That Time Misty Overcame Her Fear of Gyarados: Cerulean Blues
While more so known for her fear of Bug types, those aren’t the only Pokémon Misty has had a dislike for. This Pokemon, despite being her type specialty, left a traumatic experience from when she was very young and wouldn’t be overcome until she returned to the Cerulean City Gym. That Pokemon, Gyarados.
While the Hoenn era of the anime was running (i.e. Advanced Battle, Advanced Generation, Battle Frontier), there was a one off side season that aired on Cartoon Network titled Pokémon Chronicles. This twenty-six episode long mini series focused on one or more characters from the anime that either weren’t travelling with Ash or were exclusive to this series. Some of these characters included Misty, Richie, Tracey, Gary Oak, Professor Oak, as well as both duos of Team Rocket (Jessie and James, and Butch and Cassidy).
In Cerulean Blues, one of the episodes that Misty appears in, it addresses Misty taking over the Cerulean City Gym. Which was being overseen by her sisters while she was travelling with Ash and Brock. Issues arise when she learns that a Gym Inspector has been closing down gyms and has their sights on Cerulean City next. Which isn’t helped by the fact that the Gyarados in the gym was too aggressive to perform. So it’s up to Misty to pass the inspection and tame the Gyarados.
The problem?
Misty has a fear of Gyarados.
The episodes focus on Misty doing her best to save the gym and work with the Gyarados. All the while a trio of trainers try to take over the gym through any means necessary. Even if it means undercutting the rules.
Why Did Misty Fear Gyarados?
Her fear originated when she was pretty young. When Misty was a toddler, she crawled into the mouth of a Gyarados while it’s sleeping. In fact, this Gyarados is the very same Gyarados that appears in Cerulean Blues. It does spit her out, once it wakes up, but the event did traumatize Misty. I’d argue that it wasn’t Misty or Gyarados’ fault that this happened, since Gyarados was sleeping and it could be assumed that Misty was left unattended. However, it did leave a lasting impression.
How Does She Overcome Her Fear?
She ends up overcoming her fear of Gyarados while battling a trio of brothers, Kim, Kail, and Kai, who want to take over the gym by any means necessary. While battling Kim, his Tentacruel goes to attack Gyarados, who’s still in a cage underwater. Knowing that it was defenseless, Misty putis herself in front of the cage and takes the hit for the Gyarados. Seeing Misty defend it, and risk drowning to do so, the Gyarados breaks out of its confinement, brings Misty to the surface, and attacks, sending the brothers and the Tentacruel flying.
What Makes This Episode Important?
This episode was a good example of character growth, which I think Chronicles does well since it is it’s doing its own thing without Ash. For this episode, it’s an example of overcoming fears. In this case, a Pokémon that, while not intending to, terrified her. Overcoming this fear also allowed her to form a bond with it.
There’s also the fact that this Gyarados would become an important member of Misty’s team. Though she hasn’t been part of the main group since her departure at the end of Master Quest (season five), she did appear a few times over the series. One such example being in the Sun and Moon anime where she and Brock would reunite with Ash in When Regions Collide!, where she mega evolves Gyarados. In doing so, this shows how far they’ve come as a team.
Final Thoughts
Cerulean Blues was an episode that prompted character growth and a new bond. With Pokémon Chronicles not focusing on Ash’s current group and adventure, instead focusing on specific characters, this was a good place to do that. Especially since it, not only let her overcome her fear, but also set up what would become a strong bond and a Mega-Evolution.
Cerulean Blue is one of my favorite episodes overall and my second favorite from Chronicles, and is one that I would recommend if you haven’t seen it. Especially if your a Misty fan and/or wonder where her Gyarados came from.
If you have seen it, what are your thoughts about this episode?
