When it comes to thePokémonanime, there are a few episodes which are notorious for producing strong emotions among viewers, and one of them gets me every time. That episode is actually the special “Snow Way Out!”, and it goes to show just how strong the bond between Ash and his Pokémon is.
“Snow Way Out!” was a special episode aired in October 1998 in Japan and December 1999 in the US. The episode was seemingly createdafter the “Pokémon Shock” incident, in which many Japanese children were afflicted with seizures due to strobing lights caused by Pikachu’s electricity. This led to the anime going off the air for a while before returning, and this episode was added to the schedule during the time that the show wasn’t airing. High quality episodes like this one helped thePokémonanime to reestablish itself after the shock, so “Snow Way Out!” was essential toPokémon’s continuation.
Pokémon’s Best Episode Saw Ash Lost in a Snowstorm
The Episode Centers on Ash’s Bond with His Pokémon
“Snow Way Out!” begins with Ash, Misty, and Brock traveling through a mountainous area. Despite Brock’s concerns, Ash pushes forward into the snowy area, and soon a blizzard kicks up, which blows Pikachu away. Ash goes off chasing Pikachu, whileBrock and Misty attempt to create a shelterfor themselves. Ash wanders way too far away in his search for Pikachu, and right as he’s about to pass out, he hears Pikachu nearby. Ash rescues Pikachu, but slips down the mountain in the process, with no way to return to where Brock and Misty are.
Ash digs a snow cave to hide out in, and uses Charmander’s flames to help melt out an opening for them to enter. Bulbasaur and Squirtle seal the entrance from the inside afterward, blocking the weather from getting to them, but it’s still quite cold, and Ash is poorly dressed for the weather. He recalls his Pokémon so that they won’t have to be cold, and insists on Pikachu getting in his ball as well, although Pikachu disobeys.Soon, Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Pidgeotto pop out of their Poké Balls, intending to keep Ash warm as best they can. Ash sheds a tear, and says that they’ll all just have to be cold together.
Ash and his Pokémon make it through the night, and the storm has died down in the morning. He emerges to see Brock, Misty, and Onix not too far away, with Onix helping Ash get back up to them. Ash explains how he survived the storm, while Brock and Misty reveal they discovered a hot spring and actually had a rather pleasant evening. FindingTeam Rocket’s balloon abandoned, Ash and co. take control of it and use the balloon to get to the next town, where they’ll all be able to relax.
“Snow Way Out!” Is What Pokémon is All About
The Episode’s Themes are Integral to Pokémon
I can distinctly remember watching this episode for the first time, and it remains one of the best, even if it’s not technically part of the regular episode count.As a kid, the episode is heartwarming, showing how Ash’s Pokémon really do care about him, and vice versa, as Ash goes to great lengths to keep the Pokémon warm, even at the expense of himself. It highlights the bond between Pokémon and trainer, something that the series always goes to great lengths to emphasize, and no episode does it better than this one.
As an adult, the episode still hits quite hard, but has an added dimension of adult fear as Ash wanders off into the snowstorm, since the extreme danger of this situation is obvious. Ash could easily have wandered off of a cliff in his search for Pikachu (in fact, he kind of did) and gotten very badly hurt. Episodes like this one sometimes have the unintended effect of highlighting how dangerous adventuring like a Pokémon trainer would be, and how it’s a bit out of a 10-year-old’s league.
This episode almost encapsulates the entire Kanto era in a nutshell, withAsh and Pikachu’s bond front and center, while his other Pokémon reinforce the themes of friendship and how suffering together can be better than being comfortable alone. Building these bonds has been what the entire series is about, and it’s great to see them pay off in this episode, arguably saving Ash’s life.
It’s a Landmark Episode for Ash’s Character, Too
Ash’s Growth is On Full Display
The episode isn’t just high quality and emblematic of the series' themes, but it’s also an impactful one for Ash’s character.This episode shows Ash takinghis responsibilities as a Pokémon trainervery seriously, putting the safety of his Pokémon at the highest priority. It’s not necessarily something that Ash would’ve done in the first few episodes of the series; remember, for example, how Ash allowed his Metapod to be carried off by Beedrill because he ran off and forgot to recall it. Ash learned his lesson from that incident, and is showing just how much he values his Pokémon now.
Ash himself grows in this episode as well. He learns to accept that his Pokémon have their own desires too, and that even in a survival situation, he has to take their opinions into consideration. If his Pokémon want to stay outside of their Poké Balls, then Ash must respect that. It makes it clear that the relationship between Pokémon and trainer is more than just that of an owner and their pet, but one of partnership. They’re just as concerned about Ash as he is about them, after all.
All told, “Snow Way Out!” is an excellent episode with a touching scene that’s sure to have even jaded viewers feeling a bit teary-eyed. It’s an episode that’s strongly representative of the important themes of the series, and a fantastic character episode for Ash and his Pokémon. It’s just one of the episodes that makes the early seasons ofPokémonso special, and worth going back to even today.
Pokémon
Cast
Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
