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{{EpicodePrevNext|
{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=AG067 |
prevcode=AG067 |
prevtitle=Go Go Ludicolo |
prevtitle=Go Go Ludicolo! |
nextcode=AG069 |
nextcode=AG069 |
nexttitle=Love, Petalburg Style |
nexttitle=Love, Petalburg Style! |
series=Advanced Generation series |
series=Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire |
colorscheme=Hoenn}}
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{{EpisodeInfobox|
{{EpisodeInfobox|
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colorscheme=Hoenn |
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title_en=A Double Dilemma |
title_en=A Double Dilemma |
title_ja=パパはアイドル!?いつわりのジムリーダー!! |
title_ja=パパはアイドル！？いつわりのジムリーダー！！ |
title_ja_trans=Papa is Idol? False Gym Leader! |
title_ja_trans=Dad's an Idol!? The False Gym Leader!! |
broadcast_jp=March 18, 2004 |
broadcast_jp=March 18, 2004 |
broadcast_us=March 5, 2005 |
broadcast_us=March 5, 2005 |
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morecredits=yes |
morecredits=yes |
epstaffpage=AG061-AG070 |
epstaffpage=AG061-AG070 |
footnotes=* [[filb-eppics:ag068|Screenshots on Filb.de]] }}
footnotes=*{{filb-eppics|ag|068}}
'''A Double Dilemma''' (Japanese: '''パパはアイドル!?いつわりのジムリーダー!!''' ''Papa is Idol? False Gym Leader!'') is the 68th episode of the {{series|Advanced Generation}}, and the 342nd episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on March 18, 2004 and in the United States on March 5, 2005.  
* {{BMGf|7111|Dub review thread on BMGf}} }}
'''A Double Dilemma''' (Japanese: '''パパはアイドル！？いつわりのジムリーダー！！''' ''Dad's an Idol!? The False Gym Leader!!'') is the 68th episode of ''[[Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire]]'', and the 342nd episode of the [[Pokémon animated series]]. It first aired in Japan on March 18, 2004, and in the United States on March 5, 2005.
 
{{spoilers}}
{{spoilers}}


== Synopsis ==
==Blurb==
{{Incomplete synopsis}}
<!--https://www.pokemon.com/us/animation/seasons/7/episode-28-a-double-dilemma/-->
The gang have arrived in North Petalburg, a suburb of the main city, and go straight to the Pokémon center. Once they arrive, [[Nurse Joy]] recognizes {{an|May}} and {{an|Max}}. A woman there overhears their conversation and runs off to tell other people. Our heroes leave the Pokémon center, when they see a load of people running towards them. Apparently, [[Norman]] is an idol to everyone who lives there, and May and Max are soon mobbed by Norman fans. May shows them her two ribbons, and they cheer her for her talent. {{Ash}} tries to impress them with his 4 badges, but they discredit him instead.
<i>The friends arrive in North Petalburg and stop by the Pokémon Center, where May and Max are quickly recognized as the children of Norman. The siblings are swamped by an adoring crowd. Ash and Brock manage to escape and wander off.
 
Team Rocket arrives in town and they decide to disguise themselves as Norman's family (Norman, Caroline, May, and Max) to conduct an autograph-selling scam.
 
When Ash mentions that he's planning to take on Norman in the Petalburg Gym, a whole crowd of Norman-devotees challenge Ash to battles. Ash easily beats them all, exhausting his Pokémon (and himself). Word gets around about how good he is, so the crowd with the siblings pressures May to battle Ash in order to teach him a lesson. Her Torchic uses Ember on Ash, and he falls over.
 
The still-disguised Team Rocket disappears, causing another crowd of people to search them out. The two crowds meet, and begin to argue over which version of May and Max is the real thing. May uses Ember to burn away Team Rocket's costumes, and Pikachu sends their balloon blasting away with Thunderbolt.
 
The crowd is impressed with the defeat of Team Rocket—by Pikachu. Though Ash is dejected, the kids set off for Petalburg City.</i>


Meanwhile, Team Rocket arrives to Petalburg as well, but tired and hungry. James then looks to an advertisement with Norman's and Caroline's faces in it. They don't recognize them at first, but then they realize it's Norman, the Gym Leader and Caroline, the Gym Leader's wife. They look around and see everyone with Norman stuff, and [[Jessie]] decides to disguise themselves as Norman's family. Once done, however, everyone rushes to see them but begin doubting {{MTR}} and {{TP|Jessie|Wobbuffet}} are Norman's true children. However, a man claiming to have lived almost all of his life next door to Norman comes and evaluates them to see if they're the real ones. He notices "Max" is blue, and how May hasn't grown, but fails to realize the fake sons, though, and tells everyone who has gathered that there's no doubt they aren't lying.
==Plot==
The group arrives in [[North Petalburg]], a city close to their next destination [[Petalburg City]], and go straight to the local [[Pokémon Center]]. [[Nurse Joy]] instantly recognizes {{an|May}} and [[Max]], as does the local greengrocer, {{OBP|Rose|AG068}}, who is delivering produce to the Center. Rose leaves to inform the other residents, and by the time the group leave the Center, a mob of people have gathered to meet the siblings. Max and May’s visit to North Petalburg thrills the local [[Norman]] fans, and even North Petalburg News reporter [[Dee Dunstan]] has arrived to get an interview with the pair. Max encourages May to show the crowd her [[Pokémon Contest]] [[Ribbon]]s, she nervously agrees. The crowd is impressed by May's two Ribbons, stating her progress is amazing given the short period of time. {{Ash}} interjects and tries to impress the crowd with his four [[Badge]]s, but they are unimpressed and push him outside of the mob.


Back to the gang, May and Max have had enough, and the woman from before,[[Rose]],says that she'd like to see May's contest appeals, and May agrees, sending out {{TP|May|Beautifly}}. She orders a dazzling Silver Wind, and the crowd cheers for her, causing May to develop overconfidence in her skill; and Max tells her about it. As Beautifly continues, some guys come towards Ash and [[Brock]] and ask them why were they there. Ash answers he has come to challenge Norman and the boys quickly deny Ash's skill because of their blind faith in Norman, and end up challenging Ash to a battle. They go to a park, and the guy uses {{p|Golduck}} while Ash uses his {{TP|Ash|Grovyle}}. Golduck performs {{m|Focus Punch}}, but Grovyle dodges and uses {{m|Bullet Seed}}. Golduck uses {{m|Hydro Pump}} and Grovyle receives the attack, leaving Golduck to perform Fury Swipes, but Ash orders Grovyle to use {{m|Quick Attack}}, which successfully connects; afterwards, Grovyle finishes the match with a Leaf Blade.
Meanwhile, {{TRT}} arrive at North Petalburg as well, but tired and hungry. A giant advertisement featuring Norman and [[Caroline]] captures the trio's attention. Initially they don't recognize them, but then [[Jessie]] realizes it's Norman, the Petalburg [[Gym Leader]] and Caroline, his wife. They look around and see everyone with Norman memorabilia including shorts and a stall selling dolls, so Team Rocket [[List of Team Rocket's disguises|disguises themselves as Norman and his family]]. [[James]] dresses up as Norman, Jessie as Caroline, {{TP|Jessie|Wobbuffet}} as Max and {{MTR}} as May. The quartet are quickly mobbed by another group of Norman fans. Jessie has her doubts about this plan. However, a man claiming to have lived almost all of his life next door to Norman comes and evaluates them to see if they're the real ones. He notices "Max" is blue, and how "May" hasn't grown, but fails to realize the fake son and daughter, and surprisingly declares Team Rocket as the real family. Team Rocket begin to sell merchandise to their new following.


Back again with Team Rocket, [[James]], dressed up as Norman, sells fake autographs while Jessie sells Norman souvenirs to everyone, who are obsessed with the merchandise. At the same time, Ash has already a Fan club, because tons of trainers keep challenging him and decides to send {{TP|Ash|Corphish}}. May, on the other hand, is delightfully showing Skitty's abilities of jugglery. As time passes, Ash, Grovyle, Corphish and {{TP|Ash|Torkoal}} are exhausted after tons of battles, and the trainers keep on coming and provoking Ash, who responds by letting them use all of their Pokémon at once. They send a {{p|Zangoose}}, a {{p|Shroomish}}, an {{p|Aron}}, a {{p|Spheal}}, and an {{p|Igglybuff}}, but are knocked out on the spot by {{TP|Ash|Pikachu}}'s massive {{m|Thunder}}. However, they send more Pokémon, tiring out Ash again. He isn't the only one, however. May is worn out, as well as Skitty, which has been performing a long time. Immediately, the two boys who first challenged Ash come running to tell the people that they've been battling Ash, but he's far too powerful and, at this rate, he'll think he might have a chance against Norman. Rose then has an idea: take May to that trainer so she can beat him, and show her battling skills by the way. Everyone cheers again, and they are forced to do so. Again with Ash, it looks like he has beaten even more pokémon, when he and Pikachu realize that tons of people lifting May and Max are approaching them. May tells Ash she has come to teach a lesson to a rude trainer, and when Ash asks who is him, it turns out to be him! Tired but willing to battle, Ash accepts the challenge, and, upon the cheers from the crowd, May develops overconfidence again.  
Meanwhile, Max and May are becoming overwhelmed by all of the attention. However, Rose asks to see May's Contest performances, and May agrees to it. She orders out {{TP|May|Beautifly}} and dazzles the crowd with its {{m|Silver Wind}}. May is quickly becoming overconfident thanks to her enthusiastic audience. She also calls out her {{TP|May|Skitty}} for a juggling act. Her showcase, however, is interrupted by two young boys, who alert the crowd to a tough Trainer who has been defeating everyone's Pokémon. May, despite her exhaustion, is pushed into taking on this Trainer by her new fans, unaware that the Trainer is her travel companion Ash until she arrives at a nearby park. The crowd is carries May and Max in an open {{wp|palanquin}}, decorated with several red lanterns with a Balance Badge motif on them. Ash accepts the challenge, and, upon the cheers from the crowd, May develops overconfidence again.
May thinks Skitty and Beautifly are too tired, so she sends out {{TP|May|Torchic}}. Ash tries to call {{AP|Pikachu}}, but he collapses from exhaustion, so he selects {{AP|Taillow}} instead. Ash orders a {{m|Peck}} and it hits Torchic, but the crowd begins booing Ash. He tries to ignore them and tells Taillow to use {{m|Wing Attack}}, which scores a clean hit. The crowd starts booing again, and Ash can't stand it, leaving himself wide open for an {{m|Ember}} attack. May, unaware again, over-enthusiastically orders Torchic to keep going with Ember and the individual embers combine into a massive flame which burns Ash and causes him to collapse. Rose declares Ash unable to battle, and thus, May is announced as the victor, much to her appreciation. Following May's victory, Dee Dunstan begins interviewing her. In that moment, a guy arrives at the park saying that Norman is giving autographs for money and that his children are by the fountain. He is however shocked to see May and Max are right in front of him. Rose declares the individuals by the fountain must be impostors, so the crowd makes its way to the fountain, carrying May and Max again.


About Team Rocket, they've disappeared from Norman's fans and run with all the money they've won. However, Norman's fans have found them, and Team Rocket has to escape from them. Meanwhile, the battle is about the begin. May thinks Skitty and Beautifly are very tired, so she sends out {{TP|May|Torchic}}. Ash tries to call Pikachu, but the pokémon collapses from exhaustion. Ash sends {{AP|Taillow}} instead and the battle begins. Ash orders a [[Peck]] and it hits successfully Torchic, but the crowd begins booing Ash. He tries to ignore them and tells Taillow to use [[Wing Attack]], which scores a clean hit. The crowd starts booing again, and Ash can't stand it, leaving himself wide open for an [[Ember]] attack. May gets happy and orders Torchic to keep going with Ember, and, as a result, a massive flame hits Ash, burning him. Rose declares Ash [[unable to battle]], and thus, May is the winner. In that moment, a guy comes saying that Norman is giving autographs for money and that his sons are there, but is shocked that May and Max are there, so everyone realizes there are impostors in the city, and the crowd goes off to search them, lifting May and Max again.
Finally, Team Rocket is cornered by the fans following them and the other mob that are with the real May and Max. May and Max are surprised to see their parents are in town, though their attention quickly turns to Wobbuffet and Meowth's obvious blue skin and short stature respectively. Rose and [[Yaohei|her husband]], the guy who claimed to have lived almost all his life next door to Norman, begin arguing over which duo are the real ones. As Ash and Brock arrive on the scene, May tells them that the disguised Wobbuffet and Meowth only claim to be them, and Team Rocket reply that May and Max are the fake ones. Upon hearing this, May orders Torchic to use Ember and the attack torches Team Rocket's disguises. With their true identities revealed, Team Rocket launch into their {{motto}} and send out {{TP|James|Cacnea}} and {{TP|Jessie|Seviper}}. Cacnea uses {{m|Pin Missile}}, but Pikachu counters it with {{m|Thunderbolt}}. Seviper uses {{m|Haze}}, which gives Team Rocket enough time to escape and grab Pikachu though they nabbed Torchic instead. Pikachu climbs up a tree and Ash orders him to use Quick Attack, freeing Torchic and the stolen money. A large crowd scrambles to catch Torchic from its fall, though the Pokémon lands safely in May's arms. Rose and her husband capture the sacks of money. Ash orders Pikachu to defeat Team Rocket with Thunderbolt, destroying their balloon. Rose and Dee commend Ash, and as he tells them it was nothing, they inform him that they were actually complimenting Pikachu instead. By evening, the group leaves North Petalburg and its enthusiastic Norman fans and continue onto Petalburg City and Ash's next Gym battle.


Finally, Team Rocket is cornered by the fans following them and the other fans that were with the real May and Max. They begin looking at Wobbuffet and Meowth and Rose and her husband (the guy who claimed to have lived almost all his life next door to Norman) begin discussing who are the real ones. Ash and Brock appear on the scene, and ask what's going on. May tells them that Wobbuffet and Meowth (disguised, of course) claim to be them, and Team Rocket reaffirms that May and Max are the fake ones. Upon hearing this, May orders Torchic to use Ember and the attack blows up Team Rocket's disguise. They send {{TP|James|Cacnea}} and {{TP|Jessie|Seviper}}. Cacnea uses [[Pin Missile]], but Pikachu counters it with [[Thunderbolt]]. Seviper uses [[Haze]], which gives Team Rocket enought time to escape and grab Pikachu. However, they grabbed Torchic instead! Pikachu climbs up a tree and Ash orders him to use Quick Attack, freeing Torchic and the stolen money. Ash then orders Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, and Team Rocket is blasted off again. Rose and a reporter compliment Ash (apparently) and he tells them it was nothing, but it turns out they were complimenting Pikachu instead. The episode finishes with the gang bidding farewell to the city and  Ash thrilled by his next Gym battle against Norman.
==Major events==
* {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} arrive in [[Petalburg City]].
{{animeevents}}


== Major events ==
===Debuts===
=== Debuts ===
====Pokémon debuts====


== Characters ==
==Characters==
=== Humans ===
===Humans===
* {{Ash}}
* {{Ash}}
* {{an|May}}
* {{an|May}}
* [[Brock]]
* {{an|Brock}}
* [[Max]]
* [[Max]]
* [[Jessie]]
* [[Jessie]]
* [[James]]
* [[James]]
* [[Nurse Joy]]
* [[Norman]] (flashback and photo)
* [[Caroline]] (photo)
* [[Dee Dunstan]]
* [[Dee Dunstan]]
* [[Yaohei]]
* [[Yaohei]]
* {{ho|Rose}}
* {{OBP|Rose|AG068}}
* Citizens of Petalburg
* [[North Petalburg]] citizens


=== Pokémon ===
===Pokémon===
[[File:PTC AG068.png|thumb|200px|right|Pokémon Trainer's Choice]]
[[Pokémon Trainer's Choice]]: {{p|Minun}}
* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}})
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}})
Line 76: Line 95:
* {{p|Chansey}} ({{OP|Nurse Joy|Chansey}})
* {{p|Chansey}} ({{OP|Nurse Joy|Chansey}})
* {{p|Vigoroth}} ([[Norman]]'s; flashback)
* {{p|Vigoroth}} ([[Norman]]'s; flashback)
* {{p|Golduck}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Abra}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Machop}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Doduo}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Igglybuff}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Marill}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Shroomish}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Aron}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Volbeat}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Swablu}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Zangoose}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Kecleon}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Spheal}} (Trainer's)


North Petalburg's Pokémon seen:
==Trivia==
* [[Advance Adventure]] is used as background music.
* This episode marks one of the rare occasions in which a member of {{TRT}} refers to one of the main protagonists by name, with {{MTR}} mentioning {{an|May}} and [[Max]] after putting on his disguise.


* {{p|Golduck}}
===Errors===
* {{p|Abra}}
* {{p|Machop}}
* {{p|Doduo}}
* {{p|Igglybuff}}
* {{p|Marill}}
* {{p|Shroomish}}
* {{p|Aron}}
* {{p|Volbeat}}
* {{p|Swablu}}
* {{p|Zangoose}}
* {{p|Kecleon}}
* {{p|Spheal}}


== Trivia ==
===Dub edits===
* The character of Dee Dunstan is believed to be named after voice director/actor [[Darren Dunstan]].
* Maintaining consistency, {{Ash}}'s [[Badge]] case has its {{i|Poké Ball}} design replaced with with a red line.
* The Italian dub title is a pun on the phrase ''{{tt|Vera figlia d'arte|True daughter of the art}}'', similar to the saying Like father like son in English. As May is called Vera in Italian, this title can mean ''The true daughter who followed in her father's footstep'' or ''May followed in her father's footsteps''
* In the English dub, Team Rocket says that the reason {{TP|Jessie|Wobbuffet}} is blue is because he's cold. In the original Japanese version, Team Rocket says that he has been studying so hard recently.
* Dee Dunstan calling Ash a novice might be a reference to ''[[EP004|Challenge of the Samurai]]''.
<gallery>
*Very interestingly, despite that they boo at Ash when winning legitimately, and even showing hatred against him, it was Ash that supported and even trained her throughout her adventure, in fact, May would not be as good as she was if Ash hadn't help, a fact that would be known to her fans.
File:Badge Case Original AG068.png|The Badge case in the original
File:Badge Case Dub AG068.png|The Badge case in the dub
</gallery>


=== Pokémon Trainer's Choice ===
====[[Pokémon Trainer's Choice]]====
* Question: Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle {{p|Corphish}}?
* Question: Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle {{p|Corphish}}?
* Choices: {{p|Minun}}, {{p|Marowak}}, {{p|Nincada}}
* Choices: {{p|Minun}}, {{p|Marowak}}, {{p|Nincada}}
* Answer: Ok, Trainers! If you chose {{p|Minun}}, you were right!
* Answer: OK, Trainers! If you chose Minun, you were right!
 
=== Errors ===
=== Dub edits ===
[[Image:BadgeCaseOriginalAG68.PNG‎|150px|thumb|left|The badge case in the original]]
[[Image:BadgeCaseDubAG68.PNG‎|150px|thumb|right|The badge case in the dub]]
When Ash's badge case is seen in the original, there is a [[Poké Ball]] design on it. In the dub, that was painted over to be just a horizontal line.


==In other languages==
==In other languages==
* Finnish: '''{{tt|Kaksoisolennot|The doppelgangers}}'''
{{Epilang|color=9999FF|bordercolor=FF7777
* French: '''{{tt|L'imposture|The deception}}'''
|zh_cmn={{tt|爸爸是偶像！？冒牌的道館訓練家！|Father is Idol!? False Gym Leader!}}
* German: '''Norman-Mania'''
|nl={{tt|Een dubbel dilemma|A Double Dilemma}}
* Hebrew: '''באור הזרקורים''' ''{{tt|be'or hazarkorim|in the spotlight}}''
|da={{tt|Et dobbelt dilemma|A double dilemma}}
* Italian: '''{{tt|Vera figlia d'arte|May followed in her father's footsteps}}'''
|de=Norman-Mania
* Portuguese:
|fi={{tt|Kaksoisolennot|The doppelgangers}}
** Brazilian Portuguese: '''{{tt|Um Dilema Duplo|A Double Dilemma}}'''
|fr_eu={{tt|L'imposture|The deception}}
** European Portuguese: '''{{tt|Duplo Dilema|Double dilemma}}'''
|he=באור הזרקורים{{tt|be'or hazarkorim|In the spotlight}}
* Spanish:
|it={{tt|Vera figlia d'arte|May followed in her father's footsteps}}
** Iberian Spanish: '''{{tt|Un problema de dobles|A trouble of doubles}}'''
|no={{tt|Et dobbelt-dilemma!|A double dilemma!}}
** Latin American Spanish: '''{{tt|¡Un dilema doble!|A double dilemma!}}'''
|pt_br={{tt|Um Dilema Duplo|A Double Dilemma}}
 
|pt_eu={{tt|Um Duplo Dilema|A Double Dilemma}}
{{stub|Anime|Episode}}
|ru={{tt|Двойные проблемы|Double problems}}
|es_la={{tt|¡Un dilema doble!|A double dilemma!}}
|es_eu={{tt|Un problema de dobles|A trouble of doubles}}
|sv={{tt|Dubbeldilemma!|Double dilemma!}}
|ko={{tt|가짜 체육관 관장 대소동|The Big Fake Gym Leader Fuss}}
|hi=डबल ट्रबल  {{tt|''Double Trouble''|Double Trouble}} {{tt|*|Hungama dub}}
}}
{{-}}
{{EpicodePrevNext|
{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=AG067 |
prevcode=AG067 |
prevtitle=Go Go Ludicolo |
prevtitle=Go Go Ludicolo! |
nextcode=AG069 |
nextcode=AG069 |
nexttitle=Love, Petalburg Style |
nexttitle=Love, Petalburg Style! |
series=Advanced Generation series |
series=Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire |
colorscheme=Hoenn}}
colorscheme=Hoenn}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
[[Category:Advanced Generation series episodes|068]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Junki Takegami|342]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Yūji Asada|342]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Masaaki Iwane|342]]


[[de:Norman-Mania! (Episode)]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:0342}}
[[Category:Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire episodes|068]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Junki Takegami]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Yūji Asada]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Yūji Asada]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Yūji Asada]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Masaaki Iwane]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on May]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on Max]]
 
[[de:Norman-Mania!]]
[[es:EP344]]
[[fr:AG068]]
[[it:AG068]]
[[ja:AG編第68話]]
[[ja:AG編第68話]]
[[zh:宝可梦 超世代 第68集]]

Latest revision as of 04:46, 3 September 2024

← AG067 : Go Go Ludicolo!
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
AG069 : Love, Petalburg Style! →
A Double Dilemma
AG068.png
AG068   EP342
パパはアイドル！？いつわりのジムリーダー！！
Dad's an Idol!? The False Gym Leader!!
First broadcast
Japan March 18, 2004
United States March 5, 2005
English themes
Opening This Dream
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening アドバンス・アドベンチャー
Ending スマイル ②
Credits
Animation Team Ota
Screenplay 武上純希 Junki Takegami
Storyboard 浅田裕二 Yūji Asada
Assistant director 浅田裕二 Yūji Asada
Animation director 岩根雅明 Masaaki Iwane
Additional credits

A Double Dilemma (Japanese: パパはアイドル！？いつわりのジムリーダー！！ Dad's an Idol!? The False Gym Leader!!) is the 68th episode of Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, and the 342nd episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on March 18, 2004, and in the United States on March 5, 2005.

201
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
201

Blurb

The friends arrive in North Petalburg and stop by the Pokémon Center, where May and Max are quickly recognized as the children of Norman. The siblings are swamped by an adoring crowd. Ash and Brock manage to escape and wander off.

Team Rocket arrives in town and they decide to disguise themselves as Norman's family (Norman, Caroline, May, and Max) to conduct an autograph-selling scam.

When Ash mentions that he's planning to take on Norman in the Petalburg Gym, a whole crowd of Norman-devotees challenge Ash to battles. Ash easily beats them all, exhausting his Pokémon (and himself). Word gets around about how good he is, so the crowd with the siblings pressures May to battle Ash in order to teach him a lesson. Her Torchic uses Ember on Ash, and he falls over.

The still-disguised Team Rocket disappears, causing another crowd of people to search them out. The two crowds meet, and begin to argue over which version of May and Max is the real thing. May uses Ember to burn away Team Rocket's costumes, and Pikachu sends their balloon blasting away with Thunderbolt.

The crowd is impressed with the defeat of Team Rocket—by Pikachu. Though Ash is dejected, the kids set off for Petalburg City.

Plot

The group arrives in North Petalburg, a city close to their next destination Petalburg City, and go straight to the local Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy instantly recognizes May and Max, as does the local greengrocer, Rose, who is delivering produce to the Center. Rose leaves to inform the other residents, and by the time the group leave the Center, a mob of people have gathered to meet the siblings. Max and May’s visit to North Petalburg thrills the local Norman fans, and even North Petalburg News reporter Dee Dunstan has arrived to get an interview with the pair. Max encourages May to show the crowd her Pokémon Contest Ribbons, she nervously agrees. The crowd is impressed by May's two Ribbons, stating her progress is amazing given the short period of time. Ash interjects and tries to impress the crowd with his four Badges, but they are unimpressed and push him outside of the mob.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket arrive at North Petalburg as well, but tired and hungry. A giant advertisement featuring Norman and Caroline captures the trio's attention. Initially they don't recognize them, but then Jessie realizes it's Norman, the Petalburg Gym Leader and Caroline, his wife. They look around and see everyone with Norman memorabilia including shorts and a stall selling dolls, so Team Rocket disguises themselves as Norman and his family. James dresses up as Norman, Jessie as Caroline, Wobbuffet as Max and Meowth as May. The quartet are quickly mobbed by another group of Norman fans. Jessie has her doubts about this plan. However, a man claiming to have lived almost all of his life next door to Norman comes and evaluates them to see if they're the real ones. He notices "Max" is blue, and how "May" hasn't grown, but fails to realize the fake son and daughter, and surprisingly declares Team Rocket as the real family. Team Rocket begin to sell merchandise to their new following.

Meanwhile, Max and May are becoming overwhelmed by all of the attention. However, Rose asks to see May's Contest performances, and May agrees to it. She orders out Beautifly and dazzles the crowd with its Silver Wind. May is quickly becoming overconfident thanks to her enthusiastic audience. She also calls out her Skitty for a juggling act. Her showcase, however, is interrupted by two young boys, who alert the crowd to a tough Trainer who has been defeating everyone's Pokémon. May, despite her exhaustion, is pushed into taking on this Trainer by her new fans, unaware that the Trainer is her travel companion Ash until she arrives at a nearby park. The crowd is carries May and Max in an open palanquin, decorated with several red lanterns with a Balance Badge motif on them. Ash accepts the challenge, and, upon the cheers from the crowd, May develops overconfidence again. May thinks Skitty and Beautifly are too tired, so she sends out Torchic. Ash tries to call Pikachu, but he collapses from exhaustion, so he selects Taillow instead. Ash orders a Peck and it hits Torchic, but the crowd begins booing Ash. He tries to ignore them and tells Taillow to use Wing Attack, which scores a clean hit. The crowd starts booing again, and Ash can't stand it, leaving himself wide open for an Ember attack. May, unaware again, over-enthusiastically orders Torchic to keep going with Ember and the individual embers combine into a massive flame which burns Ash and causes him to collapse. Rose declares Ash unable to battle, and thus, May is announced as the victor, much to her appreciation. Following May's victory, Dee Dunstan begins interviewing her. In that moment, a guy arrives at the park saying that Norman is giving autographs for money and that his children are by the fountain. He is however shocked to see May and Max are right in front of him. Rose declares the individuals by the fountain must be impostors, so the crowd makes its way to the fountain, carrying May and Max again.

Finally, Team Rocket is cornered by the fans following them and the other mob that are with the real May and Max. May and Max are surprised to see their parents are in town, though their attention quickly turns to Wobbuffet and Meowth's obvious blue skin and short stature respectively. Rose and her husband, the guy who claimed to have lived almost all his life next door to Norman, begin arguing over which duo are the real ones. As Ash and Brock arrive on the scene, May tells them that the disguised Wobbuffet and Meowth only claim to be them, and Team Rocket reply that May and Max are the fake ones. Upon hearing this, May orders Torchic to use Ember and the attack torches Team Rocket's disguises. With their true identities revealed, Team Rocket launch into their motto and send out Cacnea and Seviper. Cacnea uses Pin Missile, but Pikachu counters it with Thunderbolt. Seviper uses Haze, which gives Team Rocket enough time to escape and grab Pikachu though they nabbed Torchic instead. Pikachu climbs up a tree and Ash orders him to use Quick Attack, freeing Torchic and the stolen money. A large crowd scrambles to catch Torchic from its fall, though the Pokémon lands safely in May's arms. Rose and her husband capture the sacks of money. Ash orders Pikachu to defeat Team Rocket with Thunderbolt, destroying their balloon. Rose and Dee commend Ash, and as he tells them it was nothing, they inform him that they were actually complimenting Pikachu instead. By evening, the group leaves North Petalburg and its enthusiastic Norman fans and continue onto Petalburg City and Ash's next Gym battle.

Major events

For a list of all major events in the animated series, please see the history page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Pokémon

Pokémon Trainer's Choice

Pokémon Trainer's Choice: Minun

Trivia

  • Advance Adventure is used as background music.
  • This episode marks one of the rare occasions in which a member of Team Rocket refers to one of the main protagonists by name, with Meowth mentioning May and Max after putting on his disguise.

Errors

Dub edits

  • Maintaining consistency, Ash's Badge case has its Poké Ball design replaced with with a red line.
  • In the English dub, Team Rocket says that the reason Wobbuffet is blue is because he's cold. In the original Japanese version, Team Rocket says that he has been studying so hard recently.
  • The Badge case in the original

    The Badge case in the original

  • The Badge case in the dub

    The Badge case in the dub

Pokémon Trainer's Choice

  • Question: Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Corphish?
  • Choices: Minun, Marowak, Nincada
  • Answer: OK, Trainers! If you chose Minun, you were right!

In other languages



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Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
AG069 : Love, Petalburg Style! →
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