu Brock explains everything�s fine at home so he came looking for Ash to join him again. After some introductions May inquires about Brock�s talents as a cook, he�s about to offer sandwiches but discovers he�s also a victim of theft since he left his bag behind after hearing Pikachu. The Taillow appear to be the reason that all other Pok�mon are hiding away but the group will still get to eat after Brock whips up some stew (he also has some Pok�food for Pikachu). Meanwhile Team Rocket attempt to get the Taillow on their side by bribing them with food. The leading Taillow appears to the group and challenges Pikachu to a battle to prove who is stronger; Pikachu�s attacks are dodged except for the electrical variety. Brock figures the attacks are affecting Taillow but it�s just not backing down and that Ash has to put an end to the battle by catching it. The Pok�ball is successful and Taillow appears to become a lot of friendly and accepting of its fate but the rest of the Taillow appear under the instructions of Team Rocket who reveal that the sandwiches they gave the Taillow were stolen from Brock. Torchic fails miserably to assist and the Taillow prepare to attack but stop when the stew becomes ready to eat and their loyalty switches, Team Rocket figure they can steal a famished Pikachu except it�s eaten and energized enough to send them flying. The Taillow appear to be moving on to an area with more food and Ash�s new Taillow says its goodbyes to them, the new group prepare to move on having eaten, after they wash the dishes that is... My favourite Quote: May (to Taillow from behind Brock): �Nice to meet you... Hehhh...� Brock: �There�s no reason ta hide you know.� May: �I�m not hiding... I�m introducing myself gradually.� Things I�d like to point out: Title pun: �You can never tell�, that is all. Something happens to the colouring of May�s eye in the scene after Ash reminisces about Brock, it changes from white to a colour close to that of her skin. Meowth�s outburst suggests that maybe he was born in a barn; regardless of the fact he�s always been alone. How did the group not see any of the fruit right away even though they were looking at Taillow in the trees? Ash has a knack for annoying the local Flying Pok�mon of every region; in Kanto is his memorable chase from a flock of Spearow, Johto is less of a big deal with a Hoothoot pecking Ash several times and now a whole flock of Taillow aim to attack him in Hoenn. However this is the first time Ash has witnessed a Flying Pok�mon and captured the same type instead of its evolved form, and within the same episode. Aside from his new costume for the series Brock�s hair has changed slightly. Brock�s tale is slightly awry in that Birch could have led him astray, the last Birch knew Ash was headed to Oldale Town and possibly Petalburg afterwards but since Ash and the others don�t appear to have contacted him at all since leaving him Birch shouldn�t have been so sure they�d be heading to Rustboro. At least the apparent brief talk with Birch saves the need of an introduction later on when the group see him again. Speaking of Brock, despite his claims of everything being fine at home, what really happened occurred in one of the Pok�mon Chronicles episodes �A FAMILY THAT BATTLES TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER�. There�s some confusion this episode regarding food; we find out later that Team Rocket stole from Brock and offered the food to the Taillow, firstly these are technically rice balls dubbed as sandwiches. What messes things up is that Team Rocket comment on how salty they were even though they didn�t taste the food given to the Taillow, however they were eating actual sandwiches earlier and if these were meant to be the sandwiches they stole it doesn�t add up since Brock claims the sandwiches were stolen from his bag when he was alerted to Pikachu�s Thunderbolt which took place after Team Rocket were eating. I�m not sure what Max is getting at with his theory that first attacks are not usually off target; traditionally Quick Attack is an attack which almost never fails and guarantees the first hit of a bout. Either Pikachu can run on water, or the lake is pretty shallow; if so then how come it didn�t smack its head on the lake floor when Taillow tossed it in? Ash�s catch of Taillow once again keeps a tradition going in that in each region (excluding the Orange Islands since we�re talking about regions based on games) Ash always gets a bird Pok�mon, though the tradition is slightly broken in that Pidgeotto and Noctowl were Stage 2 Pok�mon, and Taillow is a Stage 1 (regardless if it evolves a lot later). The handkerchief Ash uses to clean Taillow�s beak is the same one that Misty gave to him, nice to know he�s kept it this long. Colour Error! When May throws Torchic�s Pok�ball, for a moment her hand is coloured with her skin tone even though she�s wearing black and white gloves. Team Rocket�s closing speech has an error in that they claim they haven�t eaten when they clearly did, regardless if it wasn�t very much. Who�s That Pok�mon?: (This Pok�mon has a mischievous streak!) Misdreavus Cameos in Pok�mon Journey: None. In the Knicker of Time! Pok�mon seen: Pikachu, Beedrill, Zigzagoon, Sentret, Pinsir, Mudkip, Torchic, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Taillow, Arbok, Weezing Story: Ash is battling a trainer he met in the forest and Pikachu wins by beating Beedrill with the usual methods, they go their separate ways on a good note and another friendship is made for Ash. They see a group of Zigzagoon and an abnormally big one but this turns out to be a guy in a costume called Nikolai. He has respect for �knickerbockers� (naturalists who wear shorts) and dresses up as many kinds of Pok�mon in order to get a better understanding of them before he catches them. After hearing May and Max are a Gym Leader�s children he requests a battle, May and Torchic lose badly against Mudkip after attacking it without any real strategy. Max is angered when Nikolai figures this means Norman will be an easy Gym win, he leaves to catch more Pok�mon while Team Rocket spy and forge a scheme to steal his Mudkip. As Nikolai dresses up and heads forward Max is missing from the group having followed Nikolai to get even for insulting his dad. Max steals the food Nikolai leaves to lure Zigzagoon but is overpowered as a large group jump him to get at it, Pikachu scares them away but this angers them. Brock tries to quell this but fails and Nikolai fixes things by leading them away and knocking down their favourite food from trees with his Mudkip. Max apologises for his act of sabotage and Nikolai replies in kind for what he said, he answers Max�s inquiries into his talent and explains that he doesn�t need words to communicate with Pok�mon as long as he speaks from the heart. He demonstrates by challenging a Zigzagoon to a battle with Mudkip, he and Nikolai win and Zigzagoon is successfully captured but Team Rocket nab the Mudkip. Pikachu�s electricity is absorbed and redirected, Nikolai switches from his Mudkip costume to an Aipom one and quickly scales a hill to reach the balloon, meanwhile the Zigzagoon start digging and appear to want to help Nikolai who switches to a Gligar costume, glides down and snatches Mudkip back. Taillow pecks down the balloon and Team Rocket fall into a pitfall trap set by the Zigzagoon, they get out and use their Pok�mon but Pikachu easily defeats them and the rest of the team. Nikolai is impressed with Ash and that even he couldn�t beat Norman, a battle challenge is issued and accepted and Taillow and Zigzagoon (the two newest Pok�mon) are chosen, the results aren�t seen but this will surely forge yet another friendship between these two opponents. My favourite Quote: Max (referring to May and her Fire-type): �Uh oh, wouldn�t you know her first opponent�s gotta have a Water Pok�mon.� Ash: �But she can use good strategy to make up for it, that�s what battling�s all about.� Max: �This is May we�re talking about!...� Things I�d like to point out: The title pun comes from the saying �In the knick of time.� It�s not said specifically but perhaps since this is early into the series and therefore not too far from Littleroot Town there�s a slight possibility that Nikolai might have gotten his Mudkip from Professor Birch, it would explain his lack of other Pok�mon despite his many kinds of Pok�mon costumes. I think Ash is really enjoying not being the complete beginner any more, after all the mistakes he�s made and the criticisms that were made at his expense he speaks of all things Pok�mon like he�s suddenly an expert. Can Ash read minds or is he just a good judge of character all of a sudden? His comment for May to think about the battle seems to be in reply to May�s subconscious comments on Nikolai. May has no right to judge Nikolai on his strange behaviour or methods, not when she questions how he could have beat her after such an abysmal battle and the fact she�s learned little to nothing about Pok�mon (probably due to the fact that she didn�t even like Pok�mon before getting one of her own). How much do Team Rocket sit around hiding and listening in? They make references to Nikolai�s shorts over trousers and naturalist stuff so they must have seen the entire conversation along with the battle he had. Just how does Nikolai conceal so many costumes? One moment he�s dressed as one Pok�mon and in the blink of an eye he can change into another, these aren�t even small costumes as they cover his entire body. The way he switches costumes is almost identical to the way that Team Rocket remove their disguises in order to reveal themselves. Another new song; one that is combined with the relevant opening that is heard in the games, this frequent song is based on the battle theme when fighting one of the Elite Four of Hoenn, however, it�s not one of my favourites because key points of this version sound off key when compared to the game music. It�s way too coincidental that Team Rocket�s balloon would crash land in the exact spot the Zigzagoon dug to make a pitfall, and just where does the balloon disappear to? Nikolai has a right to hesitate and reconsider if he truly thought for a second Dig would legally work successfully against a Flying Pok�mon. Who�s That Pok�mon?: (This Pok�mon�s eyes scan a 360 degree radius to seek out prey!) Yanma Cameos in Pok�mon Journey: None. A Poached Ego! Pok�mon seen: Pikachu, Growlithe, Meowth, Ekans, Arbok, Weezing, Wobbuffet, Fearow, Koffing, Pupitar, Beedrill, Kakuna, Cacnea, Taillow, Tyranitar Story: The group continues towards Rustboro City, May whines and wants yet another break when Max sees a Pok�mon Centre on his Pok�nav map, before they head there May finds a strange object in a tree and the surrounding landscape is a little torn up. At the Pok�mon Centre May mistakes this Joy for the one in Oldale Town and must be explained to of the huge identical family she�s a part of. Officer Jenny arrives and after May learns of her large family she explains she is here searching for an evil poacher called Rico who cares nothing of injuring Pok�mon in order to capture them, Ash hands the piece of the capture net they found and Jenny requests they take her to where they found it. While Team Rocket discuss their next scheme to catch Pikachu Meowth takes a fall down a hill and discovers a cage full of Ekans that were captured by a poacher and is unable to free them due to the electrified bars, Arbok feels for them which convinces Jessie to help free them. Acid fails to melt the bars and Rico arrives to defend his quarry, having just grabbed a cage full of Koffing, he explains that he�s to deliver several Poison Pok�mon for a client and orders the team to give up their own Poison- types since he�ll get a bonus for evolved Pok�mon. His Fearow battles and overpowers the Pok�mon after easily getting around their attacks, Arbok manages to restrain Fearow but Rico rectifies this by simply returning Fearow to its Pok�ball, he has his Pupitar appear to blast Team Rocket away with Sandstorm. The group find tyre tracks in the area where Rico has been recently while Team Rocket manage to get chased by Beedrill until they come across a kind Cacnea that saves them. While Arbok tracks down the poacher�s car James gives the Cacnea a bag of food as a token of his gratitude. Taillow tracks down Rico�s truck and leads the group to him while Arbok and Weezing attempt to distract Rico while Meowth picks the lock despite the shocking (which apparently doesn�t match up to Pikachu�s abilities by far). Fearow attacks but Arbok head butts it into the cage, the shock knocks it out, the lock is broken and the Pok�mon are freed. Rico is enraged when he is directly attacked and when he unleashes Pupitar it immediately evolves into Tyranitar. Weezing attempts to cloud the Pok�mon�s escape but Hyper Beam stops everyone from retreating. Jessie has Wobbuffet use Counter against Hyper Beam but this fails and it is defeated, the next shot hurts Team Rocket and they soon make a heartbreaking decision to order Arbok and Weezing to flee with their new friends while they hold off the hunter, this means of course that they may never see each other again. The Pok�mon are reluctant to leave as they watch their masters taking damaging hits for them but are ordered to leave and not look back, through tear-filled eyes they disappear with the former captives while Team Rocket continue to fight a losing battle until they haven�t the strength to stand. Rico recalls his Tyranitar and is about to go after the Pok�mon but the group and Jenny find him first. Fearow is used again but Pikachu takes it out quickly and Jenny�s Growlithe swiftly disarms Rico of his Pok�ball and gun, therefore defeating him. When ordered to release the Pok�mon he explains how they were freed, Ash and the group don�t link this up to Team Rocket since it was an unusually noble thing for them to do. Jessie and James move on while sadly questioning their decision when Cacnea appears with the bag of food and returns it, James explains that it was meant to be a gift before feeding it and soon inviting it to come along with them. Cacnea accepts, gladly leaping into its new trainer�s arms but sadly its spikes make this a literally painful experience for James. My favourite Quote: James (to Rico): �You bad poacher man you!� Things I�d like to point out: Brock can seemingly tell the difference between every Joy and Jenny he�s ever met but he shouldn�t claim certain features are different to the rest in the country considering he can�t have met too many others so soon after entering the region. Don�t quote me on this but I�m thinking the title pun might be based on �Poached Eggs� but with a play on words with �Ego�, it�s a vague one today. Team Rocket are very much hypocritical in their badmouthing of a poacher when they�ve done virtually the same things at one point or another, the only reason they treat these Pok�mon any better than any other is because Arbok and Weezing feel sorry for them since they used to be those Pok�mon. If Acid didn�t work on the bars then I don�t see how anything of Weezing�s would make a difference, especially a little Sludge. Weezing�s voice is clearly different even though just a few episodes ago it was the same voice we�ve known for quite some time. There�s a chance that recent episodes have been reusing Weezing�s voice from previous episodes, and since Weezing never really sounded upset before it had to be done with a different voice actor for its last episode. Thank goodness the script states Rico was instructed to capture Poison Pok�mon, else it would be too coincidental to believe that both Ekans and Koffing were victims to cause Arbok and Weezing both to leave Team Rocket. Rico like others before him shortens Fury Attack to Fury�, this has been done before and a big explanation of why this likely happened can be seen in this section of the �Hot Matches!� episode guide. There�s a completely unnecessary popping sound since Wobbuffet is out of its ball and on screen, it�s seemingly become more than that and a sound Wobbuffet is now associated with. The Ekans and Koffing begin in separate cages but in a later scene they are all in the same cage, what did Rico do with the first cage? Hasn�t he left enough evidence lying around for everyone to follow him as it is? Rico is a fickle man, first he wants Arbok (and Weezing) to receive a bonus from his client, then after blasting it off with Team Rocket he claims they were too weak to be worth capturing (even though I�m sure he�d have got paid in full for them regardless of this), and then when it confronts Rico later he immediately aims to capture it while speaking as if he was looking to hunt it down. If the electricity the cage deals out is nothing compared to Pikachu, how can Meowth pick the lock for so long without making a sound (of pain) when he was clearly hurt earlier by touching the bars? The only excuse I can find is that this was because he grabbed it with both hands; maybe only touching the lock with one claw minimises the shock. On the other hand, why is the lock electrified and how would Rico get the Pok�mon out unless he used something other than the traditional metal key? Meowth�s being plain stupid; when Jessie suggests Tyranitar could do with a couple of Hyper Beams she clearly means that Wobbuffet should use Counter to reflect them back at Tyranitar and yet Meowth states afterwards that it�d be better to use Counter when that was so obviously the plan, plus Wobbuffet can�t learn Hyper Beam. Maybe that was the point and it was supposed to be funny but if this is the case it wasn�t done very well and seems to reflect badly on the translators instead. Meowth claims Tyranitar�s Hyper Beam was too fast to counter but that may not have been the case, Pok�mon traditionally using Counter must be able to survive the hit before it can be sent back with double strength, this Hyper Beam seemed no faster than Pikachu�s electricity whenever Wobbuffet rarely counters it. For someone who�s taken two Hyper Beams directly, Meowth (along with the rest of Team Rocket wherever it applies) doesn�t look so well off until much later, especially since the fight scene implies he took a Hyper Beam up close after scratching the Tyranitar, but when the Pok�mon look back Meowth is standing and hardly has any marks on him as if a shot was cut from the broadcast. I know they wanted to rough Team Rocket up a bit but no way do I believe any amount of falling has caused their bodies to stop bruising after an attack that can and was seen obliterating a chunk of the ground. I�m pretty sure a defeated and battered Meowth utters �Furry Swipes...� instead of Fury Swipes, I�m unsure if this is just how it sounded with Meowth�s accent or if it was intentional. Shouldn�t Fearow have been unable to fight what with it having been defeated on the electrified cage? It even had spiral eyes which the latest battles in Johto have indicated this means a Pok�mon can�t battle anymore. For a few brief moments within all of the series James was completely without a Pok�mon. James briefly does an Ash in that he claims to have caught Cacnea when it�s chosen to come along of its own free will, as for the cute hug that follows I�m sure everyone saw the new dysfunctional Pok�mon trait James would acquire a mile off. This first spiky hug however is shown up close and Cacnea�s spike is pushing into James�s neck! Who�s That Pok�mon?: (This Pok�mon is born deep underground!) Larvitar Cameos in Pok�mon Journey: None; any Rockets in the storyline who discard old Pok�mon for new tend to do it of their own free will, I refer to Bryan and Claus from series 2 onwards. Tree�s a Crowd Pok�mon seen: Pikachu, Treecko, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Murkrow, Taillow, Cacnea Story: The group manage to get lost in the forest and find a group of Treecko; Ash is dead set on catching one ever since seeing one in Littleroot Town. Ash chases them after failing to catch one and takes a fall which places him right in front of a huge but dying tree. A lone Treecko provokes Ash into challenging it; it battles Pikachu with fast attacks and comes out on top. Team Rocket want this particular Treecko and again Meowth dreams of how this would benefit the Boss and give them a promotion. Several Treecko appear and an old one has a talk with the one in question who disagrees with what he says and pushes him away, Meowth translates that the group think Treecko should find a new tree to live in since this one is dying but the lone Treecko was born here and won�t give up on its home. The other Treecko leave and Team Rocket soon attempt to catch the majority of Treecko instead. The loner leaves while Pikachu has an idea for it and Ash to wait in this tree for Treecko to return so Ash can catch it. The rest of the group has lost sight of Ash and eats some of Brock�s cooking; Brock isn�t worried at all unlike the others since he�s confident Ash will be okay as always. Ash is worried the others are concerned about him and so sends Taillow to bring the group to him. Treecko returns with a large bowl-shaped leaf full of water which it uses with leaves in an attempt to save the tree from dying completely. It goes for more water and repeats the process from sunset to night when Ash and Pikachu suddenly begin to assist it; it�s surprised at first but happily accepts the help. While getting water, Ash, Pikachu and Treecko witness Team Rocket in a bulldozer robot slamming trees and collecting the Treecko that fall. It drives towards the lone Treecko and sends everyone back but the trio perform their motto and leave in their balloon with the Treecko they already have. Pikachu�s electricity is absorbed by blocking devices placed all over the balloon and having sent Taillow away Ash has no Pok�mon to save the Treecko, Pikachu is soon caught as well. Treecko scales the trees and shoots its twig at the balloon but it bounces off and Cacnea is called to attack. While Ash makes a remark about the new recruit, Treecko scales a mountain and takes a huge leap at the balloon, after attacking Jessie she accidentally activates the doors and the Treecko are able to free themselves. Treecko provokes Cacnea into attacking it so the balloon is popped and while the Pok�mon land safely Team Rocket probably won�t after crashing elsewhere. The other Treecko are grateful to the lone Treecko who shakes the elder�s tail with its own in acceptance of this. The tree suddenly cracks and the other Treecko struggle to hold it together, despite their efforts and Ash�s suggestion of supporting it with rope, the sun�s bright light shines through the tree and after a vision of new life growing instantaneously the tree completely splits and collapses while a lone seed is dropped. Ash tries to comfort the Treecko but it hits him in anger of its loss, when Ash questions why he realises Treecko is now ready to battle him again. The group arrive in time to view Pikachu and Treecko�s battle, it dodges some of the bolts but is strong against the one that hits and swiftly attacks. Even Pikachu�s Quick Attack is too slow but a huge Thunderbolt is unleashed on the Treecko in mid-air and it is defeated, while Brock explains how Grass Pok�mon would usually defuse the energy into trees or the ground which Treecko wasn�t able to do, Ash throws a Pok�ball and gains a brand new ally. Treecko is immediately released and happily chooses to leave its home to be with Ash, the elder gives it the seed which Treecko then plants in the ground before moving on in the hopes a new tree will grow in the old one�s place. Treecko leaves with Ash while its old friends get to work on nurturing the new life. My favourite Quote: Brock: �Pok�mon that are strong against Electric attacks are usually so because they diffuse it into trees or the ground, but they�re not able to do that in mid-air. There�s more that decides a battle than the disadvantages.� Things I�d like to point out: For one the Pok�nav is mistakenly dubbed as Pok�navi by May, secondly Max claims they are out of range of its abilities to guide the way but when it was given by Norman he claimed that with it they would always know where they were. Brock might tell the truth in that Ash and he don�t fight when they get lost, but fails to mention how often Ash and Misty fought about this and how he usually had to break it up. The title puns of this series are generally quite obvious like this one based on the saying �Three�s a crowd�. What changed May? In �Get the Show on the Road!� when she first saw a Treecko she claimed it was creepy, but when faced with many Treecko here she says they�re all cute. Did something happen lately to change her mind or were we not seeing something she did with the Treecko she first saw? I�m surprised May even knows what Slugma are to be insulting her brother with a reference to them, according to the games Slugma are available in Hoenn but I�m not convinced May should know about them considering how little she knows about Pok�mon. Just because Treecko battles Pikachu with ease doesn�t mean it would do all the things Meowth thinks it would do in the first Dream Moment for some time, I�m particularly doubtful this cool loner Pok�mon would ever give the Boss a massage. The elderly-looking Treecko proves that Pok�mon can age and grow old without ever evolving. The Pok�mon clue is misspelled; it�s talking about Girafarig�s tail, but spells it as �tale�. When the group inquire Ash�s whereabouts, May is either mistakenly without her socks though wearing shoes or she has willingly chosen to take them off. Despite Ash�s suggestion Team Rocket stole Cacnea it�s the first Pok�mon they�ve ever had that joined them out of choice rather than being caught by them or traded for. Funny how Ash doesn�t also comment and never does on the whereabouts of Arbok and Weezing. What�s with the misleading vision? In it a tree instantaneously sprouts and grows from a seed and Ash claims a tree is being born right in front of them. It then disappears and is replaced by the dying tree which collapses; the only part of the vision that comes true right away is that a seed is left behind in order for this vision to come true in years to come. It�s strange that Ash catches Treecko in a Pok�ball and then asks if it would like to come with him, would he have honestly let it go if it had wanted to stay at its fallen home and raise the brand new seed? Who�s That Pok�mon?: (This Pok�mon has a tale that bites!) Girafarig Cameos in Pok�mon Journey: A strong-willed Treecko makes an appearance in series 3 but joins Ellie for the wrong reason in that it pities her for being an inadequate trainer. A Tail with a Twist Pok�mon seen: Pikachu, Torchic, Forretress, Taillow, Treecko, Seviper, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Beautifly, Zigzagoon, Chansey, Cacnea Story: The group take a lunch break in the forest and let out their Pok�mon, Treecko feels alienated by the others and prefers to sit alone in a tree after finding itself a new twig to keep. Torchic runs around with fruit in its mouth and is followed into the brush by and harassed by a Seviper, Treecko comes to its rescue but it�s attacked, Seviper dodges Treecko and bullies Torchic before the group arrive. The other Pok�mon attack but Seviper attempts to escape under cover of darkness via its Haze attack clouding the area. Treecko climbs over it and saves Torchic but is surprised by Seviper and its Poison Tail attack, the other Pok�mon must bail it out with Taillow�s Wing Attack, Forretress�s Spike attack and Pikachu�s Thunderbolt which force the Seviper to flee. Treecko is hurried to the Pok�mon Centre while Team Rocket plan on adding Seviper to their ranks but they fail to outsmart or overpower it since it sees right through their usual pit trap and escapes the net they toss at it by ripping right through it. While Treecko recovers Team Rocket encounter Seviper again by chance while eating rice balls, Wobbuffet�s standoff and Meowth�s forced and failed attack fail to deal with it. During a struggle to retrieve a hidden rice ball from its jaws Jessie loses a chunk of her hair to its fangs and literally battles and catches it with her own hands. Treecko is later discovered to have left the Centre and shed its bandages, it�s found training by leaping off a waterfall, performing spinning dives and slamming its tail against a rock at the bottom in order to triple the power of its tail-based attacks; it succeeds upon causing the rock to split in half. Pikachu is captured by Team Rocket again and in the following battle Jessie reveals her newest Pok�mon, Treecko is ready to beat Seviper this time but not before Ash reminds it that it�s not alone. Quick Attack is used multiple times to attack while avoiding Poison Tail, Pound attack gets a big hit in, Poison Tail is dodged at the last moment and Treecko finishes up with its newest technique to overpower Seviper while saving Pikachu, Treecko is satisfied and lets Pikachu finish up and blow Team Rocket away. Treecko�s grudge is quelled and its pride restored, the event seemingly brings Ash and this Pok�mon closer together. My favourite Quote: (After Team Rocket fight over a rice ball and accidentally toss it into the lake) James: �That was the last one!� Meowth: �Gone to a watery grave!� James: �What do you think? Shall we say a few words in its memory?�� Meowth: �Here lies a rice ball I didn�t get ta eat�� Things I�d like to point out: Why do the group invite or suggest the Pok�mon will be eating Brock�s stew in the intro only to give them plain Pok�mon food, regardless if Brock made it or not? The title pun comes from the term �A tale with a twist�. Given that Forretress is a Steel-type and the bulk of its body is metal, it should be solid and not look like it�s made of rubber like some other Pok�mon do when they are bouncing around. Forretress has never really been seen moving around on the ground before this episode; only spinning in the air or mostly still on the floor. Again, Haze is simply used as another smokescreen; nothing like its use in the games. I�m not sure if I�m completely accurate here but isn�t this the first time a rice ball has ever been called a rice ball in the English translation and not dubbed as a sandwich or doughnut? Insults with Pok�mon related material are rarely used; Jessie insults Seviper by calling it an oversized Weedle. Jessie�s actions towards Seviper could be considered violent and cruel towards Pok�mon, scratching its face like crazy and then stomping it down without the use of another Pok�mon. However, even if she has sharp fingernails as suggested in �The Superhero Secret�, how did she claw so effectively while wearing gloves? Speaking of the Jessie/Seviper fight, even though her hair was bitten off by the Seviper, it�s magically grown back (or been glued on perhaps) after she catches it, normally we�d have to wait until the next episode to replace a character�s lost hair or trait (see �Tracey Gets Bugged�). Another Pok�mon impersonation! But for the first time, it�s Chansey, doing an impersonation of Treecko; right down to the head shape and yellow eyes (somehow). We later learn that the technique Treecko develops is later dubbed as Pound, although I feel it should be Slam instead since the literal term for pounding is using fists. Ash doesn�t mention an official name for the tail technique this episode but has Treecko use a conventional Pound attack which indeed does involve Treecko�s hands. Wobbuffet is clearly not with Team Rocket when they�re blasted but it�s heard when they go flying, today Team Rocket�s flying into the air is seen from very far off so it can�t be seen if Wobbuffet truly appeared while the group went flying or if the sound was simply dubbed in. Who�s That Pok�mon?: (This Pok�mon uses its wings to glide down from high cliffs!) Gligar Cameos in Pok�mon Journey: None. Episodes #265 - #272 Episodes #281 - #288 Back to the Episode Guide Movie and Mini-movie Guide Back to the Pok�zone
