Big Damn Heroes: When it looks like Team Rocket will get away with stealing Pikachu & Axew, the Oshawatt that was following Ash & Iris throws its scalchop at Team Rocket’s blimp, causing it to fall and for Ash & Iris to obtain their Pokémon back.
Foreshadowing: When Giovanni reveals that Team Rocket will not be sending in Jessie and James's Pokémon since they would be conspicuous in Unova, Meowth wonders if that makes him expendable. His concern also points to events later in the season.
Giovanni also makes reference, in both this episode and the previous one, to a secret crime organization operating in the Unova region. Original episodes to introduce them were pulled from airing and banned because the airdate was set too close after the Tohoku earthquake hit Japan, so we end up meeting them way later on in the series well after Giovanni and the rest of Team Rocket sans Jessie, James, and Meowth were done being involved with Unova.
Harmless Electrocution: Exploited. When Pikachu appears to have gotten healed after a second encounter with Zekrom, Ash decides to test whether Pikachu has his electric attacks back by using Thunderbolt and Volt Tackle on his trainer. Ash barely flinches to either.
Overused Running Gag: Averted! Breaking series tradition, Iris does not have a bike that Pikachu destroys in order to give her incentive to travel with Ash. And in addition, Team Rocket are not sent "blasting off again" after losing their battle with Ash.
We Need a Distraction: Giovanni's real motive for sending Jessie, James, and Meowth to Unova first seems to be to flush out Unova's crime syndicate, Team Plasma. But unlike Hoenn, he gives the trio tangible cover goals, instead of simply wanting them out of the way.
