Pokémon: Battle Frontier, the grand finale of Advanced Generation
Pokémon: Battle Frontier brings the Advanced Generation era to a close in style. In Season 9, Ash, May, Max, and Brock crisscross the Kanto region once again, but this time with very clear goals: Ash wants to defeat the Frontier Brains of the Battle Frontier and claim their Symbols, while May is chasing the five Ribbons she needs to compete in the Kanto Grand Festival. You can watch Pokémon Season 9 right here: all 47 episodes are available in free, official streaming just above this article.
The Battle Frontier challenge: Symbols that have to be earned
Unlike a traditional league, the Battle Frontier can't be conquered city by city: its facilities are scattered all over Kanto, and each one is run by a Frontier Brain with a radically different style. The season strings together one memorable showdown after another: Greta and her Battle Arena in "Wheel of Frontier", Tucker and his flashy Battle Dome in "Tactics Theatrics!!", then Lucy, the formidable specialist in serpentine Pokémon, in "Queen of the Serpentine!". Ash goes on to outlast Spenser and his nature-filled Battle Palace before facing the two toughest hurdles of the entire challenge.
Anabel, the Trainer who battles with empathy
At the Battle Tower, Ash meets Anabel, the Salon Maiden, an opponent who can communicate with her Pokémon telepathically. She hands him a stinging defeat in "Talking a Good Game!", and it takes every ounce of Ash's determination, plus a Pikachu in peak form, to turn things around in the rematch, fittingly titled "Second Time's the Charm!".
Brandon, the final wall
That leaves the Battle Pyramid and its Pyramid King, Brandon, a Trainer of Legendary Pokémon and the last obstacle standing. Their rivalry kicks off in spectacular fashion in "Battling the Enemy Within!", when the spirit of the King of Pokélantis takes possession of Ash. For the decisive battle, Ash calls his very first companions back to his side in "Gathering the Gang of Four!": Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charizard all answer the call. The climactic duel in "Pace - The Final Frontier!", capped by a breathless clash between Pikachu and the Legendary Regice, earns Ash his final Symbol. Crowned champion of the Battle Frontier, he turns down the offer to become a Frontier Brain himself: the call of the road is simply too strong.
May's road to the Kanto Grand Festival
Meanwhile, May pushes her career as a Pokémon Coordinator forward, collecting Kanto Ribbons from her third win in "Spontaneous Combusken!" through hotly contested events like "New Plot, Odd Lot!". Her path keeps crossing those of her rivals: the ever-elegant Drew, rarely seen without a rose in hand, and the insufferable Harley, back with his dirty tricks and smug grins as early as "Harley Rides Again" and scheming once more in "May, We Harley Drew'd Ya!". Qualified for the Kanto Grand Festival, whose arc culminates in "Channeling the Battle Zone!", May delivers some of her finest performances but ultimately falls to Solidad, a seasoned Coordinator who takes home the title. It's a formative loss, and it cements her decision to strike out on her own afterward.
Legendary Pokémon and unforgettable encounters
Season 9 also makes room for wonderful detours outside the tournaments. "The Green Guardian" delivers a touching encounter with Celebi, the time-traveling Pokémon, while the two-part story "Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys' Crisis! (Part 1)" and its conclusion put the mysterious visitor from space front and center. On the team side, it's a pivotal season for Ash: his Grovyle evolves into Sceptile under bittersweet circumstances, then recovers its full power exactly when it matters most. And for pure comfort viewing, it's hard to resist the charm of "Three Jynx and a Baby!" or the outdoor race in "Off the Unbeaten Path".
Team Rocket, reliable as ever
A season of Pokémon without Jessie, James, and Meowth is simply unthinkable. Team Rocket keeps up its never-ending pursuit of Pikachu, complete with ridiculous disguises, improbable flying machines, and plenty of blasting off again. Jessie even keeps crashing May's Pokémon Contests under a rotating cast of aliases, producing some of the most absurd and delightful moments of these Pokémon Season 9 episodes. The trio remains the comic heartbeat of the show, while sneaking in a few surprisingly endearing beats along the way.
The must-watch episodes of Season 9
- "Queen of the Serpentine!": the tactical duel against Lucy and her Battle Pike.
- "Talking a Good Game!" and "Second Time's the Charm!": the two-part clash with Anabel, one of the strongest opponents Ash has ever faced.
- "Battling the Enemy Within!": Ash possessed by the King of Pokélantis, an episode with the flavor of an adventure movie.
- "Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys' Crisis! (Part 1)" and "Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys' Crisis! (Part 2)": Deoxys drops in on Kanto.
- "Gathering the Gang of Four!" and "Pace - The Final Frontier!": the original dream team reunited for the most anticipated battle of the season.
- "Once More With Reeling!": Ash and May face off in the Terracotta Contest final, building to an ending fans still talk about.
After Battle Frontier: the end of an era
The final episodes pack a real emotional punch. In "Once More With Reeling!", Ash and May trade blow for blow all the way to a perfect tie, and the Ribbon they split between them becomes one of the anime's most enduring symbols. Then "Home is Where the Start Is!" seals the group's farewell: May sets sail for the Contests of Johto, Max heads home to Hoenn to chase his own dream of becoming a Trainer, and Ash, stung by a loss to his rival Gary, freshly returned from Sinnoh, already feels the pull of a brand-new journey.
The adventure is far from over, of course. Once you've finished all 47 episodes of Pokémon: Battle Frontier, keep the free streaming going in the Sinnoh region, with new companions and new challenges: go watch Season 10, Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl, in full episodes.