Ash’s Final Pokémon Episode gave him a controversial (but perfect) ending

Warning: Spoilers for Pokemon: To Be a Pokemon Master, Episode 11

The Pokemon Anime starring Ash Ketchum officially ended after almost 25 years on the air, but just because the series ended does not mean that Ash’s adventures have to – even if some fans may have preferred that they did.

The last episode of the miniseries Pokemon: To be a Pokemon Master Certainly didn’t feel like a series finale while watching it. There was no long and sweet goodbye with Misty and Brock; The two only separated from Ash to go to their own hometowns because they know they will see him again.

While Team Rocket reconciled with each other before Pokemon Finally, they didn’t really get any kind of more personal connection with Ash. Finally, the final shots of the episode are very similar to those of the end of the previous seasons: Ash sets off again on a new adventure, even ending with the words “Next time: a new beginning!” Just as it always does when one era ends and another begins.

Pokemon ends Ash’s Story with a new adventure

Make his return to Pokemon a definite possibility

The episode took an approach more in line with Ash’s perspective than the viewers. Ash’s last Pokemon Episode is not the end for him; It’s just another day in the Pokemon World. No flash-forward, no montage of great moments. Ash just took a break to return home and rest before setting off again.

At one point, Gary congratulates his former rival for Ash’s win in the Pokemon World Coronation Series, but asks him if the achievement brought him closer to becoming a “Pokemon Master.” Ash has no answer to that and spends much of the episode pondering the idea. As he sits under a tree with Pikachu in a rainstorm, Ash decides that what it means to be a master is to be a friend to all the Pokemon of the world. Contrary to the image of the series, it is not about catching them; Simply knowing them and appreciating them is enough.

It’s a surprisingly thoughtful end to a character arc that spanned a quarter of a century, and it once again shows how much Ash has grown. The episode’s inclusion of Pidgeot helps emphasize this contrast, as the Ash that Pidgeot knew was very different. This may not be the ending fans wanted, as much of the speculation focused on things like seeing Ash as an adult, perhaps with children of his own, or a connection to the new series.

By taking the usual approach to a season finale for the series finale, it emphasizes the fact that Ash’s adventures with Pikachu will continue, even if fans aren’t watching them anymore. Pokemon‘s producers have said that they see Ash as eternally young, with no desire to age Ash, and the ending is the ultimate example of that. It’s okay to disagree with their perspective, of course, but in terms of what they’re aiming for, it seems like To be a Pokemon MasterThe last episode is exactly what they intended.

Ash’s future in the Pokemon anime explained

While Ash’s Return is likely, fans may have to wait for it

The new series that carries the torch for the Pokemon anime, Pokemon HorizonsHas already presented himself differently from Ash’s era. There are some indications that the series is still set in the same continuity, so a cameo is not out of the question. Nurse Joy, for example, still operates all of the Pokemon Centers. The odds of seeing Ash soon are lowAs the new series needs to establish its own identity first. However, it would not be unusual to point to Ash’s existence, especially now that he is the world champion and a household name.

How Ash changed from the first episode to the last

Ash’s growth was slow, but ultimately very significant

Ash Ketchum has changed a lot since he first came out with an opposite Pikachu by his side. In early episodes, Ash is impatient, stubborn, and generally quite childish, much to the chagrin of Brock and Misty. In the beginning, his two companions largely took care of him, guiding him and giving him advice on what he could or could not pay attention to. Ash’s stubbornness gets him into trouble many times, like when Primeape steals his hat, and even put his life in danger. Over the course of the Indigo League, Ash learns a lot not only about Pokemon, but also about himself.

As the series eventually moved into the ruby and sapphire Era, it introduced a new inexperienced character in the form of May. May knows even less than Ash did when he began his journey, so her presence gives Ash the opportunity to transition from being the one receiving advice to being the one giving it. Ash is not yet fully grown up here, he once again got into fights with Mai and behaved recklessly, but he has obviously come a long way from where he started. The same is largely true of these Diamond and pearl Seasons, where Ash helps Dawn from the beginning of her own journey.

Ash’s character development saw a bit of a setback in the Black and white Era where he seems to have forgotten many of the lessons he learned, losing easy battles and often fighting with Iris early on. However, Ash gets back on track with these XY Era, where he once again takes a newbie trainer, this time Serena, under his wing. Ash not only behaves in a more mature manner for the most part, but his new design for XY It seems that he also gave him a more mature look. Ash’s battling skills have also progressed, to such an extent that he is in the final round of the Kalos League.

Meanwhile, Ash’s character really messed up. He doesn’t get angry anymore, and even though he can still be a little stubborn and impatient, he has learned to contain these traits so that they don’t control him anymore. He is much more compassionate towards both other people and Pokemon, a fact that makes his goals all the more achievable. throughout Sun & MoonAsh deals with some difficult topics, like death, and handles them well.

as of Pokemon JourneysAsh is recognized for his battle achievements, he became a champion of the Alola region, but this is still not enough for him. Although he still has his eyes on the world champion title, he is also even more of a mentor character to Goh, and has matured enough to participate in actual Pokemon research with professors. Ash’s transition from the inexperienced young trainer seen in the Indigo League to the smart, mature world champion was a journey that took quite a long time, but ultimately showed the type of character growth that Ash deserved.

Will Pokemon Ash be different when fans see him again?

How does Ash’s Return show his character development

While it is more than possible that Ash will make his return to the Pokemon Anime, it would be a mistake to show him exactly how To be a master left him. Ash, who could be a household name, would completely change how other characters see him. If something happened horizons’ The new protagonists Liko and Roy, for example, there is little chance that the newer trainers would see Ash as a peer.

Although Pokemon Producers are dead set on keeping Ash as a child, but that doesn’t mean the Ash that Lico and Roy meet can’t be a more mature and down-to-earth trainer than the Ash fans met a quarter of a century ago. Ash’s maturity and experience may also lend some legitimacy to these Horizons Cast, as it may be a moment to pass the torch to the next generation of trainers. Even a small appearance in just one episode could do wonders to show how far Ash has come and how far these Horizons Cast still has to go.

Why Ash’s ending was so controversial with fans

Ash’s ending didn’t give long-time fans what they wanted

The controversies surrounding Ash’s ending have died down a bit since the episode premiered, but many fans still have some unhappy feelings towards the final episode. In large part, that’s because fans wanted the final episodes of Ash to emphasize how far he’s come, and show him growing and aging like they have since the beginning of Ash’s journey. Given how many anime series end with the main characters growing older and having children of their own, it’s not an unreasonable expectation that this could happen for Pokemon too.

Many fans hoped that Aim to be a Pokemon Sir Would be like a farewell tour for Ash, revisiting old friends and Pokemon that haven’t been seen in a long time, but that’s really not what it was. With the episodes very much the same as other episodes of JourneysIt can be easy to see why some fans are disappointed. The last episode itself felt a lot like any other post-league tournament epilogue – something that PokemonIts creators intended, but not the big, emotional farewell that some fans felt was deserved after such a long run.

What plot threads and mysteries does Pokemon still have to solve for Ash when he returns?

Ash may yet address some long-standing mysteries in a return appearance

While the story didn’t leave too many plot threads unaddressed, there are some things that could be dealt with if Ash were to return to the anime. There are some Pokemon that Ash has left in various locations that he can reunite with, such as Primeape or Greninja. There’s also always the matter of the Pokédex, and Ash’s quest to encounter Pokemon he’s never seen before can take him to any number of locations, like Paldea, in search of new creatures to release.

As a powerful trainer who is respected around the world, there is also the possibility that Ash could be called upon when trouble emerges. It’s been shown before that champions like Cynthia often take matters into their own hands when problems arise in their area, and with Ash as the world champion, it seems likely that he can be called upon to almost any Pokemon mystery. Ash’s skill in battle and his eagerness to release new Pokemon would make him a perfect fit for such a role. While an adult Ash is unlikely, there’s no reason a younger Ash can’t do these kinds of things as well.

Possibly the biggest outstanding plot that could always be dealt with if Ash returns is Ho-Oh. Ash saw Ho-Oh in the first episode, and several times after that. The plot of the 20th Pokemon The movie actually revolves around an alternate version of Ash meeting Ho-Oh, but that’s something the main timeline version of Ash never had to do. Perhaps Ash could return on a quest to meet and/or challenge Ho-Oh, finally bringing his journey full circle to where it began.

Ash’s end is the embodiment of what he was all along: an unending adventure filtered through the wonder of a child. To try to change that now in the end would be to deny that Pokemon Is and has always been. Whether fans ever see Ash again or not, he and Pikachu are still out there seeing new sights and learning new things, and that’s the thought that should live on in the minds of Pokemon Fans everywhere.