Japanese Title: Decisive Battle! Guren Gym!
Original Airdate: August 20th, 1998
US Airdate: September 18th, 1999
The one where... Charizard listens to Ash. Kind of.
Ash continues his quest to attain his Volcano Badge once he finally locates the gym that is suspended above a pool of molten lava! Only a strong fire Pokémon could help him in this battle, so Ash must rely on his misbehaving Charizard to help him win this smoldering match.
Tropes
- A Taste of Power: Charizard actually obeys Ash here, showing off his what would later be signature Seismic Toss finisher and how Ash would be able to fight having a fully evolved Pokemon at his command, all in Charizard's desire to fight Magmar. Afterwards however Charizard goes back to refusing to cooperate with Ash and it wouldn't be until well into next season that Ash finally would get him to cooperate regularly.
- Animation Bump: Starting in this episode, Masaaki Iwane joins the staff as an animation director. The battle between Charizard and Magmar shows far greater detail and more fluid animation than previous battles.
- Ash Face: Charizard scorches Ash with a flamethrower when he tries to recall him.
- The Cameo: Jigglypuff makes her obligatory appearance in the volcano before she's chased off by Ash.
- Chased Off into the Sunset: The episode ends with Misty chasing after Ash after suddenly remembering he still owes her a new bike.
- Comically Missing the Point: As the volcano is being iced, Ash thinks that Blaine's shocked reaction is another joke. Blaine is less than amused.Blaine: What's going to happen to this gym if it's filled with ice?
Ash: It'll be a snow cone!
Blaine: I wasn't making a riddle! Freezing all this hot rock can set off a giant chain reaction deep inside the volcano! - The Determinator: Pikachu insists on helping the rock and fire Pokemon block the lava flow even after Blaine warns him that he may not withstand the heat. Pikachu is also very willing to fight Magmar again even after clearly being outmatched in the previous episode.
- Exact Words: When Magmar drags Charizard beneath the lava, Ash protests this is against the rules; the terms of their battle were that the volcano itself would serve as the battleground. However, Blaine points out that under the volcano is still part of the volcano — ergo Magmar didn't cheat.
- Finishing Move: This marks the first appearance of Charizard's Seismic Toss, which will become his Signature Move up until Black & White.
- Fire-Forged Friends: After seeing Magmar trying to save the volcano, Charizard actually steps in to help. After the crisis is averted, the two seemed to have earned each other's respect.
- Got Me Doing It: After all of Blaine's puns, Ash starts making a few.Blaine: Ice in a volcano? That's freezer burn!
Ash: Maybe you should cool it with the jokes. - Hope Spot: Ash thinks Charizard started to obey him now (Charizard having followed Ash's instructions to the letter in the rematch) only to be scorched by a Flamethrower.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: After Pikachu nearly falls to his death in the volcano during the first battle against Blaine, Ash surrenders rather than continue to risk his Pokemon's life.
- Lampshade Hanging: Ash expects Blaine to hand over the Volcano Badge after he and his friends help save the volcano from Team Rocket, as had occurred under similar circumstances at the Cerulean, Celadon and Saffron gyms. Blaine refuses, insisting on an actual rematch. Ash is thrilled to have a rematch anyway. Probably counts as Running Gagged too.
- Lava Is Boiling Kool-Aid: The lava in the volcano is quite watery and splashy.
- Lava Pot Volcano: Blaine has moved his gym inside of Cinnabar Island's volcano due to a dislike for the hordes of tourists attracted by the hot springs. The gym consists of a platform suspended over a lava pool inside a cavern; after this is destroyed in the weekly altercation with Team Rocket, Blaine and Ash hold a rematch over a different lava lake in the volcano's crater.
- Lethally Stupid: In a panic, Team Rocket freeze-blasts the entire volcanic chamber where the battlefield is located, causing the rocks to crack apart and lava to spill into the chamber at an alarming rate, creating the risk of a volcanic eruption.
- Motive Decay: Misty has actually forgotten about why she had been following Ash for such a long time now. Unfortunately for Ash, Brock decided to refresh her memory, leading to an "Oh, Crap!" moment for Ash.
- Nobody Poops: Averted for a pun.Blaine: I was on my way to the lavatory when I heard all the noise! Of course, in a volcano, every room is a lava-tory!
- Oh, Crap!: The look on Ash's face as Brock reminds Misty why she'd been following him in the first place says it all.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
- As mentioned above, the one time when Blaine isn't cracking jokes is a sign that things are going straight to hell.
- Charizard is moved to help Magmar fix the issues at the volcano, and decides to battle for Ash for once just so he can battle Magmar. Too bad he goes right back to his petulant ways afterward.
- Stern Teacher: Blaine comes off this way. While smug about winning, he does congratulate Ash for knowing when to forfeit when Pikachu was put in peril. He also insists rather sternly on a rematch when Ash suggests that he be given the Volcano Badge for stopping the eruption.
- The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: After deciding Magmar was strong enough, Charizard actually insists that it be the one to battle instead of Pikachu, wanting to test its strength.
- The Worf Barrage: Charizard was able to push back Fire Blast with his bare hands (fire against fire, but still), the same attack that caused Ash to forfeit his first match against Blaine, and then toss it away.
- Visual Pun: In the Japanese version, when Charizard deflects Magmar's Fire Blast, as the attack sails away, it changes shape from the kanji for big, to the kanji for medium, then the kanji for small, before dissipating entirely. The dub still keeps the sound effects for its changing shape though.
- Worthy Opponent: After seeing how strong Magmar was while it was working to stop the lava flow by hurling boulders, Charizard decides it is this and not only steps in to help, it actually volunteers to battle, wanting to test its strength.
