ThePokémonanime is one of the longest-running and most successful anime series of all time, and it’s full of incredible episodes, from the original series all the way toPokémon Journeys. However, there are also some truly awful episodes scattered throughout, as is inevitable for a series of this length.
Pokémonhas been through many hands over the years, with dozens of different writers at various points. Even the eras of the anime that aren’t as well regarded by fans, likePokémon Black and White, have their fair share of good episodes. Sometimes, though, things just don’t come together like they should, or what seems like a good premise turns out to be rather dull in practice. At those times, the production schedule leaves no choice but to push on ahead anyway, and vow to do better next week. Whether it’s because they’re boring, confusing, or outright unwatchable, these are 10 of the worst episodes ofPokémon.
10Going for the Gold!
Series: Pokémon XY, Episode #22
While traveling in Kalos, Ash and friends head to a nearby aquarium to see some Water-type Pokémon. They soon learn that the manager of the aquarium is out back fishing, looking for a golden (shiny) Magikarp that has reportedly been seen in the area. He’s hoping to add it to the aquarium for all to enjoy, so Ash and friends agree to help him fish. They have no luck, but eventually pull in Team Rocket’s Magikarp sub, which has been painted gold for a surprise attack. Team Rocket inevitably fails, and Ash and friends move on with their journey, but they do get to see the real Magikarp before leaving.
It might surprise some fans to seeXYalready, as thatseason is often regarded asPokémon’s best. Even the best seasons can have a dull episode, though, and this certainly is boring.The bulk of the episode is just Ash and friends fishing and not catching anything, followed by the mandatory Team Rocket intrusion. It’s not horrible, but it’s far from entertaining, that’s for sure.
9Hocus Pokémon
Series: Pokémon the Original Series, Episode #241
While traveling the Johto region, Ash, Brock, and Misty encounter a young girl who claims to be a witch, capable of “Pokémon Magic.” She offers to cast a spell that will allow Ash to understand his Pokémon better, so they set about gathering the bizarre ingredients she needs for the spell. Eventually gathering these items, she casts the spell, andAsh is suddenly transformed into a Pikachu. Even the witch didn’t expect this to happen, and she has no recourse for Ash but to wait the spell out. The episode ends with Ash still a Pikachu.
The episode is mostly typical character-of-the-day material, but the inclusion of magic, which is never really mentioned again, makes this episode stand out as particularly weird, and makes no sense as part of thePokémonworld.Worse still, the episode absolutely squanders the potential of Ash becoming a Pikachu, since he just turns back in the next episode’s opening without any further addressing of what it was like.
8Pikachu’s Exciting Adventure!
Series: Pokémon Sun & Moon, Episode #126
When Ash suddenly disappears into the past with Torracat, his other Pokémon set out to find him. They set out on a wild adventure, or at least that’s what it’s supposed to be. Pikachu leads the team to the Ultra Guardians hideout, where they get help from Garchomp to search the skies. They end up at Mount Lanakila, then sled down the mountain into the ocean. Pikachu attempts to retrieve Ash’s hat, but gets into a fight with Crabrawler. Then, growing hungry, they try to obtain some berries, and just happen to be near where Ash reappears.
This episode focuses squarely on Ash’s Pokémon, which normally isn’t a bad thing. No humans appear besides Ash, and most of the episode is conducted with the narrator translating Pokémon speak, much to the chagrin of fans.It’s just a random sequence of events, and the Pokémon’s efforts amount to nothing, sinceAsh appears due to Celebi, not their searching.
7A Unova League Evolution!
Series: Pokémon Black and White, Episode #108
At the Unova Pokémon League tournament, Ash is against a young upstart by the name of Cameron. Cameron doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing; he hasn’t even brought six Pokémon to battle, as is generally required for these tournaments. Cameron gets lucky during the battle and his Riolu evolves, giving him a power advantage and allowing him to ultimately defeat Ash, costing him the conference. Cameron loses the next match almost immediately, making Ash look even worse by comparison.
Many fans absolutely hate this episode in general and Cameron in particular;Cameron was introduced late in the series, and is continually shown to be relatively incompetent for a Pokémon trainer.Having Ash lose to him was infuriating, especially since it was due to a lucky evolution. This is the only time Ash placed worse in a League tournament than his previous performance as well, adding further insult to injury.
6Pathways to Performance Partnering!
Series: Pokémon XY, Episode #50
While stopping for lunch, Clemont’s Chespin and Serena’s Pancham get into a fight, bumping into another trainer’s Pokémon. This other trainer turns out to be a competitor ina Pokémon Showcase like Serena, so the two decide to show each other their routines, hoping for feedback from Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie. The episode goes through both routines before Team Rocket appears, pretending to be choreographers and eventually stealing the Pokémon. They’re soon defeated by Pancham and Chespin working together, and the group says goodbye to their new friend.
Like the otherXYepisode, this one is mostly just boring.A significant amount of time is dedicated to the two doing their routines and getting feedback, which just isn’t that exciting to watch in practice form. Pancham and Chespin’s disagreement really only shows up in this one episode, so it’s not as if a long-running feud was solved. Adding on Team Rocket’s predictable intrusion, and there’s just nothing here of real value.
5For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll
Series: Pokémon the Original Series, Episode #227
Ash and friends hear a strange sound, and discover that the bells of Tin Tower have been stolen. Joining forces with gym leader Morty and Eusine, a researcher interested in Suicune. When Morty mentionsAsh saw Ho-Oh, Eusine becomes jealous, and when Ash says he saw Suicune, Eusine demands a fight. However, before they can battle, the city comes under attack by Bug-type Pokémon, who are upset at the bells being stolen. Of course, Team Rocket is responsible, and as soon as Ash and friends begin to confront them, Suicune appears. Suicune solves the problem for them, but then is challenged by Eusine, who scares it off.
This simply has too much going on for one episode, and the end result is a mess.Even Ash doesn’t understand why Eusine wants to fight him, and Eusine comes off looking very bad. The Bug Pokémon threat is tangentially connected to the missing bells in a way that doesn’t really make much sense, but mostly exists to raise the stakes.
4Xatu the Future
Series: Pokémon the Original Series, Episode #234
Ash and friends stumble across a small village which has, for centuries, been guided by the psychic visions of a flock of Xatu, interpreted by a specialist, who is now a girl named Calista. Calista is having problems, as people are losing faith in Xatu’s visions, while she believes they have foreseen an imminent disaster. Alarmed by the weather, she attempts to use meteorological skills to help, but to no avail. The flood she foresaw begins, and everyone must flee. Calista decides to become a real meteorologist, and that’s that.
This is another episode that’s largely just confusing. Calista’s goal of becoming a meteorologist comes out of nowhere, and seems at odds with how important she made Xatu’s predictions seem.The Xatu try to convince her that their predictions aren’t set in stone, but the flood happening seems to indicate that they should be trusted. It tries to have a happy ending, but when a village is flooded, how can it be happy?
3Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym!
Series: Pokémon Black and White, Episode #50
Faced with Electric-type gym leader Elesa, Ash is spending time coming up with a strategy. He goes into the battle and uses Palpitoad–a good choice, due to its Ground-typing. However, Palpitoad is soon knocked out by Elesa’s Emolga, and it’s revealed that “use Palpitoad” was the extent of Ash’s plan, making him look like a buffoon. Ash sends out Pikachu and manages to win anyway, but it’s a very undeserved win.
This is widely considered to beAsh’s worst gym battle ever, and shows him at a level of unpreparedness that hasn’t been seen since he initially challenged Brock way back at the beginning of the series. Ash should know by now that most gym leaders have a way of dealing with their type’s weaknesses, so seeing him make such an obvious mistake is frustrating, to say the least.
2Lost at the League!
Series: Pokémon Black and White, Episode #105
Set during the Unova League tournament, this episode decides to forego seeing the exciting tournament battles in favor of spending time onIris’ Axewgetting lost. Axew gets separated in the large crowds of the tournament, forcing everyone to go out looking for it. While Ash and his Pokémon search, Oshawott eats a crate of apples, angering the Poison-types who were planning to eat them. Ash’s rival Virgil ends up saving the day, using his Espeon and a Soothe Bell to make the Pokémon calm down. Axew is found, and the tournament continues.
This is a clear filler episode, through and through. It’s extremely unimportant to the ongoing tournament arc, and in fact disregards what fans want to see (the battles) in favor of Oshawott and Axew’s antics, which were already growing tired for many fans.
1Betrayed, Bothered, and Beleaguered!
Series: Pokémon Journeys, Episode #30
Ash is spending a lot of time with his newly hatched Riolu, and this is making Pikachu grow jealous. So jealous, in fact, that Pikachu runs off back to Pallet Town to be with Ash’s mom. Mr. Mime, who was with Ash at the time, follows Pikachu and attempts to convince him to return to Ash to no avail. Thus, Mr. Mime and Pikachu travel together back to Pallet Town, getting into trouble along the way. When they arrive in Pallet Town, Ash and Goh are already there, withAsh ready to apologize to Pikachu.
This episode is perhaps the most reviled by long-time fans of the anime, as Pikachu’s jealousy is extremely out of character. Never before has Pikachu expressed jealousy towards another of Ash’s Pokémon, and Ash wasn’t even really neglecting him. Riolu, after all, is a literal newborn, and needs a lot of attention at this stage, and Pikachu is smart enough to understand that. For this reason, most fans consider this to be the worst episode of the entirePokémonanime.
