Pokemon Company
Airdate: April 10, 2003
Summary: The day after Ash arrives in Dewford he is already running to the gym on top of a hill. The gym seems like a Fighting-type gym similar to Chuck, Ash is pretty confident he will win, but life comes at you fast as he is smacked with the entrance door, a dude with blue hair calls Ash a bro and says he is Brawly the gym leader. Brawly tells Ash the waves are great and that because the wicked waveage is totally gnarly he goes to surf. Everyone is surfing and enjoying the beach while Team Rocket runs the surfside restaurant, Meowth says that the twerps are on the beach and ready to have their Pokemon stolen. May decides to go swimming in a new suit, Brock oogles a bunch of surfer girls, while Ash watches Brawly and his Makuhita surf. Brawly and Makuhita surf a mondo wave, Brawly tells it not to get distracted even though Ash is literally swimming under his board. They all crash out, Makuhita is a bit shaken up while Ash grovels to get a battle. Team Rocket catches Pikachu in its electric-repellent net, Brawly sics Makuhita on them with his surfing prowess, knocking Pikachu out of their arms. Pikachu sends Team Rocket flying so they can get to the part of the episode where Ash gets his gym battle. Brawly accepts Ash’s challenge, Ash is over-confident so Max and Brock try to give Ash some advice. Ash sends Taillow out versus Machop, he hits Machop with a bunch of Wing Attacks that don’t work at all, Machop is able to roll out of each hit to take just a little bit of damage. Machop takes care of Taillow with one Cross Chop, uh oh Ash! Brawley gives all of his Pokemon surf training to make them better, Ash stays with power by sending Treecko, using Pound attacks in succession. Machop gets tired and a Quick Attack/Pound sends Machop to the ground, Treecko wins. Treecko is tired versus Makuhita. Makuhita rolls out of a bunch of attacks, Ash has Treecko continue to use Pound but a Vital Throw by Makuhita along with an Arm Thrust pushes Treecko down. Treecko takes a Seismic Toss and keeps on ticking, his Overgrow is activated and it has gumption. However, Makuhita evolves into Hariyama and gains a ton of power, goodnight Treecko. Ash doesn’t give up, but keeps pushing Treecko whose Pound attack is no match for Hariyama’s Knock Off, which sends Treecko into the netherrealm. Brawly tells Ash that he needs to get Treecko to the Pokemon Center. Nurse Joy chastises Ash for pushing Treecko too far, he lashes out at Brock and May. He tells them to shut up and runs off for a walk alone on the beach, lamenting his poor choices. He runs into Brawly surfing with Hariyama as he adjusts to his strength on the board. Brawly acknowledges that Ash could have beat him, Ash apologizes to Brawly for denigrating surfing, Ash needs to go back to his unconventional methods, Brawly tells Ash to play in nature to help train before a rematch.
Best Trainer/Pokémon: Hariyama, this Pokemon didn’t break Ash but that match will make Ash a better trainer.
Worst Trainer/Pokémon: Ash, hubris got the best of him, he needs an ego death.
One thing I learned: Brawly is a serious trainer that will take quite a lot of training to beat.
Who is that Pokémon?: Delibird, Deli-Del-NEXT!
Best Quote: “We surfers know how to ride the wave of misfortune” – James, couldn’t have said it better myself.
Best Scene: Makuhita evolving into Hariyama, love a good evolution scene.
