Japanese Title: Dash! Dendimushi
Original Airdate: September 7, 2017
US Airdate: November 25, 2017
Charjabug is finally feeling the need for speed.
Sophocles finds the perfect trial for Charjabug: a race where Charjabug powers an electric car. In the process, he ends up in a rivalry with another racer that has a Shiny Charjabug.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Chekhov's Skill:
- Charjabug is revealed to know String Shot early in the episode, which comes in handy during the final points of the race.
- When at a pit-stop, Kiawe notes that the tyres are the exact same size as a cap for Moomoo milk, which made the process really easy, given that the process is apparently mentally imprinted.
- Combat Pragmatist: When the Castform controlling the track weather changes to ice, Sophocles has Charjabug use String Shot on its tyres and his shoes to continue the race. They're the only ones to finish.
- Cool Bike: Bewear shows up as one, with two sawn logs as wheels.
- Crossover Cameo: Akko Kagari of Little Witch Academia makes a background cameo
◊ as the boys enter the stadium. Downplayed in that she isn't acknowledged at all by the characters or the show itself. - A Day in the Limelight: Not only for Sophocles, but for his Charjabug, who had made only cameo appearances since Sophocles' last limelight episode.
- Determinator: Sophocles refuses to give up on the race as he decided to take Ash's place when he got injured for helping a fellow contestant, which led him and his friends to victory.
- Dick Dastardly Stops to Cheat:
- Again, Meowth tries to use a disguise to win a race. This time, he washes out even faster.
- The Shiny Charjabug's team initially accuses Sophocles of cheating when he and his Charjabug tackle the final icy hill, initially thinking they changed tyres during the race.
- Exact Words: It's against the rules to change tyres during the race unless at a pit-stop. When Castform turns the City environment into a Slippy-Slidey Ice World, Sophocles finds a way around this by adding to the existing tyres with Chargabug's String Shot.
- Grew a Spine: Sophocles stood up for himself and his Charjabug when a fellow contestant insulted them before the race.
- Leave Him to Me!: Knowing he'll never be able to run the race himself, Sophocles gets Ash to run the race with Charjabug in his stead. When Ash is accidentally knocked out by a collision with one of the remaining Charjabug cars, Sophocles takes over as the runner for the end of the race.
- Mythology Gag: Sophocles' Charjabug gets outfitted with Safety Goggles for safe travel througfh a desert environment.
- In the original Japanese dub, Horacio's own Charjabug is revealed to have a Timid nature, making him think that his Pokemon is perfect for the race. In the games, a Pokemon with a Timid nature will have an increase in their Speed stat at the expense of their Attack.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Zigzagged: In the Desert environment, Meowth uses a nerve dart in an attempt to stop the Red Comet team. However, this spooks the Shiny Chargabug and gives it an incredible speed boost, only for it to drain almost all of its energy, which gave Sophocles Labs the upper hand for a portion.
- Opposing Sports Team: Shiny Charjabug's team is a by-the-numbers example of the Privileged Rival variety. Notably, the member chosen as director almost never watches the actual race, and instead sits in a chair to watch and belittle Sophocles.
- Scarily Competent Tracker: Bewear zooms in like a motorcycle to extract Team Rocket after they're disqualified.
- Smug Snake: Red Comet, particularly their leader.
- Taking the Bullet: After one of the opponents' karts spirals out of control, Ash shields Charjabug, getting knocked out after taking the kart right to the face, forcing Sophocles to take his place.
- Wacky Racing: Need we say more?
