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| Season | Pokémon: Advanced Battle (Season 8) · The Ever Grande Conference arc (AG124–AG131) |
| Episode | Season 8, episode 36 · English episode 401 · Japanese episode 405 · Bulbapedia code AG129 |
| English title | A Judgment Brawl |
| Japanese title | そして…負けられない戦いは続く！！ Soshite… Makerarenai Tatakai wa Tsuzuku!! — “And… Continue the Battle That Cannot Be Lost!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 19 May 2005 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 18 March 2006 · Kids’ WB |
| Screenplay | Shōji Yonemura |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Pokémon Symphonic Medley – Pokémon Symphonic Orchestra · GLORY DAY ~Kagayaku Sono Hi~ (That Shining Day) – GARDEN |
| English opening | Unbeatable – David Rolfe |
| Pokémon Trainer’s Choice | Which is not a Ground type? (Groudon / Nosepass / Phanpy) → Nosepass |
| Previous episode | Shocks and Bonds (AG128) |
| Next episode | Choose It or Lose It! (AG130) |
Plot episodeAsh beats KatieAsh vs Morrison
A Judgment Brawl is the 36th episode of Pokémon: Advanced Battle, the eighth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 401st episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 405, Bulbapedia code AG129). It first aired in Japan on 19 May 2005 and in the United States on 18 March 2006. It falls within the season’s The Ever Grande Conference stretch (EP124–EP131).
Synopsis
The field switches to water for the second half of Ash’s Full Battle with Katie, who still has four Pokémon to Ash’s three. Corphish’s Crabhammer and Golduck’s Fury Swipes cancel out, and Golduck’s Confusion suspends Corphish in mid-leap and flings it onto a platform before it tumbles, dazed, into the pool. Corphish recovers to land a surprise Crabhammer, clamps onto Golduck’s hands when it attacks again, throws it aside and finishes it with a Bubble Beam into the stadium wall. Ash recalls Corphish to rest and sends Swellow, which beats Venomoth with Aerial Ace and a Quick Attack into the water, then defeats Katie’s Scizor after a fast exchange of Quick Attacks and Double Team copies, ending with an Aerial Ace that sends Scizor crashing onto a platform.
Katie’s last Pokémon is Walrein. Swellow’s Quick Attack bounces off its bulk, Ice Beam freezes a wingtip, and when Swellow dives with Peck, Walrein submerges and knocks it out with Ice Beam from below. Corphish returns only to be crushed by Body Slam, leaving Grovyle as Ash’s last Pokémon. Walrein freezes part of the pool and keeps striking from underwater, so Ash has Grovyle slice the water with Leaf Blade to force it out, hits it into the wall with Quick Attack, and, when Walrein copies Quick Attack with Mimic, ducks beneath it and finishes it with Leaf Blade. Ash wins, Katie congratulates him warmly, and Morrison and Tyson also reach the round of sixteen, while Team Rocket keep working at the stadium for the promise of a barbecue.
The next draw pairs Ash against Morrison. Morrison is shaken by the idea of battling the friend he has trained, eaten and slept alongside; he trains alone with Metang and avoids Ash, and Brock explains to the others how hard it is to face someone you care about in a match that only one of you can win. When the battle begins on an ice field the next day, Ash’s Corphish defeats Morrison’s Girafarig after its Light Screen fails to hold. Morrison then freezes completely, unable to bring himself to choose his next Pokémon, and the announcer warns that if he does not continue he will forfeit and Ash will win by default, leaving the stadium waiting in silence for his decision.
Major Events
- Ash beats Katie on the water field and reaches the round of sixteen
- Ash vs Morrison begins
Trivia
- The English title plays on a "judgment call".
- The screenplay is by Shōji Yonemura.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Hoenn storyline.
Part of our Pokémon: Advanced Battle guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.