So Long, Sophocles! – Pokémon Season 20, Episode 26

Plot episodeSophocles catches Charjabug

So Long, Sophocles! is the 26th episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, the twentieth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 961st episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 966, Bulbapedia code SM026). It first aired in Japan on 11 May 2017 and in the United States on 5 August 2017. It falls within the season’s School life, Gladion & Team Skull stretch (EP23–EP30).

Premiered on 5 August 2017; the following Saturday, 12 August, a DuckTales marathon took the slot and no new episode aired.

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

Synopsis

Sophocles believes his family is moving away from Alola and spends a sad week hiding it from his friends, until a farewell party and Ash’s gift of a Charjabug reveal that the move is only a few houses away. Working on a program that changes facial expressions in pictures, Sophocles overhears his parents packing and talking about moving; he assumes he simply missed being told. He considers living alone, then admits he cannot take care of himself. That night he lies awake, and when Togedemaru comforts him, he explains that moving means leaving Pikachu behind. Togedemaru does not understand until Sophocles shows it an animation, and then both burst into tears. The next morning Ash notices that Sophocles seems down, but Sophocles insists he is fine. In Professor Kukui’s lesson on the Battery Ability he misses a question and the class laughs, and he decides to keep the secret.

During a baton relay in P.E., Togedemaru cries as it watches Pikachu and cuddles it, which Lana notices, and Sophocles deflects Kukui’s question. After school he hands everyone a map of his favourite sweet shops, and Mallow becomes suspicious. His friends block his way home, and he confesses that he is moving. Ash suggests they carry on as if nothing has changed, and Mallow proposes a farewell party at Aina’s Kitchen. Kiawe takes Sophocles and Togedemaru on Charizard to a volcanic hot spring whose water changes colour, which Sophocles longs to analyse. At home, planning a gift for Kiawe, Sophocles learns from his parents that they are only renting a house three doors away for a week while their roof is repaired. Imagining his friends’ anger, he cannot bring himself to tell them.

Lana takes Sophocles out on Lapras, and a Wailord breaches in the sunset as she asks him to remember Alola’s ocean; he feels worse than ever but still denies anything is wrong. Meanwhile Ash looks for a farewell present, and Rotom suggests an Electric type. Sophocles plans to confess, but his friends rush him off to the party, where Mimo and others are waiting. In the forest Rockruff, Litten and Pikachu dig up a Charjabug, which shocks Ash when he pulls it out, so Ash arrives late and Mallow starts the party without him. As Lillie tearfully makes wishes, Ash arrives with the Charjabug as his gift, and Sophocles battles it with Togedemaru and catches it. Finally Sophocles admits the truth. His relieved friends forgive him, Togedemaru learns it will not be separated from Pikachu, and it happily shocks everyone while Rotom takes photos.

Major Events

• Charjabug. Sophocles thinks his family is moving away
• A farewell party
• Ash gives Sophocles a Charjabug, which he catches
• The move is only three doors away, for a week

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Charjabug#0737 · SM026

Captures and evolutions

• Charjabug#0737 · Sophocles · Ash’s farewell present, caught after a battle with Togedemaru

Trivia

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

Changes in the English Dub

• Togedemaru’s mouth moves without a sound

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