Pokemon: Why Team Rocket Wants to Catch Ash’s Pikachu
Team Rocket may be an inept trio of criminals, but their burning desire to capture Ash’s Pikachu is unmatched.
You Are Reading :Pokemon Why Team Rocket Wants to Catch Ashs Pikachu
Category : Pokemon
For a series dedicated to showing the evolution of its stars, Pokémon’s Team Rocket is slow to manifest anything but a strong desire for Ash Ketchum’s Pikachu. From the moment the trio of Jessie, James and Meowth meet Ash Ketchum and his first Pokémon, Pikachu, they can think of nothing more than to capture the little yellow power generator. In a world ripe for the plundering, the question remains: why are the villains after Ash’s Pikachu in particular.
Team Rocket isn’t exactly known for their brainpower. Despite having an abundance of tenacity and showmanship, they often fail in spectacular ways. This is usually the case when attempting to snatch Pikachu. In Pokémon Season 1, Episode 3, “Ash Catches a Pokémon,” the villains confront Ash and Pikachu alongside fellow trainer Misty. Notably annoyed but unafraid of the bumbling thieves, Ash produces an eye-roll worthy of a sass competition, asking why they’re bothering him again.
After a patented flashy intro, Jessie and James explain that they’re after his Pikachu, not him. “We’re only looking for the rarest, most valuable Pikachu in the world, kid,” says James. Meowth assaults the duo for sharing too much information—and then proceeds to share too much information.
“Your Pikachu’s power is impressive to me,” says Meowth. “Its powers exceed its evolutionary level.”
As the series progresses, Pikachu is shown to either be stronger than or at least a threat to other trainer’s Raichus, Pikachu’s evolved form. With his refusal to evolve into a Raichu, Pikachu’s adorable facade hides his true strength, perhaps a trait Team Rocket finds worthy of obtaining.
The other likely scenario for Team Rocket’s obsession is a common theme for low-level business people worldwide: a promotion. Giovanni, the gang’s boss, is a man of results, which begs the question of how Jessie and James remain employed. His desire to collect strong Pokémon for his villainous intentions is well documented, but when it comes to Pikachu, he’s rather blasé for the most part.
In Season 1, Episode 63, “The Battle Of The Badge,” Team Rocket brings a Togepi to Giovanni’s office. James explains that “it’s even rarer than that Pikachu you want so much,” which draws a blank, frustrated stare from the boss. This is one of the few times that Giovanni’s desire for Ash’s Pikachu is ever spoken of, but with no confirmation that what James says is true, we’re left to wonder if Giovanni is simply humoring the team or if he’s grown accustomed to their failure and disappointment.
This never stops Team Rocket from daydreaming about Giovanni’s approval should they ever catch the elusive Pikachu, but whether or not he would show more enthusiasm than he did for Togepi is unknown, with one exception: in a live-action stage play. In Pokémon Live!, which launched in the year 2000 and toured the United States for a year, Giovanni commands Team Rocket to capture Ash’s Pikachu to teach his ultimate Pokémon, MechaMew2, Thunder and Thundershock. Learning these attacks would make MechaMew2 the most powerful Pokémon in the world.
Spoiler alert: the plan succeeds, but the power of good overcomes and MechaMew2 self-destructs rather than assisting Team Rocket and Giovanni in taking over the world. The whole thing ends with a dance number, which definitely needs to be seen to be believed.
Team Rocket’s simplicity may be the reason behind Jessie, James and Meowth’s longevity in the anime series. Their one-track minds may make them failures in Giovanni’s eyes, but for viewers, their slapstick antics are a crucial part of the narrative. If not for their Pikachu obsession and the shenanigans produced as a result, Pokémon just wouldn’t be the same.
See more : PokemonWe