Traveling through the woods in search of more Pokemon, Ash and Goh come across a Thwackey—Grookey's evolution—and discover it lacks one of the two sticks it usually carries. While it first acts as a mentor towards Goh's own Grookey, the heroes soon learn it's an outcast amongst its own people because its lack of a stick prevents it from keeping up with its pack's musical rhythm. Determined to help, Ash and Goh start some special training, but something in Goh's mind tells him it may be time to let go of Grookey.
This episode contains the following tropes:
- All of the Other Reindeer: The one-stick Thwackey is routinely mocked for not being able to keep up the beat with the rest of its troupe due to its, to quote the Trope Namer's special, "non-conformity". Ash and Goh give it some special training to help it keep up.
- Chekhov's Skill: When Grookey befriends the Thwackey, Thwackey grooms Grookey, with the concept being explained as a ritual that establishes friendship and trust. When Goh considers letting Grookey stay with the rest of his kind in the troupe, Grookey jumps on Goh's head and grooms him, showing he still considers him his friend and wants to stay with him.
- Foreshadowing: The one-stick Thwackey teaches Goh's Grookey to mellow out, showing a parental side to it. Only a few minutes later, its wife and child pop by, revealing it has experience in raising a little one.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Goh considers letting Grookey stay with the Thwackey's troupe due to seeing how happy it is around them, but it wants to stick with its trainer.
- Ocular Gushers: Goh's Grookey spills out a lot of tears during this episode, first due to falling on its face, then again when the one-stick Thwackey won't take its pre-evolved form's stick and throws in the towel. The second time winds up being quintessential towards helping Thwackey, as Grookey beats its stick at such a rapid pace that it inspires Ash and Goh to teach Thwackey to do the same.
