Indigo League, Episode 18, "Beauty and the Beach"

Season 1, Episode 18, Original Air Date: July 27, 1997 (JP); June 24, 2000 (US)

Hello everyone, and welcome to my first of several looks at one of the infamous banned episodes on this blog. I know it's been a while since my last one; but things have been crazy lately. So, let's open up "Beauty and the Beach!"

After a brief "previously-on" segment from the narrator, we open on the resort town of Porta Vista, with Ash, Brock and Pikachu diving into the water and Misty in a bikini!

Ash remarks that it's weird to "see her looking like a girl." Misty, not amused, throws the beach ball she's holding in Ash's face in response!

Elsewhere, Team Rocket is below the surface in their Gyarados submarine; out to pickpocket all the beachgoers! Above the surface, the gang has commandeered a boat to see the sights! The two narrowly collide, sending the sub aground and the boat crashing into a nearby dock!

The owner of said boat and dock, whose name is Moe by the way; is unhappy about the accident, and everyone agrees to help work for him to repay their debt. Elsewhere, Team Rocket runs afoul of another restaurant owner on the port. Her name is Brutella, who also demands they work to repay her.  

Ash and Brock are trying to attract customers to the restaurant where they're working,
to no avail. Jessie, on the other hand, is much more successful.Ash is surprised to see Jessie there. Brock remarks that Jessie looks good in the uniform of the restaurant as well as her Team Rocket uniform. That's weird, you never expressed attraction to her before, Brock. 

Team Rocket even dismisses the restaurant Ash and crew are working at as a “no-quality dive”. This angers them and Ash decides to send out his Pokémon to help at the restaurant. Pikachu and Squirtle pass out flyers, Pidgeotto helps keep the charcoal lit with Gust, Charmander helps flame broil food, and Bulbasaur and Misty wait tables. Within moments, the place is packed.

Team Rocket is not happy with the attention that their competition is getting. Meowth then sets out to sabotage their rivals. Meowth uses a giant fan, an oil pump, and the old cliché of banana peels to wreck up their competition. The customers are gone, quick as they came. Everyone is down about what happened.

Ash apologizes to Moe about what happened. Moe says they at least tried, despite all the accidents. Misty says it doesn't feel right, and those couldn't have been accidents!

Brutella  comes in demanding the money Moe owes her by tomorrow; or she'll take his boat. Moe says that boat means everything to him, but Brutella merely says she'll see him tomorrow. Team Rocket then taunts them all.

Moe feels horrible, as he may have to give Brutella the boat because of the money issues. Ash asks how important the boat is to Moe. Moe says he was planning on taking it on a cruise around the world. Ash encourages Moe not to give up on his dreams, as Ash will not give up on his own. Ash is certain they will find some way to get the money.

Just then, Professor Oak comes in, and wearing a Hawaiian shirt no less. He also has an idea of what to do. Way to go, professor!

What do you know, Ash's mother Delia even shows up! The professor hands Ash a newspaper with an advertisement for the Porta Vista Beach Beauty and Pokémon Costume Contest later that day. The professor encourages them to advertise the restaurant; as there are many people drawn to the area to see the contest. With all the extra patrons, they will easily get the money they need in time. Misty also decides to enter the beauty contest, as there are cash prizes for the beauty and costume contests. With this, Ash declares that this is the end of their money troubles.

So, word is spread of the contest as Pokémon World plays (the dub was in the process of airing the Orange Islands episodes at the time this episode aired). Sure enough, Moe's is packed; much to Brutella's chagrin.

Delia explains that she and Professor Oak are touring with a volunteer patrol from Pallet Town. Professor Oak adds that she worries about Ash. She hopes he's staying out of trouble. Ash says not too much, but Moe interjects that Ash helped at his restaurant; and that Ash encouraged him. Ash thanks Moe for the kind words.

The contest has begun as Misty takes the stage. Get ready folks. The reason I finally decided to address this episode and the reason it was initially banned, and still is to this day.

The Pokémon costume is Squirtle and Starmie (which Brock mistakenly refers to as a Staryu) as aliens in a UFO. That's a pretty good costume.

So, now is the reason why this episode was banned. James is in a rubber suit with enormous fake bosoms.  Misty calls him out for this, but James simply replies by inflating his chest at will. It's referred to as the most common superpower. 

Naturally, this is because the standards of what's acceptable for kids in Japan is quite a bit looser. Let me demonstrate: Death Note? Kid's show in Japan. Gurren Lagann? Kid's show in Japan. One Piece? Naruto? Bleach? All the anime I just mentioned are a TV-14 at minimum in the US. So, as you can imagine, while this wouldn't be that big a deal to the Japanese; when the episode aired in the US, all the scenes with James in the suit were cut.

Next, we have Ekans and Koffing as Omanyte, but then, guess who kicks them right off the stage! Gary Oak. The swaggering rival of Kanto. You know he's going to ruin your whole day when he shows up. He is an egotistical and arrogant rival, and he makes sure you know his name when he calls you out.

Professor Oak sheepishly says he forgot to mention Gary was there. Ash is not amused. Sure enough, Gary begins talking down to Ash like he always does. Ash decides to rise to the occasion and meet his challenge.

Brock is really selling Gary's fan club. It does not make Misty happy; Jessie and James even less so. Brutella has repaired their Gyarados sub, and gives Team Rocket a job to do for them to get it back: wreck up the beauty contest and destroy Moe's restaurant.

Back at the contest, Ash, per usual, is not happy with Gary's condescending attitude. He challenges Gary to a match, but Gary replies that he only brought his fangirls with him. Ash calls him chicken, but Gary fires back by calling Ash an amateur. Ash should be more careful of who he picks fights with. Didn't he ever see the Back to the Future movies?

Just then, the Gyarados sub comes on land and starts terrorizing the beachgoers. Ash isn't fooled at all, and calls the sub out for what it is: a phony. This ends the panicking, and Ash decides to take a stand against this.

Team Rocket then fires a missile, and what do you know, it has a face on it like a Bullet Bill. Gary asks Ash if he's going to freak out. Yeah, he just took control of the situation, and is continuing to do so as he sends out Charmander and Pidgeotto to take care of the missile. Charmander uses Flamethrower to throw off the missile and send it on Team Rocket.

Team Rocket's reaction is priceless. Jessie and James have the standard issue wide mouths and sweat drops, and Meowth even derps a bit when they find out their plans have once again gone up in smoke.

The missile goes all the way to Brutella's restaurant, destroys it, and sends them all blasting off. Moe heads off on his boat trip around the world; and thanks Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu for believing in him. Ash, Misty, and Brock head out; with Delia and the professor remarking what a fine young man Ash has become.

“Beauty and the Beach” is a lush seaside adventure. It is a very strange episode, and not just because of the mammaries on James getting it banned. Apart from some nice animation; you can decide for yourself if it's worthy of its infamous status. Next time will be my look at "Tentacool and Tentacruel!" To be continued...