After winning his seventh Gym badge, Ash can't stop bragging about his battle skills...until he runs into a member of the Elite Four!

Vanity Affair

Rica Matsumoto

Ikue Otani

Megumi Hayashibara

Shin-ichiro Miki

Inuko Inuyama

Yuji Ueda

Unsho Ishizuka

KAORI

Where's Armaldo?

Solid As a Solrock

Our heroes reconnect with an unlucky Spoink, and it's still having trouble holding onto its pearl!

Clamperl of Wisdom

Ash and friends join a treasure hunter to explore the deep sea, but Team Rocket is right behind them!

The Relicanth Really Can

When a Gorebyss-versus-Huntail rivalry develops between two islands, our heroes must get to the bottom of it!

The Evolutionary War

The residents of Muscle Island are dedicated to physical fitness-but can they keep up with Ash in a Pokémon battle?

Training Wrecks

After a rescue at sea, our heroes find themselves aboard Team Magma's submarine and learn more about the group's plan for world domination!

Gaining Groudon (1)

Team Aqua and Team Magma have awakened the ancient Legendary Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre! Can Ash and friends escape?

The Scuffle of Legends (2)

A Team Rocket strike on Mossdeep City drags our heroes-plus the city's twin Gym Leaders-into a space-shuttle scheme!

It's Still Rocket Roll to Me

Ash takes on the Mossdeep Gym, going up against two Gym Leaders at once!

In an island nature preserve, Ash and friends come face to face with several Pokémon thought to be extinct!

May competes in a Pokémon Contest, where another Coordinator tries to sabotage her performance!

A Cacturne for the Worse

When our heroes discover an enormous Poké Ball on an island, Team Rocket's meddling unleashes an ancient destructive force!

Claydol Big and Tall

Ash and friends meet a talented Trainer who performs a ribbon dance with her Mawile...until Team Rocket gets in the way!

Once in a Mawile

To help a local researcher, our heroes explore a massive underground labyrinth created by a group of Trapinch...and get into some trouble along the way!

Beg, Burrow and Steal

An Absol appears to warn a village of danger, but the villagers think it's the one causing the trouble! Can our heroes clear up this misunderstanding?

Absol-ute Disaster

When a mischievous Snorunt steals Ash's hard-earned Gym badges, Ash chases after it-right into a raging snowstorm!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snorunt

Max finds an injured Ralts and tries to get it to a Pokémon Center, but its friends Gardevoir and Kirlia think our heroes are trying to steal it!

Do I Hear a Ralts?

Ash gets ready for his final Gym battle in the Hoenn region: a Double Battle against Gym Leader Juan, who used to be a Pokémon Coordinator!

The Great Eight Fate! (1)

Ash and Juan battle it out in the Sootopolis Gym! Can Ash win his eighth Gym badge to qualify for the Hoenn League?

Eight Ain't Enough (2)

When May discovers that two of her Poké Balls are missing, she naturally assumes it's Team Rocket! But the culprit could be someone else entirely...

Showdown at Linoone!

When Team Rocket interrupts a practice battle between May and her rival Drew, our heroes and their Pokémon have to sort out a big mix-up!

Who, What, When, Where, Wynaut?

Our heroes are delayed by a herd of Donphan on their way to Pacifidlog Town! Can May make it onto the ferry in time for her final Pokémon Contest?

Date Expectations

May enters the Pacifidlog Contest, where she goes up against rivals Joshua and Erica, plus a mysterious competitor known only as "The Jester"...

Mean with Envy (1)

May competes against an unusual Meowth in the second round of the Pacifidlog Contest. Can she win the last ribbon she needs to qualify for the Grand Festival?

Pacifidlog Jam (2)

When our heroes stumble upon a wonderful berry harvest, May takes the opportunity to make some Pokéblocks for the Grand Festival, drawing the attention of a hungry Munchlax!

Berry, Berry Interesting

Ash meets Morrison, another Trainer who's on his way to compete in the Hoenn League, and the two immediately become fierce rivals!

Less Is Morrison

Aboard a luxury liner bound for Slateport City and the Grand Festival, our heroes must help Officer Jenny catch a master thief!

The Ribbon Cup Caper!

This is a clipshow Unaired outside of Japan of Satoshi's (Ash's) gym battles and Haruka's (May's) contest battles.

The heroes are still on the boat looking towards the Grand Festival. Ash remembers all of his Hoenn Gym Battles with Roxanne, Norman, Brawly, Juan, Tate and Lisa, while May remembers her Contests with Drew, Grace, Kelly, Harley, Erica and Savannah.

Satoshi and Haruka! Heated Battles in Hoenn!!

On the first day of the Grand Festival, May runs into her deceitful rival Harley once more!

Hi Ho Silver Wind! (1)

Ash meets a Coordinator whose ribbons have been stolen, and May listens to some bad advice before her first performance in the Grand Festival!

Deceit and Assist (2)

May is up against Harley in the second round of the Grand Festival! Can she triumph over his treacherous tactics?

Rhapsody in Drew (3)

When our heroes win free tickets to Ever Grande City for the Hoenn League Championships, they're delighted-until it becomes clear this is another of Team Rocket's schemes!

Island Time

While training for the Hoenn League, Ash meets fellow Trainer Tyson and his Meowth in boots, and they discover that the ceremonial torch has been stolen!

Like a Meowth to a Flame

Ash, Morrison, and Tyson register for the Hoenn League, and it appears that Tyson's Meowth has an unfortunate past...

Saved by the Beldum

In the qualifying rounds, Ash faces a serious challenge: he has to win three matches in a row, and each match is a Double Battle!

From Brags to Riches

Ash has made it through the qualifying rounds, but now he faces an impressive Trainer named Katie in a full battle, where both of them will use all six of their Pokémon!

Shocks and Bonds (1)

Ash has fallen behind in his full battle against Katie! Can he recover and make it to the second round?

A Judgment Brawl (2)

Ash faces his friend and rival Morrison in the second round of the Hoenn League!

Choose It or Lose It! (3)

Ash goes up against his rival Tyson in the quarterfinals of the Hoenn League!

At the End of the Fray (4)

The Hoenn League is over, and it's time for Ash to bid farewell to his traveling companions and head home-but he can't resist one more challenge from a Gym Leader along the way!

The Scheme Team

Max and May come to visit Ash in Pallet Town, along with Misty and Brock, and they all make plans for another journey together-this time, to the Battle Frontier!

The Right Place and the Right Mime

Our heroes stop for a picnic at the base of Mt. Moon, where they encounter the rarely seen Cleffa, Clefairy, and Clefable!

A Real Cleffa-Hanger

On the way to Ash's first match at the Battle Frontier, our heroes see the Legendary Pokémon Articuno flying through a snowstorm!

Numero Uno Articuno

Ash calls in his old friend Charizard to help in his battle against Frontier Brain Noland and his friend Articuno!

The Symbol Life

Provoked by Team Rocket, hordes of Rock-type Pokémon attack our heroes on their way to the Battle Arena!

Hooked on Onix

Ash and friends fall into a trap set by a man who wants to catch a Jigglypuff for his daughter's birthday!

Rough, Tough Jigglypuff

On their way to the Battle Arena, Ash and friends stop by a cake shop, but the line for it is long. They see an Arcanine come running by, and May decides to catch it. However, Drew returns and he also wants to capture it.

On Cloud Arcanine

Ash and friends rescue a sad Psyduck from a group of Fighting types, but they can't figure out how to cheer it up...

Sitting Psyduck

Our heroes and Team Rocket check out a new restaurant owned by two sisters who can't stop squabbling!

Hail to the Chef!

After a scientific experiment goes awry, Ash and friends try to track down a Caterpie that has grown to enormous proportions!

Caterpie's Big Dilemma

Our heroes are in Saffron City for May's first Pokémon Contest in the Kanto region-and her shady rival Harley is competing, too!

The Saffron Con

The Saffron Pokémon Contest is under way! Can May win her first ribbon in the Kanto region?

A Hurdle for Squirtle

Ash checks out the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City and ends up getting recruited as a new student!

Pasta La Vista!

Join Ash accompanied by his partner Pikachu, as he travels through many regions, meets new friends and faces new challenges on his quest to become a Pokémon Master.

Vanity Affair

Seasons25

Season 8 Episodes53

Cast8

Discussion

Episode Summary