James: Your happiness is more important to me than anything in the world, and that includes asking you to stay with me.
Inkay (via translation from Meowth): That's why I'm staying with you! Being with you and the rest of Team Rocket makes me happy! So of course I'm gonna come along with you!
James: Oh Inkay, you're so... Please forgive me for doubting the lasting bond between us!
Japanese Title: Calamanero VS Maaiika! The Bonds that Would Save the World!!
Original Airdate: December 25, 2014
US Airdate: March 14, 2015
Who knew James and Inkay would be the heroes?
The Evil Malamar have returned, and have imposed upon the world its most dangerous threat yet: a plan to manipulate the planet's environment to their benefit, and everyone else's detriment. James's Inkay leads a battle to defeat them once and for all.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- A Day in the Limelight: For James's Inkay.
- Angrish: Inkay is apparently so pissed at seeing the evil Malamar from before again that Meowth can't even translate his ranting.
- Badass in Distress: Most of the hero team plus Officer Jenny are captured by the Malamar. The party left to save the day consist of Clemont, James, Meowth and Inkay.
- Brainwashed: When the Evil Malamar discover James's Inkay was really a Fake Defector, they brainwash him. James was able to quickly deprogram Inkay, though.
- Character Development: This episode develops much of Inkay's personality and bond with James.
- Chekhov's Gun: The croissants Team Rocket was having at the beginning of the episode. James force-feeds an extra one to a brainwashed Inkay to deprogram him.
- Enemy Mine: Like the previous encounter with the Evil Malamar, both the heroes and Team Rocket join forces to stop them.
- Everyone Has Standards: Ash is rather vocally repulsed by the Evil Malamar brainwashing Inkay, a common enemy of his.
- Forced to Watch: Malamar use their Psychic abilities to immobilise the heroes and give them a front seat for slowly watching them destroy the planet. Fortunately the remaining party pull a Big Damn Heroes.
- Good Counterpart: Taken to almost literal levels with the trio of forest Malamar, who seem to be just as powerful and intelligent as the evil Malamar. However while the evil trio are sadistic Card Carrying Villains who want to convert the world to befit them with no interest for other life, the good trio live in peace with their neighbouring Pokemon and the rest of nature.
- Hostile Terraforming: The evil Malamar plan to terraform Earth to better fit themselves at the expense of everyone else.
- "I Know You Are in There Somewhere" Fight: James does this with his hypnotized Inkay, with help from a croissant — its favorite food.
- Inelegant Blubbering: Whoever drew the final scene with James and Inkay must've taken lessons in drawing characters crying from Oda-sensei.
- Mirror Character: Inkay's brief Foot On The Bus mirrors that of Pikachu in "Pikachu's Goodbye", with James even willing to accept Inkay's leave much as Ash did with Pikachu until they both vowed Undying Loyalty. For extra points the two Pokemon, who are near consistent opponents throughout Kalos, succinctly agree to an Enemy Mine against the Malamar early on.
- Papa Wolf: The evil Malamar faced the wrath of their peaceful brethren after attacking the forest Pokemon they watched over.
- Tears of Joy: When Inkay says he's staying with Team Rocket. Only Jessie isn't crying.
- Tears of Remorse: After finding out Inkay's real motives, Meowth gives a rather emotional apology for distrusting him.
- True Companions: Meowth's comments after Inkay re-commits to Team Rocket.Meowth: That's what being a team is all about! It's all for one!
- Villain Ball: After following the heroes into the forest, the evil Malamar decide to start attacking it's inhabitants For the Evulz. The peaceful Malamar inhabiting it however aren't happy at all with this, leaving a very angry powerhouse working against the villains.
- Villain by Default: Subverted. This episode goes out of it's way to show benevolent Malamar exist.
- Villainous Rescue: Team Rocket (in particular James's Inkay) are left herding most of the Enemy Mine to stop the Evil Malamar after most of Ash's team are taken hostage.
- With a Foot on the Bus: At the end, it looks like the good Malamar and Inkay want James's Inkay to stay with them. When James appears to relent, Inkay pointedly states (through Meowth) that he wants to stay with James and Team Rocket.
