Meowth's Scrafty Tactics!

BW043   EP700 ニャゴシエーター・ニャース！ズルズキン説得作戦！！ Nyagotiator Nyarth! Zuruzukin Persuasion Tactics!!

First broadcast Japan August 18, 2011 United States November 26, 2011

English themes Opening Black and White Ending

Japanese themes Opening ベストウイッシュ！ Ending ポケモン言えるかな？ＢＷ

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 大橋志吉Yukiyoshi Ōhashi 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

Screenshots on Filb.de

Meowth's Scrafty Tactics! (Japanese:ニャゴシエーター・ニャース！ズルズキン説得作戦！！NyagotiatorNyarth!Zuruzukin Persuasion Tactics!!) is the 43rd episode ofPokémon the Series: Black & White, and the 700th episode of thePokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on August 18, 2011 and in the United States on November 26, 2011.

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

Blurb

On their way to Nimbasa City, Ash and the gang are surprised to come across Meowth, who has been injured. They learn that Meowth has been fired from Team Rocket, so our heroes decide it would be best for Meowth to join them...as long as he behaves!

Soon after, Axew is lured away and captured by an angry Scrafty. With Meowth translating, Scrafty warns our heroes that if they don’t help it in battle, they’ll never see Axew again! Ash hatches a plan: Meowth and Scraggy will distract Scrafty with negotiations while he frees Axew with the help of Pikachu and Snivy.

When Scrafty discovers the deceit, it immediately challenges Ash to a battle. Ash and Tepig quickly get the upper hand...and Scrafty bursts into tears! With Meowth’s help, Scrafty explains that its den was stolen by a Mandibuzz. Upon further investigation, the gang discovers that the Mandibuzz was kicked out of its own nest after having a fight with a friend.

Meowth agrees to go with the ousted Mandibuzz and ask its friend for forgiveness so it can move back in, and Meowth’s expert negotiating skills seal the deal! The two Mandibuzz are friends again, Scrafty has its den back, and our heroes continue on their way to Nimbasa City—now with Meowth as part of the gang!

Plot

On their way toNimbasa City,the group is taking a break for lunch. WhileTepig andAxew are playing, they find an unconsciousMeowth in the bushes. Upon telling everyone,Cilan quickly inspects Meowth's condition before giving him medicine. Meowth regains consciousness and is startled to be surrounded by thetwerps.Iris demands to know whatTeam Rocket’s next scheme is, but he replies that he is no longer a part of Team Rocket. WhenAsh asks him what happened, Meowth tries to run away, claiming that nothing happened, but he is not able to run in his condition, and almost collapses. Ash asks again, and Meowth agrees to tell them the story as they saved him. He explains that he was caught while carrying out an operation, and as a resultGiovanni fired him.Jessie andJames soon left him, leaving Meowth alone. With that, Meowth decided to go on his own journey. Iris presses for the truth, and Meowth assures her of his story.

Cilan suggests to the others that they should let Meowth travel with them, but Ash and Iris don't think that it's a good idea. Cilan then reminds them that he is the only Meowth inUnova, and that wandering alone wouldn't be safe. Meowth initially refuses, but Iris says that he will faint again if they leave him. Ash tells Meowth that he can travel with them on the condition that he doesn't do anything bad. Meowth agrees to these terms as he has no reason to do anything bad, seeing as he's no longer a part of Team Rocket.

As they start walking, Meowth flatters the group on their qualities; commenting on Cilan's soup, calling Iris a princess, and even calling Ash a goodTrainer. As they walk, Axew becomes interested in a shiny object placed on the road, but when Axew tries to grab it, he is kidnapped by aScrafty. The group follows Scrafty to its hut, but Meowth tries to stop them, translating that they mustn't get any closer to Scrafty's hut or Scrafty would hurt Axew. Ash ignores Meowth and runs ahead, but Meowth stops him again, telling him that Scrafty is serious and that they shouldn't anger it. Pikachu agrees with Meowth, and Cilan suggests that they wait there until it things calm down. Inside the hut, Axew tries to useDragon Rage, shattering the window, but Scrafty manages to evade it.

Meowth tells the others that he will take it from there, claiming that he is a negotiator. Meowth slowly walks to Scrafty's hut, calling for it to come outside. Meowth soon returns, informing the group that Scrafty will return Axew in exchange for a battle. Ash and the others are unimpressed, so Cilan suggests they buy themselves some time. While Ash sneaks around the building, Meowth confronts Scrafty again, requesting it shows them Axew. Scrafty opens the door slightly to reveal that Axew is in one piece—but is tied up. Higher up, Ash notices that there is a window on the side, later suggesting that there is a way to release Axew. He tells Meowth to talk with Scrafty, but Meowth explains that Scrafty is an evolved form ofScraggy, and that it will be good idea to take Scraggy with him to distract Scrafty. Ash complies and lets Scraggy go with Meowth, and takesSnivy with him. As Snivy is released from herPoké Ball, she attacks Meowth withVine Whip, only for Ash to tell her that Meowth is now their friend.

AtNimbasa City’s busy Gear Station, Jessie and James are completing another one of their operations. After scanning the Unova train network and schedules, they board the next train. They soon get off at a junction to fix a device to the underground subway wall.

Meanwhile, Meowth and Scraggy go to Scrafty while Ash walks around the hut again. As Scraggy and Scrafty show whichmoves they can use, Meowth suggests that Scrafty should teach Scraggy some good moves in an attempt to distract it. Scrafty accepts, and shows Scraggy how to useHigh Jump Kick. Scraggy tries to use the move, distracting Scrafty and allowing Meowth to signal to Ash that he can release Axew. Ash tells Snivy to use Vine Whip and carry Axew out of the window. As Meowth pretends to alert that Axew is missing, he and Scraggy leave so Pikachu can useThunderbolt on Scrafty and return to the others.

Upon returning Axew, Ash returns Snivy to its Poké Ball and almost returns Scraggy, but it refuses to return and hides behind Meowth. Meowth says that Scraggy is a little freaked out, but Scrafty returns and challenges the group. Ash accepts and chooses Tepig to battle. Scrafty takes seriouscrash damage after failing to hit a High Jump Kick. As Tepig usesEmber attack, Scrafty fires aFocus Blast, though it misses its target. Tepig replies withFlame Charge, knocking Scrafty out. Scrafty sobs from its defeat, leading Meowth to wonder if something is amiss. After refusing to speak, Scrafty admits that its nest was taken away, and it needs help to get it back, and that everyone he has asked has refused to help—resulting in it kidnapping Pokémon. After hearing the story, Ash and his friends agree to help Scrafty.

Scrafty leads them to its nest, showing them that aMandibuzz had taken it. Scrafty tries to attack Mandibuzz, but is easily defeated by herShadow Ball. Scraggy decides to try to defend his friend. Mandibuzz usesPluck and dives towards Scraggy, but Scraggy manages to dodge the attack. Mandibuzz hits the head in the ground and gets stuck on the rocks. As Mandibuzz tries to get free, Scrafty commands Scraggy to use High Jump Kick, which successfully hits and defeats Mandibuzz. Upon defeating Mandibuzz, she starts crying, explaining that she was kicked out of her flock because she ate all of the food, forcing her to take Scrafty's nest. After hearing this, Meowth suggests that they pick up some food and give it to Mandibuzz's flock. After seeing it as a peace-offering, Mandibuzz is welcomed back to her flock.

As the trio continue their journey, Iris compliments Meowth's negotiation skills, to which everybody agrees. Suddenly, Iris decides to capture Meowth and throws a Poké Ball at him. The catch is unsuccessful as Meowth yells at her, claiming that he belongs to no-one. He agrees to continue traveling with the group, as long as they don't try to catch him.

By nightfall, Jessie and James have reachedAnville Town's train yard and are planning to report their progress toDr. Zager.

Major events

• Meowth begins to travel withAsh andhis friends, claiming to have been fired fromTeam Rocket.
• Ash's Scraggy learnsHigh Jump Kick.
• Iris attempts tocapture Meowth, but is unsuccessful.
• Jessie andJames arrive inAnville Town and begin their plans to sabotage theNimbasa Subway system.

For a list of all major events inPokémon the Series: Black & White, please see thetimeline page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Scrafty

TV episode debuts

• Mandibuzz

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Iris
• Cilan
• Jessie
• James
• Giovanni (fantasy)
• Subway patrons

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?:Scrafty

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Axew (Iris's)
• Tranquill (Ash's)
• Oshawott (Ash's)
• Tepig (Ash's)
• Snivy (Ash's)
• Scraggy (Ash's)
• Pansage (Cilan's)
• Scrafty (debut)
• Mandibuzz (×2)
• Beartic (flashback)
• Scolipede (flashback)
• Darmanitan (flashback)

Trivia

• Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster:Timburr
• All of the transitions in this episode, not including the theme song, use aMeowth head.
• This episode is the only one inPokémon the Series: Black & White to featureGiovanni in one ofMeowth's fantasies.
• This is the first episode where Meowth is seen entering aPoké Ball.

Errors

• WhenScrafty is checking its pants to see ifAxew is alright, Axew's eyelid is colored white when he is about to useDragon Rage on Scrafty.
• WhenAsh tellsSnivy to wait before Meowth will go to save Axew while Scrafty is teachingScraggy a new move, the stripe on Snivy's neck turns green for a split-second.
• During several scenes throughout the episode, Scraggy's pupils change designs sometimes.
• When the firstMandibuzz explains her problem to Meowth, he replies, "If you went and ate your buddy's food withouthis permission, you did a bad thing." The "buddy" turns out to be another Mandibuzz, which is afemale-only species. It's possible that Meowth didn't know about them being female.

Dub edits

• In the Englishdub, Meowth makes a reference toSherlock Holmes when he says "Sure, Sherlock!" asCilan asks Meowth to let him interrogate Scrafty. Cilan's outfit during the scene could also be influenced by the popular image of Sherlock Holmes. In the Japanese version, he just calls him a detective sommelier.
• In theLatin American dub, when Meowth is trying to distract Scrafty, instead of saying"Scrafty! Watch out, look at that!!", he points and says"¡¡Que horror, los deDigimon!!".
  • A similarreference in which a Pokémon character looks down to theDigimon franchise happened inIll-Will Hunting!.
• In the English dub, Meowth calls Ash and his friendstwerps throughout the episode. In the Japanese version, he doesn't call them anything, as he was trying not to blow his cover.

In other languages

This episode article is part ofProject Anime, aBulbapedia project that covers all aspects ofPokémon animation.

• Pokémon the Series: Black & White episodes
• Milestone episodes
• Episodes focusing on Meowth
• Episodes written by Yukiyoshi Ōhashi
• Episodes storyboarded and directed by Yūji Asada
• Episodes storyboarded by Yūji Asada
• Episodes directed by Yūji Asada
• Episodes animated by Masaaki Iwane
• Episodes in which a main character's Pokémon learns a new move