Round One: Begin! – Pokémon Season 1, Episode 75

Plot episodeKrabby evolves into KinglerRound 1 win

Round One: Begin! is the 75th episode of Pokémon: Indigo League, the first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 75th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 77, Bulbapedia code EP075). It first aired in Japan on 17 December 1998 and in the United States on 30 October 1999. It falls within the season’s The Indigo Plateau Conference stretch (EP74–EP80).

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

Synopsis

Professor Oak alongwith Ash’s mom and basically everyone else in Pallet town are gathered at Oak’s lab watching the Pokemon League coverage on TV. Ash meanwhile officially registers for the Pokemon League and asks who he will be battling at the Indigo Stadium, Brock explains that Ash must win on a Rock, Grass, Water and Ice field before he gets to battle in the main stadium. Ash presses the button that decides where his first match will be, and draws the water field. The system then selects Ash’s opponent; a trainer called Mandi is drawn and Ash’s match is the third.

Meanwhile Team Rocket are in the Pokemon Trainer Village disguised as news reporters looking for Pokemon to steal, they spot a guy who has some Pidgeotto they’d like to steal and they had over to “interview” him, it turns out he is Mandi the guy Ash will face on the water field later that day. Mandi is arrogant and refers to himself as the astounding Mandi, Mandi declines Team Rockets interview request because he only appears on networks with viewers, James and Meowth manage to just about stop Jessie from punching him and blowing their cover. Misty offers Ash the use of some of her water Pokemon being as he’s on the water field, he declines the offer, refuses any of her advice and tells her he and Squirtle will be fine.

The group walks a little further and they again encounter Gary, who has been drawn to battle on the Ice Field first. Gary sarcastically wishes Ash luck in his match, but states that it’s only because he wants the pleasure of beating Ash himself, so he can show him what a real Pokemon Master looks like. Gary drops some final abuse to Ash before heading off for his battle, then there is an announcement over the tanoi for Pokemon Trainer Ash Ketchum to head to the nearest phone as theres an important call waiting. Ash gets to the phone to find Professor Oak on the line suggesting he swaps some of his Pokemon, Ash sees Krabby in the background and decides to take it to the Water field with him. Ash see’s that his mom, along with many of the townsfolk are also watching in the background. Ash is just thinking how easy the match will be now that he has both Squirtle and Krabby when they bump into Mandi, who refuses to even shake Ash’s hand, before saying how easy a win it will be and walking off.

Ash and friends go for something to eat and Misty tries again to give Ash advice, being that Krabby has never even been in a battle so it might not be a good idea to use it in such a tough match, just then there is a news report broadcast reporting on Gary’s victory on the Ice Field, where even during his interview he makes a subtle dig at Ash, calling all of the trainers he knows losers.

The battle prior to Ash’s finishes, and Ash is up next. The pressure is starting to show, Ash is shaking as he enters the arena. The astounding Mandi is even announced as a Pokemon League favourite. The 3 vs. 3 battle is about to begin, Ash promises Mandi that he has “some tricks of his own and isn’t some Twerp”, Team Rocket then immediately address Ash from the announcers box with “Hey, Twerp” and tell him they’re actually on his side because they really don’t like Mandi. Seconds later multiple Officer Jenny’s remove Team Rocket from the stadium, and the Pokemon Village.

Mandi and Ash begin their battle, with Mandi sending out Exeggutor and Ash sending out Krabby. Misty continues to back-seat drive and tell him he’s making a mistake, Ash ignores her. Exeggutor kicks off with a Psywave, Krabby dodges it by diving into the water and using harden. Unfortunately Exeggutors psychic attacks create a whirlpool, trapping krabby and firing a barrage of Egg Bomb. Ash tries to recall Krabby but can’t because of all the splashing water, Krabby emerges from the water and Ash orders a vice-grip, Krabby grips onto Exeggutors leaves and renders it unable to attack. Krabby finishes Exeggutor with a leer and a stomp. The match is over and its 1-0 to Ash. Krabby, much to Mandi’s disappointment then evolves into Kingler. Of his two remaining Pokemon, Mandi then sends out Seadra to face Kingler and opens with an agility attack, Kingler tries to hit back with water gun and bubble but misses the first few attacks, Mandi says that Kingler is too slow and doesn’t stand a chance of hitting his Seadra while its using agility, but seconds later Kingler lands a hit with bubble attack, knocking Seadra spinning into the air before finishing it with Krab Hammer. It’s 2-0 to Ash and Mandi only has one Pokemon left, Ash doesn’t seem as scared anymore and the crowd seem to be on his side. The astounding Mandi sends out Golbat next, which is a good move considering Kingler is really weak against air attacks, Ash takes this advice and sends Kingler underwater. As Mandi’s Golbat skims the waters surface Ash instructs a vice-grip, it looks like Kingler’s got it but the Golbat is a little too quick and hits back with Razor Wind, Golbat is about to follow up with a Mega Drain but Kingler gets a Hyper Beam off just in time. Golbat is unable to battle, victory goes to the team of Ash and Kingler. Ash wins his first battle 3-0 without even changing Pokemon, Mandi the astounded is beaten and dejected.

Ash’s confidence has skyrocketed and his post-match interview with the media is a little short on dignity and restraint. The second round is just around the corner.

Major Events

• — Water Field: Ash beats Mandi
• Krabby → Kingler (Hyper Beam) — only League win without losing a Pokémon
• Gary wins on the Ice Field. Debuts: Kingler (Ash’s), Seadra (main series) — last Gen I main-series debut of the season. Lecture: League participation.

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Seadra#0117 · EP075

Captures and evolutions

• Krabby → Kingler#0099 · Ash · in his first League battle

Trivia

• The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto storyline.
• The Who’s That Pokémon? segment features Seaking in Japan, where it almost always matched the episode, but Nidoran♂ in the US, where 4Kids picked the Pokémon at random.

Changes in the English Dub

• 3-s “POCKEMON LEAGUE! BATTLE OF WATER FIELD” scoreboard cut (next shot frozen 3 s)
• Dub ending: Pikachu’s Jukebox — Together Forever

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