Recap: The Problem with Paras

Hello again. Much like last time, this recap is a sort of experiment while I work on my screenwriting class before I go out of town later this month. I decided to do another episode of Pokémon Indigo League, just to keep things simple while I detox before my next episode of Code Geass R2. So, I will do something a bit less muddled to keep things going. That said, let's open up "The Problem with Paras."

Now comes the time to look at the very first episode of Pokémon to be broadcast on network TV. Prior to this, I watched the series on a former UPN affiliate before Beast Wars. When it made the jump to Kids' WB, I watched it afterwards instead. So let's get started.

Everyone arrives in Mossgreen Village to resupply their medicine bag. Team Rocket is close behind, but Meowth is under the weather. A young woman named Cassandra chides Jessie and James for leaving him behind, and gives him medicine for his fever.

Of course, it's Lisa Ortiz in yet another role she overacts. Every time she tries to be minor, she ends up punctuating every sentence with exclamation points. Does a period not exist with her?

Anyway, they go to see her "grandma," and the performance from my friend Mike Pollock resembles a mixture of Yoda and the old man from Scene 24.

How you get so big eating food of this kind?

Of course, say it with me now: they need help with a Pokémon. They're the only ones who can help, they don't have the time in their schedule, but they're going to anyway. See, I knew you could do it.

The task: to help Paras evolve into Parasect, so they can get the special spores from its mushroom. The problem is that Paras is a bit of a wimp. Meowth is more than willing to help, much to Jessie and James' chagrin. Charmeleon then totally annihilates Paras, and even goes out of control! Compared to the one in my AshGray mod, Char, Paras kind of sucks.

Charmeleon also has a bit of an ego, and Paras runs into the waiting arms of Team Rocket! Also, these scenes with Charmeleon are among the many revisited for "The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion."

Meowth then opts to help Paras evolve, with the help of Arbok and Weezing. Cassandra apparently wants to make a medicine to help the attack, defense and intelligence of Pokémon. Misty then suggests giving Ash some. Couldn't they just give him some gingko?

Paras needs to get more confident, and Meowth wants to get rich quick! Everyone decides to help Paras again, but Charmeleon is none too receptive to the idea; and still out of control! The "grandma" then chides Ash for letting Charmeleon get the better of him. "Ready are you? What know you of ready?"

Pikachu then draws the proverbial white flag; and Paras then evolves into Parasect and puts Charmeleon to sleep with Spore! Charmeleon's disobedience comes up more times; even continuing into Johto, and we'll get to that before I retire.

Ash then vows to better himself as a trainer as everyone heads off, and Team Rocket's get rich quick scheme fails when it's revealed that "grandma" has a Persian as a mascot! 

That is why you fail.

As you can tell, "The Problem with Paras" doesn't have a whole lot to it. There's really not much to say this time, it's just stock filler that comes up every now and again. "Pikachu's Goodbye," it is not.

This is going to be the last Kanto episode for a while, but I have much planned for the rest of this month. That's all for now. Bang.