Pocket Monsters 2019 Anime: Thoughts before anime started vs thoughts now!

[AuraChannelerChris]

This series sure screwed Korrina even more than in Kalos, didn't it. Now beating her is not an achievement, but just the equivalent of blowing your nose.

 

[Leonhart]

I don’t think ash has ever felt as inconsequential as he is now. Like ash has never been the most deeply written character out there let’s be honest, but without the tittle of ‘main character’ covering him it feels like there’s less reason to even pay attention to him. Rather than following his story, ash feels like he’s just along for the ride as much as us.

I think that says more about Satoshi's character in general than it does about this series, however. The writing has simply exposed the core weakness of his character, which is that he has no distinct personality to speak of other than him being a run-of-the-mill, benign shonen protagonist.

 

[Dragonsoldier77]

I think that says more about Satoshi's character in general than it does about this series, however. The writing has simply exposed the core weakness of his character, which is that he has no distinct personality to speak of other than him being a run-of-the-mill, benign shonen protagonist.

That’s exactly my point. He’s now a shonen protagonist who isn’t really a full protagonist anymore. So just a random brat. Unfortunately this series hasn’t been able to compensate for that lack of focus on him.

 

[Blue Saturday]

It also doesn’t help that his goal has felt forgotten for a good chunk time now. Using a ranking was a great way to give ash constant progress along side goh’s goal, but the way it’s been sidelined just makes ash look aimless and less important than goh. Which then makes his pokemon feels even less important with the lack of appearance. I feel like ash’s only memorable achievement in regards to his goal so far is beating korrina and that’s it.

That’s more due to the fact you can’t really do anything with Satoshi on a character level. His character is battling and his goal, if his Pokémon don’t have storylines and he doesn’t have character-based rivals or company to bounce off of than he doesn’t really have a lot going for him in that regard. Gou’s captures may feel phoned in but he’s got his own character, being awkward, trying to prove himself, being kind of a nerd, a student, making mistakes with his Pokémon, struggling with friends. Being innovative?

Still I ultimately still find his PM-self to be pretty likable even if he is ultimately stagnant. The struggles he went through during the Saito arc. highlight his humility as a trainer and how even he can be flawed. He’s meant to shine through his Pokémon and his support alongside them but I don’t think it needs to be said for the millionth time that PM doesn’t do much with his Pokémon and his personal growth/bonds relationships.

 

[AuraChannelerChris]

What Ash endured against Bea was all self-inflicted. He used two very fresh members and expected to own her. That sure went well for him. Even BW Ash knew better than to have Scraggy fight in a gym too early when it was born.

If he had used Dragonite with Pikachu, the story would have been much different.

 

[Pokegirl Fan~]

What Ash endured against Bea was all self-inflicted. He used two very fresh members and expected to own her. That sure went well for him. Even BW Ash knew better than to have Scraggy fight in a gym too early when it was born.

If he had used Dragonite with Pikachu, the story would have been much different.

Nah, the writers would still have had him lose, no matter who he uses.

 

[AuraChannelerChris]

Nah, the writers would still have had him lose, no matter who he uses.

I'm not sure. Pretty hard to embrace a unit like Dragonite and render him useless.

 

[Deleted member 384931]

Is it me or does it feel like Satoshi doesnt care at all sometimes what happens around him?

 

[Leonhart]

That’s exactly my point. He’s now a shonen protagonist who isn’t really a full protagonist anymore. So just a random brat. Unfortunately this series hasn’t been able to compensate for that lack of focus on him.

My point was that his character has always been like that under the surface, and it was only his passion to become a Pokemon Master [a vague goal, but a driving force nonetheless] that masked his character's vapidity, at least from my viewpoint. I suppose that I'm just amused by the fact that it took so long for other viewers to figure out that Satoshi isn't really that interesting to watch unless he's battling at regular intervals as part of an overarching subplot. I at least agree that his ranked battles should happen more frequently, though.

 

[Kazuniya]

I love how people are willing to use Goh for literally everything, just throw him under the bus, even as a way to explain why Ash is a "bad character".

Newsflash: Ash has never been much of a character.

 

[janejane6178]

I wouldnt call this series bad. It is nice (not more). But it just feels soul-less for me for some reason.

 

[Satoshi & Touko]

It was garbage to me in the beginning and it's still not worth even attempting to watch as of now. Those are my thoughts.