Recap: Rescuing the Unwilling/10,000,000 Reasons to Fight

Before I get to the meat of this recap, there are some details from previous episodes that help provide context for what's going on; so if you just want to read about the episodes in the title, feel free to scroll down a little.

After Lillie regains her memory, she is definitely eager to experience how other Pokémon feel. The stunts Faba pulled also caused him to take advantage of Cosmog, aka "Nebby" for his own gain. He decides to use this to prove his theories further; resulting in Lusamine being kidnapped by Nihilego and being taken to Ultra Space, and Cosmog evolving into Cosmoem. Also, though Ash could barely lift a log when he first came to Alola; he can somehow lift Cosmoem without injuring himself despite how heavy it is in the Pokédex (1.1 tons standard, 999 kg metric). Faba tries to blame Lusamine for what he's done, but Wicke and Burnet are having none of it.

Lillie decides to find Lusamine, and is found out by Gladion about her plans. She also tries to say her new outfit is her pajamas. Right, because I'm real sure one's sleepwear consists of an adventuring outfit and running shoes. Gladion sees through this, and grudgingly agrees to help Lillie on the condition that she only take what she can carry in just one backpack. She complies, and the two head to Poni Island.

"I've always known, somehow I've always known."

Since Lillie doesn't show up to class at the Pokémon Academy, everyone else decides to confer with Hala; and then they all head to Poni Island as well. Lillie and Gladion encounter many obstacles with the help of Silvally, including what Lillie thinks is an invisible bridge. No, that's when you're trying to find the Holy Grail, Lillie. Everyone confers at the Altar of the Sunne to determine their next move when a familiar figure nicks Ash's hat: it's Tapu Koko! With the gathering of the other Island Guardians Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini; everyone prepares to head through the Ultra Wormhole; but not before a ceremony takes place to evolve Cosmoem into Solgaleo! Ash also has his Z-Ring upgraded into a Z-Power Ring! I actually have one of those myself now, and you better believe I wore it for my cosplay this Halloween.

"Let's go, and don't forget the droids!"

As Team Rocket realizes what they've really been after all this time; they try to chase after Solgaleo, but before they can do anything else, they're subdued by Bewear and taken out of the action until the conflict is resolved. 

Now, as everyone ventures into Ultra Space, we can officially open up the first part of this recap, "Rescuing the Unwilling."

"You may dispense with the pleasantries commander, I'm here to put you back on schedule."

Everyone steps into Ultra Space, and the whole are is a bizarre place where normal real-world logic and proportion don't apply. Yet, it still makes more sense to me than Washington right now. Ha! Topical humor.

"I'm afraid our furry companion has gone and done something rather rash."

Much like in the games, Lusamine has bonded with Nihilego; and its toxins have brought out even more of her personality's malicious traits.

"Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design."

Even with all that has happened, everyone must defeat Nihilego and wrest Lusamine from its control in order to rescue her; no easy task as the Ultra Beast has enveloped her in its clutches to give her what she desires most!

"Your overconfidence is your weakness." "Your faith in your friends is yours."

Despite Lusamine's demands to stay away, conveniently, the bluffs in Ultra Space make for convenient platforms for everyone to follow her on!

"It only takes one to sound the alarm." "Then we'll do it real quiet like."

As everyone chases Nihilego intro Ultra Space, Gladion rationalizes that the way Lusamine is acting is like a child getting a toy she's always wanted; and that she's been wanting to meet an Ultra Beast ever since she was a little girl! While not exactly the way it was in the games, it definitely works in a different way.

Whatever the case may be, everyone must stop Nihilego in order to rescue Lusamine; but her own desires being used against her is not the only thing making that tough. It turns out that the energy inside Ultra Space is creating more obstacles as well as granting her Pokémon the aura of Totem Pokémon! I definitely liked the challenges they posed in the games, as well as being able to unlock them in US/UM. By that same token, I also like how rather than usual gym leaders; the Island Challenges in the anime pose new ways to have the heroes train to clear them; and this two-parter is a good example of that.

"I said CLOSER! Get as close as you can, and engage those star destroyers at point-blank range!"

One of the members of her roster is a Salazzle, rather fitting I must say. On that note, while Guzma and Plumeria have yet to appear as of this writing; most of what I'm seeing in this two-parter is consistent with the animation test Iwane made a while back. I can only imagine what the latter would say or do to Tupp and his Salandit.

"This bounty hunter is my kind of scum, fearless and inventive."

Another one she has is Milotic. While I may be more of a Gardevoir guy, it doesn't surprise me someone like her would have a Pokémon that resembles her own warped personality and standards of beauty.

"Soon you will learn to appreciate me." 

She also has a Mismagius on tap. While my favorite ghost-type is still Dusknoir, even I can't deny this little witch's appeal. There may be many I want to burn at the stake these days, but this isn't one of them.

"The Emperor has made a critical error, and the time for our attack has come."

Interestingly, she has an Absol in her roster here; since Bewear is Team Rocket's aforementioned bodyguard/nursemaid in this anime instead. Interesting choice, I personally would have gone with Zoroark or Mightyena.

"I will not give up my favorite decoration, I like Captain Solo where he is."

What does remain in her roster, however, is a Lilligant who factors trickery over fighting prowess, as shown with its hypnotic Teeter Dance!

"Hey! Lapti Nek!"

What makes the fight one of the most personal of this series so far, however; is their family Clefable! While most of the classmates deal with Lusamine's main roster, Lillie tries to get through to Clefable and Lusamine while Ash and Gladion fight Nihilego!

As Clefable readies her attack, Lillie pulls out the Poké Doll she had in her bag, leading to a flashback of when they were living together at Lusamine's estate! This finally breaks the control of the Ultra Beast, with Lusamine still being under its influence! Now, we enter the second half of this recap, "10,000,000 Million Reasons to Fight!"

While Sophocles fights off Milotic with the help of his Togedemaru and Charjabug, Mallow's Stenee is able to coax Rowlet away with its own "Sweet Scent," and uses a special move against the Lilligant; dubbed by Lana as "Rowl-Launch!"

"INTENSIFY FORWARD FIREPOWER!" "Too late!"

Ash, Gladion and Lillie are still fighting Nihilego, but their path is blocked by a river of poison that's so corrosive that it burns on contact! 

"In its belly, you will know a new definition of pain and suffering as you are slowly digested over a thousand years!"

Thankfully, not only is Solgaleo part Steel-type, Clefable also has the Magic Guard ability and Gladion installs the Steel memory into Silvally; making all three of them immune to the poison! Could this be any less metal? How about I make it more?

Now, there are only a few more of Lusamine's Pokémon remaining as she's in Nihilego's control!

"Good, use your aggressive feelings, boy. Let the hate flow through you."

Gladion then uses the special move of his Midnight Lycanroc, "Continental Crush!"

"We surrender!" "Ay-yee-yah!"

With an increasing amount of attacks being thrown at her, Lusamine still will not yield; and Lillie decides to try one more thing to get through to her: to tell her off with everything she wants to say to her. I would include yet another Return of the Jedi reference with this screenshot, but I think I will let Lillie speak for herself.

"You know what: I HATE YOU! You always treat me like a baby, but YOU'RE acting like a baby; a totally selfish, immature child! That's why that Ultra Beast has taken control of you! The way you're acting now: you're not really my mother! I know you've been researching Ultra Beasts for a long time, but my mother is very strong; and what about you? You're a weak puppet, and nothing more; you can't even move! If you were my mother, you could come out all by yourself, and that is my logical conclusion!"

Despite what many have said, Lillie is actually awesome. With this, Lusamine snaps out of her trance, and now the only thing left to do is defeat Nihilego! At that moment, Ash's Z-Power Ring starts glowing and surging with electricity, so much that his hat blows off from the sheer force! His Electirium-Z has transformed into a Pikashunium-Z! This enables him to use the special move "10,000,000-Volt Thunderbolt!"

"Red group! Gold group! All fighters follow me!"

Every bit as impressive as it is in the games and last year's movie, Pikachu pulls on Ash's hat and uses the Z-Power Move to take out Nihilego with a single stroke; finally freeing Lusamine from its grasp! 

"YEEHAW!" (Sullustan noises)

So, with the Ultra Beast driven away, and Lusamine rescued, everyone returns from Ultra Space and Bewear goes hopping back to its home with Team Rocket in her arms. Little tidbit for the future: the motherly instincts make sense, as it turns out that she has a Stufful in her keep now; and it even called her mama in the cutest way!

Everyone is pleased they've returned victorious, even going so far as to say they're the best!

So, after all that intensity in what's essentially a parallel universe; we close on a light note where Lana jokes to Sophocles about a souvenir he picked up from Ultra Space; effectively making this a good example of an "everybody laughs ending." I am so glad I picked these as one of my last couple Sun and Moon recaps.

As an adaptation of the bestselling video games and a show on its own merit, these two episodes are some of my best counterarguments towards detractors of the Sun and Moon series. The redesigned animation style was easily the best way they could have done these parts of the story, and while different from how the games did it; it's still a great example of how an adaptation can often do something in another medium that works in a different way than in the source. As I have stated before, it's the same reason why one version of Spider-Man is a modern high school comedy in the vein of the ones John Hughes did in the 1980s; and another is one that shows what it would be like for the character to wear the mask in this day and age; with you at your PS4 controller. I also have one more episode to look at before I do my recap of this year's movie on Christmas Eve, and it's also one I've been wanting to do for a long time. See you, space cowboy.