"WHAT?! IT'S POSSIBLE TO CATCH A POKÉMON LIKE THAT?!"
—RotomDex, when Ash catches Rowlet with nothing but The Power of Friendship
Japanese Title: It's Mokuroh! Catching Pokémon in Alola!!
Original Airdate: November 24, 2016
Canada Airdate: April 8, 2017
US Airdate: May 14, 2017
Rowlet is quite the Cuddle Bug.
As Team Rocket tries to deal with Bewear's insistent hospitality, Ash takes interest in a Rowlet that was attracted to Mallow's Bounsweet. When Team Rocket targets Rowlet's diverse family, the twerps find that Mimikyu has chosen its side.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Balloon Belly: Meowth and Wobbuffet have this when Bewear finally leaves them alone in its den.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: Rowlet decided to go with Ash after he saved it from falling and gave it some food to eat, although Toucannon gave it the encouragement to do so.
- Big Eater: Rowlet, as Lampshaded by RotomDex:"The amount of food and the speed that it eats is incredible!"
- Carnivore Confusion: A weird example. Rowlet, as an owl, should logically be a predator. And it does attack Mallow's Bounsweet...but only because it mistakes it for a fruit, not because it actually wanted to eat the other Pokémon.
- Diving Save: On the last strike from Bounsweet, Rowlet is sent flying into power lines, and falls to the ground. Ash dives in to catch it.
- Don't Split Us Up: Defied. Ash sees that Rowlet is part of the family of Pikipek, and initially declines to catch it. But Toucannon sees Rowlet likes Ash, and convinces it to join him.
- Exact Words: Meowth told Jessie and James that Bewear said it was "dinner time". They immediately fear that they are on the menu. That is, until Bewear starts feeding them Combee honey.
- I Just Want to Be Loved: Mimikyu swats away Jessie's regular Poké Ball. But lets itself be caught when Jessie swipes James's Luxury Ball.
- Jumped at the Call: With Toucannon's blessing, Rowlet goes back to Ash, then flies away a bit so Ash can actually catch it in a Poké Ball, blowing RotomDex's mind.
- Logic Bomb: RotomDex doesn't get either (a) Ash initially passing up Rowlet, or (b) Ash befriending Rowlet and catching it without a battle.
- Lost Food Grievance: Team Rocket targeted the Pikipek because they flew in and grabbed all of Bewear's fruit stock.
- Ms. Exposition: A lady that runs a fruit stand in Hau'oli City tells Litten about the Pikipek when they come in and get some fruit.
- Parrot Pet Position: With Rowlet doing this as well, Ash would have the most jacked shoulders ever if he were ever allowed to grow up.
- Pet the Dog: Jessie primarily went after the Pikipek family as a return favor to Bewear after they "stole" its food. Granted, a few stolen Pokemon for the boss doesn't hurt either...
- Schmuck Bait: RotomDex grabs Pikachu's tail when he comes out of the Pokémon Center. Pikachu shocks it and Ash. It also tests Toucannon's beak, and gets burned.
- A Twinkle in the Sky: Averted. When the going gets tough for Team Rocket, Bewear rushes in and grabs them all, carrying them off. They failed to swipe the Pikipek, but they did get Bewear's fruit back.
- Wins by Doing Absolutely Nothing: It still takes a special Poké Ball (a Luxury Ball that James just happened to have), but as Meowth points out, Jessie didn't have to weaken Mimikyu any to catch it. It's still the most effort she's ever put into a catch besides Seviper back in Hoenn.
- Wrong Assumption: Jessie tells the others that if she doesn't catch Mimikyu, Bewear will likely eat them. Boy, was she wrong.Jessie: If we don't get out of here quick, we're going to be on that Bewear's snack time schedule!
