With Ash's victory in the World Coronation Series behind him, and Goh having successfully met Mew, both of our heroes return home to Kanto for a well-earned day of relaxation and celebration. Yet both have one goal on their minds as they seek to start another journey, this time just on their own. But as Goh struggles to tell the truth about his plans, can he handle what Ash has in store?
This episode contains the following tropes:
- Art Evolution: Mimey's colors are changed to better match its appearance in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
- Book Ends: This iteration of the series began with Ash and Goh both running towards a massive surge in psychic energy, leading them to encounter Lucia. That same surge returns, with Lugia in tow, and both heroes once again challenge it to a raid battle.
- Call-Back:
- A Spearow gets hit on the head and attacks the heroes before a massive flock chases everyone, just like in the very first episode. This time, Pikachu only shocks the first one before it calls its flock, and it takes Eevee using Copycat to borrow a Slowpoke's Yawn attack that stops the flock.
- Goh's father's Pokedex in the flashback looks like the same model Ash used during the Indigo League.
- The Cameo: All of Ash's old Pokémon make an appearance here, both in the flesh (aside from Snivy and Tauros, who only appear in a fantasy sequence) and in fantasy sequences. Torkoal, Noctowl, Gliscor, and Gible make their final appearances in this episode.
- Continuity Nod:
- In Ash's discussion about all of his Pokémon, an image is featured from "Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit!" about all of his old and current team (sans his Alolan Pokémon), and he mentions all the friends he's had to say goodbye to (including Butterfree and his mate, Squirtle, Primeape, Lapras, Larvitar, Greninja, Goodra, and Naganadel).
- Chloe reminisces about all the Eeveelution trainers she met, including Kiley and his Vaporeon, Soleil and her Umbreon and Espeon, Regina and her Glaceon Mirche, Erika and her Leafeon, Billy and his Flareon Toril, Harmony and her Jolteon Bernice, Serena and her Sylveon, and Lana with her Eevee Sandy.
- Hypocrite: Goh was planning on taking another journey by himself, but he didn't have the heart to tell Ash out of fear it would ruin their friendship. Yet when Ash announces he's doing the same thing, Goh swears off their friendship and runs away, which both Ash and Cinderace call him out on.
- Innocently Insensitive: Ash decides to tell everyone that he's going to journey with just Pikachu, unaware that Goh was going to take a journey by himself as well (not that Goh was making that clear). Goh sees this as a betrayal and storms off, declaring Ash is no longer his friend.
- Plot-Mandated Friendship Failure: When Ash announces he's planning on taking another journey with just Pikachu, Goh takes the news horribly and declares his friendship with Ash over. Cinderace calls him to the carpet for it, and forces him to make things right.
- Poor Communication Kills: Things could have gone much easier for Goh this episode if he had just told Ash he wanted to journey alone, but can't bring himself to do it. Instead, Ash beats him to the punch, and Goh takes it the wrong way.
- Wham Shot: As Ash and Goh argue about their travel plans, a psychic energy storm surges by, and Lugia shows up.
- What the Hell, Hero?:
- Chloe gently tells Ash that Goh was planning on taking another journey by himself, but he didn't want to tell Ash because he was worried how it would affect his friendship with him, seeing Ash as the only real friend he's ever made.
- Cinderace takes Goh's attitude about Ash's announcement as childish, and forces Goh to find Ash and make up.
