Japanese Title: Fushigisou, Isn't it Mysterious?
Original Airdate: December 1, 2019
UK Airdate: May 25, 2020 (special airing)
US Airdate: June 12, 2020
Goh finally allows himself to experience how Ash communes with Pokémon. Also pictured: Pikachu, being adorable as always.
Ash and Goh get their first assignment at the Cerise Institute when a herd of Bulbasaur and Ivysaur invade the construction site of a new Pokémon Gym in Vermillion City. As they study why they chose that location to sunbathe, Jessie, James and Meowth of Team Rocket prepare to re-engage with their old enemy. This time, they have some new tricks up their sleeves to fulfill Giovanni's bidding.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Brains and Brawn: This dynamic between Goh and Ash, in that order, is demonstrated when they follow the Ivysaur herd and then scale the under-construction tower, as Ash has to help Goh over obstacles.
- Beware the Nice Ones: This episode shows that, while Ash and Pikachu are perfectly content to just sunbathe with an Ivysaur and have fun, they will end your existence if necessary to protect said Ivysaurs.
- Continuity Nod:
- The Pokémon Gym under construction in Vermillion City resembles the Gyms found in Pokémon GO.
- The episode name is a reference to the first-season episode "Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden".
- Foreshadowing: Goh's remark to Ash about not being friends anymore will become more meaningful 29 episodes later.
- Friend to All Living Things: Ash and Pikachu prove that they are this trope, by sunbathing with an Ivysaur.
- Hidden Depths: Goh's remark to Ash after their little fight hints that he's had problems with friends in the past. This gets referenced later as he tries to apologize and question if the two are still friends.
- In the Name of the Moon: In case you couldn't tell from the Video Example at the bottom of this page, Jessie and James roll out a new variant of their motto in this episode.
- The Minion Master: The Team Rocket vending machine allows Jessie and James to call upon all sorts of Pokémon Giovanni had hand-picked for them, which they can use to do battle with by reading the notes from inside the Poké Balls that state whatever moves the Pokémon know.
- Naïve Newcomer: Goh is quite shocked to know that Team Rocket is actually real and seeing Meowth talking.
- Never Heard That One Before: When Goh first hears Meowth speak English, he flips out. Meowth's reaction is a flippant "get it outta your system", indicating that this is not the first time he's heard this.
- Not So Above It All: Goh initially is annoyed when Ash and Pikachu sunbathe with the Ivysaur. Eventually, he gives in and joins them.
