Indigo League, Episode 19: "Tentacool and Tentacruel"

Season 1, Episode 19, Original Air Date: August 5, 1997 (JP),  October 1, 1998 (EN)

Picking up where we left off, we open on Porta Vista; where everyone is waiting for a ferry off the island within the next three hours. Looking over the ocean, they spot a Horsea in the water! Ash scans it with his Pokédex, and Horsea makes an ominous ink painting in the water.

Misty decides to catch Horsea, but then; a boat explodes! As the sailors dive into the water, Misty sends out more of her water Pokémon to get them back to land! Ash and Brock also get a boat to help, and one of the sailors starts saying he needs to tell the boss. The boss in question is Nastina, the twin cousin of Brutella from last time! She's developing a luxury resort and hotel by the sea; with the Tentacool being the main obstacle towards its completion. She proposes the Tentacool be moved and or exterminated in exchange for lavish rewards; up to and including free all-expense paid stays at the hotel and $1 million in cash. 

Misty, however; is disgusted by the idea of exterminating an entire species, and storms out with the others. As Nastina begins forming another plan, remarking how Misty is "a girl who can't be bought;" we first learn Misty's affinity for the Tentacool line here. This is something of a running gag with her character, and it happens to be one of her most wanted Pokémon. Imagine that!

Horsea is healed, and I really like this image of Pikachu relaxing in the pool here. Very cute if I do so say so myself.

Just then, Nastina sends out the $1 million bounty on the Tentacool and the other rewards to everyone in Porta Vista; and Team Rocket answers the call! They vow to not only claim the bounty on the Tentacool; but have their own gains with their "super secret stun sauce!" Given how this episode already established the Tentacool are inedible, I guess it's just mayo left in the sun too long?

Within moments, the Tentacool overwhelm their boat! The sauce is chucked overboard, and not only is it completely ineffective; it causes one of the Tentacool to become a massive Tentacruel! Jessie then says they "supersized it!" ... You want fries and a Coke with that '90s Dynamax, Jessie?

Brock remarks that Tentacruel shouldn't be more than 7' tall as Ash scans it with his Pokédex and it envelops the resort! Nastina's weapons and backup prove fruitless; and Team Rocket narrowly escapes a tidal wave as Tentacruel has taken Meowth! 

Tentacruel then hurls a girder into the boardwalk theme park! Nastina remarks she's glad she got that insured as she fires off more weapons before she's washed away by a wave! Tentacruel then starts speaking through Meowth that this rampage is happening because the resort was built on top of their habitat; and they are responding in kind by destroying their home! Misty then realizes that's what Horsea was trying to warn them about!

Tentacruel attacks Horsea, and Ash sends out Pidgeotto to save Horsea before it's sent flying! Now, the time has come to fight back! All their forces combine to protect everyone from Tentacruel!

As the Tentacool are drawn back to the ocean by their attacks, Misty starts climbing the ladder of a nearby building; convincing Tentacruel to back down before the other Pokémon are overwhelmed! Misty is able to get through to Tentacruel, and the Pokémon agrees to take the Tentacool back to the sea on the grounds they never again try to harm their home in the coral reefs.

Meowth is then thrown back to Team Rocket by Tentacruel; but Nastina won't accept the monster's withdrawal! She begins firing weapons at Tentacruel, threatening to trap it in a tank; but Horsea squirts ink in her face and she's swatted away by Tentacruel! As Ash, Misty and Brock catch the next ferry off Porta Vista; Nastina crashes into Brutella's restaurant from last time.

So, with Team Rocket tethered to the ferry in a basin; we close on Misty having captured Horsea and flashing a peace sign; much to Ash's chagrin. Come on, it was the '90s: everyone was doing it then!

"Tentacool and Tentacruel" is a solid episode as one of several I've been meaning to cover a while; and I once again apologize for taking longer than I wanted to on the matter. Nevertheless, I am glad I finally have it done; and there will be more after the release of The Crown Tundra tomorrow. To be continued...