So, I've been looking on some other Ash/main girl shipping threads recently, seeing what they have to say about why they like that ship... And it got me thinking, what's special about Pokeshipping? Why am I so attached to that ship? Is it just because it was the first one? If it had been another girl first, would I be stuck on that ship instead?
I don't think so. When I try to remember, what really struck me about Pokeshipping was how deeply Misty cared for Ash. She'd do anything for him and was always looking out for him... But she held those feelings inside herself. It was like... how do I explain it? This was something she didn't need to be noticed, she didn't seem to be hoping for her feelings to be returned. I mean, yeah, she wanted him to feel the same way, but that wasn't why she always watched over him. She just really worried about him and wanted to protect him (I'm not trying to contrast this with any of the other girls here; this is just what grabbed me about Pokeshipping from the very beginning, before there were any others). To me, it seemed like she didn't think her feelings would be returned, and that was sad for her... but I really sympathized with that, too.
To me, it seems like that Ash was Misty's focus in a way that it hasn't been for any of the other girls. She didn't have much else going on in the way of her own goals, so looking out for him and supporting him was her main reason for being there. She's the only one so far who didn't separate from him of her own volition; in fact, she kinda broke down when they had to part. Part of that was probably that she didn't have a choice, and she didn't have a goal to look forward to... But then after that, she felt left behind-- I remember that last part particularly, because, even though there was no way the Misty who I knew wouldn't feel that way, I didn't think the writers would go there... And I was surpised and pleased that they did.
In short, I guess what really appealed to me about Poke was that it was a devoted, selfless love from Misty's side. I mean, Ash and Misty had great chemistry, too, and it was really cute how they ended up caring about each other in spite of themselves... but yeah, that first part is what I felt most strongly.
Admittedly, I don't think it's great that Misty didn't get to work on her own goals while she was on the show. The fact that it's more mutual support with Ash and the other girls is a strength for those ships. But at the same time... I dunno, I feel like it takes a lot of self-possession and maturity for that kind of love to develop; Misty had a really strong and decisive personality. In a way, I think she was with Ash for her own sake, too-- being with him was what she really wanted; it's like the line in Tangled-- "You are my dream." Yeah, you can't center your life around one person, you need to have interests and goals for yourself, too... I'd love it if Misty had made some progress by the time she and Ash come back together, and it could be a more mutually supportive relationship.
One thing I don't get is when people say that Misty's crush was all dub added. No, really, I actually kinda don't get it. It seemed to me that there was plenty of obvious stuff in the visual department (even a few moments from Ash's side). But aside from that... it's hard for me to understand how someone could miss the subtext. And yeah, the subtext was was what really got me. I mean, I know I developed it on my own, too, but it definitely wasn't just my input, either. At the very least, I really, super don't get it when people say that Misty didn't care about Ash, because it was mean when she argued with him. ...It's just something that's been bugging me lately.
I wish Misty'd get a cameo with Ash, and there'd be a hint, so I'd know the writers still favor it (seems like Ash's voice actress ships it? Or at least she really liked Ash and Misty's relationship. That doesn't necessarily mean anything, but it'd be nice if they asked her which girl she liked best... that's how they decided the shipping on Samurai Champloo, so it's worked like that at least once!)... or they did a flash-forward, with Ash and Misty sending off their own kid on a journey (although that kid wouldn't be Satsumi, and that'd also break my heart; I can't win XD). I want some kind of closure to it, partly so I can feel good about it and let. it. go. Seriously, it's been well over ten years, and... well, I don't think about it all the time like I did, but if Ash ever did show blatant jealousy over another girl, or got super-embarrassed and defensive when someone teased him about her... yeah, I'd still take it pretty hard. And not just because my current OTP is Satsumi and the person she falls in love with.
Well, that got rather long and rambling... I just have a lot of feelings about Pokeshipping. It's obsessive, and I kinda don't like it that I'm still hung up on it... but if there's anyone who gets it, it's you guys.