Dawn Of A New Era! – Pokémon Season 10, Episode 4

Plot episodeDawn’s first battleNando debuts

Dawn Of A New Era! is the 4th episode of Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl, the tenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 468th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 471, Bulbapedia code DP004). It first aired in Japan on 5 October 2006 and in the United States on 7 June 2007. It falls within the season’s Route 202: Nando, Turtwig & a first defeat stretch (EP4–EP9).

The first new episode after the TV movie, shown on Thursday 7 June 2007: Cartoon Network ran the season Monday to Thursday from 4 June to 16 July 2007.

Synopsis · Major Events · Trivia · Dub Changes · All episodes

Synopsis

Dawn’s second attempt to catch the wild Buneary goes wrong when her enlarged Poké Ball slips out of her hand and smacks Ash in the face. The two start bickering, Buneary escapes, and the argument continues down the path until a sudden burst of blazing sunlight stops them in their tracks. Brock identifies it as Sunny Day, and its source soon appears: a Budew belonging to a wandering minstrel named Nando, who plays a harp shaped like Mew and explains that his music was meant to ease their tension. Eager to prove herself, Dawn challenges him, and when she says her goal is the Grand Festival, Nando proposes a Contest-style battle in a nearby clearing. Watching from the bushes, Team Rocket learn that the new girl is aiming for the same title as Jessie, who is instantly annoyed at having another rival.

Nando lets Dawn move first. Piplup’s Peck misses, Budew turns the dust from its Bullet Seed into an appeal, and Bubble Beam barely bothers the Grass type. Dawn forgets that Sunny Day is still shining, so Budew fires Solar Beam without charging and knocks Piplup out. Nando praises her first battle and moves on, leaving Dawn crushed. At the Pokémon Center that evening, Brock reveals that Bonsly is the only Pokémon he brought, the rest staying at the Pewter Gym he once led, and Dawn learns about Brock’s devotion to Nurse Joy. Ash registers for the Sinnoh League with his Pokédex, Dawn finds out Contest Passes come from Contest Halls, and Trainers with all three Sinnoh first partners, including a Prinplup, pass through. When Nando collects Budew and heads back into the night, Joy explains that he cannot decide between Gyms and Contests, and Ash and Dawn rush out arguing about which he should choose.

Lost in the dark woods, the friends are lured to a fake inn offering a free night and a special sleeping capsule for Pikachu, until a gust knocks down the facade and reveals Team Rocket. James sends out Carnivine, which swallows Piplup’s Bubble Beam and attacks with Bite, but Nando’s Budew arrives and blasts the trio away with Bullet Seed. At Nando’s campfire, Ash and Dawn renew their quarrel until he asks them simply to listen to the sounds of the forest at night. Dawn admits she has never truly listened before and apologises to Ash, and the two share their sightings of Ho-Oh and Mesprit. Next morning Ash battles Nando: Pikachu trades Quick Attack and Thunderbolt with Budew’s Bullet Seed and Mega Drain until Budew evolves into Roselia, whose Sunny Day and Solar Beam are dodged before Iron Tail wins the match. Inspired by both of them, Nando decides to chase Badges and Ribbons alike, and the trio head for Jubilife City.

Major Events

• Dawn’s first battle. Nando’s Budew beats Piplup with Solar Beam under Sunny Day
• Ash registers for the Sinnoh League
• Brock brought only Bonsly
• Ash beats Nando and Budew evolves into Roselia
• Nando decides to pursue both Gyms and Contests
• The first TV airing of the opening Together

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Prinplup#0394 · DP004
• Kricketot#0401 · DP004

Captures and evolutions

• Budew → Roselia#0315 · Nando · in his battle with Ash

Trivia

• The English title plays on "the dawn of a new era", for Dawn’s first battle.
• The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Sinnoh storyline.

Changes in the English Dub

• The first TV airing of Together
• Lucario score

Part of our Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.