Pokemon 33: The Flame Pokemon-athon!

Airdate: November 11^th, 1997

Summary: Our gang has landed in the Safari Zone, but they get picked up for Pokémon poaching within a minute of being in the park for trying to catch a Tauros. Lara Laramie informs the gang that they are on a ranch. Ash gets a bit too frisky with Ponyta and gets burned. Dario the Dodrio trainer rolls in, boasts that he will leave Lara in the dust during the big race, but she needs to get her Tauros in check before that can happen. We check on the Tauros, and everything calms down, until Lara breaks her elbow, who could that mysterious animal be that spooked Ponyta. Ash calms the fire horse down, and it seems like Dario and Team Rocket are in cahoots. Lara implores Ash to ride Ponyta, and they’re gonna burn up that track. What a cool premise, 10-12 racers, all sorts of Pokémon, good work writers. Dario starts in the lead, and Team Rocket takes out a quarter of the competition near the start line. Team Rocket causes a pitfall, which causes an Electrode to blow Ash and Ponyta aside. Pikachu lights Ash’s fire and Ponyta leaps from stone to stone while Brock throws in the towel with Onix. Ash finds out it’s Team Rocket messing up this race, but he dips while simultaneously blasting Team Rocket. Ash and Ponyta come hot from the rear, busting ass, and just before the finish line Ponyta evolves into Rapidash and wins the photo finish. 

Best Trainer/Pokémon: Ponyta/Rapidash, look at that horsy run. 

Worst Trainer/Pokémon: Pikachu, come on friend, just send a jolt into that crowd of Tauros. 

One thing I learned: Pokémon raised in the wild are stronger than most other new Pokémon. 

Pikachu-o-meter: 2/5, Why are you scared of Tauros 100 feet away running the opposite direction? He does shock Ash in the middle of the race. 

Best Quote: “It was such a bad accident; we couldn’t sleep after it happened.” -Jessie and James

Best Scene: Ponyta evolving, one of the best scenes of the anime so far.