This is one of the few episodes where Team Rocket actually wants to be blasted off. They help Charizard become stronger by allowing it to blow up a Team Rocket mecha which they used to break into the Charicific Valley.
Not counting the Pokémon seen in James's thoughts, the only Generation II Pokémon to appear in this episode is Togepi.
It is mentioned in the dub that Charla evolved from a Charmander. However, this was not in the original Japanese dialogue.
Ash leaves his Charizard to train at the Charicific Valley.
In the dub, Ash says that he has not ridden Charizard before. However, this is not true, as he rode on Charizard in both Resurrection!? Fossil Pokémon! (1998) and Lizardon! I Choose You!! (1999). He never said this in the Japanese version. Technically, the moment in Resurrection!? Fossil Pokémon! (1998) doesn't really count as Ash riding Charizard, as it wasn't intentional. Additionally, both Charizard and Ash were half-asleep from Jigglypuff's singing, so they may not remember it.