An Elite Meet and Greet! – Pokémon Season 10, Episode 35

Plot episodeLucian debutsBuizel obeys Dawn

An Elite Meet and Greet! is the 35th episode of Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl, the tenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 499th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 502, Bulbapedia code DP035). It first aired in Japan on 24 May 2007 and in the United States on 3 November 2007. It falls within the season’s Buizel, Lucian & the Forest Badge stretch (EP34–EP37).

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

Synopsis

When Dawn introduces Buizel to her other Pokémon, it turns its back on them and shoves Piplup away, and Brock guesses that it has spent most of its life alone. It eagerly accepts a battle with Ash’s Turtwig, but ignores every one of Dawn’s commands, charging in with Aqua Jet and slugging it out with Sonic Boom at close range until it knocks Turtwig out without bothering to dodge a single attack. At the Pokémon Center, Buizel nearly picks a fight with Croagunk, and the friends watch a televised battle in which Lucian of the Sinnoh Elite Four calmly defeats a Scizor with his Girafarig. To their surprise, Lucian himself is sitting beside them, reading a book. He explains the Champion League, describes the types each Elite Four member favours and mentions the Champion, Cynthia, before Buizel abruptly challenges him to a battle.

Dawn apologises for her new Pokémon’s rudeness, but Lucian agrees and sends out Bronzong. Buizel ignores Dawn again, firing Water Gun and Sonic Boom that Bronzong blocks with Iron Defense, then meeting Gyro Ball head-on with Aqua Jet and being overpowered. It struggles back to its feet, impressing Lucian, but Flash Cannon blasts through its Water Gun and slams it into a tree. Lucian apologises for getting carried away. Watching from hiding, Team Rocket briefly consider stealing Bronzong until Meowth’s daydream of Giovanni failing to use it puts them off. Nurse Joy heals Buizel, but it is crushed by the first defeat of its life and ignores Pikachu’s attempts to cheer it up, and even Croagunk walks away from it. Lucian explains that it is struggling with that first loss.

Suddenly a steel cage scoops Buizel up and Team Rocket’s balloon hauls it away. Lucian holds Ash and Dawn back, believing the crisis may restore Buizel’s fighting spirit, and sure enough its depression turns to fury and, spurred on by Dawn, its Sonic Boom smashes the cage open. When Team Rocket send out Dustox and Carnivine, Lucian steps in to command Buizel, which obeys him perfectly, dodging Psybeam and Bullet Seed, knocking out Carnivine with Sonic Boom and Dustox with Aqua Jet, and blasting the trio away with Water Gun. Lucian tells Dawn she must learn to adapt to Buizel’s style. Buizel then demands a rematch, and this time it follows Dawn’s order to dodge Gyro Ball before striking with Aqua Jet and Water Gun, both blocked by Iron Defense. Lucian calls off the battle, satisfied that the two are now working together, and Ash turns his thoughts to his second Badge.

Major Events

• Lucian of the Elite Four. The Champion League explained
• Bronzong beats Dawn’s Buizel
• Buizel starts to obey Dawn
• The only time one of Ash’s companions battles an Elite Four member

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Bronzong#0437 · DP035

Trivia

• The English title plays on a "meet and greet" with the Elite Four; first announced as "The Bells are Bronzing!".
• The screenplay is by Yukiyoshi Ōhashi.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Sinnoh storyline.

Changes in the English Dub

• Reordered introduction: the Japanese opening scene follows the theme song
• A balloon “mortgage” joke added
• Buizel added to the opening and ending animations
• Pokémon Symphonic Medley and By Your Side as background music

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