The Top 40ish Original Pokémon Anime Episodes

Now that the first season of Pokémon is available on Netflix, I decided to revisit the entire series.  But Netflix only counts the first 50 or so episodes as the first season, and I couldn't just stop there.  So I sought out all of the pre-Johto episodes to get the full experience from my childhood.  I'm of the mindset that the Japanese originals are actually much better than the dub, but since the stories aren't affected too deeply, I mostly stuck with the English episodes (save for the banned episodes and the movies).

This isn't a list that is setting out to convince you that the Pokémon anime was the greatest show ever.  It was one of those media phenomenon that really only works when you're a 10-year-old kid.   However, since I know many of you may be curious to revisit these episodes, I have picked out what I feel to be the episodes worth watching again.

Also, as an organizational system, I have picked the five best episodes written by each of the five main writers for the show, as well as the five best Orange League episodes, plus some random odds and ends.  For each writer, I'll also mention one of their average episodes that highlights their strengths, but aren't necessarily my favorites.  So this is probably more like the best 30-50 episodes, depending on how much of a stickler you are.

Takeshi Shudō's Best Episodes

As the head writer for the series, Shudō took a back seat to the actual episode-by-episode creation.  He thought up the overall storylines, but he only came in for a few necessary scripts (including the movies).  His main focus was to build the world of Pokémon, and explain to us how humans and Pokémon can co-exist.  He was always looking at the bigger picture of human nature and his episodes highlighted this care and imagination.  Honorable Mention:  EP013 - "Mystery at the Lighthouse"

EP001/002 - Pokémon - I Choose You! / Pokémon Emergency These two episodes serve as an introduction to the world of the Pokémon anime (and, in North America, to the games).  We meet most of our main players (Ash, Misty, Team Rocket, and Pikachu) and we get a dramatic look at the relationship between a starting Pokémon trainer and his first Pokémon.  Immediately, Ash fails, with Pikachu getting severely injured before the first day is over.  But we learn that what Ash lacks in knowledge and skills, he makes up for in devotion to his teammates.  His sacrifice to protect Pikachu from the Spearow flock still packs an emotional wallop and it makes us care for a main character whose incompetence can be the cause of major headaches amongst the audience members.  A memorable appearance by a great, mythical Pokémon gives Ash the hope and strength to continue his journey.

EP009 - The School of Hard Knocks In the series' second "filler" episode, Shudō teaches viewers about how the other half lives in the Pokémon universe.  While everyone has the opportunity to become Pokémon trainers, some people choose to remain in school to earn their accolades.  However, since Pokémon care is a necessity of this world, students still practice with battle simulations and creature statistics.  Eventually, there is a showdown between book-learning and field experience, and it's Ash's adaptability to think outside the box that nets him a victory in a battle that would appear to be one-sided against him.  We also learn a bit about Jesse and James's past, as they used to attend Pokémon Tech but flunked out.  In later episodes, we learn more about how this affected the duo, whose dreams of also become Pokémon masters have never entirely faded away.

EP017 - Island of the Giant Pokémon Here is an episode with a cool format that I'm surprised was never repeated.  A storm separates the humans from the Pokémon on a seemingly deserted island.  We are treated to several scenes in which the Pokémon work together, with subtitles to help the audience.  Save for Meowth, we usually never get to know what's going on in a Pokémon's head.  Here, we learn about their personalities and views of the world, including their relationship with humans.  Some, like Squirtle, feel that abandonment is inevitable and that Pokémon are better off without humans.  Others, like Ekans, and Koffing, remain loyal to their trainers and view themselves as comrades, rather than servants.  It's one of the few times the series gets philosophical about this unbalanced dynamic between humans and their captive magical monsters.

EP020 - The Ghost of Maiden's Peak Pokémon is a Japanese show.  The American dub often went out of it's way to hide this fact with dialogue changes and animation cover-ups.  But sometimes it's just better to embrace the fact that a different culture has different kinds of entertainment.  This episode is unavoidably Japanese in tone and plot, which is why it sticks with me.  Brock and James get caught under the spell of a ghostly maiden who is waiting for her long-lost love to return to her.  We learn that the ghost is actually a ghost Pokémon (who is owned by the maiden's spirit).  Most of these creatures are based off Japanese mythology anyway, so it's cool to see an episode that explores the origin of some of these types of monsters and spirits.  Also, I like episodes where Team Rocket teams up with the heroes, since their attempts to steal Pikachu get old quickly.

EP070 - Go West Young Meowth The biggest mystery in the early days of the anime was about how Team Rocket's Meowth was able to walk and talk like a human.  Only in rare cases could Pokémon use telepathy of some sort to communicate.  Shudō finally explored Meowth's tragic backstory near the end of the Indigo League saga.  In an attempt to woo a high-class female Meowth, our young, stray hero took it upon himself to become more like a human, to prove he had dignity.  Losing his ability to learn stronger Pokémon attacks, Meowth put his effort into speech and bipedal movement.  Ultimately, he gets rejected for being a freakish hybrid of human and Pokémon and his love ends up becoming a stray anyway, showing that had he stayed patient, they would have ended up together.  It's a sad tale that lends some depth to the show's most comical character.

Atsuhiro Tomioka's Best Episodes

While most of the writers have a signature style, Tomioka doesn't just excel in one area.  He is usually able to craft great stories that balance humor, adventure, and dramatic conflict.  When the other writers get stuck in a creative rut with repetitive storylines, it shows.  But Tomioka always gives his best to whatever that week's story may be.  He seems to enjoy exploring the many different types of relationships that Pokémon share with their trainers.  Honorable Mention: EP049 - "So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd"

EP003 - Ash Catches a Pokémon Tomioka's first episode focuses on Ash's two most important relationships: the one with his Pokémon and the one with Misty.  Catching creatures is the name of the game, so we see how Ash goes about caring for his new Caterpie and Pidgeotto.  He focuses on making a strong friendship, but he still doesn't quite have the hang of being a tactically intelligent leader.  Meanwhile, the more experienced Misty reluctantly shows him the ropes, tagging along either out of a secret attraction to Ash or just a concern that he'll get himself or his team killed.  Elements of the game (exploration, catching, training, evolving) are subtly woven into the story of maturity and companionship.  Even though Ash and Misty begin this journey as kids, they are showing signs of the adults they will become (if they were ever allowed to age, I mean).

EP008 - The Path to the Pokémon League This was the first episode to be considered filler, since it wasn't based on any plot development from the games.  However, it proves that filler episodes didn't have to be boring or unnecessary.  Tomioka decided to focus on how weak of a trainer Ash really is.  Since we spend all of our time with him and see his few victories against Team Rocket, we are inclined to root for Ash.  But then we meet A.J., a Sandshrew trainer who ensures that dumb luck is not his major battle strategy.  Having set a personal goal of 100 consecutive Pokémon battle victories before even beginning his journey, A.J. proves that there is strength in patience.  He may be a little cocky and his regiment may be a stricter than normal, but he is willing to learn from every trainer he faces.  I'm willing to bet that he came in first at the Indigo League.

EP014 - Electric Shock Showdown While most fans point to the gym episodes as the series' strongest, I usually find them to be among the blandest.  But Ash's battle against Lt. Surge is proves these episodes are capable of great moments.  On it's surface, the story is your standard "David vs. Goliath" tale.  Little Pikachu doesn't stand a chance against his evolved form Raichu, until Ash realizes he must rely on agility to win.  But the heart of this episode comes when Ash contemplates evolving Pikachu into a Raichu as well, with the aid of a Thunder Stone.  This mimics the game's mechanics in which evolving Pokémon too early prevents them from learning stronger attacks.  On a thematic level, Raichu is a stand in for the kind of chemically-enhanced future Pikachu could possibly have, and he represents all that is wrong with looking for the easy way out.

EP037 - Ditto's Mysterious Mansion This episode was born during the lengthy stretch of filler episodes between Fuchsia Gym and Cinnabar Gym, where every episode started to feel the same.  Our heroes meet a new character who has a new Pokémon with some problem.  Team Rocket steps in to steal them and then the Pokémon overcomes their issue and saves the day.  The comedic Duplica and her Ditto stood out from the crowd, allowing this episode to serve as a parody of the average anime episode.  Ditto can transform into any Pokémon, but has difficulty changing it's face as well.  In an unexpected twist, it is only after Team Rocket steals it and threatens it that it is able to discover its true potential.  This episode also features the heroes hilariously mocking the repetitive Team Rocket motto (which gets old after being featured in every single episode).

EP051 - Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden A common theme in Tomioka's episodes is a young Pokémon refusing to evolve.  I believe his intent is to encourage kids to recognize their own strengths and abilities, rather than waiting to become an adult to feel as if they can make a difference.  Or maybe the cuter unevolved Pokémon were more marketable.  In any case, Ash's Bulbasaur absolutely refuses to evolve, right in the middle of a sacred ceremony that all Bulbasaurs partake in.  Being part plant, there is a connection between this ceremony and the arrival of spring, showing just how connected these creatures are with nature.  Although in the long term, I'm disappointed that Ash never had an Ivysaur, the dramatic plot is very well executed.  Bulbasaur is a strong character who fights to prove to the world that he doesn't have to change to please anyone.

Hideki Sonoda's Best Episodes

Sonoda originally brought a much needed level of humor to the series, and he would eventually replace Shudō as the main writer for the series.  Unfortunately, aside from a few standout classics, I found that most of his episodes are a bit too silly and cartoony for me.  It's as if he didn't take the show seriously and just decided to goof around as much as he could.   When he has to write the filler episodes, it feels as if his passion wanes.  Honorable Mention: PK01 - "Pikachu's Vacation"

EP004 - Challenge of the Samurai Continuing with the early introductory episodes' goal of teaching us how to play the games, this episode gives us our first official trainer battle with the Bug Catcher Samurai.  But more importantly, this episode amps up the humor of the series.  Now that most of the basics have been explained, there is more time for the show to let loose and have some fun.  Nearly everyone remembers the pointless Metapod vs. Metapod battle.  We also get a far dopier version of the Team Rocket trio, showing that they aren't really going to be much of a threat to anybody but themselves.  There is still a minor dramatic conflict as Ash gets too caught up in the fun of battling and fails to protect his Metapod during a crucial Beedrill attack, but the volume of puns and jokes that permeate this episode show that Sonoda's priorities lie elsewhere.

EP012 - Here Comes the Squirtle Squad! The third episode of the unofficial "Ash builds his team with starter Pokémon" trilogy, Sonoda lends his signature style to the abandoned Pokémon plot.  Here, a group of left-behind Squirtles have formed a criminal team, wrecking havoc in a small town like a group of juvenile delinquents.  The lead Squirtle will keep this distrust of authority streak for a while after joining Ash's team, but it's never quite in full force as it is here.  Squirtle behaves more like a kid demanding attention in the worst possible ways and it is through Ash's personal connection with Pokémon that he is able to finally calm down.  Squirtle seems to revert back to this conflict-prone behavior whenever he is separated from Ash, so it would have been interesting to see more conflicts like this arise later in the series.

EP035 - The Legend of Dratini This is one of the infamous banned episodes that only existed in Japan.  And it's a shame too, because unlike some of the other controversial and re-ordered episodes (like the strange "Beauty and the Beach"), this had an interesting story and a significant plot development.  If you ever wondered why Ash never made it to the Safari Zone yet somehow captured thirty Tauros from there, this is the episode that explains it.  That's just some side fun compared to the real story about Team Rocket attempting to blow up the Safari Zone lake in order to unearth the legendary Dratini that had been sighted there.  The episode was banned due to the violent weapons used by Team Rocket and the game warden, but it all makes for a very tense episode (including a scene where Ash nearly drowns in order to get rid of the explosives).

EP050 - Who Gets to Keep Togepi? Aside from the tease of Ho-Oh in the pilot episode, this was the first major introduction of the second generation of Pokémon games.  America had this reveal spoiled thanks to the internet, so I would have loved to have seen this episode from the perspective of a young Japanese kid on it's original airdate.  We don't realize it now, but the episode was originally designed to make you believe that there is a baby Aerodactyl in the egg that Ash had found at the canyon where an Aerodactyl attacked him.  Some of those references are lost in the dub, but that would have made the reveal of a brand new Pokémon all the more surprising.  Nonetheless, the episode still works.  The makeshift tournament between Ash, Misty, Brock, and Meowth to see who gets to keep the baby is one of my all-time favorite moments of the show.

EP063 - The Battle of the Badge Structurally, this episode is all over the place, but I'm willing to forgive that for the amount of great content it supplied to us at the time it aired.  First, we finally got to see Giovanni as the Viridian Gym Leader.  Second, we got to see (a disguised but still obviously) Mewtwo for the first time, under Giovanni's control.  Third, we got to see Ash's rival Gary in battle.  And finally, we got to see Ash take on the final gym and it ended up being his hardest Team Rocket battle to date.  All of this episode was set-up for the eventual end of the first journey and the first theatrical movie, and it got us all hyped up for the epic "conclusion" of Ash's journey.  Yes, there was still more to come, but after months of hiatuses and filler episodes, it sure was satisfying to finally see Ash with all eight badges.

Junki Takegami's Best Episodes

Junki Takegami may have more misses than hits, but I'm tempted to call him my favorite writer of the serious because, unlike Sonoda, he treats everything super seriously.  The most dramatic episodes come from his pen, and he really likes to do intense character studies of our main characters and their Pokémon.  His goal is to make you empathize with the characters as they suffer great losses and challenges.  Even his filler episodes are treated with weight.  Honorable Mention: EP048 - "Holy Matrimony"

EP005 - Showdown in Pewter City As the first gym episode, Ash's battle against Brock set the bar high.  As a nitpicky kid, I was troubled by the fact that Pikachu's Electric attacks had any effect at all against Ground-types in the series, but now I view this episode as the in-canon reason for this development.  In order to beat Brock, stubborn Ash refuses Misty's tactical advice and focuses on strengthening Pikachu's power to make his attacks effective.  Through manual labor, Ash overloads Pikachu into a creature worthy of Team Rocket's constant stalking.  It's difficult to watch, as Ash toys with nature just to win one battle.  When the fruits of his labor reveal an uncontrollable amount of power, Ash does the noble thing and forfeits the battle.  Mix in Brock's upsetting story about his deadbeat parents, and you've got an episode that tugs at all of the heartstrings.

EP011 - Charmander - The Stray Pokémon It's just one tragic story after another with Takegami.  His addition to the abandoned starter trilogy involves a weak, naive Charmander who waits for his abusive trainer patiently on a rock outside of town.  The trainer has no intentions of returning, and is perfectly happy to let the Pokémon perish in the extreme weather.  Charmander nearly dies as a result of these actions and he finally agrees to join Ash's party after experiencing his kindness.  Charmander would become one of Ash's strongest allies, but eventually he would mature at a faster rate than his new trainer.  Charmander's story-arc is probably the most interesting of the series' non-talking Pokémon and with such a dramatic introduction, it's easy to see why.  Out of all of the episodes where Ash catches a Pokémon, this is by far the strongest.

EP038 - Electric Soldier Porygon Takegami's episodes won't only make you cry, they'll send you to the hospital.  Yes, this is the seizure-inducing episode that only aired once and nearly ruined the Pokémon franchise as a whole, before it even got to America.  It's a shame that the title character was blamed for this mishap because it was actually the strobe effects of Pikachu's attacks clashing with missile explosions that caused the seizures.  Poor Porygon and his family never got to be featured again as a result.  Light flashes aside, this is a pretty cool episode if you seek it out.  Team Rocket gets a Porygon and causes damage in the cyber world of the Pokémon Transport System.  Our heroes must battle them with their own Porygon in order to save the day.  Yes, it's basically the Tron episode of Pokémon and like the original Tron, no one in America saw it.

EP046 - Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon This may just be the most fun episode of Pokémon ever.  It's got drama, action, and comedy!  Ash and Team Rocket get trapped underground at a fossil excavation and awaken a group of blood-thirsty prehistoric Pokémon!  Ash's unruly Charmeleon evolves into Charizard after Ash gets captured by Aerodactyl, but only because it took offense at the dinosaur's behavior!  The day is ultimately saved by the recently added comic relief character Jigglypuff who's memorable song puts everyone to sleep, monsters and humans alike!  Ash discovers an egg that will birth the new wave of Pokémon!  Gary accidentally holds Pokémon feces!  After the first big hiatus in Pokémon history (in both Japan and America) and loads of filler episodes, we needed an episode like this to remind us what was so great about the series.

EP052 - Princess vs. Princess (but really EP047.5) Due to the Porygon incident, this episode was misplaced from it's original airing order.  It was supposed to air on Girls' Day (March 3rd), before the thieving Farfetch'd episode and Togepi's hatching.  It took a while for America to get this episode and I remember really looking forward to it as a result.  Why?  Because Jessie catches a Lickitung and (at this point) Team Rocket had never caught a new Pokémon!  Since it's Girls' Day, the boys must do whatever the girls want.  Ultimately, Jessie and Misty find themselves in a girls-only head-to-head final tournament battle, and Jessie's new Lickitung becomes a secret weapon, defeated at the last second by Misty's dimwitted Psyduck.  There is no plot to steal Pokémon.  It's just a chance for Misty and Jessie to have the spotlight for an episode.

Yukiyoshi Ōhashi's Best Episodes

Ohashi had trouble finding his footing at first.  While every other writer's signature style was something positive, Ohashi's style seemed to be a lack of focus.  Episodes would radically shift from setpiece to setpiece with a different tone each time.  The worst example of this "Hypno's Naptime," since it makes no sense at all.  Fortunately, he eventually became a strong member of the writing team, shifting his focus to the various creatures and their personalities.  Honorable Mention: EP021 - "Bye Bye Butterfree"

EP010 - Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village The first abandoned starter that Ash captures is Bulbasaur.  Unlike the rebellious Squirtle and the naive Charmander, Bulbasaur is a solitary creature who feels it is his duty to protect those who are less fortunate.  Bulbasaur is the Batman of Ash's team.  He is distrusting of Ash and only allows himself to join his party if Ash can actually beat him in battle.  I like the concept of the Hidden Villiage where caretaker Melanie looks after injured and abandoned Pokémon, and it's amusing how lost our heroes truly get before stumbling upon it.  The main point is to set up Bulbasaur's character and his resistance against that which is unfamiliar to him.  As we saw in the later "Mysterious Garden" episode, Bulbasaur thinks deeply about his present situation and has his own set path that he'd prefer to be on.

EP032 - The Ninja-Poké Showdown Ohashi's spirit Pokémon is Psyduck.  Ever since his introduction in "Hypno's Naptime," Psyduck appears in nearly every Ohashi episode.  Even an episode like this one, which is supposed to be the important Ash vs. Koga gym badge story, some how becomes all about Psyduck.  Fortunately, Psyduck is the best for comic relief, and this is the episode where he is allowed to let the other side of his character shine.  Misty discovers that Psyduck's constant headache can unlock his Psychic abilities, making him the strongest member of her team.  Ohashi's early-haphazard style is used effectively as the constant shift in focus (Fuchsia Gym traps, Aya and Koga's battles, Psyduck's power) keeps everyone on their toes.  One would expect a ninja-themed episode to be disorienting.

EP061 - The Misty Mermaid If there's one type of Pokémon episode I hate the most, it's the "let's put on a show" episode.  We see episodes set at a circus, a movie set, a stage show, and a magician's carnival act and they all strike me as pointless.  Yet, I love the underwater ballet episode.  I think it succeeds because it uses the ballet show as a frame for it's whole story.  Team Rocket still attacks, but this time, there is an audience watching and they all assume it's part of the show.  At the Cerulean Gym, Misty performs the role of the mermaid who is waiting to meet her prince while her Pokémon support her underwater dance.  There is just a different feel to this episode, with it's slower pace and emphasis on the ballet, so it feels like a work of art.  This is a big step up from Ohashi's other non-filler Cerulean Gym episode, "The Water Flowers of Cerulean City."

EP073 - Bad to the Bone Our heroes finally start making their way to the Indigo Plateau and along the way, they meet an InuYasha-inspired trainer named Otoshi who attempts to steal Ash's badges after he gets his own stolen.  It's a very simple plot, but it serves as a nice recap to the journey Ash had gone on up until this point.  And for a "character of the day," Otoshi has a very interesting personality and his relationship with his main Pokémon, Marowak is centered on self-discipline.  There are some characters of the day that I would have loved to see become part of the supporting cast, for Otoshi hints at entire storylines that we only get to see brief glimpses of in flashbacks.  I'm sure that Otoshi had less random encounters than Ash and followed a more serious and meticulous travel plan for his journey, and I wish I could have seen more of it.

EP077 - The Fourth Round Rumble As a Pokémon fan, I'll admit that I am far more partial to the Pokémon Adventures manga than I am the anime.  It takes a more serious approach to the storyline and when it comes to the battles, the manga always incorporates clever twists that keep them from getting dull.  As the Indigo League finished up with a tournament, the anime's straightforward approach to battles began to get tedious.  Thankfully, by Ash's fourth battle, Ohashi decided to employ some clever tricks.  The 3-on-3 battle was exciting enough with Ash fighting Beedrill and Scyther, but when a wily Bellsprout starts using its roots to avoid all attacks, Ash reveals that he has withdrawn his never-used Muk from Oak's Lab.  The whole Bellsprout battle feels as if it came straight from the manga, and it's the reason this episode is my favorite of the final tournament.

A Couple Other Significant Episodes

EP0XX - Snow Way Out! (originally EP040) - Shōji Yonemura Shōji Yonemura's first episode got severely displaced due to the Porygon incident, along with the Jynx Christmas episode.  Yonemura doesn't have many episodes under his belt, but this one is all he really needed.  Everyone gets trapped and separated in the snowy mountains and while Brock and Misty can handle the weather, Ash and his Pokémon find themselves on death's door.  They all pitch in to build a snow cave and, in a truly moving moment, they insist on staying out of their Poké Balls to provide their trainer with warmth.  At this point, no episode had been written that had such dramatic weight as this one.  It truly seemed like an urban legend before it hit the American shores.  "Did you know there's an unaired episode of Pokémon where Ash spends the whole time slowly freezing to death?"

The Bizarre Original Pokémon Movie Trailer Okay, this isn't an episode.  And you've probably never seen it.  But in the wake of the Porygon incident, there was a four month gap of no new Pokémon episodes whatsoever (and in Japan, they get a new episode every week and rarely skip one).  So to get people excited for the return of Pokémon and the movie that was supposed to end the series, we get this trailer.  None of the footage is from the movie. It is based on the initial plans that the writers thought would possibly appear in the film.  I don't know why a suddenly older Misty is hanging out with the pier owner from the movie and a little girl.  It's basically a music video for one of the many Japanese ending songs of the anime (we got the Pokérap instead).  A full analysis of this greatness can be found here.

EP039 - Pikachu's Goodbye - Shinzō Fujita Alright, by now you've picked up on the fact that the Porygon incident caused a lot of problems for the series.  So, Fujita was brought in to write the "welcome back" episode.  He had to prove that Pokémon deserved to stay on the air, and he succeeded by penning the best Pokémon episode ever.  And it's also the simplest.  Team Rocket tries to steal a lot of Pikachu.  That's it.  No new characters or Pokémon.  Obviously, the main selling point of the episode is Ash's decision to release Pikachu back into the wild to be with it's own species.  Obviously, Pikachu comes back, but still, I have yet to meet someone who didn't cry at this episode when they were a kid.  The pacing, the music, everything works in this episode.  And moreso than any other episode where Ash releases a Pokémon because... well... it's Pikachu!

M01 - Mewtwo Strikes Back

Okay, this is cheating, but it is the best story to come out of the first Generation anime.  And I'm talking about the Japanese version that includes the 10-minute Mewtwo origin story at the beginning which helps set the scene for why Mewtwo is so enraged at the world.  The dichotomy of humans and monsters is my favorite theme in literature so devoting the entire first movie to the one Pokémon that has to live with the fact that he is some ungodly hybrid of human and Pokémon design is pure gold to me. Also of note is the Japanese radio drama that promoted the film with an expanded "The Birth of Mewtwo" story that gave us the background of Jessie's absent mother and her tragic disappearance in her quest to find Mew in South America.  It really delved into the hidden dramatic aspect of the games.  Finally, I like how Ash's signature dumb luck gets him wrapped up in the story and his signature devotion to his Pokémon ends up saving everyone at the end.  That sacrifice... Fun Fact:  During the scene where Ash appears to have died, the dub team contemplated having Misty sadly say, "My bike..."

The Best Orange League Episodes

With about nine months to kill until Pokémon Gold and Silver was released, the anime had to stall with the filler arc known as the "Orange League."  This is where a lot of viewers lost interest in the story, but I decided to wipe the slate clean and check out this obvious padding.  And while there are a few gems in this season, a lot of the same problems that most filler episodes have still crop up.

My biggest beef with this era was the replacement of Tracey Sketchit for Brock.  Now, I don't mind Brock taking a hiatus.  It's good to change things up once in a while.  But Tracey was too bland of a character to have such a central role.  I would have preferred Tracey been regulated to one or two episodes and then Ash and Misty could have traveled alone.  He only has a one major episode (where he catches Scyther) and that storyline could have easily been given to Ash.  If they really needed a third companion to guide them through the Orange Islands, they should have teamed up with the Slowking from the second movie.  That would have been an interesting new angle to take.  But I digress.

In addition to the five episodes I picked below, there are a few other episodes you may find interesting.  Honorable Mentions: EP083 - "Poké Ball Peril" (Brock stays with Prof. Ivy), EP091 - "Bye Bye Psyduck" (Misty finally "gets" a Golduck), EP097 - "Tracey Gets Bugged" (Tracey catches an elderly Scyther patriarch), EP099 - "The Mandarin Island Miss Match" (Ash battles Lorelei and learns what losing truly means), EP110 - "The Stun Spore Detour" (Misty catches a Poliwag while tending to a paralyzed Ash)

EP082 - A Scare in the Air - Junki Takegami Since we must go to the Orange Islands, we'd might as well have some fun getting there.  This episode is basically "Pokémon Shipwreck" in a blimp and better because a) it's funnier and b) it's more dramatic.  Once again Team Rocket and the heroes have to work together, but this time it's all Team Rocket's fault for stealing the dilapidated blimp in the first place.  Ash and co. think they've won a free blimp trip to the Orange Islands, but the in-flight service is sub-par., to say the least  With Togepi missing and Jigglypuff stowed away as well, there are a lot of opportunities for hijinks and death-defying stunts in order to survive.  Seriously, the scene when Misty must cross the beam to rescue Togepi is one of the series' most nail-biting moments.  Unfortunately, once we get to the Orange Islands, things are less interesting.

EP096 - Meowth Rules! - Junki Takegami After sitting through multiple episodes of the Orange Islands saga, my hopes had started to fade.  Then, along came an amazing character study on my favorite talking Meowth.  After crashing on a remote island, the natives assume that the talking Meowth is the one destined to fill their lives with prosperity by using his Pay Day attack.  Unfortunately, Meowth can't use Pay Day since he gave up that ability in order to speak.  Fortunately, Jessie and James secretly bail Meowth out by giving up their life's savings to the village under the guise that Meowth is the chosen one.  It's a rare episode where Team Rocket is noble, doesn't get punished or accused of lying, and experiences a happy ending.  It is just an all around great episode that proves that filler episodes don't have to stick to the same old template.

EP101 - Get Along, Little Pokémon - Shinzō Fujita By this point in the original run, I had stopped watching the Pokémon anime.  The Orange Islands just didn't hold my attention.  So I hadn't seen this episode when it originally aired and I don't know what my feelings would have been at the time, and it probably doesn't seem like anything special but... I really liked this episode.  On one of the larger islands, there is a ranch where the wrangler uses his free-roaming Magnemite to gather lightning and dispense it to the various towns as an electricity supply.  This whole western motif strangely worked for me.  I thought it was a clever idea.  And even though there already was a good Magnemite episode with "Sparks Fly for Magnemite," I didn't mind watching this one as well.  I guess I'm a Magnemite fan.  Or maybe I was just in the mood for something that was different.

EP103 - Misty Meets Her Match - Hideki Sonoda I commend the Orange League gym episodes for trying something different by having Pokémon challenges rather than battles.  But ultimately, Rudy's matching type gym was the best.  Up until this point, many fans of the show were rooting for Ash and Misty to end up together.  Ash always appeared to be more oblivious to the ways of love, and Misty liked to express her admiration through aggression. Rudy's flirting causes a huge wave between Ash and Misty.  He's closer in age to her, but despite their youth, it's clear that he wants to marry Misty (or at least for her to stay behind with him).  He is a better catch than Ash, of course, but Misty buckles down in her devotion to Ash and ends her flirting with Rudy in order to support her one and only.  This one's for you, Pokéshippers.

EP105 - Charizard Chills - Atsuhiro Tomioka When you binge-watch Pokémon episodes, it really highlights how unskilled Ash is as a trainer.  Most of his victories are luck based and he therefore assumes that he is good as a result.  The Orange League episodes succeeded when the focus was on Ash coming to terms with his training style.  He loses many important battles, especially when he attempts to use Charizard.  He doesn't understand that time alone won't get Charizard to obey him.  He has to prove his abilities.  In yet another terrible battle, Charizard ends up getting frozen by an attack.  Ash spends the rest of the day and night warming Charizard with his hands, rubbing him until his hands are raw and bloody (seriously).  Charizard is reminded of Ash's similar treatment of him when he was a lone, scared Charmander and he ultimately comes around to accepting Ash.

M02 - The Power of One

The first movie resisted the urge to have a "chosen one" story for Ash, so it appears they saved that plot for movie number two.  The film therefore doesn't feel as captivating as the first, but it still presents one of the better Pokémon stories.  After a powerful collector (who I wish we learned more about) decides to capture the three legendary birds, the world is put in disarray and it is up to the chosen one to set things right.  Ash is, of course, the destined hero and by teaming up with the legendary Lugia, he is able to set things right and gain mastery over all Pokémon at once. It's all very exciting and epic, but unlike the first film which resets the memories of all those involved, no such plot point occurs here.  Once you've saved the world, how can you go back to the anime from here?  Nothing else will seem as important.  Also, no one bothers to mention the events of this film in the anime at all.  Um, what?  Why not?  To me, this would have served as another great ending to the series.  It essentially was for me, seeing as how I barely watched any episodes after this one in my younger days.  If you are just sticking with the original series, I suggest this be your stopping point as well.  There is no topping saving the world and mastering all of the Pokémon.

Toshihiro Ono's Best "Episodes"

What's this?  More episodes to talk about?  Well, sort of.  During the height of the anime's popularity, Toshihiro Ono was commissioned to adapt several of the episodes in the manga, The Electric Tale of Pikachu.  At the time, the differing art style and reluctance to stick to the show's canon kept me from fully investing my time into this series.  But now, I find his mature approach to the subject matter to be a welcome change, and I find myself actually preferring the manga over the show.  Depending on my mood, I might even consider this the best adaptation of the whole franchise (even beating out Pokémon Adventures, which I love).

Part of my appreciation stems from the fact that Ono didn't lock himself into the anime's traditions and just told the stories as he saw fit.  Brock, Misty, and Team Rocket only show up when the story demands it, making this more of a solo journey on Ash's part.  There are more elements drawn from the games and the real world, giving this a more familiar, realistic feel.  And the art is just beautiful, with creature designs ranging from svelte and cute to terrifying and awe-inspiring.  Ono also had a reputation for drawing more... adult-oriented manga, so his issues went through many waves of censorship before reaching the shores.  That said, his stories are some of the strongest the series has ever seen.

ET03 - Clefairy Tale (based on EP006/EP013) This was the issue that made me realize how great the manga adaptation could be.  By using the "Clefairy and the Moon Stone" episode as a jumping off point, Ono fully explored the capabilities of what the Pokémon world has to offer.  Ash (who is traveling through Mt. Moon alone) meets Prof. Oak and Bill (both for the first time) who are working together to study the ritualistic habits of the Clefairy.  Their ceremony of the Moon Stone is treated with the utmost respect and reverence.  When reading this issue, I felt as if a profound universal truth had been revealed to me.  There is no external conflict (save for a brief run in with an Onix).  Ash arrives at Mt. Moon, selfishly attempting to raise his trainer rank by catching a Clefairy, and he leaves a changed boy, with an appreciation for the lives of all Pokémon.  This wasn't a silly slapstick comedy where Team Rocket bursts in and makes fools of themselves.  This was transcendent art.

ET04 - Haunting My Dreams (based on EP022-EP024) Ono's version of the Sabrina and Haunter story arc is probably his most radically different adaptation.  His Sabrina is a kind-hearted hero who attempts to save Lavender Town from a monstrous Haunter known as "The Black Fog."  This Haunter sucks people's souls with its Dream Eater attack, and it is up to Ash and Brock to stop the mayhem and attempt to catch it.  It ultimately self-destructs because it would rather perish than allow itself to be captured by Ash.  Ono didn't really get a chance to write stories about legendary Pokémon, so he uses this opportunity to imbue Haunter with a dark god-like status and personality.  His design of Haunter also gives me the creeps, making this a far more horrific episode than the laughably cartoonish episode "The Tower of Terror."  This serves as an example of what the Pokémon series is capable of when it's not locked in to a regimented outline.

ET06 - To Evolve or Not to Evolve, That Is the Question! (based on EP040) This is actually the first Pokémon manga I ever read/owned, and it remains my favorite.  Taking the classic cutesy Eevee episode and filling it with violence, ritualistic cults, and (in the original Japanese version) sex, Ono seemed to be making his mark on the series.  The anime may be for kids, but this Pokémon is for adults.  I remember being surprised as a 10-year-old reading the characters talk about damnation in reference to their battles.  It was also cool to see the manga borrow more from the games, as Ash's major strategy during the final battle involves using a secret Technical Machine on Eevee, giving it an advantage over it's evolved forms.  The show never used TMs, although they were hinted at.  If you've heard about the manga's censorship, this is the one that got the most edits.  It even went so far as to change the ending, completely removing a scandalous subplot involving...hot tubs.

ET13 - The Indigo Finals (based on EP079/EP080) I quite enjoyed the bold decision that the anime writers made to have Ash lose in the Indigo League tournament, with his major downfall being his lack of control over Charizard.  This adaptation remains very faithful to that plotline, but while the cartoon featured a lazy Charizard who felt insulted having to fight Ritchie's unevolved Pokémon, Ono actually gives Ritchie a Charizard as well.  And they fight.  Oh how they fight.  Ash's Charizard still refuses to listen, but instead of napping, he brutally rips Ritchie's Charizard to shreds!  Ash is forced to recall Charizard and forfeit the match just to prevent him from killing his opponent!  There has always been an undercurrent of safety throughout the Pokémon series, as the battles are more magical in nature and akin to an organized sport.  Pokémon may get hurt, but it's just equal to some minor roughhousing that a quick trip to a Pokémon Center will always fix.  Not so in Ono's world.

ET20 - Type: Wild (based on EP116) By the time the Orange League had wrapped up, the anime made it clear that the usually jerky Gary had turned a leaf and matured as a result of his own Indigo League loss.  In "The Rivalry Revival," Gary no longer mocks Ash and instead treats him as an equal.  Ash, however still needs to grow and his trip to the Johto region makes sense for him.  But, seeing as how fans were getting anime fatigue, it's nice to know that in Ono's universe, the story finally comes to a close.  In this short epilogue to the series, we learn that Ash and Gary teamed up to travel Johto together, encountering Lugia (as in the second movie) and other challenges.  For the romantics among you, we also learn that Jessie and James have put an end to their nonsense and settled down to start a family.  With little buttons that wrap up each plotline, this final issue is my personal canon to the original series story.  Finally, Ash grew up.