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Recap / Kim Possible S 2 E 11 Exchange

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Middleton High is participating in a week long exchange student program, and Ron is chosen for it. While the school gets Hirotaka, a handsome, motorcycle riding Japanese student, Ron is sent to the mysterious Yamanouchi School in Japan. There, he learns the school trains its' students in the art of Tai Shing Pek Kwar, note  and falls for a beautiful young student named Yori, while earning the enmity of Fukushima, another student. Back at Middleton, Hirotaka has managed to attract nearly all the girls in town, save Kim and her friend, Monique.

In Japan, Ron finds himself failing all of the ninja lessons and begins to question his place in the school, planning to leave until the school is attacked and the Lotus Blade, a powerful sword, is stolen. Learning Yori went out to retrieve it, Ron decides to follow her. Tracking her into the mountains, he finds Monkey Fist has stolen the sword note  and rescues Yori, who tells him that Fukushima turned against the school and helped the villain steal it, leading to both being captured. Meanwhile, Kim and Monique soon fall for Hirotaka's charms, and try to convince the other to date him, but that soon leads to both of them competing with each other for his affections.

Ron and Yori are suspended over a pit of lava, but manage to escape, thanks to Rufus, and ride down the mountain to safety. Monkey Fist & Fukushima follow them, and, during the battle, the Lotus Blade falls into a crevice, after which the Yamanouchi students show up to save the day. Ron apologizes for losing the sword, but Sensei tells him he can summon it to return, which he does (destroying a building in the process). Back in Middleton, Hirotaka prepares to leave after saying goodbye to his "number one girlfriend," who turns out to be Bonnie—Kim and Monique reconcile, acknowledging that it was really stupid of them to actually risk their friendship over some guy.

After Ron & Rufus arrive, Kim asks them how their trip was, but, having been sworn to secrecy, Ron replies simply with "same old, same old."


This episode contains examples of:

  • As You Know: Sensei reminds Ron he is the only person, outside of Monkey Fist (and, technically, Rufus), that has Mystic Monkey Power.
  • Call-Back: When Kim and Monique are persuading each other to go for Hirotaka, Kim tells Monique that the two are "truly, madly." Later, when both girls decide to compete for his attention, Monique notes "who was all 'truly, madly?'"
    Kim: I don't even know what that means.
    Monique: You said it!
  • Chick Magnet: Hirotaka became an instant favorite among Middleton High School's female students included Kim and Monique.
  • Comically Missing the Point: Upon seeing Yamanouchi for the first time, Ron wonders if it's a public school. After Sensei explains it's true origins, Ron is surprised that it's a secret ninja school, then wonders if it's a public secret ninja school.
  • Convection, Schmonvection: Not only are Ron and Yori are suspended in a cage over lava, but Ron gets his feet in it and the cage is lowered into it until it nearly dissolves, all with no lasting burns.
  • Cool Old Guy: Sensei.
  • Cool Sword: The Lotus Blade; it can transform into any object its' user wishes, from nunchucks to a telephone.
  • Continuity Nod: The fact that Ron has Mystic Monkey Power is brought up, with clips from Monkey Fist Strikes even shown to emphasize the point.
  • Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Ron is shown to be this.
  • A Day in the Limelight / Hero of Another Story: This episode is all about Ron, with Kim relegated to the subplot, despite her being the star of the show.
  • Dark Horse Victory: Kim and Monique compete for Hirotaka, who's seen macking on Bonnie, as he leaves for Japan instead.
  • Epic Fail: Ron's attempts at ninja training.
  • Face–Heel Turn: Fukushima turns against the school and helps Monkey Fist, presumably due to their acceptance of "the outsider."
  • Foreign Exchange Student: Hirotaka for the Middleton High School and Ron for the Yamanouchi School.
  • The Greatest Story Never Told: Despite everything he accomplished at Yamanouchi, Ron is sworn to never tell about it. For now.
  • Jaw Drop: Ron's reaction upon seeing Yori for the first time.
  • Jerkass Ball / Out-of-Character Moment: The normally nice Brick Flagg, who is only occasionally Innocently Insensitive turns into a Jerk Jock for this episode and picks a fight with Hirotaka.
  • Motivational Kiss: Ron receive one on the cheek from Yori to give him encouragement.
  • Mundane Utility: Kim uses Wade's resources to track Hirotaka's location (and it's not the first time she's used Wade to track someone she was crushing on, either).
  • Not So Above It All: When Ron points out that Fukushima betraying Yamanouchi school will reflect poorly in his transcript, Fukushima is legitimately worried as he was hoping for an early admission. Monkey Fist assures him that he would write a recommendation for him after he takes over the world.
  • Oblivious to Love: Despite Yori being clearly attracted to Ron, he remains oblivious to her feelings until her next appearance. He plans to win her affections by rescuing her from Monkey Fist, despite her already having a crush on him.
    • Hirotaka is either oblivious to Kim and Monique’s crush on him, or he simply doesn’t care and chooses Bonnie over them.
  • Pretty Boy: Hirotaka appears to be a parody of bishonen characters.
  • The Rival: Fukushima is this for Ron, more so after he betrays the school.
  • Shout-Out:
    • Word of God is that Ron turning blue and powering up to fight Fukushima was a reference to AKIRA not Dragon Ball Z, as some would suspect.
    • The short sequence showing Ron changing into the black ninja suit borrows a couple of consecutive shots from Mulan, namely Mulan opening the cupboard containing her father's armor and next being seen tying its belt while facing a window.
    • Ron & Yori escape Monkey Fist's lair by riding down the mountain on a shield.
  • Single Woman Seeks Good Man: In addition to his sense of humor, Yori is also attracted to Ron because he is a Nice Guy, as seen by the look she gives him when he forgives Fukushima after he loudly disrespects him in front of everyone.
  • Underestimating Badassery: Fukushima believes Ron is nothing without the Lotus Blade, after spending most of the episode harassing him. Ron quickly proves him wrong by defeating him without using his mystical monkey powers. In fact, he only uses the mystical monkey powers to trap him, after taking him down.
  • Unusual Euphemism: "aw Fuji."
  • There Is Another: Ron tells Yori that, despite what Monkey Fist thinks, there is one person outside the two of them with Mystical Monkey Power- Rufus!
  • Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: "Aw Fuji, why is it always monkeys? Why can't I be attacked by crazed supermodels?"
  • Women Prefer Strong Men: Kim and Monique were initially two of the only girls who weren't crushing hard on Hirotaka. Then he makes an impressive display in defeating Brick Flagg when the latter tries to pick a fight with him, causing both girls to start crushing on him.


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