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| Season | Pokémon the Series: XYZ (Season 19) · Alain & the capture of Z2 arc (XY106–XY111) |
| Episode | Season 19, episode 14 · English episode 902 · Japanese episode 907 · Bulbapedia code XY107 |
| English title | An Explosive Operation! |
| Japanese title | 爆裂グランドフォース！ジガルデ捕獲作戦！！ Bakuretsu Gurando Fōsu! Jigarude Hokaku Sakusen!! — “The Explosive Ground Force! The Zygarde Capture Operation!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 11 February 2016 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 21 May 2016 · Cartoon Network |
| Screenplay | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | XY&Z – Satoshi (Rica Matsumoto) · Roketto-dan Danka (Team Rocket’s Team Song) – Team Rocket (Megumi Hayashibara, Shin-ichiro Miki, Inuko Inuyama and Yūji Ueda) |
| English opening | Stand Tall – Ben Dixon and The Sad Truth |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Persian (US) |
| Previous episode | A Meeting of Two Journeys! (XY106) |
| Next episode | A Watershed Moment! (XY108) |
Plot episodeTeam Flare capture Z2Giovanni’s orders
An Explosive Operation! is the 14th episode of Pokémon the Series: XYZ, the nineteenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 902nd episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 907, Bulbapedia code XY107). It first aired in Japan on 11 February 2016 and in the United States on 21 May 2016. It falls within the season’s Alain & the capture of Z2 stretch (EP106–EP111).
France aired it on 10 May 2016, eleven days before the US premiere.
Synopsis
Giovanni orders Team Rocket to capture Zygarde before Team Flare can, and the trio clash with Team Flare over Z2, only for Alain to help Mable and Aliana capture it. While the group rests by a river, Bonnie sings Squishy a song she has made up on the spot. Hidden nearby, Team Rocket report to headquarters: Giovanni confirms that rumours of Team Flare are true and orders them to stay in Kalos, learn its plans and capture the shape-shifting creature first. Squishy hears Z2’s cries telepathically as Mable and Aliana’s team hunt it down. Mable’s beam strips away Z2’s camouflage, and though it transforms into its 10% Forme, drives the Grunts back with Extreme Speed and Dragon Pulse and flattens them with Land’s Wrath, it collapses back into its Core form. Xerosic urges his team to catch it while the beam’s effect lasts.
Team Rocket find the collapsed Z2 first, mistake it for Squishy until James notices the different markings, and are frozen by Weavile’s Ice Beam. After reciting their motto, they block Mable’s beam, smoke out the scene with Gourgeist’s Seed Bomb and escape with Z2. Exhausted by the run, they remember that Squishy loves sunbathing and place Z2 in a sunny spot, where it glows back to health. Team Flare catch up, wreck their communicator and blow them away with Icy Wind, and James loses his grip on Z2. Gourgeist and Inkay fight on but fall to Ice Beam and Cross Poison. Cornered, Z2 gathers Cells and transforms into its towering 50% Forme, and its roar reaches Squishy far away. Its Dragon Pulse blows both teams away, and Aliana and Mable vow that this will not end like Terminus Cave.
As Z2 readies another Dragon Pulse, Alain arrives, stops it with Charizard’s Flamethrower and Mega Evolves his partner. Mega Charizard X blocks Extreme Speed but is overpowered by Land’s Wrath, and Alain realises this will not be easy; Team Flare’s lasers at full power then wear Z2 down until it reverts to its Core. Team Rocket leap in claiming Z2 as theirs, but Druddigon and Weavile blast them away and Mable captures it, to the delight of Xerosic and Lysandre. Alain explains to the suspicious Admins that he answers only to Lysandre, who ordered him to help. Dangling from a tree branch, Team Rocket report to Giovanni that the creature can transform into something stronger, and he tells them to keep at it before the branch gives way. Far away, Squishy tries in vain to reach Z2 and grows worried, and Bonnie promises to stay with it.
Major Events
- Team Flare capture Z2. Giovanni orders Team Rocket to capture Zygarde
- Z2 takes its 50% Forme
- Team Flare capture it with Alain’s help
- Japanese ending Team Rocket’s Team Song
- The first Japanese title card read by no main character (Alain)
- Matori’s first speaking role in XY
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kalos storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- The Japanese title card is read by Alain, the first time no main character reads it; the dub substitutes an Ash card
- Japanese ending Team Rocket’s Team Song, also an insert
- Bonnie sings Puni-chan’s Song to Squishy
Part of our Pokémon the Series: XYZ guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.