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The Pokemon anime's Team Rocket Trio may have been the most recurring antagonists in the series, but Jessie, James, and Meowth weren't always so dastardly. As opposed to a pure villain like their boss Giovanni, the Team Rocket trio often found themselves playing the role of unlikely heroes, or at least helpers.
While this trio of characters very often played the role of obstacles for the likes of Ash Ketchum and his friends, they had their moments of kindness or begrudging cooperation in the Pokemon anime.
With their journey seemingly having come to an end along with Ash's for the moment, it doesn't hurt to look back on the Team Rocket trio's moments where they appealed to their better angels.
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Five moments/episodes in the Pokemon anime where the Team Rocket trio was good
1) Pokemon Shipwreck
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In a Titanic-esque situation, Team Rocket causes the vessel known as St. Anne to navigate into a storm at sea, leading the ship to begin capsizing and sinking. Trapped on the cruise liner, Ash and the Team Rocket trio decide to put their differences aside in the interest of surviving and escaping the sinking ship.
Sure, Team Rocket caused the ship to start sinking in the first place, but this episode did show that the trio wasn't unreasonable when it came to saving themselves. This would signal the first of many truces that Team Rocket's trio would broker with Ash and his friends when the situation called for it.
2) Ignorance is Blissey
This episode technically didn't show the Team Rocket trio being good guys in the heroic sense, but it did focus on Jessie's past life and the fact that she genuinely cares about Pocket Monsters. In the past, Jessie was hoping to become a nurse, eventually resulting in her joining a school only inhabited by Chansey.
After befriending one particular Chansey, Jessie left the school, but not before witnessing her friend graduate and become a nurse. This episode reveals that Jessie always keeps half of a graduation pendant that her friend carried to remember their bond. Episodes like this might be prequels in a sense, but they still show that the Team Rocket trio have hearts under their uniforms.
3) Electric Shock Showdown
This episode is usually remembered as a big one for Ash and Pikachu, who had initially lost to the gym leader Lt. Surge and his Raichu in the previous episode. Pressed with the decision to evolve his Pikachu or not, Ash decided to keep his partner Pokemon as is and the duo finally defeated Lt. Surge and Raichu after a rematch. The catch? Team Rocket was watching and cheering our hero on.
While this wouldn't be the last time Jessie, James, and Meowth rooted for Ash during a battle, it was one of the earliest examples showing that the trio harbored some appreciation for Ash as a trainer despite their constant attempts to swipe Pikachu. James even realizes that the entire episode was dedicated to helping Ash, something the trio is surprised to note.
4) Partners in Time!
This episode is often referred to as one of the greatest in the franchise, as it saw Ash become the Monarch of the World Coronation Series, the title of the strongest Pokemon trainer in the world. While one would think Team Rocket would be up to something, they were simply watching in the stands and in disguise, hoping that Ash and Pikachu would be able to defeat the Monarch Leon and his Charizard.
When Ash finally hoisted the trophy of the World Coronation Series and became the very best, the Team Rocket trio was right there along with so many of Ash's companions to celebrate. It signified that the trio's attachment to Ash, while still adversarial, had grown to a point of genuine care and appreciation.
5) We're No Angels!
Team Rocket may be convinced they're villains, but even they showed a heroic side in this Pokemon Chronicles episode. After being blasted off by Ash and Pikachu, the trio found themselves near a small village being attacked by a seemingly evil scientist. This scientist constantly sends robots to destroy the villagers' crops, and the villagers mistake the trio as "Team Righteous," a group of protectors.
Even though they went along with the ruse in the hope the village could be made into Team Rocket territory, Jessie, James, and Meowth eventually create a Meowthmobile mech and confront the scientist. However, the scientist, Dr. Brown, turns out to be benevolent, hoping to create friendly robots to help the village, but the robots go out of control.
Before the Rockets can take advantage of Dr. Brown, a group of Taillow attacks the village and Dr. Brown uses his technology to save the village alongside Team Rocket. The scientist is praised as a hero over the trio, and while James wants to stay in the village with a girl named Kate, he accidentally blasts the trio and the Meowthmobile away from the village.
