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| Season | Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures (Season 21) · After the slot change arc (SM091–SM092) |
| Episode | Season 21, episode 48 · English episode 1026 · Japanese episode 1032 · Bulbapedia code SM092 |
| English title | Turning the Other Mask! |
| Japanese title | ククイ絶体絶命！もう一人のロイヤルマスク！！ Kukui Zettai Zetsumei! Mō Hitori no Roiyaru Masuku!! — “Kukui’s Desperate Situation! Another Royal Mask!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 14 October 2018 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 23 February 2019 · Disney XD |
| Screenplay | Masahiro Ōkubo |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Kimi no Bōken (Your Adventure) – Taiiku Okazaki · Jarī Bōi Jarī Gāru (Twerp, Twerpette) – Taiiku Okazaki |
| English opening | Under the Alolan Moon – Haven Paschall and Ben Dixon |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Wobbuffet (US) |
| Previous episode | A Plethora of Pikachu! (SM091) |
Filler / stand-alone episodeSeason finaleA fake Masked Royal
Turning the Other Mask! is the 48th episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures, the twenty-first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1026th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1032, Bulbapedia code SM092). It first aired in Japan on 14 October 2018 and in the United States on 23 February 2019. It falls within the season’s After the slot change stretch (EP91–EP92).
Premiered on Saturday 23 February 2019 as the season finale; Amazon had released it on 21 February, the day it aired in the UK. Cartoon Network in Brazil and Latin America skipped it, and Netflix there added it on 1 June 2019.
Synopsis
When the Masked Royal announces a meet-and-greet tour, Professor Kukui and Molayne scheme to keep his identity secret from Professor Burnet, but James and Faba’s meddling puts a fake Masked Royal in the ring. After beating Mad Magmar and his Magmortar in another Battle Royal, the Masked Royal announces a tour of Alola starting at the mall in Hau’oli City, and at home Ash and Burnet tell Kukui that they want to meet him there. Worried, Kukui visits Molayne at the Hokulani Observatory, where the two laugh over how Burnet still has not guessed the truth and recall several close calls. Molayne offers to stand in as the Masked Royal whenever Burnet is due to meet him, so that Kukui can be beside her as himself, and Kukui agrees to the plan.
On the day, Burnet and Ash arrive with Molayne, who explains that Kukui is running late, while James abandons Team Rocket’s struggling food truck to join the crowd. The Masked Royal wins an exhibition Battle Royal against dolls of Poliwrath, Alolan Golem and Muk, captivating fans including James and Faba. At the meet-and-greet, Burnet blushes and grows nervous, and Ash shakes the Masked Royal’s hand before a break is called. Backstage, Kukui hands Molayne Incineroar’s Poké Ball and the mask, but James and Faba—who whispered that he knows who the Masked Royal really is—spot Molayne carrying the mask. Faba insists he is the wrong man, James is sure he is an impostor, and the two tie Molayne up and argue over the mask, while Kukui finally joins Ash and Burnet in the audience.
Mad Magmar takes the stage demanding a rematch, James introduces the Masked Royal as host, and Faba enters the ring in disguise. Incineroar is shocked but follows his orders; its Darkest Lariat misses, Magmortar flings it out of the ring with Fling, and the impact knocks Faba out. When Mad Magmar declares the Masked Royal a fake, Burnet leads the crowd in demanding the real one. The lights go out—Molayne, free again, has had his Magneton cut the power—and he whispers to Kukui to put on the mask. When the lights return, the real Masked Royal stands in the ring, Incineroar defeats Magmortar with Malicious Moonsault, and an overwhelmed Burnet collapses until the Masked Royal helps her up. Later, Burnet gushes to Kukui about the encounter, making him blush, and Faba wakes to find his limited-edition Masked Royal shirt signed.
Major Events
- A fake Masked Royal. The Masked Royal’s meet-and-greet tour
- Molayne is to stand in for Kukui
- James and Faba tie him up
- Faba, as a fake Masked Royal, loses to Mad Magmar
- Kukui wins in the mask
- Burnet is still unaware
- The season finale
Trivia
- The English title plays on the phrase “turn the other cheek”, for the Masked Royal’s double.
- The screenplay is by Masahiro Ōkubo.
- This is a stand-alone episode: it can be skipped without losing the thread of the Alola story.
Part of our Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.