JN136

This Could be the Start of Something Big! (Japanese: サトシとゴウ！あらたなる旅立ち！！ and ! Embark on a New Journey!!) is the 136th episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, and the 1,221st episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on December 16, 2022, in Canada on May 6, 2023, in Australia on May 12, 2023, in South Africa on May 16, 2023, and in the United States on June 23, 2023.
==Blurb==
A camping trip becomes even more exciting when Ash and Goh challenge the Legendary Pokémon Lugia to a Raid Battle! The action is fierce but friendly, and eventually Ash and Goh ride on Lugia’s back as it flies over Kanto. The boys are filled with wonder at the Pokémon they see, and it reinforces their own decisions to go on separate journeys. The next day, Ash and Goh depart Cerise Laboratory, with Chloe taking over their work as research fellows, and then they part ways when they reach a fork in the road. The future is in the palms of their hands—as the journey continues!
==Plot==
Continuing from where the last episode left off, and Goh start their against , with Ash using and , while Goh uses , , and . However, while they manage to land many hits, Lugia hardly even flinches from them. Deciding on a combination attack, Goh has Cinderace use , which is combined with Lucario's , Pikachu's , and Inteleon's , and then gets sent flying by Grookey's . The combo move makes contact, but even as Goh hurls a at Lugia, the Legendary Pokémon shrugs off the hit and counters with , which not only obliterates the Poké Ball but also breaks off the cliff Ash and Goh were standing on. They hastily recall their Pokémon, but are caught mid-fall as they fall on Lugia's back. Lugia starts flying around while showing Ash and Goh the multiple different kinds of Pokémon that inhabit the Pokémon world. Seeing first-hand how vast the world is, Goh starts feeling uncertain about his decision to travel alone, because it would mean he'd no longer have Ash's support on his . In response, Ash reminds Goh how he was able to join Project Mew and meet through his own efforts. The two suddenly hear Lugia to them telepathically as it rises higher and flies into a thick cloud. A shimmering light comes into their view in the middle of the cloud, and they're amazed to see flying by and disappearing into the distance as they exit the cloud. This encounter reaffirms both Ash and Goh's decisions to travel the vast world of Pokémon on a never-ending path to learn and meet more of them.
After reuniting with Chloe, Ash and Goh return to the Cerise Laboratory, where Professor Cerise, Chrysa, and Ren approve their decision and thank them for the help they've provided in their Pokémon research. Ash and Goh are worried if the laboratory will be fine with its research fellows gone, but Professor Cerise is unworried, and Chloe enters the conversation to reveal that she's going to be a new research fellow during weekends when she doesn't have to go to school. She also assures that the lab staff will take good care of Goh's Pokémon while he's away and asks when the two intend to leave, being surprised when they respond they plan to depart the next day. Meanwhile, at the , the Team Rocket trio is reporting to that observing the Masters Eight Tournament has allowed them to pinpoint the strongest Pokémon in the world, which they claim to be within their grasp. Giovanni gives them the go-ahead to capture this Pokémon, and the trio leaves Giovanni's office, ecstatic that they've got their boss's support for their plan to capture Pikachu.
That evening, once they're done cleaning up their room, Ash and Goh head to Cerise Park to feed their Pokémon one more time. Upon entering, though, they're surprised to find not just Chloe and the lab staff, but also , , and Goh and Chloe's families, who had decided to organize a surprise party to commemorate their departure. All of Ash and Goh's Pokémon join the celebration, with even paying the park a visit to observe the party from afar. The next day, Ash and Goh leave their room at the Cerise Lab for the final time and set off, bidding farewell to Chloe and the lab staff. While they traverse through Vermilion City, Pikachu is suddenly snatched by Team Rocket, who recite their and declare that they'll never give up on their attempts to steal Pikachu. They seal Pikachu in an insulated capsule, but , in one of its usual fits of hunger, momentarily mistakes the capsule for a Berry and bites down on it, breaking it and allowing Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, exploding Team Rocket's balloon and sending the trio blasting off once again while he falls safely back into Ash's arms.
Leaving Vermilion City behind, Ash asks Goh what he plans to do next. He says he intends to tour Kanto first, since it still has many places he hasn't visited yet. Ash, meanwhile, has no set destination, going wherever the road leads him to. After passing through a crossroads together, they eventually come across another one, where they finally decide to take different paths. Goh thanks Ash for the support he's given to him, and the boys share a fist bump before parting ways. After a few moments of walking alone, Goh hesitantly stops, but Ash suddenly appears on a ledge above him, telling him to realize his goal of befriending Mew. Goh smiles and tells Ash to go achieve his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. His confidence reinvigorated, Goh starts running along the road, as does Ash on his own path. He tells Pikachu that this day, filled with sunlight and Pokémon, reminds him of the day they first set off from Pallet Town. Full of excitement, Ash jumps up high, looking forward to what experiences the world of Pokémon has in store for him.
Everyone carries on with their lives: at the Cerise Laboratory, Professor Cerise and his assistants continue taking care of the Pokémon at Cerise Park, while Chloe begins her career as a research fellow by venturing out into the world; in Pallet Town, introduces Horace to his grandfather; in Galar, ex-Monarch observes as his little brother Hop with Bea in the Wild Area; in an Arctic area, Quillon and Danika continue their work of helping out Pokémon in need; in Cerulean City, Goh's journey leads him to meeting at the Cerulean Gym; at a beach, Ash's journey leads to him reuniting with his old friend and his mate; and, at the Ketchum household, Delia and Mimey continue taking care of the house, with a group photo taken during the party standing on top of a fireplace.
Eventually, in an unnamed city, Chloe and , traveling the world as part of their role as research fellows, spot a , which flies past them to the other side of a river, where Goh has just himself a new Pokémon. Further away, Ash is battling a 's with his Lucario, while the ever-persistent Team Rocket trio observes him from above. Though separated, all three young Trainers continue their own unique adventures in the endless world of Pokémon.
==Major events==
* and Goh's against ends in it being called off.
** Goh also tries to Lugia, but fails.
* Ash sees again, while Goh sees it for the first time.
* Chloe reveals she will be Cerise Laboratory's new research fellow.
* Goh leaves his Pokémon in the care of Professor Cerise, except for , , and .
* Goh's Suicune briefly revisits Cerise Park.
* Ash and Goh leave the Cerise Laboratory and go their separate ways.
* Goh visits Cerulean City and meets for the first time.
* Ash reunites with his .
* Mimey returns to Pallet Town with .
* Goh catches an unknown Pokémon.
===Debuts===
====Pokémon debuts====
==Characters==
===Humans===
* 
* 
* Goh
* Jessie
* James
* 
* 
* Gary Oak
* 
* Chloe
* Professor Cerise
* Chrysa
* Ren
* Talia
* Parker
* 
* Halta
* Camille
* Walker
* Horace
* Bea
* Danika (Japanese version only)
* Quillon (Japanese version only)
* Hop
* Trainers
===Pokémon===
Who's That Pokémon?: 
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (formerly )
* ('s; Mimey)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; ×3)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; )
* ()
* (; )
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; )
* ()
* (; ×4; )
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; Alolan form)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; Galarian form)
* ()
* (; Alolan form)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; )
* (; )
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; Galarian form)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; )
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (Professor Cerise's; Rotom Phone)
* (Ren's; Francois)
* (Bea's)
* (Hop's)
* (Quillon's; ; Japanese version only)
* (Danika's; ; Japanese version only)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* (Trainer's)
* ()
* (Pink Butterfree)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (multiple)
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* (×2)
* (×2)
* (×2)
* 
* (×2)
* (×2)
* (×2)
* 
* 
* 
* 
* (×2)
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* (×3)
* 
* 
* 
* 
* (×2)
* 
* 
* (×3)
* (×3)
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* (×3)
* (×3)
* (×2)
* 
* 
* 
* (×2)
* 
* (×4)
* (×2)
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* (multiple)
* (×3)
* 
* (×3)
* (shadowed)
* (shadowed)
* (shadowed)
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* (Japanese version only)
* (Japanese version only)
* 
* (; ×3)
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
==Trivia==
* Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!!: 
* Similar to the first episode of this series, this episode's opening theme is played near the end of the episode, instead of before the title card. However, an extended version of the theme is played instead.
* This is one of the few episodes storyboarded by the original executive director and this series's creative supervisor Kunihiko Yuyama.
** A character resembling Yuyama makes a cameo near the end of the episode, battling with a , Yuyama's favorite Pokémon.
* Shinji Miyazaki's music from I Choose You! is reused as background music in this episode.
* This episode marks the only physical appearance of Giovanni's Persian in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
** This episode also marks the only appearance of the recurring in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
* This is the first time both members of the tower duo appear together in a main series episode.
* This is the first time Ash and have seen Ho-Oh in the main series since Battling the Enemy Within!, 769 episodes earlier.
* This episode marks the final physical appearance of Goh, , Chloe, Professor Cerise, Chrysa, Ren, Talia, Parker, , Camille, Walker, Horace, Bea, Danika, Quillon, and Hop.
* This episode marks the final physical appearance of Ash's Lucario and .
* As of this episode:
** is the only one of Ash’s female friends whom Goh hasn’t met.
** is the only one of Ash's Gym Leader friends whom Goh hasn't met.
* This is the only physical appearance of Ash's Butterfree and the Pink Butterfree in the main series since the episode the former was in, exactly 1,200 episodes earlier.
** With the Pink Butterfree, this marks the longest gap between a Pokémon's first and second physical appearance in the main series up to this point.
** With Ash's Butterfree, this is the longest time between physical appearances of a main character's Pokémon in the , surpassing Ash's Kingler's absence in the main series of 792 episodes between The Right Place and the Right Mime and Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit!.
* This is the first episode where the Pink Butterfree is seen with her gender difference, officially confirming her gender in the main series to be female. She was previously seen with her female gender difference in I Choose You!.
* This is the first episode where a main character catches a Pokémon onscreen with the Pokémon itself not being revealed.
* This is the first episode since Moving Pictures (and as such, the first time outside of the original series) where a pan-out was displayed with the "To Be Continued" message following it.
** This is also the first episode since Mind-Boggling Dynamax! where the "To Be Continued" text is kept in the English dub, if going by its showing on Pokémon TV.
* The English dub title shares its name with a by Steve Allen.
* This is the last episode of the Pocket Monsters arc of Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
* This episode's English dub title was originally listed as These Could be the Starts of Something Big! on various TV guides.
===Errors===
* The English dub's closed captions don't include Ash and Goh's greeting of "Hey!" when they reunite with Chloe.
===Dub edits===
* In the English dub, the theme song is played at the beginning of the episode, instead of at the end, as in the original version.
* The credits are shortened in the English dub, removing the scenes at the Cerise Laboratory and the scene with Danika and Quillon.
==In other languages==
136
Category:Episodes written by Shōji Yonemura
Category:Episodes storyboarded by Kunihiko Yuyama
Category:Episodes directed by Jun Ōwada
Category:Episodes animated by Yoshitaka Yanagihara
Category:Episodes animated by Rei Yamazaki
Category:Episodes by multiple animation directors
Category:Episodes focusing on Ash
Category:Episodes focusing on Goh
Category:Episodes in which a main character obtains a new Pokémon
Category:Episodes in which a main character leaves the group
Category:Episodes in which a Champion appears
Category:Episodes in which a Legendary Pokémon appears
Category:Episodes in which an alternately colored Pokémon appears
Category:Episodes which aired in Canada before the United States
Category:Episodes which aired in Australia before the United States
Category:Episodes which aired in South Africa before the United States
de:Dies könnten die Anfänge ... von etwas Großem sein!
es:EP1225
fr:LV136
it:EP136
ja:新無印編第136話
zh:宝可梦 旅途 第132集