>>53370522-Just as Ash's kindness had transferred to Pikachu and was showcased in episode 6, Gengar also is shown to be empathetic. He sees Banette off at the train station as it begins its journey to find its trainer, convinced that she's no longer here (and establishing the tension of distance to make the reunion that much sweeter).
-It finally clicks for Brock, only a Joy connoisseur such as himself could have made the connection, the little girl was actually a grown up Joy. This is a great way to solve the mystery using an aspect of Brock that is normally relegated exclusively to gags. Misty starting her angry at Brock routine midway through the explanation only to freak out with Ash at the reveal is a fun moment.
-We get some cute pictures of Joy growing up, also this has somewhat interesting implications to the Joy lore... what does this family tree even look like? There's no indication that all of the sisters belonged to that house, so how is she related to the central Joy lineage?
-As Joy explains her side of the story, the actress does a good job of portraying her regret, a punished being came into the world because of what happened. They could have easily fucked it up by making about Joy's sadness for losing the plush, but they rightfully make it about Banette. Joy looks up to the moon for Banette just as Banette had done for her.
-When Ash nabs Banette, they fly into and subsequently come out of the moon, fully completing the metaphor that toy and child (now woman) are just on the other side of it.
-A+ reunion, as Joy refers to the Banette by its childhood nickname and is holding it together, only to break when she sees the hairtie, the symbol that Banette had treasured her for all this time. She apologizes, but smiles knowing that it's all over (which turns it into a happy/cathartic cry), and we see the team break out too (Perfect expression for Misty and Gengar, and Ash even does his trademark "crying under his hat" gesture).
