Despite the lack of official news, fans have been accumulating a mounting pile of evidence which suggests that Pokemon might be inching towards a reboot.
But what kind of a reboot will it be? And will Ash and his Pikachu have a place in the new Poke-verse or is this Ash’s final season?
We’re currently on the 24th season – Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series, which is the second cour of Pokemon Journeys.
What we know for sure is that the Pokemon future is going to involve some legendary characters (pun intended), but whether or not Ash is one of them is yet to be seen.
This article contains spoilers from the Japanese episodes of Pocket Monsters, not yet released in English.
Is Pokemon Journeys Ash’s Final Season?
Pokemon Journeys could potentially be Ash Ketchum’s (or Satoshi’s) final lap because everything about the ongoing season indicates Ash fulfilling his dream of becoming a Pokemon Master.
He’s reuniting with old Pokemons and revisitng old friends and rivals from the other 7 regions.
But on the other hand, Pokemon = Ash. Ash is immortal, irreplaceable. And the Pocket Monster’s Den (GameFreak) knows it all too well.
Pokemon Journeys might be Ash’s last season but there is no way Ash and Pikachu are ever leaving the franchise – it’s as likely as Pikachu evolving into Raichu.
The upcoming episodes indicate Pokemon taking a leap in the direction of Legendary and Mythical Pokemon, especially Mew, Arceus, Eternatus, Necrozma, and Dialga and Palkia.
The latter two are the controllers of time and space; what if somehow there is going to be an entry of Alternate World characters? Ash might be one of them.
There have already been mentions of different dimensions like the Reverse/Distortion World.
With wormholes and time-traveling in the picture, we could have a canon Pokemon multiverse. This way, some form of Ash will always be present in the series. Everybody wins.
Is It Time To Go(h)? Can Pokemon Actually Move On From Ash?
Goh was introduced as a traveling companion like Brock and Misty, but given where the plot is heading, he might slowly start stealing the show as an MC.
But this does not mean he will ever measure in popularity to Ash, who will always be Number One. Pokemon can never move on from Ash. Whether or not it should, is a whole other topic of conversation.
In the 68th episode of Pokemon Journeys: Advice to Goh! – we’re shown Ash/Satoshi being greeted by all of his old Pokemon, including Infernape, Charizard, Bulbasaur, and the others he left behind before he began his Galarian adventures with Goh.
Throughout the series, Ash has been taking multiple trips down memory lane, traveling from Galar to Kanto, meeting old rivals like Volkner, Cynthia, and Gary, as well as old friends like Dawn, Iris, and Professor Kukui.
While these events hold a nostalgic place in the viewers’ hearts, they have no real significance in plot advancement.
Ash’s old buddies and Pokemon don’t have a role to play; his present and future seem to be dominated by his new obsession of topping the World Coronation Series.
But Ash’s love towards the pocket monsters is something that the entire franchise hinges on. While Goh is trying to fulfill the OG Pokemon catchphrase, “Gotta Catch ‘Em All”, he doesn’t hold a candle to Ash when it comes to bonding with Pokemon.
Also, Goh might be a walking-talking Pokedex, but he is far too inexperienced in ranked battles, which is what every season of Pokemon has been about. Ash, in this regard at least, cannot be replaced.
Is Pokemon Journeys The Series Finale of The Pokemon Anime?
Pokemon Journeys is not the last series of the Pokemon anime. Since the core series of Pokemon is the games, we know that the next arc is going to follow Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
The anime has already been making a segue into the Mythicals, what with Goh actively questing after Mew.
The new arc will take place in ancient Sinnoh, and will be kind of like the Pokemon Origin Story since it deals with the God of all Pokemon, Arceus.
The animators have developed Goh as someone curious about the nature of Pokemon, inclined towards research.
While Ash is still excited about battles and conquering his new goal of ranking #1 in the World Coronation, Goh is on his way to new discoveries.
Conclusion
When Ash finally became the Alola League Champion back in 2019, we were all proud that he finally got what he had worked so hard to achieve.
But Ash’s adventures don’t seem to have an immediate end – remember his goal of becoming the Pokemon Master?
The Pokemon Company refuses to disclose what the position actually entails, but my guess is that the Pokemon Master is the winner of the World Coronation Series.
If that’s the case, Ash still has to beat Leon to fight for his place as the strongest Trainer in the world.
After that though, it’s natural for the show to head in a different direction. But you won’t see me complaining, not if my boy Ash reigns as the ultimate victor.
About Pokémon
Pokémon was first released in 1996 and is set up in a world where humans catch monsters and store them in pocket-sized poke-balls.
They are creatures with an affinity to certain elements and some superhuman abilities related to that element.
Revolving around a teenage boy Ash Ketchum, Pokémon takes us through his journey to becoming the most accomplished Pokémon trainer the world has ever seen.
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