Pokémon S1E5: “Showdown in Pewter City” Review
“Showdown in Pewter City” is a very good episode and a significant step forward for Ash. For the first time, I feel like we’re really beginning to see him learn what being a Pokémon Trainer means rather than simply stumbling from one adventure into another.
Ash arrives in Pewter City ready to earn his first Pokémon League badge and challenges the local Gym Leader, Brock. Brock is immediately established as a talented and formidable Trainer, and Ash quickly discovers that wanting to become a Pokémon Master doesn’t mean he’s remotely prepared to defeat a Gym Leader.
Ash loses his first battle against Brock, but his reaction to that loss is one of the most interesting parts of the episode. Initially, Ash seems willing to accept the possibility that he simply isn’t a very good Trainer. Eventually, though, he decides that instead of giving up, he needs to push himself harder.
That’s genuine progress for Ash.
He’s certainly nowhere near becoming a great Trainer yet, and his continued refusal to listen to Misty demonstrates that. Misty is clearly more knowledgeable and experienced than Ash, and she even offers to help him with Brock. Ash refuses, although it’s difficult to tell whether that’s because of pride, his desire to succeed independently, or simply the argumentative relationship the two still have.
Their dynamic continues to be one of the more interesting parts of these early episodes.
Ash instead gets help from Flint, the mysterious rock salesman he meets in Pewter City. Flint initially seems like an eccentric side character, but he becomes considerably more important as we learn about Brock’s home life.
Brock isn’t simply the intimidating Gym Leader we initially encounter. He’s effectively become a father figure to his ten younger siblings after their mother died and their father abandoned the family. If I were seeing the episode for the first time without knowing Brock’s story beforehand, that revelation would drastically change how I viewed him. Suddenly, the tough Gym Leader has considerably more depth.
Flint’s eventual revelation that he is Brock’s missing father adds another layer to the story and ultimately gives Brock the opportunity to pursue his own ambitions.
The preparation for Ash’s rematch is a little more questionable.
Flint helps Pikachu increase his electrical power by hooking him up to a hydroelectric generator. Calling this “training” feels generous. It’s less Pikachu developing his abilities through practice and more like giving him the Electric-type Pokémon equivalent of steroids. It might provide a temporary power boost, but I’m not convinced it does anything to make Pikachu a better or stronger Pokémon in the long run.
The rematch itself gives us another important glimpse of Ash’s developing character. When the Gym’s sprinklers activate and weaken Brock’s Onix, Ash suddenly has an opportunity to win because of something completely unrelated to his own abilities.
Instead, Ash stops.
He doesn’t believe defeating Onix under those circumstances would constitute a fair victory, and he’s unwilling to continue attacking just to claim the badge. It’s one of Ash’s strongest character moments so far. He’s desperate to become a Pokémon Master, but he’s beginning to understand that how he succeeds matters too.
Brock ultimately gives Ash the Boulder Badge anyway.
It admittedly feels a little like a gimme. Ash didn’t conclusively defeat Brock in a normal Gym battle, so I wouldn’t call it a clean victory. However, the badge represents something besides simply winning. Ash earned Brock’s respect, particularly through the compassion he demonstrated toward Pokémon.
That’s arguably more important to the story than whether Pikachu technically defeated Onix.
The episode ends with another major development: Brock joins Ash and Misty on their journey. With Flint finally returning to take responsibility for his children, Brock is free to leave Pewter City and pursue his own dream of becoming a Pokémon Breeder.
I’m not entirely sure whether Brock joining the group feels completely natural or somewhat rushed, but it gives us the beginnings of the core traveling group that will carry the series forward.
My biggest disappointment is Team Rocket.
Jessie, James, and Meowth are among my favorite television villains, but they’re essentially written out of this episode. They appear near the beginning while preparing a trap for Ash, promptly fall into their own trap, and remain stuck there while practically the entire episode happens without them.
It’s funny, but I would have liked to see more of them.
Final Thoughts
“Showdown in Pewter City” is easily a stronger episode for me than “Challenge of the Samurai.”
Brock gets an excellent introduction that quickly transforms him from an intimidating Gym Leader into a surprisingly complex character. Misty continues demonstrating that she’s considerably more knowledgeable than Ash, even if he stubbornly refuses to listen to her. And Ash finally begins showing signs of genuine development as a Trainer.
His first badge may have been something of a gimme, but the reason Brock gives it to him matters. Ash hasn’t proven himself to be an exceptional Pokémon Trainer yet.
He’s starting to prove that he might eventually become one.
And five episodes into the journey, that’s meaningful progress.
