: Initially hostile toward humans due to its injuries, Latios eventually trusts Ash after seeing his selfless bravery and willingness to protect Pokémon at all costs. Together, they defeat the hunter and destroy the petrification device. Major Callbacks and Canonization

The penultimate episode of Ash Ketchum's original journey, (Japanese title: Satoshi to Ratiosu! ), serves as a major emotional bridge connecting the television series to the 2002 film Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias . Plot Summary

The episode focuses on the resolution of the Latias subplot that began in the first episode of the miniseries.

This episode is highly regarded by fans for officially canonizing the fifth Pokémon movie within the main series timeline.

Watch a detailed breakdown of the episode's major references and movie connections:

: The trio's dynamic is fully on display, including a scene of Brock preparing a traditional meal for the group, evoking nostalgia for the original series.

: In the closing moments, Bianca (or potentially Latias in her human disguise) is seen on a swing as the movie's theme song plays in the background.

: Ash, Brock, and Misty follow Latias to rescue a wounded Latios being hunted by a ruthless Pokémon Hunter.