Japanese Title: Koiking! The Secret of Evolution!!
Original Airdate: August 19, 1999
US Airdate: September 16th, 2000
The one where... Ash and Co. discover Groucho Marx has become a Pokémon researcher.
Ash and friends are no sooner recruited as assistants in an elaborate project researching Magikarp evolution than Team Rocket surfaces, stealing the object of the young Trainers' research.
Tropes:
- Badass Army: Team Rocket's plan. They intended to capture all the Magikarp and train them hard until they all evolved into Gyarados, allowing them to become one of the most powerful teams in the world.
- Bottomless Magazines: Averted in this episode, which is the only mention that trainers have to purchase extra Pokéballs.
- It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: At the end of the episode, when Team Rocket is surrounded by a group of Gyarados evolved from the Magikarp they tried to capture, they admit to themselves that an army of Gyarados sounded appealing...
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Dr. Quackenpoker looks and sounds like Groucho Marx.Dr. Quackenpoker: When I was a boy, I woke up one morning and saw a Magikarp in my pajamas, how a Magikarp got in my pajamas I'll never know.
- Stating the Simple Solution: When Team Rocket prepares to catch the Magikarp with nets, James asks why they couldn't use Poké Balls, considering the Magikarp are wild. Jessie replies that they don't have enough money to afford the Poké Balls they'd need to catch all of them.
