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| Season | Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series (Season 25) · Lilycove, Greninja & the Masters Eight arc (JN105–JN109) |
| Episode | Season 25, episode 17 · English episode 1187 · Japanese episode 1193 · Bulbapedia code JN107 |
| English title | Big Brother to the Rescue! |
| Japanese title | 助けて、ワンパチのアニキ！ Tasukete, Wanpachi no Aniki! — “Help, Big Brother Wanpachi!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 22 April 2022 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 24 February 2023 · Netflix |
| Screenplay | Yūko Kakihara |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Wan, Tsū, Surī (One, Two, Three) – Satoshi & Go (Rica Matsumoto and Daiki Yamashita) · Batsugun Taipu (Supereffective Type) – Pokémon Music Club |
| English opening | With You – Echosmith |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Vibrava (US) · Vibrava (Japan) |
| Previous episode | Radio Lulled the Mischievous Stars! (JN106) |
| Next episode | Catching the Aura of Fate! (JN108) |
Filler / stand-alone episodeYamperSuicune returns
Big Brother to the Rescue! is the 17th episode of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, the twenty-fifth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1187th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1193, Bulbapedia code JN107). It first aired in Japan on 22 April 2022 and in the United States on 24 February 2023. It falls within the season’s Lilycove, Greninja & the Masters Eight stretch (EP105–EP109).
Released on Netflix in the US on 24 February 2023 with the second part (JN103–JN117); Teletoon had premiered it in Canada on 1 October 2022.
Synopsis
While Chloe photographs the residents of Cerise Park, Yamper settles one quarrel after another among the park’s Pokémon, until a polluted stream leads the group to a homeless Grimer and Goh’s Suicune returns to purify the water. Ash and Goh are tending the park as usual when Chloe arrives on an assignment from her father to photograph its Pokémon, and Yamper, the park’s self-appointed big brother, comes along. After recovering Grookey’s missing stick, they find Goh’s Pinsir heartbroken because Heracross has again been captivated by Lilligant’s scent; Yamper has Panpour snap Heracross out of it with Water Gun, but no sooner has Heracross apologised with a bouquet than it is smitten by Alcremie, though Goh is sure the pair will make up. A Rattata then leads them to Golurk, which is struggling to stop a brawl between a group of Rock-type Pokémon and Rattata’s friends. Yamper calms the fight, and the group wonders why the Rock types have left their riverside home.
The stream has become polluted, and the agitated Bruxish’s tooth-grinding has driven the Rock types away, so Yamper fetches Vibrava, whose Supersonic cancels out the noise. Further upstream, Pyukumuku is upset at being forced out of the dirty water. After hurrying back to stop another clash between the Rattata and the Rock types, the group follows the river to the waterfall at its source, where Yamper discovers the cause of the pollution behind the falls: a Grimer bathing in the water. They persuade Grimer to leave and take it back to its old cave, only to learn that it has given the cave to a newly arrived Froakie and will not return. Since Grimer cannot go back to the waterfall either, the group decides to build it a new home, and Goh calls out several of his Pokémon to help dig a pool.
As the pool is finished, mist rolls in and Goh’s Suicune appears on a cliff, back at Cerise Park for the first time in a long while. It summons a gentle rain with Rain Dance and races down the river’s surface from the waterfall, purifying the water until it runs crystal clear. Pyukumuku is content, Bruxish stops grinding its teeth, the Rock types return home, and the rain fills the pool for the delighted Grimer. Suicune greets Yamper, having seen how hard he has worked, before a gust of wind carries it away and leaves a rainbow behind. Chloe thanks Yamper and takes his photo. At dusk, Ash’s Rotom Phone rings with news from the World Coronation Series: he will face Raihan in an entrance battle, and if he wins, Ash, ranked ninth, will swap places with eighth-ranked Raihan and enter the Masters Eight. Goh congratulates him, and Ash gazes into the distance, full of determination.
Major Events
- Yamper, big brother of Cerise Park. A Grimer pollutes the stream in Cerise Park
- Goh’s Suicune returns, using Rain Dance
- Ash’s entrance battle against Raihan is announced
- The last episode with the introduction about Ash’s and Goh’s goals
- 1·2·3 as an insert song
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Yūko Kakihara.
- This is a stand-alone episode: it can be skipped without losing the thread of the Kanto, Galar & beyond story.
Changes in the English Dub
- The layering of Eevee’s tail is fixed
- 1·2·3 as an insert song
Part of our Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.