Ash, his friends, and Gary arrive at Indigo Plateau.
This episode begins the seven-part Indigo League arc.
This episode marks the only time a main character (excluding Jessie and James) shows interest in catching a Legendary Pokémon, as Ash dreams of catching and training a Moltres one day while watching the torch.
This is the first episode to feature a Legendary Pokémon whose name is mentioned in the episode, as Ash's Pokédex didn't recognize Ho-Oh in Pokemon Kimi ni Kimeta! (1997) and Gary's Pokédex failed to recognize the armored Mewtwo in Tokiwa Gym! The Last Badge! (1998).
The torch carrying ceremony is a reference to the Olympic Torch Ceremony.