1001 Animations: Ignorance is Blissey

Show: Pokémon
Episode: 131
Year: 2000

Writer(s): Junki Takegami


Episodes that delve into Team Rocket's past are generally some of the best episodes of the entire series, and this is no exception. Ever since Gen 1 Chansey has been a very viable Special Tank and easily one of the nicest nurses ever, so of course this cutie needed an evolution for Johto, and that where Blissey comes in! You don't see her as frequently as Chansey but whenever she does appear even in a cameo expect the episode to be interesting, because after Johto she doesn't appear again until late Sinnoh! But enough about Blissey, our real focus here is Jessie where we learn about her former hopes and dreams.


Jessie, before becoming a "ruthless" member of Team Rocket wanted to be a Pokemon nurse, but the only way she could learn was from a school meant for Chansey. A human learning among Pokemon, now that's definitely an interesting concept right off the bat. Chansey are apparently trained in special schools and then sent to the various Pokemon Centers around Kanto to Sinnoh, which is very believable when you think about it considering how hard they are to actually capture. In her time there Jessie befriended one of them, a Chansey that was extremely Klutzy, and that's not even one of her abilities! Years later this Chansey would go onto evolve into a Blissey and work for a Pokemon Center in Happy Town, located near the outskirts of Violet City, which is where Team Rocket decides to pilfer some food and Pokemon. I Wonder what's gonna happen....


With Jessie meeting her old friend, now a Blissey and still very naive and clumsy in her own right this is a surprisingly touching episode. I wouldn't call Blissey ignorant as the title would have you believe, but overly trusting and kinda clumsy; She's basically Soos from Gravity Falls. Blissey actually wants to give her old friend all the food in the Pokemon Center! I don't have to explain what a mistake this is do I? I mean, you could get fired for doing that shit. So Team Rocket, being the softies they are decide to do Blissey a major solid and make it look like they TRICKED HER into giving them all the food! They'll still keep their criminal rep and help a friend at the same time! Of course Blissey's such a trusting little Pokemon there's no way shed screw up their "brilliant plan" right?


Blissey is not an idiot by any means, she had no idea Team Rocket were criminals and still thought Jessie was an honest woman; so why not help her out more than she needs? Jessie knows that Blissey can't be seen getting friendly with her, so she tries her damnedest to make it look like she hates the poor girl, she's absolutely heartbroken having Arbok and Lickitung (in its last appearance before being traded for Wobbuffet) attack her only real friend. But like I said, Blissey is a fucking tank! she's not aware of what Jessie is doing, all she wants is a hug! It'd be funny seeing her Pokemon hold back if it wasn't so sad! 


On some level I think Blissey always knew the truth, but just didn't care. Jessie's her friend forever and ever! In a way this is the saddest blast off in the whole show, but hey, Ash was hungry! You don't get between a boy and his food! And you sure don't knock a wedge into such a beautiful friendship. Jessie did the right thing, Blissey got to keep her job and continue doing what she never could! And really that's all that matters.


Pokemon is owned by Nintendo, Gamefreak and The Pokemon Company.

1001 Animations is from 

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