"I think Raichu's found a rival!"
—Nina
Japanese Title: The Big Alola Pancake Race!
Original Airdate: February 2, 2017
US Airdate: June 10, 2017
Look on the bright side, Pikachu. At least you won't need the Magical Defibrillator this time.
Melemele Island's big annual event is the Great Alola Pancake Race, where trainers and their Pokémon race to bring a stack of scrumptious Alolan Pancakes around Melemele Island with the hopes of winning a year's supply of Alolan Pancakes. Things heat up when Ash enters the race, and Pikachu gets in a rivalry with the defending champion...an Alolan Raichu!
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Balloon Belly: James notes his wagon is a lot heavier than he expected. It then shows Meowth and Wobbuffet both with balloon bellies, with the insinuation it's from being fed by the real Bewear.
- Cliffhanger: At the end of the episode, Lillie's egg hatches into an Alolan Vulpix!
- Clingy Jealous Girl: Mallow briefly pretends to be this to mess with Ash.
- Cuteness Proximity: Just look at Pikachu and Rockruff's reactions to tasting the Alolan Pancakes for the first time!
- Dark Horse Victory: Bewear's intervention distracts Pikachu and Raichu, and Samson Oak's Komala ends up winning the race.
- Determinator: Kiawe didn't give up on trying to pull his heavy Turtonator during and after the Pokémon pan cake race.
- Dick Dastardly Stops to Cheat: The "Bewear" that James is using is actually Meowth and Wobbuffet in a motorized Bewear suit. Jessie races with Mimikyu, who gets disqualified for trying to attack Pikachu, which is against the rules.
- Didn't Think This Through: The first phase of the race involves the trainer towing their Pokémon in a wagon. Kiawe gets stuck trying to pull Turtonator up a hill. When the race is over, he's still there.
- Epic Fail: As the pre-race video shows, having a heavy Pokémon as your partner in the race (such as a Snorlax (460kg)/(1,014lbs)) isn't a good idea due to a segment which has you pull your Pokémon on a small wagon while they're holding the pancakes. As shown by a competitor whose partner is a Pinsir (55kg)/(121lbs) and Kiawe and his Turtonator (210kg)/(467lbs).
- Failed a Spot Check: So nobody notices when "Bewear" starts shooting flames out of its butt?
- Lightning Glare: Taken literally with Pikachu and Raichu.
- Sore Loser:
- Raichu doesn't look too pleased to have lost—probably even less so that it tied for second with Pikachu—but lightens up after a brief scolding from his trainer.
- Togedemaru is not very pleased that Sophocles got eliminated before she even got to compete.
- Something We Forgot: At the end of the race, no one's seen Kiawe. Turns out he's still trying to get Turtonator to move.
- Spanner in the Works: "Bewear" is about to beat Pikachu and Raichu at the end of the race. Naturally, the real Bewear appears and snatches all of Team Rocket. It's the first time Bewear actively thwarts one of Team Rocket's cons.
