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| Season | Pokémon: Indigo League (Season 1) · Ghosts, Psychics & the Celadon fire arc (EP20–EP27) |
| Episode | Season 1, episode 24 · English episode 24 · Japanese episode 24 · Bulbapedia code EP024 |
| English title | Haunter vs. Kadabra |
| Japanese title | ゴーストVSエスパー! Gōsuto Tai Esupā! — “Ghost vs. Esper!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 9 September 1997 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 8 October 1998 · first-run syndication |
| Screenplay | Junki Takegami |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Mezase Pokémon Master (Aim to Be a Pokémon Master) – Rica Matsumoto · Hyakugojūichi (One Hundred Fifty-One) – Professor Oak & the Pokémon Kids |
| English opening | Pokémon Theme – Jason Paige |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Haunter (US) · Haunter (Japan) |
| Previous episode | The Tower of Terror (EP023) |
| Next episode | Primeape Goes Bananas (EP025) |
Plot episodeMarsh Badge
Haunter vs. Kadabra is the 24th episode of Pokémon: Indigo League, the first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 24th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 24, Bulbapedia code EP024). It first aired in Japan on 9 September 1997 and in the United States on 8 October 1998. It falls within the season’s Ghosts, Psychics & the Celadon fire stretch (EP20–EP27).
Synopsis
Despite the previous warnings Ash and friends arrive back at Saffron City to face Sabrina once more. Both Ash and Haunter sound and look extremely confident and the challenge to Sabrina is issued, she accepts on the same terms as she did previously and sends out Kadabra. Ash chooses Haunter but it’s nowhere to be seen… Ash tells Pikachu then Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur respectively to take his place in battle none of which seems enthusiastic.
Ash tries to make a run for it and Sabrina locks down the gym using her psychic powers, then turns Ash and Misty into dolls. Just as Ash and his Pokemon are about to meet the same fate the mysterious man teleports in and rescues them (minus Brock and Misty who are still dolls). Ash talks to the man and learns more about Sabrina and how she became the way she is, and how she split into two people; the mean and powerful Pokémon Trainer and the lonely little girl who just wants to make friends is represented by the doll Sabrina holds. We learn that the mysterious man is infact Sabrina’s father.
Ash sets off to find Haunter and bumps into Team Rocket who are as usual out to steal Pikachu but instead find themselves hanging on to a tall building, Haunter makes Jessie laugh and she in turn releases her grip. All of them fall to the ground, right next to Ash. Haunter and Ash are reunited and Ash begs Haunter to help him defeat Sabrina and save his friends, Haunter agrees. Meanwhile the doll forms of Brock and Misty are back in the toy box, and meet Sabrina’s mother who has also been turned into a doll.
Just as Sabrina is about to start playing with her new toys Ash returns, and again Haunter appears to be nowhere in sight. Pikachu volunteers to fight because he doesn’t want Ash to become a doll, and faces Kadabra once more. This time managing to clip Kadabra with a thundershock before it could teleport, but it just uses recover and continues. At this point Haunter appears and starts playing tricks on Sabrina, one of which included a bomb. Sabrina smiles and starts laughing with Haunter, due to Telekensis her Kadabra is rolling on the floor laughing and unable to battle, Sabrina then returns her mother, Brock and Misty to their human forms. Sabrina’s father declares Kadabra unable to battle and awards Ash with the Marsh Badge. Our heroes continue their journey, setting a course for Celadon City.
Major Events
- — Marsh Badge (awarded when Haunter makes Sabrina and Kadabra laugh
- Haunter stays with Sabrina)
- Another forfeit first
- Next Gym Celadon. Haunter never actually battles Kadabra.
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Junki Takegami.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- Misty’s and Brock’s support signs repainted (“Go Ash Go!”)
- Columbus’s egg becomes the chicken-or-egg question
- Meowth’s “She’s gonna die laughin'” survives
- Dub ending: the Kanto Pokérap (Thursday segment)
Part of our Pokémon: Indigo League guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.