Japanese Title: Yuzu Gym! Type Battle 3 VS 3!!
Original Airdate: July 1st, 1999
US Airdate: September 9th, 2000
The one where... Misty crushes on another Gym Leader.
After Misty dives into a whirlpool to rescue a girl, she learns that the girl's brother, Rudy, has a giant crush on her. Things get more complicated when it turns out he's also the Gym Leader Ash must challenge next!
Tropes
- Ash Face: Misty gets a flamethrower to the face from Charizard after Ash ducks out of the way for once.
- Beat Them at Their Own Game: The theme of this Gym Battle: the challenger and the Gym Leader must use the same type of Pokémon against each other.
- Damsel in Distress: Rudy's kid sister Mahri and her Seel are caught in a whirlpool
- Early-Bird Cameo: Tracey shows Professor Oak a sketch of an Elekid he saw. It only shows the electrical prongs on top of the head, so it doesn't fully spoil it for the viewers, however.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Rudy gives up on Misty, believing her to be in love with Ash.
- Oblivious to Love: Rudy believes Ash is this, but will one day realize how lucky he is.
- Out of Order: This aired after Pokémon Food Fight in the US, so Ash was shown with his Spike Shell Badge before he won it in this episode.
- Rescue Romance: Indirectly, as Rudy falls for Misty after she saves his little sister.
- Rule of Three: "TEAM ROCKET'S (X)ING OFF AGAIN!"
- Ship Tease: For Ash/Misty.
- Sneeze of Doom: Meowth sneezes when the group's submarine is balanced on top of a rock spire, knocking Team Rocket down and into another whirlpool.
