Airdate: October 14th, 1999
Summary: Our heroes are struggling through the forest to get to New Bark Town. Misty and Ash start fighting, and Brock has to break them up. Togepi stumbles into a grove overlooking a small lake, and Ash spots a Suicune in the lake. Team Rocket stumbles into Prof. elm’s lab, btu the professor is so locked into his research that he doesn’t realize he is asking them, not Nurse Joy, to give a Totodile a checkup. Our gang gets to New Bark Town, the town where new beginnings blow. Ash is ready to beat the Johto League, but he has to sign up at the Pokémon Center first. Brock is hot and heavy for Nurse Joy but she is only virtual. Nurse Joy is supposed to be at the Pokémon Center, but instead the gang finds her in Prof. Elm’s lab. Brock gets a daily double, and talks to Officer Jenny. They all gather around Prof. Elm, who Jenny and Joy admonish for getting stuck in his research, and letting Team Rocket steal a Totodile. Ash learns that new trainers in Johto get either Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile. Prof. Elm has a Prof. Oak complex, but sometimes it’s hard to please your advisor. The New Bark Police identify the prints of Team Rocket, while Jessie struggles with the Totodile biting her hair. Team Rocket argue about who makes the call to the boss, while Jessie and Meowth fight James tries to make the call. Officer Jenny and the crew find Team Rocket, and they start to fight. Ash uses Charizard to blow away Weezing’s Smokescreen, while Bulbasaur grabs Totodile. Squirtle, Charizard, Bulbasaur, Totodile, and Pikachu combine to blast Team Rocket. Ash gets registered for the Pokémon League, and he gives a call to Prof. Oak during his soap opera which Prof. Elm coopts.
Best Trainer/Pokémon: Totodile, this crocodile has a strong jaw, and a stronger start to the anime.
Worst Trainer/Pokémon: Jigglypuff, why is this puff in Johto?
One thing I learned: You can still hold a grudge 10-20 years later.
Who is that Pokémon?: Chikorita, I love this Pokémon, it’s one of my favorites, I have a plushy. I’m going to come out as a Johto stan right now.
Best Quote: “I can almost hear the crowd at my first Johto League match” -Ash
Best Scene: Ash’s monologue about the “winds of change”.
Will Reviews Things 