Japanese Title: Rocket-dan's Island-Visiting!? Get the Z-Ring!!
Original Airdate: May 3, 2018
US Airdate: October 6, 2018
Jessie and James have had enough with trying to build their own Z-Ring, and decide to get one. A lead from Team Rocket HQ directs them to Nanu, the kahuna of Ula'ula Island. There, they end up in a misadventure with his niece, Acerola, and accidentally free a troublesome Gengar.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Defeat Equals Friendship: Acerola feels sorry for the Gengar that abducted her out of loneliness and offers her friendship, to its elation. It is revealed later in the series that Acerola caught it.
- Foreshadowing: It is suggested there is a past between Nanu and Giovanni.
- It Was a Gift: Nanu lends James a Z-Power Ring so he can beat Gengar. He then lets Team Rocket keep it for taking care of Acerola.
- Our Ghosts Are Different: Acerola's Shiny Mimikyu, Mimikins, is actually the spirit of a dead Mimikyu. The English dub doesn't really avoid this - when Team Rocket asks, Acerola simply states that Mimikins is a ghost.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Team Rocket uses some robots to keep Bewear fooled into thinking they're still at the base while they abscond to Ula'ula, with all the audio coming from them being lines recorded by Meowth.
- So Proud of You: James goes into a happy fit after Mareanie learns Knock Off, a Dark-type move. It is met with the usual response from Mareanie.
- Took a Level in Badass: Mareanie learns Knock Off, enabling her to use the Dark Z-move Black Hole Eclipse. Mimikins also gifts them the Mimikium-Z Z-crystal.
- Villain Forgot to Level Grind: Averted. For once Team Rocket get their hands on the series power-up and have their Pokemon capable of utilizing it. Note at this point half the twerps don't have Z-Rings themselves.
