BW105: Curtain Up, Unova League!

"Curtain Up, Unova League!"
Information
Series	Pokémon the Series: Black & White
Subtitle	Pocket Monsters: Best Wishes! Season 2
Season	Pokémon: BW Adventures in Unova and Beyond
№	764
Opening(s) and Ending(s)	Japanese Opening Be an Arrow! Ending Look Look☆Here English Opening It's Always You and Me
Staff credits	脚本(きゃくほん) (Screenplay) 大橋志吉 (Yukiyoshi Ōhashi) 絵(え)コンテ (Storyboard) 西田健一 (Ken'ichi Nishida) 助手(じょしゅ)監督(かんとく) (Assistant director(s)) 西田健一 (Ken'ichi Nishida) 作画(さくが)監督(かんとく) (Animation director(s)) 志村泉 (Izumi Shimura)
In other countries
Japan	Title 開幕イッシュリーグ・ヒガキ大会！サトシ対シューティー！！ Airdate November 22, 2012
Japan	Title 開幕イッシュリーグ・ヒガキ大会！サトシ対シューティー！！ Airdate November 22, 2012
Anglosphere	Title Curtain Up, Unova League! Airdate(s) March 9, 2013 Notes ^ a: Signifies that it only applies to the US, UK, CA, AU, NZ and SG
Anglosphere	Title Curtain Up, Unova League! Airdate(s) March 9, 2013 Notes ^ a: Signifies that it only applies to the US, UK, CA, AU, NZ and SG
Details
Main	Ash, Iris, Cilan
Recurring	Professor Juniper, Nurse Joy, Trip, Bianca, Stephan, Officer Jenny
Minor	Virgil, Katharine, Freddy O'Martian, Davy, Cameron, Radley, Mikael, Ultimo, Kendrick, Emmanuel, Geraldo, Flora, Kenton, Manning, Antonio, Russet, Ramone, Dino. Hawes (flashback) Gym Leaders in flashbacks Chili, Cress, Lenora, Burgh, Elesa, Clay, Skyla, Brycen, Roxie
Pokémon	Ash's Pikachu, Iris' Axew, Nurse Joy's Audino, Trip's Serperior, Bianca's Emboar, Stephan's Zebstrika, Cameron's Riolu, Cameron's Ferrothorn, Virgil's Eevee, Virgil's Vaporeon, Marill, Pidove, Herdier, Patrat, Sandile, Deerling, Zebstrika, Ducklett Ash's Pokémon in flashbacks Ash's Unfezant, Ash's Oshawott, Ash's Tepig, Ash's Boldore, Ash's Krokorok Gym Leader's Pokémon in flashbacks Cilan's Pansage, Chili's Pansear, Cress' Panpour, Lenora's Herdier, Burgh's Leavanny, Elesa's Tynamo, Clay's Excadrill, Skyla's Swanna, Brycen's Beartic, Roxie's Garbodor Pokémon of various trainers Radley's Braviary, Mikael's Watchog, Ultimo's Crustle, Kendrick's Eelektross, Sandile, Blitzle
Badges or Classes
Major event(s)	Ash and co. arrive to Vertress City. Stephan advances to next round.
Title cards
Japanese
For other title cards, see here

Curtain Up, Unova League! (Japanese: 開幕イッシュリーグ・ヒガキ大会！サトシ対シューティー！！, Hepburn: Start the Unova League—Vertress Tournament! Ash Against Trip!!) is the 6th episode of Pokémon: BW Adventures in Unova and Beyond.

Synopsis

Our heroes have finally arrived in Vertress City, home of the Unova League, and Ash’s excitement is at a fever pitch! While they’re in the midst of marveling at the massive Unova League stadium, the familiar faces of several Trainers begin rolling into town with their own plans to compete—and to Ash’s dismay, Bianca’s entrance is as dramatic as ever.

Ash, Trip, Stephan, Bianca, and new friend Virgil (from the Pokémon Rescue Squad) are all raring to go—as is Cameron, who’s been camping out for three days in a tent with his Riolu to make sure he wouldn’t be late! However, no one told him he needed to register for the tournament, so Ash rushes his absent-minded friend over to Nurse Joy—mere moments after registration has closed. Fortunately for Cameron, Nurse Joy takes pity on him and lets him register anyway.

The next morning, it’s time to get started! Freddy the Scoop drops in by parachute to call the action, and starts out by announcing the rules: before the main event begins, Trainers have to get through the qualifying rounds, where they can only use one Pokémon each. Stephan wins his first match easily. Virgil and Bianca are struggling against their opponents—and Ash is paired up against his very first Unova rival: Trip!

Trip calls out his super-speedy Serperior, who handed Ash his defeat in the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup finals. This time, rather than relying on Pignite’s type advantage, Ash has chosen Pikachu to kick off his Unova League experience! But even Pikachu’s Quick Attack isn’t fast enough to hit Serperior, who dodges every move with serpentine skill. Finally, Trip has Serperior strike back with Dragon Tail—and it’s a direct hit! Will Ash and Pikachu be knocked out of the Unova League before they even get to the main event?

Episode plot

The heroes speed up, finally reaching Vertress City. The heroes admit a long way of adventures led them here. Seeing many trainers, Ash decides to beat them all. First, he goes to register for the League. The heroes admire the stadium, having several battle fields. Suddenly, Bianca bumps into Ash, causing him to fall into a nearest fountain. Bianca apologizes, for she was too excited to see them all. She admits she almost couldn't enter due to the lack of badges, but worked quite hard to obtain all eight. She asks how Ash is doing, who reminds her she pushed him into the water. Stephan comes and Ash greets him. Stephan once again thinks he got his name wrong, but realizes Ash pronounced it correctly this time, though Iris thinks they have been saying it right all the time.

Stephan is confident, for he also has been training hard for the League. Suddenly, the heroes see Davy is riding the helicopter with Virgil, who came to compete in the League. Virgil thanks Davy and promises to win the League, as his brother and father will be watching the League in action. The heroes greet Virgil, who had to drop off an injured Pokémon at the Center first. The heroes introduce Stephan and Bianca to Virgil, a member of the Pokémon Rescue Squad, who will enter the League with his Team Eevee. They go to register and meet up with Trip, who asks of Ash not to lose before their battle. Iris and Cilan see Trip has changed a lot. Ash shows Nurse Joy the Gym Badges and scans the Pokédex. Nurse Joy confirms he is registered for the League. Bianca, Stephan and Virgil also register.

Stephan already plans to enter the sauna first. Virgil also wants to do that, but Iris thinks they sound old. On their way to the hotel, they encounter Cameron and Riolu. Cameron confirms he has won all eight badges, but Ash asks if he register. Cameron wonders what that is. Suddenly, Nurse Joy tells (through the intercom) the registration is over. Ash is shocked and drags Cameron to register, otherwise he cannot compete. They rush and beg Nurse Joy to register Cameron, even after Joy said that Registration is closed. She relents and lets Cameron enter. Ash and Cameron meet up with others, telling Cameron is ready for the League. Ash admits he is not surprised Cameron did not register, due to his behavior. Bianca, Stephan and Virgil are glad he is also in. Cameron cannot recall and pulls his headband and releases it. He remembers now and lets Ash know he brought "the secret weapon".

After dinner, Stephan and Cameron spend some time in the sauna, the latter being overwhelmed by the heat. Ash contacts Prof. Juniper and recalls one of his Pokémon back. Juniper lets him know she'll cheer for him, even if she is not present at the League. At night, as Iris and Cilan sleep, Ash wakes up, for he cannot sleep. He and Pikachu watch the League from afar and remember the Gym Leaders they fought against. Ash and Pikachu decide to win the League, for they proved the Gym Leaders how tough they are for the League. Iris tells him to go to sleep, else he could have lack of sleep for tomorrow. The next day, as the trainers wait, Freddy O'Martian jumps from a helicopter and releases the parachute, making a dramatic appearance.

Officer Jenny lights up the torch, starting the League. Freddy announces the screen shows the preliminary battles for the next round. The screen displays the match-ups. Ash notices he has to fight none other than Trip in the first round. Trip replies he is looking forward to, while Ash and Pikachu mark they cannot lose. The first round is Stephan against Radley. Radley's Braviary uses Fury Attack, but Zebstrika dodges and tries to stomp Braviary. Braviary moves away and hits it with Air Slash. Zebstrika jumps and hits Braviary with Thunderbolt, then defeats it with Giga Impact. Next is Bianca, whose opponent is Mikael. Mikael's Watchog uses Hidden Power, but Emboar evades and hits it with Flamethrower. Watchog tackles Emboar and goes to use Crunch. Emboar stands up and blocks the attack using Arm Thrust. Elsewhere, Virgil's Vaporeon attacks Ultimo's Crustle with Shadow Ball. Ultimo's Crustle uses X-Scissor and Rock Wrecker, but Vaporeon jumps. Vaporeon uses Hydro Pump, which collides with Crustle's Rock Wrecker. With Aurora Beam, Vaporeon wounds Crustle.

Cameron has Ferrothorn attack Kendric's Eelektross using Pin Missile. Eelektross uses Crush Claw, hitting Ferrothorn. Ferrothorn dodges Thunderbolt, but Eelektross dodges its Metal Claw attack. Eelektross uses Crush Claw and hits Ferrothorn, making Cameron confused why Ferrothorn didn't dodge the attack. Next are Ash and Trip. Since both sides can use only one Pokémon, Iris and Cilan wonder which Pokémon Trip will use. Trip sends Serperior, so Iris and Cilan realize Trip is counting on speed to win this. Ash sends Pikachu. Iris is surprised, as Serperior is endurant against electric-type attacks, but Cilan is certain Ash knows that and has a strategy. Pikachu starts with Quick Attack, but Serperior dodges. Pikachu uses Iron Tail, but misses once more. Pikachu tries with Electro Ball, but Serperior moves its tail to dodge.

Serperior attacks and uses Dragon Tail, hitting Pikachu before he could dodge. Trip smiles, for his strategy is working, baffling Ash.

Debuts

Character

• Radley
• Mikael
• Ultimo

Trivia

• Who's that Pokémon?: Ferrothorn (US).
• Like "Why? Wynaut!", Ash remembers the Gym Leaders he fought against.
• Similar to "League Unleashed!", Ash wakes up in the middle of the night to think about the League itself, waking up others as well.
• As of this episode, the running gag of Stephan name being mispronounced ends.

Gallery

Ash is psyched about the League

Bianca knocked Ash into the water once more

Stephan is pleased his name is pronounced correctly

Ash has his Pokédex scanned

Ash's status

Cameron replies he has been camping here

Ash realizes Cameron has not registered in time

Everyone has a feast

Ash and Pikachu cannot sleep

Freddy makes a dramatic arrival

Officer Jenny lits the torch

Ash is determined to defeat Trip

Braviary is electrocuted

Emboar blocks Watchog's attack

Eelektross uses Crush Claw on Ferrothorn

Ash vs. Trip, the final battles

Pikachu fails to hit Serperior

Serperior evades Electro Ball attack

Serperior fights back using Dragon Tail

Ash's progress through Unova League is compromised