Paul sure is tough. He’s got his own way of getting strong, and I’ve gotta admit he gave it his all. That’s how he got strong in the first place. But, hey, we’re gonna get stronger too. It’s not gonna be easy, though. So there’s only one thing to do. We’re gonna have to work harder than Paul. And when we meet up with him again, we’re gonna beat that guy! What do you say, gang?
— Ash to his Pokémon
Original Title: Uxie's Shadow!
Original Airdate: June 25, 2009
US Airdate: November 21, 2009
Tropes
- Big "WHAT?!": Jessie's reaction when Meowth tells her she's the one who wanted to take advantage of Ash's depression.
- Call-Back:
- While nothing is stated outright, Brock stops Dawn from going after Ash to comfort him when he leaves the Pokémon Center, knowing full well how he can be when he is depressed or upset.
- Ash's Pokémon are healed in real-time at the Pokémon center like in the early episodes whereas in Hoenn, the Pokémon Center's healing switched to the instantaneous version from the games.
- Character Development: Brock stopping Dawn from talking to Ash during his depression over his brutal loss to Paul shows him learning to have consideration for Ash's need to process things himself and trying not to meddle in his business when he is depressed or upset (running the risk of saying something insensitive or provoking), which would be likely to end in a nasty argument.
- Downer Beginning: Ash spends most of the episode deeply depressed, with Paul having just dealt him the worst loss of his entire career.
- Flashback: Ash has two Flashback sequences, the first consisting of Gliscor getting its tail caught by Torterra's Crunch, Staraptor being outsped by Weavile and Grotle getting beaten by Honchkrow. The second one is of Ursaring beating Buizel and Staraptor, Gliscor being beaten by Torterra, Ursaring beating Pikachu and Monferno losing to Electabuzz.
- Funny Background Event: In the beginning, when Team Rocket is discussing the events of the last two episodes, their Pokémon are seen playing with a roller.
- The Glomp: All of Ash's Pokémon do this to him when Ash promises them they will defeat Paul on the next encounter.
- Growling Gut: Happens to Ash when he and his Pokémon are returning to the Lake Acuity Pokémon Center.
- Heroic BSoD: Ash goes through this because of his loss against Paul but does cheer up when his Pokémon came to comfort him and Dawn performing a circus for him.
- It's All My Fault: Upon seeing his really injured Pokémon, Ash not only blamed himself for their condition but also the loss against Paul.
- Kick the Dog: Team Rocket are more gleeful to do this on Ash as they witness him sulking and feeling sorry for himself about his loss against Paul. Team Rocket even tried to put Ash further down, even though his Pokémon and Dawn already got him out of his funk, and stole Pikachu. However, Team Rocket became the receiving end as Ash and his Pokémon heard their argument about taking advantage of their recovery as they were happy to send them packing for their actions.
- Kick Them While They Are Down: Team Rocket tries to steal Ash's Pikachu while Ash and his Pokémon are still recovering from their battle with Paul.
- Oh, Crap!: Team Rocket's reaction once noticing Ash and his Pokémon nearby, willing to beat them up for trying to bring them more down and attempting to take Pikachu from them.
- Psychotic Smirk: Ash and his Pokémon did a heroic example of this when seen from up close in reverse chronological order.
- Security Cling: Jessie and James hold on to each-other just before they are sent blasting off.
- Ship Tease: The length Dawn goes through just to cheer up Ash is by putting up a show for him and his Pokemon is rather complicated. Nurse Joy even lampshades that Dawn went through so much trouble solely on his behalf after Ash was initially clueless to why Dawn would do such a thing.
- "Super Sentai" Stance: Ash and his Pokemon do this after they save Pikachu from the clutches from Team Rocket. Combined with V-Formation Team Shot.
