This is the first episode in which a main character's Pokémon evolves during a fight with Team Rocket.
Brock's Zubat evolves into Golbat.
The narrator's first words, "It's another bright, sunshine-y day," and last words, "And so, after a dark and stormy night," may be a reference to the Johnny Nash song "I Can See Clearly Now."
This episode shares many similarities to Resurrection!? Fossil Pokémon! (1998): A main character (in this case Brock) is trapped underground alongside Team Rocket; The other main characters and some of the trapped character's Pokémon help dig them out. One of the trapped character's Pokémon evolves.
In this episode, Team Rocket uses a variation of its motto.