It started with a yellow rat and a bike that got fried. That was 1997. Since then, we’ve seen Ash Ketchum grow from a stubborn kid in Pallet Town to a literal World Champion, a journey that spans over 1,200 episodes. But honestly? Trying to watch pokemon episodes in order right now is a total nightmare. Between the streaming rights being split like a broken Pokeball and the way different regions number their seasons, most fans just give up and watch random clips on YouTube.
You’d think it would be easy. Episode one, then episode two. Simple, right? Nope. Because of "banned" episodes, specials that aren't technically part of the main seasons, and the shift from traditional broadcast TV to Netflix exclusivity, the timeline is a mess.
The Indigo League Chaos and Where It All Began
If you're starting from the absolute beginning, you’re looking at the Indigo League. This is the OG era. Ash, Misty, Brock. Most people remember the first episode, Pokémon - I Choose You!, but things get weird fast. Did you know there are episodes that essentially don't exist in the West? The most famous is the Porygon episode, Dennō Senshi Porygon, which caused seizures in Japan and was never aired again. If you're trying to watch every single one of the pokemon episodes in order, you’ll hit a wall there.
Then there’s the "Holiday Hi-Jynx" episode. It was moved around because of controversy regarding Jynx’s design, meaning if you watch the US broadcast order, the continuity actually breaks. Characters might have Pokémon they haven't caught yet, or they'll be in a location they already left. It’s annoying. To do it right, you basically have to follow the Japanese air dates, not the American season blocks.
The original series (encompassing Kanto and Johto) runs for 274 episodes. That is a massive time commitment. You're looking at roughly 100 hours of footage just to see Ash finish the Silver Conference. Most of that is filler. We're talking about the "Monster of the Week" formula where Team Rocket blasts off for the 50th time. But for purists, skipping isn't an option.
Tracking the Shift: From Hoenn to Sinnoh
By the time we hit the Advanced Generation and Diamond and Pearl eras, the show found its rhythm. This is where the numbering for pokemon episodes in order gets slightly more consistent, but the "seasons" become arbitrary labels created by international distributors.
In Japan, Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire is one continuous block. In the West, we broke it into Advanced, Advanced Challenge, Advanced Battle, and Battle Frontier. It’s all the same show. If you're searching for these, don't get hung up on the season names. Just look at the episode numbers. Diamond and Pearl is often cited by competitive players and long-term fans as the peak of the series because the writing actually got... good? Paul was a genuine rival. The battles had strategy. It wasn't just "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
191 episodes later, Ash leaves Sinnoh. If you're keeping track, we're now nearly 700 episodes deep.
The Great Streaming Split: Netflix vs. The World
This is the part that drives parents and nostalgic adults crazy. You can’t just go to one website and see all pokemon episodes in order. It doesn't work that way.
Currently, the rights are a jigsaw puzzle:
- Netflix has the most recent stuff: Pokémon Journeys, Master Journeys, and Ultimate Journeys, plus the new Pokémon Horizons series.
- Hulu usually has a revolving door of middle-era seasons.
- Amazon Freevee and Roku often host the older classics like the Johto Journeys.
- Pokémon TV (the official app) used to be the gold standard, but the Pokémon Company actually shut it down in 2024, leaving a massive hole for fans.
Because of this, if you want a linear experience, you’re jumping between three or four subscriptions. It’s expensive and, frankly, a bit of a slap in the face to the fanbase.
What About the Movies?
This is a huge point of contention. Do the movies count?
Technically, most of the movies are "semi-canon." They happen, but the characters rarely mention the legendary gods they met last Tuesday. However, if you want the full experience of watching pokemon episodes in order, you have to slot the movies in at specific points. For example, The Power of One (Movie 2) fits right in the middle of the Orange Islands arc. If you watch it after Ash goes to Johto, it feels out of place because his team has changed.
The later movies, starting with I Choose You! (2017), actually take place in a completely different timeline. They aren't part of the main show at all. They’re a reboot. Don’t mix them up or you’ll be very confused why Ash is meeting Ho-Oh for the "first time" again.
The XY Peak and the Sun & Moon Pivot
Ask any "Sakuga" fan (people who obsess over animation quality) and they’ll tell you Pokémon the Series: XY is the best the show ever looked. The 3D camera movements during gym battles were insane. But then, Sun & Moon happened.
The art style shifted. It got "bubbly." Fans hated it at first. I hated it at first. But if you stick with the pokemon episodes in order, you realize Sun & Moon actually has some of the most emotional writing in the entire franchise. It deals with death (Stoutland), abandonment, and family dynamics in a way the show never dared to before. It’s also the series where Ash finally—finally—wins a regional League.
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Journeys: The Long Goodbye
The final arc of Ash’s story is Pokémon Journeys. This isn't just one region; it's a world tour. It’s basically 140+ episodes of fanservice. Old companions come back. Old Pokémon return. It’s a victory lap.
The very last 11 episodes are titled To Be a Pokémon Master. These are essential. They aren't just more episodes; they are the epilogue to a 25-year-old story. Seeing Ash and Misty bicker one last time feels like coming home.
How to Actually Watch Everything Today
Since there is no single "Play All" button for the entire franchise, you have to be tactical.
Start by ignoring the "Season 1, Season 2" labels on streaming sites. They vary by country and are often wrong. Instead, follow the Series titles. It goes:
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- Original Series (Kanto/Orange Islands/Johto)
- Advanced Generation (Hoenn/Battle Frontier)
- Diamond and Pearl (Sinnoh)
- Black & White (Unova)
- XY / XYZ (Kalos)
- Sun & Moon (Alola)
- Journeys (World Tour)
- Horizons (The new era without Ash)
If you find a site that lists them by these Japanese series titles, you’re much more likely to stay in the correct chronological flow.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Master
If you're serious about tackling this mountain, don't just dive in blindly. You will burn out by episode 40.
- Use a filler guide. Honestly. There are hundreds of episodes where nothing happens. Websites like Anime Filler List are lifesavers. They mark which episodes actually advance the plot or involve a catch/evolution.
- Check Bulbapedia for "Banned Episodes." If you notice a weird jump in the story, it’s probably because an episode was pulled for legal or cultural reasons. Reading a summary of the lost episodes helps bridge the gaps.
- Prioritize the "League" episodes. If you're short on time, watch the first few episodes of a region, the Gym battles, the Rival encounters, and the final League tournament. You’ll get 80% of the story in 20% of the time.
- Switch to the Japanese Version (Subbed) for the ending. The final episodes of Ash's journey hit much harder with the original music ("Mezase Pokémon Master") than the dubbed versions.
The journey of watching pokemon episodes in order is less about the destination and more about seeing a kid and his mouse slowly figure out what it means to be a hero. It takes a long time. It’s messy. But for a generation of fans, it’s the definitive modern epic.
Start with the Indigo League. Take your time. Don't worry about the 1,200 episodes ahead of you; just focus on the next gym badge. That’s how Ash did it.