Indigo League, Episode 23: "The Tower of Terror"

Season 1, Episode 23, Original Air Date: September 2, 1997 (JP); October 7, 1998 (US)

We open on Ash, Misty, and Brock in the woods, on the way to capture a Ghost Pokémon from Lavender Town; at the behest of a mysterious bearded man after losing to Sabrina. Those wacky bearded men, always offering advice on how to win Pokémon battles. It's like hooded sweatshirts, they just took off.

Misty wonders if the fog is an omen, but Brock says they've come too far; and requests that they hold hands to stay together. Ash and Misty do so. 

Brock accidentally grabs Pikachu's tail when reaching for Ash's other hand, and Pikachu zaps him. Misty says not to scare her like that, and Ash pulls a prank on them by wearing this skeleton mask.

Ash takes the mask off, and states that if they're going to capture a Ghost Pokémon, they have to learn to deal with fear. To manipulate the fears of others, you must first conquer your own. 

Misty and Brock call him crazy, and Pikachu zaps him. You can't hear this, but this scene contains a bit of Ash's Japanese voice actress as he screams from being shocked by Pikachu.  

Misty tells Ash to quit the boneheaded jokes; saying they have enough things to scare them. Ash says he'll save the masks for next Halloween; his eye twitching. Oh Ash, don't ever change.

Ash, Misty, and Brock arrive in Lavender Town, remarking how it's good they got there before it got dark. They reach the Pokémon Tower and state that it always appears dark around there.  Here's a bit of trivia: the reason you see your rival at the Pokémon Tower in Red, Blue, and Yellow is that he's burying his Raticate; as he got caught in the confusion of the SS Anne and couldn't get to the Pokémon Center to treat it in time.

Misty and Brock try to get Ash to go in alone, saying he knows how to deal with fear. Ash retorts that he's not scared. The whole point of fear is to apply it to something we don't know or understand, and acknowledging it is the first step to conquering it. He turns to Pikachu, who is falling asleep. That's just like Pikachu. He knows to be in bed when all the crazy stuff starts.

Ash decides to go to bed as well. Misty immediately wakes him up with an enormous gong. It's strange where my mind will go if I let it. Where did Misty get that gong?

We see Team Rocket looking over the gang from a balcony. This is years before they became far more menacing in Best Wishes. Here, they're pretty much the Coyote to Ash's Roadrunner. I also have to bring up Nathan Price voicing Meowth. He does a decent enough job in the first 30 episodes, but Meowth was really defined as a character when Maddie Blaustein took over. After listening to her, it's hard to think of anyone else doing Meowth, even as Jimmy Zoppi does his best in the new episodes. James crashes through the floor after taking a bad step. Meowth quips, “The floor broke his fall,” and vice versa.

At that moment, a cabinet door opens to reveal a startling sight: Gastly, the first Ghost Pokémon and longtime fan favorite. Meowth points to Gastly, but Jessie does not see it in time. Gastly appears over Jessie's face, causing Meowth to scratch it. Sorry, Meowth. Normal attacks don't affect Ghost types. It does however, hurt Jessie's face; remarking that “perfection has been ruined.”

Jessie finally sees the Gastly, and she falls down with James and Meowth, then they fall through another floor. That old place really is dangerous. What's the maintenance cost on that tower?

Misty says it sounds really horrible in there. Brock insinuates that they must have a torture chamber in there. Yes, a torture chamber. Ash and company finally enter the tower. Misty notices it's really dark in there, and Ash sends out Charmander to light up the place. It would be much easier if he knew Flash. Brock produces a candle, and Ash asks Charmander to light it. Charmander does so, and also roasts Brock.

Misty hears voices and wonders where they're coming from. We cut to a TV room, and we see Haunter and Gengar. They're a couple of bums, just sprawled out watching TV. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they appear to be watching a “boke and tsukomi” routine; in which a not-too-bright person irritates a smarter person, and the smarter person gets annoyed. The Western equivalent would likely be the “who's on first”

routine. Gastly comes in, and the three continue to mess around. After a shot of the trio in tandem, they set out to cause mischief for our heroes.

The gang comes across a dining room with a large bounty laid before them. I also notice that it has a party ball from Super Smash Bros in it. Yet, the first game chose Saffron City to represent Pokémon instead. Then, all the dishes and furniture go crazy and sweep up Brock, Pikachu, and Charmander. It's like a psychotic version of the tea party on the ceiling scene from Mary Poppins. The Ghost Pokémon come out and marvel at their success in driving the gang from the Tower. Those wacky Ghost Pokémon, they'd be a real kick to hang out with.

Ash encourages his Pokémon to go back inside, and Misty and Brock decline. Just another day for these folks. Ash hears voices in the giant hole in the tower, and orders Pikachu to use his Electric attack. You all know there is no Electric attack. He then has Charmander use Flamethrower. Ash then throws a Poké Ball, and it hits Jessie in the face. Jessie's face is having a really bad night. Jessie then vows to get Ash, and notices her hair is on fire. Just so you know, burning hair smells terrible. Jessie once again says he's going to pay for this. That's a nasty bit of frizz you've developed there, Jessie. Haunter approaches Ash, and bugs his eyes out at Ash. He's all, “Hello! I see you let yourself in.”

Ash scans Haunter with his Pokédex, and it states there is no further information available. No further information? The Pokédex software needs some fine-tuning. The Haunter pranks Ash again, and Ash commands Charmander to use his Leer on Haunter. Charmander then stretches out his own face, and gives Haunter the giggles. Haunter then uses his Lick on Charmander. I always wondered how that attack

works. Does it imply the Pokémon who uses it thinks their opponent tastes good?

Ash recalls Charmander. Enter Gengar, the OG of ghosts. He hits Ash on the head with a fan. Hey, fans aren't for hitting! They're for keeping cool! Ash then scans Gengar with his Pokédex. It also says there is no information available. Nothing on Gengar either? Ash labels Haunter and Gengar as weird. Of course. Everything about Pokémon is weird, but that's why I love it. Then, Haunter and Gengar act like funhouse mirror reflections.

Ash states the Ghost Pokémon routine isn't working for him, and the Ghost Pokémon have their feelings hurt, and get snowed over. Ash replies by saying, “I'm sorry to say it, but their humor really leaves me cold.” There you have it, folks. “Their humor really leaves me cold.” This saying can be applied in so many situations and ways. Just think of the possibilities.

Haunter and Gengar phase through the floor. Ash tries to follow them, and faceplants on the floor. So, James barely stepping on the floor breaks it, but Ash lunging face-first into it does nothing. Still, it dislodges a chandelier onto them.  

Ash and Pikachu are unconscious, and Haunter pulls their souls from their bodies. So, they're dead, or at least in a place between life and death. Given how Ash is still 10, I can assume this makes him a Time Lord.

Ash and Pikachu's spectral essences go with Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar; and Ash remarks how great a view it is from so high up. Lavender Town sure looks different. I mean, it was just a few buildings and a rock formation in the original games. Misty and Brock wonder what's keeping Ash, and Ash decides to fool around with Misty by raising her into the air. So, Ash, Pikachu and the Ghost Pokémon fly around at night. I'd like to do that if I could.

Haunter decides to eat Ash. You fool! He will regenerate! Still, Ash takes the joke well. The Ghost Pokémon take Ash to a sort of playroom. This is close to the room I would have if I was rich. Despite the allure of all the wonderful toys, Ash cannot stay; reaffirming his stance of wanting to become a Pokémon master. It will be a glorious day; and the start of a new journey.  

Misty and Brock look over Ash and Pikachu's bodies, trying to wake them. Don't quit on us now! The children love you! At that moment, Ash awakes, his soul having returned to his body. You won't

be rid of me yet. Brock states that it's good to have Ash back. Yes. It's very good indeed. They exit the Pokémon Tower, Ash stating that if he can't have a Ghost Pokémon, he can beat the Psychic Pokémon with his sense of humor.  

Haunter then appears to spook Misty and Brock, and Ash laughs at the expense of his friends' fear. We then close on Team Rocket being put through the merry-go-round over and over and over.

“The Tower of Terror” is a delightful romp through Lavender Town. While I do admit that the concept of Pokémon is indeed very silly, it does not make it any less fun for me now than it was when I was 7. To this day, it's one of my favorite episodes. I can definitely recommend this one. Happy Halloween, I'll be back in November with more including the conclusion of this arc. To be continued...