The following tropes are associated with this episode:
Butt-Monkey: James couldn’t catch a break in this episode especially once he had to try to impersonate as Professor Oak without the aid of Jessie and Meowth. He is also the only one that blasts off at the end.
Call-Back: This is the second time James disguises himself as Professor Oak having done so way back in the original series episode “Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up?”
Recycled Premise: As mentioned above, this episode’s plot is much like with “Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up?” where James disguises himself as Professor Oak hoping to fool the others. The only difference is that James was forced to go at it alone when a situation causes Jessie and Meowth to remain in hiding.
Single-Stroke Battle: Both Brock’s Croagunk and the wild Politoed engage in this with Croagunk winning the battle and Politoed allowing Croagunk and the others to meet up with Professor Oak.
