With over 1159 episodes, Pokémon has an unending amount of content to enjoy, following Ash Ketchum as he tries to become the world's greatest Pokémon Master. Many of these episodes are filler, with the main Trio walking through endless forests in the Kanto region or meeting a new Pokémon each week, but some gems stand out as brilliantly entertaining and endlessly rewatchable.
This classic anime puts its characters through intense fight scenes and matches them up with rivals that test their strength and compassion. Team Rocket is always on the sidelines, waiting to steal Ash's Pikachu at any given moment, but even these villains have incredibly funny episodes that showcase them in all their glory.
10 Pokémon, I Choose You!
The classic first episode is a simple and fun entry into the show as it follows Ash Ketchum on the first day of his journey to becoming a Pokémon master. The episode sets up Ash as a determined main character who will overcome challenges with loyalty and the power of friendship.
In hindsight, Pikachu being mean to Ash is hilarious from their established friendship, and Gary's rivalry with Ash is set up perfectly. This episode is endless fun to rewatch, especially for veteran fans of the series looking back with nostalgia for where it all began.
9 Island Of The Giant Pokémon
The Pokémon, including Ash's team of Pikachu, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Pidgeotto, and Butterfree, get separated from their trainers after the SS Anne sinks, and they form a team to try and return to their trainers. The conversation between the Pokémon is translated into English, revealing their thoughts for the first time in the series.
Seeing the Pokémon chat around the campfire and grow closer as a team, even with the enemy Team Rocket Pokémon, is endlessly charming and adorable.
8 Pokémon Scent-Sation
In one of the funniest episodes of the first season, Ash's determination to win the Rainbow Badge from Gym Leader Erika drives him to ask Team Rocket for help. Their attempts to infiltrate the Celadon Gym backfire spectacularly.
Ash continues his streak of winning badges through acts of bravery rather than actual Pokémon battles, which adds to the comedy inherent in this episode. Pikachu electrocuting Ash to reveal his disguise is the highlight of the episode.
7 Who Gets To Keep Togepi?
While the main Trio - Ash, Misty, and Brock - have battled each other before in gym battles, this episode pits them against each other over a common goal: to win the Pokémon egg that contains the Fairy-type Togepi.
This episode is a reminder that each of the main Trio is ambitious in their own right, and the mini-tournament they participate in is a nice change of pace from traveling through endless forests in the Kanto region.
6 Volcanic Panic
One of the most intense battles of the series as Ash attempts to win the Volcano Badge from Gym Leader Blaine. Ash's teamwork with Charizard finally gets better after Charizard refuses to listen in previous episodes.
Watching them finally win a match together is satisfying after so much build-up. This explosive episode is essential rewatching to remember the struggles that Ash went through to genuinely earn his badges.
5 Go West, Young Meowth
Hollywood apparently exists in the Pokémon world, which is a fun enough premise on its own, but the heart of this episode comes from Team Rocket's Meowth flashing back to his younger years, learning to walk and talk like a human to impress a rich female Meowth.
Meowth's backstory is both heart-breaking as he struggles to achieve his goals and heart-warming as he finally finds a place for himself within Team Rocket.
4 Can't Beat The Heat!
Ash vs. Gary is the best and longest rivalry in the show, culminating in an explosive battle between the two in this tournament, the Johto League Silver Conference.
Both Ash and Gary stayed close to their starter Pokémon, and the fight concludes by confirming exactly who would win in a fight, Charizard or Blastoise. This episode is the endpoint to Ash and Gary's rivalry that has been built up since episode 1 of the show.
3 Win, Lose, Or Drew!
May's first Pokémon Contest sees her find her stride and a career that she truly loves. May's rival, Drew, is a fun addition to the cast of characters, echoing Gary's insults and smugness. However, Drew proves to be a bit nicer than Gary and capable of kindness, giving a rose to May's Beautifly after their stunning performance.
Pokémon Contests are summed up in this episode, with pretty performances and intense battles that showcase May's and Drew's talent for the art.
2 The Ole' Berate And Switch
Team Rocket episodes are just so much fun, and seeing them team up with their worst enemies is even better. After an argument, Jessie, James, and Meowth decide to split up. While Meowth strikes out on his own, Jessie joins Butch (an alternate version of James) and James joins Cassidy (an alternate version of Jessie) to enact crimes of their own, separate from their usual teams.
Switching things up and bringing back old familiar characters is a fun way to revitalize the series, and the happy ending of Team Rocket blasting off together is just one of this episode's cute moments.
1 Battling The Enemy Within
This episode confirms that every problem and dispute in the Pokémon universe is solved with a Pokémon battle. Ash and his friends fall into the ancient ruins of the kingdom of Pokélantis, and Ash becomes possessed by an undead king.
Ash's transformation into what fans have dubbed 'Evil Ash' is perhaps the most fun moment of the entire series, especially as 'Evil Ash' is ultimately defeated in a Pokémon battle. This episode is worth a rewatch as it contains some brilliantly funny lines of dialogue, including "What? Ash has been possessed by the King of Pokélantis?"
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June 15, 2021 at 12:00AM
