Japanese Title: A Close Call with Practically Pikachu!
Original Airdate: December 4, 2020
US Airdate: March 5, 2021
Having won a free trip to Unova in the previous episode's eating contest, Ash and Goh head there on a food tour. However, Team Rocket plans to steal Pikachu again, this time using a robot replica to swap it with Ash unaware.
- All for Nothing: After all the trouble they went through, Lucario and Cinderace are shocked to realize the real Pikachu was never stolen. This also applies to Team Rocket, who fell victim to their own crafty plan.
- Balloon Belly: At the end of the episode Ash has gained an enormous belly that's so big, Pikachu was actually hidden behind it. Somehow, Goh remains thin as usual.
- Big Eater: Ash and Goh apparently spend the whole episode doing nothing but eat desserts, as shown by the epic Balloon Belly Ash is boasting by the end.
- Capture and Replicate: In an attempt to capture Pikachu without notice, Team Rocket attempt to substitute him with a Practically Pikachu. Unfortunately, it backfires when they end up mixing up the real Pikachu and the robot. It also doesn't help that the robot says Hikachu instead of Pikachu.
- Chained Heat: Lucario and Cinderace end up glued together by Team Rocket.
- Conflict Ball: Lucario and Cinderace, previously shown to be Bash Brothers, spend the episode getting on each other's nerves.
- Fastball Special: Cinderace takes advantage of the Chained Heat situation by winding Lucario up and throwing it at Team Rocket, giving Lucario extra momentum for an attack.
- Forgot About His Powers: Lucario, a Pokémon whose species is characterized by its Aura Vision, can't tell that the Pikachu it's trying to rescue is a fake.
- Funny Background Event: While Ash and Goh are enjoying their prize desserts, you can see Lucario and Cinderace with Team Rocket in tow flying all over the place in the background.
- Mistaken for an Imposter: Due to coughing after eating a Popsicle stick, Pikachu ends up saying "Hikachu", making Team Rocket think he's Practically Pikachu, resulting in them grabbing their double by mistake.
- Negated Moment of Awesome: In one of his rare moments of competency, Wobbuffet successfully steals Pikachu back while Team Rocket was fighting Lucario and Cinderace. Unfortunately, Team Rocket then discovers that they were fighting over Practically Pikachu the whole time.
- Real Men Hate Sugar: Lucario detests sweets, and it doesn't help that Cinderace tries to smush one near his face.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Throh and Sawk disappear after being sent blasting off alongside Team Rocket.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: Lucario and Cinderace have this reaction when they arrive back to Ash and Goh, and realize the real Pikachu was with them the whole time, meaning everything they went through was All for Nothing. They collapse to their knees in shock over this.
