The sun sets on another day as Ash and our heroes arrive in town. But there's trouble afoot, as something is stealing heart-shaped objects from all the local houses. An investigation determines it's Banette, but why is it going to all this trouble? The answer seems more simple than they think, as Ash, Misty, and Brock try to get to the bottom of this.
This episode contains the following tropes:
- A Day in the Limelight: Gengar takes the spotlight due to Banette being a fellow Ghost type and also having been abandoned by its trainer, though Banette's abandoning was by accident.
- The Bus Came Back: Ash brings both Gengar and Dragonite back onto his team after winning the World Coronation Series with them.
- Call-Back:
- Misty's hair clip looks a lot like the one she was given in "Pokémon Fashion Flash".
- Gengar, having been abandoned itself, can sympathize with Banette's troubles.
- Misty and Croagunk use their respective gags to stop Brock from flirting with every girl he sees, this time thrice, like they did three episodes prior.
- "Eureka!" Moment: As the group is walking under the Pokémon Center, Brock realizes the missing piece of the puzzle is inside, and realizes the person they're looking for is Nurse Joy.
- Failed a Spot Check: In the flashback during the move, the Pangoro helping move the items fails to make sure the doll on the desk is still there when it loads it up into the truck, having been rushed to keep from missing the truck leaving.
- Foreshadowing: Every shot of the worn picture has a little girl with pink hair, but her eyes are always blurred out. Now which prominent character in the franchise has always been shown with pink hair?
- Gave Up Too Soon: Narrowly averted. Unable to find its owner, Banette decides to board a train and search for her elsewhere. Unfortunately, just afterwards, Ash and the other discover that the girl was Nurse Joy. Gengar and Ash have to chase after the train and bring Banette back before it got too far.
- Growling Gut: Everyone except Croagunk has this when they're trying to investigate the Banette's thefts and get hungry.
- Love Makes You Stupid: Brock just can't keep his pants to himself, as he tries flirting with Officer Jenny, then Nurse Joy, then ogles a pair of passing women, with his Croagunk literally right next to him, and Misty just as equally ready to pounce.
- Mistaken for Flirting: Upon realizing the little girl in the photo is Nurse Joy, Brock rushes in to find her. Misty thinks he's trying to pine over her again until Brock explains himself.
- Mythology Gag:
- This is the first time in the anime that the Pokédex entry for Banette being a Living Toy brought to life is acknowledged.
- Bay-Bay looks a lot like the Substitute Doll.
- When Ash strikes a similar pose as the "Misty's Favor" card when asking her for her hairband.
- Racing the Train: Ash uses Dragonite to find the train Banette is on so he can tell it he found their owner.
- Running Gag: Misty and Croagunk both have to control Brock's flirtations thrice in this episode.
- Tears of Joy: Nurse Joy and everyone else has these when she's reunited with her beloved Bay-Bay.
- Train-Station Goodbye: Banette bids farewell to Gengar as it boards a freight train to go track down its owner. Ash has to catch up to it to keep it from getting too far.
- Vengeful Abandoned Toy: The Banette in this episode used to be a doll named Bay-Bay, who was accidentally left behind in a move. Having been left behind for so long and losing its beloved accessory (a heart shaped headband), it's desperately trying to find a new one. With Ash's help, it finds a new accessory and its old owner, a grown-up Nurse Joy.
