The Best Episodes of Pokémon Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.5/10(2674 votes)

   #1 - Pokémon - I Choose You!

   S1:E14/1/1997

   Ash Ketchum, a 10-year-old from Pallet Town, is finally old enough to receive his first Pokémon! However, he oversleeps, and the only remaining Pokémon at Professor Oak's lab is a strong-willed Pikachu!

   Director:Toshiaki Suzuki

   Writer:Takeshi Shudo

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   Director:Toshiaki Suzuki

   Writer:Takeshi Shudo
2. 

   7.5/10(1731 votes)

   #2 - Pokémon Emergency!

   S1:E24/8/1997

   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:Osamu Inoue

   Writer:Takeshi Shudo

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   Director:Osamu Inoue

   Writer:Takeshi Shudo
3. 

   7.7/10(1611 votes)

   #3 - Ash Catches a Pokémon

   S1:E34/15/1997

   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:Atsuhiro Tomioka

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   Director:Yuji Asada

   Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
4. 

   7.1/10(1468 votes)

   #4 - Challenge of the Samurai

   S1:E44/22/1997

   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:Minoru Ohara

   Writer:Hideki Sonoda

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   Director:Minoru Ohara

   Writer:Hideki Sonoda
5. 

   7.7/10(1446 votes)

   #5 - Showdown in Pewter City

   S1:E54/29/1997

   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:Kiyotaka Isako

   Writer:Junki Takegami

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   Director:Kiyotaka Isako

   Writer:Junki Takegami
6. 

   7.0/10(1308 votes)

   #6 - Clefairy and the Moon Stone

   S1:E65/6/1997

   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:Yuji Asada

   Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka

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   Director:Yuji Asada

   Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
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7. 

   7.3/10(1265 votes)

   #7 - The Water Flowers of Cerulean City

   S1:E75/13/1997

   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:Osamu Inoue

   Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi

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   Director:Osamu Inoue

   Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
8. 

   7.2/10(1203 votes)

   #8 - The Path to the Pokémon League

   S1:E85/20/1997

   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:Toshiaki Suzuki

   Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka

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   Director:Toshiaki Suzuki

   Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
9. 

   7.0/10(1164 votes)

   #9 - The School of Hard Knocks

   S1:E95/27/1997

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

   Director:Yuji Asada

   Writer:Takeshi Shudo

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   Director:Yuji Asada

   Writer:Takeshi Shudo
10. 

    7.7/10(1215 votes)

    #10 - Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village

    S1:E106/3/1997

    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:Hideki Hiroshima

    Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi

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    Director:Hideki Hiroshima

    Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
11. 

    8.4/10(1367 votes)

    #11 - Charmander - The Stray Pokémon

    S1:E116/10/1997

    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:Kiyotaka Isako

    Writer:Junki Takegami

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    Director:Kiyotaka Isako

    Writer:Junki Takegami
12. 

    7.9/10(1189 votes)

    #12 - Here Comes the Squirtle Squad

    S1:E126/17/1997

    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:Toshiaki Suzuki

    Writer:Hideki Sonoda

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    Director:Toshiaki Suzuki

    Writer:Hideki Sonoda
13. 

    7.2/10(1110 votes)

    #13 - Mystery at the Lighthouse

    S1:E136/24/1997

    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:Hideki Hiroshima

    Writer:Takeshi Shudo

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    Director:Hideki Hiroshima

    Writer:Takeshi Shudo
14. 

    8.1/10(1196 votes)

    #14 - Electric Shock Showdown

    S1:E147/1/1997

    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:Masamitsu Hidaka

    Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka

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    Director:Masamitsu Hidaka

    Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
15. 

    7.4/10(1067 votes)

    #15 - Battle Aboard the St. Anne

    S1:E157/8/1997

    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:Yuji Asada

    Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi

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    Director:Yuji Asada

    Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
16. 

    7.6/10(1063 votes)

    #16 - Pokémon Shipwreck

    S1:E167/15/1997

    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:Osamu Inoue

    Writer:Junki Takegami

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    Director:Osamu Inoue

    Writer:Junki Takegami
17. 

    7.8/10(1123 votes)

    #17 - Island of the Giant Pokémon

    S1:E177/22/1997

    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:Yukio Okazaki

    Writer:Takeshi Shudo

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    Director:Yukio Okazaki

    Writer:Takeshi Shudo
18. 

    6.6/10(840 votes)

    #18 - Beauty and the Beach

    S1:E187/29/1997

    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:Toshiaki Suzuki

    Writer:Hideki Sonoda

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    Director:Toshiaki Suzuki

    Writer:Hideki Sonoda
19. 

    7.1/10(979 votes)

    #19 - Tentacool & Tentacruel

    S1:E198/5/1997

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

    Director:Shigeru Omachi

    Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka

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    Director:Shigeru Omachi

    Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
20. 

    7.3/10(1015 votes)

    #20 - The Ghost of Maiden's Peak

    S1:E208/12/1997

    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:Kiyotaka Isako

    Writer:Takeshi Shudo

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    Director:Kiyotaka Isako

    Writer:Takeshi Shudo
21. 

    8.2/10(1231 votes)

    #21 - Bye Bye Butterfree

    S1:E218/19/1997

    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:Yuji Asada

    Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi

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    Director:Yuji Asada

    Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
22. 

    7.8/10(1012 votes)

    #22 - Abra and the Psychic Showdown

    S1:E228/26/1997

    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:Osamu Inoue

    Writer:Junki Takegami

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    Director:Osamu Inoue

    Writer:Junki Takegami
23. 

    8.0/10(1045 votes)

    #23 - The Tower of Terror

    S1:E239/2/1997

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

    Director:Toshiaki Suzuki

    Writer:Hideki Sonoda

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    Director:Toshiaki Suzuki

    Writer:Hideki Sonoda
24. 

    7.5/10(973 votes)

    #24 - Haunter Versus Kadabra

    S1:E249/9/1997

    Unbeknownst 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:Yoshihiro Oda

    Writer:Junki Takegami

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    Director:Yoshihiro Oda

    Writer:Junki Takegami
25. 

    7.3/10(900 votes)

    #25 - Primeape Goes Bananas

    S1:E259/16/1997

    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:Shigeru Omachi

    Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka

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    Director:Shigeru Omachi

    Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka