EP063: Difference between revisions

title_en=The Battle Of The Badge |

'''The Battle Of The Badge''' (Japanese: '''トキワジム！さいごのバッジ！''' ''{{tt|Tokiwa|Viridian}} Gym! The Last Badge!'') is the 63rd episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on September 17, 1998 and in the United States on September 25, 1999.

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{{Ash}}, {{an|Brock}}, and {{an|Misty}} are walking through [[Viridian City]] heading to the [[Viridian Gym]]. As they stop outside its doors, Ash is all fired up to win his eighth and final Badge before he can compete in the [[Pokémon League]]. So fired up, in fact, that {{AP|Pikachu}} lights a fire in front of him to mirror his feelings, accidentally setting Ash's toe on fire in the process. After being chastised by Misty, Ash excuses Pikachu's actions. The group is then interrupted by the arrival of {{Gary}} along with [[Gary's cheerleaders|his cheering squad]]. Once again Gary boasts that he is further along the path to the [[Pokémon League]], having already earned ten Badges compared to Ash's seven. Gary heads into the [[Gym]] to challenge the Gym Leader, followed by his cheering squad. Ash tries to follow Gary, but is blocked by the guards, who will only permit one Trainer in the Gym at a time.

Ash is disappointed and depressed that Gary will still continue to get further and further ahead of him, and he crouches down in a corner to wallow in his misery. {{TP|Misty|Togepi}} pats him on the head in attempt to comfort him. Thinking it is Pikachu, Ash is so surprised when he sees Togepi that he launches it into the air. As Togepi flies up it bounces on a flag pole, catapulting it into the mouth of a startled {{p|Fearow}} who flies off with Togepi lodged in its throat. The trio set off after the Fearow searching for Togepi.

Meanwhile, {{TRT}} is perched high on top of a skyscraper searching for signs of Pikachu. As it flies over them the Fearow manages to dislodge Togepi sending it dropping down on top of [[James]]. [[Jessie]] tries to grab it but Togepi easily evades her wandering out onto a wooden plank linking the building to the one next to it. Jessie crawls out onto the plank after it but when she reaches the middle the plank breaks beneath her sending her plummeting to the street below. James and {{MTR}} rush down the stairs to catch her but, despite making it down before her, miss the catch and she hits the ground. As Jessie picks herself up Togepi lands on her head, allowing her to grab it before collapsing once more.

The scene cuts to the interior of the Gym where Gary, supported by his fans, challenges the {{an|Giovanni|Gym Leader}}, who is shrouded in shadows, boasting that he is the best Trainer in [[Pallet Town]]. The Leader accepts his challenge, and his guards announce the battle will consist of three {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} with no time limit. Gary chooses {{p|Nidoking}} and the Leader responds by selecting {{p|Golem}}. The Leader commences with a {{m|Tackle}} attack, to which Gary responds in kind, ordering a Tackle from his Nidoking, sending Golem flying backward to crash into the wall, defeated. The Leader then chooses {{p|Kingler}}, and Gary consults his [[Pokédex]], which informs him that Kingler is the evolved form of {{p|Krabby}}. The Leader resumes with a {{m|Crabhammer}}. Nidoking dodges the attack, but Gary [[recall]]s him. Gary then chooses {{TP|Gary|Arcanine}}. Ordering Arcanine to perform {{m|Take Down}} followed by {{m|Fire Spin}}, Kingler is sent reeling amidst cheering from Gary's fans. Arcanine's {{m|Fire Blast}} is sufficient to beat Kingler.

The Leader comes forward from the shadows, confidently announcing that he is not beaten yet, and he will use this battle to test his most powerful Pokémon. As he snaps his fingers, a door opens to reveal a {{OBP|Mewtwo|original series|Pokémon}} concealed by mechanical armor. Using its {{m|Psychic}} attack, it sends Arcanine crashing into a wall. Gary's Pokédex shows only static when he tries to scan it, claiming that there is no available data on the new Pokémon. The Leader offers to allow Gary to use more than one Pokémon if he is afraid of losing. Despite protestations that he isn't afraid of anything, Gary sends both Arcanine and Nidoking forth to do battle. Even as they attack the mysterious Pokémon once again uses its Psychic powers to lift the pair from the ground. The Leader gloats that this Pokémon is invincible, and Gary is on the verge of panicking.

Team Rocket meet their boss, {{an|Giovanni}}, revealing him to be the Leader of the Viridian Gym, presenting Togepi to him for his approval. However, when he demands to know what it can do the team are at a loss to explain, causing Giovanni to lose his temper accusing them of total incompetence. They are allowed a brief reprieve when the phone on Giovanni's desk rings calling him to deal with an accident, leaving Jessie, James and Meowth in charge of the Gym giving them three {{ball|Poké}}s to use if necessary. During the discussion, Togepi was able to escape through an open door.

Giovanni walks through a dungeon where the Pokémon he used earlier are kept in cages. Continuing to the last one he pulls a lever releasing the mystery Pokémon explaining that he has an emergency assignment for it.

Meanwhile, the three friends are still searching the city for Togepi, as they meet back at the front of the Gym none of them have seen Togepi anywhere. However they hear Togepi's voice coming from inside the Gym. Pulling open the heavy doors reveals not only Togepi, but Gary and his fans lying unconscious on the ground. As Ash pulls Gary back to consciousness, Gary says that the mysterious Pokémon is not only powerful, it's evil as well, despite Ash's assertion that there can't be an evil Pokémon. Gary's fans are inconsolable, unable to believe that their hero lost a battle. As Gary announces that no one will ever beat the Pokémon, Team Rocket appears and begins to recite their {{motto}}, however they are interrupted by Ash, and his friends. To counter Misty's claim that their motto is never any different they state that "today is very different" because they are now in charge of the Gym and the {{Badge|Earth}}. When the trio demands to know why Team Rocket has a Gym James explains that Team Rocket's plans are far too complex for them to understand before asking Jessie what they are, who Meowth reveals, doesn't know them either. Jessie then angrily sends Meowth flying.

Jessie raises two platforms on either side of the battlefield and invites Ash to take his place as the challenger on the green platform. Despite his friends warnings that Team Rocket have probably booby trapped the box, Ash ascends as Jessie calls the three Pokémon Giovanni gave her; {{p|Machamp}}, Kingler, and {{p|Rhydon}}. Ash calls out {{AP|Squirtle}}, and the battle begins. Jessie orders Machamp to use {{m|Karate Chop}}, striking Squirtle many times. As the blows land, Ash is given a shock; the box turned out to be rigged so that the Trainer feels all the pain his Pokémon feels. Ash withdraws Squirtle and sends in {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, prompting Jessie to switch to Kingler. Ash orders Bulbasaur to use {{m|Vine Whip}} as Jessie orders Kingler to use {{m|Harden}}. Bulbasaur's Vine Whip is rendered ineffective. Pressing the advantage, Jessie orders a {{m|Bubble}} attack, causing Ash to feel the pain as the {{t|Water}} move strikes Bulbasaur.

 

Gary calls to Ash to give in, claiming the Pokémon are too strong, but Ash refuses to give up as he trusts his Pokémon. Ash calls out {{AP|Pidgeotto}} and orders it to use {{m|Quick Attack}} which slams into Rhydon, inflicting damage to it. Sparks of electricity starts crackling at Jessie's feet which she notices. Ash then orders Pidgeotto to use {{m|Double-Edge}}, which also slams into Rhydon, causing more damage to it. Now Jessie is on the receiving end of the pain. James reveals that he rigged both sides, as it hadn't occurred to him that they might lose. Meowth, on the other hand, planned for just such an eventuality, and reveals a remote control, which can cause either platform to explode. Meowth is about to press the button, but Gary tackles him, sending the remote flying. Seeing as they are now at a disadvantage, Jessie and James call on {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}} and {{TP|James|Weezing}} to aid them. Ash orders Pikachu to attack, using his {{m|Thunderbolt}} to attack all the opposing Pokémon at once. This show of force sends Machamp, Rhydon and Kingler running away, and Weezing and Arbok crashing into the equally shocked Jessie. Ash greets his Pokémon celebrating their hard won victory. Gary's fans do a cheer in Ash's honor, and even Gary is forced to admit that Ash is a pretty good Trainer, although he still thinks Ash, or anyone else for that matter, won't be able to beat the mystery Pokémon that he witnessed.

 

 

As the Trio continues their journey, Brock wonders if they will ever see the Pokémon Gary saw, while Ash is only interested in his eight Badges -- his ticket to the Pokémon League. Realizing that they don't know where the Pokémon League is, they decide to head for Pallet Town to consult with {{an|Professor Oak}}.

* Gary challenges the {{an|Giovanni|Viridian Gym Leader}} and loses to {{OBP|Mewtwo|original series|a mysterious Pokémon}}.

* [[Jessie]], [[James]], and {{MTR}} are temporarily appointed as the [[Gym Leader]]s of the [[Viridian Gym]].

* Ash earns his eighth and final Badge, the {{Badge|Earth}}, after defeating {{TRT}}.

* Ash and his friends head back to [[Pallet Town]].

* {{p|Mewtwo}} ({{OBP|Mewtwo|original series|Giovanni's}}; in armor)

* {{p|Kingler}} ({{an|Giovanni}}'s)

* {{p|Mewtwo}} ({{OBP|Mewtwo|original series|Giovanni's}}; in armor)

* The episode title is derived from the {{wp|Battle of the Bulge}}.

* This is the first of three episodes (the other two being ''[[EP064|It's Mr. Mime Time]]'' and ''[[EP065|Showdown at the Po-ké Corral]]'') to feature {{OBP|Mewtwo|original series}} in scenes that are preludes to [[M01|the first movie]]. This is despite the seizures caused by [[EP038]], which caused the show to go on a four-month hiatus, which in turn led to the aforementioned three episodes airing after the movie's premiere on July 18, 1998.

** A few seconds of the battle between {{an|Giovanni}} and {{Gary}} (namely, {{p|Nidoking}} and {{TP|Gary|Arcanine}} running towards Mewtwo and the latter using its {{m|Psychic}} powers to levitate them) are also shown in the movie's prologue, but from a different perspective and with a different animation. Examples of this include:

*** Mewtwo's appearance is evidently more cartoonish in this episode as opposed to the elaborate design of its armor in the movie.

* If going by the number of episodes spent in each region, this is the quickest that Ash has ever earned eight Gym Badges. By this point in [[Johto]], Ash is in the process of obtaining his fourth Badge; in [[Hoenn]], he has four Badges; in [[Sinnoh]], he only has two Badges; in [[Unova]], he has five Badges; and in [[Kalos]], he has four Badges. Also, the [[Orange Islands]] only had four Badges.

* The book ''[[Team Rocket Blasts Off!]]'' is partially based on this episode.

* The picture of {{OBP|Mewtwo|original series}} hanging in {{an|Giovanni}}'s office shows {{p|Mewtwo}} in the same pose as its sprite from {{v2|Red and Blue|s}}.

* This episode was released as part of the "Mewtwo Box" in Japan on December 18, 2013, along with ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]'', ''[[Mewtwo Returns]]'', ''[[SS026|Mewtwo — Prologue to Awakening]]'', and ''[[M16|Genesect and the Legend Awakened]]''.

* Of Gary's ten Badges, the only ones from the same Gyms Ash battled at are a Boulder Badge, a Cascade Badge, and a Rainbow Badge. This indicates that Gary did not battle, or at least did not defeat, [[Lt. Surge]], [[Sabrina]], or [[Koga]]. It is already known he did not battle [[Blaine]] due to being unaware of the existence of a Gym on Cinnabar Island.

* When Jessie calls {{p|Kingler}}, {{p|Machamp}}, and Rhydon out of their {{ball|Poké}}s, the red light that they return in shows, but in the next scene, they are in the white light.

* When {{TRT}} reveal themselves, the Japanese version has Ash and Brock specifically referring to them by name (Jessie and James, respectively).

|he=הקרב על התג {{tt|hakrav al hatag|The battle for the badge}}

|pl={{tt|Walka o odznakę|The battle for the badge}}

[[zh:EP062]]