SM134: The Road to the Semifinals!

is the 42nd episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon - Ultra Legends.
==Synopsis==
As the Alola Pokémon League quarterfinals rage on, Kiawe and Charizard face off against Sophocles and Vikavolt in the third battle. Both sides show impressive offense and defense, making it clear they’ve trained hard. But Vikavolt’s Wild Charge attack isn’t enough to stop Charizard’s Supersonic Skystrike Z-Move, and Kiawe and Charizard end up on top!
In the fourth match, Lana and Primarina battle Guzma and Golisopod, but Guzma’s intense battling style takes Lana and Primarina by surprise. Despite a valiant effort, Primarina takes significant damage and loses the battle, but everyone agrees Guzma won fair and square.
Next up are the semifinals: Kiawe versus Gladion and Ash versus Guzma!
==Episode plot==
Vikavolt executes the Z-Move Savage Spin-Out to damage Charizard. However, its flames burn away the threads, and Charizard escapes the Z-Move. Noting that Charizard is still paralyzed, Sophocles has Vikavolt use Signal Beam. However, Charizard uses Fire Punch on the ground to deflect the attack. Sophocles and Kiawe glare at each other, respecting each other's strength, to which Sophocles notes he didn't expect the battle to end quickly. The two declare the real battle starts now. Their friends cheer the two on, and Kukui smiles to see the two friends at battle. While Meltan's nut is spinning, Sophocles' Vikavolt fires Signal Beam, which Charizard dodges. Vikavolt uses String Shot, which Charizard evades. Vikavolt chases after Charizard and repeats his move, but fails to hit Charizard. The latter attempts to use Fire Punch, but instead dodges Vikavolt's String Shot and ends up getting covered by it. Charizard uses Slash to repel the String Shot. Vikavolt takes the opportunity to attack, to which Charizard fires Flamethrower. Once it does so, Vikavolt is gone missing.
A moment later, Vikavolt appears behind Charizard and successfully wraps it with String Shot. Declaring this to be the day he will defeat Kiawe, Sophocles has Vikavolt use Wild Charge to bash into Charizard, who stops the attack with Fire Punch. As the two fall down, Charizard successfully blocks the attack and tosses Vikavolt to the ground. Charizard becomes exhausted, and Kiawe is impressed by Sophocles, who draws a lot of potential out of Charizard. In fact, Kiawe admits he is enjoying this battle, but reminds that he'll keep getting stronger. Sophocles announces he and Vikavolt won't back down, either. Thus, Vikavolt uses String Shot and Charizard fires Flamethrower. The latter's attack burns through the former's move, but Vikavolt evades the Flamethrower. Kiawe, however, uses his Z-Ring to pass the Z-Power to Charizard, letting it use Supersonic Skystrike. Vikavolt attempts to intercept the attack with Wild Charge, and the two forces collide. Much to their friends' amazement, Sophocles' Vikavolt is blocking the Z-Move.
However, Charizard's force overpowers Vikavolt and slams him to the ground. Vikavolt attempts to stand up, but fails and faints, making Kiawe the winner. Sophocles tends to Vikavolt and praises him for doing his best. Kiawe visits Sophocles and admits he was very strong. The two sides promise to grow stronger and have a rematch, and they shake hands, which inspires Kukui. As Sophocles' parents watch the battle, they promise to make a delicious meal for their son once he returns home. Sophocles and Kiawe visit Lana to cheer her up for the battle. Lana wants to go to the semi-finals, but Team Skull grunts appear with Plumeria and Guzma, and tell that the latter will easily win. Lana claims strength alone isn't always the key to victory, and Kiawe supports her. The grunt claims their Z-Moves are nothing compared to Guzma's strength. Guzma passes by, claiming Z-Moves are trash. Plumeria and the rest follow him, angering Sophocles. Kiawe asks Lana to be careful, as they are uncertain what could Guzma do.
thumb|Lana and Guzma' battle.
For the fourth match, Lana sends Primarina against Guzma's Golisopod. Lana remembers Golisopod's quick move, First Impression, and asks Primarina to watch out for that move. Ash cheers for Lana, and is visited by Meltan. He asks it to cheer for Lana, who passes them by. Team Rocket also watch the battle, noting this to be the final battle of the day. Meowth comments they will get a lot of customers soon, to which Jessie has them prepare themselves for that moment. As the grunts cheer for Guzma, Olivia reminds them she expects a fair fight from both sides. As the battle starts, Lana braces Primarina for impact, remembering Golisopod's First Impression from Ash's battle with Guzma.However, Golisopod doesn't do anything, so Lana takes the first move. Primarina goes to use Sparkling Aria, but Golisopod uses Throat Chop. Lana is shocked, as the attack causes Primarina to lose her voice, which disables her Sparkling Aria. Lana's friends are horrified, since Rotom clarifies that without its voice, Primarina can't use Sparkling Aria. Guzma smiles, so Primarina uses Aqua Jet. Golisopod blocks the attack and clutches Primarina's tail, then uses Poison Jab to weaken and poison her. Golisopod continues holding Primarina, using Poison Jab to weaken her even more.
Primarina uses Icy Wind on Golisopod's face, causing it to drop Primarina. Guzma scolds Golisopod, who goes to use another Poison Jab. However, Primarina uses Icy Wind to stop Golisopod. Primarina tries to use Aqua Jet, but in that moment, Golisopod uses Poison Jab, which hits Primarina. In fact, Golisopod uses its claws as a shield to defend itself from Icy Wind. Primarina attempts to run, but Golisopod grabs her and uses another Poison Jab. Primarina struggles to get free, but Golisopod continues using Poison Jab. The Team Skull grunts continue cheering for Guzma, while Primarina fires Icy Wind. Primarina fires the attack, but to prevent that, Golisopod uses Throat Chop. Guzma asks Lana if she thinks they'd fall for the same trick again. He briefly glares at Kukui before resuming the battle. Primarina barely stands up, as Lana states the battle isn't over yet. Guzma has Golisopod fire a Pin Missile, to which Primarina uses Surf to stop the attacks. Guzma is briefly left dumbstruck and asks "What's going on?!" Unfortunately for him, Golisopod's legs get stuck in the ice.
Guzma wonders how Golisopod got frozen. Kiawe sees that it absorbed too many Icy Wind attacks that its limbs got frozen. Lana and Primarina nod at each other; Lana passes the Z-Power to Primarina, having her use Oceanic Operetta. As Primarina emits the large bubble, Lana's friends support her to defeat Golisopod. However, Guzma declares he will destroy their pathetic Z-Move: Golisopod's Liquidation slashes the bubble in half. The Z-Move backfires, causing Primarina to get hit instead. Olivia declares Guzma to have won the battle. Everyone is silent except the Team Skull grunts, who cheer for his victory. As Lana tends to Primarina, Guzma deems her a small-fry and calls Golisopod back. Olivia asks Guzma to stop and show respect for his challenger. However, Guzma ignores her and as he walks to the gate, he glares at Professor Kukui. Later, Lana's friends visit her as she is tending to Primarina. Mallow has Shaymin use Aromatherapy, which cures Primarina. Lana praises Primarina, but Kiawe asks her to still take her to the Pokémon Center.
Mallow is still annoyed by Guzma's violent behavior, and Lillie voices that. However, Lana explains he didn't break any of the rules, and Kiawe confirms that, for he merely found a weak spot in Primarina. Lana admits that her defeat is why she is determined to work harder. At the Pokémon Center, the Nurse Joy have healed Lana's Primarina, to which Lana thanks them. Suddenly, the screen shows the semi-final matchups. Kiawe will have to face Gladion - while Kiawe is inspired to battle Lillie's brother, Gladion simply observes the screen. With that, the remaining challengers are Ash and Guzma. Mallow asks Ash to avenge Lana, to which he promises to do.
As the semi-finals close, the three Nurse Joys brace themselves for even more work. However, they become displeased to see the Ula'ula Nurse Joy and Blissey eating food, instead of focusing on work.
==Trivia==
SM134 Dare da before.png
SM134 Dare da after.png
*"Who's That Pokémon?:" Golisopod (JA), Trumbeak (EN)
*The host of this episode was Melemele Island's Nurse Joy and the question was "What will the result be in Kiawe and Sophocles' match in today's episode?" The answer is Kiawe winning (red); the other choices that were given in that episode were Sophocles winning (blue), a draw (green), and a postponement due to a storm (yellow).
===Mistakes===
* When Guzma angrily orders Golisopod to use Poison Jab after Primarina escapes from the former, the claws on Golisopod's midsection glow purple, but in the next shot, the claws on its hands are purple instead.
* When Lana does her pose for Oceanic Operetta, there is a split-second shot where storyboard outlines can be seen on her right.
* In the Brazilian Portuguese dub, Supersonic Skystrike (Pancada Supersônica) is incorrectly referred to as Pancada Sônica.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes featuring a Pokémon League
Category:Episodes featuring Island Kahunas
Category:Episodes featuring Mythical Pokémon
Category:Episodes featuring Elite Four members