Part IV: Route from Nacrene to Castelia

by WeakScallion June 10th, 2026

This is the fourth part of my rewrite series on the Black and White series of the Pokémon anime. If you missed out on the last entry, go to this post!

This 5-episode arc covers the time the group spends traveling from Nacrene City to Castelia City, and expands on different characters before the big Castelia arc. Thus, it is lighter in terms of content.


BW018 A Connoisseur's Revenge! (adapted from canon BW019)

This is the episode where Burgundy is first introduced. She's pretty well-liked for a reason, and one of those is this introduction episode.

As it happens with these already-pretty-cool episodes, I only want to change some details.

  • Of course, Burgundy will examine Ash’s revised roster, so the interactions change ever so slightly. For Herdier, it will burp right into her face.
  • The episode will feature a small reference to the fact Cilan is training to be a S tier Connoisseur, the biggest honor a Connoisseur can ever get — only one is raised each year.
  • The episode will also have Team Rocket be scammed by Connoiseurs as well for some comedy. Meanwhile, we’ll spot a few Plasmas lurking around, talking to people (nothing the episode will pay much attention to, just some background).

BW019 Dancing With the Ducklett Trio! (adapted from canon BW020)

This episode is perfectly fine, it’s actually kinda fun. The main change we are forced to make is that Scraggy has not hatched (it’s a shame ‘cos it’s a hilarious opening sequence, I know, but I don’t think the egg hatching yet is the right call, trust the process!), so I guess the beginning of the episode will have Iris train on her own to bond further with Axew as Ash’s ‘mons cheer them up or whatever.

The umbrella idea is cool but it alone doesn’t make all that much sense if you ask me?, so I think it deserves to be given even if just a minute to make it clear that it built upon the Zekrom shit that went on in BW001.

Later on, upon learning Electro Ball, Pikachu would at first struggle to even aim it, making the Ducklett laugh. Pikachu would visibly struggle, but then an outburst from his electricity would still send the Duckletts flying away.

Finally, the biggest change here is that, after they go to the Pokemon Center, Sandile still wants to fight Pikachu, but Ash doesn’t want to force him just yet. The whole canon episode is framed as if Ash was gonna catch Sandile so I don’t blame anyone who had Ash catch Krokorok here (since he evolves in the canon episode), but for what it’s worth this fight is not taking place and thus Sandile is not evolving yet. It’s quite a messy, crappy fight anyway.

So Sandile daringly tells Pikachu they’ll meet again soon and flees the scene.

Again, great episode nevertheless (I know there’s at least one guy in love with the Ducklett Trio, figured I’d make myself clear).


BW020 Forest, Sweet Pinwheel Forest! (rewrite for BW018 Sewaddle and Burgh in Pinwheel Forest!)

The canon BW018 focused on Ash catching Sewaddle. Of course, that’s not the case anymore since Ash already caught one.

This time around, the episode would focus on Sewaddle's deep love of the forest, and on how Burgh knows about these bug Pokemon so much more than Ash does, the stereotypical stuff. Ash would thereby learn to better communicate with Sewaddle, even featuring a scene where they try to sew together, the sight of Ash's awful work motivating Sewaddle to get better.

Anyway, slight changes. You know where this is going.


BW021 Love at First Petilil! (NEW)

Did you know Petilil did not debut in the anime until BW080? It’s not a fun fact. Shameful.

The episode starts with yet another scene of Iris and Axew training, while she tries to get through to Excadrill. While they are all lounging, Oshawott notices a Petilil nearby. She is gathering flowers and leaves, and carefully arranging them as decorations. Oshawott falls for her within the second and rushes forward to introduce himself, posing dramatically with his scalchop. Petilil is startled at first, then amused by his confidence.

The group then learns Petilil is preparing for a small gathering of forest Pokémon, where she wants to perform a dance using flowers and leaf decorations. Her decorations are however falling apart time and time again.

The group decides to help her out: Sewaddle helps out sewing as much as she can (even making a messy yet cool outfit for Oshawott), Oshawott makes unnecessary efforts to look more impressive, Herdier helps Oshawott practice heroic poses… It’s a team bonding episode, alright?

However, a group of wild Pokémon accidentally damages Petilil’s stage area while playing. Petilil becomes upset and Oshawott immediately confronts them, rushing in. His dramatic entrance fails, tripping over part of his own outfit and embarrassing himself in front of his beloved.

Axew steps forward, scares the Pokemon away charging up a Dragon Rage he never unleashes, and the whole team gets back to work. Axew himself, for example, uses Scratch to move fallen branches. Iris congratulates him, and the curled up Excadrill watches silently.

Petilil’s performance is saved, she looks beautiful. Oshawott, encouraged by Herdier, presents himself proudly to Petilil. She smiles and thanks him. Petilil performs and everyone cheers. Iris thanks Axew and tells Excadrill she will keep trying with him too.

Petilil gives Oshawott a flower as thanks. Oshawott treats it as the grandest token of love ever, but is crushed when he sees Petilil give flowers to the others as well. Pikachu pats him to try and comfort him.

The episode ends with the setup for the first big villainous event. Jessie, James and Meowth meet with Pierce in a deserted area, as some grunts set up equipment around the ruins. From a distance, Plasma grunts observe the setup.


BW022 The Lost World of Gothitelle! (adapted from canon BW021)

The (I feel) mandatory episode on Skyarrow bridge. I don't dislike the canon episode and we definitely need some filler, so I'll let it be.

Of course, at the beginning of the episode the conversation with Juniper changes. They now discuss the Meteonite's disappearance, as Juniper states that she’ll be traveling soon to the Desert Resort, where the Relic Castle is supposedly buried, to see if she identifies any odd readings and whatnot, but that they have no clue who could be behind the robbery. The conversation is then cut off by Bianca’s Minccino trying to polish the screen and accidentally breaking the connection.

In any case, as I said, this is a decent episode with very little changes to be made. Like, the main one is that Ash doesn’t have a Snivy so I reckon it will have to be Herdier or Pikachu assuming her role?, basically to split up responsibilities across the 4.


Updated summary

Ash's team: Pikachu, Herdier, Oshawott, Sewaddle Iris' team: Axew, Excadrill Cilan's team: Pansage, Dwebble

Badges obtained: 2 Season progress: 22/48

Deleted episodes: 2 No new deletions


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Pub: 10 Jun 2026 09:09 UTC

Edit: 10 Jun 2026 17:17 UTC

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