Ash prepares for his first Gym Battle in Sinnoh against Roark, but Paul only sticks around to make Ash mad by throwing away another Pokémon and hopes Ash loses his battle... which ends up happening despite a fierce battle.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: In his first battle against Ash, Roark emerged victorious with two of his three Pokémon still standing. This was largely due to Cranidos' efforts, who managed to weaken Ash's team enough for Onix to finish them.
- Curb Stomp Cushion: Although Ash and his team put up a valiant fight against Roark and even managed to defeat Cranidos, the fossil Pokemon's exceptional battling skills and stamina caught Ash by surprise too many times, resulting in a crushing 2-3 defeat.
- Berserk Button:
- Paul completely forgot that he met Dawn before, which really sets her off, not that he cares.
- Ash also gets angry at Paul for giving away Azumarill after it lost in the previous episode.
- Downer Ending: After a fierce battle, not only does Ash lose his first Gym Battle against Roark, but Paul can't resist insulting him just as he lost.
- Foreshadowing: Team Rocket takes interest in Oreburgh City's fossil restoration machines, which fuel the plot for the next episode.
- Forgotten First Meeting: Paul doesn't know who Dawn is, despite them having met before. Dawn doesn't take it well. At all.
- Heroic BSoD: Played for Laughs. Ash's Staravia has this reaction followed by Corner of Woe when Ash doesn't pick it for his gym battle with Roark.
- I Am Not Left-Handed: Ash's failure to obtain an official gym badge can be attributed to Roark's tactic of leading with his powerful Cranidos, which caught Ash off guard and left him ill-equipped to handle the situation.
- Although Ash is aware of Cranidos' incredible speed and powerful Headbutt attacks, he is left dumbfounded by the fossil Pokemon's ability to jump. This characteristic makes it difficult for Ash to dodge its formidable attacks, ultimately leading to Aipom's quick defeat.
- Ash is also taken aback by Cranidos's ability to absorb significant damage without showing any signs of weakness. As a result, Pikachu and Turtwig finally make an enormous effort to take it down.
- Ash's defeat is sealed due to the severe damage Cranidos inflicts on Pikachu and Turtwig. This makes it easier for Roark's powerful Onix to knock them out, especially with its incredible speed and surprise Screech counterattack. Ultimately, it is too much for both of them to handle.
- Kick Them While They Are Down: Overlaps with Kick the Dog. What does Paul say after Ash loses against Roark? "How pathetic."
- Victory by Endurance: Ash's defeat against Roark can be attributed to the damage caused by Roark's Cranidos, which inflicts severe long-term damage on Ash's team. Aipom is quickly knocked out and Pikachu and Turtwig are pushed to their limits. By the time Cranidos is defeated, Ash realizes it has taken too much time and effort to defeat Roark's Signature Mon. As a result, Onix has no trouble knocking out Ash's remaining team members.
- You Will Not Evade Me: An important aspect of Ash's defeat is the relentless attacks from Roark's Pokemon, particularly Cranidos, which make it difficult for Ash's team to dodge and result in a lot of accumulated damage that severely cripples their chances of winning.
- You Have Failed Me: Paul gives his Azumarill to some kid, unhappy with its performance in his gym battle the previous episode.
