The Rivalry Revival – Pokémon Season 2, Episode 36

Plot episodeGary beats AshSeason finale

The Rivalry Revival is the 36th episode of Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, the second season of the Pokémon anime, and the 116th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 118, Bulbapedia code EP116). It first aired in Japan on 7 October 1999 and in the United States on 14 October 2000. It falls within the season’s Pallet Town, Gary & the road to Johto stretch (EP115–EP116).

Synopsis · Major Events · Trivia · Dub Changes · All episodes

Synopsis

After Gary Oak turned up to rescue Ash & friends as well as Prof. Oak from Team Rocket in the previous episode Ash challenged him to a battle. Gary suggests a 1 on 1 battle to the finish and Ash chooses Pikachu, Gary responds by sending out an Eevee which Brock believes looks particularly well raised.

Ash sends Pikachu who opens with a quick attack, Eevee counters with a reflect attack and it quickly becomes apparent that Gary’s Eevee is at a really high level. Pikachu goes after Eevee with thunder but before it can fire it Eevee brings him down with a skull bash attack, Pikachu is unable to battle and Gary wins the match. Gary says he still has a lot of work ahead of him, and tells Ash he did a great job before waving goodbye to the group and leaving.

Ash is lying looking at the clouds contemplating why he lost to Gary when Misty tells Ash that Gary has embarked on a new journey; to the Johto region to compete in the Johto League. Meanwhile Professor Oak is in the lab along with Brock and Tracey are trying to solve the mystery of the GS ball. Oak tells Ash that Gary is hoping to gain lots of experience and become an even stronger trainer, Ash realises he has to do the same thing and decides he too should travel to the Johto region and challenge its gym’s and league. Professor Oak, unable to solve the mysteries of the GS ball tasks Ash with taking it to Kurt in Azalea town, a Pokéball expert. Oak advises they should head straight west to New Bark town which is where all trainers have to register to take part in the Johto League. Brock announces that he is rejoining the group and will be accompanying them on their journey as he once did.

Ash heads home to find his mom packing his bags, as Oak has already called and told her about Ash’s new journey, she sends Brock to the market to get some groceries for a big feast shes going to prepare to celebrate Ash and friends’ new journey.

Team Rocket are staggering along a path in the forest when they approach a sign saying Pallet Town 1 Mile. They spot Gary heading up the road and decide that because he ruined their previous plan to steal Pokémon from Professor Oak’s lab they’re going to get him, they begin reciting their motto on a stage but Gary blatantly ignores them and walks past, making them feel worthless and dejected.

Back at Ash’s house Delia has served a big feast for Ash & friends plus Professor Oak, but apparently it was actually Brock who cooked the meal. Professor Oak hands Ash a brand new Pokédex, it’s a new model with an upgraded database and better information recording. Tracey then drops the bombshell that he can’t wait to see all the information on the new Pokémon they catch when it gets transmitted to the lab, revealing that he will be staying behind to work as Professor Oak’s assistant.

The group are in progress celebrating all of their respective new beginnings when a familiar looking pair of reporters burst in and begin reporting, and eating all the food. They then use a device with an electric-proof grabber disguised as a camera to grab Pikachu, revealing what everyone expected; it’s Team Rocket! As they try to make their get away Delia’s Mr. Mime uses its lightscreens to block their path several times (I think he was actually just protecting the garden from being trampled) but they still manage to get away, Ash and co catch up to them, and just as Ash is about to send out a Pokémon, Scyther darts past and frees Pikachu. Tracey then sends Marill whose watergun sends Team Rocket blasting off.

Later that night Ash lies awake thinking about the journey ahead and tells Pikachu he thinks they can win that league. The next morning Ash and friends bid farewell to Oak, Tracey and Delia, but not before receiving some last bits of important advice from Ash’s mom and Oak. And so the original trio; Ash, Misty and Brock are leaving Pallet Town once more en-route to the Johto region.

Major Events

• Gary’s Eevee beats Pikachu in the first Ash vs Gary battle
• Johto first named
• Oak sends Ash to Kurt with the GS Ball and a new Pokédex
• Gary leaves for Johto
• Tracey stays as Oak’s assistant
• Brock rejoins the group
• Last Pikachu’s Jukebox
• End of Generation I in the anime

Trivia

• The English title plays on Ash and Gary’s rivalry revived (Pokémon.com: "A Rivalry Revival").
• The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Orange Islands storyline.
• The Who’s That Pokémon? segment features Eevee in Japan, where it almost always matched the episode, but Dewgong in the US, where 4Kids picked the Pokémon at random.

Changes in the English Dub

• A 2 s recap shot of Ash running removed and the opening walk slowed to compensate
• Trainer Tips sign scribbles replaced and the text on Ash’s Pokémon Bestiary erased
• Tracey asks to become Oak’s assistant (in Japanese Oak asks him)
• Cut becomes “Slash”
• Last episode with Pikachu’s Jukebox (2.B.A. Master)

Part of our Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.