To
Champion Jared 14:
I have to say "Bye Bye Psyduck"brings back memories,.It was great episode and i have to admit that i was also being fooled that Misty Psyduck evolved when i watched it for first time(quite good teaser i must say).Shame that this didnt happened but all in all i liked this episode showing Misty to be capable battler handling good wild pokemon like it was hers.True some may say how reason why Golduck listened to Misty was because he wanted to impress girls,but at same time its needed to take in account how he decided to choose Misty instead of Marina and others because it considered her as good enough trainer with Misty using good strategy and attacks when battling with it.
Another opportunity on which writers missed on here was with that water trainer Marina.She could have become great rival for Misty in future being one of perfect candidates for his job.
Unfortunately its pretty obvious how writers didnt fleshed out Misty as much as they could have.Her goal of becoming water pokemon master,her backstory,several of her pokemon were mostly unexplored leaving lot of untapped potential there which could be used to do more with her character.
Unlike its case with Dawn or May we dont know even motives behind Mistys desire to become water pokemon master and what influenced her to have preference for one type.We didnt see Misty overcoming her personal issues which stand on her way of becoming water pokemon master never coming to significant realization how to achieve her dreams either.
Such a shame that they got rid of character who has such deep and great personality making interactions in group more enjoyable leaving lot of potential unlocked.
Also i must say you did interesting analysis about Misty reasons behind leaving gym to travel and if i may add on it.As we know Misty got tired of living in her older sisters shadow causing complex on her of feeling less worthy wanting to prove that she is just as good as they are along with developing desire to become best water trainer in world and when she met first Ash you could get impression how she only wanted to stick with him until she gets her bike back.However as time went on Misty started to forget about whole bike thing wanting to continue traveling in company of her friends Ash and Brock who she considered being her new family.After Kanto ended Misty forgot about bike not caring for it anymore just wanting to stick with her friends,explore new regions and pokemon learning everything she can about pokemon tyoe she adores and pursue her dream of becoming water pokemon master with time starting to open herself more toward others sharing with them her past,dreams and motives.In Ash case judging by some episodes it seems she started developing romantic affection too.
Fact that she didnt cared about bike at all in "Gotta Catch Ya Later"wanting to continue traveling with Ash being unhappy about going back to gym further shows how there were much deeper reasons behind Misty decision to travel with Ash than just bike which was used as simple vector to start everything.
I seconded your post here. If she doesn't attend the gym for too long, it might get closed. And in fact, IMO, things that were left unclear prior to the farewell episode was later cleared up in the Hosos.
And yeah, I think that the bike itself is just some lame excuse. There's something more behind her reasons that she joined Ash
Now that you mentioned chronicles did cleared up some things giving to Misty some great development.She overcome her fear from Gyarados,saved gym from PIA inspection along with gaining sisters respect(mostly from Daisy though).This was testament to Misty strength and independence as character.
Though they still left many unanswered things about Misty too.
Unlike say some other characters like May she never got any closure. She never achieved her dream or came to some significant realization that will help her achieve her dream. Sure, May didn't win a GF, but she realized that she was too reliant on Ashs training style, set out to establish her own, traveled on her own (or with her rivals), overcame her fear and loathing of Pokemon, etc. She had massive character development and proper closure. Misty didnt. Misty didnt choose to stop traveling with group nor hard interest in running gym.
Furthermore specials after departure didnt offered any progress of plots of her story(like her goal of becoming one type master,to learn everything she can about water pokemon,other aspirations etc)nor there was ignited any change in character of deciding to pursue something else.
Watching "The Water Flowers of Cerulean City" back, you can notice that Misty's sisters sometimes mention that she's less beautiful than they are, and I know they've called her scrawny at some point as well. It wouldn't be much of a surprise if she did leave Cerulean, to prove to her sisters that she can be beautiful and talented in her own right.
I think this also influenced partially her decision of wanting to become water pokemon master later in series to prove she has what it takes to become exceptionally great trainer one day.That and her passionate love for this type.
Speaking of which another thing i find unique is that we never saw with any other character such passionate love for specific type like we get to see with Misty.That was one of things in which she stand out wanting to learn everything she can becoming best one type trainer on day,.I remember how important to her was opinion from others about her abilities as trainer like when she asked her idol Lorelei to take a look at her pokemon or when she was heartbroken when famous nurse Joy who is taking care of pokemon center for water types in Johto refused to examine her pokemon because of hating them.
Thanks to such liking,determination and potential she showed as water trainer i think Misty has predispositions to achieve her dreams one day becoming recognized in world.
