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| Season | Pokémon the Series: XYZ (Season 19) · Farewells & the legend of X, Y and Z arc (XY137–XY140) |
| Episode | Season 19, episode 46 · English episode 934 · Japanese episode 939 · Bulbapedia code XY139 |
| English title | Facing the Needs of the Many! |
| Japanese title | さらばサトシゲッコウガ！クセロシキの逆襲！！ Saraba Satoshi-Gekkouga! Kuseroshiki no Gyakushū!! — “Farewell, Satoshi Gekkouga! Xerosic’s Counterattack!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 20 October 2016 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 14 January 2017 · Cartoon Network |
| Screenplay | Shōji Yonemura |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | XY&Z – Satoshi (Rica Matsumoto) · Nyāsu no Barādo (Meowth’s Ballad) – Nyarth (Inuko Inuyama) |
| English opening | Stand Tall – Ben Dixon and The Sad Truth |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Zygarde (Complete Forme) (US) |
| Previous episode | The First Day of the Rest of Your Life! (XY138) |
| Next episode | Till We Compete Again! (XY140) |
Plot episodeAsh releases GreninjaGoodra returns home
Facing the Needs of the Many! is the 46th episode of Pokémon the Series: XYZ, the nineteenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 934th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 939, Bulbapedia code XY139). It first aired in Japan on 20 October 2016 and in the United States on 14 January 2017. It falls within the season’s Farewells & the legend of X, Y and Z stretch (EP137–EP140).
Premiered on 14 January 2017; Australia had shown it on 1 January and Canada on 7 January. It went on sale on iTunes and Amazon Prime Video on 1 January, was pulled when the early releases were noticed on 11 January and returned on 15 January.
Synopsis
As the journey nears its end, Ash returns Goodra to the wetlands, the group thwarts Xerosic’s attempt to revive Team Flare, and Ash releases Greninja so it can help Squishy and Z2 destroy the roots still hidden beneath Kalos. Ash thanks Goodra for battling with him and promises they will meet again, and Clemont hugs it in tears. On the way back to Lumiose City, the friends learn that the airport has reopened, so Serena can leave for Hoenn and Ash for Kanto. Suddenly roots like those that overran Lumiose burst from the ground. Greninja transforms into Ash-Greninja, senses the energy inside them and destroys one with Water Shuriken, while a Zygarde Cell watches. A huge truck then roars up: Xerosic has escaped and formed “Team Neo Flare” to capture Zygarde’s Complete Forme and fulfil Lysandre’s dream. His Malamar blocks Water Shuriken, seizes Clemont and drives off with him, with Greninja in pursuit.
Inside the truck, Xerosic plans to turn Clemont into an “advanced human” with a mind-control beam and fires it after letting him clean his glasses, and Clemont screams. Elsewhere, Team Rocket, editing footage to make themselves look like heroes, film Squishy and Z2 destroying another root in their 10% Formes. When Xerosic stops to collect a second Cell, Greninja sneaks aboard and battles Malamar and Crobat, but the truck takes off and turns invisible. Ash can still sense where Greninja is, and he, Serena and Bonnie leap from a tall rock towards the flying machine; they miss, but Greninja catches them with its tongue. Inside they find Clemont, who claims to feel great and calls Xerosic the leader of Team Neo Flare; Xerosic gloats that his new “advanced human” is under his control and orders Clemont to capture his friends.
Clemont reveals that he slipped a jamming device into his glasses and was never controlled. Chespin and Greninja team up to defeat Crobat with Pin Missile, Tackle and Water Shuriken, and when Xerosic tries to flee, Clemont catches him with his Aipom Arm. Officer Jenny arrests Xerosic, and Clemont says his strength comes from travelling with Ash, Bonnie and Serena. Another root appears, and Squishy arrives to destroy it, to Bonnie’s joy. With Z2, Squishy explains telepathically that Kalos still bears the scars of Team Flare’s attack in underground roots, which Greninja can sense. Recalling Professor Sycamore’s words that their meeting was no coincidence, Ash releases Greninja to help them, and the two share a handshake and a hug with Pikachu. Squishy promises to look after Greninja, and Bonnie promises to journey with Squishy once she becomes a Trainer.
Major Events
- Ash releases Greninja. Ash returns Goodra to the wetlands
- Xerosic’s Team Neo Flare is foiled and he is arrested
- Ash releases Greninja to destroy Zygarde’s leftover roots with Squishy and Z2
- Bonnie promises to travel with Squishy
- The last Ash-Greninja outside flashbacks
- Japanese ending Meowth’s Ballad
Trivia
- The English title plays on <em>Star Trek</em>’s “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few”, as Ash lets Greninja go.
- The screenplay is by Shōji Yonemura.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kalos storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- Japanese ending Meowth’s Ballad
- A piano Puni-chan’s Song; the dub uses Stand Tall
Part of our Pokémon the Series: XYZ guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.