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| Season | Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures (Season 21) · Ula’ula Island & Nanu’s grand trial arc (SM073–SM077) |
| Episode | Season 21, episode 30 · English episode 1008 · Japanese episode 1014 · Bulbapedia code SM074 |
| English title | Tough Guy Trials! |
| Japanese title | ちょーワルおやじはしまキング！？ Chō Waru Oyaji wa Shima Kingu!? — “The Big Old Thug is an Island King!?” |
| First aired (Japan) | 10 May 2018 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 13 October 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? | Oricorio (Baile Style) (US) |
| Previous episode | Why Not Give Me a Z-Ring Sometime? (SM073) |
| Next episode | Some Kind of Laziness! (SM075) |
Plot episodeAsh loses Nanu’s pre-trial
Tough Guy Trials! is the 30th episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures, the twenty-first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1008th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1014, Bulbapedia code SM074). It first aired in Japan on 10 May 2018 and in the United States on 13 October 2018. It falls within the season’s Ula’ula Island & Nanu’s grand trial stretch (EP73–EP77).
Synopsis
Arriving on Ula’ula Island for his third grand trial, Ash meets the reluctant kahuna Nanu and his young friend Acerola, but loses a pre-trial when Lycanroc goes berserk against Nanu’s Krookodile. On the boat, Ash recalls Professor Kukui telling the class about the Pokémon League he hopes to found in Alola. Team Rocket, meanwhile, leave dummy robots at their hideout to fool Bewear and set out to test their new Z-Ring on Ash. In Po Town, Nanu feeds his hungry Alolan Meowth and takes a call from Giovanni, who is surprised that Nanu is now both police officer and kahuna and asks about the Blinding One—a question Nanu ignores. Outside, Ash is buried under the Meowth after Poipole starts a brawl, and Nanu scolds him, claiming that the kahuna is a colleague out on patrol before leaving Ash to keep the Meowth entertained.
Acerola arrives with Mimikins looking for Nanu and tells Ash that Nanu is the only officer there; Rotom’s photos of Mimikins all come out hazy, and Acerola explains that it is a real ghost. At the Malie City Library where she works, Poipole stops at a picture of a shining Pokémon between Lunala and Solgaleo, and Acerola tells the legend of the Blinding One: when Alola was formed in darkness, three Legendary Pokémon brought it light. She adds that Nanu suspects the Blinding One may be an Ultra Beast, and Team Rocket, listening outside, hurry to report it. Later, Acerola reveals that she has taken Nanu’s kendama, and when Nanu comes looking for it and finds his cover blown, her glare persuades him to grant Ash a pre-trial, which she agrees to referee.
Nanu’s Krookodile weakens Lycanroc with Intimidate, butts away its Tackle and swats aside Rock Throw with its tail, while Pikachu’s Iron Tail protects Acerola from flying debris. Then Krookodile traps Lycanroc in Sand Tomb and dirties it with Mud-Slap, and Lycanroc’s eyes turn red. Ignoring Ash’s commands, it bites wildly until Nanu strikes back with Counter and Crunch, and Acerola ends the match. Nanu tells Ash to go home, but Ash vows to stay and train for a rematch. Team Rocket’s report on the Blinding One falls flat when Matori says the Boss already knew. That evening, Ash sits with the upset Lycanroc and admits that neither of them could have done better, and Acerola suggests training with Tapu Bulu; Lycanroc eats from Ash’s hand, while Nanu entertains his Meowth with his kendama.
Major Events
- Nanu’s pre-trial. Kukui’s Alola League plan in a flashback
- Ash meets Nanu and Acerola in Po Town
- Giovanni asks Nanu about the Blinding One
- Acerola tells its legend
- Nanu’s Krookodile beats Lycanroc in a pre-trial when it goes berserk
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Aya Matsui.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Alola storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- The dub corrects an error in Rotom’s Japanese description of Krookodile’s types
Part of our Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.