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Every season of the Pokemon anime has at least a handful of episodes re-watching, and some can be watched on the Pokemon TV app. The service rotates episodes regularly, so there is often something new (and old) for fans to check out. Be they old, new, or somewhere in the middle, here are some of the best episodes on Pokemon TV.
Updated on February 2, 2022 by Mark Sammut: Pokemon TV is awesome as it provides access to hundreds of episodes from across the anime’s run. The app generally prioritizes recent seasons like Sun & Moon and Journeys, although fans of the classics also have their picks. For example, the service recently added a few episodes revolving around Hisui Pokemon in celebration of Legends: Arceus’ release, all of which can be streamed until February 11, 2022. In celebration of Pokemon’s longevity, a few more of the anime’s best episodes to revisit have been added to this article, along with each chapter’s season and episode number.
10 Rescuing the Unwilling!
After Lusamine is captured by Ultra Beasts, Ash, Lillie, and the rest of the gang head into the Ultra Wormhole to save her. With an Ultra Beast controlling her mind, the gang must fight off Lusamine and her party to free her.
This is a great episode for Lillie’s character development and keeps viewers glued to the screen with its high stakes. The issues with Lusamine don’t get resolved until the next episode, but this stands out as the stronger of the two.
9 Pokemon Emergency
Generally, most of the earliest Pokemon episodes are worth revisiting as they introduce tropes that would become staples of the franchise for pretty much ever. If someone grew up with the show, these chapters should hold a lot of nostalgic value.
“Pokemon Emergency"is notable for one specific thing: Team Rocket’s debut. While companions might come and go, Ash just cannot seem to escape Jesse, James, and Meowth. The trio of bumbling villains are often the best part of most episodes, and they even come across as slightly threatening in their introductory story.
8 Charmander: The Stray Pokemon
When the group discovers an injured Charmander abandoned by the road, they try and fail to coerce the Pokemon to follow them. A sudden rainstorm puts Charmander’s life in danger, but his trainer couldn’t care less. It’s then up to Ash, Brock, and Misty to venture out into the storm and save the little Fire-type.
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Charmander would go on to join Ash’s party and become one of his most iconic Pokemon. This is one of the earliest anime episodes, with the tragedy of Charmander’s situation making it one that’s hard to forget.
7 Pikachu’s Goodbye
Ash’s relationship with his Pikachu is what made the anime such a great experience early on in its run. The idea of Pikachu leaving the party might seem ridiculous now, but in the early series, it very nearly happened.
After Pikachu bonds with a group of wild Pikachu, Ash decides that it’d be happier living with its own kind. Ash tries to release his companion, making for one of the most emotional moments of the regular series. Thankfully, Pikachu quickly returned to where it wanted to be and has been by Ash’s side ever since.
6 Here Comes the Squirtle Squad
Squirtle might’ve not been by Ash’s side for long, but it was still a treat to see the Gen I Water-type starter play a role in the show. The anime added a lot of character to it with the introduction of the Squirtle Squad.
The mischievous group of starters make an instant impression. With Team Rocket scheming and Pikachu’s life in danger, this early anime episode stood out as one of the best the original series had to offer.
5 Enter The Champion!
The Alola Pokemon League final pits Ash and Gladion against one another. After Pikachu and Zoroark put on an explosive display, the two trainers send out their Lycanroc for the final round. A hard-fought battle leads to Ash’s very first league championship win, standing out as a historic moment in the series.
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The biggest knock against Ash throughout the anime has been his track record in battle. The lack of any championships under his belt always stood out. Seeing him finally get one after so many years was great to watch and can be enjoyed any time you see it.
4 Volcanic Panic
Ash and Charizard’s relationship got off to a rocky start, with the latter generally refusing to follow his Trainer’s instructions. It would take a long while before that started to change, but that does not mean Charizard did not prove his value before that point.
“Volcanic Panic"is all about the battle between Ash’s Charizard and Blaine’s Magmar, an encounter that happens surrounded by lava. One of the high points of season 2, aka Pokemon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, “Volcanic Panic"has good animation, a stellar central fight, and even some decent comedy. This is one of the best Pokemon episodes.
3 One Journey Ends, Another Begins…
The Pokemon anime has never been afraid to deal with somber themes, and this episode from the Alola anime certainly left a huge impression on viewers. The episode sees Litten deal with the death of Stoutland, with Ash and Meowth trying to console the grieving Pokemon.
This proved to be a fairly well-done episode, dealing with some things that fans aren’t used to seeing from the Pokemon anime. It might not be the most joyful episode, but it’s certainly memorable.
2 Bye Bye Butterfree
Pokemon can be an absolute tearjerker when it wants to be, as a number of episodes in this article showcase. “Bye Bye Butterfree” was the first to illustrate this side of the anime, and it set a standard that few subsequent episodes have been able to match.
Ash has to let go of his Butterfree, marking the Trainer’s first experience with losing a Pokemon. Narratively, this is an important character-building moment for Ash; thematically, this episode tackles loss and grief in a way that can speak to children. Also, people who grew up playing the Game Boy games might be able to relate to Ash’s decision to free Butterfree.
1 Alola, Kanto!
A school trip sends Ash and his Alola classmates to the Kanto region. Much to Ash’s surprise, Brock and Misty end up joining in on the fun. When Team Rocket goes on the attack, the original trio once again band together and sends them flying.
Seeing Brock and Misty return in Sun & Moon was great for longtime fans. The episode might’ve not had as much fan service for newer fans, but will light up any series veteran’s day.
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