It might be exhausting to consider, however 2023 will mark 25 years for the reason that Pokemon anime first premiered within the west. That’s 1 / 4 century of battles, exploration, and boneheaded choices by Ash Ketchum.
To commemorate this momentous landmark, we’re having a look again by rewatching the earliest days of Pallet City and past. Be a part of us on this most marvellous journey down reminiscence lane, and bear in mind to top off on Tremendous Potions for the journey forward!
PREVIOUS EPISODE: Episode 3: Ash Catches a Pokemon
Pokemon Episode 4: Problem of the Samurai
First Aired: April 22, 1997 (Japan), September 11, 1998 (US)
We choose issues up with the continued exploration of Viridian Forest, the place Misty continues to be freaking out about bugs and Ash continues to be being vacant and thoughtless. This time, they occur upon a pleasant Weedle, throwing us proper into the motion. Ease up, kids’s anime, I simply acquired right here!
Ash sends Pidgeotto out to duel with the toxic insect, and the avian assailant appears to have miraculously recovered from the accidents it sustained within the earlier kerfuffle. Are we to consider that Ash used some type of therapeutic merchandise on it, or that ample time had handed for it to relaxation up? Or extra possible, it’s a brand new episode so screw it, BIRD FRIEND IS READY TO RUMBLE.
Whereas Pidgeotto is busy giving Weedle a whoopin’, Misty has dithered off for no obvious motive. She doesn’t get far, nevertheless, earlier than she’s accosted by a boy wielding a katana. As unwise because it sounds to provide minors harmful weapons, it’s additionally unwise to ship minors off on intercontinental missions with captive animals that may breathe hearth, so actually, it’s par for the course.
This child is seemingly dubbed Samurai, and he’s awaiting a problem from a coach hailing from Pallet City. Yeah, you learn that proper, he calls himself Samurai. His actual identify might be Ted or one thing, however we by no means get closure on that. Together with his misplaced enthusiasm, the closest anime parallel I may draw for him would maybe be Konohamaru from Naruto, albeit a a lot, a lot much less likable model.
…That is saying one thing contemplating that, you already know, no one likes Konohamaru.
When he tracks Ash down, he instantly declares warfare, distracting the preoccupied coach and permitting Weedle the prospect to dip. So as to add insult to damage, Samurai proclaims that Ash’s Pokemon dealing with is dimwitted and clumsy. This appears somewhat harsh when one considers that Ash was fairly capably whittling down his goal beforehand, main me to imagine that Samurai should have learn my first three episode summaries.
Ash begins issues off with Pidgeotto, who is seemingly fatigued after dominating Weedle. In response, Samurai deploys Pinsir — a hulking, fearsome Pokemon not usually seen till a lot in a while within the video games. The brutish beetle ends Pidgeotto’s entire profession, sending it into the turf with a single Deal with.
Samurai laughs a merciless, throaty chortle. “Go house and be a household man!” he sneers. He then aggressively dabs in Ash’s route earlier than pulling out his iPhone and having fun with the most recent video from MrBeast. He does none of these items, however I determine the key phrases on this paragraph may enhance my search engine optimization one way or the other.
Subsequent as much as bat is Metapod, and in a visible that’s admittedly fairly traumatic, Samurai threatens to separate Ash’s Pokemon in half. Deadly accidents are actually glossed over on this sequence for probably the most half, however right here, we get a morbid peek right into a future the place our pretty little cocoon child is outright murdered.
Pondering quick, Ash instructions Metapod to make use of Harden. Its protection will increase by one stage! And within the anime, this equates to it turning into an uncrushable tank that is ready to face up to Pinsir’s mandibles. Samurai unexpectedly recollects Pinsir to the ball, little question discouraged by its shallow gen 1 transfer pool, and summons a Metapod of his personal.
In a duel for the ages that’s sadly but to see its glory acknowledged within the Twinfinite rating of high anime battles, the combatants have interaction in a Harden contest. They Harden! They Harden once more! They Harden some extra! Why, it’s sufficient to make James Harden himself take curiosity, although the distinction is that there’s precise protection being performed right here.
Talking of James (what a tremendous segue), Group Rocket are presently trekking by way of Viridian Forest as effectively, donning a big cardboard tank to guard them from Beedrill stings. Barely resembling the cool, calculated villains of episode 2, they’re already slipping into slapstick territory, although their precaution isn’t totally unfounded. A swarm of the menacing bugs is circling above, making a beeline towards the situation of Ash’s battle.
Samurai nopes out instantly, leaving our heroes to fend for themselves. A Beedrill scoops up Metapod earlier than Ash can return it to the security of its ball and deposits it close to a Kakuna nesting space. Sickeningly, this could point out that the intention is for the larval Pokemon to feast upon its flesh upon hatching, nevertheless it may simply be a misguided try at adoption.
As if to spite Ash and all he believes in, the Kakunas evolve into Beedrill upon recognizing him, forcing them to ditch Metapod and take refuge in a close-by log cabin. Right here, Samurai berates Ash for permitting the Weedle to flee, for abandoning his Pokemon, and for being vastly inferior to his contemporaries from Pallet City. Evidently, struggling a sequence of defeats by the hands of Gary and the others had impressed him to coach more durable in preparation for Ash’s arrival.
It forces the beleaguered coach to think about the sheer enormity of his failures, quite a few as they’re. Ash spends the night time ruminating on how he most likely allowed his cool bug factor to be eaten alive, after which returns on the morning time to attempt to retrieve it whereas the Beedrill slumber.
However what’s this? Group Rocket interrupt his rescue try, loudly reciting their motto and alerting the horde to their presence. They could have gotten away with it had they not set off their trademark pyrotechnics just like the goddamn Energy Rangers.
Ash is ready to slip underneath the swarm, which redirect their concentrate on the Rockets as an alternative. Jessie and James pull out their helpful dandy tank, solely to seek out it has been chewed away by ravenous Weedles. I did a fast truth verify by Googling “do bugs eat cardboard”, and yep, scientifically this checks out.
Different Google searches that individuals have accomplished embrace “do bugs eat chocolate”, “do bugs eat cement”, and “do bugs eat kids”. Though I’ve not but ventured down that rabbit gap, this is perhaps one thing you want to probe for your self.
With the Beedrills diverted, Ash dashes as much as Metapod and requests it enter its Poke Ball. Regardless of the severity of the state of affairs, it refuses. Not even a chrysalis respects Ash Ketchum as a coach, certainly marking a brand new low level for Pallet City’s most incompetent resident.
He confesses that he’s in charge for this entire debacle, apologizing for leaving it there to die. These phrases sound extra hole than an empty Kakuna carapace, however they’re sufficient to persuade Metapod of his newfound loyalty. It gamely collides with an oncoming Beedrill to guard its grasp in a unbelievable show of mobility. Misty, Samurai, and Pikachu arrive simply in time to observe Metapod acquire sufficient XP to evolve into the wonderful Butterfree.
“Free, free,” it shouts into the dewy morning air. If this was Michigan, about 20 folks would frantically run over anticipating to obtain some free shit.
Ash inexplicably is aware of his new Pokemon’s whole moveset, so he instructions it put the Beedrills down with a sprinkling of Sleep Powder. It’s a rousing success because it causes not solely the aggressive bees to slumber, however Group Rocket as effectively. If “two birds, one stone” is nice, “fifty bugs/one cat/two enterprising criminals, one powder” have to be a landslide victory.
Samurai escorts Ash and Misty onto the path resulting in Pewter Metropolis, placing the deep darkish woods behind them ultimately. He admits that, in comparison with Ash and his good functionality to chloroform a whole batch of bees, he’s in reality the novice. This admission locations him a rung under the man who as soon as despatched a Caterpie out to throw down with a Pidgeotto, and for that motive, Samurai is now the one true uke in Pokemon lore.
We’re about to get into the thick of issues! With their arrival at Pewter, Ash simply would possibly have interaction in his first battle in opposition to a Health club Chief. Do you keep in mind that legendary second once you confronted off in opposition to Brock’s Onix and its insistence on spamming Bide? Me personally, I selected Bulbasaur so the entire thing was over in two assaults. Get wrecked, Charmander stans.
Anyway, subsequent episode will certainly be one for the ages, as a result of… The BROCK needs to struggle! Scent ya later!