TB031: Dig Those Diglett!

is the 31st episode of of , Season 1 of , and of .
==Synopsis==
Ash, Brock, Misty and Pikachu are lost deep in the mountains. As they press forward on a rough road not even shown on their map, they suddenly hear a large explosion. Running toward the sound in surprise, the party emerges on a construction site where tractors are building a tremendous dam. Ash learns that the foreman is trying to recruit skilled Pokémon trainers because earth Pokémon, Diglett, are interfering with construction and delaying the completion of his work. The foreman has been recruiting Pokémon trainers to get rid of the Diglett. He will award free passes for travel to a luxurious natural hot springs to anyone who can accomplish this. As Ash scopes out the recruits, he notices a familiar enemy in the mix, Gary.
==Episode plot==
Ash, Misty, and Brock are lost in the mountains. They hear an explosion in the distance and they run to where they heard the explosion. Elsewhere, Team Rocket tries to enjoy a lunch break only to have their lunch destroyed by an earthquake. Angry about this, Team Rocket decides to go after the culprits responsible with Meowth right behind them.
Later, Ash and his friends see several semi trucks in a pile up. Pikachu then hears a sound coming from the ground and a Diglett pops up. Then it pops right back down into the ground. A construction worker (the foreman of the project) tells Ash and his friends that they were building a dam in the area, but a group of Diglett are destroying the construction and the project has been forced to stop. Misty thought they were cute but the foreman doesn't share her viewpoint. He says that they are calling all Pokémon trainers to help defeat the Diglett, Ash says that he and his friends are trainers.
The foreman tells them that the person who gets the Diglett to leave will get a big reward. Gary appears along with four buses full of trainers and says he will solve the problem. As usual he insults Ash, and after Brock sees Gary's cheerleaders, Brock wants their phone numbers, but the foreman tells them to get to work. Team Rocket plans to steal the trainers' Pokémon and the Diglett. Then the foreman explains the situation and Ash comments on how many people are present, but soon gets yelled at to listen and not talk. Team Rocket wants in and tries to come up with a plan to steal the Pokémon but James realizes that they won't have much of a chance with Ekans and Koffing. Then Meowth says they'll find a way.
After a brief explanation as to the enemy, and some facts about Diglett from Gary, the Diglett arrive. He tries to send out one of his Pokémon, but his Pokémon refuses to come out of its Poké Ball. Diglett returns it to Gary with his saying that wasn't supposed to happen. He tries with another one but the result is the same. Ash asks Pikachu to battle the Diglett, but Pikachu refuses. Other trainers who are also there, try to send out their Pokémon to battle the Diglett, but every one of their Pokémon refuse to come out of their Poké Balls and they are returned by the Diglett. Ash tries to use Squirtle, but the result is the same.
Gary realizes that it's impossible to stop the Diglett as the Pokémon don’t want to battle (even stating Digglett are fast for their size) but doesn’t know why (while the foreman is trying to hit the Diglett with a mallet but to no avail). Ash asks Pikachu if that’s true and Pikachu says it is. After seeing it as a waste of time, Gary leaves with his entourage, while Ash and his friends stay leaving Brock heartbroken again. That night, while Ash and company relax in a hot spring, Misty is still wondering why the Pokemon refused to battle. Ash asks if Pikachu knows why and Pikachu points to one of the Diglett, who had just stuck its head out of the ground, and Ash, Misty and Brock emerge in their swimwear. After getting dressed, Ash and his friends start chasing it and the foreman tries to whack the Diglett with a mallet.
Jessie and James find out that in order for their Pokémon to evolve they need experience and have to win battles, and when they do, they become entirely different Pokémon. They feel some sentiment for being with Ekans and Koffing for so long they cry. This triggers their evolution in the process much to their joy.
Ash and his friends chase the Diglett to a forest. In the forest, many Diglett and Dugtrio are planting plants. Ash and his friends (as well as the foreman, who followed them there) realize that the mountain range and many other forests are not only the home of the Diglette but also gardens they plant and building the dam would flood the entire forest, forcing many Pokémon out of their homes and destroying all of the Diglett and Dugtrio's work. This was why all the Pokémon refused to fight the Diglett earlier or even leave their Poké Balls. The foreman decides to cancel the project and the trio is amazed at the discovery.
Team Rocket appears and despite Ash saying it's a bad time they are extremely happy because Ekans and Koffing have finally evolved into Arbok and Weezing. Team Rocket goes to attack as Ash sends Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur in the fight. Weezing uses Smog while Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, which Arbok dodges. Arbok digs underground, followed by Weezing. For a minute, nothing happens and then suddenly Arbok and Weezing come up out of the ground after getting beaten and bruised by the Diglett and Dugtrio. They crash into Jessie and James, who crash into the foundation of the dam after getting surfed off.
Ash and Misty comment that the trio never catch a break or learn their lesson while the foreman says that he definitely learned his lesson. The friends are pleased that their stay was not a waste at all. Ash and his friends set off traveling again to Fuchsia City. Meanwhile, Team Rocket reads a sign saying that the dam project is canceled and are unhappy about it.
==Debuts==
===Character===
Construction director
===Pokémon===
*Diglett
*Dugtrio
*Jessie's Arbok
*James' Weezing
==Quotes==
:"What Planet are you from?" - Jessie asks James
:"Girls! Those numbers? -Brock after Gary and his cheerleaders left
:"Ash, uh shouldn't we put some clothes on?" - Brock after he, Ash and Misty emerge from the water in their swimwear.
:"Ahhh. Team Rocket? I forgot about them. Sorry guys but we're not in the mood for you right now. Okay?" - Ash
:"Tch tch tch tch tch. But, we're in a good enough mood for everyone." - Jessie
:"Yes, and we never even had lunch. But now we have a special treat for you." - James
:"A treat with a sensational and exciting new flavor." - Jessie
:"For the first time on TV." - Meowth
:"We're proud to present..." - Jessie
:"...Our new Pokémon." - James
:"Our Ekans has evolved into... ARBOK!" - Jessie
:"Char-bok!" - Jessie's Arbok
:"And Koffing is now... WEEZING!" - James
:"Weezing." - James' Weezing
==Trivia==
*This is the last episode where Nathan Price voices Meowth before passing the role on to the late Maddie Blaustein and moving his career to photography.
*The construction director tried to get rid of the Diglett by hitting them with a hammer. This is a fashion similar to the game "Whack-a-mole."
*One trainer mentions it has a Porygon.
*Meowth broke the fourth wall when Koffing and Ekans are revealed to have evolved.
*The "Who's that Pokémon?" in this episode is Diglett.
*Brock asked six girls out at once when Gary's fan club showed up.
*The plot of this episode is similar to an earlier one, "TB019: Tentacool & Tentacruel", with the only difference is that while "Nastina" is too stubborn to admit defeat, the Giva Dam foreman realizes the error of his ways and willingly cancels the project.
*This is the first instance where Pokemon can choose whether or not to come out of their balls. However, this is the only one where they will refuse to come out, as all other instances in the series are the opposite (letting themselves out when they feel like it).
===Mistakes===
*When the heroes discover the Diglett's home, Brock wrongfully states that the Diglett plow the fields and the Dugtrio plant the trees, when it was actually the other way around.
*The foreman decided to cancel the dam project but the sign on the dam that breaks has a red X, the foreman wouldn't have been able to change it in the amount of time that occurred.
===Dub differences===
*The kanji for the hot spring advertisement was removed in the dub.
==Gallery﻿==
==References==
Category:Episodes featuring a main character's Pokémon evolving
Category:Episodes focusing on Team Rocket