"Not only is Pikachu a brave Pokémon, but a kind-hearted Pokémon, too! Who would dare Poké-nap such a noble creature? Uhh, I would!"
—Meowth
Japanese Title: Pikachu, Joining Rocket-dan?!
Original Airdate: August 12, 2004
US Airdate: September 3, 2005
If it had taken a little longer for Meowth to find Jessie and James, this could have gone the other way.
After blasting off Team Rocket yet again, Ash and Pikachu are seperated when Team Rocket's mecha explodes. Pikachu loses its memory when it lands, and doesn't remember Ash at all. Unfortunately, Meowth happens upon him and seizes the opportunity to convince Pikachu that he's really a member of Team Rocket...
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Becoming the Mask: During their trip to locate Jessie and James, Meowth keeps being reminded of how noble a Pokémon that Ash's Pikachu is—traits not wiped by his Easy Amnesia—and remarks that he needs to complete his mission fast before he loses his nerve.
- Berserk Button: "Nobody's going to take my best buddy!"
- Criminal Amnesiac: Pikachu, with some help from Meowth.
- Death Glare: Ash and the gang know something's wrong when Pikachu gives them one of these.
- Didn't Think This Through: When Ash climbs onto Team Rocket's balloon, James tells Pikachu to use Thunderbolt on him. Unfortunately, Pikachu zaps all of them, causing the balloon to explode.
- Easy Amnesia: Pikachu suffers this.
- Hypocritical Humor: Meowth muses about why anyone would kidnap a Pokémon as noble as Ash's Pikachu twice in this episode. And admits that he would both times.
- Inner Monologue: Meowth gives us a lot of this. His face in monochrome blue overlays the screen whenever we're hearing his thoughts, complete with emotes.
- Manipulative Bastard: Meowth, of course.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: By having Pikachu use Thunderbolt on Ash while he's on the balloon, James ends up creating circumstances that allows Pikachu to get his memory back.
- Pet the Dog: That said, Team Rocket seem genuinely happy to have Pikachu on their side, and treat him pretty well.
- A particular moment, despite the manipulation, is Meowth sharing an apple with Pikachu.
- That's also a Call-Back to the Orange Islands episode "Bound for Trouble", when Pikachu split an apple in half and gave some to Meowth.
- A particular moment, despite the manipulation, is Meowth sharing an apple with Pikachu.
- The Power of Friendship: Ash uses this to bring Pikachu's memory back.
- We Used to Be Friends: Ash and Pikachu. It doesn't last too long.
- Who's Laughing Now?: Team Rocket ordering Pikachu to thundershock Ash.
- Ash and Pikachu then pull this on Team Rocket, after Pikachu's memory comes back.
