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| Season | Pokémon: Advanced Battle (Season 8) · On to Saffron City: May’s first Kanto Ribbon arc (AG137–AG145) |
| Episode | Season 8, episode 51 · English episode 416 · Japanese episode 420 · Bulbapedia code AG144 |
| English title | A Hurdle for Squirtle |
| Japanese title | ポケモンコンテスト・ヤマブキ大会！！（後編） Pokemon Kontesuto, Yamabuki Taikai!! (Kōhen) — “Pokémon Contest – Yamabuki Conference!! (Part Two)” |
| First aired (Japan) | 22 September 2005 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 24 June 2006 · Kids’ WB |
| Screenplay | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Battle Frontier – Akina Takaya · Pokémon Kazoe Uta (Pokémon Counting Song) – Akiko Kanazawa |
| English opening | Unbeatable – David Rolfe |
| Pokémon Trainer’s Choice | Which is the heaviest? (Snorlax / Groudon / Wailord) → Groudon |
| Previous episode | The Saffron Con (AG143) |
| Next episode | Pasta La Vista! (AG145) |
Plot episodeSaffron RibbonMay’s first Kanto Ribbon
A Hurdle for Squirtle is the 51st episode of Pokémon: Advanced Battle, the eighth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 416th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 420, Bulbapedia code AG144). It first aired in Japan on 22 September 2005 and in the United States on 24 June 2006. It falls within the season’s On to Saffron City: May’s first Kanto Ribbon stretch (EP137–EP145).
Synopsis
Lilian opens the Saffron City Contest, shows off the prize Ribbon and introduces the judges, Raoul Contesta, Mr. Sukizo and Nurse Joy. Harley leads off the Appeals Round with Cacturne, whose Needle Arm spikes burst through a cloud of Cotton Spore. Jessie, as “Empress Jessiebelle”, appears with the borrowed Cacnea; their painful embrace moves the audience, and Pin Missile explodes overhead like fireworks, though Cacnea stays stuck to her and Chansey has to rush her backstage. May sends out Squirtle and then Combusken, which somersaults across the stage, launches May’s bandanna with Fire Spin, leaps through the flames and reties the bandanna on her head with Sky Uppercut. The crowd roars, and May, Harley and Jessie all advance to the Battle Round as the top qualifiers.
In the Battle Round Jessie faces Harley and sends out Wobbuffet, planning to Counter everything Ariados throws at it. Harley simply refuses to attack, and Lilian shows both Coordinators yellow cards, in the manner of a football referee, that halve their points. Harley then binds Wobbuffet with String Shot and works it like a puppet until it is thrown out of the ring, eliminating Jessie. May’s Squirtle beats a Crobat with Bubble and a Weepinbell with Tackle, Harley’s Ariados defeats a Walrein with Spider Web, and the final pits May against Harley once again, with May determined to repay Harley for the trickery of the day before. Squirtle, competing in its very first Contest, is the Pokémon she chooses to battle with.
Squirtle’s new Ice Beam is so powerful that it misses and knocks Squirtle over. Ariados hangs from the ceiling, uses String Shot and Scary Face and covers the whole stage in Spider Web, trapping Squirtle. As Ariados closes in for a Double-Edge, May calls for Ice Beam again; this time it freezes the web and Ariados together, Squirtle breaks out with Bubble and tackles Ariados out of the match. May wins the Saffron Ribbon, her first in Kanto, and Harley storms off insisting the Contest was rigged. It is the only Kanto Contest dubbed by 4Kids Entertainment, and the last episode for several English voice actors, including Andrew Rannells as Harley and Lisa Adams as Lilian, as 4Kids’ time with the series draws to a close.
Major Events
- Saffron Ribbon. Squirtle beats Harley’s Ariados for May’s first Kanto Ribbon
- Harley eliminates Jessiebelle with String Shot
- The only Kanto Contest dubbed by 4Kids
- Last episode for several English voice actors, including Andrew Rannells as Harley
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Hoenn storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- Lilian says the Grand Festival needs five “Badges” (some dubs fix it)
Part of our Pokémon: Advanced Battle guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.