Ash meets Clemont and his sister Bonnie for the first time.
This is the first time that an episode introducing a new core series region does not feature the regional Professor. Professor Sycamore does not appear until the following episode.
Jessie breaks the fourth wall when Ash says that he and Pikachu will always stand up to Team Rocket. She replies that all he will end up with is reruns, implying that the show will end due to them succeeding in capturing Pikachu.
This episode marks the first time that Ash's male traveling companion appears in the first episode of a new series.
This is the season premiere of Pokémon the Series: XY.