#pokemontvtime

[pokemontvtime]

Charmander and Trauma (S1E11)

As Ash proceeds on his Pokemon journey, he ends up picking up a lot of new Pokemon friends.

Few are as iconic, though, as his Charmander, who will eventually evolve into Ash's disobedient Charizard.

It's that disobedience that I really want to delve into today, though.

Ash acquires Charmander after finding it abandoned on a rock. Charmander's trainer, Damian, has told it that he will return to pick it up later, even though he has no intentions of doing so.

Charmander is shown to be an exceedingly loyal Pokemon, who continues to wait and hope that Damian will return even when its life is endangered by doing so. Ash, Misty, and Brock venture out in the middle of a fierce storm to rescue Charmander, knowing that if its flame were to go out it would die.

While a night in the Pokemon center brings it back to tip top shape, it is shown to still feel obligated to wait on Damian to return, still having faith that the trainer it cares for will show it the same care in return.

After a confrontation with Team Rocket, Charmander saves Pikachu, and seems to begin to accept that Damian may not be coming back. It seems to consider traveling with Ash and his friends instead, who have so far shown it kindness.

But just when Charmander begins to consider its new reality without Damian, Damian himself shows up and tries to convince Charmander to return with him instead.

Charmander is torn between its old loyalty and the kindness it has experienced with Ash.

When questioned, Damian admits to Charmander that he had not intended to return, and is glad that its period of abandonment has 'strengthened it up,' so that he didn't have to go through the trouble of training it himself.

This, as well as the support of its new friends, seems to seal Charmander's decision, and it refuses to rejoin Damian, sending him packing (with the help of Ash's Pikachu), and joins Ash on his continuing journey.

While this makes for a very heartwarming episode, and a wonderful backstory for the little Charmander, the end of the episode seems to suggest that most of that story won't be returned to, as it's treated very much like an "adventure of the week."

While Damian himself won't return in future episodes, nor will overt references tying it all up, I think you can point to a lot of Charmander's experiences here and understand how it leads narratively into Ash's disobedient Charizard.

Charmander went through a pretty intense trauma, with abandonment and a near-death experience. It was also told pretty explicitly by a trainer it had once trusted that its only useful was based in its power.

In the episode "March of the Exeggutor Squad," (S1E43), Charmander evolves after an intense fight to prevent the extermination of a herd of Exeggutor. Ash's other Pokemon all failed to disrupt the herd, who were subjected to a Hypnosis attack and began marching toward a town center.

It's shown that only Charmander's flames are able to snap them out of their trance, and the weight of the entire situation falls on Charmander. If it fails, a bomb that was planted will go off, and kill the Exeggutor.

Charmander is able to pull of the feat, and the experience triggers its evolution into Charmeleon.

However, right away Charmeleon doesn't seem to show the same characteristics of Charmander, who'd been to this point an obedient, loyal, and generally sweet Pokemon.

In the following episode, "The Problem With Paras," (S1E44), Charmeleon is asked to battle Paras, but to "take it easy" and let Paras have a free win in order to gain battling confidence.

Charmeleon disregards all these orders and tries to battle all-out.

This continues to be a problem, as two episodes later in "Attack of the Prehistoric Pokemon," (S1E46), Charmeleon again refused to obey orders, taking a snooze rather than attempting to battle the attacking fossil Pokemon.

Only an attack by Aerodactyl caused Charmeleon to take an interest in the battle. It evolved into Charizard, seemingly in pure frustration at being unable to follow the flying Aerodactyl.

But Charizard didn't obey Ash either, with its primary goal being to attack the Aerodactyl.

Interestingly, though, Charizard is shown to still care, at least in some form, about Ash. In the resolution to the plot, Jigglypuff sings all the people and Pokemon to sleep, including Aerodactyl. Charizard stays awake just long enough to catch Ash mid-air, and make a safe landing on the ground. Somewhere under that exterior of disobedience, Charizard still cares!

Ash would continue to try and coax Charizard into obeying in future battles, but it would seldom work out. Charizard only seemed to show interest in fighting other Pokemon it percieved as strong, and rarely followed Ash's orders when it did so.

Charizard's disobedience ultimately cost Ash his spot at the Indigo League, where Charizard's refusal to battle saw Charizard disqualified, and Ash out of the tournament.

It wouldn't be until Ash's journeys in the Orange Islands that this attitude changed. In the episode "Charizard Chills," (S2E25), Ash battled with a trainer named Tad, who used a Poliwrath.

Charizard attempted to brute force its way through the battle, disregarding Ash's commands and only using its fire. This went very badly for Charizard, who took a bad hit and ended up frozen in ice by an ice attack.

The Pokemon Charizard was fighting, Poliwrath, was very significant, though I didn't realize this myself until I was doing my own reading on the topic.

Apparently, in the original Japanese broadcast of Charmander's appearance (S1E11), Damian's reason for abandoning Charmander is specifically that it was unable to beat a Poliwag in a battle. Thus, the choice of Poliwrath here is likely a nod to this original piece of lore.

Tad leaves, scolding Ash that he should train his Pokemon better, and Ash frantically works to free Charizard, and spends the entire night sitting up with it. Ash's friends help him to build a fire and bring him blankets, and Ash stays up, rubbing Charizard to try and help warm it up.

Charizard at one point begins to panic, lashing out at Ash's attempts to help, but is too weak to actually put up a fight. Ash doesn't let these attempts deter him, and he continues all through the night, talking soothingly to Charizard. He admits, at one point, that he hasn't always done a good job as a trainer, but doubles down that he wants to continue trying to get better.

Charizard, though Ash doesn't know, can hear Ash's words, and though there isn't a spoken monologue here, it is implied that Charizard takes Ash's words and earnest care to heart, and re-examines how it has been treating Ash up till now.

After this incident, Charizard obeys Ash (though it is still shown to have a sometimes-rebellious spirit), and becomes one of the strongest members of his team.

It's easy to come away from the character development with a pretty surface-level thinking, that Ash finally earned Charizard's trust, and was able to begin using it in battles. This would not be wrong at all, and is definitely a piece of the story that the show is telling.

It's also easy to write off, only a slightly deeper note, that the show was attempting to incorporate mechanics from the video games. In the Pokemon games, if a Pokemon is too high a level (usually determined by the number of badges you've earned), it will refuse to obey you. Charizard may have been simply a way for the show to demonstrate what that looks like in the universe of the show. And I definitely think that is a piece of it as well!

However, I think that Charizard's disobedience also makes sense through the lens of a Pokemon steeped in trauma, who is trying to cope with both the trauma and the continued expectations placed upon it.

Charmander moved quickly past the abandonment by its previous trainer, possibly without really processing that, and trying to take on faith that the same thing wouldn't happen again. It then was shown to become one of Ash's most powerful battlers, possibly reinforcing that its value came from its battle prowess. It also then possibly had its trust further eroded when asked to "take a dive" against Paras.

It's not until the past trauma crops back up in "Charizard Chills," (S2E25) that Charizard processes a lot of this, and is reassured that Ash won't abandon it just because it loses a battle, and that it doesn't have to rely purely on itself. A crucial part of its growth is learning that it can trust Ash to have its back, no matter what, and it's important that Ash demonstrates that he always will! In this way, you could look at Charizard's refusal to battle as a test of boundaries.

I love the entire character arc that Charizard goes through under Ash's care. When I started my rewatch, I got curious if there were any fan theories, or further explanations for Charizard's behavior, and reading different perspectives, and seeing the episodes for myself, really got me passionate about what the series had to say about Charmander's trauma.

I was honestly shocked at the depth there was to be found! I could talk about Pokemon all day, and I think there's still aspects that I didn't cover here, but this hopefully gives an overview of a lot of the plot, and some of the underlying meanings.

Posts for another day, though!

[pokemontvtime]

Ash & Self-Sacrifice (S1E4)

One thing that turns up again and again (and again, and again, and again) in the Pokemon series, at least to me, is how Ash constantly puts his Pokemon before himself.

We see this from the very start of his journey, when he attempts to save Pikachu from the Spearow that have been chasing them. He does this by telling Pikachu to hide inside its Poke Ball, while he himself attempts to face off against the flock.

It's clear that Ash is putting himself in danger with this action; the potential consequences are not clearly defined, but would probably involve at the very least a lot of injuries.

Ash is saved by Pikachu, rather than doing the saving, when Pikachu sees Ash's courage and leaps to summon an electric attack and send the Spearow packing.

This all happens in the very first episode, and it's a really striking character illustration, as well as character-building, establishing what will be a lifetime bond between these two.

Ash is shown to have great courage, determination, and a disregard for personal safety when it comes to a Pokemon that is relying on him.

I find this to be an exceptionally admirable trait in a character, and one that the show remains consistent in.

This dedication to his Pokemon, and learning how best to look out for what they need, continues throughout the next several episodes. We can see that Ash is inexperienced in the fourth episode, when his Metapod gets kidnapped by a Beedrill.

Ash reflects on the experience, and comes to view it as his failure to look out for and protect his Pokemon. This seems to reinforce earlier ideas he's shown in earlier episodes, doubling down on himself as the protector of his Pokemon

The show also doubles down on having his Pokemon respond to his convictions with equal commitment to look out for their trainer, as in the very next scene, Metapod throws itself in front of a Beedrill that was attacking Ash, taking a grievous injury. (Not to worry, it uses this battle to evolve into Butterfree, working even harder to protect Ash)

I admire this characteristic of Ash's, to treat the care and responsibility for his Pokemon so seriously. The show seems to really emphasize this as character growth of his, and it makes me adore him more as a character, especially because this will not be the last time he commits himself to this ideal. ((*see: Ash throwing himself between Squirtle and a bomb (S1E12; Ash running into an on-fire building (S1E26); and nearly throwing himself off a cliff to grab Pikachu (S2E23) among many others.))

It is, however, also something that I see as a character flaw of his, in equal measure, for many of the exact same reasons.

I think he does amazing things for his Pokemon, and I think it makes him an amazing trainer. And, also, I think he undervalues himself often. He is determined, but often takes even perceived failures to heart, even when the actions he took had no positive or negative morality attached.

He beats himself up for failing to protect his Pokemon, yet would never for a moment let one of his Pokemon think less of themselves for failing to protect him.

He shoulders a heavy burden, and often seems determined to carry it alone. It makes me feel so much sympathy for Ash, and makes me relate to him and love him more for it.

I have a lot more to say about the ways in which Ash sacrifices himself, but it will have to wait for a future post.

[pokemontvtime]

Ash Ketchum at the Start

Ash Ketchum is a 10 year old from Pallet Town, the fourth trainer of four to leave Pallet at the time he would receive his first Pokemon.

He's portrayed from the start as very passionate about Pokemon, and there's little to deny about that. He oversleeps on his very first day, because he stayed up late, so excited to receive his first partner Pokemon.

I'd argue that in the very first episode, Ash learns a lot of extremely valuable lessons that shape the way that he interacts with Pokemon all the way through the show.

He has a lot of preconceived ideas that are quickly dashed, the first of these being that the first partner Pokemon are Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle. However, when those are taken, Ash gets Pikachu!

This is actually the inciting element that leads to Ash being the way he is. Typically, Pokemon given to starting trainers by Pokemon professors have been born, bred, and trained to be ready to be a trainer's beginning Pokemon. That's why they are considered perfect fits! They are already trained.

But Pikachu appears to still be wild, not yet trained to listen to commands or respect the will of it's trainer. I'm sure this is something a lot of trainers learn in their journey, but a big theme of the show is that Pokemon don't just naturally listen, even if you capture them! There has to be an element of respect involved.

Ash doesn't inherently know how to earn Pikachu's respect. He sets off on his journey literally dragging Pikachu along, because Pikachu won't get in the Poke Ball, and continues to shock him if he tries to force Pikachu to do anything it doesn't want to.

But I think the show, even here, takes the time to set the stage for Ash's inherent respect for Pokemon; he realizes all too quickly that this isn't a good long-term solution, and decides to simply ask Pikachu what's the matter, and if it will get in the Poke Ball; he even tries to quote his Pokedex, to prove that "Pokemon travel in Poke Balls."

But Pikachu is quick to point him to the expanded information, that indicates that not all Pokemon like traveling in the Poke Ball! And when Ash learns this, he doesn't try to force Pikachu anymore.

In trying to handle being a Pokemon trainer on his own, though, when Pikachu declines to help, Ash stirs up a heap of trouble in the form of a flock of Spearow

He and Pikachu make a run for it, but eventually find themselves pinned, with no more chance of running away.

So Ash, on his very first day out as a Pokemon trainer, with a Pokemon that has so far not been shown to like or respect him in the least, throws himself between the Spearow and Pikachu (the main target of the Spearow's attacks).

To protect Pikachu, he places Pikachu's poke ball beside Pikachu, and urges Pikachu to get inside for its own protection, since it is already too beat up to continue fighting, and he promises that he will fight off the Spearow for them.

Even in this moment of peril, where it is implied that Pikachu's life could be in danger (though it's a kids' show, so they never state as much directly), Ash still does not force Pikachu into this decision! He knows and even verbally recognizes that getting in the Poke Ball is difficult for Pikachu, but urges that it is the safest thing to do. From a story perspective, this makes sense, because of the following action, but within the story this is something that I adore! Ash is listening to and respecting his Pokemon, while also trying to protect them!

It is this selflessness (for a Pokemon that he barely knows at this point!) that causes Pikachu to leap to the rescue, summoning a huge lightning bolt to defeat all of the Spearow, though it uses all of its remaining strength to do so.

This is the selflessness that we are going to continue see Ash using throughout the rest of the series! I think something stuck with him from this early experience, realizing that he is the caretaker of the Pokemon in his charge, and extending that even to Pokemon he does not own! He can and will put himself in harm's way if it's to protect those he loves and cares about, without a moment's hesitation.

And it is this self-sacrifice that the Pokemon around him see, and reciprocate (most of the time), and why Ash's own Pokemon give it their all; because they know for an absolute fact that Ash will do the same for them!

We've gotten just to the end of Season 1, Episode 1, and we already have a portrait of a kid that believes in doing the right thing, and isn't afraid to throw himself into doing it.

Ash Ketchum absolutely shaped my view of the world as a child, and while there's plenty of character flaws associated with this worldview too, the strengths that it gives you are awesome as well.

[pokemontvtime]

Introduction!

Hello! I go by Loyal, my main account is @loyalandtrue. I use she/her pronouns.

I made this blog for longer-form text-based posts where I can talk about Pokemon, specifically about the TV series. If you want to see art, appreciation, and other kinds of posts, feel free to follow me at my main! (And if you're here from my main account, worry not, I won't be shifting my reblogging of Pokemon posts over here, haha!)

You can expect to find a lot of long ramblings about my own internal thoughts and processings about the series, including plot descriptions, character arcs and analyses, what I liked and what I didn't like, and what I would've liked to seen done differently.

Obviously all opinions shared here are just that-opinions! No moral judgments assigned, just time spent enjoying something I love!

Credit for my icon to @pokemon-icon-factory; you can find the post they're from here: https://www.tumblr.com/pokemon-icon-factory/747539226911997952?source=share

Asks are welcomed, especially if there's something you want to hear more about or want to hear expanded on, and it doesn't have to be just something from whatever most recent thing I've talked about!