 |
|
| Season | Pokémon: Indigo League (Season 1) · Pallet Town to Cerulean City arc (EP1–EP7) |
| Episode | Season 1, episode 5 · English episode 5 · Japanese episode 5 · Bulbapedia code EP005 |
| English title | Showdown in Pewter City |
| Japanese title | ニビジムのたたかい! Nibi Jimu no Tatakai! — “Battle of Nibi Gym!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 22 April 1997 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 11 September 1998 · first-run syndication |
| Screenplay | Junki Takegami |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Mezase Pokémon Master (Aim to Be a Pokémon Master) – Rica Matsumoto · Hyakugojūichi (One Hundred Fifty-One) – Professor Oak & the Pokémon Kids |
| English opening | Pokémon Theme – Jason Paige |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Onix (US) · Onix (Japan) |
| Previous episode | Challenge of the Samurai (EP004) |
| Next episode | Clefairy and the Moon Stone (EP006) |
Plot episodeBoulder BadgeBrock joins
Showdown in Pewter City is the 5th episode of Pokémon: Indigo League, the first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 5th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 5, Bulbapedia code EP005). It first aired in Japan on 22 April 1997 and in the United States on 11 September 1998. It falls within the season’s Pallet Town to Cerulean City stretch (EP1–EP7).
Synopsis
After heading to Pewter City to challenge it’s gym leader and try to win his first gym badge Ash and his group meet a mysterious rock salesman called Flint. Ash challenges Brock, the Pewter City gym leader but loses the battle. Outside the gym they meet Flint again who takes Ash & Misty to Brocks house where he see’s brock in an apron caring for his younger brothers and sisters, a role he assumed after his father left them. Flint then takes Ash and Pikachu to the Watermill for training to make Pikachu stronger for the next battle. Ash challenges Brock again and this time it looks as though he might just win, when suddenly a fire breaks out in the gym, prompting the sprinklers to go off and weaken Onix, Brock’s main Pokemon (a rock type, weak to water). Ash could have easily leveraged the water to have acquired an easy victory via a thundershock but the thought of Brock’s younger siblings makes him hesitant to exploit the situation, when Ash opens his eyes from this thought he is literally being held back by BBrock’s younger siblings! Ash leaves the gym without the badge, but shortly after Brock catches up to him and awards him the Boulder Badge. It turns out that the mysterious rock salesman, Flint was Brock’s father. Flint tells Brock he will take over responsibility for caring for his children, and for running the Pewter City gym which allows Brock to accompany Ash and Misty on their journey.
Major Events
- — Boulder Badge (given after two forfeits)
- Pikachu learns Thunderbolt
- Brock debuts and joins
- Flint, nine siblings. Debuts: Onix, Geodude. Pitfall gag introduced. All-Stars Vol. 20.
Pokémon making their anime debut
Geodude#0074 · EP005
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Junki Takegami.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- ¥50 → $2
- Restaurant bill ¥1150 → “$1150/Thank You”
- Pokémon League poster redrawn
- NIBI GYM → PEWTER GYM
- “Ishi arimasu” → “ROCKS FOR SALE”
- “Uri” sale sign
- ¥50 becomes $2
- Brock’s mother is said to have died (contradicted later) and he gains a tenth sibling
- Dub ending: the Kanto Pokérap (Friday segment)
Part of our Pokémon: Indigo League guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.