 |
|
| Season | Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Legends (Season 22) · Guzzlord & the Masked Royal arc (SM140–SM144) |
| Episode | Season 22, episode 51 · English episode 1077 · Japanese episode 1083 · Bulbapedia code SM143 |
| English title | Fiery Surprises! |
| Japanese title | 決着！ガオガエンVSニャヒート！！ Ketchaku! Gaogaen Tai Nyahīto!! — “Conclusion! Gaogaen VS Nyaheat!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 13 October 2019 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 15 February 2020 · Disney XD |
| Screenplay | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Kimi no Bōken (Your Adventure) – Taiiku Okazaki · Taipu: Wairudo (Type: Wild, 2019 version) – Shōko Nakagawa |
| English opening | The Challenge of Life – Dani Marcus and The Sad Truth |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Lucario (US) |
| Previous episode | A Full Battle Bounty! (SM142) |
| Next episode | From Z to Shining Z! (SM144) |
Plot episodeTorracat evolves into IncineroarExhibition, part 3
Fiery Surprises! is the 51st episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Legends, the twenty-second season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1077th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1083, Bulbapedia code SM143). It first aired in Japan on 13 October 2019 and in the United States on 15 February 2020. It falls within the season’s Guzzlord & the Masked Royal stretch (EP140–EP144).
Synopsis
Naganadel defeats Kukui’s Lucario, and Torracat wins its long-awaited rematch with Incineroar through a double Inferno Overdrive, evolving into Incineroar at the moment of victory before fainting. Lucario’s Close Combat counters X-Scissor, and Naganadel’s Sludge Bomb has no effect on the Steel type. Naganadel dodges Dragon Pulse and lands a surprise Thunderbolt, but Lucario braces itself and takes no damage, then uses Extreme Speed to evade X-Scissor and slam Naganadel into the ground. Both Pokémon fire Dragon Pulse, and when Lucario grips Naganadel’s main stinger during Close Combat, Naganadel fires a powerful Dragon Pulse from its other two stingers and knocks Lucario out. Naganadel celebrates its first real battle victory, and Kukui praises Ash’s strategy against Melmetal earlier. Ash and Kukui then send out Torracat and Incineroar, Torracat’s bell still glowing from the absorbed Blast Burn.
The rivals stare each other down. Torracat’s Flame Charge knocks Incineroar off balance, but Throat Chop overpowers Fire Fang, and after Bulk Up Incineroar catches Fire Blast in its bare hands and crushes the flames. Torracat strikes three times with Flame Charge, from the front, from above and from behind, and knocks Incineroar down, then grapples with it as Incineroar grabs it and hits back with Throat Chop. Both Pokémon erupt in flames, and Torracat’s Revenge brings Incineroar to its knees. As both glow red, Ash and Kukui activate their Firium Z for a double Inferno Overdrive, and the two Pokémon charge into the swirling fireballs. Incineroar’s Throat Chop meets Torracat’s Revenge in a massive explosion, and when the smoke clears, Kukui’s Incineroar collapses.
Torracat roars in triumph and evolves into Incineroar, but the evolution uses the last of its strength, and it freezes and faints, the first time in the anime that a Pokémon has fainted right after evolving. Hala rules both Incineroar unable to battle, leaving Ash with Pikachu and Naganadel. As Kukui reaches for his final Poké Ball, Tapu Koko swoops into Manalo Stadium, knocks the ball out of his hand and makes clear that it wants to battle Ash itself. Kukui agrees to let the guardian deity take the place of his last Pokémon, and the crowd roars its approval. Pikachu steps forward, but Ash sends out Naganadel first. As Naganadel prepares, Tapu Koko’s Electric Surge covers the field in Electric Terrain, and the episode ends with the final round of the exhibition about to begin.
Major Events
- The exhibition, part 3. Naganadel beats Lucario
- In a double Inferno Overdrive Torracat beats Kukui’s Incineroar, evolves into Incineroar and faints, the first Pokémon to faint right after evolving
- Tapu Koko takes the place of Kukui’s last Pokémon
Pokémon making their anime debut
Incineroar#0727 · SM143
Captures and evolutions
- Torracat → Incineroar#0727 · Ash · at the moment it beats Kukui’s Incineroar, then faints
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Alola storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- The Japanese on-screen caption naming the Z-Move is removed
- Ash calls “Night Charge” for Flame Charge
- “Ash-Greninja Appears!” during the double Inferno Overdrive
- The Kalos Elite Four theme
Part of our Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Legends guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.