Rockets in Viridian City! “Emergency!” Pokemon 1.02

Seemlessly following the pilot, “Emergency” immediately picks up with Ash running to Viridian City’s Pokemon Center to heal Pikachu. We are introduced to a number of reoccurring characters, such as Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy (with Chansey), Misty, & the infamous Team Rocket; Professor Oak & Ash’s mom make cameos during video phone calls.

What’s so great about this anime is that it’s based off of a video game. It makes meta jokes, like having all of the police named Officer Jenny and nurses called Nurse Joy. Ash’s Pokedex even looks like a GameBoy. Team Rocket now has faces and personalities, but even their little motto and sign-off gets teased by Ash and his gang of friends later in the series.

The universe of Pokemon is so well-established that it feels like it could actually exist. These characters have their own little quirks from the moment they appear onscreen, like with Misty seen fishing before we find out she’s a Water Pokemon trainer or the Team Rocket WANTED sign at the police station before we see the Meowth hot air balloon.

While “Emergency” wasn’t a Pokemon adventure (those episodes will come soon), it continues to lay foundation to the Pokemon-universe  by allowing character development and introducing the viewer to the responsibilities of a trainer. Nurse Joy reprimands Ash for allowing Pikachu to battle to the point of a critical condition. Team Rocket, instead of capturing their own rare Pokemon, choose to steal through force and intimidation. A good trainer is supposed to have a significant bond with their Pokemon in order to build friendship and loyalty. Ash and Pikachu finally begin to do this, which now makes them a great team. Even Team Rocket is impressed by the responsiveness of Pikachu to Ash, convincing them to try to steal Pikachu for themselves.

The episode ends with another cliffhanger with Ash attempting to capture Caterpie, a Bug Pokemon. It’s been years since watching this show, so I’m a bit confused about why Ash goes right ahead with his Pokeball instead of weakening the Pokemon (since that’s what you do in the game). I guess I have to watch the third episode to find out.

After all these years? “I choose you!” Pokemon 1.01

I remember when Pokemon first came out in 1998. The show, the merchandise, the battles during recess. I know the universe expanded over the years and the mythology became more complex, but I will always remember how exciting the first 150 Pokemon were to me personally. It was my first video game, the first time I was introduced to an alternate universe, and the first time I became upset when I realized it wasn’t real. Pokemon, for me, was before Harry Potter or superheroes or any other fantasy adventures. Every day after school I would switch on the TV, turned the channel to the WB, and wish I was part of that Pokemon world.

Well, it’s been nearly fifteen years later and I still haven’t become a Pokemon Master. (Literally. I still haven’t beaten Gary after the Elite Four in my Pokemon Blue version of the game.) But since I’m part of the 1990s-era of nostalgia, I decided to rewatch the first episode today. While cheesy and a bit rushed with the plot, there is so much creativity in the show that no doubt influenced me when I was younger. The impossible is possible when you let yourself imagine.

Ash Ketchum is easy to identify with as a ten-year-old eager to travel the world on his own. He wants to be the best, yet his pride can get in the way. Pikachu, Ash’s first Pokemon, has no respect for him and disobeys his commands. Ash reacts with arrogance and, unfortunately, brings danger to himself and Pikachu. It is only when Ash works to communicate with and protect Pikachu does their relationship start to grow. The episode title is an interesting twist, because it isn’t Ash who chooses his Pokemon; rather, it is Pikachu, after seeing Ash’s loyalty and good heart, who chooses to fight for him.

Despite not being the focus of this first episode, we are introduced to numerous Pokemon that will appear later in the show. Even Misty gets a cameo as the person Ash steals a bike from, which will then lead into her traveling with him until he pays her back. These moments are beautifully layered and only adds to the excitement of knowing that this world is full of creatures, stories, and possibilities.