Recap / Pokémon S11E4 "The Keystone Pops!"

Japanese Title: Mikaruge's Keystone!

Original Airdate: November 29, 2007

US Airdate: May 10, 2008

Jessie is not happy that the new Team Rocket motto is no longer sacred and above imitation.

A mishap during a training battle between the recently traded Aipom and Buizel leads to the destruction of the Hallowed Tower, freeing a Spiritomb, which begins wreaking havoc upon a village. It then turns its ire toward Ash, who resembles the Trainer—who also had a Pikachu—that sealed it in the tower in the first place.

This episode contains examples of the following tropes:

• Adaptational Villainy: The Spiritomb in this episode is openly malevolent, and is treated as an Olympus Mons and Single Specimen Species (given a second Spiritomb wouldn't appear until Christmas 2021, fourteen years later).
• Blatant Lies: Team Rocket convinces Spiritomb that Ash's Pikachu is a descendant of the one whose trainer sealed it away.
  • While they were obviously intending to lie, it's highly likely Ash is descended from an aura guardian, given his ability to use aura.
• Famed In-Story: Trainers with Pikachu are worshiped in this town because an Aura Guardian and his Pikachu sealed a Spiritomb.
• Growling Gut: The episode ends with Dawn's stomach growling, prompting the old lady to invite her and the rest of her friends for dinner before they continue on their journey.
• Halloween Episode: The Ghost- and Dark-type Spiritomb wreaks havoc on a nearby village, and much of the action takes place at night (stormy nights, to be specific).
• Irritation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery: The twerps mock the Sinnoh-era Team Rocket motto for the first time
  Ash: Listen, is that bad guy talk I hear?
  Dawn: It speaks to me loud and clear!
  Ash: On the wind!
  Dawn: Past the stars!
  Brock: In your ear!
  Jessie: It's that kind of imitation they invented lawsuits for!
  Dawn: Chill out! We couldn't care less about you!
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: The Hallowed Tower is wrecked during Ash and Dawn's battle, freeing Spiritomb and allowing it to attack the village.
• Sacred Cow: In-universe. Pikachu is viewed as legendary because one helped seal away the Spiritomb. Ash's Pikachu is worshiped as a result.
• What the Hell, Hero?: The old lady is not pleased with what the twerps did.