"I'm not sure of all the facts, but at some point in the past, Miss Lillie resided with her mother for a period of time. It was when she returned to the estate that I realized she was unable to touch Pokémon of any kind."
—Hobbes
Japanese Title: Who'll Be in Charge of the Egg?
Original Airdate: December 22, 2016
UK Airdate: April 21, 2017
Canada Airdate: May 6, 2017
US Airdate: May 18, 2017
Pikachu jumps the gun.
When Samson Oak gives Ash's class a Pokémon Egg to look after, they determine that this would be the perfect opportunity to help Lillie get over her fear of Pokémon. What follows is Ash's adventure with Lillie at her estate, which involves a battle with an Oricorio, and a run-in with a hungry Salandit.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Ass Shove: When RotomDex does a battle simulator program, Pikachu gets pecked in the butt by Hobbes' Pom-Pom Oricorio.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Hobbes explains that Lillie used to adore Pokémon — and still does, judging by the proliferation of plush dolls in her room — a Noodle Incident (later revealed to be her being attacked by a Nihilego) led her to fear them.
- Egg MacGuffin: The Egg given to the class is different from the one Professor Oak sent to Alola with Ash. And now, it's Lillie's to take care of.
- Foreshadowing:
- The Pokémon Egg will eventually hatch into Lillie's first Pokémon, Snowy the Alolan Vulpix.
- A picture of a young Lillie with her mother Lusamine and brother Gladion is seen quite a ways before they appear in the anime. Lusamine's Lilligant and Cleffa (which became Clefable in the present) are also shown.
- Hilarity Ensues: Ash tries to help Lillie by having her try to touch Pikachu. She freaks out when Pikachu gets impatient, and affectionately raises his head into her hand.
- Malicious Monitor Lizard: The Salandit that breaks into the mansion has this vibe. It tried to eat the egg that would become Snowy and showed rather malicious intent on its face, which made it rather reminiscent of Joanna the Goanna from The Rescuers Down Under.
- Mythology Gag: The way Lillie protects the Pokémon Egg is reminiscent of the way the Player Character in the games protects Cosmog from the Spearow on the bridge.
- One-Steve Limit: In the original Japanese, Lillie's Butler is named James. Obviously to circumvent Team Rocket's James in the English dub, he is renamed Hobbes.
- Stalker with a Crush: Guess who hasn't taken long to get a tad miffed of Togedemaru? Yes - our favourite electric mouse with a tendency to shock people. Well, that didn't take long, did it?
- Took a Level in Badass: Lillie gets over her fear to protect the Pokémon Egg from the Salandit, holding it off long enough for Pikachu, Oricorio, and Rowlet to drive it off.
