Pokemon S1E3 – Ash Catches a Pokémon
“Ash Catches a Pokémon” is the first episode where we really start to see Ash becoming the Pokémon Trainer he set out to be.
The episode begins with Ash battling a Caterpie in Viridian Forest, and after successfully catching it, he has officially added his first Pokémon to his team. Until this point, Pikachu has essentially been Ash’s entire team, so seeing him begin to build a collection of Pokémon is an important step in his journey.
Caterpie is also a great choice for Ash’s first catch. It’s small, relatively inexperienced, and certainly not an intimidating powerhouse. It reinforces the idea that Ash is starting at the bottom and has a lot to learn. His team isn’t going to magically appear fully formed. He’s going to have to build it one Pokémon at a time.
Misty gets some good character development in this episode as well. We learn that she has a serious fear of Bug-type Pokémon, which makes Ash’s decision to catch Caterpie particularly unfortunate for her. It’s a simple character trait, but it helps flesh Misty out beyond being the girl chasing Ash because he destroyed her bicycle.
We’re also beginning to see Misty become more invested in Ash’s journey. She starts giving him advice about how to become a better Trainer, although Ash isn’t exactly eager to listen. Their dynamic is already starting to take shape: Misty often has useful advice, while Ash is determined to do things his own way.
Meanwhile, Ash and Pikachu’s relationship continues to develop. The hostility from their first meeting has largely disappeared, and they’re increasingly acting like genuine partners. It’s nice seeing that relationship evolve naturally rather than having everything fixed instantly after the first episode.
Then there’s Team Rocket.
Jessie, James, and Meowth attack Ash, giving him his first real Trainer-versus-Trainer battle. After their introduction in the previous episode, it’s great to see them immediately become part of Ash’s ongoing adventure. Team Rocket is already proving to be more than a one-off obstacle, and their larger role in the series is beginning to take shape.
They’re also already becoming one of the most entertaining parts of the show. Jessie, James, and Meowth are certainly among my favorite bad-guy teams in television, and this episode is another step toward establishing the trio that will become such an iconic part of Pokémon.
After Ash defeats Team Rocket, Caterpie begins evolving into Metapod. It’s another important moment for Ash’s growing team and shows that his Pokémon aren’t simply static characters. They’re going to grow and change alongside him.
The ending is also a nice touch. Despite winning the battle and watching his Pokémon evolve, Ash still has doubts about himself. Rather than letting those doubts stop him, he runs off into the forest toward whatever adventure comes next.
That feels appropriate for the series at this point. Ash doesn’t have everything figured out. He’s still inexperienced, stubborn, and occasionally clueless, but he’s moving forward.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this episode immensely.
It isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but it accomplishes several important things for the early series. Ash catches his first Pokémon, Misty gets more characterization, Ash and Pikachu’s friendship continues to develop, Team Rocket becomes a recurring threat, and Ash takes another step toward becoming the Pokémon Trainer he wants to be.
More importantly, the episode begins showing us the journey rather than simply telling us about it. Ash’s team is starting to grow, his relationships are developing, and he’s gaining experience one adventure at a time.
The Pokémon journey is officially underway.
