IL063: The Battle of the Badge

Episode plot
The gang arrive in Viridian City. They find the gym where Ash is about to battle, just as Gary shows up bragging about having ten Badges. He enters the gym just for practice. Gary’s battle with the gym leader (also the leader of Team Rocket) Giovanni is quite easy, winning against Giovanni’s Golem and Kingler with his Nidoking and Arcanine. Then, Giovanni decides to bring out a new Pokémon. Gary is defenseless against it, as it brings chaos to the whole gym. Meanwhile, Ash carelessly flings Togepi into the air, and it lands in Team Rocket’s lap. Jessie and James struggle to capture it, and they eventually present it to Giovanni only to find Giovanni only wants rare and powerful Pokémon and Togepi doesn’t fit the bill. Ash and the others search the city for Togepi, but to no avail. They hear Togepi in the gym and open the doors. They find Togepi, as well as an unconcious Gary. Gary is terrified, as he describes this new Pokémon as truly evil. Ash goes in to compete to be totally surprised to find the gym masters are Jessie and James, as Giovanni had to leave for an emergency. The battle is intense, as the trainer is electrically shocked as their Pokémon get hurt. The shocks bring Ash to his knees just as he sends out Pidgeotto, who beats Jessie’s Pokémon, shocking her. Meowth has a control panel to blow up the opponents’ side of the playing field, but Gary bursts in to stop him. The match finishes and Ash wins. Jessie is completely fried. Then, Togepi decides to play with the explosion controller, and accidentally sends Jessie and James flying. Gary’s cheerleaders do a cheer for Ash. Then, the group continue along. Realizing that Ash doesn’t know where the Pokémon League is, they decide to head back to Pallet Town to ask Professor Oak and visit home.

Debuts

 * Nidoking
 * Gary's Arcanine
 * Mewtwo (In Armor)

Trivia

 * Giovanni finally steps out of the shadows

Links
Watch this and other episodes: