Indigo League, Episode 16: "Pokémon Shipwreck"

Season 1, Episode 16, Original Air Date: July 15, 1997 (JP), September 29, 1998 (US)

Picking up where we left off, after a brief recap of the previous episode; we get Officer Jenny giving a symbolic wake to the missing passengers of the St. Anne: there's a bouquet of flowers, another officer playing "Taps:" the whole shebang.

Inside the ship, Ash, Misty and Brock must escape the submerged craft and make it back to land! Much like in the games, that ship isn't coming back: believe me, I waited.

Elsewhere, Jessie and James are dreaming they're on the beach, but come to in an oven fire in the galley! So, everyone forms a reluctant alliance to escape the ship and make it back to land. Since Misty has built a scale model of the boat, she has knowledge of the ship's layout!

Everyone finds a way out, with Charmander burning through the hull of the ship and Ash, Brock and Misty riding to the surface on water Pokémon! However, James' Magikarp can't swim, with Meowth dryly commenting "it can barely Splash." Well, nothing happens in the games either when that move is used.

While everyone is able to make it to the surface all right, Jessie, James and Meowth wash up on the platform they're drifting on; much to Pikachu's dismay.

Hunger also starts to set in, with Misty remarking that "she would have stuffed herself" on the ship if she had known this would happen; even though the previous episode showed her doing just that with some cake. Consistency? What's that?

Meowth then tries to eat Magikarp, but ends up breaking his teeth on the Pokémon, with it just being scales and bones! James has finally had enough, and kicks it into the water! However, this punt finally has it evolve to Gyarados!

Misty sends out her Water Pokémon, not to fight, but to run away! However, it's no use, as other Gyarados are summoned; sending everyone flying off with their Dragon Rage attack! Also, if you listen closely, you can hear Team Rocket yell the Japanese equivalent phrase of "we're blasting off again," "Ya no kanji," roughly translating to "this feels bad." The episode ends on everyone getting caught in their storm; leading to the events of the next episode.

As the second part of this story, "Pokémon Shipwreck" continues the precedent set by the last episode; and sets the stage for the next one. The animation has also held up very well over time, and I'm definitely all right with recommending it. I will start work on the next part by the time you read this, and I once again apologize for all the delays. I kind of feel like the people making the new Animal Crossing.

Next time, in 2020, will be my oft-delayed look at "Island of the Giant Pokémon!" To be continued...