Cheer Pressure (Japanese:プラスルとマイナン！応援の道！？Prasle and Minun! Road Assistance!?) is the 52nd episode ofPokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, and the 326th episode of thePokémon animated series. It was first broadcast in Japan on November 20, 2003, and in the United States on November 6, 2004.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Ash meets an old friend: Thatcher from Mt. Lighthouse! He's a member of a pep squad school that cheers at Pokémon battles, led by a man named Sheridan.
A disguised Team Rocket offers Sheridan money to cheer for their Pokémon battles. To test the effectiveness of the cheering, Brock and Ash offer to battle against Team Rocket.
Brock's Forretress knocks out James' Cacnea, who is secretly revived using Helping Hand. Sheridan wears a mask containing a small microphone that he uses to give directions to Pokémon hidden inside the pep squad's giant drums.
After Cacnea wins, it's Ash and Pikachu versus Jessie and Seviper. Jessie doesn't pay attention to the battle, and Seviper is quickly taken down. Sheridan issues commands to revive Seviper repeatedly.
Max sneaks nearby and knocks the drums over, revealing the Pokémon concealed inside. Sheridan runs off, and Ash manages to encourage Pikachu to victory.
Team Rocket then reveal themselves, but Pikachu is too weak to fight them off. Plusle and Minun revive Pikachu, whose Thunder attack starts a thunderstorm. A bolt of lightning hits Team Rocket's balloon, sending them blasting off.
The members of the pep squad decide to go home, Thatcher continues his Pokémon journey, while Ash and friends continue to Lavaridge Town.
Plot
AsAsh andhis friends continue their journey,May admires her firstContestRibbon. Excited at reaching the next town, Ash accidentally takes the wrong path. After hearing a set of banging drums, the group follow the commotion up a fleet of stairs and stumble across a group of people. Among them is a familiar face,Thatcher with hisPlusle andMinun. He tells Ash and the others that he joined a pep squad that believes in the power ofcheering. MeanwhileTeam Rocket spots a new opportunity to stealPikachu, and they recruit Sheridan, the leader of the pep squad school, to assist their efforts. Sheridan, invites Ash and friends to join him in a battle to demonstrate the power of cheering. They readily accept the challenge.
The first match pitsBrock against "Jamester", who is indisguise. Brock sends outForretress to battleCacnea. Forretress usesRapid Spin to deflect Cacnea'sPin Missile attack before bowling it over with aTackle. As Cacnea struggles to its feet, Sheridan and his squad begin cheering. Unbeknownst to the group, Sheridan whispers "Helping Hand" into a microphone. Out of nowhere, Cacnea regains health and defeats Forretress with a barrage of attacks. Ash and May are dumbfounded, butMax thinks something is amiss. As Ash takes on "Jessica", also in disguise, Max goes on the hunt for clues. While she begins thinking of how to attack Pikachu, theElectric mouse begins attacking herSeviper. Angered, Jessie demands Sheridan begin to cheer, but he silences her, requesting patience. As soon as Seviper appears to have lost all energy, the cheering starts. Once again, Sheridan whispersAromatherapy into a microphone. ARoselia andVileplume are shown to be hidden inside one of the drums. Both unleash their attacks.
Now convinced that something is seriously wrong, Max overhears Sheridan whispering "Helping Hand", and Max realizes that he is giving Pokémon directions for attacking. Meanwhile, Seviper has now regained health and is attacking Pikachu. Just as Pikachu is about to lose, Max shoves the drums over, revealing the Roselia, Vileplume,Makuhita, andShroomish that were inside. Sheridan is stunned that his scheme has been revealed. After Thatcher and the other pep squad members demand a refund, Sheridan takes off running, while Jessie opts to continue the battle. SeviperWraps itself around Pikachu, but loses control of him after a powerfulThunder attack. Following her defeat, Jessie removes her disguise while her teammates appear with theMeowth balloon in time to perform theirmotto. Jessie is disappointed that they don’t have a new mecha, thoughMeowth explains that they used all their saving to pay Sheridan. Meowth, instead clicks and button and grabs Pikachu with a mechanical claw. As Team Rocket reel in Pikachu, Thatcher steps up and has his Pokémon lend a Helping Hand. The charge gives Pikachu an overwhelming surge of power, and he summons dark storm clouds. Soon enough, lightning finally strikes Team Rocket's balloon, sending them blasting off. Although he is left disappointed, Thatcher tells Ash that he really admires his work with Pikachu. He promises to work hard and start from scratch to eventually become as great aTrainer as Ash someday, inspiring some of his fellow squad members to do the same. The group bids farewell to Thatcher and heads off on their next adventure.
In thelast episode, there was no symbol onMay's Ribbon case; however, in this episode there is.
WhenThatcher runs up toAsh andhis friends and asks if they remember him, Ash's z's under his eyes are missing.
Dub edits
In the English dub, Ash says they are going toLavaridge Town for his next Gym battle, andMax points out that they have to take the left path. In the original Japanese version, it is mentioned that they have to go throughMt. Chimney to get there.
In the English dub,James says that he used to be a cheerleader, andMeowth says that they should have their own squad. In the original Japanese version,Jessie says that cheerleading is worth money, and the group talks about the food they would buy with that money.
Pokémon Trainer's Choice
Question: Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Shiftry?
