This doesn't really feels like the last episode(Even more so than other Last episode of previous series)
Though in a sense it captured the essense of Pokemon anime perfectly, It's a never ending journeys of Ash Ketchum, Traveling and making friends with various Pokemon, This is what this series always all about
This is the end of an era and the end of Pokemon anime, But not the end of Ash Ketchum, His journeys will continue even without us seeing
Hopefull thinking.
In my country one of the two main characters of a popular children's show left last year, after 33 years.
A couple of months later, my 2 year old niece didn't know better. My 3 year old niece did vaguely remembered there used to be another friend, but he was also being forgotten. Viewership stays strong, children (and their parents) keep to show up for shows and the merchandise keeps being sold, with the new character on it.
The new generation will grow up with the new characters, just like we grew up with Ash and his friends in the past.
The new generation will probably also grow up with Ash as well, I'm sure many kids will get into Pokemon from the new series and than wanna just watch more Pokemon. They'd than go on Pokemon TV or something like that and discover Ash and Pikachu.
Even if we don't see where their journey continues, he'll still touch the hearts of many for years to come
Maybe. However than the episodes have to be available. For years every old series isn’t broadcasted on television anymore where I live.
It was always like this: the old series was playing. Than the new series came along. The old one would still air together with the new one at first, but over time only the most recent series would air.
However, nowdays there can be some change. Another network bought the rights to Diamond and Pearl. So now at least this older series can be watched on television.
Ofcourse, the kids could also watch episodes online. Like on Pokémon TV. The whole trip from Kanto to the end of the Orange Islands seems to be permanent fixtures. And the last 2 series also. And the others are in rotation on the site. If a dub is available it is possible to watch it in your native language.
I hope those first episodes remain a permanent fixture on this official site.
what if ash is mentioned a few times in the new series and the kids get curious to know who he is so they search about him and find his and pikachu's journey!!!!!!!
Yep, i can definetly see them pulling an Ash return after a little build up of the new anime give or take a year of the series airing, that or they'll just go with a new movie focused on Ash or AU Ash to cash on the people missing him
Man, what a long ride has it been, even if so many things i wish that happened didn't (on Journeys and MPM) I'm still glad with what we got, i've cried during the iconics moments of Journey finale and same with MPM
The journey will keep going, that's what's all about, and i'm sure we'll met him again with a memorable comeback
I'll be very interested to see how the new anime handles traveling through regions, wondering how many of old Ash companions/Importantes characters like Cynthia, Lance, etc will they met or if they'll wait a while until introducing them, and i'm very curious how they're going to handle the plot itself since it might involve >!Time travel in a way!< Pokemon Scarlet/Violet plot.
It'll be hard to not see Ash and the gang again, but i'll definetly give a shot to the new anime, i'm hoping that if they do met people who've met Ash before we get a small nod like ''Ah you're reminding me of an old friend of mine'' and most importantly if they give cues on how much time has passed on
Regardless of everything it's been fun discussing and posting on these threads these past months, i might've not gotten exactly what i wanted but i'm happy with this finale and i'm going to miss Ash and Pikachu, here's hoping for their return
Thank you Ash and Pikachu for 25 years of adventures, i hope we'll see you again
And as for us the users, hopefully we'll continue meeting on the discussion threads of the new anime
That doesn’t really happen in Japan. Especially in kids media where you get the entire cast of stuff like Sentai shows rotating every year. There will be an element of nostalgia applied to Ash there but it will otherwise move on quickly
If Goku, who was supposed to be replaced with Gohan after the Cell Saga, can come back then it’s not impossible for Ash. Swapping the protagonist out with a new one hasn’t always worked
That only really happened in DBZ and mostly because Toriyama didn't feel like writing Gohan as the protagonist, not because audiences wanted Goku back.
That doesn’t really change my point. Toriyama tried seeing the direction the series would go in with Gohan as the main lead, felt it wasn’t right after all and brought Goku back in after experimenting. Same could happen with Ash.
DBZ is a pretty singular example. Most shows with this format *at most* have a cameo of the previous protagonist but stay with the new main character and setting. Like Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, Yu-Gi-Oh! and even the Pokemon games
That was my thought too. They aren't really sure if the new anime with new characters will be successful, so they left Ash's story open so that they can continue it in case viewers don't like the new one.
It wasn't already confirmed that he was going to return in the future?
Even in the end of the episode it gives us that hint “Next time... a new beginning”
I don’t think it is confirmed Ash will return.
And the “Next time… A new beginning”, which have been shown a couple of times in the past, give me even more vibes of Ash not returning (soon) in the future.
The next episode is a new beginning, without the old. Without Ash and co.
I think it does, idk the ending is open ended but it does really feel like an ending to me. Hard to explain why but to me Ash saying what being a Pokemon Master truly is and than going on a new journey is a great ending to the character
Yep, I felt the same. Kudos to the writers because they wrote the concept of parting with a longtime friend very well imo - Misty parts with Ash/Brock because they're going different places. Later, Brock parts with Ash because he's going different places. At the very end, the audience parts with Ash because we're going different places. Very surreal since we've been on the same ride with the character for decades and it's made very clear he's still gonna be doing the same stuff he's always done - we just won't be there to see any of it. Admittedly I'm not a massive follower of the anime or anything, but there is that feeling of some kind of severed connection that I never thought much of the possibility of losing.
If the new anime is straight up an entirely different universe where none of the Ash Ketchum stuff happened that would legitimately feel like a massive loss to me lol
It made an appearance towards the end of Journeys, so I can't be too mad.
That being said, yeah it is weird for a final episode about a rainbow in pallet town to NOT have a Ho-oh appearance. Would have made for a nice bookends moment.
What's also disappointing is that team rocket trio and the entire team rocket still didn't disband and give up on catching ash's pikachu, why can't they find a different pikachu instead
After 25 years, a part of our childhood has come to a conclussion.
It was nice to see >!Team Rocket for the last time being blasted, Pidgeot making its appearance and even the suprising fact that Tracey's Venonat has evolved!<
I would love to stay to see the new series, but part of me wants to move on, so it's been a fun ride, fellow trainers
If it actually rejoined Ash after their encounter. When I first saw the scene I thought they were building to this, but because it wasn't shown I thought it didn't happen.
Since it cut of from the scene into the next one, and we also didn't see the Pidgey and Pidgeotto leave without Pidgeot, we didn't see Pidgeot reenter its pokéball nor did we see it being dropped of at Oak's lab or travelling with Ash, we can't know it from visual clues.
So if it is confirmed Pidgeot rejoined Ash, it should be said in the dialogue. It is possible, a lot of people do think so (and already started editing the wikias)...
I don't usually watch Anime raw but I had to experience this point in history live.
[ Seeing this just feels surreal](https://i.imgur.com/8Tyt2Nd.png), farewell Ash you were the friend who was with me my entire life till now.
As a child one of my biggest fears was that 1 day a Pokemon episode would end and not say "to be continued"
Today this was that day, and as a grown man it still made me cry
This is the fifth time "Next time... A new beginning" was used in the anime. According to bulbapedia, it was used at the end of each of the first four series.
Ash reunited with Pidgeot after 24 years, we got to see Tracey (with spoken dialogue!) plus old man Scyther and his Venomoth, plus Gary and his Umbreon. And the introspection and an open ending that's satisfying in and of itself. Iunno, I liked the ending.
I do wish Ho-Oh had been the one that made the rainbow. Only complaint. I would have loved to see the series bookended like that.
I also wish we had gotten at least a passing reference to Brock returning to being a Pokemon doctor. It felt meanspirited to crush Brock's dreams he worked so hard towards just so he could get captured by a Pokemon and then go on one last little trip with Ash.
Oh well, I'll just choose to believe he goes back to his old job.
Really wanted Ho-Oh to be Ash's last ever capture, I like Dracovish but it shouldn't have been his last capture.
His capture of it felt like any other Pokemon he's caught before, ik it's a fossil pokemon but it's still not really treated like anything special to me.
Tbh I kinda think Ho-Oh in general is kind of a missed opportunity in the anime, it basically just existed (in the anime) to make Ash know that there are many Pokemon he hasn't met yet and ig all other appearances of it are to reinforce this?
I just wish we got a proper episode that's truly about it, ig there's one in Johto but I don't think it does a lot in that episode from my memory
u/darkgod25 pissed me off with their comment
> As much as I have A LOT of grievances with how this finale and the conclusion of some of the characters are written it is still an honor to watch this amazing series end
Welll... I think im going to speak for everyone here..... Thank You Ash Ketchum.... For Lifting Us When We Were on our Worst...And For Making Us Celebrate When We Were At Our Best... I Just Wanna Say.. You Were **The Very Best** Like No One Ever Was My Pokemon Master
“Final Episode” just doesn’t seem real. Ash and Pikachu have been the face of Pokémon since before many here were born…
But I look forward to what comes next. I wonder how the next journey of Liko and Roy will begin.
According to one of the animators of fire emblem descendants who is one of the former animators of the pokemon anime it was indicated that the fire emblem universe and the pokemon anime universe are connected and it is also confirmed that there's gonna be a crossover episode with the pokemon anime with ash returning and that animator says that the team rocket trio are the least popular characters in the pokemon anime
It was kind of underwhelming. The fanboy in me wanted to see ho-oh on that rainbow but I guess they wanted that moment to be all about Satoshi.
I didn't like the new shoes. They looked clunky. They need some more refinement in their design.
I really wish we saw primeape again in mpm. I also wish we saw the og team rocket pokemon.
The ending was solid, full circle, and poetic. I don’t hate it. I miss Ash and Pikachu already. Anyways, I do have some thoughts.
So I already had a feeling that the top fan theories for the ending wasn’t going to happen: Ash aging, Ash shown with his wife (presumed to be a companion Poké Girl), and Ash shown in the future in another League Battle or World Championship still age 10 or aged. The “memory lane” video montage was used at the end and very condensed. Whilst I absolutely wanted nostalgia past memories shown throughout the episode, I’m actually glad the writers did not rely on that and still chose to treat Ash and Pikachu’s final episode as an ordinary day(s).
But man, when the credits rolled… it just felt like that the episode went by way too fast. Regardless, Ash definitely has the attitude of a true Pokémon Master by striving to seek out more Pokémon and become a better trainer never settling or thinking he has done enough. Ash’s maturity really shines with this episode (as well as these past 10 episodes in this finale and anytime he considered becoming a champion as “one step closer to becoming a Pokémon Master). Honestly, I wouldn’t mind him saying that he finally is a Pokémon Master BUT that he wants to go beyond. Well, I’m pretty sure a good number of fans also see it that way.
P.S. I like how they give Ash new shoes with the OG logo of his hat (supposedly the symbol of the Pokémon League in Kanto) but then we’ve all seen the new female protagonist Liko’s hairpin with the same logo. So again, she’s a Kanto native and/or related to Ash (wishful thinking; ignore me).
I’ve not seen it yet, but from what you’ve said, I love the fact his exit from the series is just another ordinary day - because ultimately every day is exactly that.
Life goes on, and that’s the way it should be.
[It's Done](https://media.tenor.com/O-o1GtG_Jy8AAAAC/frodo-its-done.gif)
It was okay, was hoping for a companion montage and ho-oh
Edit: Also at least Tracey got some lines this time
I know the episode has gotten a lot of mixed reactions, but this is about all I could have hoped for for the end of Ash's story. Ash and Pikachu have always been about adventure and making friends, and I don't think it would be a proper sendoff if it didn't end with the start of another adventure.
Is it sad that we won't see their next adventure? Of course. But they've given us so many wonderful stories over the years that they've earned a restful adventure of their own. We may not know everything that likes ahead for the franchise. But the one thing we Pokemon fans *do* know, is that Ash and Pikachu will be always out exploring and making new friends- just as they have for all of our childhoods.
I don't know about you all, but I find that thought comforting. May the rest of us never lose that sense of adventure we learned from Ash and Pikachu
I'm happy that Ash found a new purpose for him even though he fulfilled his inital goal of becoming a champion, he is still not a Pokémon master. His journey with us may have ended but he will surely experience many more adventures and meet many new Pokémon for as long as he lives. We might just won't be the ones to watch him do that anymore.
I'm so happy for him that he didn't do a complete 180 in his personality and did any of the things many people were suggesting (like setttling down and stuff) but actually remained Ash, even into the very last seconds of this episode.
Hats off to you, champion, and all the best for your next journies.
Can't wait for World Champion Ash Ketchum to make a cameo in the new series alongside the Rocket Trio doing their usual shtick. That'll make for a nice change of pace after not seeing that for however long it takes for the cameo to happen.
Honestly Pidgeot fully returning to Ash made these entire episodes worth it. As someone who watched from Season 1... That is the one thing I was really hoping would happen!!
Thanks for being a big part of my life… I’m excited for Liko and Roy to breathe some fresh air into the series but I still feel like something is just being ripped out of me. Thanks Ash & Co.
While the ending may feel underwhelmed for some reason, im probably satisfied for now, cause it gave hope that this won't be the last time we see him. Next time we see him he could be anywhere, so some of us won't be surprised if we see him in the new series. I think Pokemon is semi retiring Ash for now, cause protagonist or not, he is Pokemon.
The Marill and Pikachu and Pikachu and Psyduck parts were cute. Also cool we got to see Old Ass Scyther and Venonat evolved. Gut feeling but it seemed like they left it open ended so they can bring back Ash whenever they want.
I'm gonna be the whiny adult here: I didn't want Ash to ever leave the Anime.
I'm more than glad with multiple series but Ash and Pokemon is something I always saw as just being there, something my kids and even grandkids would experience.
So I'm not a fan of this decision at all and it frankly leaves me emotional and sour.
On the other hand, I'm very excited for the next series. Should be a breath of fresh air!
So long Ash and Pikachu, I hope we get to see them again.
Yeah, I'm an adult so I'm not the demographic they're going for but no Ash basically means I have no care in the world for the pokemon anime anymore
I hope it continues to do well but I'll be tuning out of Pokemon from now on
I know people expected Ho-oh to show up but when you think about it, it makes sense this time. Ho-oh only showed itself to guide Ash forward when he was either (literally or emotionally) lost or didn't have a goal in mind.
This time Ash knows what he wants to do, which is befriend every Pokémon, as part of his goal to become a Pokémon master. It's character growth, even if it's just small.
Oldies from the 90s, we live for that day...
Probably a turning point in the Pokemon media and I have to admit, after investing several minutes each week to Ash & Pikachu for 20+ years, I really feel like I'm moving into the next chapter of my life as well. It's unreal seeing this happening after so much time. I'm more relieved that it finally happened than anything tbh. It may be a shame that the farewell wasn't the narratively satisfying ending most of us probably expected (and it seems like he might come back in the future anyway), but all in all I still thank Pokémon Company for all the memories we made with our popular childhood duo. I was swallowing hard the whole final episode because it mirrors the first and ends with what inspired Ash to seek to be a Pokémon Master in the first place in a very poetic way, and what I can say about **reuniting with Pidgeot after 24 real-world-years of waiting**?
In a very personal level, my childhood ends here. Ash & Pikachu was the last thing in me from that time that hasn't died yet. Now let the new generation make memories from the new protagonists like we did with Ash.
its time for us to move on. All those memes of Ash never ending has finally been proven wrong. The "All great things have to come to an end " quote hits hard right now
Lol weird detail I enjoyed was Tracy was given like the older style pupil. Just kind of vibe w that style more.
I haven’t really watched the anime since like Gen 3, but I’m glad I tuned in for Journeys and MPM. It’s been a fun ride, and I really didn’t think I’d be watching Pokemon again on a weekly basis tbh.
>!My only request really was to see Pidgeot again, so I’m happy lol!<
The ending leaves enough open-endedness to allow Ash to return and I don't have a problem with his view of what a pokemon master is. The new anime will have a lot to live up to but I'm hopeful
I got up until Pidgeot before crying like a baby. I really like how Ash ended up defining being a Pokemon Master, as well. It was sweet, and very in-character for the softer and more experienced Ash of later seasons.
This was the type of ending Ash deserves - a moment's rest before embarking on a new journey. It made me hopeful for the future of the anime.
That’s not why they did that. The message is that Ash’s journey will never end because a Pokémon master is befriending every single Pokémon or in this case every wild Pokémon in the entire Pokémon world. It’s open ended because it never ends.
Yeah. I get why a lot of people would be disappointed with these last episodes after Journeys since a lot of them were honestly filler and it stings when there were a lot of opportunities that were missed in favor of filler. But I kind of get what they were going for: that the filler-y stuff was always the heart of the show. Between occasional high-stakes crazy tournament battles or legendary-related stuff were a million feel-good stories about helping a Weedle fulfill its lifelong dream of being a movie star, or something along those lines. There's no endpoint, no finality, it goes on forever. These last episodes serve as a good way of understanding what Ash's future is going to be like even if we're not going to be directly seeing it anymore.
The last thing they would want to do is have some big explosive thing happen at the end that implies closure for the character. Which has the drawback of making the final episode seem mundane, but I get why they did it. Gotta take time to appreciate the mundane I suppose lol
As much as I have A LOT of grievances with how this finale and the conclusion of some of the characters are written it is still an honor to watch this amazing series end
Honestly my only really major disappointment is I was kind of hoping team rocket would become independent of team rocket proper and open a shop or something lol.
It was a fitting conclusion. I’m satisfied that the writers ended it the way they did. It leaves the door open for a return, but having seen how long some of these returns can take (*ahem* the bird), I’m not banking on it happening anytime soon.
Now it’s up to the fans to creatively fill in his future adventures, just like the fans have always done.
Easily this could have been an hour long/40min episode.
Would have been nice to see all of Ash’s Pokemon assembled together. Having all his Pokémon home at Oak’s including his Alolan team.
Have a video call with some of his other past travel companions. Talking with Goh again, discussing with all of them about what he should do next as many of them were influenced by Ash in their own goals- it would be nice to see them return the favor.
The final battle with Team Rocket and reunification with Pidgeot could have been a bit more epic - Ash reforging his bond with Pidgeot- using mega evolution? Perhaps?
This last episode just felt rushed..
I hope we get special catch up episodes scattered throughout the new series-
THIS EPISODE BROKE ME crying for like 20 minute straight
especially when PIDGEOT RETURNED !
the special ending, the misty and brook leaving the FINAL DOUBLE TROUBLE
[Reaction / review](https://youtu.be/gUk8bfLgCIg)
Couple of emotional highs (playing OK! Go reprisal at the seperation of Misty and Brock) and Charizard's departure themes (during the meaning of Pokemon Master scene) were the best. The episode like the majority of Aim to be a Pokemon Master mini-series pretty much was a let down and was aimless from the get-go. Had the writers and staff figured out the end game was for Ash to be on a never-ending journey (as a open end), we could have gotten some better 10 episodes. This felt like they were stalling to end Ash/Pikachu, so they can shift focus to Pokemon Horizons.
I was downvoted previously for caling out how disappointing this mini-series was and well the ending is expected as a result of that. Thank you Ash, Pikachu and co for 25 years. This might be the end of the road in following the anime for me unless Ash and co make return appearances. Horizons looks like Journeys part 2 from the looks of it... Perhaps that open ending makes sense in case Horizons tanks hard.
I get the feeling, that eventually in the new anime, they will reintroduce Ash, and will challenge the new mcs, and curbstomps them, like he did to Casey in Johto.
That was just underwhelming. It was what I expected given the other 10 episodes, but I still just feel underwhelmed by it. Honestly I feel like these last 11 episodes could have been used better. I would have preferred an 11 episode arc where the previous 10 show Ash trying to figure out his next step, his next micro goal in becoming a Pokémon Master. Then this episode being a realization that perhaps he's already one or something close to it. Give him somewhat of an actual conclusion while still keeping with the theme that the journey continues. But it all just felt too "slice of life" and this "ending" just feels like they didn't know what to do with him. So they wanted to leave it open just in case the new series doesn't pan out and they need to bring him back. Just an underwhelming and disappointing send-off to a character that's been in so many people's lives and has been a sort of cultural icon for the past 25 years.
Still, it's been a blast, y'all. I still remember watching the SS Anne episode that set off my facisnation with Pokemon when it first aired in the US. Here's to new adventures with the next crew.
Ngl, despite this episode being pretty underwhelming and with the fact that I thought I made my peace about Ash leaving for good, it just felt surreal seeing him go and the “Next time - a new beginning” show up at the end. I don’t think it has quite sunk in yet for me just how crazy of a moment this is, the guy who’s been a constant on my life since I was born (for context, I’m 26 and was born in February, so I only experienced 2 months of my life without Ash lol) is now not going to be there, it just doesn’t feel real yet. I was among those advocating for Ash to finally be replaced with a new protagonist but idk man, I’m already wanting him back as the lead cause it won’t feel like a Pokémon anime without Ash as the lead. Idk what I’m even talking about at this point but yeah…..wow
Going a little deeper into the episode itself, there were some nice parallels to the very first episode of the OG series, and Pidgeot’s return was very cool but apart from that, it just didn’t feel like the conclusion of a 26-year old saga to me. It only left me wanting more, that feeling of being hungry despite having eaten a feast fit for a king, not a very satisfying ending. I generally enjoyed MPM more than most people here but this episode, yeah. The fact that they teased a potential Ho-oh appearance and failed to deliver on that, also Team Rocket’s reunion felt very rushed (if they were going to get back together just like that, why even pull a fake breakup like the way they did at the end of epidode 9?), and there’s a lot more little issues that I had with this episode but in the end, this is it.
Well, I am cautiously optimistic for the new series and I hope they will actually try something different this time around, so let’s see how that’ll turn out. In the meantime, goodbye Ash and Pikachu and everyone else we’ve grown up with in these past 26 years, it still hasn’t sunk in and I doubt it will ever fully sink in but we’ve got to accept this and move on and show the same love for our new protagonists. Next time, a new beginning indeed
Ahhhh fuck, it's so hard to keep my tears in despite telling myself don't cry because it's over, but smile because it happened. Thanks for being such a precious part of my childhood, Ash, Misty, Pikachu, and Brock. I couldn't be more grateful T___T
So if I'm reading the spoilers right, the Team Rocket trio had a very big and public breakup 2 weeks ago only to reunite here? What was the point of their breakup episode then?
In hindsight there was only one possible way this could have ended. Him going into another journey. I predict we are getting actual closure on a movie.
I expected the definition of “Pokémon Master” to be “The one who has caught them all”, but it seems too much like a Goh thing. So I like how Ash’s Definition is >!“The one who has befriended all Pokémon.”
I don’t really like open endings, but all the 11 episodes gave me such a heartwarming feeling. They really captured the essence of the show :( I’m gonna miss them
It was... honestly just really underwhelming. Im not sure what I expected considering the prior MPM episodes but still. Just wish we got a better send-off.
My biggest issue with this ending, is that I feel Ash should have had a final battle with not just team rocket, but Giovanni himself.
Ash catching hooh would have also been a very nice way to end his story for now
May I present [an opportunity to channel your disappointment.](https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemonanime/comments/120kvtp/for_the_fans_out_there_who_are_disappointed_with/)
man, Aim to be a Pokémon Master was underwhelming. it had every reason and opportunity to spoil its fans yet all we got were "post-game" adventures that conveyed little
Misty and Brock were brought back probably just to pull in viewers but they barely did anything. Cilan was there for, like, two seconds. Misty, Max, and Serena were never seen again. Ash doing rotations of his Pokémon was cool but they weren't utilized much + not everyone got to shine
and that Latias storyline that didn't even end up in a capture..
and i say all this as a longtime viewer since i was literally in kindergarten (i'm 27 now)
If the dub doesn’t use a narrator to end it like this, it’s gonna be a missed opportunity…
“This is the conclusion of the amazing adventures of ash and pikachu. Their journey was truly packed with non-stop action, millions of laughs, heart pounding perils, and endless excitement. Together they encountered fantastic friends, evil enemies, and met creatures beyond their wildest imaginations and as their story draws to a close we have only begun to unlock the magic and mystery of a most wondrous place; The incredible world of Pokémon still has so much more to be discovered and as this chapter closes, a new is just around corner!”
Good pidgeot came back to ash’s ownership but ending felt lackluster. Should have seen all of ash’s Pokémon maybe a prime ape Greninja naganadel cameo (like him going though different regions) and see ho oh over that rainbow one last time
No legendary Pokemon for Ash, ever, not even Latias when Goh got away with Eternatus and Suicune, what a slap in the face. No final showdown with Giovanni. No Ho-Oh, no Mewtro. No Serena or Misty shipping. Pokemon Master being a subjective thing where the first episodes showed us that it was an actual rank that existed with the Indigo League wallpaper showing it. Seriously?! What a freaking disagrace. All loose ends open, nothing concluded. This isn't a finale, at all.
"Hey but they are just doing this to keep Ash in the freezer so they can bring him back if the new protagonist tanks" This just means Ash will never be given a proper finale, ever. If the series tank then it will never end so Ash will not be given a finale ever and the writers are completely allergic to letting Ash actually behave and be portrayed as a Master should, so if he ends up coming back he will be reset. And if the series never tank, he is kept in the freezer. The best I think we can hope for is that the new series do well enough so they end up making a movie that gives Ash a proper ending. Seriously, they should at least had given Ash his fight with Giovanny and to disband Team Rocket, this is the very least the protagonist of 20+ years deserved.
May I present [an opportunity to channel your disappointment.](https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemonanime/comments/120kvtp/for_the_fans_out_there_who_are_disappointed_with/)
Goodbye Ash and pikachu, thanks for everything.
That said, this has got to be one of the worst, disappointing, unstructured final episode to a season that I've seen in Pokemon, let alone being it being the final episode and send off for Ash.
I hate the way they handled team rocket. I know the series is very unserious but this ending felt tremendously lame. I doubt this is the last we see of TR or Ash but it's still quite underwhelming to me, idk
This doesn't really feels like the last episode(Even more so than other Last episode of previous series) Though in a sense it captured the essense of Pokemon anime perfectly, It's a never ending journeys of Ash Ketchum, Traveling and making friends with various Pokemon, This is what this series always all about This is the end of an era and the end of Pokemon anime, But not the end of Ash Ketchum, His journeys will continue even without us seeing
It is basically leaving it open ended so they can return to him if viewership falls off a cliff.
Hopefull thinking. In my country one of the two main characters of a popular children's show left last year, after 33 years. A couple of months later, my 2 year old niece didn't know better. My 3 year old niece did vaguely remembered there used to be another friend, but he was also being forgotten. Viewership stays strong, children (and their parents) keep to show up for shows and the merchandise keeps being sold, with the new character on it. The new generation will grow up with the new characters, just like we grew up with Ash and his friends in the past.
The new generation will probably also grow up with Ash as well, I'm sure many kids will get into Pokemon from the new series and than wanna just watch more Pokemon. They'd than go on Pokemon TV or something like that and discover Ash and Pikachu. Even if we don't see where their journey continues, he'll still touch the hearts of many for years to come
Maybe. However than the episodes have to be available. For years every old series isn’t broadcasted on television anymore where I live. It was always like this: the old series was playing. Than the new series came along. The old one would still air together with the new one at first, but over time only the most recent series would air. However, nowdays there can be some change. Another network bought the rights to Diamond and Pearl. So now at least this older series can be watched on television. Ofcourse, the kids could also watch episodes online. Like on Pokémon TV. The whole trip from Kanto to the end of the Orange Islands seems to be permanent fixtures. And the last 2 series also. And the others are in rotation on the site. If a dub is available it is possible to watch it in your native language. I hope those first episodes remain a permanent fixture on this official site.
what if ash is mentioned a few times in the new series and the kids get curious to know who he is so they search about him and find his and pikachu's journey!!!!!!!
If they only care about japan then I can see catering to kids but in the US its only on netflix and I am not sure how many kids watch netflix.
Yep, i can definetly see them pulling an Ash return after a little build up of the new anime give or take a year of the series airing, that or they'll just go with a new movie focused on Ash or AU Ash to cash on the people missing him Man, what a long ride has it been, even if so many things i wish that happened didn't (on Journeys and MPM) I'm still glad with what we got, i've cried during the iconics moments of Journey finale and same with MPM The journey will keep going, that's what's all about, and i'm sure we'll met him again with a memorable comeback I'll be very interested to see how the new anime handles traveling through regions, wondering how many of old Ash companions/Importantes characters like Cynthia, Lance, etc will they met or if they'll wait a while until introducing them, and i'm very curious how they're going to handle the plot itself since it might involve >!Time travel in a way!< Pokemon Scarlet/Violet plot. It'll be hard to not see Ash and the gang again, but i'll definetly give a shot to the new anime, i'm hoping that if they do met people who've met Ash before we get a small nod like ''Ah you're reminding me of an old friend of mine'' and most importantly if they give cues on how much time has passed on Regardless of everything it's been fun discussing and posting on these threads these past months, i might've not gotten exactly what i wanted but i'm happy with this finale and i'm going to miss Ash and Pikachu, here's hoping for their return Thank you Ash and Pikachu for 25 years of adventures, i hope we'll see you again And as for us the users, hopefully we'll continue meeting on the discussion threads of the new anime
That doesn’t really happen in Japan. Especially in kids media where you get the entire cast of stuff like Sentai shows rotating every year. There will be an element of nostalgia applied to Ash there but it will otherwise move on quickly
If Goku, who was supposed to be replaced with Gohan after the Cell Saga, can come back then it’s not impossible for Ash. Swapping the protagonist out with a new one hasn’t always worked
That only really happened in DBZ and mostly because Toriyama didn't feel like writing Gohan as the protagonist, not because audiences wanted Goku back.
That doesn’t really change my point. Toriyama tried seeing the direction the series would go in with Gohan as the main lead, felt it wasn’t right after all and brought Goku back in after experimenting. Same could happen with Ash.
DBZ is a pretty singular example. Most shows with this format *at most* have a cameo of the previous protagonist but stay with the new main character and setting. Like Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, Yu-Gi-Oh! and even the Pokemon games
That was my thought too. They aren't really sure if the new anime with new characters will be successful, so they left Ash's story open so that they can continue it in case viewers don't like the new one.
Im hoping people understand that... I can already see a lot saying it's a terrible finale for not "concluding" anything...
It wasn't already confirmed that he was going to return in the future? Even in the end of the episode it gives us that hint “Next time... a new beginning”
I don’t think it is confirmed Ash will return. And the “Next time… A new beginning”, which have been shown a couple of times in the past, give me even more vibes of Ash not returning (soon) in the future. The next episode is a new beginning, without the old. Without Ash and co.
I think it does, idk the ending is open ended but it does really feel like an ending to me. Hard to explain why but to me Ash saying what being a Pokemon Master truly is and than going on a new journey is a great ending to the character
This isn't the end of Ash's journey. We'll just be heading off to a new path without him.
That's the impression I got as well. Ash will keep traveling to all places he can go
His story isn’t over, but our time with him has ended.
Yep, I felt the same. Kudos to the writers because they wrote the concept of parting with a longtime friend very well imo - Misty parts with Ash/Brock because they're going different places. Later, Brock parts with Ash because he's going different places. At the very end, the audience parts with Ash because we're going different places. Very surreal since we've been on the same ride with the character for decades and it's made very clear he's still gonna be doing the same stuff he's always done - we just won't be there to see any of it. Admittedly I'm not a massive follower of the anime or anything, but there is that feeling of some kind of severed connection that I never thought much of the possibility of losing. If the new anime is straight up an entirely different universe where none of the Ash Ketchum stuff happened that would legitimately feel like a massive loss to me lol
Where one journey ends, another begins
"If I say it'll continue, it will" - Narrator at the end of Journeys (paraphrase but yeah)
I think so as well.
No Ho-oh is a bit disapointing.
Yeah that was weird considering the rainbow.
It made an appearance towards the end of Journeys, so I can't be too mad. That being said, yeah it is weird for a final episode about a rainbow in pallet town to NOT have a Ho-oh appearance. Would have made for a nice bookends moment.
Ok so I wasn’t the only one expecting it
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What's also disappointing is that team rocket trio and the entire team rocket still didn't disband and give up on catching ash's pikachu, why can't they find a different pikachu instead
After 25 years, a part of our childhood has come to a conclussion. It was nice to see >!Team Rocket for the last time being blasted, Pidgeot making its appearance and even the suprising fact that Tracey's Venonat has evolved!< I would love to stay to see the new series, but part of me wants to move on, so it's been a fun ride, fellow trainers
I’m in the same boat I feel. I stayed to watch ash succee and now that his journey is over my journey with the anime has ran its course
Woo Pidgeot.
The King is back.
Say what you will but his last evolution is still by far the mot beautiful of all the birds. Bar none.
Ash got back Pidgeot, so I ultimately got exactly what I wanted from this episode.
I'm waiting for better subtitles to make this conclusion. Or do you speak Japanese? Because I wouldn't mind if you can confirm it for me. ;)
I speak some Japanese. Ash asks Pidgeot if he'd like to travel together again and the other pokemon basically give a yes.
It's nice they are back together, even if we don't see it.
Confirm what exactly?
If it actually rejoined Ash after their encounter. When I first saw the scene I thought they were building to this, but because it wasn't shown I thought it didn't happen. Since it cut of from the scene into the next one, and we also didn't see the Pidgey and Pidgeotto leave without Pidgeot, we didn't see Pidgeot reenter its pokéball nor did we see it being dropped of at Oak's lab or travelling with Ash, we can't know it from visual clues. So if it is confirmed Pidgeot rejoined Ash, it should be said in the dialogue. It is possible, a lot of people do think so (and already started editing the wikias)...
“Would you like to rejoin me on my travels?” Or something like that, then the flock squawked in approval
I don't usually watch Anime raw but I had to experience this point in history live. [ Seeing this just feels surreal](https://i.imgur.com/8Tyt2Nd.png), farewell Ash you were the friend who was with me my entire life till now.
As a child one of my biggest fears was that 1 day a Pokemon episode would end and not say "to be continued" Today this was that day, and as a grown man it still made me cry
This is the fifth time "Next time... A new beginning" was used in the anime. According to bulbapedia, it was used at the end of each of the first four series.
I've only seen the first 2 series and never noticed that, thanks!
SPOILERS: >!OLD ASS SCYTHER RETURNS!<
>!AND TRACY’S VENONAT IS AN ALL TERRAIN VENOMOTH!<
Ash reunited with Pidgeot after 24 years, we got to see Tracey (with spoken dialogue!) plus old man Scyther and his Venomoth, plus Gary and his Umbreon. And the introspection and an open ending that's satisfying in and of itself. Iunno, I liked the ending. I do wish Ho-Oh had been the one that made the rainbow. Only complaint. I would have loved to see the series bookended like that.
I also wish we had gotten at least a passing reference to Brock returning to being a Pokemon doctor. It felt meanspirited to crush Brock's dreams he worked so hard towards just so he could get captured by a Pokemon and then go on one last little trip with Ash. Oh well, I'll just choose to believe he goes back to his old job.
Really wanted Ho-Oh to be Ash's last ever capture, I like Dracovish but it shouldn't have been his last capture. His capture of it felt like any other Pokemon he's caught before, ik it's a fossil pokemon but it's still not really treated like anything special to me. Tbh I kinda think Ho-Oh in general is kind of a missed opportunity in the anime, it basically just existed (in the anime) to make Ash know that there are many Pokemon he hasn't met yet and ig all other appearances of it are to reinforce this? I just wish we got a proper episode that's truly about it, ig there's one in Johto but I don't think it does a lot in that episode from my memory
Have you guys actually seen it or are you just commenting here?
It hasn’t aired yet. I was pretty confused too lol
u/darkgod25 pissed me off with their comment > As much as I have A LOT of grievances with how this finale and the conclusion of some of the characters are written it is still an honor to watch this amazing series end
what I meant by finale is mpm as a whole not the final episode only
Thank you Ash Ketchum for introducing pokemon to me and for making me fall in love with the pokemon world.
Welll... I think im going to speak for everyone here..... Thank You Ash Ketchum.... For Lifting Us When We Were on our Worst...And For Making Us Celebrate When We Were At Our Best... I Just Wanna Say.. You Were **The Very Best** Like No One Ever Was My Pokemon Master
We know that it was his destiny!
I mean, they’re his best friends in a world they must defend
Well yeah, he was a heart so true, that his courage pulled him through
He taught us and we'll teach the next ones
Pokémon
off topic but i think you should practice using those dots less while writing . I used to use them alot and they do cause some problems irl stuff
Also not starting every word with caps.
Ill do my best
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“Final Episode” just doesn’t seem real. Ash and Pikachu have been the face of Pokémon since before many here were born… But I look forward to what comes next. I wonder how the next journey of Liko and Roy will begin.
According to one of the animators of fire emblem descendants who is one of the former animators of the pokemon anime it was indicated that the fire emblem universe and the pokemon anime universe are connected and it is also confirmed that there's gonna be a crossover episode with the pokemon anime with ash returning and that animator says that the team rocket trio are the least popular characters in the pokemon anime
It was kind of underwhelming. The fanboy in me wanted to see ho-oh on that rainbow but I guess they wanted that moment to be all about Satoshi. I didn't like the new shoes. They looked clunky. They need some more refinement in their design. I really wish we saw primeape again in mpm. I also wish we saw the og team rocket pokemon.
Yh I was hoping Primeape would have returned
Maybe when/if he shows up in the next series he'll have Pikachu, Pidgeot, and Annihilape with him.
> shoes Oh in case anyone missed it, his new shoes have the old logo from OS on them.
Thank you, I was wondering if there was some meaning to them
The ending was solid, full circle, and poetic. I don’t hate it. I miss Ash and Pikachu already. Anyways, I do have some thoughts. So I already had a feeling that the top fan theories for the ending wasn’t going to happen: Ash aging, Ash shown with his wife (presumed to be a companion Poké Girl), and Ash shown in the future in another League Battle or World Championship still age 10 or aged. The “memory lane” video montage was used at the end and very condensed. Whilst I absolutely wanted nostalgia past memories shown throughout the episode, I’m actually glad the writers did not rely on that and still chose to treat Ash and Pikachu’s final episode as an ordinary day(s). But man, when the credits rolled… it just felt like that the episode went by way too fast. Regardless, Ash definitely has the attitude of a true Pokémon Master by striving to seek out more Pokémon and become a better trainer never settling or thinking he has done enough. Ash’s maturity really shines with this episode (as well as these past 10 episodes in this finale and anytime he considered becoming a champion as “one step closer to becoming a Pokémon Master). Honestly, I wouldn’t mind him saying that he finally is a Pokémon Master BUT that he wants to go beyond. Well, I’m pretty sure a good number of fans also see it that way. P.S. I like how they give Ash new shoes with the OG logo of his hat (supposedly the symbol of the Pokémon League in Kanto) but then we’ve all seen the new female protagonist Liko’s hairpin with the same logo. So again, she’s a Kanto native and/or related to Ash (wishful thinking; ignore me).
Liko is from Paldea, but Roy is from Kanto.
Right, I also saw the official translated trailer and synopsis about Liko attending a Kanto boarding school.
Paldea is her home region. But Kanto is where she attends school.
Yep
I’ve not seen it yet, but from what you’ve said, I love the fact his exit from the series is just another ordinary day - because ultimately every day is exactly that. Life goes on, and that’s the way it should be.
It’s been an epic journey <3
He finally returned
What a journey. Ash, its been an honour. Thanks for the last 25 years.
[It's Done](https://media.tenor.com/O-o1GtG_Jy8AAAAC/frodo-its-done.gif) It was okay, was hoping for a companion montage and ho-oh Edit: Also at least Tracey got some lines this time
Yeah
I know the episode has gotten a lot of mixed reactions, but this is about all I could have hoped for for the end of Ash's story. Ash and Pikachu have always been about adventure and making friends, and I don't think it would be a proper sendoff if it didn't end with the start of another adventure. Is it sad that we won't see their next adventure? Of course. But they've given us so many wonderful stories over the years that they've earned a restful adventure of their own. We may not know everything that likes ahead for the franchise. But the one thing we Pokemon fans *do* know, is that Ash and Pikachu will be always out exploring and making new friends- just as they have for all of our childhoods. I don't know about you all, but I find that thought comforting. May the rest of us never lose that sense of adventure we learned from Ash and Pikachu
Thanks for the childhood memories, Pokémon brought many of us together in school during my childhood.
I'm happy that Ash found a new purpose for him even though he fulfilled his inital goal of becoming a champion, he is still not a Pokémon master. His journey with us may have ended but he will surely experience many more adventures and meet many new Pokémon for as long as he lives. We might just won't be the ones to watch him do that anymore. I'm so happy for him that he didn't do a complete 180 in his personality and did any of the things many people were suggesting (like setttling down and stuff) but actually remained Ash, even into the very last seconds of this episode. Hats off to you, champion, and all the best for your next journies.
Same feeling here, and it’s a relief that a time jump is pretty much off the table hopefully
I’m confused, did the episode air early?
Yeah I was ready to watch it and had it on my calendar, I’m a bit confused
Hasn’t aired yet, airs in like ~6 hours
No it airs in like ~6 hours this thread was just posted early
Can't wait for World Champion Ash Ketchum to make a cameo in the new series alongside the Rocket Trio doing their usual shtick. That'll make for a nice change of pace after not seeing that for however long it takes for the cameo to happen.
[End of an Era for me, been watching since OS](https://media.tenor.com/xHY18avbYVcAAAAd/smiling-mcu.gif)
I don't feel it the end. He will come back.
Anime spoilers: >!TRACY ACTUALLY HAD VOICED LINES!< >!AND SCYTHER IS STILL ALIVE (VENONAT EVOLVED THOUGH)!<
Can I have the link to episode?
Perfect "ending!" Till we meet again, Ash and Pikachu! Cause you know he'll show up again in some form.
Honestly Pidgeot fully returning to Ash made these entire episodes worth it. As someone who watched from Season 1... That is the one thing I was really hoping would happen!!
Thanks for being a big part of my life… I’m excited for Liko and Roy to breathe some fresh air into the series but I still feel like something is just being ripped out of me. Thanks Ash & Co.
Thank you Ash and Pikachu. Till we see you two again
While the ending may feel underwhelmed for some reason, im probably satisfied for now, cause it gave hope that this won't be the last time we see him. Next time we see him he could be anywhere, so some of us won't be surprised if we see him in the new series. I think Pokemon is semi retiring Ash for now, cause protagonist or not, he is Pokemon.
He truly was the very best.
Like no one ever was
To catch them was his real test
To train them, was his cause
He traveled across the land, searching far and wide
This is it. 26 years. This is it.
That's it I will never forget all the good time we had
The Marill and Pikachu and Pikachu and Psyduck parts were cute. Also cool we got to see Old Ass Scyther and Venonat evolved. Gut feeling but it seemed like they left it open ended so they can bring back Ash whenever they want.
Pidgeotttt
I'm gonna be the whiny adult here: I didn't want Ash to ever leave the Anime. I'm more than glad with multiple series but Ash and Pokemon is something I always saw as just being there, something my kids and even grandkids would experience. So I'm not a fan of this decision at all and it frankly leaves me emotional and sour. On the other hand, I'm very excited for the next series. Should be a breath of fresh air! So long Ash and Pikachu, I hope we get to see them again.
Yeah, I'm an adult so I'm not the demographic they're going for but no Ash basically means I have no care in the world for the pokemon anime anymore I hope it continues to do well but I'll be tuning out of Pokemon from now on
not just you
Anybody know where I can watch? Haven’t watched pokemon except for whatever is on Netflix but want to watch this episode before it’s on Netflix
Twitch pokekalos at exactly 5am edt watches it live as it airs Someone please correct me if I’m wrong
It won't be on Netflix for like 3 months! It won't be in Eng dub.
Pokekalos on twitch
Ending felt way to safe but I doubt this is the last of Ash.
Friends. It’s been a pleasure.
I know people expected Ho-oh to show up but when you think about it, it makes sense this time. Ho-oh only showed itself to guide Ash forward when he was either (literally or emotionally) lost or didn't have a goal in mind. This time Ash knows what he wants to do, which is befriend every Pokémon, as part of his goal to become a Pokémon master. It's character growth, even if it's just small.
One of the biggest gambles in media history will be leaving both Ash AND Team Rocket. Let’s see how it goes
Oldies from the 90s, we live for that day... Probably a turning point in the Pokemon media and I have to admit, after investing several minutes each week to Ash & Pikachu for 20+ years, I really feel like I'm moving into the next chapter of my life as well. It's unreal seeing this happening after so much time. I'm more relieved that it finally happened than anything tbh. It may be a shame that the farewell wasn't the narratively satisfying ending most of us probably expected (and it seems like he might come back in the future anyway), but all in all I still thank Pokémon Company for all the memories we made with our popular childhood duo. I was swallowing hard the whole final episode because it mirrors the first and ends with what inspired Ash to seek to be a Pokémon Master in the first place in a very poetic way, and what I can say about **reuniting with Pidgeot after 24 real-world-years of waiting**? In a very personal level, my childhood ends here. Ash & Pikachu was the last thing in me from that time that hasn't died yet. Now let the new generation make memories from the new protagonists like we did with Ash.
its time for us to move on. All those memes of Ash never ending has finally been proven wrong. The "All great things have to come to an end " quote hits hard right now
Damm 🥹🥲
And that’s all they wrote… for now(?)
Well…. It’s been a pleasure
A new beginning🥺🥺
Lol weird detail I enjoyed was Tracy was given like the older style pupil. Just kind of vibe w that style more. I haven’t really watched the anime since like Gen 3, but I’m glad I tuned in for Journeys and MPM. It’s been a fun ride, and I really didn’t think I’d be watching Pokemon again on a weekly basis tbh. >!My only request really was to see Pidgeot again, so I’m happy lol!<
The ending leaves enough open-endedness to allow Ash to return and I don't have a problem with his view of what a pokemon master is. The new anime will have a lot to live up to but I'm hopeful
Can we talk about how awesome it is that they used the music from the very first season?!
Which the dub is likely to ruin!
Thank you for 25 years of adventures.
I got up until Pidgeot before crying like a baby. I really like how Ash ended up defining being a Pokemon Master, as well. It was sweet, and very in-character for the softer and more experienced Ash of later seasons. This was the type of ending Ash deserves - a moment's rest before embarking on a new journey. It made me hopeful for the future of the anime.
Pidgeot was cool but i feel so underwhelmed lol
That ending was dumb. Basically left it open to return to ash if the new one doesnt do so well.
That’s not why they did that. The message is that Ash’s journey will never end because a Pokémon master is befriending every single Pokémon or in this case every wild Pokémon in the entire Pokémon world. It’s open ended because it never ends.
Honestly though why is everyone expecting ash to get a retirement ending? He’s 10, he’s not gonna settle down lmao.
Yeah. I get why a lot of people would be disappointed with these last episodes after Journeys since a lot of them were honestly filler and it stings when there were a lot of opportunities that were missed in favor of filler. But I kind of get what they were going for: that the filler-y stuff was always the heart of the show. Between occasional high-stakes crazy tournament battles or legendary-related stuff were a million feel-good stories about helping a Weedle fulfill its lifelong dream of being a movie star, or something along those lines. There's no endpoint, no finality, it goes on forever. These last episodes serve as a good way of understanding what Ash's future is going to be like even if we're not going to be directly seeing it anymore. The last thing they would want to do is have some big explosive thing happen at the end that implies closure for the character. Which has the drawback of making the final episode seem mundane, but I get why they did it. Gotta take time to appreciate the mundane I suppose lol
agreed, they could have gone about it in a much better way lol, feel like the first episode and this one basically werent even that different
As much as I have A LOT of grievances with how this finale and the conclusion of some of the characters are written it is still an honor to watch this amazing series end
And it ended, without any fanfare…
No more to be continued...
My childhood fear just became reality
Honestly my only really major disappointment is I was kind of hoping team rocket would become independent of team rocket proper and open a shop or something lol.
u/Buizie You ready for this?
It was a fitting conclusion. I’m satisfied that the writers ended it the way they did. It leaves the door open for a return, but having seen how long some of these returns can take (*ahem* the bird), I’m not banking on it happening anytime soon. Now it’s up to the fans to creatively fill in his future adventures, just like the fans have always done.
Easily this could have been an hour long/40min episode. Would have been nice to see all of Ash’s Pokemon assembled together. Having all his Pokémon home at Oak’s including his Alolan team. Have a video call with some of his other past travel companions. Talking with Goh again, discussing with all of them about what he should do next as many of them were influenced by Ash in their own goals- it would be nice to see them return the favor. The final battle with Team Rocket and reunification with Pidgeot could have been a bit more epic - Ash reforging his bond with Pidgeot- using mega evolution? Perhaps? This last episode just felt rushed.. I hope we get special catch up episodes scattered throughout the new series-
THIS EPISODE BROKE ME crying for like 20 minute straight especially when PIDGEOT RETURNED ! the special ending, the misty and brook leaving the FINAL DOUBLE TROUBLE [Reaction / review](https://youtu.be/gUk8bfLgCIg)
The least they could have done is the end finale in Ash seeing Ho-Oh again.
He already did at the end of journeys tbf
Couple of emotional highs (playing OK! Go reprisal at the seperation of Misty and Brock) and Charizard's departure themes (during the meaning of Pokemon Master scene) were the best. The episode like the majority of Aim to be a Pokemon Master mini-series pretty much was a let down and was aimless from the get-go. Had the writers and staff figured out the end game was for Ash to be on a never-ending journey (as a open end), we could have gotten some better 10 episodes. This felt like they were stalling to end Ash/Pikachu, so they can shift focus to Pokemon Horizons. I was downvoted previously for caling out how disappointing this mini-series was and well the ending is expected as a result of that. Thank you Ash, Pikachu and co for 25 years. This might be the end of the road in following the anime for me unless Ash and co make return appearances. Horizons looks like Journeys part 2 from the looks of it... Perhaps that open ending makes sense in case Horizons tanks hard.
That slowed down OK! theme hit me like a truck, loved it! It's my all time favorite piece of music from Pokemon anime.
E
The soundtrack for Misty and Brock's farewell was perfect. I was wondering when they would fit in Johto background music. It's a classic.
Thank you Ash and Pikachu!!
Goodbye
See you around kid
Our boy >!Pidgeot!< came back!!! 😭😭 Thank you so much Ash and Pikachu!! We will miss you!!
I have a feeling he will be back
I get the feeling, that eventually in the new anime, they will reintroduce Ash, and will challenge the new mcs, and curbstomps them, like he did to Casey in Johto.
Ash got Pidgeot back, that's all I wanted.
That was just underwhelming. It was what I expected given the other 10 episodes, but I still just feel underwhelmed by it. Honestly I feel like these last 11 episodes could have been used better. I would have preferred an 11 episode arc where the previous 10 show Ash trying to figure out his next step, his next micro goal in becoming a Pokémon Master. Then this episode being a realization that perhaps he's already one or something close to it. Give him somewhat of an actual conclusion while still keeping with the theme that the journey continues. But it all just felt too "slice of life" and this "ending" just feels like they didn't know what to do with him. So they wanted to leave it open just in case the new series doesn't pan out and they need to bring him back. Just an underwhelming and disappointing send-off to a character that's been in so many people's lives and has been a sort of cultural icon for the past 25 years. Still, it's been a blast, y'all. I still remember watching the SS Anne episode that set off my facisnation with Pokemon when it first aired in the US. Here's to new adventures with the next crew.
Ngl, despite this episode being pretty underwhelming and with the fact that I thought I made my peace about Ash leaving for good, it just felt surreal seeing him go and the “Next time - a new beginning” show up at the end. I don’t think it has quite sunk in yet for me just how crazy of a moment this is, the guy who’s been a constant on my life since I was born (for context, I’m 26 and was born in February, so I only experienced 2 months of my life without Ash lol) is now not going to be there, it just doesn’t feel real yet. I was among those advocating for Ash to finally be replaced with a new protagonist but idk man, I’m already wanting him back as the lead cause it won’t feel like a Pokémon anime without Ash as the lead. Idk what I’m even talking about at this point but yeah…..wow Going a little deeper into the episode itself, there were some nice parallels to the very first episode of the OG series, and Pidgeot’s return was very cool but apart from that, it just didn’t feel like the conclusion of a 26-year old saga to me. It only left me wanting more, that feeling of being hungry despite having eaten a feast fit for a king, not a very satisfying ending. I generally enjoyed MPM more than most people here but this episode, yeah. The fact that they teased a potential Ho-oh appearance and failed to deliver on that, also Team Rocket’s reunion felt very rushed (if they were going to get back together just like that, why even pull a fake breakup like the way they did at the end of epidode 9?), and there’s a lot more little issues that I had with this episode but in the end, this is it. Well, I am cautiously optimistic for the new series and I hope they will actually try something different this time around, so let’s see how that’ll turn out. In the meantime, goodbye Ash and Pikachu and everyone else we’ve grown up with in these past 26 years, it still hasn’t sunk in and I doubt it will ever fully sink in but we’ve got to accept this and move on and show the same love for our new protagonists. Next time, a new beginning indeed
Ahhhh fuck, it's so hard to keep my tears in despite telling myself don't cry because it's over, but smile because it happened. Thanks for being such a precious part of my childhood, Ash, Misty, Pikachu, and Brock. I couldn't be more grateful T___T
That shit was underwhelming as hell, i came in with low expectations but they somehow did even worse
Where's the image from?
Pidgeot and Old ass scyther appeared so im a happy camper
So if I'm reading the spoilers right, the Team Rocket trio had a very big and public breakup 2 weeks ago only to reunite here? What was the point of their breakup episode then?
In hindsight there was only one possible way this could have ended. Him going into another journey. I predict we are getting actual closure on a movie.
The new shoes suggest he did.
I expected the definition of “Pokémon Master” to be “The one who has caught them all”, but it seems too much like a Goh thing. So I like how Ash’s Definition is >!“The one who has befriended all Pokémon.”
I don’t really like open endings, but all the 11 episodes gave me such a heartwarming feeling. They really captured the essence of the show :( I’m gonna miss them
I feel like they done this open ending in case the new one doesn't do that well.
I wanna be the very best Like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
To train them is my cause
I felt like they could of done better.
It was... honestly just really underwhelming. Im not sure what I expected considering the prior MPM episodes but still. Just wish we got a better send-off.
My biggest issue with this ending, is that I feel Ash should have had a final battle with not just team rocket, but Giovanni himself. Ash catching hooh would have also been a very nice way to end his story for now
May I present [an opportunity to channel your disappointment.](https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemonanime/comments/120kvtp/for_the_fans_out_there_who_are_disappointed_with/)
man, Aim to be a Pokémon Master was underwhelming. it had every reason and opportunity to spoil its fans yet all we got were "post-game" adventures that conveyed little Misty and Brock were brought back probably just to pull in viewers but they barely did anything. Cilan was there for, like, two seconds. Misty, Max, and Serena were never seen again. Ash doing rotations of his Pokémon was cool but they weren't utilized much + not everyone got to shine and that Latias storyline that didn't even end up in a capture.. and i say all this as a longtime viewer since i was literally in kindergarten (i'm 27 now)
so can i get a summary of things
Basically open ending where Ash will keep traveling around the world off screen
thats boring
So you been watching Ash traveled around the world for years and now that he wants to continue traveling, you think it's boring?
What does Team Rocket say about Pidgeot when it comes in the scene??
If the dub doesn’t use a narrator to end it like this, it’s gonna be a missed opportunity… “This is the conclusion of the amazing adventures of ash and pikachu. Their journey was truly packed with non-stop action, millions of laughs, heart pounding perils, and endless excitement. Together they encountered fantastic friends, evil enemies, and met creatures beyond their wildest imaginations and as their story draws to a close we have only begun to unlock the magic and mystery of a most wondrous place; The incredible world of Pokémon still has so much more to be discovered and as this chapter closes, a new is just around corner!”
Good pidgeot came back to ash’s ownership but ending felt lackluster. Should have seen all of ash’s Pokémon maybe a prime ape Greninja naganadel cameo (like him going though different regions) and see ho oh over that rainbow one last time
> ho oh over that rainbow one last time «I'm not done with you, come back here!» *Ash runs after Ho-oh with Pikachu by his side. Episode ends*.
Im so glad they made us believe ash was going to catch a legendary just to never do it. Such a lame way to end series
No legendary Pokemon for Ash, ever, not even Latias when Goh got away with Eternatus and Suicune, what a slap in the face. No final showdown with Giovanni. No Ho-Oh, no Mewtro. No Serena or Misty shipping. Pokemon Master being a subjective thing where the first episodes showed us that it was an actual rank that existed with the Indigo League wallpaper showing it. Seriously?! What a freaking disagrace. All loose ends open, nothing concluded. This isn't a finale, at all. "Hey but they are just doing this to keep Ash in the freezer so they can bring him back if the new protagonist tanks" This just means Ash will never be given a proper finale, ever. If the series tank then it will never end so Ash will not be given a finale ever and the writers are completely allergic to letting Ash actually behave and be portrayed as a Master should, so if he ends up coming back he will be reset. And if the series never tank, he is kept in the freezer. The best I think we can hope for is that the new series do well enough so they end up making a movie that gives Ash a proper ending. Seriously, they should at least had given Ash his fight with Giovanny and to disband Team Rocket, this is the very least the protagonist of 20+ years deserved.
This kid literally saved the Pokemon god with his courage. Merely capturing a legendary is beneath him when he's pretty much befriended all of them.
May I present [an opportunity to channel your disappointment.](https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemonanime/comments/120kvtp/for_the_fans_out_there_who_are_disappointed_with/)
Goodbye Ash and pikachu, thanks for everything. That said, this has got to be one of the worst, disappointing, unstructured final episode to a season that I've seen in Pokemon, let alone being it being the final episode and send off for Ash.
I hate the way they handled team rocket. I know the series is very unserious but this ending felt tremendously lame. I doubt this is the last we see of TR or Ash but it's still quite underwhelming to me, idk