The beloved Pokémon Trainer’s adventures in Johto continue in Season 4 of Pokémon the Series. Ash, Misty, Brock, and their Pokémon are on the road doing what they do best: winning Gym badges, battling Team Rocket, and helping Pokémon in distress. Each episode brings Ash closer to his goal of winning enough Gym badges to take part in the Johto League, and you can follow along for free as every episode of Pokémon: Johto League Champions is now available to watch on Pokémon TV. But first, here are some highlights from Season 4 to give you an idea of what to expect and whet your appetite for more Johto adventures.
The Sting of Defeat
Ash’s Johto League quest this season kicks off with an unexpected defeat at the hands of Goldenrod City Gym Leader Whitney (“A Goldenrod Opportunity (Part 1)”). It turns out that Whitney’s Miltank is too much for Ash’s Cyndaquil, Totodile, and Pikachu. How Ash handles this defeat will say a lot about who he is as a person and Trainer. And being Ash, he gets back on his feet and challenges Whitney once more in the hopes of winning the Plain Badge (“A Dairy Tale Ending (Part 2)”). But that isn’t the only defeat Ash will suffer over the course of Season 4. At an annual Grass Tournament in which only Grass-type Pokémon compete, Ash gets a little overconfident, to the point that he doesn’t bother training for the competition (“The Grass Route”). And though he makes it to the finals, he faces a young Trainer named Ephraim who has been taking the competition much more seriously.
Meeting Old Friends
While it’s always exciting to meet new friends—and Ash and his companions will make many over the course of Season 4—sometimes it’s nice to meet up with old friends and learn what they’ve been up to. Highly competitive Pokémon Trainer Casey is one of the first old friends to put in an appearance (“The Bug Stops Here”). Casey plans to compete in the Bug-Catching Contest at the National Park and, true to character, she’s so determined to beat Ash that she doesn’t take very good care of her Chikorita. Later, Brock is thrilled by the opportunity to meet up with Pokémon breeder and stylist Suzie who is eager to enter both their Vulpix in a beauty contest (“Beauty and the Breeder”). While Brock is on the hunt for romance, as usual, Suzie has other valuable insights to offer concerning the nature and styling of Pokémon. On the road to Ecruteak City, Ash encounters his longtime rival, Gary Oak from Pallet Town (“Power Play!”). While Ash is eager to defeat his rival, Gary has other concerns, leaving our hero frustrated and even more determined to prove his worth as a Pokémon Trainer. On the long walk to Olivine City, Ash and his companions encounter their old friend Todd, who prefers to capture Pokémon in photographs rather than Poké Balls (“Moving Pictures”). Todd is attempting to get a photograph of an Articuno but is happy to help the trio send Team Rocket blasting off yet again.
Fun Contests
Pokémon the Series is filled with thrilling Pokémon races and competitions, some of them more serious than others. Fortunately, Pokémon: Johto League Champions is no exception, with plenty of opportunities for our heroes to show off their prowess as Pokémon Trainers and learn some valuable lessons along the way. The first such competition is the Bug-Catching Contest at the National Park (“The Bug Stops Here”). Unsurprisingly, Ash enters the contest hoping to catch the strongest Bug-type Pokémon and win a coveted Sun Stone—and equally unsurprisingly, Team Rocket interrupts the proceedings. Later, Brock and his friends race to Bonitaville to help their friend Suzie enter Vulpix in a Pokémon Beauty Contest (“Beauty and the Breeder”). Misty gets competitive trying to win the Seaking Catching Competition by catching the largest Seaking in the provided Lake Ball (“Hook, Line, and Stinker”). Ash leaps headlong into an annual Grass Tournament without bothering to train for the event, offering a lesson in overconfidence and the value of humility (“The Grass Route”). Rikishii Town’s Pokémon battles are a little bit different, which intrigues Ash enough to enter his Snorlax in the town’s Pokémon Sumo Competition (“Ring Masters”). Rather than using special attacks, Pokémon grapple during these matches, using sumo moves to overcome their competitors. Snorlax’s size gives it a major competitive advantage despite its lack of sumo experience. And finally, our heroes decide to participate in the Pokémon Balloon Race, using a Pikachu-shaped hot air balloon they receive as a gift (“The Big Balloon Blow-Up”). With an advanced burner as the prize for the winner, Team Rocket decides to enter. Antics ensue, but which team will emerge victorious?
Thrilling Pokémon Research
It’s always exciting to learn more about Pokémon, especially from a scientific perspective. As Ash, Misty, and Brock travel across Johto, they encounter and assist their share of scientists working to advance the world’s understanding of Pokémon. On the way to Ecruteak City, Ash and his friends agree to catch a Sudowoodo in exchange for a ride across a river (“Type Casting”). While looking for their Pokémon, they encounter a pair of scientists conducting Sudowoodo field research. The duo can’t seem to agree whether the Pokémon is a Rock type or Grass type. Later, Professor Oak invites the trio to the Ruins of Alph to explore the incredible discovery of a live prehistoric Water-type Pokémon (“Fossil Fools”). Following a rare visit to The Ancient Pokémon Study Park, Omanyte and Omastar put in an appearance (as does Team Rocket, of course) before research can continue as usual. Still on the road to Ecruteak City, Ash suffers a stomachache from eating too much, and a kindly pharmacist named Old Man Shuckle offers him some unusual medicine (“A Better Pill to Swallow”). As it turns out, Old Man Shuckle makes the medicine himself, using some unorthodox methods including filling Shuckle shells with ingredients and then collecting the Shuckle when the medicine is ready. Could this unusual form of medicine be the cure Ash needs?
There are plenty of fun and exciting adventures to be found in Pokémon: Johto League Champions, so don't miss your chance to watch them all. You can catch the entire season by visiting watch.pokemon.com or by loading up the Pokémon TV mobile app to enjoy these classic episodes on the go!
