These specials are essential viewing for fans of the Pokémon XY era because they provide the necessary backstory for Alain, who becomes Ash’s primary rival in the . It transforms him from a standard "cool rival" into a tragic figure caught between his ambition and his morals.

The English dub, produced by The Pokémon Company International, features as the voice of Alain and Meg Bauman as Mairin. The specials are praised for their higher-than-average animation quality and more mature, high-stakes storytelling compared to the standard "Monster of the Week" episodes. Why It Matters

The story follows Alain, who works for the mysterious Lysandre. Lysandre provides Alain with a Charizardite X and a Mega Ring, claiming they are collecting energy from Mega Evolution to help the world. Along the way, Alain meets , a beginning trainer with a Chespin (Chespie), who follows him despite his cold demeanor.