The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair! – Pokémon Season 20, Episode 12

Plot episodeJames catches MareanieTeam Rocket’s base

The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair! is the 12th episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, the twentieth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 947th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 952, Bulbapedia code SM012). It first aired in Japan on 26 January 2017 and in the United States on 3 June 2017. It falls within the season’s Snowy, Rockruff & Steenee stretch (EP11–EP18).

CITV in the UK aired it on 2 June 2017, a day before Disney XD.

Synopsis · Major Events · Trivia · Dub Changes · All episodes

Synopsis

A beach lesson turns into a battle with Team Rocket, during which James catches a lovestruck Mareanie and the trio turn Bewear’s den into their Alolan base. Jessie, James and Meowth are lazing in Bewear’s den when Matori calls for a report and Giovanni joins in. They claim to have captured a Mimikyu and pass Bewear off as a capture too, and Giovanni accepts, though Matori demands regular reports, to Jessie’s annoyance. Meanwhile the class gathers at the beach, where Rotom refuses to swim until Sophocles’s Clawitzer water gun proves it is waterproof, and the splashing becomes a boys-versus-girls water fight. Team Rocket go fishing nearby: a Wingull steals Jessie’s malasada, and Jessie throws a Poké Ball at a Cloyster without battling it, only for the Cloyster to swallow the ball and spit it out after a wave soaks the trio.

Ash races Kiawe to a rock, where Ash tries to catch a Corsola with Rowlet’s help, but the Corsola flee from an approaching swarm of Mareanie. Professor Kukui and Mallow warn that Mareanie are dangerous in groups, though Ash still wants to battle them. James fires a net bazooka at a Carvanha, which bites straight through it. Then James dons a Corsola-shaped scuba helmet and is attacked underwater by a Mareanie, which cracks his glass and poisons him, turning his face purple. Jessie wants to catch it, but the Mareanie has fallen for James and follows him everywhere. Kukui sends the students off to observe Pokémon, and Ash runs into Team Rocket, who go for Pikachu. Pikachu blocks Mimikyu’s Shadow Ball with Iron Tail before the Mareanie joins in with Spike Cannon.

Pikachu’s Thunderbolt hits Meowth and Wobbuffet, but the Mareanie poisons Rowlet with Sludge Bomb after Rowlet’s Leafage, and Mimikyu’s Shadow Claw knocks out both Pikachu and Rowlet, giving Team Rocket a rare victory. Before they can do anything with it, Bewear scoops them up and carries them back to its den. Professor Kukui gives Ash an Antidote for Rowlet, and the class enjoys a game of volleyball with a Popplio balloon. Back at the den, Bewear returns with the Mareanie, honey and Berries, and the trio decide to make the den their secret base in Alola. James asks Mareanie to join him, and it happily agrees; he catches it, and it immediately shows its affection with another poisonous hug, leaving James purple-faced once more as Team Rocket settle into their new home.

Major Events

• Mareanie and Team Rocket’s base. A beach lesson
• Jessie fails to catch a Cloyster and James a Carvanha
• James catches Mareanie
• Team Rocket’s rare win over Pikachu and Rowlet
• Team Rocket make Bewear’s den their secret base
• Matori introduced by video call

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Mareanie#0747 · SM012

Captures and evolutions

• Mareanie#0747 · James · a lovestruck wild Mareanie whose hugs poison him

Trivia

• The screenplay is by Akemi Omode.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Alola storyline.

Changes in the English Dub

• The shot of Meowth floating face down as his spirit returns to his body is removed

Part of our Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.