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Recap / Pokémon S19E39 "A Towering Takeover!"

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Japanese Title: Flare Gang Attacks! The Zygarde at the Prism Tower!!

Original Airdate: August 25, 2016

US Airdate: November 12, 2016

As Z-2 begins to wreak havoc in Lumiose City, Lysandre takes control of the Pokémon League. Alain is revealed to have played a major role in Team Flare's takeover as Lysandre captures Ash and his Pokémon. Squishy has had enough, and transforms in an attempt to stop Z-2.

This episode contains examples of the following tropes:

  • Big Badass Battle Sequence: All of Lumiose City is turned into a battlefield, and the fight continues for several episodes.
  • Big Damn Heroes: Professor Sycamore saves Mairin from being taken by a Team Flare goon. Diantha and Blaziken Mask also show up to save others.
  • Blowing a Raspberry: Hilariously done by Mairin towards the Team Flare grunt that tried to manipulate her.
  • Crucified Hero Shot: Ash and his Pokémon are subjected to this by Lysandre.
  • Hostage for MacGuffin: Lysandre intends to use Ash's Pikachu and the rest of his Kalos Pokémon as hostages so their Trainer and teammate, Ash and Greninja, will cooperate with him.
  • In Love with Your Carnage: Lysandre thinks the destruction of Lumiose is "exquisite".
    Lysandre: Isn't it beautiful? All of the ugliness is slowly disappearing.
  • Internal Reveal: Ash and his friends learn that Squishy is actually a Zygarde.
  • My God, What Have I Done?: Alain was filled with guilt for letting Team Flare take Ash and his Pokémon captive, even confronting Xerosic as to why they are involving them. In addition, Alain is devastated when Lysandre tells him that he is using the Mega Evolution energy he collected for taking over the world rather than using it for peace.
  • My Significance Sense Is Tingling: Bonnie can sense when Squishy is injured by Z-2.
  • Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: The fruit of Alain's battles since the first Mega Evolution Special is finally laid bare: his mentor is using the energy gained from those battles to destroy the city!
  • New Era Speech: Lysandre broadcasts one throughout Kalos, expounding on his belief that Humans Are the Real Monsters and that wiping out most of humanity is necessary to save the world.
    "To my beloved Kalos Region and the entire world, I am Lysandre. Team Flare is with me to do my bidding. I have an announcement: We are here to remake the world into a place of pure beauty and peace. Team Flare's purpose is to transform our world into an exquisite example of creation. This Pokémon's name is Zygarde, a Legendary Pokémon who will preside over the new order of the Kalos Region, so as leaders of this new order, we have decided to join forces with this powerful guardian of creation. Zygarde is angry at the behavior of both people and Pokémon. The discipline of this world has been lost. Humanity is out of control. We have forgotten how to share. Without sharing, people begin to steal from each other. When that happens, there is not enough for anyone. In order to live in peace without stealing, we must reduce the number of beings on this planet. Only the chosen ones will move into our bright, hopeful future. We of Team Flare, along with the fury of Zygarde, will be the ones who will make that judgement. The new order will do away with the chaos of the world and bring about the beautiful future we desire."
  • Psychic Link: Bonnie is able to sense the pain that Squishy is going through as she goes after it, with Clemont and Serena not too far behind her.
  • Pyrrhic Victory: In hindsight, Alain winning the League in the prior episode sets him up for his most devastating defeat yet. His refusal to lose stems from his desire to become the strongest trainer in order to protect those he cares about. What Alain did not realize was that Team Flare has been using his battles in the League (and further back) as fuel to control Zygarde, and thus allowing them to bring danger to everyone in the Kalos region, including Mairin.

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