Ash and May struggle to find a way forward after suffering recent losses. Thankfully, some of their old friends and rivals arrive to lend a hand and offer support.
- Call-Back: Although subtle, May's initial harsh reaction to Max's recommendation of training with Ash is quickly followed by a moment of self-reflection. She gently and nervously explains that she might not be as strong as Ash, so training with his help might not be a good idea. She probably recalls the previous instance where she became excessively angry with Ash for his efforts to help her, which resulted in negative consequences for her.
- Continuity Nod: A few examples listed below:
- The banner Tracey made along with the rest of Ash's Pokemon back at Oak's Lab that he gives Ash as a present.
- Ash is given one of Misty's special lures as a special gift.
- In the postcard Gary sent to him, Ash reads the letter with Gary telling him not to let his recent loss get him down since he didn't give up when they last battled and he defeated Gary, which is a nod to their battle in the Silver Conference in Johto.
- Ash and Brock, though not seen, reminisce their own memories of their time in Johto after they learn that Drew and Harley will be going there to participate in more Contests.
- Flaw Exploitation: In the battle, Drew employs a Counter-Attack tactic against May by exploiting her tendency to rely on strong attacks, similar to what Solidad did in their last fight. Despite May's improved flexibility, it's not sufficient to win against Drew. This encounter motivates May to journey to Johto to discover her unique combat style.
- Foreshadowing: The postcard Ash receives from Gary is from Sinnoh. A few episodes later, that will be his next destination.
- I Have Become Complacent: After clashing with Drew, May realizes that she has grown too reliant on her aggressive battle style - much like Ash. As a coordinator, she knows this will not be enough to reach her full potential, so she decides to venture off to Johto alone. By doing so, she hopes to not only become a better coordinator but also a better person.
- Mirror Character: Quite a few examples actually. Both Ash and May are feeling down over their respective losses recently (Ash in his rematch against Brandon and May in her battle against Solidad in the Kanto Grand Festival) and both are unsure if they should battle each other as part of training, especially May who comments that she isn't as strong as Ash is. There is even one point while May is contemplating her recent loss where Brock and Scott lampshade how her battling style is a lot like Ash's.
- Ship Tease: So far the last episode to give more of ContestShipping.
- Spot the Impostor: When Jessie disguises as Nurse Joy as an attempt to take the real Joy's place in judging the Pokémon Contest, Brock figures out right away that something is up with this "Joy."
- Surpassed the Teacher: A variant, in that May realizes this is what she has to do if she ever wants to become a top coordinator; it's in this episode that she begins to realize just how much her battling style is influenced by Ash's, and that his more offensive style isn't good for contests in the long run. This realization is what sparks her decision to go to Johto on her own, to compete in contests there and develop her own unique style, a few episodes later.
