Pokemon Company
Airdate: February 6, 2003
Summary: The crew is on their way to Rustboro when they see some Stantler and a Zigzagoon, Beautifly and Aipom.. The world of Pokemon is amazing. Max geeks out about being able to see wild Pokemon, Ash reminisces about battling. Meanwhile, a gang of Mightyena show up and surround our crew. Forretress, Pikachu, and Torchic attack the dogs but a Poochyena is the one that finishes them off. The Pokemon are actually in a Pokemon Preserve, our crew learns that from Katrina the Park Ranger. Team Rocket shows up and sees that this is a Pokemon Preserve. Katrina takes care of all sorts of Pokemon, Brock is in love but Poochyena hits Brock back to his senses. Katrina mentions that Poochyena hasn’t battled much and so it didn’t evolve as fast as their three Mightyena friends. May wonders what Torchic will look like when it evolves, she likes the look of Combusken. Ash and Brock mention how fun evolution, or even lack thereof can be for a trainer. Brock goes to the whiteboard to explain this to May and Max. Max is determined to see Poochyena evolve, he helps train Poochyena vs. Torchic and not just use Tackle but also Bite attack, but it doesn’t go well. Torchic uses Ember to burn Max and Poochyena, they lose the battle. Max still wants Poochyena to evolve, he runs into the forest as May calls him a weird kid. Katrina finds part of a trap which indicates poachers are around. Max is coaching Poochyena while Team Rocket schemes to… help him? Team Rocket dresses as scientists with top secret evolution research that can evolve a Pokemon in five seconds. Meowth does a dog and pony show to trick Max into putting Poochyena into the evolution machine. Team Rocket escapes with a bunch of caught Pokemon, but Max gives Poochyena confidence to use Bite once and for all, while Taillow and Pikachu send Team Rocket flying. Poochyena evolves into Mightyena, Katrina says it evolved for Max. They witness evolution for the first time, now off to Rustboro!
Best Trainer/Pokémon: Poochyena, very much like Pikachu, I like the spunk it shows.
Worst Trainer/Pokémon: Max, his earnestness is annoying in this particular episode.
One thing I learned: You can’t fake the process or manifest something that isn’t supposed to happen.
Who is that Pokémon?: Hitmontop, I love the Hitmontop in Pokemon Coliseum, my favorite Tyrogue evolution by far.
Best Quote: “Hey no biting, ow!” – Brock, his love and creepiness always gets in the way of his manners. He got what he deserved on this one.
Best Scene: Max hugging Mightyena at the end, very sweet and a good payoff for how stubborn Max was with Poochyena.
