Why did Squirtle obey Caterpie in Starter Squad Episode 10?

In Legend of Blue Shell Man Guy – Starter Squad Episode 10, Squirtle ended up losing Charmander, despite making a deal with Caterpie that Charmander will be allowed to live in exchange for living in an Ultra Ball.

Caterpie, decided to not hold up his end of the deal, and decided to end Charmander’s life. Caterpie becomes Squirtle’s trainer for good, and decides to start a war against their other enemy, the Birds.

In Squirtles battle with a Fearow, Caterpie tells Squirtle that they believe in him and this causes Squirtle to snap and tell Caterpie while he’s fighting Fearow that after lying to him and enslaving him, and forcing his every move, it turns out that they believed in him.

After Squirtle defeats Fearow, Squirtle says

Everything, EVERYTHING I’ve every done was for.. no

Squirtle as he was about to evolve, Starter Squad – Episode 10

And then he stops evolving, and decides to do whatever Caterpie says.

Squirtle from there on followed Caterpie without question, continuing to be their solider in the war against the birds.

There are a number of reasons I think Squirtle decided to continue to follow Caterpie

Squirtle still believed that caught Pokemon should follow the orders of their trainer

While it’s not directly in Episode 10, Squirtle did say to Charmander that instead of figuring things out on our own, that they should be caught and the experts (their trainer) should be the ones figuring things out for them.

This is also further supported when Squirtle told Caterpie that they were his trainer and will do whatever they say.

Squirtle might believe that had Charmander just gotten caught instead of trying to figure things out on his own, his would still be alive.

Squirtle had lost his sense of purpose with Charmander gone

After Charmander became Squirtle’s trainer, the Kanto Starter Trio spent time figuring out how to be Pokemon on their own, without a trainer.

Technically however, while they were a trio, Charmander was pretty much their leader and driving force for being independant Pokemon without a trainer.

With Charmander gone, Squirtle lost his sense of purpose and decided to just finally follow Caterpie, no longer seeing the point of anything besides being owned by Caterpie.

Years after the war against the birds, Squirtle, now with no trainer, attempts to recreate what he once had with Charmander and Bulbasaur in the Sinoh region. Turtwig even calls this out on their way to Mt Coronet, stating that he was only using him and Chimchar to relive his childhood.

Squirtles encounter with Snow, the Abomasnow

Squirtle told Snow the same thing had said to Caterpie back then, but this time, he finished his sentence.

Everything I’ve ever done was for someone else. But if I’m going to make bad decisions, they’re going to be my own.

Squirtle to Snow, Starter Squad Episode 10

Squirtle decided to leave things up to his trainer, Caterpie and it resulting in Caterpie losing everything, despite warning them that this would happen when they first met.

While not the same motivation as Charmander, Squirtle now believes that he should make his own decisions, good or bad. While Caterpie choices were the ones that lead to death and destruction, Squirtle in the end chose to listen to Caterpie. Even Whiskers, who was completey loyal to the Caterpie army, didn’t have the will to kill her fellow comrade or friend (or more than friend?) Lenoard when he deserted them.

Squirtle’s character development has been a phenominal one in Starter Squad. From being the trainer of a human, to being a subservient of a vengeful war hungry Caterpie, Squirtle has definiely seen and experienced alot.

I’m glad Squirtle (now evolved into Wartourtle) has now come to terms with what he’s done and has decided to make his own choices, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in the last two episodes of Starter Squad.