'Pokemon Journeys: The Series' Part 2 Ending Explained: How Team Rocket turned on their own organization
Spoilers for 'Pokemon Journeys: The Series' Part 2
Team Rocket has a historically bad track record, and that's not something that's gone unnoticed by their higher-ups. However, no one keeps Jesse (Michel Knotz), James (James Carter Cathcart), Meowth (James Carter Cathcart), and Wobbuffet (Erica Schroeder) out of the game for long - not even their own bosses! When the ever-ambitious Matori (Emily Jenness) forces Team Rocket to take a forced vacation in order to ensure the success of a larger Team Rocket operation, Jesse, James, and there Pokemon decide to fight back the only way they know how - by teaming up with Ash Ketchum (Sarah Natochenny) and Goh (Zeno Robinson)!
Jesse and James have almost never won a battle against Ash and his Pikachu, despite having tried more times than they can count. A problem-solver like Matori can clearly see how much of a liability they are to the Team Rocket organization, so when she puts a major plan into operation, she decides to leave the pair out. Ironically, Matori is right on both counts - without the smaller Team Rocket we've all come to know and despise, the plan goes off without a hitch – but ultimately, it's Jesse and James who mess the entire operation up in the end anyway.
To their credit, Jesse and James did try to adhere to their boss' wishes. Disguising themselves in more casual attire, they stay away from plots and schemes even when they run into Ash and Goh, who is on a hunt for a mysterious, giant Pokemon of their own. In fact, disguised as civilians, Jesse and James manage to actually be helpful to Ash and Goh, who are unable to see through Team Rocket's disguises. When Matori and her agents put their plan into action – kidnapping Pokemon en masse from a local hospital – Jesse and James are so upset at being left out that they decide to help Ash and Goh rescue their Pokemon.
With Jesse and James' help, Ash and Goh are able to free the Pokemon, who collectively overpower Matori and the rest of the Team Rocket agents, blowing them sky-high. Ash and Goh thank their new friends, little realizing that they're secretly their greatest enemies in disguise.
In the meantime, however, Ash and Goh still have a long way to go in their ambitious quests. Ash is still moving up the ranks to be able to compete in the World Coronation Series, although his three wins have already gotten him into the top 10th percentile in rankings. Goh has a much, much longer journey ahead of him – he's captured less than 50 of the hundreds of Pokemon he would need in order to catch them all. Their journeys will no doubt continue, as the series progresses.
All episodes of 'Pokemon Journeys: The Series' Part 2 are now available to stream on Netflix.