Ep 1. A Goldenrod Opportunity

Ash and his pals (Misty, Brock, and Pikachu) arrive in the bustling town of Goldenrod, and Ash is thrilled to receive a call from his mom who announces that she and Professor Oak will be attending a Pokémon breeding seminar in town. Ash, ecstatic to see his mom, decides to participate in the Goldenrod City gym battle while he waits for her arrival.

The group heads for the gym and meets the leader of the gym, Whitney, a cheerful and bubbly girl who initially mistakes them for new trainers who are there to receive their first gym badge. After realizing that Ash is a seasoned trainer, Whitney decides to up the stakes and proposes a Double Battle, where the trainers will use two Pokémon at once. Brock jumps at the opportunity to be Ash's partner in the battle, while Misty agrees to act as an impartial judge and identify the winner.

During the battle, Whitney's first Pokémon, Clefairy, utilizes its Metronome move which unleashes various random attacks, giving the opposing team a tough time. Ash and Brock's trust and understanding of each other, however, helps them overcome the obstacles and ultimately win the Double Battle, impressing both Whitney and the crowd.

With the victory, Ash and Brock receive their badge, and just as they begin to celebrate, a young girl named Janina, who works at the gym, comes up to them and informs them that a group of thieves has stolen a rare Radio Transmitter used by the gym to communicate with other gyms. Whitney is heartbroken as the radio is crucial for her to participate in a forthcoming Gym Leader conference, which she has been preparing for months.

Ash, Brock, and Janina, along with a specialist named Bill, who has been called by Professor Oak, team up to find the thieves. The gang splits up, with Ash and Janina taking the northern route. Along the way, they meet Team Rocket, who is also on the lookout for the thieves and sees this as an opportunity to steal Pikachu, as usual. In the ensuing melee, Ash and Janina's Pokémon team up to fend off Team Rocket.

After their encounter with Team Rocket, Ash and Janina, who, it is now clear, mutually share feelings for each other, locate the thieves, who have sought refuge in a dense forest. Janina tries to reason with them, but the thieves are unwilling to give up the Radio Transmitter. A battle ensues, during which Ash and Janina discover that the thieves' leader is none other than a Trainer named Silver, who Ash had already beaten in a prior battle.

After beating Silver and returning the Radio Transmitter to Whitney, the team is finally able to sit down and relax. Whitney thanks Ash and his team for their help, and Ash's mom and Professor Oak arrive, making it a happy reunion for Ash.

Overall, 'A Goldenrod Opportunity' sets a great tone for what's to come this season. It features terrific Pokémon battles, interaction between characters, and unexpected twists and turns throughout the episode.