EP059: Difference between revisions

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Volcanic Panic (Japanese: けっせん！グレンジム！ Decisive Battle! Guren Gym!) is episode 59 of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on August 20, 1998 and in the United States on September 18, 1999. In this episode, Ash continues battling Blaine for the Volcano Badge.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Synopsis

When we last saw Ash, he was locked into battle against Blaine, down two Pokémon before Pikachu had managed to knock out Blaine's Rhydon. However, any semblance of a comeback was halted by Blaine's Magmar, who quickly corners off Pikachu and is about to finish it off with a Fire Blast. Ash tells Pikachu to duck in the last second, hoping to avoid the blast, but Pikachu is hit, but fortunately is not knocked into the lava, having hung on to the edge. Though Pikachu makes it back onto the battlefield, Ash concedes the match, not wanting to risk Pikachu falling in to the lava. Blaine allows Ash to stay, as the hot springs will help heal Pikachu from its burns. Though Brock and Misty advise Ash to leave for another Gym, as Blaine was simply too powerful, Ash declares that he will not leave without a Volcano Badge.

The next day, as Ash, Misty, and Brock try to help Pikachu, Team Rocket manages to sneak into the battlefield, in an attempt to steal Magmar by freezing him. Though it appears that their attempt is successful, Magmar simply melts the ice around it, which in turn causes Team Rocket to fire more freezing missiles at it. However, their overzealousness causes the battlefield walls to cave in, and Ash, Misty, Brock, and Blaine arrive as Team Rocket are sent flying. With nowhere to run, and the volcano about to erupt due to the frozen ice causing fissures in the walls and ground (causing the battlefield in turn to sink into the lava), Blaine is forced to use Magmar to dam the volcano and prevent its eruption. Ash also tries to have Charizard to pitch in, but Charizard is unwilling to cooperate. However, after seeing Magmar throw rocks in an attempt to dam the volcano, Charizard decides to help, and Onix, Geodude, Staryu, and Squirtle also pitch in (the latter two helping to cool off Onix and Geodude). Pikachu also makes an effort to help, while Misty is forced to rein in Psyduck and Togepi from helping, while Ash is forced to rein in Jigglypuff from putting everyone to sleep. Eventually, the volcano is dammed, leaving Charizard and Magmar with a desire to battle it out against each other.

As thanks, Blaine allows Ash a rematch for the Volcano Badge. But with the battlefield destroyed, Ash and Blaine agree to battle one-on-one on the summit of the volcano - Blaine with Magmar, and Ash deciding to use Charizard after it shows a desire to battle (he had originally wanted to go with Pikachu). As the battle begins, both sides trade Flamethrowers, and Magmar counters with a Fire Blast, which Charizard digs in and manages to deflect. Magmar then proceeds to hit Charizard with a Skull Bash, pushing Charizard into the lava. Charizard recovers, and locks up with Magmar. Magmar then uses Charizard's own momentum against it by flipping it over, and pushing the two into the lava. Although Ash calls foul, Blaine reminds him that "under the volcano" is still part of their agreed-upon battlefield. However, once the two emerge from the lava, Charizard is now the one with the upper hand, having used his flight ability to create an aerial Submission and finish off Magmar with Seismic Toss. Having won the battle, Ash proceeds to congratulate Charizard and return it, only to be blasted in the face with another Flamethower. As it turns out, Charizard only obeyed Ash in order to fight Magmar, and nothing more. Still, Ash had earned his Volcano Badge, and leave Cinnabar Island.

Wondering where to go next, Brock suggests that they head to the Viridian City Gym. Unaware of the fact that there was a Gym in Viridian City (Ash and Misty had argued nearly the entire trip, and left town shortly after) despite both Brock and Misty claiming it to be a leading Gym where the best trainers prepare for the Pokémon League, Ash decides to keep moving just as Misty is reminded of Ash owing her that bike...

Major events

• Ash defeats Blaine and earns the Volcano Badge.

Debuts

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Misty
• Brock
• Jessie
• James
• Blaine

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?: Paras (US and international), Boober (Japan)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Togepi (Misty's)
• Charizard (Ash's)
• Squirtle (Ash's)
• Staryu (Misty's)
• Psyduck (Misty's)
• Geodude (Brock's)
• Onix (Brock's)
• Ninetales (Blaine's; flashback)
• Rhydon (Blaine's; flashback)
• Magmar (Blaine's)
• Jigglypuff (anime)

Trivia

• This is the first time Charizard's signature Seismic Toss finisher is seen.

Errors

• In the flashback at the beginning of the episode the narrator said that Ninetales beat Squirtle with an Ember, while it was actually a Fire Spin that defeated Squirtle.
• During the scene where they are stopping the volcano from errupting, Misty calls on Starmie to keep everyone cool. The only problem is it's Staryu that comes out.

Dub edits

• When Charizard pushed the Fire Blast away, its shape changed into the kanji for medium(中), and then small(小), before vanishing. The dub kept it the same shape until it disappeared, but didn't erase the sound effects that came with the pun.

In other languages

• French: Panique volcanique
• Italian: Sfida vulcanica
• Latin American Spanish: ¡Pánico volcánico!
• Spanish: Pánico volcánico

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This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.