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| Season | Pokémon: Battle Frontier (Season 9) · Islands, Ribbons & a broken heart arc (AG159–AG165) |
| Episode | Season 9, episode 18 · English episode 435 · Japanese episode 439 · Bulbapedia code AG163 |
| English title | Cutting the Ties that Bind! |
| Japanese title | ジュカイン！復活の夜明け！！ Jukain! Fukkatsu no Yoake!! — “Jukain! Dawn of Revival!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 9 February 2006 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 4 November 2006 · Cartoon Network |
| Screenplay | Shinzō Fujita |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Battle Frontier – Akina Takaya · GLORY DAY ~Kagayaku Sono Hi~ (That Shining Day) – GARDEN |
| English opening | Battle Frontier – Jason Appleton |
| Previous episode | Spontaneous Combusken! (AG162) |
| Next episode | Ka Boom With a View! (AG164) |
Plot episodeSceptile recovers its movesSpenser debuts
Cutting the Ties that Bind! is the 18th episode of Pokémon: Battle Frontier, the ninth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 435th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 439, Bulbapedia code AG163). It first aired in Japan on 9 February 2006 and in the United States on 4 November 2006. It falls within the season’s Islands, Ribbons & a broken heart stretch (EP159–EP165).
Synopsis
At the Pokémon Center on Metallica Island, everyone trains: Ash for the Battle Palace, May with Eevee on a new Shadow Ball for her Contests, and Brock feeding Bonsly. Donphan smashes a boulder with Rollout, Corphish splits the pieces with Bubble Beam and Swellow sharpens its Quick Attack, but Sceptile’s Bullet Seed fails again. Frustrated, it runs into the forest and beats its head against a tree in despair, with Ash and Pikachu following. A swarm of Beedrill attacks, and Pikachu’s Thunderbolt only holds them off until more arrive. Cornered on a cliff above a river, Sceptile shields Ash from their stings until it is knocked back, Ash drops its Poké Ball, and all three tumble into the water. Ash manages to grab a rock and Sceptile’s arm, but Pikachu is swept away downstream, and Ash vows to find it.
Scott arrives at the Pokémon Center and explains that the island’s Kakuna are evolving at this time of year, making the Beedrill numerous and aggressive. He sets out with May, Max and Brock and finds Sceptile’s Poké Ball by the river. Ash, meanwhile, cares for the injured Sceptile, cooking berries for it and apologising for losing its Poké Ball, while further downstream the weakened Pikachu collapses on the bank and is found by an old man riding a Venusaur. The old man brews a remedy for Pikachu, and when Scott’s group reach his campfire they learn that he is Palace Maven Spenser, the very Frontier Brain Ash has come to challenge. They tell him about Sceptile’s inability to attack since it evolved. Overhearing, Team Rocket decide to steal both Pikachu and Sceptile.
By morning Pikachu is fully recovered. Ash, limping on an injured knee, is still supporting Sceptile when another swarm of Beedrill chases them into a dead end, but Pikachu and the others arrive and Venusaur’s Sweet Scent soothes the swarm, which leaves at Spenser’s request. Team Rocket then snatch Pikachu and Sceptile with their balloon’s claws. Ash climbs a dead tree and leaps onto the claw holding Sceptile, only for Jessie’s Dustox to poison him and knock him loose. Seeing its Trainer fall, Sceptile breaks free with Leaf Blade, rescues Pikachu, and fires Bullet Seed to cushion Ash’s landing before collapsing from exhaustion. Spenser’s Chansey restores it with Heal Bell, and Sceptile’s Leaf Blade and Bullet Seed blast Dustox, Cacnea and Team Rocket away. With its moves back and its spirit restored, Scott formally introduces Spenser, and Ash challenges him to a battle.
Major Events
- Sceptile regains its moves. Metallica Island’s Beedrill swarm
- Sceptile shields Ash and frees Pikachu with Leaf Blade
- Palace Maven Spenser debuts and nurses Pikachu
- Eevee learns Shadow Ball
- Ash challenges Spenser
Trivia
- The English title plays on "the ties that bind".
- The screenplay is by Shinzō Fujita.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- “To My Best Friend” as background music
Part of our Pokémon: Battle Frontier guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.