: Ash, Misty, and Brock return to Viridian City after a full year of traveling. Ash is eager to win the Earth Badge, the final requirement for his entrance into the Pokémon League.
: Gary reveals he already has ten badges, despite only eight being needed for the league, suggesting Kanto has more than eight total gyms. 63 : The Battle of the Badge
: This is the first time Giovanni's face is shown fully without being hidden in shadows. Pokemon Episode 63 Analysis: The Battle for the Badge : Ash, Misty, and Brock return to Viridian
: Before Ash can challenge the gym, his rival Gary Oak enters and faces the Gym Leader, Giovanni. Despite Gary's skill, Giovanni unveils a powerful, never-before-seen armored Pokémon—Mewtwo—who effortlessly defeats Gary's Arcanine and Nidoking. : This is the first time Giovanni's face
: The appearance of Mewtwo serves as a direct prelude to the first movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back .
: After Team Rocket refuses to hand over the badge, Togepi accidentally triggers an explosion that sends them flying. Jessie drops the Earth Badge as they blast off, and Ash recovers it just before the gym building collapses. Key Trivia
: The episode title is a play on the real-world "Battle of the Bulge" from World War II.