August 25, 2025 • 30 mins
In this episode of the Pika Pals Podcast, Jed rewatches Pokémon “The Tower of Terror” — where Ash braves a haunted tower in search of a Ghost-type, befriends a mischievous Haunter, and experiences one of the strangest (and spookiest) adventures of the series. Expect a full recap, anime trivia, dub changes, and a round of “Who’s That Pokémon?”
⚡️ What you’ll hear in this episode:
Full recap and analysis of Pokémon Indigo League – “The Tower of Terror”
Behind-the-scenes Pokémon anime trivia, production notes, and dub edits
A round of the classic “Who’s That Pokémon?” game — can you guess it before the reveal?
Pokémon-themed jokes, parody sponsors, and nostalgic mini games
Heartfelt life lessons inspired by Pokémon
💬 Join the conversation:
Did Haunter’s pranks make this episode more funny than scary for you?
If you could catch one Ghost-type Pokémon from the original games, which would you choose: Gastly, Haunter, or Gengar?
Do you think Ash’s decision to befriend Haunter instead of battling it was the right move?
🎙 About the Pika Pals Podcast
Your weekly trip back to Pokémon’s classic era — from Ash’s first steps in Pallet Town to the height of Pokémania. Hosted by Pokémon Trainer Jed, a lifelong fan and proud jelly donut defender, this nostalgic rewatch covers the original anime and the world that surrounded it: toys, trading cards, magazines, playground rumours, and more. Each episode is packed with laughs, trivia, retro fun, satirical “sponsor” skits, and spotlights on the Pokémon of the week.
📲 Follow & Connect
Follow: @PikaPalsPod
Email: pikapalspod@gmail.com
Leave me a voice message: PikaPalsPodcast
Letters via Poké-mail also accepted.
💛 Support Mental Health
I’m raising money for Mind in Somerset — inspired by Pokémon’s themes of courage and connection. Donate via Pika Pals Unite and support mental health in the Pokémon community.
🚨 Disclaimer
Pika Pals Podcast is a fan project and not affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company. All rights to characters, names, and images belong to their respective owners. Episode details and Pokémon facts referenced from Bulbapedia and Serebii with appreciation for their amazing fan communities.
Keywords: Pokémon anime podcast, Pokémon nostalgia, Pokémania, Indigo League rewatch, Ash Ketchum, Pikachu, Misty, Brock, Kanto region, Team Rocket, 90s anime, Pokémon episode review, anime podcast, retro anime, classic Pokémon, fan theories, Pokémon rewatch, mental health, fandom, Pika Pals Podcast
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:19):
And now, join Pokémon Trainer Jed for a non-stop,
action-packed, laugh filled perilous journey.
Turn your hat around, grab your pokeballs, and get ready for the
fantastic Pika Pals podcast, where the excitement never ends.
Welcome to the Pika Pals podcast.
I'm your host, Pokémon Trainer Jet, and I thank you for tuning
(00:41):
in. Today I'm diving into episode
23, the Tower of Terror. This is a very special, a very
spooky, most haunted edition of the Pika Powers podcast.
Let's get to it. Now today I'm diving into
(01:22):
episode 23, The Tower of Terror,and to join me on this very
ghostly Pokémon episode. I am joined live throughout the
episode by the cast of Most Haunted.
Yvette Fielding, Derek Okora, and all the others are going to
(01:44):
be checking in with me throughout the episode to let me
know about any Pokémon Ghost activity.
So before we get started, let's call Yvette Fielding and check
in right now to let her know that the episode is about to
begin. OK, just calling Yvette.
(02:10):
Hello, Yvette. Who's there?
Hello is. There anyone there?
Hello, it's Jed from the Pika Powers Podcast.
Is. There anyone here?
Is there anybody here? Oh, pardon me a bit.
Has anybody just coughed? Can you hear me?
I just wanted to know if you've come across any ghost Pokémon
yet? That shit me up some.
(02:40):
OK, I'm not quite sure if Yvettecan hear us.
We're going to have to check back in with her later in the
show. The Tower of Terror, the
Japanese title for this episode,was Capture at the Pokémon
Tower, and it is the 23rd episode of the Pokémon animated
(03:02):
series. It was first broadcast in Japan
on September the 2nd, 1997 and in the United States on October
the 7th, 1998. In this episode, Ash realizes
that he must battle and collect a Ghost Pokémon in order to
defeat the young girl's psychic Pokémon from the previous
(03:23):
episode. In search of a Ghost Pokémon, he
heads immediately for a tower inLavender Town, where they are
said to dwell. During this episode, while
trying to defeat the Ghost Pokémon, Ash actually learns an
important lesson about the mystical spirit world.
Jesse James and Meowth from TeamRocket are already in the tower,
(03:43):
but as they lay and wait for ourheroes, they are attacked by
Ghastly, Haunter and Gengar. Behind you, look behind you.
What are you jabbering? Behind you.
Look there, right there. Behind me, there's nothing
there. What?
(04:04):
Huh. You must be seeing things.
It was there. Don't tell me you're seeing
things again. Get.
Away. Fuck, fuck.
It was an episode that saw ghosts, gags, and a brush with
(04:24):
the afterlife. This episode had it all.
Ash, Misty and Brock and Pikachuarrived in Lavender Town and
explored the spooky Pokémon Tower in search of ghost type
Pokémon. Inside, they encountered Ghastly
Haunter and Gengar, who mostly wanted to prank and play rather
(04:45):
than battle. Team Rocket, of course, got
spooked and smacked around by the ghosts 2, and Ash and
Pikachu even temporarily leave their bodies and float around as
spirits. Yes, that actually happened.
Realizing that ghosts are more goofy than scary by the end of
(05:07):
the episode, Haunter decided to tag along with Ash, setting the
stage for his rematch against Sabrina.
This one was part haunted house,part comedy club, and it moves
at a really weird but fun rhythm.
This episode bounces between creepy atmosphere, foggy
(05:27):
lavender town, ominous tower, crashing chandeliers, and
slapstick comedy. Ash scaring his friends with a
Halloween mask, Ghosts pulling funny faces.
Team Rocket acting as clowns. The pacing feels a bit loose and
chaotic, almost like a haunted funfair ride, but it kind of
(05:49):
really adds to the unsettling feeling of the overall episode,
which fits because it's an episode about ghost types.
In terms of the series arc, thisepisode is less about Pokémon
battles and more about Ash building the connection he'll
need to challenge Sabrina in thenext battle.
(06:11):
It's a bit of a tonal detour in terms of the first series of
Pokémon, but it's an important pit stop in Pokémon history.
And if nothing else, we learned that Ash is brave enough to get
licked by a ghost and still laugh about it.
We saw Ash was still impulsive and goofy like he has been in
(06:33):
many of the episodes so far, lungering at ghosts without a
second thought, but it was Ash'swillingness to dive into the
unknown that ultimately earn himHaunters trust.
Maybe a lesson we can all earn from Ash if you're trying to
make friends with a ghost. Pikachu again showed loyalty
sticking with Ash through a literal out of body experience,
(06:56):
even if he was a little bit terrified.
Whereas Misty and Brock were mostly the Comic Relief in this
episode, Brock got shocked and scooped up by furniture.
He also got Charmander's Flamethrower to the face.
At one point. We saw Misty scream a lot.
She seems to be as terrified of ghosts as she is of bug type
(07:18):
Pokémon. But it was nice to see Misty
blush when Ash comes back round towards the end of the episode
and we get to see a little glimmer that she actually cares
more than she lets on. And our new arrivals, Haunter,
Gengar and Ghastly really let their personality shine in this
episode. And they were probably the
complete opposite of what most people were expecting.
(07:42):
They weren't malicious monsters at all, in fact they were lonely
tricksters who just wanted friends and a laugh.
They just wanted to play bouncy ball with someone and have a go
on a merry go round. I like the little details of
Haunter, Gengar, and Ghastly. Watching comedy programs on TV
and trying to recreate the skits.
(08:03):
It really made them stand out from other villains that we've
encountered in Pokémon so far. Now, looking a little bit deeper
into the episode and thinking about any themes or moral
takeaways, it would turn out that the scariest thing in
Lavender Town is actually loneliness.
And the big theme here is playfulness versus fear.
(08:27):
The ghost Pokémon look terrifying, but once you
actually understand them, they're just looking for a fun
and companionship that flips thewhole idea of fear on its head.
There's also a message about notjudging others by their
appearance. Ghost types aren't evil, they're
just misunderstood. Finally, there's a subtle theme
(08:49):
of connection. Ash can't stay with the ghosts
because he has his own journey to embark on, but haunted
choosing to follow him shows that laughter and friendship can
bridge even the strangest of worlds.
And finally, some of my episode highlights moments that made me
(09:10):
laugh, gasp, cheer, hide behind the sofa.
This episode is basically a haunted blooper reel, so there
was no shortage of highlights. If you choose to go back and
rewatch this episode, look out for Brock grabbing Pikachu's
tail and getting a Thunder Shock.
Ash scaring his friends with theHalloween Mask and Pikachu
(09:34):
giving him a shock for it. Team Rocket getting terrorized
by Ghastly after literally falling through the floor.
The floating banquet table scene, which was just complete
Pokémon madness. It felt like it was something
out of Beauty and the Beast, butcreepier.
At least the teapot wasn't talking.
You've got to check out the scene with Ash and Pikachu's
(09:57):
spirits leaving their body to goon a ghostly joyride and
Haunter's final decision to follow Ash, cementing him as one
of the series most lovable unofficial Pokémon captures.
(10:24):
Well, it. Seems it was so much fun playing
with. Ash that pointer.
Decided to follow along on his Pokémon journey.
Maybe together their comedy act will knockout Sabrina's psychic
Pokémon. I can't.
(10:47):
Take anymore. Maybe I'm dizzy.
Let's dive in to some cool episode trivia.
This episode's English dub titlemay be a reference to the Tower
(11:08):
of Terror theme park ride. Now did you know that this
episode was actually temporarilybanned from re airing on Kids WB
after the September 11th attacks?
Most likely due to the episode title, but that actual reason
hasn't been revealed. This episode was partially
(11:30):
adapted into the book Night in the Haunted Tower.
This episode also features on Volume 9 Ghost DVD of Pokémon
Elements. And in this episode, Ash and
Pikachu share an out of body experience, a real world
phenomenon. Ghastly is revealed to be able
(11:51):
to create hands out of the purple gas around its body.
And did you know that in this episode Team Rocket does not
recite their famous motto? Meowth can be seen running on
all fours instead of two legs when running with Jesse towards
the 1st hole that James falls through, And Charmander's line
(12:13):
when he faces Haunter in the Japanese version can also be
heard in Super Smash Bros, specifically the game's Japanese
version when Saffron City's Charmander appears from the
Slipko door. Now re watching this episode
when Ash uses his Pokedex to check out the ghost Pokémon
(12:36):
which turns out to be Team Rocket, it says ghost Pokémon
are shrouded in mystery. However, when the real ghost
Pokémon later appear, the Pokedex has no trouble
recognizing them. Now this could just be because
there was actually no ghost Pokémon present the first time,
but really there was nothing there for the Pokedex to even
(12:58):
detect. In the English dub of this
episode. There's also another poker error
when Pikachu shocks Ash at the beginning, listen closely and
you can actually hear Ash's Japanese voice.
The same occurs later in the episode with Jesse when she's
running around with her hair on fire.
(13:19):
And of course, I love looking atthe dub edits, going back and
looking at the English dub compared to the original
Japanese version. Now for this episode, Brock
mentions that the voices sound like they're coming from a
torture chamber in the dubbed episode, but he was actually
referring to hell in the Japanese version.
(13:42):
And towards the end of this episode when Misty and Brock
find Ash, Misty asks Ash to listen to her but the original
dialogue was You can't die on Us.
And also in the original episode, Ash says that Haunters
lick paralyzed Charmander and you'll be able to picture this
(14:04):
scene in your head because it's part of the original Pokémon
opening sequence where Haunter gives Charmander a big old lick.
So it's definitely burnt in to Pokémon fans minds.
Speaking of Haunter, when Haunter pokes Ash's shoulder
from behind in the original Japanese episode, Ash thinks
(14:24):
that it's Charmander and tells him to cut it out, but in the
dubbed version, he thinks it's Pikachu and tells him to cut it
out instead. And lastly, in the dubbed
episode when Jesse falls on to James and Meow, James tells her
that the place is dangerous, butin the original Japanese
version, James instead remarks that Jesse is heavy.
(14:50):
Speaking of Heavy, let's check in with our most haunted Ghost
Correspondents, Yvette Fielding,Derek Okora, see if they have
been able to track down any Ghost Pokémon.
Let's connect live over to our Ghost correspondents and see
what's going on. Hello Yvette, can you hear me?
(15:11):
Have you seen any Ghost Pokémon There's?
One freaking noise up there. What's that?
OK, and I was just wondering, what would you say if Mr. Mime
came to your house? Just as I thought, she's scared
(15:38):
of Mr. Mime. That wasn't very much of A
Pokémon ghost update, was it? Think I'm going to call her back
and ask to speak to Derek? But first I've got to take a
pause for the cause. Keep the lights on in the Pika
Pals studio with a quick messagefrom our sponsors.
This episode of the Pika Pals Podcast is brought to you by
(16:01):
Gastly's Breath Mints. Are you tired of scaring off
your friends not because of yourterrifying ghost Pokémon, but
because your breath smells like you've licked the inside of a
Grimer? Don't worry, Ghastly's got you
covered. Each tint of Gastly's breath
mints is spiritually infused with that signature ghost type
(16:23):
essence. Sure, it may paralyze your
tongue for a few minutes, but that's a small price to pay for
not melting paint off the walls every time you speak.
And parents, don't panic. These are totally safe for kids,
unless your kid happens to be part psychic type, in which case
they may collapse in a fetal position and mutter something
(16:45):
about doll's houses. But hey, side effects are part
of the fun. The best part?
Ghastly's breath mints double upas pest control.
Just pop one open and watch unwanted guests float away
mysteriously, never to return. In fact, scientists are still
(17:06):
trying to figure out if that's the Mint working or Ghastly
himself. So next time you need to freshen
up before a big date, a gym battle, or just before scaring
your neighbors at the lavender tower, reach for Ghastly's
breath mints. Ghastly's breath mints leave
them gasping in a good way. Available now wherever a sketchy
(17:30):
salesman appear outside your Pokémon centre.
Not FDA approved. May cause levitation, dizziness,
or sudden haunting. Welcome back.
(18:03):
You are listening to the Pika Powers Podcast.
Thank you, as always, to this week's exclusive Pokémon
sponsor. Now on today's show, I'm joined
by the cast of Most Haunted. They are live on the scene in
Lavender Town exploring Pokémon ghosts.
(18:25):
Should we give them a call? See how they're doing?
I feel that we need to check in and see if they have captured
any ghost Pokémon yet. Let's give them a call now.
Hello, can you hear me? I was wondering if I could speak
to Derek about my Pokémon ghosts.
(18:46):
Derek sometimes gets possessed. Great, now Derek's been
possessed, I'm going to get anything inside of him.
You know what, it's probably best I just speak to the ghosts.
Can I speak to Ghastly, Haunter and Gengar, please?
(19:06):
Hey guys, how's it going? I just wanted to know what it's
like down there in Lavender Town.
That bad? Really.
Too many tourists. That can be a problem.
Can I speak to Ash quickly? I just wanted to ask Ash, what
do you thought of my Jokimon segment?
What do you think of my Pokémon jokes?
(19:28):
I don't get it. They're weird.
Are you guys trying to be funny?Your routine really isn't
working for me. Keep.
At. You.
I'm sorry to say it, but their humor really leaves me cold.
They're pretty sad. OK, let's crack open the Pokedex
and play. Who's that Pokémon?
I've got my official Pokémon Handbook and I'm about to read
(19:50):
you a clue. This Pokémon is a ghastly goal
and a mischievous might. When there is a full moon, this
Pokémon likes to scare people bypretending to be their shadow.
They then laugh at their feet. That leaves me with just one
(20:12):
question. Who's that Pokémon?
It's Gengar. This Pokémon's National Pokedex
number is 94, and it's classified as a Ghost and Poison
(20:36):
type Pokémon. Gengar evolves from Haunter and
is the final form of Ghastly. Here is Gengar's biology
rundown. Gengar is dark purple, has a
roundish body and red eyes, a wide mouth usually curled in a
sinister grin, and pointed ears.Numerous spikes adorn its back,
(20:58):
and smaller spikes resemble tufty fur on its head.
It's short arms and legs have 3 digits on both hands and feet,
and it has a stubby tail. Gengar's exceptional stealth is
granted by its ability to hide perfectly in the shadow of any
object. However, it's body acts as a
(21:21):
heat sink, cooling the surrounding area by nearly 10°F
five degrees Celsius. In Pokémon the series, Gengar is
shown to possess the ability to fly, turn intangible, and even
create illusions. In Generation 1, Nightshade was
it's signature moon. Did you also know that Gengar is
(21:45):
known for it's mischievous and sometimes malicious nature?
It enjoys playing practical jokes and casting curses, such
as pretending to be 1 shadow andthen behaving erratically when
the person notices. Gengar takes delight in the
victim's terror. However, surprisingly, Gengar
(22:05):
has been known to be loyal to a trainer who treats it well.
Gengar's shadowy powers can alsobe manifested offensively as a
result of evolution via trading.Gengar is rarely found in the
wild. Instead, it can be found in
caves and dark places where shadows form, particularly in
(22:27):
urban areas like cities and backalleys, and only during the
night. Interestingly, as mentioned in
Pokémon Sleep Pokémon Sleep Fact, Gengar is known to sleep
deeply while hiding in the shadow of a target it plans to
curse. We're not done yet.
(22:47):
Here's some extra Gengar trivia for you.
In the English Pokémon Red and Blue beta, Gengar's prototype
name was Phantom. This is similar to Gengar's
Korean name, which is Phantom. Gengar is Ken Sigamori's
favorite Pokémon. The reason for this is because
it finds gengar the easiest to draw.
(23:10):
Despite Gengar and its evolutionary relatives all being
part Poison type, none of them were able to learn any Poison
type moves by levelling up untilPokémon Let's Go Pikachu and
Let's Go EV. Gengar is one of the first two
Pokémon to appear in a Pokémon battle, both in the Pokémon
series and games, the other being Ding Ding Ding Nidorino.
(23:36):
This is due to their appearance in the opening animation of
Pokémon Red and Green, on which the beginning of the first TV
episode was based, as well as the Red and Green remakes.
Gengar, along with Nidorino and possibly other Pokémon,
originate from the Capsule Monsters game Design Pitch,
which would eventually become the Pokémon series.
(23:58):
In Pokémon Yellow, Gengar was the only Pokémon included in the
credits that did not appear in the credits of Pokémon Red and
Blue, and in Pokémon X&Y, Gengaris the only Pokémon with the
ability to levitate that is not eligible for Sky Battles.
Did you know that Mega Gengar has the highest based Special
(24:21):
Attack stack of all Ghost type and Poison type Pokémon?
And that when viewing Mega Gengar's Pokedex entry, the
camera can only be moved sideways?
Gengar could be seen as a counterpart to Alakazam.
They're both the last stage of athree-part evolutionary line
requiring trading to reach theirfinal stage of evolution and are
(24:44):
capable of Mega Evolution. They're also the same height,
and both get shorter upon Mega Evolution, and Gengar is also
tied with Snorlax for the most Pokedex entries in Pokémon the
series, with a total of 7. Gengar appears to be based on a
ghost. It's evolutionary line appears
(25:05):
to depict a ghost crossing from the afterlife into the living
world, with Gengar representing one that successfully broke
through. This is further supported by
Mega Gengar and Giganta Max Gengar, which can create portals
to other dimensions and the afterlife.
Gengar's many abilities revolving around shadows as well
(25:27):
as Pokémon category may also suggest it's partially based on
shadow people. Both it's Japanese and English
name also hint at possibly beinginspired by certain ghostly
beings due to its horn like ears, large teeth and dark
nature. Gengar may also be loosely based
(25:47):
on an ani or ani masks. Ani sometimes have a third eye
in the centre of their forehead,which could be the reason for
the detail in Mega Gengar. Gengar may also be loosely
inspired by the Cheshire Cat, asit possesses pointed ears, a
wide toothy grin, and the ability to vanish at will.
(26:08):
And As for Gengar's name, Gengarmay come from the name Ganjar
Walker as found in Gin, Ganjar or Weeda Ganjar, which is types
of remnants, or doppelganger, which is a ghostly double by
living person. It may also involve the Japanese
(26:28):
word Gin, which means phantasm. And that's all the facts you
could ever wish to know about Gengar.
OK, this has been a special ghost episode of the Peek of
House podcast, and I have been joined all episode by the crew
from Most Haunted. They are my Pokémon ghost
(26:51):
correspondents. Let's check in with them and see
how they're doing. Hello, I'm just checking in with
my Pokémon Ghost correspondent, or you'll have to excuse me,
I've got a terrible cough. There's a cough.
A cough. A.
(27:11):
Cough, No, no, that was me. That that was me who coughed.
Hello. Pokémon Ghost Correspondence.
I don't think you're quite getting the mission.
It's it's me. It's Pokémon Trainer Jed.
I'm on the other end of the phone.
Whoever. 'S in here, we know you're not
alive. Can I talk to Derek?
Derek, I just had a quick question about Meow, is he one
(27:31):
of the good guys or is he one ofthe bad guys?
Oh, he's a. He's a bad one.
He's a bad one. OK, that wasn't very helpful.
Let's call them back again. Hey, most haunted crew, it's Jed
just calling back. I just wanted to check if you've
(27:51):
come across any ghost Pokémon yet There's.
Noises down. There's noises down the bottom.
Did he? Just say that Genghars cut his
(28:19):
arm off. Well, it's the end of the show,
and you know what that means. Time has come.
It's for. The best I know it?
Who? Could.
Have guessed that you. And I somehow, someway, we have
(28:46):
to say goodbye. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo.
Somehow, someway, we have to saygoodbye.
That's all for today's episode. Thanks for hanging out Pika
pals. I hope you enjoyed it.
Coming up next time, a ghost Pokémon aids Ash in battling the
(29:07):
Saffron City Gym Leader. But after the Pokémon
disappears, Ash returns to the gym to rescue his friends and
the Gym leader from a dark, disturbing world.
It's Haunter versus Catawbra. Next time on the Pika Pals
podcast, I'd like to remind people that I'm raising money
(29:28):
for Mental Health through Mind in Somerset.
A huge, huge thank you to everyone who is kindly donated
so far. I really, really cannot thank
you enough. You can donate by the Pika Pals
Unite page and all details are in the episode description.
Help us spread friendship beyondthe screen.
(29:49):
Catch me across all socials at Peeka Pals Pod or e-mail me at
peekapals.pod@gmail.com. I've been Jed, this has been the
Peeka Pals podcast, and you've been a real Peeka pal.
The show may be over, but the journey continues.
And now, join Pokémon Trainer Jed for a non-stop,
action-packed, laugh filled perilous journey.
Turn your hat around, grab your pokeballs, and get ready for the
fantastic Pika Pals podcast, where the excitement never ends.
Welcome to the Pika Pals podcast.
I'm your host, Pokémon Trainer Jet, and I thank you for tuning
(00:41):
in. Today I'm diving into episode
23, the Tower of Terror. This is a very special, a very
spooky, most haunted edition of the Pika Powers podcast.
Let's get to it. Now today I'm diving into
(01:22):
episode 23, The Tower of Terror,and to join me on this very
ghostly Pokémon episode. I am joined live throughout the
episode by the cast of Most Haunted.
Yvette Fielding, Derek Okora, and all the others are going to
(01:44):
be checking in with me throughout the episode to let me
know about any Pokémon Ghost activity.
So before we get started, let's call Yvette Fielding and check
in right now to let her know that the episode is about to
begin. OK, just calling Yvette.
(02:10):
Hello, Yvette. Who's there?
Hello is. There anyone there?
Hello, it's Jed from the Pika Powers Podcast.
Is. There anyone here?
Is there anybody here? Oh, pardon me a bit.
Has anybody just coughed? Can you hear me?
I just wanted to know if you've come across any ghost Pokémon
yet? That shit me up some.
(02:40):
OK, I'm not quite sure if Yvettecan hear us.
We're going to have to check back in with her later in the
show. The Tower of Terror, the
Japanese title for this episode,was Capture at the Pokémon
Tower, and it is the 23rd episode of the Pokémon animated
(03:02):
series. It was first broadcast in Japan
on September the 2nd, 1997 and in the United States on October
the 7th, 1998. In this episode, Ash realizes
that he must battle and collect a Ghost Pokémon in order to
defeat the young girl's psychic Pokémon from the previous
(03:23):
episode. In search of a Ghost Pokémon, he
heads immediately for a tower inLavender Town, where they are
said to dwell. During this episode, while
trying to defeat the Ghost Pokémon, Ash actually learns an
important lesson about the mystical spirit world.
Jesse James and Meowth from TeamRocket are already in the tower,
(03:43):
but as they lay and wait for ourheroes, they are attacked by
Ghastly, Haunter and Gengar. Behind you, look behind you.
What are you jabbering? Behind you.
Look there, right there. Behind me, there's nothing
there. What?
(04:04):
Huh. You must be seeing things.
It was there. Don't tell me you're seeing
things again. Get.
Away. Fuck, fuck.
It was an episode that saw ghosts, gags, and a brush with
(04:24):
the afterlife. This episode had it all.
Ash, Misty and Brock and Pikachuarrived in Lavender Town and
explored the spooky Pokémon Tower in search of ghost type
Pokémon. Inside, they encountered Ghastly
Haunter and Gengar, who mostly wanted to prank and play rather
(04:45):
than battle. Team Rocket, of course, got
spooked and smacked around by the ghosts 2, and Ash and
Pikachu even temporarily leave their bodies and float around as
spirits. Yes, that actually happened.
Realizing that ghosts are more goofy than scary by the end of
(05:07):
the episode, Haunter decided to tag along with Ash, setting the
stage for his rematch against Sabrina.
This one was part haunted house,part comedy club, and it moves
at a really weird but fun rhythm.
This episode bounces between creepy atmosphere, foggy
(05:27):
lavender town, ominous tower, crashing chandeliers, and
slapstick comedy. Ash scaring his friends with a
Halloween mask, Ghosts pulling funny faces.
Team Rocket acting as clowns. The pacing feels a bit loose and
chaotic, almost like a haunted funfair ride, but it kind of
(05:49):
really adds to the unsettling feeling of the overall episode,
which fits because it's an episode about ghost types.
In terms of the series arc, thisepisode is less about Pokémon
battles and more about Ash building the connection he'll
need to challenge Sabrina in thenext battle.
(06:11):
It's a bit of a tonal detour in terms of the first series of
Pokémon, but it's an important pit stop in Pokémon history.
And if nothing else, we learned that Ash is brave enough to get
licked by a ghost and still laugh about it.
We saw Ash was still impulsive and goofy like he has been in
(06:33):
many of the episodes so far, lungering at ghosts without a
second thought, but it was Ash'swillingness to dive into the
unknown that ultimately earn himHaunters trust.
Maybe a lesson we can all earn from Ash if you're trying to
make friends with a ghost. Pikachu again showed loyalty
sticking with Ash through a literal out of body experience,
(06:56):
even if he was a little bit terrified.
Whereas Misty and Brock were mostly the Comic Relief in this
episode, Brock got shocked and scooped up by furniture.
He also got Charmander's Flamethrower to the face.
At one point. We saw Misty scream a lot.
She seems to be as terrified of ghosts as she is of bug type
(07:18):
Pokémon. But it was nice to see Misty
blush when Ash comes back round towards the end of the episode
and we get to see a little glimmer that she actually cares
more than she lets on. And our new arrivals, Haunter,
Gengar and Ghastly really let their personality shine in this
episode. And they were probably the
complete opposite of what most people were expecting.
(07:42):
They weren't malicious monsters at all, in fact they were lonely
tricksters who just wanted friends and a laugh.
They just wanted to play bouncy ball with someone and have a go
on a merry go round. I like the little details of
Haunter, Gengar, and Ghastly. Watching comedy programs on TV
and trying to recreate the skits.
(08:03):
It really made them stand out from other villains that we've
encountered in Pokémon so far. Now, looking a little bit deeper
into the episode and thinking about any themes or moral
takeaways, it would turn out that the scariest thing in
Lavender Town is actually loneliness.
And the big theme here is playfulness versus fear.
(08:27):
The ghost Pokémon look terrifying, but once you
actually understand them, they're just looking for a fun
and companionship that flips thewhole idea of fear on its head.
There's also a message about notjudging others by their
appearance. Ghost types aren't evil, they're
just misunderstood. Finally, there's a subtle theme
(08:49):
of connection. Ash can't stay with the ghosts
because he has his own journey to embark on, but haunted
choosing to follow him shows that laughter and friendship can
bridge even the strangest of worlds.
And finally, some of my episode highlights moments that made me
(09:10):
laugh, gasp, cheer, hide behind the sofa.
This episode is basically a haunted blooper reel, so there
was no shortage of highlights. If you choose to go back and
rewatch this episode, look out for Brock grabbing Pikachu's
tail and getting a Thunder Shock.
Ash scaring his friends with theHalloween Mask and Pikachu
(09:34):
giving him a shock for it. Team Rocket getting terrorized
by Ghastly after literally falling through the floor.
The floating banquet table scene, which was just complete
Pokémon madness. It felt like it was something
out of Beauty and the Beast, butcreepier.
At least the teapot wasn't talking.
You've got to check out the scene with Ash and Pikachu's
(09:57):
spirits leaving their body to goon a ghostly joyride and
Haunter's final decision to follow Ash, cementing him as one
of the series most lovable unofficial Pokémon captures.
(10:24):
Well, it. Seems it was so much fun playing
with. Ash that pointer.
Decided to follow along on his Pokémon journey.
Maybe together their comedy act will knockout Sabrina's psychic
Pokémon. I can't.
(10:47):
Take anymore. Maybe I'm dizzy.
Let's dive in to some cool episode trivia.
This episode's English dub titlemay be a reference to the Tower
(11:08):
of Terror theme park ride. Now did you know that this
episode was actually temporarilybanned from re airing on Kids WB
after the September 11th attacks?
Most likely due to the episode title, but that actual reason
hasn't been revealed. This episode was partially
(11:30):
adapted into the book Night in the Haunted Tower.
This episode also features on Volume 9 Ghost DVD of Pokémon
Elements. And in this episode, Ash and
Pikachu share an out of body experience, a real world
phenomenon. Ghastly is revealed to be able
(11:51):
to create hands out of the purple gas around its body.
And did you know that in this episode Team Rocket does not
recite their famous motto? Meowth can be seen running on
all fours instead of two legs when running with Jesse towards
the 1st hole that James falls through, And Charmander's line
(12:13):
when he faces Haunter in the Japanese version can also be
heard in Super Smash Bros, specifically the game's Japanese
version when Saffron City's Charmander appears from the
Slipko door. Now re watching this episode
when Ash uses his Pokedex to check out the ghost Pokémon
(12:36):
which turns out to be Team Rocket, it says ghost Pokémon
are shrouded in mystery. However, when the real ghost
Pokémon later appear, the Pokedex has no trouble
recognizing them. Now this could just be because
there was actually no ghost Pokémon present the first time,
but really there was nothing there for the Pokedex to even
(12:58):
detect. In the English dub of this
episode. There's also another poker error
when Pikachu shocks Ash at the beginning, listen closely and
you can actually hear Ash's Japanese voice.
The same occurs later in the episode with Jesse when she's
running around with her hair on fire.
(13:19):
And of course, I love looking atthe dub edits, going back and
looking at the English dub compared to the original
Japanese version. Now for this episode, Brock
mentions that the voices sound like they're coming from a
torture chamber in the dubbed episode, but he was actually
referring to hell in the Japanese version.
(13:42):
And towards the end of this episode when Misty and Brock
find Ash, Misty asks Ash to listen to her but the original
dialogue was You can't die on Us.
And also in the original episode, Ash says that Haunters
lick paralyzed Charmander and you'll be able to picture this
(14:04):
scene in your head because it's part of the original Pokémon
opening sequence where Haunter gives Charmander a big old lick.
So it's definitely burnt in to Pokémon fans minds.
Speaking of Haunter, when Haunter pokes Ash's shoulder
from behind in the original Japanese episode, Ash thinks
(14:24):
that it's Charmander and tells him to cut it out, but in the
dubbed version, he thinks it's Pikachu and tells him to cut it
out instead. And lastly, in the dubbed
episode when Jesse falls on to James and Meow, James tells her
that the place is dangerous, butin the original Japanese
version, James instead remarks that Jesse is heavy.
(14:50):
Speaking of Heavy, let's check in with our most haunted Ghost
Correspondents, Yvette Fielding,Derek Okora, see if they have
been able to track down any Ghost Pokémon.
Let's connect live over to our Ghost correspondents and see
what's going on. Hello Yvette, can you hear me?
(15:11):
Have you seen any Ghost Pokémon There's?
One freaking noise up there. What's that?
OK, and I was just wondering, what would you say if Mr. Mime
came to your house? Just as I thought, she's scared
(15:38):
of Mr. Mime. That wasn't very much of A
Pokémon ghost update, was it? Think I'm going to call her back
and ask to speak to Derek? But first I've got to take a
pause for the cause. Keep the lights on in the Pika
Pals studio with a quick messagefrom our sponsors.
This episode of the Pika Pals Podcast is brought to you by
(16:01):
Gastly's Breath Mints. Are you tired of scaring off
your friends not because of yourterrifying ghost Pokémon, but
because your breath smells like you've licked the inside of a
Grimer? Don't worry, Ghastly's got you
covered. Each tint of Gastly's breath
mints is spiritually infused with that signature ghost type
(16:23):
essence. Sure, it may paralyze your
tongue for a few minutes, but that's a small price to pay for
not melting paint off the walls every time you speak.
And parents, don't panic. These are totally safe for kids,
unless your kid happens to be part psychic type, in which case
they may collapse in a fetal position and mutter something
(16:45):
about doll's houses. But hey, side effects are part
of the fun. The best part?
Ghastly's breath mints double upas pest control.
Just pop one open and watch unwanted guests float away
mysteriously, never to return. In fact, scientists are still
(17:06):
trying to figure out if that's the Mint working or Ghastly
himself. So next time you need to freshen
up before a big date, a gym battle, or just before scaring
your neighbors at the lavender tower, reach for Ghastly's
breath mints. Ghastly's breath mints leave
them gasping in a good way. Available now wherever a sketchy
(17:30):
salesman appear outside your Pokémon centre.
Not FDA approved. May cause levitation, dizziness,
or sudden haunting. Welcome back.
(18:03):
You are listening to the Pika Powers Podcast.
Thank you, as always, to this week's exclusive Pokémon
sponsor. Now on today's show, I'm joined
by the cast of Most Haunted. They are live on the scene in
Lavender Town exploring Pokémon ghosts.
(18:25):
Should we give them a call? See how they're doing?
I feel that we need to check in and see if they have captured
any ghost Pokémon yet. Let's give them a call now.
Hello, can you hear me? I was wondering if I could speak
to Derek about my Pokémon ghosts.
(18:46):
Derek sometimes gets possessed. Great, now Derek's been
possessed, I'm going to get anything inside of him.
You know what, it's probably best I just speak to the ghosts.
Can I speak to Ghastly, Haunter and Gengar, please?
(19:06):
Hey guys, how's it going? I just wanted to know what it's
like down there in Lavender Town.
That bad? Really.
Too many tourists. That can be a problem.
Can I speak to Ash quickly? I just wanted to ask Ash, what
do you thought of my Jokimon segment?
What do you think of my Pokémon jokes?
(19:28):
I don't get it. They're weird.
Are you guys trying to be funny?Your routine really isn't
working for me. Keep.
At. You.
I'm sorry to say it, but their humor really leaves me cold.
They're pretty sad. OK, let's crack open the Pokedex
and play. Who's that Pokémon?
I've got my official Pokémon Handbook and I'm about to read
(19:50):
you a clue. This Pokémon is a ghastly goal
and a mischievous might. When there is a full moon, this
Pokémon likes to scare people bypretending to be their shadow.
They then laugh at their feet. That leaves me with just one
(20:12):
question. Who's that Pokémon?
It's Gengar. This Pokémon's National Pokedex
number is 94, and it's classified as a Ghost and Poison
(20:36):
type Pokémon. Gengar evolves from Haunter and
is the final form of Ghastly. Here is Gengar's biology
rundown. Gengar is dark purple, has a
roundish body and red eyes, a wide mouth usually curled in a
sinister grin, and pointed ears.Numerous spikes adorn its back,
(20:58):
and smaller spikes resemble tufty fur on its head.
It's short arms and legs have 3 digits on both hands and feet,
and it has a stubby tail. Gengar's exceptional stealth is
granted by its ability to hide perfectly in the shadow of any
object. However, it's body acts as a
(21:21):
heat sink, cooling the surrounding area by nearly 10°F
five degrees Celsius. In Pokémon the series, Gengar is
shown to possess the ability to fly, turn intangible, and even
create illusions. In Generation 1, Nightshade was
it's signature moon. Did you also know that Gengar is
(21:45):
known for it's mischievous and sometimes malicious nature?
It enjoys playing practical jokes and casting curses, such
as pretending to be 1 shadow andthen behaving erratically when
the person notices. Gengar takes delight in the
victim's terror. However, surprisingly, Gengar
(22:05):
has been known to be loyal to a trainer who treats it well.
Gengar's shadowy powers can alsobe manifested offensively as a
result of evolution via trading.Gengar is rarely found in the
wild. Instead, it can be found in
caves and dark places where shadows form, particularly in
(22:27):
urban areas like cities and backalleys, and only during the
night. Interestingly, as mentioned in
Pokémon Sleep Pokémon Sleep Fact, Gengar is known to sleep
deeply while hiding in the shadow of a target it plans to
curse. We're not done yet.
(22:47):
Here's some extra Gengar trivia for you.
In the English Pokémon Red and Blue beta, Gengar's prototype
name was Phantom. This is similar to Gengar's
Korean name, which is Phantom. Gengar is Ken Sigamori's
favorite Pokémon. The reason for this is because
it finds gengar the easiest to draw.
(23:10):
Despite Gengar and its evolutionary relatives all being
part Poison type, none of them were able to learn any Poison
type moves by levelling up untilPokémon Let's Go Pikachu and
Let's Go EV. Gengar is one of the first two
Pokémon to appear in a Pokémon battle, both in the Pokémon
series and games, the other being Ding Ding Ding Nidorino.
(23:36):
This is due to their appearance in the opening animation of
Pokémon Red and Green, on which the beginning of the first TV
episode was based, as well as the Red and Green remakes.
Gengar, along with Nidorino and possibly other Pokémon,
originate from the Capsule Monsters game Design Pitch,
which would eventually become the Pokémon series.
(23:58):
In Pokémon Yellow, Gengar was the only Pokémon included in the
credits that did not appear in the credits of Pokémon Red and
Blue, and in Pokémon X&Y, Gengaris the only Pokémon with the
ability to levitate that is not eligible for Sky Battles.
Did you know that Mega Gengar has the highest based Special
(24:21):
Attack stack of all Ghost type and Poison type Pokémon?
And that when viewing Mega Gengar's Pokedex entry, the
camera can only be moved sideways?
Gengar could be seen as a counterpart to Alakazam.
They're both the last stage of athree-part evolutionary line
requiring trading to reach theirfinal stage of evolution and are
(24:44):
capable of Mega Evolution. They're also the same height,
and both get shorter upon Mega Evolution, and Gengar is also
tied with Snorlax for the most Pokedex entries in Pokémon the
series, with a total of 7. Gengar appears to be based on a
ghost. It's evolutionary line appears
(25:05):
to depict a ghost crossing from the afterlife into the living
world, with Gengar representing one that successfully broke
through. This is further supported by
Mega Gengar and Giganta Max Gengar, which can create portals
to other dimensions and the afterlife.
Gengar's many abilities revolving around shadows as well
(25:27):
as Pokémon category may also suggest it's partially based on
shadow people. Both it's Japanese and English
name also hint at possibly beinginspired by certain ghostly
beings due to its horn like ears, large teeth and dark
nature. Gengar may also be loosely based
(25:47):
on an ani or ani masks. Ani sometimes have a third eye
in the centre of their forehead,which could be the reason for
the detail in Mega Gengar. Gengar may also be loosely
inspired by the Cheshire Cat, asit possesses pointed ears, a
wide toothy grin, and the ability to vanish at will.
(26:08):
And As for Gengar's name, Gengarmay come from the name Ganjar
Walker as found in Gin, Ganjar or Weeda Ganjar, which is types
of remnants, or doppelganger, which is a ghostly double by
living person. It may also involve the Japanese
(26:28):
word Gin, which means phantasm. And that's all the facts you
could ever wish to know about Gengar.
OK, this has been a special ghost episode of the Peek of
House podcast, and I have been joined all episode by the crew
from Most Haunted. They are my Pokémon ghost
(26:51):
correspondents. Let's check in with them and see
how they're doing. Hello, I'm just checking in with
my Pokémon Ghost correspondent, or you'll have to excuse me,
I've got a terrible cough. There's a cough.
A cough. A.
(27:11):
Cough, No, no, that was me. That that was me who coughed.
Hello. Pokémon Ghost Correspondence.
I don't think you're quite getting the mission.
It's it's me. It's Pokémon Trainer Jed.
I'm on the other end of the phone.
Whoever. 'S in here, we know you're not
alive. Can I talk to Derek?
Derek, I just had a quick question about Meow, is he one
(27:31):
of the good guys or is he one ofthe bad guys?
Oh, he's a. He's a bad one.
He's a bad one. OK, that wasn't very helpful.
Let's call them back again. Hey, most haunted crew, it's Jed
just calling back. I just wanted to check if you've
(27:51):
come across any ghost Pokémon yet There's.
Noises down. There's noises down the bottom.
Did he? Just say that Genghars cut his
(28:19):
arm off. Well, it's the end of the show,
and you know what that means. Time has come.
It's for. The best I know it?
Who? Could.
Have guessed that you. And I somehow, someway, we have
(28:46):
to say goodbye. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo.
Somehow, someway, we have to saygoodbye.
That's all for today's episode. Thanks for hanging out Pika
pals. I hope you enjoyed it.
Coming up next time, a ghost Pokémon aids Ash in battling the
(29:07):
Saffron City Gym Leader. But after the Pokémon
disappears, Ash returns to the gym to rescue his friends and
the Gym leader from a dark, disturbing world.
It's Haunter versus Catawbra. Next time on the Pika Pals
podcast, I'd like to remind people that I'm raising money
(29:28):
for Mental Health through Mind in Somerset.
A huge, huge thank you to everyone who is kindly donated
so far. I really, really cannot thank
you enough. You can donate by the Pika Pals
Unite page and all details are in the episode description.
Help us spread friendship beyondthe screen.
(29:49):
Catch me across all socials at Peeka Pals Pod or e-mail me at
peekapals.pod@gmail.com. I've been Jed, this has been the
Peeka Pals podcast, and you've been a real Peeka pal.
The show may be over, but the journey continues.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!