Japanese Title: A Rival Enters!
Original Airdate: January 7st, 1999
US Airdate: November 20th, 1999
The one where... Ash meets his Identical Stranger.
Ash's Mom and Professor Oak make a surprise visit to watch Ash battle in the Pokémon League Tournament. Professor Oak informs Ash that if he wins his next battle he'll be able to use six Pokémon in battle instead of three. He also tells Ash to remember that if he does his best but loses his matches, he's still a winner! On their way back from dinner, Ash meets another trainer who's also competing in the tournament and also has a Pikachu. Ash and Richie become fast friends especially when they have to fight the unrelenting Team Rocket that steals all of their Pokéballs, along with both of their Pikachu.
Tropes
- Cliffhanger: The episode ends with Ash and Ritchie staring each other after learning that they'll fight in the next round, both clearly not happy with the revelation.
- Establishing Character Moment: Stuck in an elevator during a blackout, Ash and company witness new character Richie's resourcefulness.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Ash and Ritchie become close friends during their adventure to stop Team Rocket's latest attempt to steal Pokemon.
- Foreshadowing: Ritchie knowing how to pet Pikachu along with being clever enough to use Pikachu's electricity to jumpstart the elevator help set up The Reveal that he has a Pikachu of his own.
- Rummage Fail: Inside Team Rocket's truck with a pile of Pokéballs, Ash had trouble finding his own Pokémon until Pikachu sniffed them out. Richie, on the other hand, was able to tell which Pokéballs are his because he puts stickers on his set.
- Wham Shot: At the end of the episode, Nurse Joy's computer screen shows Ritchie being Ash's next opponent.
