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Pokemon's Team Rocket are some of TV's most iconic and beloved villains. Jessie, James, and Meowth might be antagonists, but they aren't pure evil; viewers find them so entertaining because they have bright and interesting personalities, and they sometimes subvert expectations by acting out of pure kindness. For many Pokemon fans, Team Rocket is a truly lovable trio.
Team Rocket's best episodes vary in nature, with some episodes highlighting hilarious gags and others focusing on the characters' backstories. Whether viewers are in the mood to laugh, cry, or get engaged with an interesting story, at least one of Team Rocket's most iconic episodes will likely satisfy that craving.
6 Who Gets To Keep Togepi?
- Pokemon: Indigo League, Episode 50
"Who Gets To Keep Togepi?" may be the debut of one of Misty's Pokemon, Togepi, but Team Rocket steals the show - literally. In this episode, Team Rocket steals an egg that belongs to Ash and Misty; they fail to coerce Ash at first in one of their classic disguises, but end up snatching the egg anyway.
Meowth takes care of the egg, taking care of it almost as if it were his own child. When Ash and Misty find Team Rocket with Togepi, they fight over who gets to keep it. Togepi hatches and ends up deciding to stay with Misty. As usual, Team Rocket quickly ends up blasting off again as a result of a fight with Ash.
5 Ignorance Is Blissey
- Pokemon: The Johto Journeys, Episode 13
"Ignorance Is Blissey" offers insight into Jessie's backstory, adding a great deal of depth to her character and making this episode one of Team Rocket's best. Some people believe that the Team Rocket trio are the evilest characters in the series, but each of them is more gentle than fans sometimes realize. This episode reveals that Jessie wanted to become a nurse, but all the schools she applied for rejected her. As a result, she ended up attending a Pokemon Nurse School, which was attended entirely by Chanseys. Jessie became close with one of them, helping the Pokemon through school.
In "Ignorance Is Blissey," Jessie comes across the Chansey, now evolved into a Blissey. Blissey offers Team Rocket all the food in the Pokemon Center, which results in Nurse Joy telling Blissey the actions could threaten her career. Jessie ends up feeling guilty and returns the food to the center, lying and claiming that Team Rocket stole the food of their own accord.
4 Holy Matrimony!
- Pokemon: Indigo League, Episode 48
"Holy Matrimony!" gives viewers context about James' life before he joined Team Rocket, adding a whole new layer of history and profundity to his character. Some members of Team Rocket may be in it for the sake of evil, but "Holy Matrimony!" suggests that James chose this path after running away from home.
James grew up differently than Jessie, who lived in poverty; the episode reveals that Team Rocket's James comes from a rich but abusive family. James ran away to avoid an arranged marriage with a girl named Jessebelle, who looks strangely like James' partner, Jessie. "Holy Matrimony!" also introduces James' beloved Growlithe, Growlie, and depicts the closeness of his relationship with his Pokemon.
3 The Purr-fect Hero
- Pokemon: Indigo League, Episode 53
Team Rocket might be a violent group - in fact, they're the only group in the Pokemon series to have killed a Pokemon - but Jessie and James tend to get themselves into situations that are less violent and wackier. In "The Purr-fect Hero," Team Rocket finds themselves in a school where they meet a young boy who claims he was saved by a Meowth. Team Rocket's Meowth lies, claiming he was the one who saved the boy.
The boy doesn't remember the Meowth who saved him being able to talk, so their plan unravels and the trio is sent walking when Meowth decides to open his mouth. "The Purr-fect Hero" is one of few episodes where Team Rocket aren't sent blasting off; in fact, they end the episode walking into the sunset.
2 A Lean Mean Team Rocket Machine!
- Pokemon: DP Battle Dimension, Episode 40
"A Lean Mean Team Rocket Machine!" reflects all the best parts of Team Rocket. In fact, this episode includes all the bells and whistles: their classic motto, disguises, and mechas.
In "A Lean Mean Team Rocket Machine!", the group thinks that they should go back to their old tactics. They reveal an enormous mecha, with which they decide to fight Ash's Pikachu after they're caught stealing Pokeballs. Ash's Pikachu easily destroys their mecha with an electric attack, sending Team Rocket blasting off again - once again, just like old times.
1 The Breeding Center Secret
- Pokemon: Indigo League, Episode 57
In "The Breeding Center Secret," Jessie and James meet another Team Rocket duo named Butch and Cassidy. Butch and Cassidy seem remarkably capable at first. They recite a motto that's the antithesis of Jessie and James' motto before they proceed to catch multiple Pokemon, including one of James', which upsets Jessie and James. Cassidy and Butch's introduction is arguably one of the most iconic scenes in the anime.
The new duo ends up getting arrested for their crimes by the end of the episode, and Jessie and James rejoice. By introducing Butch and Cassidy as existing members of Team Rocket, "The Breeding Secret" reminds viewers how much they cherish the presence of a classic, iconic duo like Jessie and James.