Ash, Brock and Misty are still on their way to Vermilion City, and are lost. Brock points out a bug on Misty’s leg, and Misty leaps onto Ash’s back as if they were playing a game of leapfrog! Brock is actually teasing her with a reed, Misty; not amused, kicks him in the face for it. They notice Route 24 leads to Vermilion City, but it actually leads away from it in the games. They decide to head off again. Little side note: this was one of the first episodes I watched as a kid. They then notice a Pokémon sitting on a rock: Charmander!
The Pokédex tells of the flame on its tail, and says that it dies if it goes out. Ash says that he was disappointed that he couldn't get Charmander as his starter. I must also note the character's voice seems to be loosening up from the initial husky voice to the more gravelly one the character is known for. I admire Veronica Taylor for that. Misty points out this Charmander seems weak, and Brock says to capture it and take it to the Pokémon Center. Charmander swats the Poké Ball away with its tail, Brock points out it's too weak to battle, looking at the flame on its tail. Charmander again refuses to be captured, and Brock admires its spunk. Pikachu tells everyone with a game of charades that someone else is coming for it. More on that later.
The gang reaches the Pokémon Center as it starts to rain. Brock muses if someone got Charmander. Just then, he overhears someone at another table marveling at all his Pokémon. The boy's name is Damian: I think it's fitting, and you're about to find out why. Damian, when asked about Charmander, snidely remarks at its weakness. Damian then reveals he's the one that left Charmander alone on that rock! Ash and Misty are both disgusted with him as Brock rises from his chair! At moment, Brock grabs Damian by the collar and says exactly what I want to this piece of trash. He demands he get Charmander before its flame goes out and dies! You know, it's weird watching these older episodes before 4Kids would not allow any mention of death at all. I bet if you gave them Star Wars after a certain point, they'd probably say that Owen and Beru were buying groceries when the Empire attacked their home.
Ash, Brock and Misty then rush into the storm to save Charmander! Ash and Brock shield Charmander with their raincoats as they rush back to the Pokémon Center. Ash informs Nurse Joy of Damian's lie, and she then gets to work on healing Charmander.
Charmander has healed, and Nurse Joy says all it needs now is a good night's rest. The next morning, Brock wakes everyone up and says Charmander is no longer in the ER! Ash deduces it went back to the rock to wait for Damian. Misty says that's its decision, even if he is a lying creep. No: that goes beyond "lying creep" and straight into the demonic spawn of his namesake.
Charmander heads down the road, as does the gang. Team Rocket drills a hole for the "twerps," and they fall in! Team Rocket, dressed in rubberized hazmat suits; then try to take Pikachu! They do this with a bazooka that fires rubber balloons. In other words: Rover from The Prisoner.
Charmander then steps in Team Rocket's path. Team Rocket tells Charmander to move, and Charmander responds by burning them to a crisp!
Everyone gets out of the hole, and Misty says she always knew Charmander cared! Ash offers for Charmander to come with them right as Damian comes back! Charmander then faces a decision: go back with Damian, or join Ash and his friends?
Ash then calls out Damian for his misdeeds, but Damian will not admit he was wrong! Misty and Brock are outraged at how Damian wants Charmander back, but wants no part in training it! Charmander then realizes how little Damian cares, and swats the Poké Ball away when he tries to call it back! Damian tries to use his other Pokémon, and Charmander roasts him in one of the funniest and most awesome moments of the series.
Damian then runs away as Ash congratulates Charmander, and the audience applauds at how this scum bucket got his much-deserved comeuppance!
Brock encourages Ash to catch Charmander, saying he'll train it into a great Pokémon. So, Ash gets Charmander, and that's the end of the episode.
"Charmander the Stray Pokémon" has a surprisingly dark story for a series that's known for being lighter than the games on which it's based; and it definitely shows that aspect with the character of Damian. The early battles are quite good, and Charmander's bond with Ash is one of the most recognizable partnerships of the series to this day. As I said before, the Charizard it grows into is one of the most recognizable monsters in the series history, so I definitely recommend watching it. I still have one more of these episodes left to go, so check back next time for my look at it. Later.
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