Japanese Title: Rakurai Practice Center!
Original Airdate: August 9, 2007
US Airdate: December 22, 2007
Why are James and Meowth helping the twerps?
Team Rocket sets its sights on an Electrike that is practicing its moves. While Jessie is impatient, James and Meowth both think it would be wise to let it train first. Are we seeing cracks in the terrible trio's long-standing partnership?
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Butt-Monkey: Poor Ash seems to never catch a break with electric attacks in this episode.
- Enemy Mine: James and Meowth actually help Ash help Electrike control its power. When Jessie comes back with an insulated mecha to steal Electrike—then Pikachu after Electrike evolves into Manectric—James and Meowth help Manectric defeat her. They still get blasted off with her, though. At their request.
- Everyone Has Standards: James and Meowth refuse to capture the Electrike because it can't control its powers. Jessie holds no such standards, and tries to steal Electrike herself. This reached a point where they grab onto the mecha Jessie is controlling, and beg Ash to blast them off to stop her.
- Plot-Mandated Friendship Failure: Jessie storms off when James and Meowth further delay capturing Electrike so it could learn to control its power, so James and Meowth decide to assist the twerps. It doesn't last beyond the end of the episode.
- Power Incontinence: Electrike is unable to control Thunderbolt. Its trainer, Jaco, enlists Ash, Dawn, and Brock to help train it.
- Running Gag: Ash getting struck by Electric attacks.
