Note: Do not labile headers of this Page as Bad Qualities/Good Qualities and the Category Segment as an Average Media, this episode has been clearly hated as many fans, even to some hard-core fans.
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Even the original classic of a well-beloved Anime series are not safe from having such nasty and cruel Gym Battles.
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Showdown in Pewter City(also known as ニビジムのたたかい in Japan and Pewter Gym Battle in Hepburn) is an episode from Pokémon the Series and it first aired in April 29, 1997 in Japan and in September 14, 1998 in United States. It is the fifth episode of Pokémon: Indigo League and is the fifth episode in the overall Pokémon the Series.
Pilot
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.
At the Pokémon Center, Ash reads a poster promoting the Pokémon League Regional Championships—to compete, you have to beat gym leaders from various towns and win their badges. Ash challenges the Pewter City Gym Leader, Brock, but even a healed Pikachu has no chance against Brock's Rock-type Pokémon. Later, Flint shows Ash a surprising side of Brock—when he's not battling and raising Pokémon, he has to take care of his ten brothers and sisters.
Will this news affect Ash's desire to battle Brock again for the Rock Badge? Who is this Flint guy, and why does he insist on helping Ash train Pikachu for the rematch? And will Team Rocket ever climb out of that hole?
Why It's Not Rock-Solid
- This episode is beyond infamous for being extremely mean-spirited and very un-plesent, due to the amount of torment that both Ash and his Pikachu goes thought.
- In addition to that, this is an extremely cruel Pikachu Torturer episode.
- When compare to the previous episodes, this episode's pacing is far slower.
- Ash's battle against Brock is horribly done. It is very cruel and very SUPER one-sided, Onix always has the upper-hand and when it looks like Ash's Pikachu has the advantage, he still on the verge of losing.
- There is a noticeable plot-hole that is never explain: Why does 'no one(such as Misty) just tell Ash that Rock-type Pokémon are weak to Water-type Pokémon and that he should get a Water-Type Pokémon?
- This episode could have had Ash get an all new team member that would be a signature character to the series, making this it also a humongous missed opportunity.
- Despite appearing in this episode, Misty does not do anything major other then be filler.
- The scenes in which Onix strangles Pikachu with Bind are very cruel and hard to watch and could very much upset kids.
- The infamous moment in which right before Ash had the upper hand, Brock's siblings restrained and call off Ash that he's being a bully by beating Onix, which cause Ash to stop the match and leave, this is perhaps one of the infamous moments in this episode and is possible the biggest reasons as to why fans hate this episode, not only does this feel shoe-horned in at the last moment, but this scene also makes Ash look like he's in the wrong for something out of his control, not to mention, it feels extremely hypocritical for Brock's siblings to call off Ash for "being mean to Onix" and yet not call of Brock when his Onix is... you know... strangling Pikachu to the point that it could pass-out.
- They also never get punish for how they treat Ash, making them Karma Houdinis.
- Poor ending: Misty yells at Ash to not forget about her bike. Ash and Pikachu, followed by Brock, run ahead to lose Misty, though she remains in pursuit and chase after them.
- This episode starts Ash's Gym Battle on a very bitter note, and this trend of Ash losing to the first Gym Leaders would be repeated in the third and fifth seasons.
- It also sets the infamous Kanto trend of "pity Badges", which will be repeated for Daisy, Sabrina, and Erika.
Redeeming Qualities
- Ash and Pikachu are still likable characters.
- This episode does introduced the character of Brock, who would become a signature character to the series.
- Adding in to that, despite how harsh he is, Brock is a likable and relatable character as he does have Onix stop using Bind on Ash's Pikachu as he knows that Pikachu would pass out.
- Ash does still get the Badge despite not properly beating Brock.
- The twist in which Flint, the mysterious man who was helping Ash, is relived to be Brock's Father is well-handled.
- Depending on some people's views, Ash's battle with Brock could be considered slightly better then Ash battle with Sabrina, another infamous battle from "Haunter vs. Kadabra", nineteen episodes later.
Reception
While having more positive reviews then negative reviews, "Showdown in Pewter City" has been universal hated and has been critically panned by fans and critics alike, with many pointing out the amount of cruel tourter that Ash's Pikachu goes though, Ash's battle with Brock has also been deemed by many fans as second worst battles in the Kanto-Era of Pokémon the Series, only beaten by Ash's battle with Sabrina.