BW001: In the Shadow of Zekrom!

In the Shadow of Zekrom (イッシュ地方へ！ゼクロムの影！！) is the 1st episode of Pokémon: Black & White.

Synopsis
Ash and Pikachu arrive to Unova and see many new Pokémon. Team Rocket also came and attempts to steal Pikachu. However, a strange Pokémon named Zekrom hits Pikachu with a lightning. After meeting up with Prof. Juniper, Ash, Delia and Oak come to her lab in Nuvema Town. A new trainer name Trip comes to pick a new Pokémon. Slightly curious about Pikachu, Trip challenges Ash to a battle. Surprisingly, Pikachu is unable to use electric attacks!

Episode Plot
The Pokémon world: a world populated by beings in sky, water and earth. One particular trainer, named Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town, hopes to become a Pokémon Master. He and Pikachu prepare to go with Ash's mom on a trip. She comes and sets his hat. Outside, they meet up with Prof. Oak, who is dressed as a tourist. He tells they are going to Unova, so Ash and Delia enter the car. Meanwhile, Team Rocket reports to their master, reciting their goal is to capture Pokémon to rule the entire world. Giovanni orders them to go to Unova for a special task. Giovanni's secretary comes and reports there is an organization in Unova, so Giovanni tells once the trio starts acting, the organization will reveal themselves.

As Ash admires the view from the plane, Team Rocket see the twerp is here and plan on catching Pikachu. Oak tells Ash there are many Pokémon in Unova that have not been seen in any other region. After a while, Ash sees the Unova region. After they land, Oak and Delia walk away, while Pikachu moves and feels something. A Pokémon dives out, so Ash and Pikachu go to check it out. As Ash and Pikachu gaze at a strange thunderstorm, Team Rocket captures Pikachu. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, but the attack is negated. Suddenly, the thunderstorm appears and a lighting hits, causing Team Rocket to be sent away, while Pikachu gets hit by lightning. Pikachu hits back, revealing a mysterious Pokémon. A young girl and Axew observe the event and go to check it out as she swings the vines.

The mysterious Pokémon disappears, knocking Ash and Pikachu off with a lightning. Delia and Oak come and Ash claims he saw a Pokémon causing the thunderstorm. Oak gets approached by Prof. Juniper and introduces her to Ash. They ride a car to Juniper's lab, while Ash sees many new Pokémon. Juniper tells Oak she will ask him many questions about Kanto Pokémon, since they are rare around Unova, including Pikachu. They arrive to Nuvema Town and come to her lab. Soon, Pikachu gets scanned and Juniper sees nothing too troublesome, though Juniper would like new tests on him. Her assistant comes and reports a new trainer is to pick their first Pokémon. Juniper and Ash come to Trip, the newest trainer. Ash bets Trip couldn't sleep last night and remembers feeling that way. Juniper introduces Trip to Ash, from Pallet Town. Trip smiles, knowing Ash came from boonies.

Juniper sends the starter Pokémon: Tepig of fire, Oshawott of water and Snivy of grass. Ash knows it is a tough decision, but Trip reminds him he is deciding. Trip takes a photo and decides Snivy, causing Oshawott to be devastated. Juniper gives Trip five Poké Balls and Snivy's Poké Ball. Trip calls Snivy back and is wished luck on the journey. Ash asks Trip if he is going after Gym Battles. Trip responds that they are a challenge to any trainer, so Ash sees this is like in Kanto. Pikachu comes, so Trip takes photos of him, as a Pikachu is Unova is a big thing. Ash does not think so, as it is his buddy. Trip wonders if it is strong, so a challenge is made. Trip sends Snivy against Ash's Pikachu. Trip takes more pictures, as he wants to record his journey. Meanwhile, Oshawott observes.

Pikachu starts with Quick Attack, hitting Snivy, who retaliates with Tackle. Pikachu dodges the attack and goes to use Thunderbolt, but is unable and gets tackled. Pikachu tries to use Thunderbolt, but fails. Pikachu uses Volt Tackle, but fails and gets exhausted instead, making Ash worried. Trip wonders if this is a strategy. Pikachu uses Iron Tail, but Snivy dodges. Snivy uses Leaf Tornado, engulfing Pikachu and bashing it on the floor, defeating it. Trip is pleased he chose Snivy and calls it back, then taunts Ash. Later, Juniper sees Pikachu received an overload and cannot use electric moves. Suddenly, the system gets foiled and Pikachu begins to be electrified, as the thunderstorm approaches. The girl with Axew observes as the thunderstorm releases a lightning, which hits Pikachu.

Juniper sees the thundercloud and suspects Zekrom, a legendary Pokémon, is here. Juniper says Zekrom watches over the people and its thunderstorm judges anyone, as pillars of the sky. Ash, Oak, Juniper and Delia watch as Pikachu releases a lot of electricity.

Character

 * Professor Juniper
 * Trip
 * Iris

Pokémon

 * Zekrom
 * Reshiram (explanation)
 * Deerling (Spring Forme)
 * Swanna
 * Minccino
 * Patrat
 * Pidove
 * Snivy (Trip's)
 * Tepig (Prof. Juniper's)
 * Oshawott (Prof. Juniper's)
 * Axew (Iris')
 * Alomomola

Item
Unova Pokédex

Move
Leaf Tornado

Trivia

 * "Who's that Pokémon?" returns after being on hiatus since the end of season 6, and the first of many of these is the new Unova region Flying-Type  Pokémon Pidove.
 * The Deerling in this episode were in Spring Form indicating that the episode takes place in springtime.
 * Lisa Ortiz returns as a regular for the BW series providing the voice of Oshawott as well as the voice of the Pokédex.
 * Marc Thompson returns to voice Tepig, while Jason Griffith also returns to do the voice of Trip's Snivy.
 * The flight number Ash took from Kanto to Unova was "Flight 151" referencing the original 151 Pokémon.
 * Like the first Pokémon: Advanced episode, "Get the Show on the Road!", Pikachu was having problems after absorbing too much electricity.
 * Like "Following A Maiden's Voyage!", a female companion, Dawn, is introduced, but did not join Ash until the next episodes.
 * The 'Who's that Pokémon?' segment returns as the commercial eye catch in the English dub.

Mistakes

 * When the plane-boat lands it has a total different colloration than when it is in the air.
 * Pikachu's ears are at both sides, but in one scene only one of his ears were black and the other one was colored completely yellow.

Dub differences
The Japanese narrator starts off as they do at the beginning of the series and movies by explaining what 'Pokémon' stands for. The English dub skips the 'Pocket Monsters' explanation part.