Going Apricorn! – Pokémon Season 3, Episode 27

Plot episodeGS Ball deliveredBrock catches Pineco

Going Apricorn! is the 27th episode of Pokémon: The Johto Journeys, the third season of the Pokémon anime, and the 143rd episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 145, Bulbapedia code EP143). It first aired in Japan on 13 April 2000 and in the United States on 10 March 2001. It falls within the season’s Azalea Town: Kurt, the GS Ball & the Hive Badge stretch (EP141–EP145).

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

Synopsis

Having just been shocked by the revelation that the guy in the Slowpoke suit from last episode is infact the guy they are looking for; Kurt – the Pokéball expert they accompany him to his home. Kurt and his grand daughter, Maisy thank Ash and friends for saving the well. Ash and friends explain that they have a special type of Pokéball that they were tasked to bring to him by Professor Oak. Kurt examines the ball but isn’t initially able to tell anything inparticular about the ball; but he vows to study it more closely and try to find out some more.

Ash and friends call Professor Oak and give him an update, Oak asks them to give him an update as soon as soon as they learn anything more. Oak also tells Ash and friends that Kurt is practically a legend because of his knowledge of Pokéballs and skills in crafting them by the use of Apricorns. Ash and co spot some Apricorns growing on a tree right outside of Kurts house and Ash decides he wants some special Apricorn Pokéballs for himself, rushing toward the room in which Kurt is working shouting that he wants some. Maisy angrily tells him to quiet down, and that its hard enough to craft the balls without all that noise. Ash and friends pause in the doorway to watch Kurt working on an Apricorn Pokéball.. Kurt spots the group watching him and goes over to greet them, Ash immediately asks if he can have his own Apricorn Pokéball. Kurt hands the group a couple of different types of Apricorn Pokéballs to share while Maisy explains that there are lots of different types and they are all made from different Apricorn colours.

Ash then decides he wants one of each type and colour Apricorn balls, Kurt says he has no problem making them if Ash goes and gets the Apricorns. Ash and friends prepare to go searching for different coloured Apricorns, little do they know that Team Rocket are nearby listening in on their conversation.

The group come across a Pink Apricorn tree and Maisy explains that Pink Apricorns can be made into Love Ball’s which work better on Pokemon of the opposite gender. Maisy then points out some Yellow Apricorns and explains that they can be made into Moon Balls which are great at catching any Pokemon that is evolved by use of a moonstone, unfortunately the tree also has lots of Pineco hanging in it. Brock decides he wants to capture a Pineco for himself, but he trips over just as he reaches the tree they are in, causing them to fall off and self destruct, giving Brock a pasting in the process.

Maisy takes Ash and co to a bunch of trees with some green Apricorns that are ready to be picked, these Apricorns are used to make Friend Balls, but unfortunately they get chased off by a Swarm of Beedrill before they can pick any. Maisy, Ash and friends manage to avoid the swarm of Beedrill and the next section of trees contains Red Apricorns which are used to make Level Balls. Ash runs straight at the tree closely followed by Brock, Misty and Maisy but they suffer even more ill fortune when they fall into one of Team Rockets pitfall traps. Team Rocket appear above them at the opening to the hole, and Meowth lassoo’s Pikachu, before they lock him into an anti electric cage. Team Rocket then set about getting ready to steal Apricorns using an old Vacuum cleaner. Ash uses his Bulbasaur to rescue the group from the hole, they then confront Team Rocket who were just about to start stealing Apricorns; potentially risking harming the Apricorn trees when they fall into a hole of their own!

Just as the group are trying to work out what happened to Team Rocket, lots of Diglett appear, it seems the Diglett defend the trees, as if the trees are harmed they could die; potentially ruining the whole forest that the Diglett live in. Maisy then points out some Blue Apricorns which are used to make Lure Balls, which are the best kind for water Pokemon; Ash and Misty proceed to pick a couple that are ready to be picked. They then spot some Black Apricorns which are used to make Heavy balls which are great at catching Pokemon that weigh a lot. Ash runs over to collect a Black Apricorn but a load of Pineco are hanging in the tree. Brock really wants a Pineco and heads over trying to choose which one he’d like to capture, just then Team Rocket appear with an electricity generating bike, they use the bike to power a giant fan with which they try to knock all of the Apricorns out of the trees. The strong wind from the fan also knocks down the Pineco from the tree, Brock catches them all before they hit the ground to prevent them self destructing.

One of the Pineco that Brock saved from the fall approaches Team Rocket and their bike and giant fan, and after evading attacks from Arbok it looks as though it’s trying to self destruct. Brock uses his fast ball to capture the Pineco before it can self destruct. Team Rocket attack with Arbok and Victreebel, Pikachu defeats them both, blows up the giant fan and sends them blasting off, and the Apricorn trees are safe once more.

Brock releases his Pineco, who seems to be quite friendly toward him already. A big black Apricorn falls from the tree and hits Ash on the head. The group take the Apricorns back to Kurt who vows to make them the best Pokéballs ever for them. Kurt reveals that after extensive study he “doesn’t have a clue” about the GS ball, and that he needs more time studying it. Kurt tells Ash now that the droughts over the Azalea Gym has finally re-opened. Ash wastes no time in rushing straight to it!

Major Events

• GS Ball delivered to Kurt (last physical appearance)
• Fast Balls to Ash, Misty, Brock
• Brock catches Pineco (Pineco debut) with his Fast Ball
• Anime debut of Fast/Level/Lure/Heavy/Love/Friend/Moon Balls
• Gym reopens

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Pineco#0204 · EP143

Captures and evolutions

• Pineco#0204 · Brock · Fast Ball

Trivia

• The English title plays on "going ape" (sometimes written "Goin’ Apricorn!").
• The screenplay is by Shōji Yonemura.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Johto storyline.
• The Who’s That Pokémon? segment features Pineco in Japan, where it almost always matched the episode, but Lugia in the US, where 4Kids picked the Pokémon at random.

Changes in the English Dub

• Pokémon Karaokémon: “Pikachu (I Choose You)” (Élan Rivera).

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