The Most Heartbreaking Pokémon Episode Isn’t the One You Think

Image: The Pokémon Company

When discussing the animated moments that left an indelible mark on our childhoods, Season 1, Episode 20 of the original 1997 Pokémon series, “Bye-Bye Butterfree,” is almost always mentioned. In this installment, Ash discovers that once Butterfree reach maturity, they must find a partner and migrate across the ocean, never to be seen again. While the episode is undeniably poignant, much of its emotional weight stems from watching the poor Butterfree endure a string of painful rejections while trying to court a mate.

Throughout the story, Butterfree is frequently depicted with shimmering, oversized eyes and let out mournful cries reminiscent of Piano-chan from Sanrio’s various animated works. Eventually, it earns the respect of its pink-winged counterpart by liberating a swarm of Butterfree from Team Rocket’s clutches. The subsequent farewell to Ash is designed to be a total heartbreaker.

I appreciated this episode as a youngster and still find value in it today. However, I’ve always found the climactic goodbye to be unwittingly comedic. The sequence utilizes a series of flashbacks documenting their time together, which unfortunately reminds the viewer that Butterfree spent a significant portion of its life as a clumsy-looking Caterpie and an immobile, goofy Metapod. It’s a fantastic episode, but it never quite triggered the waterworks for me.

The episode that truly resonates with me arrives much later in the season. Episode 36, “Pikachu’s Goodbye,” is a far more devastating emotional experience. The premise mirrors the Butterfree incident: Ash and Pikachu encounter a wild colony of Pikachu living in the woods. Seeing his partner observe creatures of its own kind triggers a deep internal conflict for Ash.

Pikachu initially struggles to find his place among the wild group, but after a young Pikachu initiates a friendly “tail-shake,” he is welcomed into the fold. Of course, Ash’s clumsy interference briefly frightens the wild Pokémon away. Despite being nearly 40 episodes into his journey, Ash still seems to struggle with the nuances of wild Pokémon behavior. However, Pikachu quickly proves his worth by rescuing one of his new peers from a perilous waterfall.

That evening, the trio watches as the Pikachu perform a synchronized ritual under the moonlight—apparently, Clefairy aren’t the only ones fascinated by lunar cycles. Brock then offers a misguided sentiment: “I think it’s the best thing in the world for Pikachu to be here with its own kind.”

While Brock was likely just observing how happy Pikachu looked with his new friends, Ash takes the comment as a mandate. Haunted perhaps by his experience with Butterfree, Ash decides that true love requires letting go. He spends a sleepless night contemplating a permanent separation, only to be interrupted by the sounds of the colony under attack.

Team Rocket arrives with a specialized, electricity-resistant net to capture the entire colony. Fortunately, the material isn’t immune to sharp teeth. With Pikachu leading the charge, the group gnaws a hole in the trap and makes a daring escape.

In the aftermath, Pikachu embraces Ash, but Ash—firmly stuck in a cycle of self-sacrificial angst—decides he must abandon his best friend White Fang-style for the sake of the colony’s future.

“These Pikachu need you more than I do,” Ash declares with maximum adolescent drama. “So… GOODBYE!”

A devastated Pikachu attempts to follow him, but Ash commands him to stay and flees into the woods. We are once again treated to a montage, but because Pikachu has maintained a consistently adorable appearance throughout the series, this sequence hits with genuine emotional resonance. (Though the brief clips of Pikachu accidentally electrocuting Ash do provide a bit of dark levity.)

This scene is significantly more effective because the bond between Ash and Pikachu is far more established than his relationship with Butterfree. This isn’t a Pokémon fulfilling a biological imperative; this is a boy attempting to abandon his closest companion due to his own insecurities. Unlike Butterfree, who clearly desired a life with its mate, Pikachu never once signaled that he wanted to leave Ash behind.

Ultimately, Misty and Brock talk some sense into Ash, and Pikachu returns to his side, choosing a life of adventure over the comfort of the forest. Even though the episode ends happily, it remains a far more melancholic experience. While Butterfree’s departure was about evolutionary maturity, Pikachu’s goodbye was a symptom of Ash’s poor communication and deep-seated fears. He nearly ruined the most important relationship in his life because he was too immature to realize that Pikachu’s new friendships didn’t diminish their own bond.

Source: Polygon