Japanese Title: Fire! Pokémon League Opening Ceremony!
Original Airdate: December 10th, 1998
US Airdate: October 23rd, 1999
The one where... Ash runs the not-Olympic torch.
On the day before the Pokémon League Tournament, Ash, Brock and Misty watch as the torchbearer runs by on his way to Indigo stadium. They learn that it is the flame of a Moltres, a legendary Pokémon that stands for the whole spirit of the Pokémon League that lights the torch. Ash's excitement and nervousness build up to the next morning as he joins the other trainers in the march of the athletes. But it's Team Rocket once again who tries to spoil the moment when they attempt to steal the flame of the Moltres.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Deus ex Machina: Team Rocket came really close to killing Ash here. They didn't anticipate the fact that Moltres' flame has a life of its own.
- Forgot About His Powers: Team Rocket attacks during the opening ceremony with over two hundred trainers, all of whom likely had a team of Pokémon with them. Apparently none of them besides Ash even thought to send any of their Pokémon out to try and stop them. Keep in mind that all of these trainers were skilled enough to earn at least eight badges.
- Kill It with Fire: This is one of the notable moments in the series where Team Rocket genuinely tries to murder Ash. After seizing the flame of Moltres for themselves in their grasshopper-shaped mech, the trio uses it like a flamethrower to sabotage the opening ceremony. When Ash tries to stop them, they immediately try to incinerate him with it.
- Miniature Senior Citizens: Mr. Goodshow, the elderly president of the Pokémon League, is quite short.
- My Card: When Ash tries to get the torch at first, he realizes that only approved competitors can become a torchbearer. As such, he shows Jenny his badges and earns President Goodshow's acceptance.
- Not-So-Harmless Villain: Team Rocket is particularly brutal in this episode. Nearly stealing the Moltres flame twice and attempting to outright kill Ash and his Pokémon.
- Save the Villain: Ash reluctantly calls forth Squirtle to extinguish Team Rocket when their first attempt to steal the flame ends with them set ablaze. This does not prevent them from stealing it again shortly afterward. And stealing it a third time later, attacking the opening ceremony, and attempting to outright kill Ash and Pikachu.
- Shout-Out: The torch relay is inspired by that from the Olympics.
- Tournament Arc: Part I of the seven-episode Indigo League storyline, although the actual battling doesn't start until the next episode.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: A terrorist attack isn't enough to stop the opening ceremony. "The show must go on", apparently.
- Tickle Torture: When Ash wrestles with Jessie over the Flame of Moltres, Squirtle tries to help him by stretching Jessie's mouth open. In return, Meowth tickles Ash's ribs to get him to loosen his grip, allowing Jessie to seize the Flame for herself.
- Too Dumb to Live: Apparently James thought that lunging at Pikachu himself and demanding the torch was a good idea. He predictably gets shocked for his efforts. Too be fair Pikachu did throw the torch away in order to shock him.
