Japanese Title: Who Gets to Keep Togepy!?
Original Airdate: June 25th, 1998
US Airdate: March 27th, 1999
The one where... A new Pokémon from the next gen gets previewed early.
When Ash and friends reach a certain Pokémon E. R., Joy informs Ash that a message has arrived for him, from Professor Oak. He promptly calls the professor and learns that in the time since they last spoke, his Pokédex has been upgraded to a new version, providing Ash with information on newly discovered Pokémon. With this new found knowledge, our heroes anxiously prepare for a fresh journey, but they still can't help but wonder what's in the egg they obtained at Grampa Canyon, but it may be hatching a little sooner than they think...
Tropes
- All for Nothing: The whole tournament proves meaningless, as Togepi has already imprinted on Misty. Of course, Dexter doesn't explain this until afterwards.
- Anti-Climax: Pikachu vs Meowth. Meowth gives a passionate speech how he will fight for all his might to keep Togepi. He's barely even finished before Pikachu lazily prods him on his charm with his tail and Thundershocks. One hit KO.Meowth: I lost so fast, I'm a little shocked. (*twitches*)
- Everyone spent ages waiting for the egg to hatch, and it didn't even hatch the whole way. There was no prior indication that Togepi is an egg Pokémon.
- Big Damn Heroes: When the egg was about to hit the ground during the free-for-all for it, Ash's Diving Save to catch it fails. Then out of the smoke comes Pikachu, holding the egg safely.
- Call-Back: Just before their battle in the tournament, Ash and Misty reflect it's the first time they've battled since Cerulean Gym.
- Combat Pragmatist: Meowth splashes a bucket of water on Onix to weaken him against his Fury Swipes. Despite Brock's protests, this is considered legitimate. In Meowth's defence, manipulation of surroundings in a battle is fairly common in the anime.
- Curbstomp Battle: Meowth delivers one to Onix, with a scratch and buckets of water. Pikachu delivers one to him later though.
- Played for Laughs with Bulbasaur vs. Psyduck. Ash knows about Psyduck's headache power, so the former uses Vine Whip to win via Tickle Torture.
- Cuteness Proximity: Everyone adores Togepi, even Team Rocket!
- Desperate Object Catch: During the free-for-all for the egg, it goes flying in the air and is in danger of breaking. Ash makes a Diving Save to catch it, but misses. Fortunately, Pikachu didn't.
- Disguised in Drag: James (of course) as a female egg seller.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: The idea of Pokémon hatching from eggs was not yet a game mechanic, and would not be until the release of Gold and Silver. Rather than the usual glow combined with the egg morphing into a Pokémon, the top part of the egg cracks.
- Then again, Togepi's final form is just a face peeking out of the top of an egg. So in this case, it could still work.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Meowth becomes incredibly paternal while he's watching over Togepi's egg, and his desire to take Togepi from Ash and friends is a genuine desire to take care of the little Pokémon. When he's forced to leave it behind, he's utterly heartbroken.
- Funny Background Event: Right before the kids reach Team Rocket's hideout, Pikachu is jumping up to try and see the fake egg. You can also see their reactions to Meowth hitting James with his frying pan seconds later.
- Hypocrite: Brock complains about Meowth exploiting Onix's weakness to water to make it easier to damage, despite Ash utilizing a similar strategy in their gym battle much earlier in the series, which Brock considered valid then. Naturally, his protests are ignored.
- Imprinting: Because Misty was the one Togepi saw first, Togepi treats her as her mother.
- Leeroy Jenkins: When Misty tries to call Staryu for their rescue attempt on the egg, Psyduck pops out of its Poké Ball. Misty whacks it upside its head with her bag.
- Long Speech Tea Time: Ash and his friends use the time Team Rocket is delivering their slogan to look for the missing egg, leading to Catchphrase Interruptus when Team Rocket objects.
- The Nth Doctor: A Pokédex upgrade is used to explain Dexter's voice actor changing from Nicholas James Tate to Eric Stuart.
- Pyrrhic Victory: Ash wins the tournament, but he doesn't get to keep Togepi since it imprinted on Misty and sees her as its mother.
- Rapid-Fire "No!": Misty's reaction to Psyduck being tickled into submission.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: Togepi, oh yes.
- Sore Loser: While they don't really complain, it's clear from the bummed looks on them in the final scene that Ash and Brock are disappointed that Togepi chose Misty. Considering that Ash was the one who found the egg and Brock was the one who nurtured it, it's understandable.
- Tickle Torture: Ash's Bulbasaur defeats Misty's Psyduck by using Vine Whip to tickle it.
- Who Would Be Stupid Enough?: When Psyduck comes out to battle for Misty, she tries to invoke its migraine powers.Misty: Okay, aim for Psyduck's head, Bulbasaur!
Ash: Its head? Yeah, like I'm that dense.- Ash comments on this when they're following the trail of fake eggs to Team Rocket. Brock has a sensible response that makes Ash admits they weren't much better.Ash: Wow, they're pretty dumb, aren't they? Leaving us a trail of broken eggs.Brock: If they're so dumb, how come they're the ones who have the egg?
- Ash comments on this when they're following the trail of fake eggs to Team Rocket. Brock has a sensible response that makes Ash admits they weren't much better.
