Facing off against Doc, Flash prepares for the first Gym battle in his career.
- All According to Plan: Doc states that having his Higear lose to Springer was part of his plan, so he could see everything Springer was capable of and know what to expect from it so Tockwork can win easily.
- Bait-and-Switch: In the first phase, it looks like Riptide shoots up into the air with its Water Gun in an easy-to-dodge move against Doc's Higear, but it's soon revealed that it was all a set-up for Aquana to ground slam into Higear.
- Didn't See That Coming: Doc thinks he has the battle won once Tockwork blinds Springer, leaving him unable to see Tockwork due to it having no aura. He is caught completly off-guard when Flash has Springer sense and copy Flash's own aura instead, copying his movements to avoid Tockwork's attacks and attack it. Doc is so shocked by this, and his plan failing, that he is left unresponsive for several moments without giving any commands, leaving Tockwork to get continuously attacked.
- Fatal Flaw: Doc's biggest flaw is that he's never really traveled around Equestria and believes that there should be a plan for everything, making him reluctant to adapt or experiment. This leaves him flatfooted when he can't counter Flash's more unorthodox strategies, which motivates him to join with Flash as a traveling companion to learn more about Equestria and how his inventions can benefit the needs of its citizens.
- Graceful Loser: After being beaten by Flash, Doc gracefully accepts his defeat and awards Flash the Trottingham Gym badge.
- Insufferable Genius: Doc constantly tells Flash throughout their battle how he should have waited and made a plan beforehand and talking down to him about it and how he can't win without one. Flash eventually has enough of this and snaps at Doc that he doesn't know anything because he doesn't actually know anything about the world. Losing to Flash, due to one of his "perfect plans" failing, is a slice of Humble Pie for him.
- Joined Your Party: After being beaten, Doc asks if he could join Flash's traveling company, in which he's accepted.
- Shout-Out: Pokémon battles in Doc's gym are monitored by TARDIS, a reference to the time machine prominently featured in Doctor Who.
