The Best Episodes of Pokémon Season 1

#1 Fan Favorite
8.5/10(2710 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
8.4/10(1385 votes)
#2 - 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
8.3/10(761 votes)
#3 - Volcanic Panic (2)
S1:E598/20/1998
Ash continues his quest to attain his Volcano Badge once he finally locates the gym that is suspended above a pool of molten lava!
Director:Yuji Asada
Writer:Junki Takegami
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Director:Yuji Asada
Writer:Junki Takegami
8.2/10(1250 votes)
#4 - 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
8.1/10(1213 votes)
#5 - 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
8.1/10(834 votes)
#6 - Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon
S1:E465/28/1998
Our heroes approach Grampa Canyon, famous for the beautiful scenery of its valley. As they approach, however, they find wave upon wave of people also heading for Grampa Canyon.
Director:Osamu Inoue
Writer:Junki Takegami
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Director:Osamu Inoue
Writer:Junki Takegami

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8.0/10(1058 votes)
#7 - 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
8.0/10(924 votes)
#8 - Pikachu's Goodbye
S1:E394/16/1998
Ash and the others discover a group of wild Pikachu in a secluded area of the woods. How will Pikachu feel seeing others of its kind in the wild?
Director:Kiyotaka Isako
Writer:Shinzo Fujita
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Director:Kiyotaka Isako
Writer:Shinzo Fujita
7.9/10(1207 votes)
#9 - 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
7.9/10(637 votes)
#10 - The Battle of the Badge
S1:E639/17/1998
Ash and friends finally make their way to Viridian City where Ash hopes to earn his Earth Badge.
Director:Shigeru Omachi
Writer:Hideki Sonoda
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Director:Shigeru Omachi
Writer:Hideki Sonoda
7.9/10(603 votes)
#11 - Round One - Begin!
S1:E7712/17/1998
Ash enters his first match of the tournament on the water field against Mandi the Astounding. During the battle against Mandi's Exeggutor, Ash's Krabby evolves into Kingler, who he then uses against Mandy's remaining Seadra and Golbat, winning the match and moving onto the next preliminary round.
Director:Shigeru Omachi
Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
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Director:Shigeru Omachi
Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.9/10(598 votes)
#12 - The Fourth Round Rumble
S1:E791/1/1999
In the 4th round, Ash faces a trainer named Jeanette, who uses a Beedrill, a Scyther, and a Bellsprout. The match ends with Ash victorious, and he moves on to the 5th round, becoming one of the final sixteen members of the tournament.
Director:Yuji Asada
Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
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Director:Yuji Asada
Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
7.8/10(1134 votes)
#13 - 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
7.8/10(1025 votes)
#14 - 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
7.8/10(723 votes)
#15 - Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden
S1:E517/2/1998
After Bulbasaur's bulb begins to emit an odd glow, a nurse runs some tests and discovers that Bulbasaur isn't sick: It's getting ready to evolve!
Director:Yuji Asada
Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
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Director:Yuji Asada
Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
7.8/10(669 votes)
#16 - Go West Young Meowth
S1:E7211/12/1998
Ash and his friends go to Hollywood (although only a small nearby town) to see the premiere of the movie their Pokémon were cast in. Team Rocket follows them to find out that Meowth has history in this town; It is here where he was a member of a gang of street Meowths led by the Persian. He learned to speak and walk upright to win the heart of a female Meowth who was abandoned by her owner. Upon returning, he challenges Persian who was once his mentor for the female Meowth he thought he lost years before.
Director:Toshiaki Suzuki
Writer:Takeshi Shudo
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Director:Toshiaki Suzuki
Writer:Takeshi Shudo
7.7/10(1635 votes)
#17 - 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
7.7/10(1462 votes)
#18 - 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
7.7/10(1230 votes)
#19 - 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
7.7/10(471 votes)
#20 - Snow Way Out!
S1:E6610/5/1998
Pikachu is lost in a snowy mountain forest! Can Ash and the gang stay warm while tracking down their missing pal?
Director:Osamu Inoue
Writer:Shouji Yonemura
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Director:Osamu Inoue
Writer:Shouji Yonemura
7.6/10(1076 votes)
#21 - 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
7.6/10(815 votes)
#22 - Ditto's Mysterious Mansion
S1:E3712/9/1997
Our heroes take shelter in a cabin that turns out to be the Copycat House of a trainer who has a Pikachu that is a Ditto, the Transform Pokémon.
Director:Kiyotaka Isako
Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
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Director:Kiyotaka Isako
Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.6/10(780 votes)
#23 - Holy Matrimony!
S1:E486/11/1998
As our heroes pass the entrance to a small village, they stop in front of a strange sign.
Director:Koji Ogawa
Writer:Junki Takegami
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Director:Koji Ogawa
Writer:Junki Takegami
7.6/10(683 votes)
#24 - The Ultimate Test
S1:E567/30/1998
Ash signs up to take an exam to be admitted to the Pokémon League.
Director:Osamu Inoue
Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
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Director:Osamu Inoue
Writer:Atsuhiro Tomioka
7.6/10(647 votes)
#25 - Riddle Me This (1)
S1:E588/13/1998
Ash, Brock and Misty travel to Cinnabar Island where Ash hopes to win his Volcano Badge.
Director:Shigeru Omachi
Writer:Junki Takegami
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Director:Shigeru Omachi
Writer:Junki Takegami