Pokemon Season 1 Indigo League box set review

I chose the original Pokemon theme as an update for yesterday since I thought it'd be nice to review the first season Pokemon box set, especially with all the first season marathons Cartoon Network has been having.



The front features stock images of Ash, Misty and Brock along with Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtel and it looks rather nice. The box itself is pretty much like previous Pokemon Box-sets releases with the standard cardboard box holding three DVD cases with one disc in the inside. Something cooler could have been done but its not bad either and it goes nicely with the previous box sets, even if they haven't been consistent with the spines.



The covers of the DVD cases is also generic but gets the job done as it really reminds you of that era in the cartoon, they feature Ash and Pikachu, Team Rocket and Misty with Starmie and Brock. The DVDs also feature pastel colors that make them look very kid friendly, some older fans might complain about that but I really like it and it truly shows the spirit of what Pokemon was in the late 90s.




The spines of the DVD cases have one of the starter Pokemon which is rather neat. Each DVD case has a paper with the episodes on that DVD and either Pikachu, Meowth or Starmie. The Menus themselves are like most other Pokemon DVD releases rather boring with just a static images in the menus. No extras whatsoever, not even subtitles.



The quality in the episodes is good and pretty much like past Pokemon DVDs. One bad thing is the Pokerap is not at the end of each episode. Instead the full Pokerap is included in the last episode of each disc. I would have rather have the Pokerap in Parts at the end of each episode like aired with the full PokeRap as a bonus.
Disc 1 has:
1. Pokémon - I Choose You!
2. Pokémon Emergency
3. Ash Catches A Pokémon
4. Challenge Of The Samurai
5. Showdown In Pewter City
6. Clefairy And The Moon Stone
7. The Water Flowers Of Cerulean City
8. The Path To The Pokémon League
9. The School Of Hard Knocks

This disc starts with Ash's journey just beginning meeting Team Rocket and Misty and healing his Pokemon. He later catches two Pokemon and watches his Caterpie evolve into Metapod. He meets a Samurai and Metapod evolves and is now a Butterfree. Ash gets his first Badge, goes through Mt. Moon to get to Cerulean City and his second badge. At this point he hasn't really earned any of his badges though. Ash gets cocky and looses and encounters a School for Pokemon trainers. So a lot happens in just the first 7 episodes. The last two while fillers have an interesting story and are among many peoples favorites.

Disc 2:
10. Bulbasaur And The Hidden Village
11. Charmander-The Stray Pokémon
12. Here Comes The Squirtle Squad
13. Mystery At The Lighthouse
14. Electric Shock Showdown
15. Battle Aboard The St. Anne
16. Pokémon Shipwreck
17. Island Of The Giant Pokémon
18. Tentacool & Tentacruel

In this disc we see Ash get all three starter Pokemon and he meets Bill in a rather strange episode. He has a tough challenge for his third badge but earns it at the end. They ride the St. Anne in a multi-part episode and the Pokemon get a cool episode and some mad tentacool/tentacruel. This disc also goes by quickly as there is always something happening and even the last episode here is the first "Pokemon going rogue" story in the series.

Disc 3:
19. The Ghost Of Maiden's Peak
20. Bye Bye Butterfree
21. Abba And The Psychic Showdown
22. The Tower Of Terror
23. Haunter Verus Kadabra
24. Primeape Goes Bananas
25. Pokémon Scent-Station!
26. Hypno's Naptime

Here we get an odd yet interesting filler, Butterfree's departure and an epic battle with Sabrina. We then get three fillers which are not bad and not a bad change after so much happenings. Sadly no Beauty in the Beach episode on this set.

As you can see this set includes a bunch of key episodes and the most fondly remembered ones from the series. I think this set should be flying off the shelves as people who liked Pokemon during the Fad would be all over this for nostalgia. Very few fillers here and most are very memorable. You can get get this set as cheap as $22 if you shop right (Amazon, DeepDiscount.com). Not only is this set highly recommended, its a must have for any Pokemon fan past or present. Even if you never checked out the anime or you gave up on Pokemon a long time ago. This set basically represents Pokemon in the 90s.




I'll have updates through out the week of random Pokemon happenings, maybe something different on tuesday and next Sunday a look into the future of Pokemon DVDs and the past releases in general.