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| Season | Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures (Season 21) · The Ultra Guardians & new rivals arc (SM061–SM069) |
| Episode | Season 21, episode 23 · English episode 1001 · Japanese episode 1007 · Bulbapedia code SM067 |
| English title | Love at First Twirl! |
| Japanese title | ピカピカだいすき！くるくるベベノム！！ Pikapika Daisuki! Kurukuru Bebenomu!! — “Shining Love! Spinning Bevenom!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 22 March 2018 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 25 August 2018 · Disney XD |
| Screenplay | Aya Matsui |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Mirai Konekushon (Future Connection) – ЯeaL · Jarī Bōi Jarī Gāru (Twerp, Twerpette) – Taiiku Okazaki |
| English opening | Under the Alolan Moon – Haven Paschall and Ben Dixon |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Torracat (US) |
| Previous episode | Smashing with Sketch! (SM066) |
| Next episode | Real Life…Inquire Within! (SM068) |
Plot episodeAsh catches Poipole
Love at First Twirl! is the 23rd episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures, the twenty-first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1001st episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1007, Bulbapedia code SM067). It first aired in Japan on 22 March 2018 and in the United States on 25 August 2018. It falls within the season’s The Ultra Guardians & new rivals stretch (EP61–EP69).
Premiered on Saturday 25 August 2018 as Disney XD returned to Saturdays; Prime Video had released it on 22 August.
Synopsis
A playful Ultra Beast called Poipole falls for Pikachu’s electricity and follows Ash home, and after the Aether Foundation identifies it, Poipole catches itself in a Beast Ball to join Ash’s team. Flying low over the ocean, Poipole jabs a Chinchou, whose Thunder Wave only energises it, and remembering Pikachu’s Thunderbolt against Buzzwole, it goes looking for Ash. In class, Sophocles shows photos taken at the Hokulani Observatory by his cousin Molayne and dreams of discovering Pokémon from outer space. Meanwhile, Pikachu is splashed with blue liquid, spots Poipole at the window and slips away. At lunch, as Ash brings out a meal Professor Burnet made, he realises Pikachu is missing, and the class splits up to search. In a forest clearing, Pikachu and Poipole nuzzle, and Pikachu splits an apple for them with Iron Tail.
Rowlet, meanwhile, dives into Team Rocket’s honey-donut van for a snack until Jessie’s Mimikyu blasts it away with Wood Hammer. Rowlet lands near the clearing and attacks Poipole, which poisons it with Toxic; Pikachu starts to charge up but stops at Poipole’s tearful plea, and Poipole carries Rowlet as Pikachu leads the way back. Team Rocket follow, unable to identify the creature, and accidentally recite their motto to an audience of Pokémon, which only makes Poipole laugh. Meowth’s net launcher is destroyed by Ash’s Lycanroc and Torracat—Meowth is impressed by Litten’s evolution—and Ash and Rotom arrive, with no data on the newcomer. Mareanie poisons James, Mimikyu’s Disguise absorbs Pikachu’s Iron Tail, Lycanroc’s Rock Throw meets Spike Cannon, and Bewear whisks the trio away before Pikachu’s Thunderbolt lands.
That evening, at the Ultra Guardians’ base, Lillie treats Rowlet while Poipole keeps nudging Pikachu and pulls off Ash’s Z-Ring. On a video link, Lusamine, Wicke and Professor Burnet identify it from Rotom’s footage as the Ultra Beast Poipole, register it in Rotom’s database and ask Ash to look after it until its Ultra Wormhole can be found. Poipole dodges every Beast Ball Lusamine’s Clefable offers, so Lillie suggests that Ash show it how Poké Balls work, and Ash repeatedly sends out and recalls Rowlet. Poipole then presses the Beast Ball’s button itself and is pulled inside; after a few wobbles, the capture is complete. At Professor Kukui’s house, Poipole chases around with Rowlet and Pikachu, then sprays red and blue fluid onto a wall to paint a portrait of Pikachu, and Kukui warns Burnet that their new lodger may be a handful.
Major Events
- Poipole. Poipole befriends Pikachu and poisons Rowlet with Toxic
- Lusamine registers it as an Ultra Beast
- Ash catches Poipole when it presses the Beast Ball’s button itself
- Molayne appears in a photo
Captures and evolutions
Poipole#0803 · Ash · it presses the Beast Ball’s button itself
Trivia
- The English title plays on “love at first sight” (as in AG042), for Poipole’s crush on Pikachu.
- The screenplay is by Aya Matsui.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Alola storyline.
Part of our Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.