Preview JN023: A Massive Panic! Sakuragi Park!!

[Islander Princess]

Oh boy, another lab episode with another rehashed plot

I'll be shocked if it's a non-Kanto Pokemon, honestly. I feel like they've really stuck to keeping the Pokemon in their respective regions (which I thought was part of the whole "world tour" angle but...) so my guess is it's either a Kanto Pokemon or one of the Pokemon in the lab.

 

[Daenerys]

Oh man this is one of those 'whodunnit?' episodes huh? I really hate that we're spending a whole episode at Prof. Sakuragi's lab and I fully expect freaking Morpeko to be the one who's stealing the food because that thing is due for a debut and this episode seems perfect for it.

 

[Sobble Bubble-O-Seven]

I saw a post on Serebii suggesting an Eevee could be the culprit. We've seen it in merch, but it hasn't appeared in this series yet. I'm not sure if it'll be the culprit though. Thoughts?

 

[JinksChow]

Oh no, the Pokemon at Professor Sakuragi's lab are fighting? If only Ash can call in a Pokemon with plenty of experience as a peacemaker to stop Pokemon at the lab from fighting...

 

[RetroPokeFan]

so my guess is it's either a Kanto Pokemon or one of the Pokemon in the lab.

Or if you want to go the lazy route than Team Rocket which I could also see happening.

They'd possibly make the episode only slightly better if that was the case

 

[Daenerys]

Oh no, the Pokemon at Professor Sakuragi's lab are fighting? If only Ash can call in a Pokemon with plenty of experience as a peacemaker to stop Pokemon at the lab from fighting...

I think you're really reaching if you truly believe that Ash would need Bulbasaur to calm down this extremely generic conflict that will probably resolve itself anyways. The Pokemon are just angry because the food went missing and Ash and Go are already trying to solve the mystery of who stole the food according to the summary. Y'all use any excuse to try and justify Ash's old irrelevant reserves appearing again.

 

[Nicolas721]

Congratulations to the many who expected this episode.

I like that food is the source of conflict, it's a very natural way to provide one. But I don't like that we're back to the lab again, it should be a place we as fans would look up to return to after many adventures, not a place the writers force us to stay because they want to do a quick Pokémon of the Day episode.

As for the culprit, Kanto Pokemon who look like the part (are very hungry and can eat what 20+ Pokemon eat a day) are Raticate, Golbat, Grimer, Muk, Lickitung, Kangaskhan and Snorlax but I'm thinking it will be a Pokémon from a later generation for surprise value.

 

[Daren]

As for the culprit, Kanto Pokemon who look like the part (are very hungry and can eat what 20+ Pokemon eat a day) are Raticate, Golbat, Grimer, Muk, Lickitung, Kangaskhan and Snorlax but I'm thinking it will be a Pokémon from a later generation for surprise value.

I'm sort of suspicious about Gou's Skwovet, but I think they might do a fake out with it rather than actually being the culprit.

 

[LuxrayOfTheWild]

Greeaaaat...Another Kanto episode set at this lab. If they wanted to do the world tour thing, they could have at least had Ash and Gou stationed at Professor Magnolia's lab with Sonia.

 

[Johtohfiller]

Sounds like a "needs Team Rocket to be any good" episode.

 

[Mew29240]

Sounds like a "needs Team Rocket to be any good" episode.

For all we know, it's probably their fault.

 

[Johtohfiller]

For all we know, it's probably their fault.

I hope so.

 

[PkmnTrainerV]

Greeaaaat...Another Kanto episode set at this lab. If they wanted to do the world tour thing, they could have at least had Ash and Gou stationed at Professor Magnolia's lab with Sonia.

Yesh, when they came up with the concept, I initially thought they’d be based in Galar due to it being new and give us more Galar promotion by default (and Galar focuses on research quite a lot because of Sonia, Magnolia and later Hop taking up the goal). But they had to use boring old Kanto.

 

[Beatsy Ray]

My money's on Munchlax. We just saw one in the promo where we see Ash getting the Egg. Guessing Gou will catch it.

 

[FinnishPokéFan92]

My money's on Munchlax. We just saw one in the promo where we see Ash getting the Egg. Guessing Gou will catch it.

We've had more promotional material about Morpeko, who's also a big eater. I think it's more likely to be it than Munchlax.

 

[Kurolegacy]

Yesh, when they came up with the concept, I initially thought they’d be based in Galar due to it being new and give us more Galar promotion by default (and Galar focuses on research quite a lot because of Sonia, Magnolia and later Hop taking up the goal). But they had to use boring old Kanto.

Definitely gotta agree there. Had they done it that way Galar would have been given the prominence that it should bring the newest region and, given how much they’ve changed Vermillion City for this series that it could be any city, it would have changed very little. In fact, it would have served to alleviate the question of why Ash never accesses any of his old Pokémon despite being relatively close to Professor Oak’s lab.

 

[BigDocFan]

Oh no, the Pokemon at Professor Sakuragi's lab are fighting? If only Ash can call in a Pokemon with plenty of experience as a peacemaker to stop Pokemon at the lab from fighting...

Time for some fun

Ash calls Professor Oak's lab, Tracey answers

Ash: Ah Tracey, quick we have an emergency over here. Please send Bulbasaur over quickly

Tracey does so without a word. Later, Bulbasaur has solved the conflict. Phone rings

Oak (Beaten up): Ash, I need Bulbasaur over here quickly

 

[Rocket Messiah]

For me it sounds like"This episode does not even deserve Team Rocket"

Please not again with the amazing stealing Cheese from a farm in XY.

 

[BigDocFan]

Having Team Rocket be the thieves would be boring as they've done it too many times

Plus it would be obvious its them yet no one would figure it out

 

[Alola]

You know, this could have been done in Kalos-in one of Lumiose's many famous restaurants. Heck, even a cameo from Clemont or Bonnie.

Same plot? Check.
Traveling around the world? Check.
Kalos focus? Check.

But, nah.