Ash and Goh return to the Kalos region, this time to reunite with an old friend. Ash has his upcoming World Coronation Match against Drasna, the Dragon-type specialist of the Kalos Elite Four, and his old traveling companion Clemont has offered to help Ash prepare. But as the two old friends reunite, something unusual starts to happen with Sirfetch'd, and it seems that Dracovish has taken an interest as well! With a little science, Ash and Clemont work to get to the bottom of this mystery, and help the noble bird tap into this power.
The Tropes Are Now, Thanks to Science!
- The Bus Came Back: Clemont, Bonnie, and Clembot, along with the former two's Pokémon, mark their first appearance since the end of the XY era, and are updated to match the show's current art style.
- Call-Back:
- While Goh initially struggles to catch a Froakie, Bonnie shows up and tells him that the Pokémon uses Frubbles as part of its defenses—and seeing as she used to help take care of Ash's Greninja back when it was a Froakie, it makes sense that she knows how the frog works.
- When Ash sees that Goh caught a Froakie, he gets very excited at seeing a Pokémon he once used to own. It also doubles as Foreshadowing for when he decides to seek out his Greninja.
- When Pikachu and Dedenne reunite, they nuzzle their cheeks together like they used to in moments of affection.
- Bonnie immediately takes a shine to Dracovish, which makes sense since once also got cuddly with another fossil Pokemon named Tyrantrum.
- As per the old Running Gag from the XY days, Clemont busts out his Character Catchphrases "The future is now, thanks to science!" and "I thought we would encounter a situation just like this one" when he breaks out his equipment to analyze Sirfetch'd, complete with the usual tap of his glasses. And, like usual, it explodes and leaves everyone with frizzy hair, only this time it's due to a power overload from Sirfetch'd using Meteor Assault.
- Like usual, Bonnie cringes at Clemont's invention's names.
- Curbstomp Battle: When reintroduced to Clemont, his Luxray one-shots a challenger's Lickilicky.
- Curb Stomp Cushion: Clemont's Luxray and Diggersby hit Sirfetch'd with Wild Charge and Dig but are swiftly taken down by Sirfetch'd's Meteor Assault and Dracovish's Dragon Rush respectively.
- Cuddle Bug: Ash's Dragonite immediately glomps Clemont upon emerging from its Pokéball, and Bonnie later does the same to Dracovish when she sees it for the first time.
- Easily Impressed: Clemont is quite awed at seeing Ash's collection of new Pokémon, including his Sirfetch'd and Dracovish, despite his sister having Zygarde in her bag when they were traveling together.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Sirfetch'd is mildly annoyed when Dracovish randomly starts biting its leek during training, but when it figures out that the dragon is merely trying to help it, and it later defends the wounded duck from Diggersby, the two emerge as true friends.
- Funny Background Event: While everyone is trying to figure out how to help Sirfetch'd tap into its power, Ash and Clemont decide to have a double battle. When he calls for Diggersby, it's busy sparring with Lucario.
- Out of Focus: Out of all of Clemont's Pokemon, Chespin gets little focus in favor of Luxray and Diggersby.
- The Power of Friendship: When Sirfetch'd is wounded from using Meteor Assault on Luxray, Dracovish gets so enraged at seeing its teammate hurt that it learns Dragon Rush to stop Diggersby from delivering a finishing blow.
- Serkis Folk: An In-Universe example. Clemont has Sirfetch'd hooked up to a motion capture device so he can track its power levels while it learns Meteor Assault.
- Took a Level in Badass:
- Clemont's Bunnelby has evolved into a Diggersby. Averted in all it does is land a Dig on Sirfetch'd before Dracovish flattens it.
- Ash's Sirfetch'd learns Meteor Assault, an extremely powerful move that can one-shot opponents at the expense of hurting itself, which only its species can learn.
- Ash's Dracovish learns Dragon Rush.
- Ugly Cute: An In-Universe case. Bonnie certainly seems to think that Dracovish qualifies.
- The Worf Effect: Clemont's Luxray and Diggersby are both one-shotted by Sirfetch'd's Meteor Assault and Dracovish's Dragon Rush respectively.
- Vocal Evolution: Mike Liscio's performance as Clemont sounds a bit rougher compared to his last appearance on XY, as does Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld as Bonnie, no doubt as the result of both characters having been absent for over six years.
