JN097

This article is about an episode of the Pokémon animated series that has not been dubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names.

← JN096 : Lighting the Way Home!

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

JN098 : Out of Their Elements! →

An Evolution in Taste!

JN097   EP1182 ヤドキング！ カレーなる遭遇！！ Yadoking! Curry Encounter!!

First broadcast Japan February 11, 2022 United States

English themes Opening Ending

Japanese themes Opening １・２・３ Ending バツグンタイプ

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 柿原優子 Yūko Kakihara Storyboard 野田泰宏 Yasuhiro Noda Assistant director 野田泰宏 Yasuhiro Noda Animation directors 大西雅也 Masaya Ōnishi 倉員千晶 Chiaki Kurakazu Additional credits

Screenshots on Filb.de Preview thread on BMGf Closed Original review thread on BMGf

An Evolution in Taste! (Japanese: ヤドキング！ カレーなる遭遇！！ Yadoking! Curry Encounter!!) is the 97th episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, and the 1,182nd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on February 11, 2022, and is scheduled to air in Canada on July 9, 2022.

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

Plot

Ash and Goh have returned to Slowpoke Island, with Goh being determined to catch himself a Slowpoke this time around. They quickly find the island's Slowpoke, and while Ash feels like just relaxing with them, Goh quickly shakes off this distraction and accomplishes what he came here to do, easily catching himself a Slowpoke. However, he barely has time to celebrate his newest capture before the entire island is shaken by another island making contact with it.

A new group of Slowpoke appears, with Goh's Rotom Phone identifying them as Galarian Slowpoke. One of them takes a taste at a local Slowpoke's tail, but is disappointed by its sweet taste. When the regular Slowpoke returns the gesture, it is overwhelmed by the Galarian Slowpoke's spices. Grookey does the same and is equally overwhelmed. Consulting Goh's Rotom Phone again, Ash and Goh learn that Galarian Slowpoke's diet of Galarica nuts is the reason for their tails' spicy flavor. The two boys then spot a Slowbro and follow it as it tries and fails to knock down a coconut from a tree. It receives unexpected help from a Galarian Slowbro, who uses Shell Side Arm to shoot down a coconut, but the regular Slowbro mistakes this for getting its food stolen and leaves.

A loud cry suddenly echoes across the island, which Ash and Goh follow to find the Galarian Slowpoke and Slowbro being joined by a Galarian Slowking. Goh is creeped out by it, especially when his Rotom Phone tells him that with Galarian Slowking, the Shellder is the one in control. Slowking uses Psychic to bring over a big pile of nuts from its island, but the island's resident Slowpoke and Slowbro leave before it can offer them any. Galarian Slowking's group heads back to their island, with Ash and Goh following them and only now noticing the new landmass that's appeared next to Slowpoke Island. Galarian Slowking notices the two and shows them the island it and its subjects call their home. It then offers the boys and their Pokémon some Galarica seeds, which, while very spicy, they also find delicious. Goh figures that Slowking was trying to offer the island's Slowpoke Galarica seeds to make friends with them, and Ash agrees to help it in that.

Seeing Ash's like of Galarica seeds and willingness to help, Galarian Slowking suddenly detaches its Shellder crown. Goh barely has time to be horrified at the realization of having to relive the nightmarish experience of their last Slowpoke Island visit, when the crown already lands on Ash's head and turns him into "Galarian Ashking," who starts speaking in rap-style rhymes. Remembering Galarian Slowking's Pokédex entry, Goh realizes to his horror, that Shellder is now controlling Ash. "Galarian Ashking" requests Goh's help in making friends with Slowpoke Island's Slowpoke, boasting that he's got a master plan to make it happen. Goh, while creeped out by Ash being possessed, agrees to help and tries to tell the Slowpoke that while Galarian Slowking's group may look scary, they're not mean and just want to meet them again. However, the Slowpoke just respond with their usual blank stare, leaving Goh unable to figure out if they actually understood what he said.

Goh then notices another Pokémon approaching, which he recognizes as the udon-loving Slowking from their previous visit to the island. However, just when he tries to ask for its help, the possessed Ash returns, tossing Goh a ladle and challenging him to a rap battle, much to Goh's bewilderment. Seeing this, Slowking detaches its own crown and, ignoring Goh's horrified protests, has it land on his head and turn him into "Gohking." While both kinds of Slowpoke watch, Ash and Goh begin their rap battle, with "Galarian Ashking" expressing his love of curry, while "Gohking" refuses it in favor of udon. In the midst of the battle, the two side's dishes suddenly fuse together to form curry udon, which both sides find tasty. Ash and Goh join all the Slowpoke in eating this new dish, and once they're finished, the Shellder crowns return to their respective Slowking, releasing the boys from their possession.

As a sign of their new friendship, the two Slowking exchange gifts in the form of a Galarica nut tree and an udon bowl. With the friendship established, Galarian Slowking uses Psychic to make its island float as its kind resumes its journey, with Ash and Goh joining the Slowpoke Island's residents in waving them goodbye and hoping they'll meet again someday.

Major events

• Goh catches a Slowpoke.

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Slowbro (Galarian)
• Slowking (Galarian)

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

• Ash
• Goh

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?: Slowking (Galarian)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Grookey (Goh's)
• Slowpoke (Goh's; new)
• Rotom (Professor Cerise's; Rotom Phone)
• Slowking (anime)
• Slowpoke (multiple)
• Slowbro
• Slowpoke (Galarian; multiple)
• Slowbro (Galarian; debut)
• Slowking (Galarian; debut)

Trivia

• Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!!: Slowbro
• Slowpoke Song is used as an insert song in this episode.
• As of this episode, Goh has 100 individual Pokémon under his ownership.
• This episode features the least amount of human characters out of any Pokémon Journeys: The Series episode so far, with only two.
• Ash, Goh, and Pikachu narrate the preview for the next episode.

Errors

• When Goh checks his Rotom Phone for his newly caught Slowpoke, his hand is colored the same as Ash's.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		呆呆王！遇上咖哩！

← JN096 : Lighting the Way Home!

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

JN098 : Out of Their Elements! →

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