Mystery at the Lighthouse – Pokémon Season 1, Episode 13

Plot episodeAsh catches KrabbyBill debuts

Mystery at the Lighthouse is the 13th episode of Pokémon: Indigo League, the first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 13th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 13, Bulbapedia code EP013). It first aired in Japan on 24 June 1997 and in the United States on 24 September 1998. It falls within the season’s Bulbasaur, Charmander & Squirtle stretch (EP8–EP14).

Synopsis · Major Events · Trivia · Dub Changes · All episodes

Synopsis

When Ash was summarising the Pokemon he’d caught so far Misty and Brock commented that he hadn’t technically “caught” most of them, Ash runs off and finds a beach and a beautiful sunset he couldn’t care less about. He also finds a tiny Krabby he accidentally insults by calling it Shrimpy, Krabby attacks Ash’s finger, then precedes to engage ASH himself in battle who fights it with a stick (wtf) and then manages to catch it in a ball! To his surprise the ball disappears out of his hand. Brock/Misty reappear and explain that a trainer can only have six Pokemon with them at once and that Krabby has most likely gone to Professor Oak’s lab for safe keeping.

Ash, wanting to be sure that his new Krabby is safe and has reached Professor Oak wants to find a phone, at this point Pikachu spots a lighthouse shining in the distance and the gang head on over. When they arrive the lighthouse is dark and mysterious looking, the voice inside guides Ash to a videophone and he calls Professor Oak who ash suspects is eating his Krabby (he isn’t, fortunately). It turns out that Gary has already caught 45 Pokemon, including a Krabby which absolutely dwarves Ash’s one. Bill introduces himself, he appears to be a giant talking Kabuto… but Bill reveals he is actually a Pokemon researcher and his current getup is a result of an experiment gone wrong. With the help of Ash and friends Bill is freed from the costume. Bill then explains it was part of his research into ancient Pokemon.

Bill explains his main research at the minute is to try and find one special Pokemon, the largest of all… Dragonite, whom he says is one of a kind and that he has been communicating with it. At this point Dragonite begins to approach the lighthouse from the ocean. Meanwhile Team Rocket are scaling the cliff to the lighthouse with a plan to steal any rare Pokemon that Bill might have, at this point they notice Dragonite and start firing on it. The dragonite attacks the lighthouse and Team Rocket continue to attack the Pokemon before being belted away by Dragon Tail. Sadly the damage is done, and the Dragonite who had come to befriend Bill leaves, never to be seen again. Bill vows to remain at his lighthouse in the hopes that Dragonite will return some day and the heroes bid him farewell as they continue their journey.

Major Events

• — Ash catches Krabby (sent to Oak’s lab
• Six-Pokémon limit explained)
• Bill debuts
• Giant Dragonite
• Gary has 45 species. Debuts: Bill
• Krabby, Dragonite. Fourth consecutive capture episode (record).

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Krabby#0098 · EP013
• Dragonite#0149 · EP013

Captures and evolutions

• Krabby#0098 · Ash · sent to Oak’s lab

Trivia

• The screenplay is by Takeshi Shudō.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto storyline.

Changes in the English Dub

• 32 s of Japanese BGM left silent
• A tofu joke invented for the dub
• Dub ending: the Kanto Pokérap (Wednesday segment)
• 32 seconds that had Japanese background music are left silent in the dub

Part of our Pokémon: Indigo League guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.