Tag Team Battle Inspiration! – Pokémon Season 18 Episode 42


Season	Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest (Season 18) · Anistar City & Olympia’s prophecy arc (XY090–XY093)
Episode	Season 18, episode 42 · English episode 885 · Japanese episode 890 · Bulbapedia code XY090
English title	Tag Team Battle Inspiration!
Japanese title	タッグバトルは友情バトル！イーブイ初参戦！！ Taggu Batoru wa Yūjō Batoru! Ībui Hatsu Sansen!! — “A Tag Battle is a Friendship Battle! Eievui’s First Time in a Fight!!”
First aired (Japan)	1 October 2015 · TV Tokyo
First aired (US)	28 November 2015 · Cartoon Network
Screenplay	Akemi Omode
Opening / ending (Japan)	Getta Banban (Mad-Paced Getter) – Tomohisa Sako · Gaogao Ōrusutā (Roaring All-Stars) – Little Glee Monster
English opening	Be a Hero – Ben Dixon and The Sad Truth
Who’s That Pokémon?	Ivysaur (US)
Previous episode	Lights! Camera! Pika! (XY078)
Next episode	A Performance Pop Quiz! (XY091)

Plot episodeShauna and Tierno returnEevee’s first battle

Tag Team Battle Inspiration! is the 42nd episode of Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest, the eighteenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 885th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 890, Bulbapedia code XY090). It first aired in Japan on 1 October 2015 and in the United States on 28 November 2015. It falls within the season’s Anistar City & Olympia’s prophecy stretch (EP90–EP93).

Teletoon had shown it in Canada on 21 November 2015; TV guides and the Pokémon website listed it as “Tag Team Inspiration!”.

Synopsis

In Anistar City the group reunites with Shauna and Tierno, and a Tag Battle meant to build up Eevee’s confidence ends with Eevee’s dancing inspiring a new routine for Serena’s next Showcase. At the Anistar Pokémon Center, Serena rehearses with Braixen and Pancham while Ash, Clemont, Bonnie, Pikachu, Bunnelby and the newly caught Eevee watch. Everyone praises the routine, but Serena insists she needs more practice, asks Eevee to study it and thanks Bunnelby for looking after the shy newcomer. Chespin suddenly bounds over and chases the frightened Eevee away. Tierno then arrives with a Blastoise, evolved from his Wartortle, and Shauna with an Ivysaur, evolved from Bulbasaur; Shauna is entering the Anistar Showcase too. Serena calms Eevee and introduces it to Shauna, who talks about the many performance possibilities its future evolutions could offer.

Over a meal Tierno, who says Trevor stopped to photograph a new Pokémon, admits that he has already challenged the Anistar Gym and lost, and Shauna warns that a big Showcase crowd might leave Eevee too nervous to perform. Bunnelby stays close to Eevee and gives it a Poké Puff, but when Chespin nervously offers one of its own, Eevee refuses. To help Eevee settle in, Ash’s and Clemont’s Pokémon line up to meet it, and it connects with Dedenne, Frogadier and Pikachu until Chespin startles it again. Later Eevee shows Serena that it wants to perform with her but lacks confidence. When Aria appears on television, Serena remembers the Kalos Queen’s advice and challenges Ash and Tierno to a Tag Battle alongside Shauna to build up Eevee’s courage.

Pikachu and Blastoise face Ivysaur and Eevee. Electro Ball and Energy Ball cancel each other out, and Eevee quickly blocks Blastoise’s Rapid Spin with Protect. When Eevee trips and cannot dodge a Thunderbolt, Ivysaur shields it, and with Serena, Bonnie and the watching Pokémon cheering, Eevee regains its composure. As Tierno and Blastoise start their rhythmic dance, Eevee dodges Blastoise’s Water Gun, begins dancing itself and confuses its opponent, then lands Swift. Serena stops the battle there: Eevee’s movements have given her an idea for a new performance, and she wants to start training at once. Shauna leaves to rehearse too, while Ash and Tierno carry on with a one-on-one battle. Serena asks Eevee to teach her, Braixen and Pancham its dance. The next morning everyone runs late so that Serena and Shauna can register before the Showcase closes.

Major Events

Anistar City. Shauna and Tierno return with Ivysaur and Blastoise, and Tierno has already lost at the Anistar Gym
A Tag Battle meant to build Eevee’s confidence is called off when its dancing inspires Serena’s new routine