GS053: Beauty and the Breeder

Beauty and the Breeder (Japanese: さよならロコン！ポケモンビューティーコンテスト！！, Hepburn: Goodbye Vulpix! Pokémon Beauty Contest!!) is the 12nd episode of Pokémon: Johto League Champions.

Synopsis

While heading towards Ecruteak City, Ash and co arrive in a town where a Pokémon beauty contest was being held. Brock is excited because rumor had it that Brock's old friend and idol Suzy was going to be in this competition. After they exchange hellos, Suzy decides that she and Brock should enter with Vulpix. Later they meet Zane, an old rival of Suzy's, who has a Ninetales. Who will win this contest? And will Brock say goodbye to two good friends he knew so well?

Episode Plot

In the Pokémon Center, Ash and Misty lick ice cream as they see Brock checking his e-mail. They hear Brock got a message from Suzy and remember she is the Breeder that ran a beauty salon. They ask him what she wrote and Brock reads she is going to a Contest in Bonitaville, but has no Pokémon to compete with. Brock knows it is out of their way, but wants to meet her. So, the heroes came to the town and see many trainers with Pokémon, who look stylish. Ash thinks it is another Catching contest and wonders which Pokémon should he use, but Brock tells it is a Beauty Contest. Misty asks if he is going to enter and Brock denies, but tells Vulpix will. He asks of them to groom up, as Suzy shouldn't see them like that. Misty responds he could work on himself and Brock comes in a white suit, making Ash think he looks like the ice-cream man.

Team Rocket come into the town and see it is dedicated to beauty. Jessie and James see they can express their artist beauty in this town. Meowth is glad he is a Pokémon in this situation, as he can do the dirty work himself. Jessie and James explain to Meowth they will enter the Contest and do whatever it takes to become winners. With that, they will be superstars and open their beauty salon, causing the attention of the media and they will make money. To do that, they choose Meowth to enter the contest, who is ready to be changed for money. The heroes see many Pokémon and Brock clarifies the contest is also about showing how well the Pokémon are raised. Ash and Brock wait for Suzy, while Misty goes away. Suddenly, Vulpix runs and comes to Suzy. Ash greets her, while Brock hides behind flowers, but gives them to Suzy. Brock thanks her for letting him keep Vulpix, as Suzy sees it had to be returned. Brock tells Ash that he had to give back Vulpix and since Suzy is in this town, he thought it was the perfect time and place to do it.

Brock goes to wish good luck to Suzy on the Contest, but Suzy advises him to join her as a partner during the Contest. Brock accepts and goes red, then falls down. Ash tells Misty to get some water, but sees she is not present. Misty admires a Ninetails and asks its trainer many questions, making him angry and telling her to mind her own business. Misty apologises, but Suzy comes and tells the trainer, Zane, to be more polite. Zane apologises, but admits she has his attention on Suzy. The heroes are told Suzy and Zane have known each other since the Nursery School and decided to train Vulpix. Brock yells he is her rival and enemy, though Zane disagrees about the last part. Zane admits he knew Vulpix is going to be tough to defeat, so had his Vulpix evolve, since he likes to win as much as Suzy does. The heroes see he and Suzy have a lot in common, but Suzy tells they have disagreements, since she thinks beauty is in inside, while Zane thinks it is on outside, telling the inside is old-school. This makes Brock angry. Zane admires Vulpix' appearance, though Suzy thinks Vulpix' eyes prove it is beautiful and no amount of brushing can improve that. This makes Zane see Suzy did not change a bit.

Zane goes away with Vulpix and Suzy admits he is sweet. Seeing Brock a bit angry, she also tells he is sweet, too. Brock yells Zane is their primary rival and need to defeat him, so Suzy agrees. Jessie and James remodeled Meowth, who does not recognize himself. Meowth thinks he should go to the stage and tell for whom he works, but Jessie and James stop him, warning he shouldn't tell they work for Team Rocket. The contest starts and Misty reads Suzy is number 37 and Zane is after her. Brock says to Suzy they might have a greater chance at winning since they are a team and Suzy hopes that is the case. The first contestant goes to the stage with Marill, but gets captured. The audience anticipates and Team Rocket (disguised) appear, showing off their Pokémon. The audience likes them and so does Zane, who gets a handshake from Jessie. The heroes admit it is wierd and funny about them. Zane thinks they are unique and Team Rocket are grateful for these words. They believe a gross-looking Pokémon can have its appearance improved, so Brock thinks if Onix could be improved. Suddenly, Jenny and the contestant come and accuse Jessie and James they are frauds. Jessie and James tell they can come in the first place, since they were number 259. Jenny yells to get out of here and kicks them out of the contest.

Jessie and James think Jenny does not know what she speaks, so Meowth scratches them as they told they did their best, though Meowth admits he has another plan. Ash and Misty visit Suzy and Brock, the latter being a bit nervous. Jessie and James come as doctors and tell the Pokémon need examination. They line up the Pokémon and disallow breeders to come after (telling they will be disqualified) and close the door. Jessie and James are pleased, since Meowth made the plan to capture the Pokémon. The audience is troubled, since the Contest is stopped. Zane sees the door is locked, so Brock sends Geodude, who crashes the door. Everyone sees Team Rocket took away the Pokémon. They fly away, so Ash sends Noctowl, who pierces the balloon, causing it to fall down. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, crashing the lock. Meowth thinks if Jessie did not talk much, they'd fly away, but she reminds him it was his plan. Jessie sends Arbok and James Victreebel. Victreebel uses Razor Leaf, but gets burned by Fire Spin from Vulpix and Ninetails. Suzy and Zane think they need to teach them stealing is a disgrace. Jessie orders Arbok to attack, but ends with the others being blasted off by Fire Spin.

The heroes see the contest is back on. Brock warns Vulpix it will perform, though Suzy knows it wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. Zane comes and admits fighting against Team Rocket made him realize team work is important. He thinks they should work together; Misty and Ash think they can make the Pokémon be beautiful inside and outside. Suzy asks Brock what he thinks and he supports the idea, so Suzy agrees to open a beauty saloon with Zane as well. Brock and Suzy go to perform (since it is their time). Zane stops Brock and admits he was jealous he met Suzy, but Suzy told Brock was a good guy and sees it is the truth. Brock thanks him and performs with Suzy.

Debuts

Human

Zane

Trivia

• Vulpix' contest entry number coincides with its number in the national Pokédex.
• Megan Hollingshead fills in for Suzy's original Voice Actress, Leah Applbaum.
• The "Who's that Pokémon?" is Quagsire.

Gallery

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