Now, as mentioned before, I have a lot to say about this thread and its users. This is a very long post, so take your time. I'm going to be as honest as possible, and I apologize if I cause any offense, for they're not intended.
First, my thoughts on some Amourshippers:
asuna07neros: You seem to have gotten increasingly pessimistic in the last few weeks, but don't throw in the towel just yet. There's still more to go.
Cresselia92: Nice to know someone likes Super Smash Bros. at least as much as I do. =)
DaDonYordel: What is with your signature...
Graham Aker: You're a good guy. One of the most respectable users in this thread.
JrzFine: Got a little impatient, no?
Lorde: You seem like a rather difficult person to satisfy, no? You also say "in my opinion" a whole lot, you know.
LucarioTheSuperSaiyajin: Dude, if you're going to use Japanese names, please transliterate them better. You are Chilean, so don't make yourself look like a fool by using the likes of "Shitoron", "Yuriika", and "Rokettos", so please use "Citron", "Eureka", and "Rockets". Other than that, you're a good and informative user.
Maldread: You should really cut the condescending sarcasm, it's causing people to doubt you're an Amourshipper. I know your concerns and criticisms are mostly valid, but please try to put it in a better way.
Midnight Reality: Beautiful paragraph at the latter end of post #19076
pK': Thanks a lot for the treats you bring. You're one of the best users here. I already miss you, man =(
PokeHero96: Thanks for that video you showed in pg. 742. You're a bright fellow, but don't be overenthusiastic and get carried away, alright?
ScienceIsSoAmazing: I'm completely like you in regards to Amourshipping; it got me watching this show again (though I haven't gotten back to it in some time). You're easily one of the best users in this thread.
Sir Aaron Aura Guardian: I like your taste in music. Also, go with Amourshipping.
taeuknam: Don't get overly enthusiastic and optimistic about Amourshipping, okay? It's not too healthy to be overly into it to the point where you write bad fanfiction (no offense). It could turn back on you. =)
torterra_4_the_win: There's a soccer thread in this site? Please show me! *excited*
While this thread has been quite awkward at times, you guys did enough to persuade me to become an AmourShipper. It's quite funny, because I normally despise shippings, a ton. Most of it simply turn me off in a way that makes me sigh and shake my head. (No offense, Cresselia, but your ideas of so-called AntennaShipping and SteakShipping are, quite frankly, very stupid ideas). I for one can't stand fanfiction, AMV's, so-called fanon hints, and at least half of the fanart, and the majority of these shippings (Pokemon or otherwise) have absolutely zero chance of going canon. I am not going to join a ship for that type of stuff, especially if it has a 100% chance of not happening. The Ash x Bonnie thread is a grand example of this, as I find that to be utterly pointless, as well as morally objectionable.
As mentioned before (and I'll mention it again for newer readers who haven't read my previous posts), I was crazy into Pokemon fifteen years ago. I used to be into the Pokemon games, anime, and trading card game. As a silly nine-year old boy I thought Pokemon was truly the greatest thing to have ever been invented. I wanted to be like Ash and become the greatest Pokemon trainer of all time. It was quite a phase I went through, which lasted for about a year. It began to wane when I stopped with the TCG after the first generation, and I was also viewing the show less frequently, only watching bits of Johto and Hoenn. I continued to play the games until the third generation (which included the first remakes), and once the fourth games came out I lost interest and found the series had gotten stale to me. I was flat-out unimpressed when I first saw the fifth games, and the show had gotten so bad it made me want to puke. My childhood hero, Ash, had become such a grand failure by that point it really saddened me.
This is a good article explaining how bad it has become for Ash. I give a warning, for it has crude humor:
atthebuzzershow.com/2013/01/14/ash-ketchum-is-the-worst-trainer-ever/
Reinterest in Pokemon began two years ago when I replayed the first Pokemon games as a nostalgia trip. The year after I first saw the sixth games, which deeply impressed me and I saw it as a huge step in the right direction. Although I've decided I won't get back into the games, Pokemon X/Y did have me give the series some respect back. In addition, I throughly enjoyed Pokemon Origins, which was simply fantastic. In late January I also began to learn of Serena and Amourshipping, and it just grabbed my interest like mad. I have watched about 30 episodes of the show now (skipped some fillers), and have read all the pages of this thread, and I now join you guys as an Amourshipper. I hope I can be meaningful in our discussion.
You see, I'm not so much of an Amourshipper as I'm just a guy who simply wants Ash to win a league for once, and from what I've seen I think Serena might give him the boost and support he needs to win that league. That's my reason why I'm an Amourshipper; I don't believe in escapism, and I don't care for any of the fanfiction, AMV's, and all that jazz (although I do appreciate some nice artwork--official and fanmade), I'm not in it for whatever "cuteness" comes out of it. I just want this pairing to go canon, as I believe in will be great development for Ash, and increase his chances at winning the Kalos league as he'll have reliable support to help him reach his goals. I'd also love to see Ash do the same for Serena in her goals. I didn't expect any hints at the last episode, but I'm glad Serena now has a goal, as the crush on Ash was the only thing she had going for her before that (as well as being eye candy for 5-15 year old male viewers). I don't want her to be useless.
Putting the two together as a pairing is something I believe will be beneficial to both characters. Ash and Serena both have a great love for Pokemon, and they can support each other in their respective goals--Ash helping Serena win the TriPokalons, and Serena helping Ash win gym badges and ultimately the Kalos League. Together, they press forward. To me, that's what couples are for--helping each other become stronger and better despite difficulties, obstacles, and trials; to have improvement and progression, and experiencing joy in doing so.
Seeing the whole childhood scene at Professor Oak's camp, the fact that Serena began her journey to see Ash, her moments of blushing, her panic at losing Ash to Penelope, her worry about Ash calling Aria cute, her extreme concern of Ash during his battle against Grant, her extreme jealousy and blush during her encounters with Miette, her bringing herself close to Ash at that photo with Korrina, her getting teary at the thought of never seeing Ash again at the mirror episode, her compliment and subsequent nervousness towards Ash at the recent summer camp, the boosts given to Ash at the Viola and Korrina battles, the blushing at one of the earliest posters, the character relationship charts (Suki...?), and the Valentine's Day poster (with shoujo bubbles, no less!)--these things can't be disregarded so easily. Never has the main girl in Pokemon ever had such a blatant crush on our protagonist. As mentioned before, the writers have dug themselves deeply into a hole, and I hope the future goes well with the ship.
Of all the flaws the Pokemon show has--not just the ones that arctofire has mentioned in post #21342, but also the awkward dialogue, the limited animation, Ash's failures, just plain poor writing, and problems that anime has in general--I will forgive it and all the mistakes and flaws it has made if Amourshipping becomes canon and Ash wins a league. It will do so much to fulfill a childhood wish. That said, knowing what has been done in the past, I understand the pessimism and am rather pessimistic and don't think it'll ultimately happen, as Serena will likely get the axe before the seventh region begins. If that is the case, it will be the biggest letdown this show has ever done. But I'm not going to give up; I will wait until it's all over.
That'll be enough for now. I must head to work. I will ask some questions later.
TL;DR After reading all 850+ pages of this thread, I have become an Amourshipper for the reason that it'll be great character development for Ash and Serena if it were to become canon.
