 |
|
| Season | Pokémon: Master Quest (Season 5) · The Johto League Silver Conference arc (EP265–EP272) |
| Episode | Season 5, episode 59 · English episode 268 · Japanese episode 271 · Bulbapedia code EP269 |
| English title | The Ties That Bind |
| Japanese title | けっしょうリーグ! フルバトル6VS6!! Kesshō Rīgu! Furu Batoru Roku Tai Roku!! — “League Finals! Full Battle 6 vs. 6!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 10 October 2002 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 20 September 2003 · Kids’ WB |
| Screenplay | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Ready Go! – Naomi Tamura · Pokettāri Monsutāri – Kana |
| English opening | Believe in Me – David Rolfe |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Umbreon (US) · Tauros (Japan) |
| Previous episode | Tie One On! (EP268) |
| Next episode | Can’t Beat the Heat! (EP270) |
Plot episodeAsh vs Gary, part 1
The Ties That Bind is the 59th episode of Pokémon: Master Quest, the fifth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 268th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 271, Bulbapedia code EP269). It first aired in Japan on 10 October 2002 and in the United States on 20 September 2003. It falls within the season’s The Johto League Silver Conference stretch (EP265–EP272).
Although it carries the Master Quest title card and theme, Kids’ WB counted this episode as part of Season 6; VIZ’s DVDs and streaming services include it in Master Quest.
Synopsis
Harrison defeats his opponent in the first match of the first round of the finals. Next up is Ash versus Gary. It’s a difficult six on six match and Gary has realized he has been underestimating Ash and his pokémon. His only chance is to make Ash lose control and make a mistake, but Ash is used to fighting more than just trainers. Gary tries to convince himself that Ash’s recklessness is his weakness. But Gary still battles using all the technically correct strategies without any creativity. Ash may always have faith in himself as a champion, but he never insults people on their skills as a trainer, unless they abuse their pokémon. The match continues.
Major Events
- Ash vs Gary begins
- Pokédex upgrade
- Gary’s Blastoise debut
Trivia
- The English title plays on the hymn "Blest Be the Tie That Binds".
- The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Johto storyline.
- The Who’s That Pokémon? segment features Tauros in Japan, where it almost always matched the episode, but Umbreon in the US, where 4Kids picked the Pokémon at random.
Part of our Pokémon: Master Quest guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.