With his match against Cynthia over, Ash is preparing for his next battle against Leon by...doing nothing! Yes, his strategy is to take it easy today and simply enjoy the sights before tomorrow's match. As he scarfs down some food and reminisces with Goh, a few old friends reunite, some new enemies make the rounds, and Team Rocket once again prepares to make mischief to steal some Pokémon—all while greater things lie in wait for our heroes tomorrow.
This episode contains the following tropes:
- But Now I Must Go: Goh is forced to leave the day before Ash's match begins due to an emergency call from Project Mew and can only wish him luck. The two promise to see each other again with a big smile when they do.
- Call-Back: Goh's Cinderace reintroduces himself to his old Nickit friends by wiping his nose, just like he used to do when he was just a Scorbunny.
- Curb-Stomp Cushion: The extra numbers allow Team Rocket to hold their own better for a while, though when the Nickit trio evolve it quickly devolves into another comical beatdown.
- Defeat Equals Friendship: The Nickit/Thievul's format against other thieving Pokémon. Since they are often rewarded with food for stopping Pokémon, they often share it as an act of peace. Both the Galarian Zigzagoon and Meowth/Perrserker clans become friends by the end of the episode.
- Dragon Tamer: Leon, Sonia, and Professor Magnolia have managed to tame Eternatus enough to allow it to get used to other people, reasoning that its importance to Galar and the Dynamax effect shouldn't result in it being stored underground all its life. Goh gives his permission to let Leon have Eternatus, believing him to be a better trainer to handle it for now.
- Easily Forgiven: The Nickit/Thievul are quick to let any of the Pokémon they stop from stealing off the hook and even share their food with them, given they are merely in the same desperate position they were before. They demonstrate this with the Galarian Zigzagoon, then again with the Galarian Meowth and Perrserker.
- Epic Fail: Not even with a full team of Pokémon could Team Rocket handle Goh's Galarian starters.
- Getting Eaten Is Harmless: The Arrokuda used by Team Rocket gets swallowed whole by Cramorant, but emerges alive (albeit knocked out).
- Loophole Abuse: Team Rocket takes advantage of the two extra Meowth being there by using their charms to call out four extra Pokémon instead of the usual two. It still isn't enough, as Goh's three Galarian starters wipe the floor with all six of Team Rocket's Pokémon.
- Loved by All: The Nickit/Thievul are local heroes to the people for helping to stop the naughty Pokémon around town. Their tendency to make peace with said Pokémon by sharing food with them makes them popular even with them.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: The Rocket Prize Master runs away after the battle, marking its final appearance as it's never used again after this episode.
- Swallowed Whole: Thanks to Grookey, Cramorant accidentally swallows Arrokuda until the Grass Monkey Pokémon is able to get it out with a quick KO.
- Took a Level in Badass: The three Nickit evolve into Thievul and utterly trash the Perrserker and the Galarian Meowth, even stealing the Rocket Prize Master!
- Took a Level in Kindness: The three previous thieving Nickit are now local heroes to the town, keeping naughty Pokémon from stealing people's food.
- Wham Shot: Ash and Goh enter the stadium at Leon's request to see what he's got to show them. It's Eternatus.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: The Galarian Zigzagoon trio are quickly stopped from running off with a bag of scones, though the Nickit share their own food as a truce....only for the Galarian Meowth clan to steal it off them. Thankfully they do finally get to eat when the evolved Thievul share their reward of scones with them in the end.
