EP192
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The Wayward Wobbuffet
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First broadcast
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English themes
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Japanese themes
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Credits
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The Wayward Wobbuffet (Japanese: ソーナンス！そうなんす？ Sonans! Is That So?) is the 192nd episode of the Pokémon animated series. It was first broadcast in Japan on April 5, 2001, and in the United States on March 2, 2002.
Blurb
Knowing our heroes are still en-route to Olivine, Team Rocket lies in wait. Dressed as scientists, they explain they've just repaired the amazing Poké Pod. To test it out, Pikachu is placed in the pod and locked in tight. When Team Rocket reveals their true identity and runs, Ash and Co. are in hot pursuit. When our heroes catch up to Team Rocket, there isn't a Poké Pod or Pikachu in site! Realizing Wobbuffet was hiding for the handoff, Ash chases after it. In Wobbuffet's rash retreat, it trips dropping the Pikachu containing Poké Pod and falls into the rapids of a nearby river. Since the only way to release Pikachu from the Poké Pod is to possess the key around Wobbuffet's neck, it's an all-out race to reach Team Rocket's blue bad-boy first. This proves problematic as Wobbuffet plummets over waterfalls, wanders through forests, gets taken for a ride on the roof of a run-away truck, blows for miles in a hot-air balloon and falls helpless to the helm of a speedboat! Who will reach Wobbuffet and the key first?
Plot
As Ash and his friends continue to Olivine City, Team Rocket, upon spotting the group walking by, put their latest plot into action. They pose as inventors struggling to test an invention called the PokéPod, a contraption that will revolutionize Pokémon training. Ash kindly offers to assist the pair of scientists, and Jessie promptly places Pikachu inside the PokéPod, causing the device to lock itself automatically. James declares the device to be a total success, and now cannot be opened without the key. Ash asks for Pikachu back, but Team Rocket reveals themselves to Ash and quickly makes a getaway using Weezing's Smokescreen as cover. The group gives chase, however, Jessie manages to pass the PokéPod to her hiding Wobbuffet unnoticed by Ash and the others. By the time the group catches up, they are surprised to see that the PokéPod is gone. However, Wobbuffet spontaneously reveals himself and blows the clean getaway. Ash makes a run at the Patient Pokémon, causing Wobbuffet to panic and accidentally trip on a nearby rock. While the PokéPod containing Pikachu goes flying into Ash's arms, Wobbuffet falls into the nearby river and is quickly swept over a waterfall, along with the key needed to release Pikachu.
Ash tries to force the lock open, and Jessie admits that Wobbuffet has the only key, and thus the only way to release Pikachu. Team Rocket gets upset that they may never see Wobbuffet again, and Meowth demands Pikachu as compensation. Ash, of course, refuses, but Jessie tries to manipulate him further. As she proposes a deal that whoever recovers the key first will get Pikachu, James cuts Jessie off by pointing out that the twerps have already left to find Wobbuffet. Team Rocket quickly takes off too, knowing that the first to find Wobbuffet and the key will also get Pikachu.
At the falls, Ash and the group struggle to find a way safely down while Team Rocket sails by in the Meowth Balloon. Wobbuffet enjoys the gentle current and takes the time to look up to the clouds where he sees Jessie's image among them. His gentle downstream venture ends when he bumps into a Quagsire and gets a fright. Quagsire points out the directions to a nearby forest, and Wobbuffet leaves the river to wait for Jessie to catch up. Team Rocket soon spots him walking off, just as Ash, Brock, and Misty notice him too. The two groups soon lose sight of Wobbuffet, who starts swinging on some vines from tree to tree. Ash runs after him but falls down a steep hill and onto a road. Brock and Misty catch up, as Team Rocket also crashes down. Wobbuffet also apparently had a bumpy ride and is now hanging from a branch above the road. He is happy to see Jessie and begins to lose his grip as a massive truck speeds around the corner. Jessie tells Wobbuffet not to let go, but it's too late and Wobbuffet falls directly onto the speeding truck. As Wobbuffet hangs on, several police cars round the bend and Team Rocket soon disappears from the law. From the lead car, Officer Jenny explains that they need to catch the truck and Ash tells her they need to as well.
Soon the situation is explained and Jenny allows Ash and company to join her in the pursuit of Goneff, a master thief who breaks into bank vaults with the assistance of his Golem. Brock, as usual, tries to flirt, but Misty painfully reminds him that she's got enough problems already. A roadblock has been set up to catch Goneff as he nears a bridge, leaving him with no escape. As Goneff tries to shake off the police, the sudden turns cause Wobbuffet to fall onto the windshield. Goneff tries to get the blue blob off, but to no avail and the distraction causes him to run right into the roadblock. The truck crashes through several police cars into the city, and Officer Jenny has all the bridges raised and all avenues of escape cut off. Soon the truck is surrounded by the police as well as Team Rocket who approaches from the balloon. Just as it appears the jig is up for Goneff, the thief reveals that he has a trick up his sleeve, and the container on his truck opens up to reveal a covert Golem hot air balloon inside. Goneff jumps aboard to make his getaway but realizes that he has a stowaway, Wobbuffet, who he then tries to throw out. However, Wobbuffet uses Counter to instead send Goneff flying right into the hands of the police as the Golem balloon starts to fly away with Wobbuffet still on board.
Giving chase in the Meowth balloon, Jessie tries to recall Wobbuffet into his Poké Ball. Though the Golem balloon is flying wildly and the recall beams don't make contact with the errant Pokémon despite James moving them as close as possible. The balloon suddenly suffers a puncture as it hits the corner of a building and Jessie has Meowth cover the hole. The Golem balloon then appears over Team Rocket’s balloon, so Wobbuffet tries to leap to Jessie. Wobbuffet instead lands directly on the Meowth balloon, causing it to subsequently deflate, which sends the Rocket trio blasting off in one direction and Wobbuffet in another.
Ash is now trying to smash apart the PokéPod, but it appears that it is indeed impervious to damage and the key is indeed the only way to release Pikachu. Suddenly Ash sees Wobbuffet and the key flying overhead. As Wobbuffet is about to fall into the river, Ash sends out Chikorita and has her use Vine Whip to catch Wobbuffet. This works until Wobbuffet and the key become snagged onto the raised bridge, and he subsequently lands in a passing speedboat. Ash and the others give chase, and soon, the Team Rocket trio joins the pursuit. Jessie orders Wobbuffet to hit the brakes, but he is knocked out cold from his earlier collision into one of the drawbridges. Ash and Jessie leap into the speedboat, just managing to stabilize their balance. Wobbuffet then recovers, but it also snaps the steering wheel off in the process followed by the throttle stick. Meanwhile, Goneff has escaped again, this time on one of the officer’s motorbikes. Ahead of the speedboat is a Lapras-shaped cruiser which causes it to go flying and Wobbuffet to be thrown onto the back of Goneff's bike. As Goneff curses his luck, the speedboat is about to crash into a bridge when Ash uses Totodile's Water Gun to slow it down.
Upon regrouping, Ash and Jessie learn that Wobbuffet is being held hostage by Goneff, who is holed up inside an abandoned building demanding a helicopter in exchange for the Patient Pokémon's release. As Officer Jenny and the police surround the abandoned building where Goneff is holed up, Team Rocket works out a plan to get them past the good guys. As Goneff, his Golem, and a bound Wobbuffet wait for the police response, Ash and friends sneak around the back and find a tunnel dug inside the building. Team Rocket suddenly appears in front of Goneff where they recite their motto. The trio offers Goneff a deal, their escape tunnel in exchange for Wobbuffet. Goneff refuses and sets Golem onto them, intending to use the tunnel and leave Team Rocket high and dry in the hands of the police. Suddenly, Ash appears with Totodile, demanding Wobbuffet's release. Goneff sends Golem after Totodile, and although Golem is at a type disadvantage, its sheer strength overpowers Totodile. As Goneff tells Golem to use another Tackle, Totodile braces for impact and hides behind Wobbuffet, who uses Counter, freeing himself from the rope. The Counter also sends Golem flying into Goneff, who crashes out of the building and is quickly arrested by the waiting police.
As Ash congratulates Totodile on his quick thinking, Wobbuffet rejoins the rest of Team Rocket and they make a getaway with the key needed to free Pikachu. Ash and Totodile chase them, only to find them leaving in a Wobbuffet-shaped balloon. Ash demands the key, but Wobbuffet is now inside his Poké Ball and Team Rocket boasts that now it's their turn to be chased. However, Wobbuffet suddenly emerges from his Poké Ball, as he often does, and Ash takes the chance, sending Noctowl to pop the balloon. Noctowl does so, and as Team Rocket is shaken about the key falls off Wobbuffet and is sent towards the ground. Jessie, James, and Meowth all separately try to grab it, but can't do it before Ash finally grasps it in his hands. Pikachu is quickly released from his PokéPod prison. Team Rocket sadly realizes they've lost as Ash has Pikachu send them blasting off with a Thunderbolt. Ash thanks Officer Jenny for her help, and she salutes the group for leading to Goneff’s arrest. Ash and his friends continue on their journey. Meanwhile, Jessie, James, and Meowth struggle to hang onto a bridge while Wobbuffet is standing safely on the top. As they beg for his help, Wobbuffet is just happy to relax after his adventurous day.
Major events
- For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver, please see the timeline page.
Debuts
Pokémon debuts
Characters
Humans
Pokémon
Who's That Pokémon?: Teddiursa (US and international), Wobbuffet (Jessie's) (Japan)
Trivia
- The episode's title is read by Team Rocket.
- Aim to Be a Pokémon Master (Whiteberry Version) replaced OK! as the Japanese opening theme.
- Face Forward Team Rocket! replaced To My Best Friend as the Japanese ending theme.
- In the Japanese version, Pocket Monster TV replaces Dare Da? as a commercial break transition/eyecatch. Pocket Monster TV essentially serves the same purpose as "Dare Da?" except that it features a computerized voice, the featured Pokémon's number, and a different background, with a Pokégear.
- Also in the Japanese version, a new title card was introduced, changing as Ash obtains each Badge. In the dub, a slightly altered version of this title card was taken into use in Around the Whirlpool.
- This episode is featured on Volume 14: Wobbuffet from VIZ Media's Pokémon All-Stars series.
- This episode is featured on Pokémon All-Stars: Wobbuffet from Magna Pacific's Pokémon All-Stars series.
- James breaks the fourth wall in this episode.
- Music from Pikachu's Vacation, Mewtwo Strikes Back, and Pikachu's Rescue Adventure can be heard in this episode.
Errors
- In one scene, the tail on Team Rocket's Meowth Balloon turns completely cream-colored.
- When Officer Jenny says she will make sure she catches Goneff, the light-blue part on her shirt is missing. This also occurs when Brock asks if she will stop Goneff with a roadblock.
- Ash sends out Totodile out of a regular Poké Ball instead of the Lure Ball he was caught in.
The Meowth Balloon's miscolored tail
Officer Jenny's miscolored shirt
Totodile's Poké Ball
Dub edits
- The original airing of this episode on Hungama TV in India started the episode directly from the title card, skipping the part of the episode that comes before it.
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
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 Bulgarian
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Непокорният Уобъфет | |
| Mandarin Chinese | 果然翁遇難了！？ | |
 Czech
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Wobbuffetí schovávaná | |
 Dutch
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De Weerbarstige Wobbuffet | |
 European French
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La poursuite infernale | |
 German
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Woingenau und der magische Schlüssel | |
 Hebrew
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המרדף אחרי וובאפטhamirdaf akhar Wobbuffet | |
 Hindi
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शैतानी Wobbuffet! Shaitaani Wobbuffet! * | |
 Italian
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Pokémon in gabbia | |
 Polish
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Krnąbrny Wobbuffet | |
| Portuguese |  Brazil
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O Redelde Wobbuffet |
 Portugal
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O Wobbuffet Perdido | |
| Spanish |  Latin America
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¡Wobbuffet, el Pokémon descarriado! |
 Spain
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Wobbuffet y la llave secreta | |
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This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |