Pokemon Horizons Episode 59 Recap: Dot vs Larry

Pokemon Horizons Episode 59 refocuses the journey of our heroes on their Terastal Training after helping out at a nearby eatery in Medali during Episode 58. Dot's moment against the Paldean gym leader and Elite Four member Larry is at hand, and while the Terastallization fires up during the battle, Dot realizes her Quaxly will never be the same.

This episode packs plenty of action into roughly 21 minutes, so it doesn't hurt to examine the events as they unfolded with a Pokemon Horizons Episode 59 recap.

---

Recapping Pokemon Horizons Episode 59 "Dance, Quaxly! Blue Medali Steps!!"

Our Pokemon Horizons Episode 59 recap begins with our heroes arriving at Medali's gym headquarters, only to learn that Larry is nowhere to be found. The attendant states that Larry is making the rounds in Medali, and they should be able to find him in town. Dot explains that she's come up with strategies using both Tinkatink and Quaxly for her Terastal Training battle, but Quaxly soon runs off.

The gang catches up with Quaxly, who is watching a trainer dance with a Baile Style Oricorio. Quaxly wants to dance too, but Dot says she doesn't have the time since they need to find Larry. The trainer offers to tell the group where Larry is but they'll have to get acquainted with a dance. Without any extra encouragement, Quaxly begins showing off its moves alongside the Oricorio.

Our Pokemon Horizons heroes watch in amazement at the Oricorio's dance moves, and Quaxly begins to emulate its steps. The crowd and Oricorio's trainer are blown away by the two Pokemon's skills of dancing in tandem, so the trainer points the Pokemon Horizons heroes to the Treasure Eatery, the rival of the Anything Eatery from Episode 58.

The kids enter, and the staff alerts Larry that his opponent has arrived. Larry properly introduces himself since he didn't have the chance during the Naranja Academy Tag Battles. Because he believes his boss wouldn't be happy with wasting time with idle chitchat, Larry shows Dot, Liko, and Roy the Treasure Eatery's battle parlor, which emerges in the eatery with the press of a button.

Larry asks that he and Dot not exert themselves too much since he just ate before remarking that the battle will use two Pokemon at maximum and the Terastal Training test will be graded on how well Dot uses her understanding of Terastallization. With that, Larry sends out Dudunsparce while Dot chooses Quaxly to begin the battle, which immediately starts with a Water Gun move.

Quaxly follows up with other Water-type moves, but Dudunsparce responds with Glare, paralyzing Quaxly. Dudunsparce attacks with air blasts from its body, launching Quaxly into the ground and causing Dot to recall it. She then calls Tinkatink into the battle, but it begins to tear up in fear of Dudunsparce before Quaxly emerges from its Poke Ball and gives it a pep talk to calm it down.

Tinkatink uses its hammer and hides its eyes from Dudunsparce's glare before dodging its Hyper Drill attack as well. Tinkatink uses Brutal Swing, and the two creatures collide again and again like spinning tops. Tinkatink uses Brutal Swing and begins to spin, but Larry recalls Dudunsparce and sends out Staraptor that pelts the dizzy Tinkatink and causes it to faint.

With our Pokemon Horizons hero on the ropes, she sends Quaxly back into the battle. It attempts to use a Water Gun + Pound combo, but Staraptor responds by blowing it away with Hurricane and attacking with Wing Attack. Quaxly repositions and attacks again, only to collide with Staraptor in midair and be knocked down, but the Water-type starter Pokemon wasn't finished yet.

Quaxly begins flapping its arms to emulate Staraptor's flight, and our Pokemon Horizons hero shouts for Quaxly to combine its moves like it did when it was dancing with Oricorio. By using a combo of Water Gun, Low Kick, Pound, and Liquidation, Quaxly knocks Staraptor to the court before beginning to shine with energy, evolving into Quaxwell.

Seizing the opportunity our Pokemon Horizons protagonist presses the advantage. Dot takes out her Tera Orb and Terastallizes Quaxwell to boost its Water-type power. Another Liquidation attack seems to deal significant damage to Staraptor, but Quaxwell then realizes that it's still afflicted by Paralysis. Larry responds by Terastallizing his Staraptor into a Rock Tera Type.

Due to Quaxwell being paralyzed, Larry orders Staraptor to use the Facade move, dealing massive damage and causing Quaxwell to faint. Dot is disappointed in her loss, but our Pokemon Horizons protagonists' partners wake up Quaxwell and celebrate its effort. After producing a report, Larry informs Dot that she passed her assessment despite not winning the battle, much to her surprise.

Larry explains that Dot battled effectively with her Pokemon, evolved Quaxly in the middle of the battle, used Terastallization at the appropriate time, and had a keen awareness of the flow of battle and how to respond with combined moves. Dot asks if Larry threw out emotionless attacks to teach her these things, but the ever-flat and neutral Larry remarks that they were just coincidental.

The Pokemon Horizons gang celebrates with plates of specialty Onigiri ala Great Blaze with Lemon, and the staff leave the check with Larry, who realizes in sadness that he can't split the bill with children. Larry pays and departs as Dot and Quaxwell bump fists in appreciation of their continued growth together.