To
Sonic Boom:
very interesting ideas. Some of things you guys come up with are much more innovative and engaging than what writers are capable or willing to deliver with their story and characters., Budget and resources obviously aren't issue, hence making it all that more frustrating that so much unlimited potential this anime has isn't properly used,.
I especially like your idea of Tracey character. He definitely seemed much more mature and knowledgeable about pokemon, regulations and how world functions than Misty and Ash does with anything prior to meeting them being complete mystery.
We dont know anything about his past, from where he comes from, who is his family, what he did before. Absolutely nothing and its very possible that occupation of becoming pokemon watcher may not be initial desire he developed in his mind.
Afterall its not unusual that people change multiple careers in life before discovering one which truly fulfills them. Sometime that searching lasts for whole life existing cases of people in already advanced age quitting with job changing it.
I always felt Tracey continuing with Ash, Misty in Johto would have made sense . His Scyther could have evolved, he could catch Smeargle and serve as mentor to Ash helping him in overcoming rivalry with Gary and preparing himself for Johto league.
With region containing multitude of unique pokemon he could research and expand horizons.
As for Misty interestingly enough there were moments where Misty showed internal doubts and struggles of being overshadowed by sisters and underesimated for her own abilities by others revealing how it had negative traces on her character to extent. Deconstructing sense of security and self preservence, building rough, more violent facade to cover up her own insecurities, fears and desire to be noticed for her own strength,.
In addition to that it did seemed like she never received parental love or support with Takeshi Shudo in novelizations showing how just like with Brock parents abandoned Misty and sisters when they were little.
With addition of two new persons in her life Ash and Brock along with responsibility with Togepi starting to leave influence on character becoming more open as pereson and less difficult over time developing appreciation for her friends, more tolerance and independence breaking free from sisters influence.
Maintainin need to be selfreliant, tough and rebellious not letting others to tailor her destiny, but being more reasonable with time.
Masin issue is that development happened, but it was at times inconsistent and scarse that way to get there didnt fluently followed final results. And that writers never dived deeper into this problems and on more noticeable level giving just hints and sometime situations when this issues came to surface.
Speaking of her water pokemon master career i like premise of character facing dilemma of whether becoming top water trainer renowned and honored for her abilities is really something she wants to do or its just consolation mindset she developed as result of neglect and downplaying to prove how she isn't useless and has her own talents?
Although through series writers showed how this aspect of her character is more driven by enormous love and passion for water pokemon wanting to learn as much as she can about them, become strongest user of that specie in world and eventually revealing from where such love steems from(in "Some Like it Hot". Dreaming to meet legendary water pokemon realizing their origins and secrets and what it takes to become master.
Hoenn had excellent material to take advantage of that with Kyogre or even Manaphy in movie. (Whats with writers removing characters before regions they could fully benefit from?)
Wanting to achieve high class status as user of this type and not hiding interest and enchabtment with strong water users like E4 member Lorelei,
Viewing her ads idol and someone she would like to become herself one day.
Indirectly connecting her water master career with desire to reach E4 sttrength and fame status. Which i guess made sense because her game counterpart worship Lorelei too planning to go on journey to improve skiklls and meet stronger trainers showing affinity to become more than gym leader,.
Hence why i think taking Misty down E4 route trying to become first female E4 of water pokemon in history would be viable solution in advancing her dreams and make creative story arc out of it. Either through spin of(another set of chronicles) or by giving her temporary return in main series competing in tournaments, going through rigorous training and meeting other experts to learn about moe complex battle strategies before she becomes E4 apprentice(Siebold could be good mentor making her all fangirly lol) and eventually takes over position once older one retires.