SM003 : Loading the Dex!
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
SM005 : Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!
First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-Style!
SM004.png
SM004   EP943
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!!
First broadcast
Japan November 24, 2016
United States May 14, 2017
English themes
Opening Under The Alolan Sun
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening アローラ!!
Ending ポーズ
Credits
Animation Team Kato
Screenplay 松井亜弥 Aya Matsui
Storyboard 尼野浩正 Hiromasa Amano
Assistant director 仲野良 Ryō Nakano
Animation directors 一石小百合 Sayuri Ichiishi
田島瑞穂 Mizuho Tajima
Additional credits

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 Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, and the 943rd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on November 24, 2016 as a one-hour special alongside SM003, in Canada on April 8, 2017, in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2017, and in the United States on May 14, 2017.

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

While Ash tries to catch his first Pokémon in the Alola region, Team Rocket is making friends with a Mimikyu and a Bewear, who carried them off to its cave so it could take care of them. When a flock of Pikipek steal Bewear’s food, the villains decide payback is in order!

Meanwhile, Ash has been sharing his lunch with a hungry Rowlet, and when he follows it back to its Pikipek friends, he runs right into Team Rocket catching the entire flock in a net! Rowlet frees its friends and sends Team Rocket packing (with help from Bewear), and then joins Ash on his journey!

Plot

In the Melemele Island marketplace, Litten receives some Berries from Anela. As Litten eats, a flock of Pikipek fly overhead led by a Trumbeak. Behind them, a Rowlet tries to keep up. They all swoop down on the market, taking berries and fruit from the stalls as the Rowlet spies a wind chime. The flock fly off with the fruit and berries as Rowlet takes the wind chime. Anela invites Litten to come back for food. In the forest, Ash and Pikachu are battling a Grubbin, which they hope to make their first capture in the Alola region. Pikachu attacks Grubbin as Rotom provides Ash with information about Grubbin as Pikachu weakens Grubbin with Thunderbolt. Ash throws a Poké Ball, which begins to shake, only for Grubbin to pop back out. Grubbin goes underground as Pikachu gets ready to attack. Grubbin emerges from the ground and scares Lillie.

The battle continues, but Pikachu is soon defeated, allowing Grubbin to escape. After checking on Pikachu, Mallow shows Ash the way to the Pokémon Center as the others head back to school. Bewear is outside her den whilst Team Rocket are inside. Jessie makes several attempts to capture Mimikyu, but Mimikyu is able to swat the ball away. They fear that Bewear will eat them and Mimikyu is the only one they can use against it. This causes James to drop a Luxury Ball on the floor, which Jessie notices and decides to use. Despite James's protests, Jessie throws the ball at Mimikyu and catches it. Before Jessie can pick it up, Bewear returns, but instead of eating them, Bewear feeds them some honey, which they find incredibly sweet. At a nearby Pokémon Center, Ash and Mallow are greeted by Nurse Joy, Blissey, and Comfey. Nurse Joy is happy to help Pikachu and Blissey takes Pikachu off for treatment. Ash notices Comfey, a Pokémon he hasn't seen before and asks Rotom for data which it provides along with data on Blissey. Ash and Mallow agree this makes them the perfect Pokémon to assist Nurse Joy.

Pikachu soon returns after being treated where Nurse Joy informs Ash that Pikachu is now fully healed. Rotom decides to test Pikachu by pulling on its tail which results in everyone getting zapped with Thunderbolt. Later, Rowlet, Trumbeak and the Pikipek return to the nest with their haul. Toucannon and Trumbeak aren't impressed with the wind chime Rowlet brings back and Trumbeak gives a lecture but grows annoyed when Rowlet falls asleep before sending Rowlet off to bring back some food. The next day, whilst having breakfast, Ash vows that today he will capture a Pokémon. Rotom explains they have a strong chance of capturing Pokémon in the forest behind the school. Mallow confirms this, because that is where she caught Bounsweet, who releases a sweet smell. This catches the attention of Rowlet, who mistakes it for food and dives down to grab it, only for Bounsweet to fight back. As Rotom provides information on Rowlet, Mallow explains that Bounsweet is used to it as Rotom explains that the smell Bounsweet released tends to attract Flying-type Pokémon.

At that moment, Rowlet comes back for another attack but is bounced back onto a power line and falls, but Ash saves it. When Rowlet comes round, Ash checks Rowlet and sees that it is okay, after which Rowlet notices some fruit and happily starts eating as Ash offers it a banana. Later, once Rowlet has finished, Ash gives its head a stroke before asking Rowlet if it would like to join his team, but Rowlet spots a watermelon and flies off with it. Ash and Mallow chase after it. Back at Bewear's den, Bewear is nowhere to be seen. Team Rocket, now feeling full thanks to Bewear's food, prepare to leave. Jessie grabs the Luxury Ball with Mimikyu inside, but as they go to leave, the Pikipek and Trumbeak swoop in and take Bewear's berries. They decide to get the berries back to thank Bewear for her generosity, which James and Meowth agree to do.

Back at the nest, Toucannon awaits the return of Rowlet along with the return of Pikipek and Trumbeak and remembers hatching the Pikipek eggs which also include Rowlet's. Rowlet returns with the watermelon which Toucannon is pleased with. Trumbeak and the Pikipek return, also pleased, just as Ash and Mallow arrive and notice the family. As Rotom provides information on the evolutionary line, Ash is surprised on seeing how many friends Rowlet has. Suddenly, Team Rocket fires several nets which captures the Pikipek, Toucannon and Trumbeak and say their motto. Ash orders them to let the Pokémon go, but they won't after they stole Bewear's food. Meowth fires another net which grabs Bewear's berries, as Jessie sends out Mimikyu to battle Pikachu. As the battle progresses, Ash tells Rowlet to save its friends. Rowlet manages to cut through the net containing the Pikipek with one kick, which annoys Team Rocket.

Rowlet goes to free Toucannon and Trumbeak, but after seeing Pikachu about to get hit, Rowlet launches its own attack before flying Pikachu out of the way. After making sure Pikachu is alright, the battle continues as Rowlet releases Toucannon and Trumbeak. The battle continues but is stopped when Bewear arrives and carries them away. Once they are gone, the Pikipek and Trumbeak thank Rowlet for saving them. Seeing Rowlet is happy with its family, Ash says goodbye to Rowlet and decides to leave without catching it. Rowlet looks upset about this but Toucannon nudges Rowlet, encouraging Rowlet to go with them. Rowlet flies into Ash's backpack. Ash is surprised but realizes Rowlet wishes to join his team much to Rotom's surprise. Rowlet flies into the air as Ash brings out a Poké Ball and throws it at Rowlet, successfully catching it, to the surprise of Rotom. Mallow is also surprised but guesses Ash has done this before. Ash brings Rowlet back out, who flies into his backpack, which Ash guesses Rowlet likes as Rotom updates its data on Rowlet.

Major events

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

Debuts

Humans

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

 
Dare da?

Pokémon

 
Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Rowlet

Trivia

Errors

Dub edits

In other languages



SM003 : Loading the Dex!
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
SM005 : Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!
  This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.