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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!

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...
  1. Background image for Pokémon - I Choose You!
    8.5/10(2.2k votes)

    #1 - Pokémon - I Choose You!

    S1:E1

    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!

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  2. Background image for Pokémon Emergency!
    7.5/10(1.4k votes)

    #2 - Pokémon Emergency!

    S1:E2

    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:Osamu Inoue
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  3. Background image for Ash Catches a Pokémon
    7.7/10(1.3k votes)

    #3 - Ash Catches a Pokémon

    S1:E3

    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.

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  4. Background image for Challenge of the Samurai
    7.1/10(1.2k votes)

    #4 - Challenge of the Samurai

    S1:E4

    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.

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  5. Background image for Showdown in Pewter City
    7.6/10(1.2k votes)

    #5 - Showdown in Pewter City

    S1:E5

    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.

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  6. Background image for Clefairy and the Moon Stone
    7.0/10(1.1k votes)

    #6 - Clefairy and the Moon Stone

    S1:E6

    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?

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  8. Background image for The Water Flowers of Cerulean City
    7.3/10(1.0k votes)

    #7 - The Water Flowers of Cerulean City

    S1:E7

    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!

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  9. Background image for The Path to the Pokémon League
    7.2/10(1.0k votes)

    #8 - The Path to the Pokémon League

    S1:E8

    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.

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  10. Background image for The School of Hard Knocks
    7.1/10(969 votes)

    #9 - The School of Hard Knocks

    S1:E9

    While searching for firewood in the foggy woods, Ash and Pikachu discover a bunch of prep-school kids bullying a classmate named Joe.

    Director:Yuji Asada
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  11. Background image for Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village
    7.7/10(1.0k votes)

    #10 - Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village

    S1:E10

    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.

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  12. Background image for Charmander - The Stray Pokémon
    8.4/10(1.2k votes)

    #11 - Charmander - The Stray Pokémon

    S1:E11

    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.

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  13. Background image for Here Comes the Squirtle Squad
    7.8/10(998 votes)

    #12 - Here Comes the Squirtle Squad

    S1:E12

    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.

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  14. Background image for Mystery at the Lighthouse
    7.3/10(935 votes)

    #13 - Mystery at the Lighthouse

    S1:E13

    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.

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  15. Background image for Electric Shock Showdown
    8.1/10(1.0k votes)

    #14 - Electric Shock Showdown

    S1:E14

    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.

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  16. Background image for Battle Aboard the St. Anne
    7.4/10(908 votes)

    #15 - Battle Aboard the St. Anne

    S1:E15

    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!

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  17. Background image for Pokémon Shipwreck
    7.6/10(899 votes)

    #16 - Pokémon Shipwreck

    S1:E16

    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.

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  18. Background image for Island of the Giant Pokémon
    7.8/10(954 votes)

    #17 - Island of the Giant Pokémon

    S1:E17

    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.

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  19. Background image for Beauty and the Beach
    6.6/10(715 votes)

    #18 - Beauty and the Beach

    S1:E18

    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.

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  20. Background image for Tentacool & Tentacruel
    7.1/10(840 votes)

    #19 - Tentacool & Tentacruel

    S1:E19

    Our heroes arrive at Hutber Port, where a ferryboat line runs to the mainland.

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  21. Background image for The Ghost of Maiden's Peak
    7.3/10(878 votes)

    #20 - The Ghost of Maiden's Peak

    S1:E20

    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.

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  22. Background image for Bye Bye Butterfree
    8.2/10(1.1k votes)

    #21 - Bye Bye Butterfree

    S1:E21

    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.

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  23. Background image for Abra and the Psychic Showdown
    7.8/10(877 votes)

    #22 - Abra and the Psychic Showdown

    S1:E22

    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.

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  24. Background image for The Tower of Terror
    8.0/10(903 votes)

    #23 - The Tower of Terror

    S1:E23

    In search of a ghost Pokémon, Ash heads immediately for a tower in Lavender Town where they are said to dwell.

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  25. Background image for Haunter Versus Kadabra
    7.5/10(841 votes)

    #24 - Haunter Versus Kadabra

    S1:E24

    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.

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  26. Background image for Primeape Goes Bananas
    7.3/10(775 votes)

    #25 - Primeape Goes Bananas

    S1:E25

    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.

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pokémon - I Choose You!" is the best rated episode of "Pokémon" season 1. It scored 8.5/10 based on 2247 votes. Directed by Toshiaki Suzuki 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!".