This Could Be the Start of Something Big! (Japanese: サトシとゴウ! あらたなる旅立ち!!, Hepburn: Satoshi to Gō! Aratanaru Tabidachi!!, trans. Satoshi and Gō! Setting Off on a New Journey!!) is the 136th episode of Pocket Monsters (2019 series), and the 46th and final standard storyline episode of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series of Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
Synopsis[]
A camping trip becomes even more exciting when Ash and Goh challenge the Legendary Pokémon Lugia to a Raid Battle! The action is fierce but friendly, and eventually Ash and Goh ride on Lugia’s back as it flies over Kanto. The boys are filled with wonder at the Pokémon they see, and it reinforces their own decisions to go on separate journeys. The next day, Ash and Goh depart Cerise Laboratory, with Chloe taking over their work as research fellows, and then they part ways when they reach a fork in the road. The future is in the palms of their hands—as the journey continues![1]
Episode plot[]
Following the declaration of the Raid Battle against Lugia, Pikachu uses Thunderbolt on it, although the attack barely fazes the Legendary Pokémon,, despite being super-effective. Goh has Cinderace follow up with Pyro Ball, which also does nothing. Lugia retaliates with a powerful Hydro Pump. Despite Lucario and Inteleon's attempts to stop the attack with Aura Sphere and Snipe Shot, the attack breaks both of them and razes the ground, which they manage to dodge.
Ash and Goh have Pikachu and Cinderace use Quick Attack before Goh has Cinderace kick Pikachu, who discharges lightning to tackle Lugia, successfully stumbling it as Cinderace grabs Pikachu. Lugia roars and charges towards them, so Ash has Lucario use Bullet Punch and Goh has Inteleon use Liquidation. Lugia sweeps the Pokémon with its tail, with Inteleon dodging it while the others are battered and are caught by their Trainers. With their Pokémon, they unleash a powerful combination of Pyro Ball, Aura Sphere, Wood Hammer, Mud Shot and Thunderbolt that seemingly harms Lugia. Seeing a chance, Goh throws a Poké Ball, but Lugia uses Aeroblast, disintegrating the Poké Ball and slicing off the cliff the boys were on. They recall their Pokémon and nearly fall into the lake until Lugia catches them.
Lugia flies across both the wild and cities, allowing the boys to see many Pokémon. As Lugia continues flying across the ocean, they remark on how the world is huge. Goh asks Ash if he's ready for his own journey alone, as he had always relied on Ash and had begun to worry. Ash reassures him that he's fine, as he had been a member of Project Mew and even got to meet Mew, and that as they're friends, he could always tell him what was on his mind. Lugia then roars, which Ash interprets as it telling them to be ready as it flies into some clouds.
Inside, the boys encounter Ho-Oh, leaving them resolved to continue their journey before Lugia drops them off at the forest where Chloe was waiting for them. Returning to Cerise Laboratory, the boys tell Professor Cerise that they intend to go out, although worried that they would lose two assistants. Chloe reveals that she'll take their place on the weekends, as she too also wanted to learn about Pokémon and was interested in Eevee's evolved forms. Goh is concerned about his Pokémon at the park, but they reassure him that they'll take care of them.
At Team Rocket HQ, James, Jessie and Meowth inform Giovanni that they managed to locate the strongest Pokémon and promise to get it for him as he dismisses them. The trio are eager to catch Pikachu, believing that they would be promoted if they could do so. Back at the park, Ash and Goh prepare to feed the Pokémon when they're met by their families and the staff as Chloe explains that they were hosting a party to commemorate their departure and enjoy the festivities.
The following day, Ash and Goh leave. As they walk around, Pikachu is caught by Team Rocket. Ash orders him to use Thunderbolt, but the capsule has been insulated to prevent it. Suddenly, James' Morpeko bites the capsule holding Pikachu, allowing him to use Thunderbolt and blast them away as Ash catches him. As they continue walking, they run into a fork in the road and point in different directions. Ash thanks Goh as they seemingly part paths. Goh seems to be worried about leaving Ash, but Ash calls him and tells him to befriend Mew. Goh in turn tells Ash to continue being a Pokémon Master as they go on their own paths.
At a large city, Chloe takes a picture of several Cherrim before wondering what Goh is up to. Goh is revealed to have caught an unknown Pokémon while Ash is in a Pokémon battle with another Trainer, with his Lucario defeating the Trainer's Lapras as the screen zooms out to reveal the entire planet.
Trivia[]
A group photo of everyone at the Cerise Laboratory
- "Who's That Pokémon?": Ho-Oh
- This is one of the few episodes storyboarded by the original executive director, and for this series creative supervisor, Kunihiko Yuyama.
- A character resembling Yuyama made a cameo near the end of the episode battling Ash with a Lapras.
- This episode does not follow a next episode preview.
- This episode marks Goh's final appearance in it.
- This episode currently marks the final physical appearance of Ash's Lucario and Dracovish.
- The Japanese title of this episode is similar to the episode when Dawn started her journey on her own, after separating from Ash and Brock.
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- ^ During the broadcasts on September 25 and 26, about the last 3 minutes of the episode were cut. On October 13, the last 2.5 minutes without the outro were broadcast.
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- ^ (n.d.) . "This Could Be the Start of Something Big! | Pokémon TV (pokemon.com)". From The Official Pokémon Website | Pokemon.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024.