History Recap / PokemonS1E3AshCatchesAPokemon

** After Meowth gets string shot by Caterpie, only Jessie says, "It's time Team Rocket blasted off." It wouldn't be a few more episodes until the entire team begin blasting off AGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIINNNNN!, with the obligatory ATwinkleInTheSky.

* TypicalCartoonAnimalColors: Caterpie are designed after caterpillars, a group of animals that come in a wide variety of colors in real life but are most often depicted as green. Naturally Caterpie is also green.
** Caterpie's design is based off a stylized version of certain Swallowtail caterpillars with its osmeterium always visible (a special organ on Swallowtail caterpillars that releases a stink to protect itself, just as Caterpie's feeler does). The real-life caterpillars that bear the closest resemblance to Caterpie would have to include the Spicebush Swallowtail and the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, but largely in their later instars (in their first few instars, they are brown, but indeed turn green as they get bigger.)

* VillainExitStageLeft: Team Rocket furiously scamper off after being defeated in this episode instead of their usual "blasting off" RunningGag.
** In Japanese, it's one of the scant few times they don't say "This feels bad!" Interestingly enough, in the dub, it's the first time they ''say'' they're "blasting off".

* WorfHadTheFlu: In Pidgeotto's defense, it lasted well for a two on one assault. It's not Pidgeotto's fault [[IdiotHero its trainer]] [[HonorBeforeReason decided to follow the rules instead of defending against Team Rocket in kind]].

* After Meowth gets string shot by Caterpie, only Jessie says, "It's time Team Rocket blasted off." It wouldn't be a few more episodes until the entire team begin blasting off AGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIINNNNN!, with the obligatory ATwinkleInTheSky.

-->'''Misty:''' [[WhatTheHellHero Birds eat worms, "Mr. Pokémon Master"!]]

-->'''Ash''': With my first Pokémon, I feel I'm in Heaven!\\
'''Misty''': With ''your'' first Pokémon, I feel I'm in Hell!

** Caterpie's design is based off a stylized version of certain Swallowtail caterpillars with its' osmeterium always visible (a special organ on Swallowtail caterpillars that releases a stink to protect itself, just as Caterpie's feeler does). The real-life caterpillars that bear the closest resemblance to Caterpie would have to include the Spicebush Swallowtail and the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, but largely in their later instars (in their first few instars, they are brown, but indeed turn green as they get bigger.)

* IdiotHero: This episode presents Ash as being extremely ignorant of how catching and battling Pokémon is done, most likely to provide an excuse to explain these things to the viewers. Among other things Ash has to be told that not all Pokémon can be caught by just throwing a Pok&eacute Ball at them[[note]]A lesson he should've learned in the first episode[[/note]] and that Bug-type Pokémon are weak against Flying-type Pokémon.

** Misty reads the title card instead of Ash. While there would later be a few episodes where the title card is read by someone other than Ash, this remains one of two episodes of the Indigo saga where it's done so (the other being ''Holiday Hi-Jynx'').

** Misty reads the title card instead of Ash. While there would later be a few episodes where the title card is read by someone other than Ash, this remains one of two episodes of the Indigo saga where its done so (the other being ''Holiday Hi-Jynx'').

** Misty reads the title card instead of Ash. While there would later be a few episodes where the title card is read by someone other than Ash, this remains the only episode of the Indigo saga where it's done so.
* EveryoneHasStandards: Despite her vocal contempt for Caterpie and Bug-type Pokémon as a whole, Misty was quite outraged that Ash obliviously risked its life by pitting it against a Flying type.

* HonorBeforeReason: Even though both Jessie and James attack Ash with Pokémon at once and Misty suggests making it fair by fighting as well, Ash insists on fighting alone because [[LawfulStupid he does not want to break official Pokémon League rules]]. Counts as EarlyInstallmentWeirdness since not only do the heroes often team attack, and sometimes even [[CombatPragmatist outnumber Team Rocket themselves]] in later episodes, but the later games actually allow team battles.

* IdiotHero: This episode presents Ash as being extremely ignorant of how catching and battling Pokémon is done, most likely to provide an excuse to explain these things to the viewers. Among other things Ash has to be told that not all Pokémon can be caught by just throwing a Pokeball at them[[note]]A lesson he should've learned in the first episode[[/note]] and that Bug-type Pokémon are weak against Flying-type Pokémon.

** Like in previous episode, Meowth's mentioning of the boss is reinterpreted as him being the leader of the trio by 4Kids. In this case, when Jessie and James pummel Meowth's big mouth, Meowth proclaims he's charge here in the English dub as opposed to him saying that he's going to tell the boss on them in the Japanese version.

* VillainDecay: Though they are still threatening and battle competent as their last appearance, Team Rocket's comedic side is more prevalent here than before. Their retreat after Caterpie's String Shot immobilized their Pokémon would subtly suggest that Team Rocket's defeat in the last episode was not a mere fluke.

** Misty reads the title card, making this is the first and so far ''only'' episode where the title is read by someone other than Ash.

** Caterpie evolves by bathing itself in its String Shot and molting its' skin, very similar to a real-life caterpillar going into pupation.

** Caterpie evolves by bathing itself in its String Shot.

* VillainExitStageLeft: Team Rocket furiously scarper off after being defeated in this episode instead of their usual "blasting off" RunningGag.

* DefeatEqualsFriendship: Unlike many other Pokemon in the anime, both Caterpie and Pidgeotto are succinctly loyal to Ash after being caught.

* EveryoneHasStandards: Despite her vocal contempt for Caterpie and Bug-type Pokemon as a whole, Misty was quite outraged that Ash obliviously risked its life by pitting it against a Flying type.

* IdiotHero: This episode presents Ash as being extremely ignorant of how catching and battling Pokémon is done, most likely to provide an excuse to explain these things to the viewers. Among other things Ash has to be told that not all Pokémon can be caught by just throwing a Pokeball at them[[note]]A lesson he should've learned in the first episode[[/note]] and that Bug-type Pokemon are weak against Flying-type Pokémon.

* EveryoneHasStandards: Despite her vocal contempt for Caterpie and Bug-type Pokemon as a whole, Misty was quite outraged that Ash obliviously risked it's life by pitting it against a Flying type.

-->"Don't... you... ''comeanyclosertome''!!"

** In the Japanese, it's one of the scant few times they don't say "This feels bad!" Interestingly enough, in the dub, it's the first time they ''say'' they're "blasting off".

* [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes Why Did It Have to Be Bugs?]]: This episode introduces Misty's fear of bugs and Bug-type Pokémon [[note]] She also dislikes carrots and peppers[[/note]]. Much of the episode revolves around Caterpie trying to get Misty's acceptance and approval.

Continuing from last episode, Ash immediately catches a Caterpie by throwing a Poké Ball at it. Once caught he takes it out to get a look at it and finds out that Misty is disgusted by bug Pokémon. Despite this, Caterpie tries hard to win Misty over.

!!Tropes

* EveryoneHasStandards: Despite her vocal contempt for Caterpie and Bug type Pokemon as a whole, Misty was quite outraged that Ash obliviously risked it's life by pitting it against a Flying type.

* IdiotHero: This episode presents Ash as being extremely ignorant of how catching and battling Pokémon is done, most likely to provide an excuse to explain these things to the viewers. Among other things Ash has to be told that not all Pokémon can be caught by just throwing a Pokeball at them[[note]]A lesson he should've learned in the first episode[[/note]] and that bug Pokemon are weak against flying Pokémon.

* {{Jerkass}}: Misty is this to Caterpie who is just trying to be nice to her and she constantly picks on him. She's also pretty rude to Ash throughout the episode.

** In the Japanese, it's one of the scant few times they don't say "This feels bad!" Interestingly enough, in the dub, it's the first time they say they're "blasting off".

* WorfHadTheFlu: In Pidgeotto's defence, it lasted well for a two on one assault.

!Japanese Title: ''I Caught A Pokémon!''
!!Original Airdate: April 15, 1997
!!US Airdate: September 10, 1998

!Original Airdate: April 15, 1997
!US Airdate: September 10, 1998

* WhatTheHellHero: Misty explodes at Ash for endangering Caterpie by sending him against a bird that could eat it.[[note]]In the Japanese version, she smacks Ash. The sound of the smack is still audible in the English dub, even though [=4Kids=] removed it.[[/note]] Ash returns the favor by calling her out for hurting Caterpie's feelings by spurning it constantly.

* RuleOfThree: Caterpie's capture gets a triple take.

* IdiotHero: This episode presents Ash as being extremely ignorant of how catching and battling Pokémon is done, most likely to provide an excuse to explain these things to the viewers. Among other things Ash has to be told that not all Pokémon can be caught by just throwing a Pokeball at them and that bug Pokemon are weak against flying Pokémon.