Airdate: April 20th, 2000
Summary: Ash is ready to battle the Azalea gym leader, and Misty remarks that he does not have Charizard, his ace, anymore. The gang walks into the gym, and Misty gets scared by a bevy of bug Pokémon. A boy is in the tree, calls Misty ignorant, and accepts Ash’s gym challenge. Team Rocket goes in the gym but gets quickly dispatched. Bugsy sends out his Spinarak first while Ash sends out Cyndaquil. Spinarak goes hard on the String Shot, and glues its feet. Cyndaquil’s Flamethrower doesn’t kick in, and Ash calls it back. Ash sends out his Chikorita, who is supposed to win on guts alone. Spinarak starts to swing from tree to tree, avoiding Chikorita. Chikorita’s Vine Whip doesn’t work, but its Razor Leaf stops its Poison Sting, and a Sweet scent and Tackle combo stops Spinarak in its tracks. Bugsy sends out Metapod, which is impervious to Chikorita’s Vine Whip and Razor Leaf attacks. Metapod’s Tackle knocks out Chikorita. Ash sends out Pikachu, who whacks Pikachu. This cocoon is fast. Pikachu senses it and dodges it, giving it a Thunderbolt that sends it back to Bugsy’s ball. Bugsy sends out his Scyther, and Pikachu starts the battle of what a thunderbolt that sends Team Rocket, who dug into the battlefield, into the ground. Scyther uses Fury Cutter, and Pikachu is knocked out. Ash sends Cyndaquil out, and its flame kicks in just in time. Scyther uses Fury Attack and Swords Dance to avoid Cyndaquil’s flame. Bugsy taunts Ash for his lack of success with Cyndaquil’s flame, but Ash has a plan to dive bomb into Scyther’s Swords Dance and light this mantis up with flames before it knocks it out with a Tackle attack. Ash has his second badge! But before they leave Azalea town, Mazie gives Ash and Misty their balls back from Kurt.
Best Trainer/Pokémon: Bugsy, he may have lost, but his entrance this episode was hot.
Worst Trainer/Pokémon: Misty, she really has a bug problem, and it’s bugging me.
One thing I learned: Ash has a real shot at making it this region, he is winning with skill.
Who is that Pokémon?: Elekid, this is a good, if unnecessary Pokémon. I’m generally not a fan of baby Pokémon.
Best Quote: “There’s no way t get past my Scyther’s Swords Dance attack” -Bugsy
Best Scene: Cyndaquil and its dive bomb Flamethrower.
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