We got this episode in Ireland recently, so here’s what
it’s about.
The gang arrives at Trobitopolis city, on their way to
the next Orange League gym. Team Rocket watch from a distance, and concoct
a scheme to capture Pikachu by blowing out the ground from under it, then
capturing it in a pit. Predictably, it backfires, and both Team Rocket and Ash,
Misty and Tracey are stranded in the sewers below Trobitopolis city.
As they wander around, searching for a way out, something
taps Ash on the shoulder. It’s obvious that it’s either a Bulbasaur, Ivysaur
or Venusaur using “Vine Whip”, but Ash immediately assumes it’s a monster
and sends out his Bulbasaur
to battle it. Unfortunately, the battle ends with Bulbasaur being draggged
underwater by the mysterious Pokemon. When discovered by Officer Jenny, Ash
refuses to leave his Bulbasaur, and Misty and Tracey have to hog-tie him to get
him out of the sewers.
At the police station, we meet the Mayor, who is
desperately trying to cover up the whole “monster” incident.He believes that
he will not be re-elected if the citizens hear that a dangerous creature is
roaming the sewers. Reluctantly, he lets them go. Once outside, we see various
election posters and statues honouring the Mayor. They all have a strange symbol
which Tracey discovers is the Mayor’s seal. Meanwhile, the mayor has organised
a SWAT team to exterminate the creature, even though Jenny and Joy assure him
that it’s illegal.
Back in the sewers, Team Rocket encounter the creature
and, being their usual heroic selves, they run a mile. Moments later, they run
into Ash, who has returned to look for his Bulbasaur. TR mistake him for a
monster and use Weezing’s smokescreen to escape. Deciding that they have done
enough running away, they pull scary faces to try and intimidate whatever it is
they hear around the corner. It turns out to be the SWAT team, who retaliate by
opening fire on TR.
Misty and Togepi become the monsters’ next victims when
it grabs them and yanks them underwater. Ash sends out Muk to navigate the
sewers, and their journey eventually takes them to a dead-end tunnel. Tracey
spots that the tunnel continues underwater, so Ash dives in and continues to
search.
The Mayor has now decided to seal off the sewers until
after the election, trapping everyone underground, while Ash finally discovers
the identity of the monster: it’s a Bulbasaur who has been stranded in the
sewers for years. They notice a collar around it’s neck which bears the
Mayor’s seal, and they come to the conclusion that he must have abandoned it.
They confront him and he admits that he got rid of it when it wouldn’t evolve.
The SWAT team shows up and prepares to terminate the Bulbasaur on the grounds
that it is holding the Mayor hostage. Pikachu shocks the hell out of them, while
Ash’s Bulbasaur Vine Whips both them and the Mayor away.
When it is all over and done with, the people of the city
have seen what kind of person the Mayor is, and Jenny is confident that he will
not be re-elected. She thanks Ash for all he has done, and points the gang in
the direction of the next gym.
All in all, this was not a great episode, and only the
usual antics by Team Rocket save it from mediocrity. I’d give it 2 out of 5.
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The Mystery Menace.
stephanie Fitzpatrick
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