This article is about an episode of the Pokémon anime that has not been dubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names.
First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-style! (Japanese: モクロー登場!アローラでポケモンゲットだぜ!!It's Mokuroh! Catching Pokémon in Alola!!) is the fourth episode of the Sun & Moon series, and the 943rd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on November 24, 2016 as a one-hour special alongside SM003 and is scheduled to air in Canada on April 8, 2017, and in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2017.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
This plot summary is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this plot summary to add missing sections and complete it.
In the Melemele Island marketplace, Litten receives some berries from an Old woman when a flock of Pikipek fly overhead led by a Trumbeak as a Rowlet tries to keep up. The Pikipek swoop down on the market and grab food as the stallholder explains to Litten that they come every year and the stallholders are happy to provide food. The flock fly off back to the next.
Ash and Pikachu are battling a Grubbin hoping to make it their first capture in the Alola region as his classmates look on. Rotom Pokédex provides Ash with information about Grubbin as Pikachu weakens Grubbin, Ash throws a Poké Ball but Grubbin is able to escape. Grubbin uses Dig to go underground and comes back up scaring Lillie. Pikachu continues the attack but Grubbin escapes once Pikachu is unable to continue. Mallow shows Ash the way to the Pokémon Center as the others head back to school to let Professor Kukui know what has happened.
Bewear is outside its den whilst Team Rocket are inside. Jessie throws a Poké Ball at Mimikyu but Mimikyu swats the ball away and another that Jessie throws at it.
The first airing in Japan didn't include a Poké Problem as it aired as a one-hour special alongside SM003, only including the first Poké Problem. But it was included on other stations that aired the episode in delay and VOD services (Amazon Video, Netflix and Hulu).
During the first airing on TV Tokyo as one-hour special viewers could take part in a four-characters keyword quiz, in which 10 viewers could win a New Nintendo 3DS XL Pikachu Edition and copies of Pokémon Sun and Moon.
This episode marks the first appearance of the Alola Nurse Joy design.
This episode reveals that Comfey and Blissey are the Pokémon that assists Nurse Joys in the Alola region.
This episode marks the first time a Pokémon has been caught by a main character in a Poké Ball variant since Misty captured Corsola in A Corsola Caper!, 730 episodes earlier.