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Two Degrees of Separation! (Japanese: ピカチュウをさがせ！202番道路！ Find Pikachu! Route 202!) is the second episode of the Diamond & Pearl series, and the 468th episode of the Pokémon anime. It aired in Japan on September 28, 2006, and in the USA on April 20, 2007.

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

Synopsis

The episode opens with Dawn riding her bike down Route 202, stopping and running down a grass field, releasing her Piplup. As they sit and watch the clouds, Dawn decides to capture her first Pokémon. A wild Buneary pops out of the grass and she scrambles to check it with her Pokédex. She knows that weakening it in battle will make it easier to capture, so she sends Piplup into battle, opening with BubbleBeam. She is psyched at calling her first attack, but Buneary jumps up to dodge. Piplup follows up with Peck, but Buneary jumps aside and uses Dizzy Punch to knock out Piplup in one shot. Dawn rushes forward to grab her Piplup, but Buneary bounces off her head and runs away. Piplup is upset at failing, but Dawn cheers it up.

Dawn rides along the path, Piplup riding in the front basket, as she maps out her plan to become a Pokémon Coordinator, starting with participating in the Jubilife Contest. Dawn spots a Burmy hanging off a branch and checks it with her Pokédex. Piplup jumps out of the basket and attacks with BubbleBeam right away, the attack removing Burmy’s Burmy and Wormadam and causing it to fall off the branch. Dawn applauds Piplup for succeeding, but Piplup frantically points to Burmy scrambling to put its Plant Cloak back together. Dawn fumbles for a Poké Ball, but by the time she gets it ready, Burmy has already gone. Dawn sinks to her knees in defeat as Piplup consoles her this time. Dawn mentions that the can make mistakes just like Piplup, which does not sit well with the Pokémon.

Piplup hears the bushes rustling nearby as Dawn turns to the source. A Pikachu, which belongs to Ash, stumbles out from behind the bush, collapsing with exhaustion as Dawn checks her Pokédex. Although the type disadvantage is present, Piplup is willing to take a shot, firing off BubbleBeam. Despite being exhausted, Pikachu manages to use Thunderbolt to negate the attack. Piplup follows up with Peck, but Pikachu launches another Thunderbolt to overpower Piplup, sending it flying backwards into Dawn’s bike, roasting it in the same manner as Misty and May’s bikes. Pikachu scratches its head, as Dawn is furious at losing her bike, throwing the Poké Ball. The Poké Ball opens and tries to pull Pikachu in, but the energy field dissipates, sending the Poké Ball back to Dawn. Dawn realizes that this Pikachu has a trainer. Pikachu runs away, but a Seviper, Dustox and Cacnea cut it off, surrounding the injured Pokémon. Meowth steps out, the talking ability shocking Dawn as she checks her Pokédex. Jessie and James step out as well with Wobbuffet and Mime Jr. in tow as they confront Dawn. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt to shock Team Rocket, but the other Pokémon attack, forcing Pikachu to dodge.

As Dawn watches angrily, she notices Piplup and decides to help out, Piplup firing BubbleBeam to clear the way as they shield Pikachu. Team Rocket recites their motto, but it has little impact on Dawn since Team Rocket has not spread to Sinnoh. Dawn knows that Pikachu does not belong to Team Rocket, Pikachu clinging to Dawn. Jessie’s Seviper attacks Piplup with Wrap, binding it as Team Rocket decides to take Piplup as well as Pikachu. Piplup uses BubbleBeam on Seviper, releasing its grip. Meowth sends the three Pokémon forward, but Piplup’s BubbleBeam and Pikachu’s Thunderbolt stops them and sends Team Rocket blasting off. Dawn and the Pokémon celebrate, but Pikachu collapses with exhaustion. Dawn picks up Pikachu and they head to the Pokémon Center. At the Center, Nurse Joy treats Pikachu as Dawn explains what happened. Dawn calls her mother and informs her about her progress. Dawn admits that she could not catch a Pokémon yet. Dawn and Piplup argue about who was at fault, and Piplup attacks Dawn while her mother and her Glameow watch. After the scuffle, Dawn contacts Professor Rowan and talks about the encounter with Team Rocket. Dawn informs the professor that she wants to find Pikachu’s trainer before heading off to Jubilife City.

Meanwhile, Ash's Aipom looks around from atop a tree. Ash calls to Aipom, and it slides down, not being able to spot Pikachu. Ash and Aipom walk away to continue their search. Officer Jenny eventually finds Ash sitting off the side of the road. After telling her of the situation, Officer Jenny gives Ash a ride to Professor Rowan’s lab. When Ash meets the professor, Rowan hands over Aipom's Poké Ball before mentioning that his Pikachu is in Dawn’s possession. After hearing that, Ash and Rowan place a call to the Pokémon Center, but Nurse Joy mentions that Dawn already left to try and find Pikachu’s trainer. Ash runs out of the lab and heads to the Pokémon Center to try and catch up with Dawn.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket hikes along a road, exhausted after being beaten. James looks up as the group finds James’s second summer cottage, where he would go when the first one needed to be cleaned. They enter the cottage, finding the furniture covered and the curtains closed. James opens the curtains as the Pokémon lounge on the couch. James enters another room and finds a box holding his first bottle cap collection. Among the caps, James pulls out a Poké Ball and recounts the Pokémon he played with before. He throws the ball up, releasing the Pokémon, which is a Carnivine. The Pokémon happily bites James’s head and hugs him, much like his Victreebel. Jessie wants to eat as James calls for his servant over the phone. Team Rocket feasts on several courses as James thanks Mr. Cheeves. Mr. Cheeves tells him that he notified his family and that they, along with Jessiebelle, are flying out the next day, which upsets James. Later on, as the Pokémon play video games, James informs the team that they must leave the luxury before his family arrives. Meowth places a call to Giovanni as they announce their plan to set up in Sinnoh. Though Giovanni does not sound enthusiastic, he approves their plan.

Back at the lab, Rowan manages to contact Dawn, identifying Pikachu’s trainer and that he is heading in her direction. Dawn and the Pokémon head back to Route 202 to cross paths with Ash. Dawn mentions that it would be faster with her bike, Pikachu scratching its head in guilt. Meanwhile, Ash and Aipom run along the path as a truck pulls up, Brock stepping out of the cabin and meeting up with Ash. Brock introduces Ash to the driver Claudina. Brock recounts on how he met her in Pewter City and that they have been on the road. He plans to go back with her, believing he has a shot, but Claudina answer her phone, upsetting Brock when he finds out its her boyfriend on the line and that she has to leave. Claudina pulls away, leaving Brock upset. Brock puts it aside to partner up with Ash once again. At that point, Brock notices Pikachu is missing.

As they walk, Ash brings Brock up to speed on what happened, Brock astounded that Team Rocket has not given up. Ash checks the map for the Pokémon Center that Dawn was at. Aipom swings through the trees and crashes into a wild Starly, starting a fight. Ash wants to stop the fight, but Brock notices the Pokémon, prompting Ash to check his Pokédex. Ash pulls a Poké Ball out, intent on capturing the Normal/Flying type Pokémon. Aipom backs off to launch a Swift attack. It lands, but Starly uses Whirlwind to blow the smoke away. Aipom prepares a Focus Punch, but Starly uses Quick Attack to knock Aipom down before following up with Wing Attack, smacking Aipom several times. Aipom manages to land the Focus Punch, harming Starly enough so Ash can throw the Poké Ball. Starly goes in and the ball rattles before locking, the capture a success. Ash holds up Starly's Poké Ball in success, but suddenly feels upset that Pikachu was not around to see it. Brock reminds Ash that he caught Starly to help find Pikachu, so he brings Starly back out and they continue searching. The screen splits as Ash heads forward while Dawn heads backward. Meanwhile, another trainer stands with his Elekid, remarking about Ash’s capture.

Major events

• Dawn tries to catch a Buneary, but loses. She also fails to catch a Burmy.
• Dawn's attempt to catch Ash's Pikachu, which results in Pikachu destroying Dawn's bike.
• Dawn meets and fights Team Rocket for the first time.
• James retrieves his Carnivine that he had as a child.
• Brock arrives in Sinnoh and meets up with Ash.
• Ash captures a Starly.

Debuts

• Paul

Pokémon debuts

• Ash's Starly
• Burmy
• Carnivine (James's)

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Dawn
• Brock
• Jessie
• James
• Officer Jenny
• Nurse Joy
• Giovanni
• Johanna
• Professor Rowan
• Professor Rowan's assistants
• Mr. Cheeves (Seiyū: 三宅健太 Kenta Miyake*)
• Jessiebelle (flashback)
• Claudina
• Paul

* No official credit was given for this character.

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Mime Jr. (James's)
• Aipom (Ash's)
• Starly (Ash's, newly captured)
• Piplup (Dawn's)
• Seviper (Jessie's)
• Dustox (Jessie's)
• Cacnea (James's)
• Carnivine (James's; returns; debut)
• Elekid (Paul's)
• Chansey (Nurse Joy's)
• Persian (Giovanni's)
• Glameow (Johanna's)
• Burmy (debut)
• Buneary

Trivia

Pokémon senryū

• This originally aired as a two hour special on September 28, 2006, together with Following a Maiden's Voyage! and When Pokémon Worlds Collide!
• This episode is the one, tied with A Full Course Tag Battle!, that shows most Pokédex entries in the entire series: Buneary's, Burmy's, Pikachu's, Meowth's and Starly's.
• Giovanni's second seiyū, 三宅健太 Kenta Miyake, debuted in this episode. (His previous seiyū, Hirotaka Suzuoki, passed away on August 6, 2006.)
• Music from Lucario and the Mystery of Mew is used as background music.
• The eyecatch featured Ash wearing his Advanced Generation clothes with Dawn.
• A clip episode was aired after this episode.
• Professor Oak's lecture: Sinnoh Pokédex
  • Pokémon senryū: こまったら　ひらいてみよう　ポケモンずかん Komattara hiraite miyō, Pokémon zukan. "When troubled, let's open the Pokédex."
• Meowth makes a reference to the original games.
• Ash's Pikachu manages, as always, to cook the female companion's bike.
• The English voice actress for James's Mime Jr. is Michele Knotz filling in for Kayzie Rogers.
• From this episode until Once There Were Greenfields Jessie and James both have three Pokémon each, the first and only time that James has three Pokémon with him at once in the entire series.
• Unlike most of the times he returned to the group, Brock actually seemed unwilling to return to Ash's group. The scene where Brock first arrived implied that Brock never planned on returning to the journey with Ash, and the only reason why he went with him is because Claudina drove off without him after being contacted by one of her fellow truck drivers.
• In the English dub, as the title of the episode is displayed, the music that plays is from seasons 1-8.

Errors

• Despite Oak calling the Sinnoh region an island in Home is Where the Start Is, Brock somehow manages to get all the way there via a truck.
• In one scene toward the end, Jessie's left eye lashes turn the same color as her skin.

Dub edits

When Pokémon Diamond and Pearl first aired on April 20, 2007, the first three episodes were made into a movie, cutting several parts out. All of these cuts were restored when the original episodes were aired the following week.

• When Dawn lets her Piplup out so she can talk to it, the episode title is cut out.
• After Ash finds out where to find Dawn, the transition scene of Professor Rowan sighing, and Team Rocket walking is cut out.
• While searching for Ash's Pikachu by air using his Starly, the remaining part is cut out, moving on to the next episode.
• Ash caught a Starly that knows Gust. In the games, Starly cannot learn this move. In the English dub, this move was changed to Whirlwind, a move that Starly can learn.

In other languages

• French: A la recherche de l'autre
• Dutch: Twee Soorten van Scheiding!
• Portuguese: Dois Graus de Separação
• Russian: Две степени несовпадения
• Italian: Errori da principianti & Mai senza Pikachu
• Czech: Dva stupně odloučení
• Latin American Spanish: Dos Grados de Separación
• Iberian Spanish: ¡Una triste separación!

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