Pokemon Company
Airdate: December 26, 2002
Summary: Our crew is on their way to Rustboro City, when May notices a trap sticking out of a tree. They head to the Pokemon Center, and May has her first epiphany that all the Nurse Joy are different, and related. Brock has a heart attack with both Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny in the Pokemon Center. Officer Jenny says that a poacher named Rico has been operating in the forest. Team Rocket walks around the forest and finds a cage full of Ekans, who say they were captured by a poacher. Meowth tries to get them out but is stunned. Team Rocket wants to steal the Ekans, but Arbok comes out of its ball to appeal to Jessie to free the Ekans. Arbok uses an Acid attack, but it doesn’t work as Rico and his Fearow charge in and ask what Team Rocket thinks they are doing. Rico pulls up with a whole cage of Koffing, says he will take their Arbok and Weezing because he gets a bonus for evolved Pokemon. Fearow uses Agility while Arbok and Weezing use Smokescreen and Sludge.. Fearow’s Fury Attack and Drill Peck are about to work but Arbok’s Wrap stops it. Rico calls out Pupitar to use Sandstorm and blast Team Rocket away. Team Rocket lands and gets chased by some Beedrill, as they run into a Cacnea who uses Pin Missile to scatter the bees. Arbok hears the poacher, while James thanks Cacnea with some chips. Team Rocket goes to the poacher, as Cacnea follows. Ash sends out Taillow to look for the poacher, reporting back to the crew. Arbok comes out of the ground, Weezing uses a Smokescreen, the poached Pokemon are happy to see them. Meowth picks the lock even though he is being electrified, comparing it to a low voltage Pikachu hit. Fearow is pushed into the cage, and Meowth frees the Koffing and Ekans before pissing off Rico. Rico uses Pupitar in anger, it evolves into a Tyranitar… classic poacher Pokemon. Tyranitar uses a big Hyper Beam that sinks a hole into the ground. Jessie and James both agree to let Weezing and Arbok live in the forest to protect the Ekans and Koffing… what a selfless action! Jessie, James, Meowth all put their bodies on the line so Arbok and Weezing can escape with their new wards. Team Rocket lay on the ground, hurt by the poacher, who is later caught by Ash and the crew with some help from Pikachu and Growlithe. They run into Cacnea, who joins James on their journey, but not before they poke James during a hug!
Best Trainer/Pokémon: Arbok and Weezing, Goodbye sweet friends.. Almost 300 episodes of Poison-Type attacks and blasting off… to better days.
Worst Trainer/Pokémon: Rico, classic villain poacher who has zero redeeming qualities. At least he doesn’t try to rhyme.
One thing I learned: Team Rocket at their core are selfless.
Who is that Pokémon?: Larvitar, I like this Pokemon a lot. Pupitar is hit or miss, but Tyranitar is one of my favorites, albeit a later love for him than some others I liked more in my youth.
Best Quote: “It’s completely obvious, I can tell the difference, your bangs are a millimeter longer” – Brock, this is not just a skill, but an art!
Best Scene: Arbok and Weezing refusing to leave while Team Rocket is getting pounded by Tyranitar. What a heartbreaker.
