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| Season | Pokémon the Series: XYZ (Season 19) · The Master Class arc (XY112–XY113) |
| Episode | Season 19, episode 20 · English episode 908 · Japanese episode 913 · Bulbapedia code XY113 |
| English title | Performing a Pathway to the Future! |
| Japanese title | エルVSセレナ！開け未来への扉！！ Eru Tai Serena! Hirake Mirai e no Tobira!! — “Elle VS Serena! Open the Door to the Future!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 24 March 2016 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 2 July 2016 · Cartoon Network |
| Screenplay | Akemi Omode |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | XY&Z – Satoshi (Rica Matsumoto) · Doridori, Serena Ver. (DreamDream) – Serena (Mayuki Makiguchi) |
| English opening | Stand Tall – Ben Dixon and The Sad Truth |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Aromatisse (US) |
| Previous episode | Master Class Is in Session! (XY112) |
| Next episode | A Keeper for Keeps? (XY114) |
Plot episodeMaster Class finalAria keeps her title
Performing a Pathway to the Future! is the 20th episode of Pokémon the Series: XYZ, the nineteenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 908th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 913, Bulbapedia code XY113). It first aired in Japan on 24 March 2016 and in the United States on 2 July 2016. It falls within the season’s The Master Class stretch (EP112–EP113).
Flanders aired it a week before the US premiere.
Synopsis
Serena wins the Master Class semifinal despite spraining her wrist, but Aria defeats her in the final to remain Kalos Queen, and Palermo offers to take Serena on as her student. Jessilee opens the semifinal with Gourgeist and Meowth, riding giant Seed Bomb roots into a fireworks display, and Shauna follows as Ivysaur’s Vine Whip whirls Flabébé’s Fairy Wind into a tornado and Moonblast and Solar Beam burst into sparkles. Serena performs with Sylveon and Pancham: Swift, Stone Edge pillars and a Fairy Wind tornado lift her into the air, but she hurts her hand on landing and nearly falls before Sylveon’s feelers catch her. Palermo and Aria notice, but the crowd cheers, and the vote, which includes viewers at home, sends Serena to the final. Grace stands and proudly tells everyone that Serena is her daughter, and Shauna tearfully asks Serena to do her best for all the Performers.
Backstage, Serena reveals a sprained wrist, and Palermo urges her to withdraw, but Serena refuses to give up her dream. Palermo bandages it, recalling a similar injury from her days tutoring Aria, and says it will hold for one performance. In the final, Serena uses all three of her Pokémon: Braixen’s Flamethrower meets Pancham’s Dark Pulse and Sylveon’s Swift, Braixen passes Serena her branch to complete a ring of fire, and a combination of Dark Pulse, Swift and Flamethrower blooms into a giant flower of sparkles. Aria answers with Delphox, Aromatisse and a newly revealed Vivillon, leaping between Reflect platforms until Vivillon lifts her and Delphox’s Fire Blast bursts above the stage. Aria keeps her title. She tells Serena that performing with her was fun and asks to share a stage again.
As a doctor treats her wrist, Serena realises what Palermo said she lacked: Aria gives strength to others, while Serena has mostly received support from her friends and Pokémon, and she wants to become Queen so she can give something back. Palermo says Serena is now ready to grow and offers to teach her everything about performing, telling her to think it over. The rivals say goodbye outside the castle, Jessie thanks her teammates, and Grace tells Serena that she did her best before heading home to Vaniville Town. That night Ash tells Serena that after a loss he always plans his next challenge, because he would rather try and fail than do nothing. The next day Serena thanks Palermo but says she wants to keep travelling with her friends for now. Palermo gives her a business card and tells her to call when she is ready, and the group leaves for Snowbelle City.
Major Events
- Master Class final. Serena beats Shauna and Jessilee but sprains her wrist, and Aria beats her in the final to remain Kalos Queen
- Palermo offers to teach Serena, who postpones her answer
- Japanese ending DreamDream (Serena Ver.)
- The last episode at 7 p.m. in Japan
- The last appearances of Monsieur Pierre, Aria, Miette and Nini
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Akemi Omode.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kalos storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- Bonnie’s prayer asking God to let Serena win becomes a simple wish for her to win
- Japanese ending DreamDream (Serena Ver.), sung by Mayuki Makiguchi; DreamDream is also an insert, replaced by an instrumental in the dub
- An instrumental Team Rocket’s Team Song in Jessie’s routine
Part of our Pokémon the Series: XYZ guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.