Overview: A filler on Ash's way to the Battle Pyramid. Aipom runs off with Ash's hat again - monkey Pokemon all seem to have that in common, huh? (Incidentally, the Mankey jokes are becoming slightly tiresome.) In chasing after it, the crew comes across a giant pyramid, although it's not the one Ash wants to visit. It's part of a village that's about to decide who will be its king for the next year. Whoever can grab hold of the crown and keep it until sundown will win... and guess what mischevious Pokemon snags it first!

Of course, Aipom tries to put the crown on, consequently getting the thing stuck on its head. Aipom clearly doesn't want to be king, but if the crown is on its head at sundown, it and Ash will be sticking around for a long time. Team Rocket is also seeking the crown, both for its value and for the power to rule over a village. So they attack everyone, naturally, though a few attacks by Pikachu, Aipom, Swellow, and Nosepass (who was owned by some kid whose name I never heard). After eating an extremely sour Belue Berry, Aipom's head shrivels enough to allow the crown the be removed. And once sundown arrives, the guy with the Nosepass is pronounced king.


Summary: Well, we've established now that Aipom has a grudge against Pikachu, although it's unclear whether the grudge is for Pikachu defeating Aipom earlier or just being closer friends with Ash. Other than that, this was straight-up filler (though for a few seconds, it looked as if Ash might have found the Battle Pyramid once again).

Not a bad filler, as we got some character development. Brock in particular was good here, as the prospect of ruling over the village's women suited him well: "Come closer, my loyal subjects!"

Nevertheless, when someone becomes king of a village, it's nice if you can actually remember his name when all is said and done. And besides, a filler is a filler no matter how you look at it. This wasn't an especially dramatic filler, either.


Pika's Score: 6.5/10.0. Not bad, but I've seen better.