 |
|
| Season | Pokémon the Series: XYZ (Season 19) · The Lumiose Conference arc (XY123–XY131) |
| Episode | Season 19, episode 34 · English episode 922 · Japanese episode 927 · Bulbapedia code XY127 |
| English title | Analysis Versus Passion! |
| Japanese title | 準決勝フルバトル！サトシ対ショータ！！ Junkesshō Furu Batoru! Satoshi Tai Shōta!! — “The Semifinal Full Battle! Satoshi VS Shōta!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 21 July 2016 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 8 October 2016 · Cartoon Network |
| Screenplay | Akemi Omode |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | XY&Z – Satoshi (Rica Matsumoto) · Puni-chan no Uta (Puni-chan’s Song) – Eureka (Mariya Ise) |
| English opening | Stand Tall – Ben Dixon and The Sad Truth |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Slaking (US) |
| Previous episode | Valuable Experience for All! (XY126) |
| Next episode | A Riveting Rivalry! (XY128) |
Plot episodeSemifinalsAsh vs Sawyer, part 1
Analysis Versus Passion! is the 34th episode of Pokémon the Series: XYZ, the nineteenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 922nd episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 927, Bulbapedia code XY127). It first aired in Japan on 21 July 2016 and in the United States on 8 October 2016. It falls within the season’s The Lumiose Conference stretch (EP123–EP131).
Synopsis
Alain defeats Remo to reach the final, and Ash begins his six-on-six semifinal Full Battle against Sawyer, who opens with a carefully planned strategy that takes out Hawlucha and Talonflame. The episode opens as Alain’s Charizard defeats Remo’s Rhyperior, leaving Alain with five wins and only one loss, his Metagross, which has evolved from Metang. Remo sends out his trump card, the Garchomp he calls Garchoo, and Mega Evolves it to rain down Draco Meteor, but Alain answers with Mega Charizard X, intercepts Dragon Rush with Dragon Claw, hurls its opponent away and follows with Flamethrower. A final double Dragon Claw knocks out Mega Garchomp, making Alain the first finalist, and Professor Sycamore watches his former assistant leave the arena with concern. Before his match, Ash gives his team a short speech, while Sawyer studies his notes and Clemont warns that Sawyer has already beaten Ash once.
The referee explains that each Trainer may change the battlefield once half of either side’s Pokémon have fallen. Ash’s Hawlucha, wearing a cape Serena designed for it, faces Sawyer’s Slaking, but Karate Chop, High Jump Kick and X-Scissor barely make it react, because Hawlucha normally builds momentum by absorbing hits. Slaking heals with Slack Off, then catches Hawlucha midair with Counter and knocks it out. Ash sends out Talonflame, confident that Hawlucha’s earlier blows have built up: when Slaking prepares Hammer Arm, the accumulated damage drops it to one knee, and Flame Charge and Brave Bird finish it off. Sawyer’s Clawitzer then chases Talonflame with an Aqua Jet tactic borrowed from Ash’s own playbook, freezes its wing with Ice Beam and knocks it out.
Ash sends Pikachu into the forest, where it leaps from tree to tree attacking with Thunderbolt and Quick Attack while Clawitzer dodges and answers with Ice Beam and Dragon Pulse. When Clawitzer loses sight of it, Pikachu strikes with Iron Tail, but Clawitzer clamps its tail in its pincer and prepares Water Pulse. Ash orders an Electro Ball straight into the pincer, freeing Pikachu, and a Thunderbolt knocks Clawitzer out. Sawyer then sends out Aegislash, which uses Sacred Sword to cut down tree after tree, destroying the forest Pikachu was using for cover. Everyone in the stadium watches warily, wondering what Sawyer’s new strategy might be, and the battle is left unresolved. In the stands, Jessie grumbles that Malva has assigned her to film Ash, while Professor Sycamore and Diantha look forward to the clash of two very different styles.
Major Events
- Semifinals, part 1. Alain beats Remo’s Mega Garchomp
- Ash’s Full Battle with Sawyer begins, Slaking beating Hawlucha and Pikachu beating Clawitzer
- The first broadcast replaced the Japanese opening with clips from the nineteenth movie
Captures and evolutions
Metang → Metagross#0376 · Alain · off screen, revealed in his semifinal against Remo
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Akemi Omode.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kalos storyline.
Part of our Pokémon the Series: XYZ guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.