EP004 - Challenge of the Samurai

EP004 - Challenge of the Samurai

Challenge of the Samurai Boy!

Original Airdates: April 22, 1997 (JP), September 11, 1998 (EN)

Written by: Hideki Sonoda

Synopsis:

Still travelling through the Viridian Forest, Satoshi attempts to catch a Weedle, but it escapes when a strange trainer who calls himself “Samurai” challenges him to a battle.  In the middle of a Metapod vs. Metapod standstill, a swarm of Beedrill attacks, interrupting the fight.  Satoshi’s Metapod gets kidnapped by a Beedrill and ends up in their nest.

Satoshi and Kasumi spend the night in Samurai’s cabin to stay safe, but Satoshi feels bad for abandoning Metapod.  The next day he rescues Metapod by infiltrating the nest and it evolves into Butterfree.  Butterfree uses Sleep Powder to quell the swarm, allowing our heroes to escape.  Samurai considers the prior battle a victory in Satoshi’s favor and leads them out of the forest.

Who’s That Pokémon?

It's Metapod, because Ash abandons his Metapod (and battles another Metapod).

New Character and Pokémon Breakdown

Ash's Butterfree

Part 2 of the Ash's Butterfree saga focuses on its Metapod stage.  Being an immobile pupa, Metapod cannot battle well or defend itself in trouble.  As a result, Ash is forced to leave it behind, giving the creature severe abandonment issues.  Just because it hasn't reached its full potential, it feels inferior.  Fortunately, it is able to induce an early evolution when he sees its trainer in trouble, much as Pikachu finally came through for Ash against the Spearow.  As a Butterfree, he can finally prove that he's a capable fighter...yet he all but disappears after this episode.

Samurai

We meet our first “Character of the Day,” which is a character that only appears in one episode and never comes back, despite promises to return.  Samurai is a memorable COD because he introduces the concept of legal Pokémon battles (not just random Team Rocket attacks).  He is based on the Bug Catchers of Viridian Forest who are the first Trainers in the games (besides the rival).  Usually the problem with COD’s is that they are only there to showcase the Pokémon of the Day making those episodes seem rather meaningless.  Samurai does introduce a new Pokémon (Pinsir) but his Pokémon are not the focus of the episode.  The main plot revolves around the wild Beedrill and Satoshi’s Metapod.  Samurai is a source of chaos unto himself and he is there to put Satoshi’s skills to the test.

Samurai's Pinsir and Metapod

Somehow, the Samurai managed to get a Pinsir this early in his journey (maybe its his starter).  But despite its vast strength, it is still able to be taken out by a Metapod.  Kind of lame (but cool, at the same time).  The Metapod vs. Metapod Hardening battle, however, is a funny concept, but useless to the point of being a little contrived.  What were the Trainers expecting to happen?  Satoshi’s Metapod at least knew Tackle, so the battle could have gone somewhere.  But there was no point in prolonging the standstill.

Weedle, Kakuna, and Beedrill

Ash nearly catches a Weedle, but Samurai disrupts his concentration and the Weedle manages to escape (and possible alert the nest of Beedrill).  We later see more Weedle at the Beedrill nest, eating Team Rocket's...cardboard vehicle?  The Kakuna and Beedrill, like the Spearow, are just forces of nature, bent on destroying anything that disrupts their rest and privacy.  With all of these dangerous Beedrill around, its a wonder anyone makes it through Viridian Forest alive.

Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squritle

In static flashback shots, we see that starter Pokémon that Oak handed out too the other three trainers from Pallet, each one battling with the Samurai.  At this moment, though, we still don't know which one Gary started with, so don't spoil it please!

Japanese vs. American Versions:

- Most jokes are rewritten to moderate effect, but the oddest one is Ash dressed as a cow saying “Cowterpie?” because in the original “Mushi (bug)” is similar to “Ushi (cow).”

Overall Review: A-

            

The humor from the previous episode continues here, as Satoshi and co. find themselves in sillier situations (like the intense little boy who demands to fight with honor).  Team Rocket is used nicely in that they are purely comic relief and they do not overstay their welcome.  By insisting on completing their motto which results in waking the Beedrill, they present a funny variation on the now recurring motto gag.

Once the drama kicks in, things begin to get a little uneven.  The abandoning Metapod plot comes a little out of nowhere.  Satoshi is so upset with himself, but, he really had no other choice.  He would have gotten himself killed had he tried to save Metapod earlier.  He acts as if he was a horrible person who made many mistakes, but it really was just the one.  And, despite what Samurai would have him believe, Weedle getting away was totally Samurai’s fault.  Satoshi needn't be so hard on himself.  But he grows.

My favorite aspect of this episode is the attention to detail given to the various Pokémon, treating them like actual animals rather than completely fantastical creatures.  The sights of Kakuna and Metapod evolving are quite stunning as they actually break out of their hard shells as opposed to glowing and transforming.  I wish later episodes had kept this dynamic.

This is a very well-balanced episode and it shows a level of quality and attention to detail of both the characters and the world around them.  It's a solid and funny episode that moves along quickly and develops Satoshi’s character in a positive way.

EP003 - Ash Catches a Pokémon

EP003 - Ash Catches a Pokémon

I Caught a Pokémon!

Original Airdates: April 15, 1997 (JP), September 10, 1998 (EN)

Written by: Atsuhiro Tomioka

Synopsis:

Satoshi succeeds in capturing Caterpie, much to Kasumi’s dismay.  Despite her protests at Satoshi keeping the bug out of its ball, she continues to follow him through the Viridian Forest.  That night, Caterpie tells Pikachu of his dreams of becoming a Butterfree.  The next day, Satoshi foolishly tries to fight a Pidgeotto with Caterpie, who is at a type disadvantage.

With Pikachu’s help, Pidgoetto is captured.  Suddenly, Team Rocket appears to steal Pikachu.  Their Ekans and Koffing manage to take out Pidgeotto, and Pikachu is blinded by Koffing’s Sludge, so Caterpie is the last resort.  It subdues the villains with String Shot and promptly evolves into a Metapod.  Satoshi happily continues trekking through the forest, hoping to catch more Pokémon.

Who’s That Pokémon?

It's Caterpie, because Ash catches a Caterpie and it goes through a whole character arc.

New Character and Pokémon Breakdown

Ash's Caterpie/Metapod

Caterpie technically appeared in the previous episode, but this is basically the real introduction of the character, whose story is told in three parts.  Part 1 focuses on Caterpie, who quickly bonds with Ash and manages to explain to the audience (without subtitles) that he dreams of evolving into a Butterfree and being strong and loved.  It's a simple dream, but we definitely feel all of the emotions he runs through as he meets with failure and triumph in both his battles and relationsip with the bug-hating Misty.  His victory results in a speedy evolution, which will play out in the next episode.

Ash's Pidgeotto

Pidgeotto kind of gets the short end of the stick in this episode, basically existing to give Caterpie a foe to play off of and to supply Ash with a bird (which he will always have on his team).  As such, very little of Pidgeotto’s personality is created.  He is more a creature of necessity rather than drama, even in future episodes (until the end of the Indigo League).  It's interesting to note which Pokémon get the "animal" treatment and which get the "human" treatment.

A Random Beedrill at the End

Follow that Beedrill to the next episode!

Setting

Viridian Forest

We saw it briefly during the preview at the end of the previous episode, but we get a fuller view of the Viridian Forest here.  It is large enough to serve as the setting for two consecutive episodes (a feat that is rarely seen during the Indigo League season), but it is just a standard, unremarkable forest.  It seems to have a fairly linear path, unlike the forest of the games which is curvy and has multiple forks in the road.  Still, it doesn't need to be anything fancy.  Virtually half of the series is our heroes travelling through the woods, which helps it feel like an actual journey.

Japanese vs. American Versions:

- Satoshi reads the title in the first person, while Misty reads the title in English

- Satoshi compares his newly captured Caterpie to being in Heaven and while Kasumi says she’s in Hell.  Misty however just calls Ash a worm for liking a worm.

- Kasumi slaps Satoshi after his poorly executed fight with Pidgeotto that put Caterpie in great danger.

- Ash tells Caterpie use Counter (an attack Caterpie doesn’t know), which is a mistranslation of Satoshi saying, “Fight back!”

- The Japanese Pokédex says all Caterpie evolve quickly, while the American one implies that Ash’s Caterpie is unique in its fast transformation

ANOTHER BLAM!

Overall Review: A-

The tone of this episode is definitely more comedic than the first two.  Jokes and dialogue moves a lot quicker, and there is a lot of slapstick and visual humor as well.  Team Rocket is closer to the personas we are familiar with, due to the influx of comedy.  Pikachu is also “cuter” in this episode, acting very babyish.  Once again, this episode focuses on explaining an aspect of the games, namely catching Pokémon.  Unlike the previous episode, the necessary information is weaved in with the story of the episode so it doesn’t feel as slow.

This episode focuses on two relationships, that of Satoshi and Kasumi and that of Satoshi and Caterpie.  Kasumi’s purpose for travel is a little bit mysterious at this point.  Satoshi calls her out on following him and she dismisses him.  At times it seems as if the writer didn't know what to do with Kasumi's presence.  Like, why doesn’t she help in the battle against Team Rocket?  Had Satoshi not crossed paths with her, where would she be going?  We later learn she, like Satoshi, wants to be a great Trainer.  But she doesn’t participate in battles or have a plan mapped out for herself.  Was Viridian Forest going to be part of her quest?  She seems to hate it in there.

The character arc of Caterpie, who does not get much focus after evolving, is a nicer set piece.  I would like to have seen this bond between Satoshi and Caterpie/Metapod/Butterfree develop more over the season, as his initial celebration of catching Caterpie is very endearing.  I also like that the scene in which Caterpie and Pikachu have a conversation was left in, despite no understandable dialogue occurring.  It was just like a little silent, emotional piece that did not feel forced or tacky (like some later Pokémon-only conversations do).

Finally, Team Rocket’s appearance is a little strange in that they do not seem to have a big plan (as they normally do).  Perhaps it is because this is only their second meeting and they have yet to realize how stubborn Satoshi and his crew can be.  But since their true characteristics appear in this episode, I allow them their screentime.  I especially like Meowth a lot better than his introduction, which was very grating.

All of these elements add up to a more consistent tone and a good idea of what the rest of the series will be like.

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.

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.