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title_en=So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd |
title_en=So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd |
title_ja=カモネギのカモ |
title_ja=カモネギのカモ |
title_ja_trans=Kamonegi's Easy Mark |
title_ja_trans=Kamonegi's Sitting Duck |
screen=yes |
screen=hd |
broadcast_jp=June 18, 1998 |
broadcast_jp=June 18, 1998 |
broadcast_us=March 20, 1999 |
broadcast_us=March 20, 1999 |
Line 26: Line 26:
morecredits=yes |
morecredits=yes |
epstaffpage=EP041-EP050 |
epstaffpage=EP041-EP050 |
footnotes= }}
footnotes=*{{filb-eppics|pm|049}}
'''So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd''' (Japanese: '''カモネギのカモ''' ''{{tt|Kamonegi|Farfetch'd}}'s Easy Mark'') is the 49th episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on June 18, 1998, and in the United States on March 20, 1999.  
}}
<!-- Short summary goes here. -->
'''So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd''' (Japanese: '''カモネギのカモ''' ''{{tt|Kamonegi|Farfetch'd}}'s Sitting Duck'') is the 49th episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It first aired in Japan on June 18, 1998, and in the United States on March 20, 1999.
 
{{spoilers}}
{{spoilers}}
== Synopsis ==
{{an|Misty}} sees a {{p|Farfetch'd}}, which performs a trick in front of her. She immediately decides to capture it, but it runs off into the forest. She chases after it, but bumps into {{ka|Keith}}, losing her bag in the process. He apologizes for running into her and gives her back her bag full of Poké Balls. In the process Misty loses Farfetch'd. However, when she comes out of the forest to find {{Ash}}, {{an|Brock}}, and {{AP|Pikachu}}, she discovers that she picked up a different bag, as it is full of rocks instead of Poké Balls. It turns out Keith was a backpack-switching thief, and used his Farfetch'd as a distraction so he could steal Misty's Pokémon.


Keith spots [[Team Rocket]] walking by, and approaches them, telling him he would like to give them his Farfetch'd, {{TP|Misty|Staryu}}, and {{TP|Misty|Starmie}}. As they stop at a dock to take a small boat across the lake, Keith "remembers" something he forgot, and runs off, leaving Team Rocket with Farfetch'd and all of Keith's Pokémon. Naturally, they try to steal them, and take the boat themselves, but this is exactly what Keith wanted them to do; the cork comes loose in the boat, causing it to sink. [[Jessie]] and [[James]] lose {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}} and {{TP|James|Weezing}} (and {{TP|Jessie|Lickitung}}, though Jessie shouldn't have Lickitung at this point), and Farfetch'd takes them to to Keith.
==Blurb==
<!--https://www.pokemon.com/us/animation/seasons/1/episode-46-so-near-yet-so-farfetchd/-->
<i>Even for our heroes, who are constantly in pursuit of developing their skills as Pokémon Trainers, there are times to stop and take a rest. As Ash sits on a rock, staring at his Pokédex, it displays Farfetch'd, an odd-looking Pokémon holding a leek. Because of excessive hunting by humans, very few Farfetch'd remain in existence, making it a very rare, valuable Pokémon. Hearing the word "valuable," Ash is unable to sit still. Just then, coming from an opening in the trees and waving a leek like a baton, a Farfetch'd becomes visible. Will any of our heroes be able to catch this rare Pokémon?</i>
 
==Plot==
{{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} decide to take a break in a meadow. The group begins discussing the rumor that a rare {{p|Farfetch'd}} has been spotted in the area, and Ash immediately decides he wants to {{pkmn2|caught|catch}} it. Ash and {{an|Brock}} leave to get some water for the group from a nearby spring. Meanwhile, {{an|Misty}} begins hearing sounds, and she thinks it is {{TP|Misty|Psyduck}}. All of a sudden, a Farfetch'd appears and begins parading in front of Misty before running into the woods. Misty, eager to catch the {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}, recalls Psyduck back into its {{i|Poké Ball}} and runs after it. She chases after the {{type|Flying}} Pokémon, but then, after turning a corner, bumps into a boy, {{OBP|Keith|EP049}}, and falls over. The boy apologizes, hands Misty her fallen [[bag]], and runs off.
 
Sad from losing track of the Farfetch'd, Misty returns to the meadow where Ash and Brock are looking for her. She reveals that she was trying to catch a Farfetch'd, which causes Ash and Brock to become infuriated that she was sneaking around behind their backs. They soon calm down after hearing from Misty how much of an awesome Pokémon Farfetch'd is. Brock hands Misty the water that he had gotten for her, but when she goes to put it in her bag she realizes the backpack is filled with rocks. She deduces that she must have picked up the wrong backpack when she bumped into the boy in the woods, and is upset because all of the Pokémon she had ever caught were in that backpack.
 
Back in the woods, Keith is walking down a path with the Farfetch'd by his side. He looks inside the newly stolen backpack to inspect what he has found, which turns out to be five Poké Balls. He returns to his tent, which is filled with other backpacks that likely were inherited by the same way Misty's was: by using his Farfetch'd as a distraction so he could steal other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s' Pokémon. Just then, Keith and Farfetch'd spot {{TRT}} walking by. As it turns out, Team Rocket is also looking for a Farfetch'd. Keith and his Farfetch'd approach Team Rocket, who are disappointed by the fact that the Pokémon already has a master. The boy states that he was planning on getting rid of his Farfetch'd, along with a {{TP|Misty|Staryu}} and {{TP|Misty|Starmie}}, and proposes that they could work out some sort of deal.
 
Keith and Team Rocket stop at a dock to take a small boat across a river, when the boy remembers something he forgot. He runs off, saying that he will be right back, leaving Team Rocket with Farfetch'd and all of Keith's Pokémon in a backpack. Naturally, they try to steal them, and take the small boat themselves, but this is exactly what the boy wanted them to do; a cork comes loose in the bottom of the boat, causing it to sink. [[Jessie]] and [[James]] lose {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}} and {{TP|James|Weezing}} (and {{TP|Jessie|Lickitung}}), whose Poké Balls are floating down stream. When Team Rocket goes into Keith's bag to get Staryu and Starmie to help themselves out of the water, they discover the bag is full of rocks, just as Misty's was earlier, which makes them realize that Keith had anticipated their trick and had decided to trick them first. Farfetch'd gathers the Poké Balls, and sends Team Rocket over a waterfall. The Pokémon then swims to shore to find Keith waiting for him.
 
Ash and his friends run to the nearest police station, and tell [[Officer Jenny]] what happened to Misty's Pokémon, still believing the whole thing was an accident. Jenny tells them that Misty is the fifth victim of the backpack-switching thief just that week; she informs everyone of how she has been trying to catch the perpetrator, to no avail.


Ash, Misty, and Brock tell [[Officer Jenny]] what happened, still believing it to be an accident, but Jenny tells them that Misty is the fifth victim of the backpack-switching thief. {{TP|Misty|Psyduck}} gets out of its [[Poké Ball]] and goes over to them, and leads them toward Keith. Meanwhile, Team Rocket attacks Keith, and he tells them that the whole thing was a joke, and gives them all the Poké Balls. Shortly after they leave, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Officer Jenny arrive, Psyduck having led them correctly. Keith says that his Farfetch'd is too weak to battle, and he has no choice but to steal Pokémon. In response, they decide that he should learn the correct way to catch Pokémon, and Ash battles Keith with his Bulbasaur. To Keith's surprise, Farfetch'd uses its techniques and defeats Bulbasaur. Keith says that he wouldn't have used Farfetch'd to steal if he had known it could use techniques. Misty battles Keith, but her only Pokémon is Psyduck. However, Farfetch'd hits it on the head enough to give it a headache, and it defeats Farfetch'd using {{m|Disable}}, and then {{m|Confusion}}.
Back at Keith's tent, he begins talking to himself about his situation. He states that he and his Farfetch'd had been together for a long time; they had been together ever since he found it injured and nursed it back to health. He reveals that just after his Farfetch'd was healed, they started stealing other Trainers' Pokémon. He believes the only way to survive is to steal because they are too weak to {{pkmn|battle}}; he genuinely wishes there was another way to get by. Inside the tent, Misty's Psyduck releases itself from its Poké Ball and walks off without Keith, or Farfetch'd, noticing.


Meanwhile, Team Rocket open all the Poké Balls that Keith gave them, only to discover that they all contain {{p|Voltorb}}. Angry that they have been tricked again, they throw the Voltorb over the edge of their balloon, and directly down to where Keith and Farfetch'd are, and they all {{m|selfdestruct}} near him. He promises not to do anything bad anymore, and gives back all the Pokémon he stole, and decides to train his Farfetch'd to become even stronger.
Misty and the group take Officer Jenny to the place in the woods where she bumped into Keith. Just then, Psyduck appears from behind a bush. Misty asks her Pokémon some questions about where it was and where her bag is, but the Psyduck seems unable to provide any useful information. Desperate to find her bag, Misty has Psyduck try to lead the group to where it came from.


Jessie and James consider telling {{an|Giovanni}} what happened, but {{MTR}} convinces them not to. However, one Voltorb is left in their balloon, and it selfdestructs, sending them falling out of the balloon.
Team Rocket, in the [[Team Rocket's mechas|Meowth Balloon]], are extremely angry, and out to find Keith and their Pokémon. They run into him just as he is packing up his tent and the stolen Pokémon, and is ready to get on the road. The boy tries to return their Pokémon by saying the whole thing was just a joke, and in return, he can just leave, but Team Rocket wants more. As a result, Keith gives them a whole bag of Poké Balls, along with his apologies; Team Rocket decides to forgive him, and they take off in their balloon with all of the Poké Balls.


== Major events ==
Shortly after Team Rocket leaves, Ash, his friends, and Officer Jenny arrive, Psyduck having led them correctly. Everyone surrounds Keith, confronting him about his stealing. Ash expresses how much time and care Trainers put into raising their Pokémon. The group decides that they would have a Pokémon battle to teach him a lesson, so Keith could see how difficult a match is really. He then explains that his Farfetch'd is too weak to battle, and he has no choice but to steal Pokémon. Brock discounts this and says that Pokémon will become stronger with Trainers who work with them. Just as Keith begins to rebut, Farfetch'd expresses an interest in battling. Ash jumps in and sends out {{AP|Bulbasaur}} to battle, and orders a {{m|Tackle}} attack. With every strike of Bulbasaur's {{m|Vine Whip}}, Farfetch'd becomes increasingly determined to win. Keith, completely unaware of his Farfetch'd's techniques, witnesses an {{m|Agility}} attack, followed by multiple strikes of the Pokémon's {{wp|leek}}; Ash's Bulbasaur is defeated. The boy says that he wouldn't have used Farfetch'd to steal if he had known it had such power. Ash, ready to send out {{AP|Pikachu}} to battle Farfetch'd, is stopped by Misty, who wants to battle. To her dismay, she soon realizes that her only Pokémon is Psyduck. However, Farfetch'd begins to hit it on the head. The blows give Psyduck a headache and it unleashes a powerful {{m|Disable}} attack, sending the Pokémon flying into its owner. Misty and Psyduck celebrate their victory over the Trainer that stole her Pokémon.
 
Meanwhile, Team Rocket is opening all of the Poké Balls that Keith gave them, only to discover that they all contain {{p|Voltorb}}. Angry that they have been tricked again, they throw the Voltorb over the edge of their balloon. Unfortunately, the Pokémon land directly and {{m|Self-Destruct|self-destruct}} near Keith, Ash, his friends, and Jenny. Feeling defeated, the boy promises to stop his wrongdoing.
 
Back at the police station, Keith tells Officer Jenny that he'll give back all of the Pokémon he stole. Jenny informs him that he is lucky that none of the Trainers are going to press charges because they all got their Pokémon back; Misty expresses her joy to have her Pokémon back. Keith now admits it was wrong to steal, and apologizes to Farfetch'd for not believing in its power. With the new revelations, Keith decides to train his Farfetch'd to become even stronger, and the two head off.
 
Jessie and James, up in their balloon, consider telling {{an|Giovanni|their boss}} what happened, but {{MTR}} convinces them not to; Team Rocket expresses embarrassment over being outsmarted by a kid. All of a sudden, they realize one Voltorb is left in their balloon, and it self-destructs, sending them blasting off.
 
==Major events==
<!-- This is not for summarizing everything that happens in this episode. Only events pertaining to the series as a whole, such as catching and releasing Pokémon and obtaining Badges, go here. -->
{{animeevents}}
{{animeevents}}
=== Debuts ===
 
==== Pokémon debuts ====  
===Debuts===
====Pokémon debuts====
* {{p|Farfetch'd}}
* {{p|Farfetch'd}}


== Characters ==
==Characters==
=== Humans ===
===Humans===
[[File:Dare da EP049.png|200px|thumb|right|{{tt|Dare da?|Who's That Pokémon?}}]]
* {{Ash}}
* {{Ash}}
* {{an|Misty}}
* {{an|Misty}}
Line 55: Line 78:
* [[James]]
* [[James]]
* [[Officer Jenny]]
* [[Officer Jenny]]
* {{ka|Keith}}
* {{OBP|Keith|EP049}}


=== Pokémon ===
===Pokémon===
[[Who’s That Pokémon?]]: {{p|Farfetch'd}}
[[File:WTP EP049.png|thumb|right|200px|Who's That Pokémon?]]
[[Who's That Pokémon?]]: {{p|Farfetch'd}}


* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
Line 64: Line 88:
* {{p|Bulbasaur}} ({{OP|Ash|Bulbasaur}})
* {{p|Bulbasaur}} ({{OP|Ash|Bulbasaur}})
* {{p|Psyduck}} ({{OP|Misty|Psyduck}})
* {{p|Psyduck}} ({{OP|Misty|Psyduck}})
* {{p|Farfetch'd}} ({{ka|Keith}}'s; debut)
* {{p|Farfetch'd}} ({{OBP|Keith|EP049}}'s; debut)
* {{p|Voltorb}} ({{ka|Keith}}'s, formerly)
* {{p|Voltorb}} ({{OBP|Keith|EP049}}'s; multiple; leave)
{{right clear}}


== Trivia ==
==Trivia==
* This episode takes place after ''[[EP052|Princess Versus Princess]]'' because [[Jessie's Lickitung]] is mentioned here. However, Misty's {{TP|Misty|Togepi|Togetic}} is never seen or mentioned in this episode (except for its egg), who hatched in the following episode.
* This episode's English [[dub]] title is a pun on the phrase "''so near, yet so far''".
* In the English dub, {{an|Brock}} refers to {{TP|Misty|Psyduck}} as a male by calling it a "he".
* [[Jessie's Lickitung]] is among the Pokémon stolen, but she doesn't catch it until [[EP052|three episodes later]]. This is because that episode chronologically occurs directly before this one, but was postponed in the rescheduling after the [[EP038]] incident.
* Meowth [[Breaking the fourth wall|breaks the fourth wall]] by saying, "he tricked us two times in one episode!". Psyduck does too when the Narrator says Misty got her backpack back with "a little help from Psyduck", which it responds to questioningly, prompting the Narrator to say "Or rather, a ''lot'' of help from Psyduck" which causes it to smile.
* Two real-world animals are mentioned when Meowth states that it's "like letting your cat watch your canary".
* This episode is a pun on the phrase, ''"So near, yet so far away."''
* The [[Breaking the fourth wall|fourth wall]] is broken twice in this episode. The first is when {{MTR}} says, "[H]e tricked us two times in one episode!" Later, the [[narrator]] says that {{an|Misty}} got her backpack back with "a little help from {{TP|Misty|Psyduck}}", which Psyduck responds to questioningly. The narrator then adds "Or rather, a ''lot'' of help from Psyduck", which makes it smile.
=== Errors ===
* This is the last episode in which [[List of English voice actors|Nicholas James Tate]] provides the voice of the [[Pokédex]].
* {{TRT}} doesn't recite their {{motto}} in this episode.
* The [[Pokémon in Turkey|Turkish]] title of this episode is based on its English title, therefore the wordplay in the title is lost, leaving a rather confusing title with little meaning to the audience.
* At several points in the Japanese version, Farfetch'd can be heard humming the "{{wp|Colonel Bogey March}}" as it marches.


===Errors===
* In the beginning, as {{an|Brock}} polishes the [[Pokémon Egg]], one of the triangles is dark-blue instead of light-blue.
* Given the amount of time he had, {{OBP|Keith|EP049}} could not have been able to make a substitute for Misty's bag at such short notice.
* Two bags are shown as Keith packs up the stolen {{i|Poké Ball}}s, but only one is present when he later speaks with Team Rocket, which is the one he gave to James. As Team Rocket flies away in their [[Team Rocket's mechas#Team Rocket's Meowth balloon|balloon]], Keith is shown holding the second bag once more.
* When Psyduck's back is to the camera while being struck by {{p|Farfetch'd}}'s leek, its bill is the same color as its body.
* When Psyduck is pointing to Keith and his Farfetch'd, the symbol on [[Ash's hat]] appears as a triangle, rather than the normal shape.
* When Ash recalls {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, its Poké Ball has an extra line towards the bottom.
* In the {{pmin|Poland|Polish}} dub, Ash orders Bulbasaur to use {{m|Vine Whip}} instead of {{m|Tackle}}.


*One of the Pokémon stolen is Jessie's Lickitung; however, she doesn't catch a Lickitung until [[EP052|three episodes later.]]
===Dub edits===
*When Keith is packing up the stolen Pokéballs, there are two bags shown. Shortly thereafter, as he is speaking with Team Rocket, only one bag is present, which is the one he gave to James. As Team Rocket fly away in their [[Team Rocket's mechas|balloon]], Keith is shown holding the second bag once more.
* [[Kanto Pokérap]]: Day 4
 
* When Misty begins yelling at Psyduck, Brock says, "Psyduck's trying as hard as he can." In the Japanese version, there's no implication that Psyduck is male.
=== Dub edits ===
* When Team Rocket opens Keita's bag to look at what Pokémon they got from him, the ''baka'' or "idiot" written in the Japanese version was changed to a second picture of a face sticking their tongue out.


==In other languages==
==In other languages==
{{Epilang|color=AAFFAA|bordercolor=FFAAAA
{{Epilang|color=AFA|bordercolor=FAA
|ja=
|ar={{tt|سارق البوكيمونات|The Pokémon thief}}
|en=
|zh_cmn={{tt|大蔥鴨的蔥|The Scallion of Farfetch'd}}
|ar=
|cs=Farfetch'd
|eu=
|da={{tt|Et Tyvagtigt Makkerpar|A Thievish Pair}}
|bg=
|nl={{tt|De Pokémon Dief|The Pokémon Thief}}
|ca=
|fi={{tt|Lähellä, mutta silti niin kaukana|So close yet so far}}
|zh_cmn='''{{tt|大蔥鴨的蔥|The Scallion of Farfetch'd}}'''
|fr_eu={{tt|Recette aux poireaux|Receipt with leeks}}
|zh_yue=
|de={{tt|Der Trickbetrüger|The con artist}}
|hr=
|he=תעלולי פרפג {{tt|ta'alulei Farfetch'd|Farfetch'd mischief}}
|cs='''{{tt|Farfetch'd|Farfetch'd}}'''
|hi=Farfetch'd - एक अनोखा पोकेमोन {{tt|''Farfetch'd - Ek Anokha Pokémon''|Farfetch'd - A Unique Pokémon}} {{tt|*|Hungama dub}}
|da=
|hu={{tt|Nesze, semmi, fogd meg jól!|Here, Nothing, Hold it Tight!}}
|nl=
|it={{tt|Una bella lezione|A well-deserved lesson}}{{tt|*|Original 2000 dub}} <br> {{tt|Farfetch'd il ladro|Farfetch'd the thief}}{{tt|*|2014 K2 TV dub}}
|et=
|ko=고라파덕, 네가 웬일이니?
|fil=
|no={{tt|Så nær, men dog, så fjernt|So close but yet so far}}
|fi='''{{tt|Lähellä, mutta silti niin kaukana|So close yet so far}}'''
|pl={{tt|Niezwykły kuchmistrz Farfetch'd|Extraordinary chef Farfetch'd}}
|fr_ca=
|pt_br={{tt|O Pokémon Farfetch'd|The Pokémon Farfetch'd}}
|fr_eu=''{{tt|Recette aux poireaux|Receipt with leeks}}'''
|pt_eu={{tt|Tão perto está o Farfetch'd|So Near is the Farfetch'd}}
|de='''{{tt|Der Trickbetrüger|The con artist}}'''
|ro={{tt|Atât de Aproape, Atât de Farfetch'd|So Close, So Farfetch'd}}
|el=
|ru={{tt|В погоне за Фарфечдом|Chasing the Farfetch'd}}
|he=''' 'תעלולי פרפג''' ''{{tt|ta'alulei Farfetch'd|Farfetch'd mischief}}''
|sk={{tt|Farfetch'd - slabý a predsa silný|Farfetch'd - Weak, Yet Strong}}
|hi=
|es_la={{tt|¡Tan cerca y aún tan Farfetch'd!|So close, yet so Farfetch'd!}}
|hu='''{{tt|Nesze, semmi, fogd meg jól!|Here, Nothing, Hold it Tight!}}'''
|es_eu={{tt|Tan cerca, y aún así tan Farfetch'd|So close, and yet so Farfetch'd}}
|is=
|sv={{tt|Pokémontjuven|The Pokémon thief}}
|id=
|tr={{tt|Çok Yakında Ama Çok Farfetch'd|Very Soon But Very Farfetch'd}}
|it='''{{tt|Una bella lezione|A well-deserved lesson}}'''
|ko=
|no=
|pl=
|pt_br='''{{tt|O Pokémon Farfetch'd|The Pokémon Farfetch'd}}'''
|pt_eu='''{{tt|Tão perto está o Farfetch'd|So Near is the Farfetch'd}}'''
|ro=
|ru='''{{tt|В погоне за Фарфечдом|Chasing the Farfetch'd}}'''
|sk=
|sl=
|es_la='''{{tt|¡Tan cerca y aún tan Farfetch'd!|So close, yet so Farfetch'd!}}'''
|es_eu='''{{tt|Tan cerca y aún así tan Farfetch'd|So close and yet so Farfetch'd}}'''
|sv='''{{tt|Pokémontjuven|The Pokémon thief}}'''
|ta=
|te=
|th=
|tr=
|vi=
}}
}}
{{-}}
{{-}}
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nexttitle=Who Gets to Keep Togepi? |
nexttitle=Who Gets to Keep Togepi? |
series=Original series |
series=Original series |
colorscheme=Kanto| }}
colorscheme=Kanto}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:0049}}
[[Category:Original series episodes|049]]
[[Category:Original series episodes|049]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Atsuhiro Tomioka|049]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Atsuhiro Tomioka]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Osamu Inoue|049]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Osamu Inoue]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Shin'ichirō Kajiura|049]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Osamu Inoue]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on Misty|049]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Osamu Inoue]]
[[de:Der Trickbetrüger (Episode)]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Shin'ichirō Kajiura]]
[[fr:Épisode 49]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on Misty]]
 
[[de:Der Trickbetrüger]]
[[es:EP049]]
[[fr:EP049]]
[[it:EP049]]
[[ja:無印編第49話]]
[[ja:無印編第49話]]
[[pl:EP049]]
[[zh:宝可梦 第48集]]
[[pt:EP049]]

Latest revision as of 00:18, 9 March 2024

← EP048 : Holy Matrimony!
Original series
EP050 : Who Gets to Keep Togepi? →
So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd
EP049.png
  EP049  
カモネギのカモ
Kamonegi's Sitting Duck
First broadcast
Japan June 18, 1998
United States March 20, 1999
English themes
Opening Pokémon Theme
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening めざせポケモンマスター
Ending ポケットにファンタジー
Credits
Animation Team Ota
Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka
Storyboard 井上修 Osamu Inoue
Assistant director 井上修 Osamu Inoue
Animation director 梶浦紳一郎 Shin'ichirō Kajiura
Additional credits

So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd (Japanese: カモネギのカモ Kamonegi's Sitting Duck) is the 49th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on June 18, 1998, and in the United States on March 20, 1999.

201
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
201

Blurb

Even for our heroes, who are constantly in pursuit of developing their skills as Pokémon Trainers, there are times to stop and take a rest. As Ash sits on a rock, staring at his Pokédex, it displays Farfetch'd, an odd-looking Pokémon holding a leek. Because of excessive hunting by humans, very few Farfetch'd remain in existence, making it a very rare, valuable Pokémon. Hearing the word "valuable," Ash is unable to sit still. Just then, coming from an opening in the trees and waving a leek like a baton, a Farfetch'd becomes visible. Will any of our heroes be able to catch this rare Pokémon?

Plot

Ash and his friends decide to take a break in a meadow. The group begins discussing the rumor that a rare Farfetch'd has been spotted in the area, and Ash immediately decides he wants to catch it. Ash and Brock leave to get some water for the group from a nearby spring. Meanwhile, Misty begins hearing sounds, and she thinks it is Psyduck. All of a sudden, a Farfetch'd appears and begins parading in front of Misty before running into the woods. Misty, eager to catch the Pokémon, recalls Psyduck back into its Poké Ball and runs after it. She chases after the Flying-type Pokémon, but then, after turning a corner, bumps into a boy, Keith, and falls over. The boy apologizes, hands Misty her fallen bag, and runs off.

Sad from losing track of the Farfetch'd, Misty returns to the meadow where Ash and Brock are looking for her. She reveals that she was trying to catch a Farfetch'd, which causes Ash and Brock to become infuriated that she was sneaking around behind their backs. They soon calm down after hearing from Misty how much of an awesome Pokémon Farfetch'd is. Brock hands Misty the water that he had gotten for her, but when she goes to put it in her bag she realizes the backpack is filled with rocks. She deduces that she must have picked up the wrong backpack when she bumped into the boy in the woods, and is upset because all of the Pokémon she had ever caught were in that backpack.

Back in the woods, Keith is walking down a path with the Farfetch'd by his side. He looks inside the newly stolen backpack to inspect what he has found, which turns out to be five Poké Balls. He returns to his tent, which is filled with other backpacks that likely were inherited by the same way Misty's was: by using his Farfetch'd as a distraction so he could steal other Trainers' Pokémon. Just then, Keith and Farfetch'd spot Team Rocket walking by. As it turns out, Team Rocket is also looking for a Farfetch'd. Keith and his Farfetch'd approach Team Rocket, who are disappointed by the fact that the Pokémon already has a master. The boy states that he was planning on getting rid of his Farfetch'd, along with a Staryu and Starmie, and proposes that they could work out some sort of deal.

Keith and Team Rocket stop at a dock to take a small boat across a river, when the boy remembers something he forgot. He runs off, saying that he will be right back, leaving Team Rocket with Farfetch'd and all of Keith's Pokémon in a backpack. Naturally, they try to steal them, and take the small boat themselves, but this is exactly what the boy wanted them to do; a cork comes loose in the bottom of the boat, causing it to sink. Jessie and James lose Arbok and Weezing (and Lickitung), whose Poké Balls are floating down stream. When Team Rocket goes into Keith's bag to get Staryu and Starmie to help themselves out of the water, they discover the bag is full of rocks, just as Misty's was earlier, which makes them realize that Keith had anticipated their trick and had decided to trick them first. Farfetch'd gathers the Poké Balls, and sends Team Rocket over a waterfall. The Pokémon then swims to shore to find Keith waiting for him.

Ash and his friends run to the nearest police station, and tell Officer Jenny what happened to Misty's Pokémon, still believing the whole thing was an accident. Jenny tells them that Misty is the fifth victim of the backpack-switching thief just that week; she informs everyone of how she has been trying to catch the perpetrator, to no avail.

Back at Keith's tent, he begins talking to himself about his situation. He states that he and his Farfetch'd had been together for a long time; they had been together ever since he found it injured and nursed it back to health. He reveals that just after his Farfetch'd was healed, they started stealing other Trainers' Pokémon. He believes the only way to survive is to steal because they are too weak to battle; he genuinely wishes there was another way to get by. Inside the tent, Misty's Psyduck releases itself from its Poké Ball and walks off without Keith, or Farfetch'd, noticing.

Misty and the group take Officer Jenny to the place in the woods where she bumped into Keith. Just then, Psyduck appears from behind a bush. Misty asks her Pokémon some questions about where it was and where her bag is, but the Psyduck seems unable to provide any useful information. Desperate to find her bag, Misty has Psyduck try to lead the group to where it came from.

Team Rocket, in the Meowth Balloon, are extremely angry, and out to find Keith and their Pokémon. They run into him just as he is packing up his tent and the stolen Pokémon, and is ready to get on the road. The boy tries to return their Pokémon by saying the whole thing was just a joke, and in return, he can just leave, but Team Rocket wants more. As a result, Keith gives them a whole bag of Poké Balls, along with his apologies; Team Rocket decides to forgive him, and they take off in their balloon with all of the Poké Balls.

Shortly after Team Rocket leaves, Ash, his friends, and Officer Jenny arrive, Psyduck having led them correctly. Everyone surrounds Keith, confronting him about his stealing. Ash expresses how much time and care Trainers put into raising their Pokémon. The group decides that they would have a Pokémon battle to teach him a lesson, so Keith could see how difficult a match is really. He then explains that his Farfetch'd is too weak to battle, and he has no choice but to steal Pokémon. Brock discounts this and says that Pokémon will become stronger with Trainers who work with them. Just as Keith begins to rebut, Farfetch'd expresses an interest in battling. Ash jumps in and sends out Bulbasaur to battle, and orders a Tackle attack. With every strike of Bulbasaur's Vine Whip, Farfetch'd becomes increasingly determined to win. Keith, completely unaware of his Farfetch'd's techniques, witnesses an Agility attack, followed by multiple strikes of the Pokémon's leek; Ash's Bulbasaur is defeated. The boy says that he wouldn't have used Farfetch'd to steal if he had known it had such power. Ash, ready to send out Pikachu to battle Farfetch'd, is stopped by Misty, who wants to battle. To her dismay, she soon realizes that her only Pokémon is Psyduck. However, Farfetch'd begins to hit it on the head. The blows give Psyduck a headache and it unleashes a powerful Disable attack, sending the Pokémon flying into its owner. Misty and Psyduck celebrate their victory over the Trainer that stole her Pokémon.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket is opening all of the Poké Balls that Keith gave them, only to discover that they all contain Voltorb. Angry that they have been tricked again, they throw the Voltorb over the edge of their balloon. Unfortunately, the Pokémon land directly and self-destruct near Keith, Ash, his friends, and Jenny. Feeling defeated, the boy promises to stop his wrongdoing.

Back at the police station, Keith tells Officer Jenny that he'll give back all of the Pokémon he stole. Jenny informs him that he is lucky that none of the Trainers are going to press charges because they all got their Pokémon back; Misty expresses her joy to have her Pokémon back. Keith now admits it was wrong to steal, and apologizes to Farfetch'd for not believing in its power. With the new revelations, Keith decides to train his Farfetch'd to become even stronger, and the two head off.

Jessie and James, up in their balloon, consider telling their boss what happened, but Meowth convinces them not to; Team Rocket expresses embarrassment over being outsmarted by a kid. All of a sudden, they realize one Voltorb is left in their balloon, and it self-destructs, sending them blasting off.

Major events

For a list of all major events in the anime, please see the history page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

 
Dare da?

Pokémon

 
Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Farfetch'd


Trivia

  • This episode's English dub title is a pun on the phrase "so near, yet so far".
  • Jessie's Lickitung is among the Pokémon stolen, but she doesn't catch it until three episodes later. This is because that episode chronologically occurs directly before this one, but was postponed in the rescheduling after the EP038 incident.
  • Two real-world animals are mentioned when Meowth states that it's "like letting your cat watch your canary".
  • The fourth wall is broken twice in this episode. The first is when Meowth says, "[H]e tricked us two times in one episode!" Later, the narrator says that Misty got her backpack back with "a little help from Psyduck", which Psyduck responds to questioningly. The narrator then adds "Or rather, a lot of help from Psyduck", which makes it smile.
  • This is the last episode in which Nicholas James Tate provides the voice of the Pokédex.
  • Team Rocket doesn't recite their motto in this episode.
  • The Turkish title of this episode is based on its English title, therefore the wordplay in the title is lost, leaving a rather confusing title with little meaning to the audience.
  • At several points in the Japanese version, Farfetch'd can be heard humming the "Colonel Bogey March" as it marches.

Errors

  • In the beginning, as Brock polishes the Pokémon Egg, one of the triangles is dark-blue instead of light-blue.
  • Given the amount of time he had, Keith could not have been able to make a substitute for Misty's bag at such short notice.
  • Two bags are shown as Keith packs up the stolen Poké Balls, but only one is present when he later speaks with Team Rocket, which is the one he gave to James. As Team Rocket flies away in their balloon, Keith is shown holding the second bag once more.
  • When Psyduck's back is to the camera while being struck by Farfetch'd's leek, its bill is the same color as its body.
  • When Psyduck is pointing to Keith and his Farfetch'd, the symbol on Ash's hat appears as a triangle, rather than the normal shape.
  • When Ash recalls Bulbasaur, its Poké Ball has an extra line towards the bottom.
  • In the Polish dub, Ash orders Bulbasaur to use Vine Whip instead of Tackle.

Dub edits

  • Kanto Pokérap: Day 4
  • When Misty begins yelling at Psyduck, Brock says, "Psyduck's trying as hard as he can." In the Japanese version, there's no implication that Psyduck is male.
  • When Team Rocket opens Keita's bag to look at what Pokémon they got from him, the baka or "idiot" written in the Japanese version was changed to a second picture of a face sticking their tongue out.

In other languages



← EP048 : Holy Matrimony!
Original series
EP050 : Who Gets to Keep Togepi? →
  This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.
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