TRIVIA
- Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster: Serperior
- This episode begins the six-part Vertress Conference arc.
- An instrumental version of Best Wishes! is used as background music.
- The characters start pronouncing Stephan's name correctly as of this episode.
- In the flashback of Ash defeating Lenora, the apron that she wore during the original scene was removed.
- This is the first time in which Ash faced his main rival in a Pokémon League tournament that was not a 6-on-6 battle. This is also the first time when Ash does not call Professor Oak before the beginning of a League.
- Freddy O'Martian's entrance by parachute at the league opening ceremony is likely a reference to the method that Daniel Craig (as James Bond) and Queen Elizabeth II supposedly made their entrance (although in reality they were portrayed by stunt doubles) at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
- This is the earliest that Ash has fought his main rival during a official league tournament.
