On the road for Dawn's next Contest, the young girl meets a very energetic Pachirisu and, after some trouble, menages to catch it. However, after the little thing proves to be a little too much to handle, she decides to release it. Meanwhile, Jessie is also looking for a new Pokemon for her performances...
- Armor-Piercing Question: When Ash says that Pachirisu belongs to Dawn, Team Rocket were quick to point out that Jessie was nearly able to capture it in her Pokeball. Jessie then asks Dawn that if it really is her Pachirisu, she should be able to recall it into her Pokeball. Dawn had no response to this.
- Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!: Pachirisu doesn't really seem that interested in listening what others has to say...not when there is so much running to do. Heck, it's not clear if it understood Dawn released it before she recaptured it at the end of the episode.
- The Baby of the Bunch: It's implied Pachirisu is younger than the rest of the twerps' Pokemon.
- Continuity Nod: Ash is still excited for the Coal Badge he won last episode.
- Food as Bribe: Jessie tries to convince Pachirisu to come with her by offering it food. Ash suggests to do the same, but Brock refuses.
- Foreshadowing: Dawn's troubles with Pachirisu perfectly sum up her future depression arc over Contests: she starts off thinking it would be easy, meets difficults that make her considers quitting, but in the end accepts them and starts working harder.
- Genki Girl: Pachirisu's gender isn't specified, but it is extremely energetic and constantly wants to run around, refusing to get back in its Poké Ball when Dawn tries to recall it. Even when it's being chased by the twerps' Pokémon who are trying to make it get back in the ball, it's having a whale of a time outrunning all of them.
- Harmless Electrocution: This episode starts the Running Gag of Pachirisu ruining Dawn's hair with Discharge.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: platonic example: Dawn releases Pachirisu not only because she has trouble with it, but also because she thinks it would be happier being free to run as much as it wants.
- Power-Strain Blackout: After playfully unleashing a giant Discharge that fries all the twerps' Pokémon, Pachirisu faints. Of course, all the running around it was doing previously probably made it tired, too.
- Smart Ball: After Jessie menages to get Pachirisu she scoffs at Meowth's suggestion of trying to take the twerps' other Pokemon, since every time they try to get too greedy it backfires on them.
- Smarter Than You Look: Despite being a silly, hyperactive baby, Pachirisu tricks Team Rocket in order to take the solvent to free Ash and friends.
- Sticky Situation: Team Rocket traps Ash and friends with a sticky substance so they can steal Pachirisu.
- Unsuccessful Pet Adoption: Subverted; Dawn releases Pachirisu when it becomes too much for her to handle and she thinks it would be happier being free, but changes her mind and comes back for it, recapturing it at the end of the episode.
- Villain Has a Point: When Ash calls out to Team Rocket for trying to catch Pachirisu saying it belongs to Dawn, Team Rocket were quick to point out that Jessie was nearly able to catch it saying that if it really did belonged to Dawn (who already released Pachirisu just earlier), the Pokeball wouldn't have even work on it. Team Rocket may be villains, but they are correct in saying that Pachirisu is fair game now.
