Pokémon’s Misty is sometimes known as the “Tomboyish Mermaid,” but only one episode made that title a reality, and it happens to be her best episode in the entire original series. It proved that Misty’s talents are far more than just battling, and helped establish her relationship with her sisters.
Misty remains a fan-favorite character to this day, despite her extended absence from the anime following the end of the original series. Misty was known for having a lot of personality, and being a surprisingly multi-faceted character, with skills beyond just Pokémon training and battling. Misty was also defined by her relationship with her sisters, the “Sensational Sisters of Cerulean City,” who often treated her as the baby and didn’t pay her the respect that she deserved. That changed significantly with the episode “The Misty Mermaid,” which saw her sisters calling for her help.
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Misty’s Sisters Made Her a More Interesting Character
When it comes to Ash’s traveling companions, quite a few were shown to have siblings–Brock, May, Clemont–but Misty is the only one who has older siblings rather than younger ones.As such, Misty had a very different relationship with her sisters than any ofAsh’s other companions. With the dismissive way in which they often treated her, it’s not hard to see why Misty might’ve decided she was better off setting out alone on a journey to become a better trainer, and perhaps finally impress her siblings enough that they’d show her respect.
That’s not to say Misty’s sisters didn’t care for her at all. Even in their first appearance, it’s clear they love her, although it’s a patronizing sort of love. In “The Misty Mermaid,” the tables are finally turned, with the sisters attempting to put on an underwater show and now needing Misty’s help to do it. In fact, they want Misty in the starring role, proving that they do recognize her talents. With very little time to rehearse, Misty puts on an amazing performance, swimming underwater in what must’ve been a difficult mermaid costume.
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Of course, this beingPokémon, Misty gets to show off her battling talent as well, as Team Rocket crashes the show, andMisty (later joined by Ash)must fend off the intruders to keep them from stealing the gym’s Water-type Pokémon. It’s one of the few times Misty’s Horsea gets to see battle, and Misty proves her skill by commanding the gym’s Pokémon as well, even leading a Seel to evolve into Dewgong.Misty wins the respect of her sisters at last, marking a new page in their relationship.
Misty’s Talents Beyond Pokémon Make Her Memorable
Few Characters Get Skills Unrelated to Pokémon
One of the most unique things about this episode is that, while the show does feature some Pokémon, it’s primarily just an underwater ballet performance, with the Pokémon being largely incidental.Misty’s ability to hold her breath, to swim underwater, and to perform for an audience are all skills that don’t inherently have to do with Pokémon, and those kinds of skills become something of a rarity as the series goes on. With a few exceptions, like Clemont’s technological knowledge or Serena’s baking, most characters after this point only really have skills related to Pokémon training.
This givesMisty a bit more depththan some of her successors, and helps her character out immensely. Misty didn’t often get to be the star of the show, but “The Misty Mermaid” stands out specifically because it puts her center stage. The episode is good enough that it’s a shame that her sisters so rarely appear from this point onwards, as further development of their relationship would’ve been more than welcome. Misty seems to gain a little confidence from the whole situation, pleased with the knowledge that she’s impressed her sisters and finally taken a big step towards being fully accepted by them.
“The Misty Mermaid” is without a doubt one of Misty’s best episodes, and it doesn’t hurt that the unusual structure of the episode led to some very nicely animated underwater scenes, which help it to stand out further. It’s an episode that balances character and spectacle well, something that’s difficult to do. Misty’s sisters provided her with a unique relationship and an opportunity for some character development, as well as allowing her the chance to demonstrate the skills that make her worthy of being counted as one of the Sensational Sisters. WhenPokémongave Misty an opportunity to shine, she did, and it led to one of the best episodes of the original series.
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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.
