For Crying Out Loud – Pokémon Season 3, Episode 16

Plot episodeBrock meets Wilhomena

For Crying Out Loud is the 16th episode of Pokémon: The Johto Journeys, the third season of the Pokémon anime, and the 132nd episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 134, Bulbapedia code EP132). It first aired in Japan on 27 January 2000 and in the United States on 20 January 2001. It falls within the season’s Towards Azalea & Charizard’s farewell stretch (EP132–EP134).

Synopsis · Major Events · Trivia · Dub Changes · All episodes

Synopsis

Ash is intent on taking on the Azalea Gymas soon as possible to keep his winning streak going. As the group stop to admire the scenery Brock spots a beautiful girl standing on a cliff overlooking some sparkling blue water. Just then a Marrill with a pink bow on its tail appears from the bushes; Misty immediately tries to catch it, her Pokéball doesn’t capture it but hits it in the head. It cries REALLY loud and when Brock is trying to comfort it he notices the Ribbon and realises it must have a trainer.

The Marill cries when Misty picks it up, but is OK with Brock so he keeps hold of it, a few moments later a couple of southern folk turn up and offer the group a ride in the back of their truck to the next town. Unfortunately the truck grabs Pikachu and Marill, then disconnects its rear trailer… leaving Ash and friends for dust and stealing the Pokémon; the people who offered them the lift of course turn out to be Team Rocket.

Marill unleashes its extremely loud crying attack while its being held on the back of the truck causing Team Rocket to lose control of the vehicle, crash into a bridge and go blasting off leaving Pikachu and Marill taking a dangerous tumble down a steep ridge toward a fast flowing river. She manages to grab hold of them both but she tumbles into the river and is washed downstream. Ash takes care of Togepi in her absence and suddenly the girl they saw earlier catches up with Ash and Brock, berating them for stealing her Pokémon. Brock explains that they had no hand in the kidnap of her Pokémon and the girl introduces herself as Wilhomen, the owner of the Marill.

Meanwhile Misty, Marill and Pikachu have made it to the riverbank but unfortunately Marill continues to cry extremely loud, as they depart the riverbank the Marill’s ribbon falls off its tail. Misty tries getting the Marill to use its super sensitive hearing to try and listen for its trainer, but it takes a while and Misty loses patience and shouts at it, prompting Marill to cry loudly once more.

Wilhomena worries that she might never see Marill again, Brock reassures her that he will be there for her until she does… and it seems that Wilhomena actually quite likes him… just then Togepi finds her Marill’s ribbon. Misty, Pikachu and Marill are having something to eat when Marill chases after some Butterfree and starts shooting its watergun into some tall grass, lots of very angry Weedle and other bug Pokémon appear … followed by a swarm of Beedrill which gives chase! Misty, Pikachu and Marill run as fast as they can, eventually passing by Ash, Brock and Wilhomena. In the chaos the two groups lose each other again. With the help of Pikachu, Misty manages to fend off the Beedrill. A huge storm approaches; Ash, Brock and Wilhomena take shelter under a tree and Misty, Marill and Pikachu take shelter in a cave. Marill gets scared by the thunder and runs out of the cave, just as a nearby tree is struck by lightning, it almost falls on Marill but Misty manages to save it just in time.

The next day the storm passes and the sun rises and Misty, Pikachu and Marill continue trying to find Marill’s trainer; as they are crossing a rope bridge Team Rocket attack using a big mechanical hand to shake the already fairly unstable rope bridge (nasty much?) before using another grabber to get Pikachu, and another to grab Marill…. Misty manages to grab onto the Marill and stop Team Rocket stealing it, the arm releases its grip and Misty and Marill are plunging into a deep ravine when they are saved by a couple of Vine Whips, its Chikorita along with Ash, Brock and Wilhomena The usual confrontation ensues and Misty battles Team Rocket with her Poliwag and a little help from Marill and Pikachu.

Wilhomena is reunited with her Marill and thanks the group for their help; offering them a stay at her Lakehouse as thanks, but Ash wants to press on to the next gym. Brock and Wilhomena say their goodbyes as do Misty and Marill and the group continue their journey.

Major Events

• Misty fails to catch Wilhomena’s Marill
• First explicit statement that a Poké Ball won’t work on an owned Pokémon
• Pikachu’s impressions

Trivia

• The English title plays on the exasperated exclamation (James says it), and the crybaby Marill.
• The screenplay is by Shinzō Fujita.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Johto storyline.
• The Who’s That Pokémon? segment features Marill in Japan, where it almost always matched the episode, but Sentret in the US, where 4Kids picked the Pokémon at random.

Changes in the English Dub

• Instrumental OK! as background music; the dub adds “Together Forever”, “Misty’s Song” and Mewtwo Strikes Back‘s “Surviving the Storm”.
• Pokémon Karaokémon: “You & Me & Pokémon” (Élan Rivera & PJ Lequerica).

Part of our Pokémon: The Johto Journeys guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.