EP002 - Pokémon Emergency

EP002 - Pokémon Emergency!

Showdown! Pokémon Center!

Original Airdates: April 8, 1997 (JP), September 9, 1998 (EN)

Written by:  Takeshi Shudo

Synopsis:

Arriving in Viridian City after the Spearow attack, Satoshi meets Officer Junsar (Jenny) who warns him about Pokémon thieves and transports him to the Pokémon Center.  There, Nurse Joy takes Pikachu to heal him, a process which takes a long time due to Pikachu's state.  After talking on the phone with his mother and Prof. Okido, Satoshi learns that he is several steps behind Shigeru.  He also learns that the mysterious bird he saw is thought to be a mythological creature and Okido doubts his story.  Satoshi is then joined by an angry Kasumi who demands that he repay her for destroying her bike.  Suddenly, Team Rocket appears, consisting of Musashi, Kojiro, and Nyarth (Jessie, James, and Meowth).

They cause a power outage, forcing Nurse Joy to use the backup Pikachu-generator to gather enough energy to transport the weakened Pokémon away.  Team Rocket attempts to rob the Pokémon Center but with a revitalized Pikachu and Satoshi using the bike as a generator to charge him up, Pikachu’s Thundershock (combined with Koffing’s smoke) blows up the building and sends them flying.  The next day, Satoshi and Kasumi head to Viridian Forest and find a Caterpie, which Satoshi attempts to catch.

Will he catch Caterpie?!

Who’s That Pokémon?

It's Koffing, because James's Koffing is partially responsible for the destruction of the Pokémon Center.

New Character and Pokémon Breakdown

Team Rocket: Jessie, James, and Meowth (Musashi, Kojiro, and Nyarth)

This is a big episode for introductions, and this trio consists of the most important characters outside of Ash and Pikachu.  Throughout the entire series, they will appear in nearly every episode as our main antagonists.  Team Rocket are not as goofy as they will become, but this is a nice introduction to them (although it would have been better to include them earlier in the episode to give them more screen time, hinting at their future personalities).  Many of the usual Pokémon tropes are established with them, most of them involving Team Rocket (their motto, their attempt to steal Pokémon, Pikachu zapping them, and them blasting off).  Also, Meowth is a talking Pokémon!  I wonder what the story behind that is...

Jessie's Ekans and James's Koffing

These two Pokémon are almost forgettable, despite appearing nearly as often as their trainers.  This is probably because they are used more as weapons and diversion tactics (Ekans scares the weak Pokémon from attempting to battle and Koffing's gas allows for cover).  Still, this duo are as crucial to the early episodes as the rest of the cast and will eventually have their days in the sun.

Officer Jenny (Junsar)

While Jessie and James are based on the Team Rocket members from the games, Officer Jenny is the only main character not directly originating from the source material.  Or should I say "characters."  As we'll see later, each town has an Officer Jenny with virtually the same appearance and personality, which allows the animators to not have to create new police characters for every episode.  This creates a weird trait of the series, in which we feel as if we are just watching one character (who needs to be constantly reminded of who our heroes are).  Still, Officer Jenny is basically just an authority figure who is necessary to move the story along (or in some cases, stall it).

Nurse Joy (Joi)

Like Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy has an identical counterpart in every city, running the Pokémon Centers.  Joy is usually kinder and more understanding than Jenny, and is always ready to help our heroes in anyway possible.  Like with Jenny, one feels as if they'll see this character "grow," despite actually seeing all of the relatives one at a time.  For all intents and purposes, there is one Nurse Joy and one Officer Jenny (unless the story demands something unique).

Nurse Joy's Chansey

Nurse Joy's are almost always assisted by Chanseys, but this episode barely introduces who these Pokémon are, since they appear so briefly.  I'd imagine first time viewers would be highly confused as to what these pink egg things wee supposed to be.  But, as you can tell by their hats, they are nurses in Pokémon form.

Misty's Goldeen

Despite being a decent fighter in the games, we are now introduced to the stigmatizing concept that Goldeen are usless on land.  Why is Misty acting so cocky when she sends out her Goldeen?  It seems like she was distracting Team Rocket so that Ash could get Pikachu out of there except…they weren’t after Pikachu.  They were after the other Pokémon.  They explicitly said that they did not care about the electric rat.  So why did Ash have to leave the situation?  Weren’t they there to protect the Poké Balls and make sure they got safely transferred?  And why didn’t Misty use her Staryu instead?  Did she not have it with her at this point?  It seems like a bunch of random stuff happened to get Pikachu to the bike so as to make for an epic conclusion.

The Pokémon Center Pikachu

Ah yes, the deus ex machina of Viridian City.  Perhaps they were all caught from the nearby Viridian Forest.  But the abundance of these creatures is never really explained.  Pikachu is supposed to be rare and special and than, WHAM! here's dozens of them, ready to blow things up.  They just serve to remind the kids at home that Pikachu is the toy you should be asking for this Christmas.

A Random Caterpie at the End

We're being violently thrown into the next episode.  Gotta keep watching the show, I guess?

NOT Ho-Oh

When Ash points out the legendary Pokémon he saw, he is actually looking at an engraving of Articuno (as evidenced by the presence of Zapdos and Moltres cavings).  It is understandable that he could make that mistake, but there is no ambiguity in the scene about it, making it seem as if the writers made a mistake too.  Maybe if Prof. Oak explained what it was or if Satoshi began to doubt himself, there would be more of a clue that the bird he saw was even more special than those on the wall.  (And yes, Arcanine is up there as well.  He is never really treated as a legendary Pokémon, but he is based on a mythical creature.  They could’ve played this up in the anime, but it was dropped outside of this one reference.)

Ash's Father (Not Pictured)

This is the only episode that mentions Ash’s father (and his grandfather in the Japanese version) planting a little mystery that never comes to fruition.  Had the series ever decided to show us who his father was, there would have been some sort of closure.  But now it’s been ignored for so long that there is no point in thinking about it anymore.  But it’s fun to speculate.  We only have a couple hints about who he was.  Apparently he is a great, well-respected trainer (as was his father) and he started his journey from Pallet Town as well, taking him four days to get to Viridian.

Setting

Viridian City

Ash arrives at the town just as the sun is setting, and it takes until nighttime for Jenny to drive him from her outpost to the Pokémon Center in the middle of town.  Viridian City is set up to be much larger than Pallet Town, consisting of both suburbs, as well as a downtown area.  With so much time spent in the Center, we only get brief glimpses of the city.  But we shall return in a few important episodes down the line.

Japanese vs. American Versions:

- In the Japanese version, Nurse Joy is ready to go into emergency mode as soon as Junsar arrives, but in the American version, she reprimands Jenny for driving her motorcycle inside.  “We have a driveway, you know!”

- When Satoshi calls his mother, she asks if he’s caught a Pidgey or Spearow yet, bringing up bad memories for Satoshi.  Ash’s mother instead mentions soaring like a Spearow, but Ash makes a weak metaphor about a Pidgey.

- When Prof. Okido calls, he asks if Satoshi finally got Pikachu to get inside his ball.  Prof. Oak however called to say he bet Gary that Ash caught many Pokémon more Pokémon than him by the time he reached Viridian.

- Also, Okido is eating ramen while Oak has ordered a pizza.

- When Kasumi confronts Team Rocket, she introduces herself properly and they comment on her elegant introduction.  Misty doesn’t reveal her name at all in the American episode and it is only mentioned at the end offhandedly by Nurse Joy.

- In the Japanese version, Team Rocket lament their failure while floating away, while in the American version, they officially decide to catch Pikachu, sparking a franchise.

Overall Review:  B+

This episode suffers a little bit in that hit has to do a lot of explaining and set up.  Pokémon Centers are explained, Joy, Junsar, and Team Rocket are all introduced, and Satoshi has to do a lot of waiting.  Not much happens until the very end, which ends up feeling a little rushed as a result.  So, as a basic episode without any gimmicks, this is could give someone a basic idea of the series.  Happiness and destruction.

One problem is that the bar is set very high with Pikachu’s power.  The explosion looks amazing and exciting, and Pikachu will never quite reach that level of awesomeness for the rest of the series.  I do like that Satoshi is able to understand Pikachu’s instructions, showing how much they have bonded in a short period of time, though.

The grand finale packs the spectacle, while the slow start contains the important building blocks.  I wish there had been slightly more balance, but both halves are necessary for the series to continue.

Pocket Monsters: PM003 and PM004

PM003 - Bring Down the Powerful Opponent Onix!!

Bring Down the Powerful Opponent Iwark!!

Synopsis: After a bit of rest in Pewter City, Red tries to rally Clefairy to start training for the first gym battle, but Clefairy would still rather not fight.  While passing the Gym, Green and his Charmander get flung from their battle against Brock.  Green deems Brock too strong, and warns Red against the challenge.  Green leaves to train some more when Brock appears and challenges Red to a fight, but his Onix scares Clefairy.  It isn't until Clefairy discovers that Brock has caught his cousin Pikachu that Clefairy vows to defeat Brock once and for all. Clefairy's battle against Onix proves difficult as none of his attacks can penetrate the rocky exterior.  Even evasive maneuvers and pails of water fail to subdue the beast.  It isn't until Clefairy gets caught in Onix's Bind that Clefairy decides to use the giant's body against him and he tricks him by drawing an image of himself on the rocky tail.  Onix chases his own tail with the Clefairy image on it, allowing Clefairy to succeed, Red to win the Boulder Badge, and Pikachu to be set free and join the team.  Pikachu thanks Red by electrocuting him.

New Character and Pokémon Breakdown

Pikachu

Presumably added as a response to the popular anime, Pikachu satisfies the need to have the franchise mascot appear in the storyline.  Like his anime counterpart, Pikachu has a tendency to shock those he cares about.  Also, he is the only Pokémon in this universe that can't speak like a human, furthering the connection.

Brock

Brock is very similar to his no-nonsense appearance in the games (and first episode of the anime).  He just wants a straightforward, hard-hitting battle without any antics or tomfoolery.  He's much older and larger than he is in the games, suggesting a more mature character.

Brock's Onix

Onix seems to embrace being a monster.  He intentionally trash-talks and intimidates Clefairy throughout the battle.  He also behaves more like a snake, in the way he slithers and coils around the arena.  He is much smaller than the average Onix, seeing as how Brock is able to wrap him around his body like a long scarf.  And he's even got a rocky tongue!

Brock's Pokémon Collection

To add to Brock's mystique as a master trainer, he has netted a large collection of Pokémon of many types.  It doesn't appear that Rock is his specialty, but rather Onix is just is favorite Pokémon.  Apart from Pikachu, none of the other creatures are specific enough to warrant analysis.  They are just more of Anakubo's creations.

Setting

Pewter City

Unlike the games, Pewter City seems to be a large tropical climate, with palm trees and a bright sun, rather than the small city tucked away in the rocky mountains.  There is a very touristy feel to the place, as Clefairy relaxes with ice-cold treats at an outdoor cafe.  Since coconuts and palm trees are a more common occurrence in Japan, they probably aren't too out of place here.  But it made more sense in the water-side Pallet Town.

Pewter Gym

The gym has a cathedral-like architecture that goes against the usual Rock-theme as seen in other canon.  The inside of the gym looks like a fighting dojo.  This is probably to introduce audiences to the basic idea of a Pokémon Gym, showing their importance and purpose through visuals alone.

Overall Review: B

The slapsticky jokes involving Clefairy are still a little grating, especially because they usually result in Red getting very upset and making horrible faces.  And the plot this time around is a little bit more straight-forward than usual, probably because readers needed to understand the concept of a gym battle.  Later gym battles in the series will get more creative.  But my favorite part of this chapter is when we see Green get thrown out of the gym in defeat.  In the games and anime, he is treated as this unstoppable force who can do no wrong when it comes to battling.  But here, at the first gym no less, he is struck down.  Both he and his Charmander are bruised and bloodied, showing how tense the gym battles can be.  I thought this was a great way to humanize our antagonist and show that he isn't just some wealthy jerk who can get away with everything.  Everyone falls at some point.

PM004 - Obtain the Moon Stone!!

Obtain the Moon Stone!!

Synopsis: While camping at the base of Mt. Moon, Red, Clefairy, and Pikachu attempt to catch some fish for dinner.  When a Zubat steals their food (and then evolves into a Golbat), Green intervenes and captures the Pokémon.  He claims to be on the hunt for every type of Pokémon, including the rare Mew.  Red realizes that he hasn't really focused on building his collection, and Clefairy suggests that he evolve himself to another Pokémon.  Clefairy mentions that the elusive Moon Stone is used to instigate an evolution, but he doesn't know where to find one.  A nearby Snorlax mentions that the Gym Leader from Cerulean City collects rare stones and probably has one. Red arrives at the Cerulean Gym and meets the leader Misty, who has a Moon Stone necklace.  She offers to give it to him if he can beat her in a gym battle against her Blastoise.  Clefairy has a difficult time fighting the monster, due to his constant water attacks.  When it looks as if Clefairy is knocked into a nearby river for good, Clefairy sucks up all of the water to turn the tables on Blastoise, defeating it.  Just as Misty is about to hand over the Moon Stone, Mew appears and snatches it away.  Green arrives on the scene saying that he has been chasing the Mew, and both trainers take off after it.

New Character and Pokémon Breakdown

Misty

Unlike nearly every other adaptation, Misty is not a flirty adversary who tease Red.  Like Brock, she is focused solely on the battle and adheres to the rules set in place.  This creates a virtually similar scenario as the previous chapter.  Later on, Misty will begin to act more the way we are used to, but now, she is just a blank slate.

Misty's Blastoise

Like Brock's Onix, Blastoise is more of an unstoppable force than a full fledged character.  But unlike the previous battle, Blastoise doesn't get fooled or tricked.  Clefairy just happens to take great advantage of the situation he finds himself in.  The notable thing about Blastoise is that Misty isn't known for owning a Blastoise in the games or pretty much anywhere else (Stadium aside).  Starmie is her signature Pokémon.  Perhaps Blastoise looked more menacing as an enemy.

Mew

The appearance is very brief, but this is our first introduction to the elusive Mew.  It's surprising how early in the storyline we are introduced to this character, which is thought to be a myth in the games.  By this time, Mew events would have become public knowledge in Japan, but for Americans, Mew was still a huge mystery this early in our awareness.  We'll see much more of Mew in the next chapter.

Snorlax

Snorlax is always stated to be from the mountains in the games, but he never appears there when the player encounters him.  This Snorlax is supposedly over 100 years old, and acts more as a wise guardian (or at least a helpful overseer of Mt. Moon).  I don't quite understand why it's living in a tree, but it does harken back to the My Neighbor Totoro influence of the character who also lived near a large tree.

Zubat/Golbat

The first appearance of Zubat looks just like the original image by Ken Sugimori, but after it lands and begins to eat the fish, Zubat clearly has eyes.  It isn't a Golbat at this point because its legs are still like a Zubat's legs, so it's a wonder why this art choice was made.  Anyway, we've gotten our obligatory Mt. Moon Zubat attack out of the way.

Setting

Mt. Moon

During the time spent at Mt. Moon, Red and co. never travel inside its caves.  It's strange, seeing as how this should rightfully be Clefairy's home, at yet, no effort is made to draw much of a connection between the two (other than the mention of the Moon Stone).  Still, the scenery is pretty as it encompasses the meaning of the original Japanese name "Moon-Viewing Mountain."

Cerulean Gym

Speaking of not going inside places, the entire gym battle takes place in the river outside of the pagoda-like gym.  With nothing else in sight, it's hard to be clear if Cerulean is actually a full city.  There is a vague outline in the background, so I guess the gym is just on the outskirts of the city (rather than being as prominent as Pewter Gym).  This seems more like an isolated structure which is just as nice and tranquil as Mt. Moon.

Overall Review: B+

The story is virtually the same as the previous chapter, as the gym battle goes through all of the same beats.  And the story also feels a little more rushed, since we visit both Mt. Moon and Cerulean Gym.  All other adaptations would break this into two stories, but maybe Anakubo felt rushed to get through the entire plotline.  Eventually, he wouldn't have to worry and will resort to a lot of filler chapters to buy time until Generation II.  But despite these negatives, I like the story more.  Both settings have this peaceful quality to them, and we get the sense of everyone working together (Red, Clefairy, Misty, Snorlax, even Green).  And the mysterious cliffhanger is an intriguing way to tie in the games' mythology.  But mostly, I enjoy the lowbrow joke of Pikachu attempting to electrify the river and accidentally soiling himself instead.

EP001 - Pokémon - I Choose You!

EP001 - Pokémon - I Choose You!

Pokémon! I Choose You!

Original Airdates: April 1, 1997 (JP), September 8, 1998 (EN)

Written by: Takeshi Shudo

Synopsis:

Satoshi (Ash) of Pallet Town has just turned 10 and is able to begin his journey towards becoming a Pokémon Master. He stays up late dreaming about whether he’ll start with a Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle, but then he oversleeps and misses out on all three once he gets to the lab of Professor Okido (Oak). He meets his rival Shigeru (Gary) who taunts him and gets a head start on his quest. Satoshi is only able to take the last Pokémon left, an uncooperative Pikachu. His mother Hanako (Delia) bids him farewell.

As he heads out onto Route 1, Satoshi attempts to catch a Pidgey by himself since Pikachu refuses to help. As he fails multiple times, a Rattata steals from his bag. Finally, Satoshi thinks he has beaten the system by throwing a rock at a wild bird that turns out to be a Spearow. This angers the bird who proceeds to attack Satoshi and Pikachu, and then calls in a whole flock for reinforcement. The swarm chases the two into a river, where a girl named Kasumi (Misty) retrieves them on her fishing pole. She informs them of a Poké Center in nearby Viridian City, and Satoshi steals her bike as the Spearow flock returns.

As a storm gathers, Satoshi is knocked of the bike by the birds and uses his body as a shield to protect a badly injured Pikachu. Pikachu then intervenes and uses his powerful Thunder attack to take out the birds. As Satoshi and Pikachu come too, they see a large golden bird Pokémon fly over the resulting rainbow.

Who’s That Pokémon?

 

It's Pikachu, because Ash gets and nearly kills a Pikachu.

New Character and Pokémon Breakdown

Ash Ketchum (Satoshi)

Ash is the star of the anime, and like his counterpart Red from the games and manga, he has to start out a little naive and clueless as to how the world of Pokémon works (so that the audience can learn alongside him).  The American version makes him a little dumber though (such as moments when he can't recognize a common Pidgey), but he's a good protagonist early on.  His morals are clearly defined as he tries to respect Pikachu's wishes and protect him when it's clear that he's in way over his head.

Pikachu

Pikachu's origins are a little bit of a mystery.  It's unclear why Professor Oak has such a volatile Pokémon on his hands.  For some reason, Pikachu starts off completely closed off against humanity and attacks when threatened, but he warms up once he sees Ash put his own life on the line for him.  Pikachu's personality will remain positive from this point on, but it would have fun to see a little more strife between the two in these early episodes.

Misty (Kasumi)

Misty joins our lead duo as a more experienced trainer who is not above using violence to get her point across.  While someone like Gary would mock Ash for getting training basics incorrect, Misty would rather berate him for it.  But there seems to be a feeling that she is acting out of kindness, it's just that at this stage in the relationship, she cares more about herself/Pokémon than she does other people.

Professor Oak (Professor Okido)

Professor Oak is back, and while I enjoy this kinder incarnation of him, he still enjoys making stupid jokes and puns in the American version.  The Japanese version is a lot more tolerable and serious, but he'll lighten up as the series progresses.  But my major issue with him in this episode is why did he only plan on giving out three Pokémon if he knew that four trainers would be coming that day?  I could understand it if it were really a “first-come, first-served” situation and those who missed out would be unable to go on their journey.  But that would make more sense if there were dozens of children setting out on their journey, and he was all out of Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle by the time Ash arrived.  With four trainers in total, it seems idiotic on his part to not plan ahead for this situation.

Gary Oak (Shigeru)

Gary is just as much of a jerk as he is in the games, if not more so.  At least in other adaptations, we get the sense that Gary/Blue is just wiser than Ash and can't stand his behavior.  But here, he'd rather kick someone who he perceives as weaker than him while he's down.  He's much more of a bully and a pompous one at that (as highlighted by his fans and cheerleaders).  It's weird that he picks Ash to be a rival, but it just shows that he is more comfortable when he is in a clear position of power.

Delia Ketchum (Hanako)

Delia is stuck playing a basic supporting mother role (if not one who is a little too smothering).  We'll eventually pick up with her later to see more of her personality and the types of Pokémon she trains, but for now, she is just here to wish Ash good luck.

Pidgey

This is the first wild Pokémon Ash encounters, but it displays very little personality.  By being as neutral as possible, we can get a crash course in "How Not to Catch a Pokémon."  Pidgey doesn't put up a fight, and is only there to service the plot.

Rattata

Rattata is a little more spunky.  While it also behaves like a normal animal, the Pokédex suggests that it has targeted Ash's supplies because it believes he is a stupid and weak trainer.

 

The Spearow

In keeping with the Man vs. Nature theme of the episode, Ash upsets a particularly vengeful Spearow that he mistakes for a Pidgey.  Spearow are shown to stick together and use their hive mind to become an unstoppable force.  It's kind of a surprise that anyone makes it through Route 1 alive.  It's clear that they understand the differences in individual humans, as they don't attack Misty when she is standing right next to Ash.  Also, the one who gets bumped will carry a grudge for a long time.

The Starters, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle

While we don't see them in the flesh, we are reminded that usually, a trainer will start with one of these Pokémon.  Ash dreams about each one, but we'll have to wait to be properly introduced.

The Indigo Plateau Pokémon:  Gengar, Nidorino, Onix

On television, the night before his journey, Ash is watching what appears to be a battle between the Elite Four's Bruno and Agatha.  Based on the opening cinematic from the games, Nidorino fights Gengar, is quickly outmatched, and is then replaced by an Onix.  I love how the episode transitions from this reference into the episode proper.  A great way to bridge the games and the anime.

Dodrio

Instead of a rooster, Pallet Town has a Dodrio wake them up.  A nice early visual gag that reminds us we're not in Kansas anymore.

Wild Route 1 Pokémon:  Sandshrew, Mankey, Magikarp, Gyarados

As a way to remind us of the many Pokémon there are in the world, Ash passes up many opportunities as he is being chased by the Spearow.  It is during this moment that in my mind, I feel Ash has left Route 1 and entered Route 22, due to the presence of water (as well as a couple of these Pokémon which are available there).  But, as with the starters, Ash won't really meet these creatures until later.

Ho-Oh

As a final capper, an unknown Pokémon appears to Ash after his battle.  Although the American audience received the anime and the video games at the same time, Japan was already into the thick of the Pokémon craze and this episode provided their first hint that sequels to the original games will be made.  The Ho-Oh that appears was the first Generation II Pokémon to be unveiled to the world, and it’s clear that it was so new that it’s official colors hadn’t even been decided on yet.  This gave the original audience a taste of what was to come.  Ho-Oh is used as a symbol of hope and rebirth and is an exciting cameo to close the first episode on.

Setting

Pallet Town

Like in the games, Pallet Town is very sparse and gives us the impression that Ash really is a boy from the middle of nowhere.  His house is far removed from the center of town where Oak's lab is located and everything feels very quiet and quaint.  I prefer this to the bustling Pallet Town of the Pocket Monsters manga.

Route 1

While this path is a simple one, it has a lot more going for it than the Route 1 in the games.  Trees, hills, fields, and rivers create a more lush environment for Ash to explore.  In the next episode, we'll learn that it takes the average person multiple days to cross this territory.  It's scenes like this that make people wish there was a 3D Pokémon game to explore, with vast landscapes instead of areas that can be crossed in 30 seconds.

Japanese vs. American Versions:

- Ash meets Gary for the first time whereas Satoshi and Shigeru already know each other

- Prof. Oak makes stupid electricity puns

- Ash’s mother has a recurring gag in which she tells Ash to wear clean underwear every day

- Kasumi slaps Satoshi for allowing Pikachu to get so badly wounded.  This scene was cut out of the American version for being too violent.

BLAM!

Overall Review: A

This is a wonderful introduction to the world of Pokémon.  The building blocks for the fantasy world are being set in place and there is an air of dignity and seriousness that runs through the episode.  Although there are humorous elements, the focus is mostly on Satoshi’s learning experiences and his relationship with Pikachu.  Being a young trainer, it is interesting seeing him have to deal with the struggles of untrained Pokémon.  They way Pikachu comes through for him in the end feels natural and earned.  He sees that Satoshi is trying his hardest and is willing to endure a great deal of pain for him.  It is a genuinely touching moment.

The American version sticks pretty close to the original script.  What will eventually happen with the dub is that awkward jokes will be forced in and numerous edits to remove Japanese culture will be made.  But for now, things are pretty much the same.  I appreciate the attempts to tie the story to the video games, especially the opening with the Gengar vs. Nidorino battle.  As time goes on, the games will only be loosely used for the general structure of the story arcs.  But here, everything is as it is in the game, although more is added in (Kasumi is introduced early to establish her as a main character and drama is added in the form of the Spearow attack).

This is a great first episode and a great story.  It’s all down hill from here.