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| Season | Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series (Season 24) · Chloe’s Eevee & a new year of research arc (JN049–JN055) |
| Episode | Season 24, episode 6 · English episode 1134 · Japanese episode 1140 · Bulbapedia code JN054 |
| English title | Sobble Spies a Stealthy Strategy! |
| Japanese title | メッソン・イン・ポッシブル！ Messon In Possiburu! — “Messon in Possible!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 5 February 2021 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 10 September 2021 · Netflix |
| Screenplay | Yuka Miyata |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Wan, Tsū, Surī (One, Two, Three) – Karaage Sisters · Fushigi na Fushigi na Ikimono (Strange and Wonderful Creatures) – Tortoise Matsumoto (first TV Tokyo airing), then Pokémon Shiritori (Pikachu → Mew Ver.) – Pokémon Music Club |
| English opening | Journey to Your Heart – Haven Paschall |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Inteleon (US) · Inteleon (Japan) |
| Previous episode | Healing the Healer! (JN053) |
| Next episode | The Tale of You and Glimwood Tangle! (JN055) |
Filler / stand-alone episodeSobble learns U-turnSpy and Sidekick
Sobble Spies a Stealthy Strategy! is the 6th episode of Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series, the twenty-fourth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1134th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1140, Bulbapedia code JN054). It first aired in Japan on 5 February 2021 and in the United States on 10 September 2021. It falls within the season’s Chloe’s Eevee & a new year of research stretch (EP49–EP55).
Released on Netflix in the US on Friday 10 September 2021 with the rest of Part 1; Teletoon had premiered it in Canada on 17 July 2021, followed by e.tv in South Africa on 7 September 2021 and POP in the UK on 8 September 2021.
Synopsis
Goh’s timid Sobble is inspired by its movie-star evolved form, Inteleon, and learns to turn its fear into a hit-and-run tactic, mastering U-turn to beat Team Rocket. In Cerise Park, Goh’s Darmanitan frightens Sobble away from play yet again, and Goh urges it to stand up for itself now and then. Ren rushes in with news that a sequel to the film Spy and Sidekick, about a female spy and her partner Inteleon, is shooting in Vermilion City’s warehouse district, and Sobble, captivated to learn that Inteleon is its evolved form, tags along. The director turns out to be Kublock, whom the boys have met before. During a scene with actress Jacqueline and her Inteleon, Team Rocket pull up in a disguised car and try to lure Inteleon inside, then reveal themselves and announce that they want it. Kublock, thrilled by the unscripted drama, keeps the cameras rolling as Ash and Goh charge in.
The Rocket Prize Master produces a Poochyena and a Houndour. Poochyena’s Yawn misses Pikachu and Cinderace and puts Kublock to sleep, and its Scary Face makes Sobble cry tears that freeze Ash, Goh and their Pokémon in place. Inteleon steps in, its nictitating membranes shielding its eyes, and its invisible Snipe Shots defeat both Pokémon and blast Team Rocket off, leaving Sobble in awe. With filming over for the day, Jacqueline tells the boys that Sobble reminds her of Inteleon’s early days, when it was neither strong nor brave. Back at the lab, Sobble tries to copy Snipe Shot but is scared off by Darmanitan again, so Goh offers to train with it. Sparring with Ash goes nowhere because Sobble only runs, but Goh realises its timidity could become an asset, and the boys drill it in hiding and running until sunset. Meanwhile Team Rocket plot to capture Inteleon at their base.
On the way home, a member of Kublock’s crew reports that Team Rocket have stolen his Gothita and demand Inteleon in exchange. Ash and Goh follow the ransom map to an abandoned mine patrolled by Meowth-themed robots and drones, find Gothita caged, and are trapped in a second cage with their Pokémon, leaving only Sobble outside. Furious that the twerps came instead of Inteleon, Team Rocket reveal that the robots are cameras and decide to take Pikachu, Cinderace and Sobble too. Goh tells Sobble to use its training: it turns invisible with Water Gun and harasses Meowth and Wobbuffet from hiding until James releases chalk dust meant for Inteleon. Remembering Inteleon’s courage, Sobble fights instead of fleeing and uses U-turn, a new move Goh confirms on his Rotom Phone, and with Pikachu and Cinderace it breaks the cage and blasts Team Rocket off. Kublock loves the camera footage, and back at Cerise Park Sobble finally lands a sneaky hit on Darmanitan.
Major Events
- Sobble’s spy training. The shoot of the film Spy and Sidekick with Kublock, Jacqueline and her Inteleon (the species’ TV-episode debut)
- Sobble learns U-turn and helps beat Team Rocket
- The Rocket Prize Master supplies a Poochyena and a Houndour
- Team Rocket kidnap a crew member’s Gothita
Pokémon making their anime debut
Inteleon#0818 · JN054
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Yuka Miyata.
- 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 captions naming the Rocket Prize Master’s Poochyena and Houndour are removed
Part of our Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.