8.5/102,020 votes#1 - Pokémon - I Choose You!
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/1/1997
Meet Ash Ketchum, a 10-year-old boy full of imagination, confidence, and dreams that are almost too big for his village of Pallet Town—plus the desire to become a Pokémon Master!
Director: Masamitsu Hidaka
Writer: Takeshi Shudo
7.5/101,274 votes#2 - Pokémon Emergency!
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 4/8/1997
Ash rushes into Viridian City with his gravely wounded Pikachu. The city's on high alert for Pokémon thieves-thieves like Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket, a group of bad guys dedicated to stealing valuable Pokémon.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/101,194 votes#3 - Ash Catches a Pokémon
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 4/15/1997
Ash discovers and catches a Caterpie—his first Pokémon capture! Though Ash is excited, Misty is grossed out by Bug-type Pokémon, so she is repulsed by its attempts to be friends with her. At night, as Ash and Misty sleep, Caterpie shares with Pikachu its dream of evolving into a Butterfree.
Director: Yuji Asada
Writer: N/A
7.1/101,073 votes#4 - Challenge of the Samurai
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 4/22/1997
Misty and Ash continue to wander the Viridian Forest when they spot a Weedle. As Ash battles it, he's distracted by a boy dressed as a samurai and calling himself (naturally) Samurai. Samurai challenges Ash to a battle, and Ash gets the advantage when his Metapod defends itself against Samurai's Pinsir. Samurai sends out his own Metapod—and a standoff begins.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/101,068 votes#5 - Showdown in Pewter City
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 4/29/1997
Jessie, James, and Meowth dig a trap for our heroes, but they end up falling into it themselves! Ash and Misty arrive at Pewter City and meet a curious fellow named Flint, who notices that Pikachu is tired and shows them the way to the Pokémon Center.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.0/10958 votes#6 - Clefairy and the Moon Stone
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 5/6/1997
Will Team Rocket steal the Moon Stone? Are there other Clefairy lurking about, and do they carry Moon Stones, too? And is the legend of the Moon Stone true?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10928 votes#7 - The Water Flowers of Cerulean City
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 5/13/1997
Ash seeks the Cascade badge in Cerulean City—but for some reason, Misty doesn't want to join them. When Ash and Brock show up, the city is buzzing about a break-in that just took place—and are initially accused of the crime!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10887 votes#8 - The Path to the Pokémon League
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 5/20/1997
On the way to Vermillion City, Ash meets AJ, a Gym Leader at an unsanctioned Gym who has 98 wins and zero losses. They battle, and Ash is surprised that AJ's Ground-type Sandshrew can easily beat his Flying-type Pokémon.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/10856 votes#9 - The School of Hard Knocks
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 5/27/1997
While searching for firewood in the foggy woods, Ash and Pikachu discover a bunch of prep-school kids bullying a classmate named Joe.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/10897 votes#10 - Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 6/3/1997
Ash and Misty, while arguing, discover an Oddish. As Misty's Starmie weakens the Oddish, a Bulbasaur appears and fights Starmie while the Oddish runs off into the woods.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.4/101,029 votes#11 - Charmander - The Stray Pokémon
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 6/10/1997
Our friends, lost, discover an injured Charmander. Pikachu talks to it and learns that it's been waiting a long time for its trainer to return.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.9/10885 votes#12 - Here Comes the Squirtle Squad
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 6/17/1997
Ash and his friends walk along a path and fall into a hole dug by a batch of mischievous Squirtle. Ash climbs out and tries to battle them, but they scatter when Officer Jenny arrives.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10824 votes#13 - Mystery at the Lighthouse
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 6/24/1997
A tremendously large shadow begins to take form in the sea mists, but this possible discovery could be hindered due to the infamous Team Rocket lurking in the background cooking up another one of their schemes.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/10897 votes#14 - Electric Shock Showdown
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 7/1/1997
Our heroes finally reach Vermillion City, and they discover that the Pokémon Center is filled with Pokémon hurt during battles with Lt. Surge, the Vermillion City Gym Leader.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/10796 votes#15 - Battle Aboard the St. Anne
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 7/8/1997
Ash and his friends board a fancy cruise ship called the St. Anne, thanks to tickets provided by two friendly but familiar-looking people. We soon learn that they're actually Jessie and James in disguise!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/10791 votes#16 - Pokémon Shipwreck
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 7/15/1997
The St. Anne has capsized and sunk with Ash, the gang, and Team Rocket trapped inside. Now, both sides must put aside their differences in order to escape.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.8/10841 votes#17 - Island of the Giant Pokémon
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 7/22/1997
As our heroes and Team Rocket beat the odds by surviving the sinking ship, they are dragged into another potentially deadly situation when they are attacked by the ferocious Pokémon, Gyarados.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.7/10630 votes#18 - Beauty and the Beach
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 7/29/1997
Ash and his friends have finally arrived in Porta Vista, a beach-side tourist town. After destroying an old man's ship, they must help in the old man's business. To attempt to pay the man back faster, Misty enters a beauty contest, only to discover she is competing against Jessie and James.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/10736 votes#19 - Tentacool & Tentacruel
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 8/5/1997
Our heroes arrive at Hutber Port, where a ferryboat line runs to the mainland.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/10761 votes#20 - The Ghost of Maiden's Peak
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 8/12/1997
After leaving Acapulco in search of Saffron City, our heroes finally arrive at a small port town in the middle of celebrating a summer festival.
Director: N/A
Writer: Takeshi Shudo
8.2/10932 votes#21 - Bye Bye Butterfree
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 8/19/1997
When the party sees a flock of Butterfree flying above the ocean, Brock, as a Pokémon breeder, explains that it is the Butterfree's egg-laying season.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/10767 votes#22 - Abra and the Psychic Showdown
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 8/26/1997
The party finally arrives in Saffron City where a young girl manages a gym of Pokémon using her psychic powers. If Ash defeats this particular Gym Leader, Ash can earn a gold badge.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
8.0/10793 votes#23 - The Tower of Terror
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 9/2/1997
In search of a ghost Pokémon, Ash heads immediately for a tower in Lavender Town where they are said to dwell.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/10740 votes#24 - Haunter Versus Kadabra
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 9/9/1997
Unbenownst to Ash, one of the ghost Pokémon decides to join Ash and friends on their journey and more importantly help Ash battle the powerful Saffron City Gym Leader.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.4/10683 votes#25 - Primeape Goes Bananas
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 9/16/1997
On their way to Celadon City, our heroes encounter Mankey, a wild Pokémon that if rubbed the wrong way can go into uncontrollable fits. Not realizing its unpredictability, the party accidentally upsets Mankey.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Pokémon Season 1
Every episode of Pokémon Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Pokémon Season 1!
Join Ash accompanied by his partner Pikachu, as he travels through many regions, meets new friends and faces new challenges on his quest to become...
Genres:AnimationAction & AdventureSci-Fi & Fantasy
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pokémon - I Choose You!" is the best rated episode of "Pokémon" season 1. It scored 8.5/10 based on 2020 votes. Directed by Masamitsu Hidaka and written by Takeshi Shudo, it aired on 4/1/1997. This episode is rated 1.0 points higher than the second-best, "Pokémon Emergency!".