Japanese Title: Pochama VS Subomie! Hikari's First Battle!!
Original Airdate: October 5, 2006
US Airdate: June 7, 2007
When Dawn fails to catch a Buneary, she and Ash get into an argument. They soon encounter a traveling minstrel named Nando who is having trouble deciding whether to do Gym Battles or Contests.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Amusing Injuries: At the beginning of the episode, Dawn tries to throw a Poké Ball at a wild Buneary, but her aim is off and she hits Ash with it instead.
- Antiquated Linguistics: In the American version, Nando speaks with a slightly flowery, old-fashioned speech pattern, such as saying "I am in your debt," to Nurse Joy instead of "Thank you."
- Big Damn Heroes: Ash and friends are saved from their encounter with Team Rocket in the woods when Nando's Budew comes out of nowhere and blasts them off using Bullet Seed.
- Call-Back: While camping in the woods, Ash talks about the Ho-Oh he saw all the way back in Pokémon — I Choose You!, and Dawn mentions the projected soul of Mesprit she saw at Lake Verity in Following a Maiden's Voyage! (although, at the time, she doesn't know what it is yet).
- Camping Episode: Ash, Brock and Dawn camp out with Nando at night in the second half of the episode.
- Conflict Killer: Ash and Dawn stop arguing when they're distracted by a pretty ray of sunlight, which is revealed to have been caused by Nando's Budew using Sunny Day.
- Didn't See That Coming: When Nando orders Budew to use Solar Beam, Dawn orders another attack from Piplup because she knows Solar Beam takes time to charge. However, she forgets the weather is already sunny, allowing Budew to fire Solar Beam instantly and KO'ing Piplup.
- Didn't Think This Through: Ash and Dawn argue at the Pokémon Center over whether Nando should compete in Gym Battles or Contests, then run out into the woods in the middle of the night to look for him and convince him what path he should take. When they end up not being able to find him, it's too late to go back to the Center and they have to camp out for the night.
- Disappointed in You: Brock chides Ash and Dawn for recklessly deciding to go out into the woods and look for Nando in the middle of the night, when it turns out they went too far in and it's too late to return to the Pokémon Center. Us, the viewers, are much disappointed in Ash and Dawn too.Brock: You always do this, You go running off without once thinking what the consequences might be.Ash and Dawn: (ashamed) Right.
- Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors: Being a new Trainer, Dawn gets her first introduction to how Pokémon types work, when Piplup's Bubble Beam, a Water-type attack, fails to do any damage to Nando's Grass-type Budew, despite landing a direct hit.
- Establishing Character Moment: Witnessing Ash and Dawn argue, Nando has his Budew distract them with a beautiful Sunny Day and then steps out from behind a tree while quoting a bit of lyrical poetry, demonstrating his musical and pacifistic nature.
- Feud Episode: During the episode, Ash and Dawn spend most of their time arguing about a Buneary that she failed to catch. They also have a disagreement about whether Nando should participate in Gym Battles or Contests. Their argument forces them to spend the night camping instead of sleeping at the Pokemon Center. However, with Nando's meditative advice, Ash and Dawn reconcile and promise to be better friends with each other.
- Filling the Silence: In the English dub, Nando laughs after Dawn orders Piplup to use Bubble Beam. In the original version, he stays silent.
- Innocuously Important Episode: Nando comes off as just another Character of the Day in this episode, but he ends up appearing multiple times later in the Sinnoh saga, acting as The Rival to both Ash and Dawn.
- Let's Fight Like Gentlemen: Nando offers to let Dawn go first during their battle and compliments her efforts after her loss.Nando: I wouldn't have guessed it was your first battle. You were so good.
- Life Drain: During its battle with Ash's Pikachu, Nando's Budew demonstrates the move Mega Drain.
- Lost in Translation: Averted with Nando's polite speech pattern, which is present in both the original version and the English dub.
- Lust Object: As usual, Brock falls in love with the episode's Nurse Joy, even showing Dawn a photo album filled with many identical Joys.
- Never My Fault: Dawn blames Ash for the wild Buneary escaping. She’s ignoring the fact that she should have listened to Ash’s instructions in the first place, then she would have had a better chance of catching it.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Ash and Dawn have a disagreement over whether Nando should participate in Gym Battles or Contests. They are both so passionate about their opinions that they decide to go out into the woods at night to find him and persuade him to choose a path. Unfortunately, they are unable to locate him, and by the time they realize it, it is too late to return to the Center. As a result, they have to spend the night camping out. This incident plays a significant role in their reconciliation with each other.
- Non-Specifically Foreign: In the English dub, Nando speaks with a distinctive accent that sounds vaguely European.
- Oh, Crap!: Dawn and Piplup, when Nando's Budew insta-charges its Solar Beam attack due to the harsh sunlight overhead.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Exaggerated in this episode. Team Rocket pose as hotel owners by wearing green jackets that are clearly open in the front and don't even bother to hide the big red "R" on their uniforms. Ash, Dawn, and Brock still fall for it.
- Strong and Skilled: Nando's Budew is capable of executing powerful moves while putting on an elegant performance at the same time. Ash thinks it is more suited to Gym Battles because of its strength, while Dawn thinks that its performing ability is better suited to Contests.
- Take a Third Option: After battling both Ash and Dawn, Nando decides to do both Gym Battles and Contests as opposed to choosing only one of them.
- Volleying Insults: Ash and Dawn start doing this when their argument gets more heated.Dawn: I could have had a Buneary, if it weren't a certain big mouth.
Ash: Yeah? I could get me a Buneary in spite of your big mouth.
Dawn: Next time, butt out.
Ash: That's if there is a next time.
Dawn: I'm going to catch lots of Pokémon!
Ash: You won't if you keep doing stupid stuff.
Dawn: Are you calling me stupid?
Ash: No, but I'm thinking about it now!
Dawn: How can you think without a brain?!
Ash: You tell jokes as good as you catch Pokémon! - Walking the Earth: In Nando's words, he and Budew "travel the world, bringing joy to all."
