EP005: Difference between revisions

<!--http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-episodes/01_05-showdown-in-pewter-city/-->

{{TRT}} finishes digging a hole trap and disguises it with soil, leaves, and wood, though they fall into it soon after they forget its location. Meanwhile, {{Ash}}, {{an|Misty}}, and {{AP|Pikachu}} arrive at the outskirts of [[Pewter City]]. As Ash takes a rest on some rocks, he and Misty meet a mysterious man named {{ka|Flint}}, who sells rocks for a living. Flint escorts {{ashfr|the gang}} to the [[Pokémon Center]], where Ash is surprised to encounter [[Nurse Joy]] again. She explains that she is the [[Viridian City]] Joy's older sister. She directs Ash's attention to a poster promoting a [[Pokémon League Conference|tournament]] called the [[Pokémon League]] Championship and he decides to sign up. However, before he can enter, he needs to defeat eight Pokémon [[Gym Leader]]s and earn a [[Badge|Gym Badge]] from each as proof of his victory. Flint walks in at this point and tells Ash about Pewter City's Gym Leader, {{an|Brock}}. He is openly skeptical of Ash's chances of winning and laughs scornfully at the very thought of it. Over a meal, Misty warns Ash of Gym Leaders' prodigious skill and offers him advice. Misty becomes angry when Ash declines her advice, so she choose to walks off, leaving him with the bill.

As a dejected Ash leaves the Gym, he encounters Flint again, who suggests that Ash follow him to his home. Ash agrees, and over some tea, they discuss what happened in the Gym. Flint notices that Ash is obviously upset over his loss, so he consoles him with the knowledge that Brock could be an even better Trainer than he already is. Ash becomes confused by this, but Flint refuses to elaborate. Instead, he leads Ash outside to peer over a hedge into another house. The two of them watch as Brock, dressed in a pink apron, cares for his {{Brocksib|nine little brothers and sisters}}. Walking through the city, Flint explains that after Brock's good-for-nothing father left home to become a Pokémon Trainer, his heartbroken mother abandoned them, leaving the eldest child, Brock, to take care of his siblings. Ash feels sympathy for Brock but is determined to defeat him nonetheless. Flint recognizes Ash's determination and mentions that he might know of a way Ash can super-charge Pikachu.

Flint and Ash travel to a hydroelectric plant, where Flint hooks up the generator to the electric sacs in Pikachu's cheeks. As the river is bone-dry, Ash must run on a large water wheel to generate the electricity, which flows into Pikachu. Misty shows up and offers to lend Ash her {{type|Water}} Pokémon. However, Ash refuses and continues charging Pikachu until the generator overloads and Pikachu's electricity lights up the night sky. The next day, Ash returns with confidence to the Pewter City Gym for a rematch. Brock is also confident after his easy victory in the last battle, and the two quickly start the rematch. Brock starts off with {{TP|Brock|Geodude}}, while Ash sends out {{AP|Pidgeotto}}. However, the {{t|Normal}} and {{type|Flying}} Pokémon {{t|Rock|cannot hurt Geodude}}, and is knocked out. Ash recalls it and sends out Pikachu. Misty watches and cheers for Ash from the rafters, though she is later outnumbered by Brock's supportive siblings.

Suddenly, the Gym's sprinklers are set off by a fire caused by Pikachu's earlier Electric attack. Water sprays all over Onix, weakening it and allowing Pikachu to fight back with another Electric attack. Just as Ash is about to command Pikachu to finish Onix off, Brock's brothers and sisters all crowd Ash and beg him to stop. Brock orders his brothers and sisters to not get involved, but they protest, knowing that Brock's love of Pokémon would make it painful for him to continue the match and watch his Onix get hurt further. At this, Ash calls back his Pikachu. He explains that if he defeated Brock now, it would only be because of the sprinklers being set off. He decides he wants to win his Badge fair and square, much to Misty's disappointment since he is giving up a lucky advantage.

Suddenly, Flint reappears and removes his beard and hat, revealing that he is Brock's father. He explains that he avoided returning to his family as a failure of a Pokémon Trainer. Ash puzzles over the fact that Flint helped him instead of his son, Brock, and Flint explains that Ash's helplessness reminded him of himself. Flint is ready to take back the responsibilities that he abandoned years ago, which Brock returns to him, along with a long list of tasks for him to remember while taking care of the children. That evening, Ash and Brock travel on the road out of Pewter City. Ash insists that he is glad to have him along. However, Misty is a different story, and from several paces behind she yells at him to not forget about her [[bicycle]]. Ash and Pikachu, followed by Brock, run ahead to lose Misty, though she remains in pursuit.

* This episode introduced the greatest number of named recurring [[List of anime characters|characters]] in the {{pkmn|anime}}, due to the presence of [[Brock's siblings]]. This record was later matched by [[HZ001]].

* When the full moon is first shown in the episode, a wolf can be faintly heard howling in the background.

* Before Ash's first battle with Brock, right before Brock switches the lights of the Gym on, Ash's eyes are colored red.

** They're colored red again when Ash attempts to recall Pikachu.