#012 - Butterfree

BUTTERFREE

IN SHOW

By the end of the 4^th episode, Ash had a Butterfree. He had him for 17 whole episodes, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I cried when Butterfree left. It was a touching moment, Ash letting go of the very first pokemon he caught. And why did Butterfree leave? True love. Nothing else would have separated the two steadfast friends from one another. With a sweet montage, sad music, and a crying Ash, Butterfree fluttered out of the show, but not out of our hearts.

WHY YOU WANT A BUTTERFREE

Unlike the other main bug pokemon Butterfree won its fights by using status ailments. It may take a bit longer, but it was a much more interesting way to fight than the simple pick strongest attack, use, win. Butterfree’s sleep powder also helped us catch a lot more pokemon than we ever thought we’d be able to, because everyone knows a pokemon is easier to catch when he’s asleep.

WHY YOU DO NOT WANT A BUTTERFREE

If you are not the kind of person who relies on slowly debilitating your enemy until it’s too weak with illness to fight, then Butterfree is not your type of pokemon. Butterfree’s main attack couldn’t be reached until level 32 and most people aren’t that patient when they have Charizards burning down forests. So while Butterfree was really good at catching pokemon, and helping out in a battle, it couldn’t really handle its own. For many trainers Butterfree was a trophy, and not a real fighter.

IN SUMMARY

Butterfree had an emotional goodbye. He was the first proper pokemon anyone had seen caught, and he showed us the love that we could experience with our pokemon. He was also the first pokemon to say goodbye, and hit that landmark as well. As a pokemon he had the quickest evolutionary cycle, so though his previous forms were weaker it didn’t take as long to reach him and many trainers found him to be worthwhile, at least for catching other pokemon.