History Recap / PokemonS1E4ChallengeOfTheSamurai

* BrokenAesop:
** The episode ''wants'' to be about taking responsibility for your actions. Unfortunately, it mistakenly convinces itself that ''Ash'' is the one who needs to take responsibility, when the true UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom is the Samurai--the Beedrill swarm was summoned by the escaped Weedle, so the Samurai who distracted Ash and ''let the Weedle escape'' is at fault. The episode proceeds to take the Samurai's side when he blames Ash not only for letting the Weedle escape but for the Beedrill kidnapping Ash's Metapod--in effect it creates an unintentional {{Hypocrite}} by having the guilty party insist that it's NeverMyFault while convincing an unlucky schlub that ItsAllMyFault.
** Avoided in the [[Literature/PocketMonstersTheAnimation novel version of the episode]] by Creator/TakeshiShudo, as Weedle is caught by the Bug Catcher (Samurai's replacement) at the beginning of the chapter and the Beedrill are out hunting as opposed to being out for revenge. Ash forgets to recall Metapod and makes up excuses for it, and [[AdaptationalHeroism then Bug Catcher]] calls him out for it, [[WhatTheHellHero even tearing up at the thought of someone else's bug Pokémon becoming the Beedrill's snack]]. Ash then acknowledges his immaturity. This really gives more meaning to Ash's character development in this story.

[[JustForFun/TheOneWith The one where... Ash is harassed by a Samurai]].

** Samurai is ostensibly a Bug Catcher, but has an outlandish design that looks nothing like the trainer class in game. In future episodes, the Character of the Week will either look more like their game counterpart, or just have a relatively generic costume. Interestingly, [[Literature/PocketMonstersTheAnimation the novelization]] by Creator/TakeshiShudo has the Samurai's role played by a generic bug catcher from the games.

** Samurai is ostensibly a Bug Catcher, but has an outlandish design that looks nothing like the trainer class in game. In future episodes, the Character of the Week will either look more like their game counterparts, or just have a relatively generic costume. Interestingly, [[Literature/PocketMonstersTheAnimation the novelization]] by Creator/TakeshiShudo has the Samurai's role played by a generic bug catcher from the games.

* IncrediblyLamePun: When Misty spots another Bug Pokémon, Ash jokes that "Maybe it's a..." and comes out with a cow costume and says, ''Cow''-Terpie. [[LamePunReaction This joke is so lame, it causes the tree branch Misty is hanging onto to break and Pikachu to face-vault.]]

* LamePunReaction: Both Misty and Pikachu have one of their own to Ash's attempt to calm the former with a cow pun.

** Avoided in the [[LightNovel/PocketMonstersTheAnimation novel version of the episode]] by Creator/TakeshiShudo, as Weedle is caught by the Bug Catcher (Samurai's replacement) at the beginning of the chapter and the Beedrill are out hunting as opposed to being out for revenge. Ash forgets to recall Metapod and makes up excuses for it, and [[AdaptationalHeroism then Bug Catcher]] calls him out for it, [[WhatTheHellHero even tearing up at the thought of someone else's bug Pokémon becoming the Beedrill's snack]]. Ash then acknowledges his immaturity. This really gives more meaning to Ash's character development in this story.

** Samurai is ostensibly a Bug Catcher, but has an outlandish design that looks nothing like the trainer class in game. In future episodes, the Character of the Week will either look more like their game counterparts, or just have a relatively generic costume. Interestingly, [[LightNovel/PocketMonstersTheAnimation the novelization]] by Creator/TakeshiShudo has the Samurai's role played by a generic bug catcher from the games.