Japanese Title: There Aren't Any Nokocchi Here!?
Original Airdate: March 29, 2001
US Airdate: February 23, 2002
On the outskirts of a small town, our heroes run into a young boy named Bucky. He tells our friends of his woes in trying to capture a Dunsparce. It seems the Dunsparce are indeed sparse in this area, at least they are now. When Bucky was out of town visiting his grandpa, a swarm of them came through and every kid in town caught one. Although Bucky still tries to participate in the Dunsparce games by using his Caterpie, Caterpie just can't compete. While Ash and Co. make good on their promise to help Bucky find one of these snake-like Pokémon, Team Rocket pulls a scheme in town to rid the children of their Dunsparce. Will Team Rocket get away with the Poké-napping this time or will our heroes, joined by their new friend, Bucky, be able to triumph over Team Rocket and spare the Dunsparce?Tropes
- All the Other Reindeer: Averted. One would be forgiven for thinking this trope is in play considering Bucky is the only one without a Dunsparce and is clearly feeling left out because of it. However, his classmates are generally nothing but kind to him and try to include him in their activities regardless.
- Attack Reflector: Wobbufet as usual. It takes two Water Guns before going down.
- Bad "Bad Acting": As part of Team Rocket's second ploy, they make a play. Only James and Meowth are so embarressed by their costumes that they deliver their lines incredibly poorly. And their lack of a rehearsal only creates more issues.
- Cloudcuckoolander: Team Rocket don't try to trick the twerps with a disguise this episode. That doesn't stop them from dressing up as pirates and when questioned by Misty, they can only come up with "Because... because!!!". Meowth tries to justify it as a mixup at the drycleaners but they were wearing their standard uniforms in the scene before this.
- Epic Fail: Jessie and James somehow lost all the Dunsparce they successfully stole. No twerp interveing required.
- Hypocritical Humor: One of the kids derides some others for having a scrapbook dedicated only to a Dunsparce that only sleeps and eats. In the very same scene, it is revealed he has a scrapbook that is identical in every way that matters, which he brushes off by saying his Dunsparce is cuter.
- Insult Friendly Fire: Jessie is quick to insult the Dunsparce for their snake-like appearance, seeming to forget that she herself has an Arbok.Jesse: It's ridiculous! Who'd want a slithery, slimey, snakey Pokemon like that?
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Ash blasting off Team Rocket like he always does also blasts off the Dunsparce Bucky was looking for.
- Super Gullible: Despite being incredibly bored and unimpressed with their play, the kids immediately believe Jessie and James' offer to trade their Dunsparce for a Moltres.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: The kids don't react at all to the talking Meowth.
- Zerg Rush: How Team Rocket is defeated. While only having Arbok, all of the kids Dunsparce attack it, sending Team Rocket blasting off again.
