DP081

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.

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(Japanese: 灼熱のヒコザル! The Scorching Hikozaru!) is the 81st episode of Diamond & Pearl. It aired in Japan on May 29, 2008.

Ash and co. are running after Gligar who has been blown away by a gust, and promptly run into Paul. After a huge argument about their different ways of treating Pokémon, Ash challenges Paul to a battle...

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

Synopsis

The episode begins with Ash facing off against Dawn in a training match, while Brock and his Pokémon watch on. Ash commands Pikachu, Buizel, and Turtwig, while Dawn commands Piplup, Staravia, and Chimchar.

After the training session, Gligar gets excited and hugs Ash, but ends up knocking him down. Brock offers a training match of his Sudowoodo against Ash's Gligar, to calm its excitement.

Before they can start, a strong wind blows Gligar onto Team Rocket's air balloon, sending them flying.

The scene changes to Paul and his Electabuzz shocking a wild Drapion, in an attempt to catch it. This fails, however, as Ash's Gligar falls from the sky, right in front of Paul and the Drapion escapes. Ash's Staravia leads Ash and co. to Gligar...and Paul.

Paul insults Ash's performance in the Wallace Cup and Ash becomes angry. He criticizes Paul for his harsh training methods. They reflect on Champion Cynthia's helpful advice back at Amity Square. Paul begins to walk away from Ash and co. Chimchar (who previously even after being released still felt fear of it's old master) runs after Paul and yells at him. This seems to amuse Paul who reconsiders Ash's offer for a battle.

Dawn uses the Coin Toss option on her Pokétch. Ash wins the toss and picks Gligar to fight. Paul chooses his Gliscor.

The battle begins and Ash's Gligar uses X-Scissor. Gliscor pounds back with Knock Off. Gligar keeps attacking, but Gliscor seems impervious to his attacks. Gliscor then uses Guillotine and slams Gligar into the ground, knocking Gligar out. Paul insults Ash's Gligar.

Paul sends out his Ursaring next. Ash's Chimchar volunteers to fight next. The battle begins with Chimchar's Flamethrower. Ursaring uses Focus Blast. Chimchar uses Dig. Ursaring uses Hammer Arm on the ground, unearthing Chimchar and knocking him into the air. Chimchar dives down with a Flame Wheel, but Ursaring catches him. Ursaring uses Secret Power at close range, followed by a ferocious Headbutt. Ash's Chimchar is too scared of Ursaring to attack, due to the mysterious power of Ursaring's Secret Power attack. Despite encouragement from Ash and co., Ursaring uses Hammer Arm on Chimchar, burying him in a pile of rubble. Chimchar emerges in a flaming fury! Brock suggests that Chimchar is trying his best to defeat Paul. Chimchar's Flame Wheel collides with Ursaring's Focus Blast and knocks out Paul's Ursaring.

Chimchar continues in an uncontrollable rage. He charges at Ash, bouncing all around, setting fire to the forest, as well as knocking Team Rocket away. Dawn's Piplup uses Whirlpool to put out the fires, while Ash's Buizel uses Water Gun. Everyone tries to calm Chimchar down, but nothing works. Ash grabs Chimchar and tries to control him, but Chimchar bites him in the shoulder. He finally snaps out of his rage, after encouragement from Ash.

Ash says that he believes in Chimchar's power, but Paul criticizes that 'belief' in Pokémon. Brock mentions that all Pokémon have potential to rise up against the challenges they meet.

The episode ends with Ash embracing Chimchar and Paul walking away.

Major events

• Ash battles Paul.
  • Ash's Gligar is defeated by Paul's Gliscor.
  • Ash's Chimchar defeats Paul's Ursaring, and the battle ends in a draw.
• Electabuzz rejoined Paul's team.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Brock
• Dawn
• Jessie
• James
• Paul
• Cynthia (flashback)

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Turtwig (Ash's)
• Staravia (Ash's)
• Chimchar (Ash's)
• Buizel (Ash's)
• Gligar (Ash's)
• Piplup (Dawn's)
• Sudowoodo (Brock's)
• Croagunk (Brock's)
• Electabuzz (Paul's)
• Ursaring (Paul's)
• Gliscor (Paul's)
• Drapion

Trivia

• Jessie's Yanmega was added to the opening.
• At the end of the episode music from Lucario and the Mystery of Mew can be heard playing in the background. This could reference the fact that the memorial at the end of the next episode was to Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
• The next episode preview is narrated by Brock.
• Instead of Professor Oak's Pokémon lecture, the end of the episode featured a memorial to Destiny Deoxys. This is part of a countdown to Giratina and the Sky's Bouquet: Shaymin.
• As of this episode, the opening animation that accompanies Together and Together2008 has been used in more episodes than Aim to Be a Pokémon Master's original accompanying animation, making it the anime's longest-used opening animation, but not the anime's longest used opening theme, an honor which Aim to Be a Pokémon Master still holds.

Errors

• Paul's Ursaring used Headbutt in the episode. Though Ursaring could learn the move by TM02 in Generation II, there has been no legal way to get an Ursaring with the move since then.
• Like in Bibarel Gnaws Best! and Our Cup Runneth Over!, Buizel's eye is colored the same as his Water Gun.

Dub edits

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This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.