Why Misty left and more...
1. Why Misty left and wont return as a Main Character
Even now after 9 years, people are still asking why Misty left and whether she would be making an appearance as a main character. I am a Pokeshipper myself, and want Misty back but I know that cant happen.
Throughout seasons 1-5 it was obvious Misty and Ash had a little bit of a childish crush on each other which was continually hinted at but never directly mentioned. However this was a major sub-plot in its self, being the main plot even in some episodes. This sort of thing is very common in kids shows. A couple hint and having feelings for each other before finally admitting it and living a happily ever after. That would have been nice and was the route Pokemon was taking at that time.
This is where the problems come rolling in. This type of sub-plot (another plot running alongside the main plot) is a series ending plot. Happily ever after, Ash and Misty, end of series. Unfortunately in Pokemon this sub plot was going to finish before the actual series would end. Let me explain
The only reason the Pokemon anime was and still is made, is to promote new and upcoming Pokemon merchandise and games. Even though the show had amazing animation and fight scenes, as well as excellent characters (that being only Season 1-5). This means that so long as new Pokemon merchandise and games get produced, the series has to continue to promote these. This is why Ash and Misty's love story becomes problematic.
The problem is, a kids show cant have the main characters as a committed romantic couple. The target audience at this time was 7-12. They could relate to having a childish crush on others, but they could not relate to being in a long term relationship. This is why romances are always summed up at the end of a kids series. Example given is Digimon, characters showed hints of liking each other and at the end the main plot was finished and the romances summed up in an epilogue. This happens because it gives the kids a happily ever after that they wanted, but at the same time the kids don't see the characters as unrelatable because the kids never receive any insight on the character's relationship past the crushes and cute flirting.
Now this explains why Ash and Misty's love meant doom for the series. The writers tried and temporarily succeeded to delay this by introducing Togepi, which gave Misty more of a motherly role rather than a love interest role. This stopped the elephant in the room for a while.
However at the end of Master Quest the elephant in the room had turned into a massive blue whale with all its blubber bulging everywhere :). It wasn't that the show hinted at their love, it was the fact that there had been 275 episodes of it, and everyone watching knew there was a thing between Ash and Misty and just wanted to see them kiss already.
So the writers dug themselves into a hole. They made the mistake of introducing a series ending sub-plot and dug themselves deeper when they decided to let this SERIES ENDING PLOT develop throughout 275 episodes. So they had 2 choices. Throw in the towel and let Ash be a pokemon master win the thing and be happy ever after with Misty. Or they could scrap Misty somehow and introduce a new character (May) to promote the new games and merchandise. Nintendo needed the anime to continue the series the only choice was to scrap Misty D:
2. Why all the fans are pissed at the writers about Misty
Wouldn't you be pissed? 274 episodes of sub-plot buildup, all the time expecting the happily ever after, but oh wait no, the sub-plot suddenly dies? What enraged the fans more is 1. The Goodbye Song and 2. Misty's last words.
The Goodbye song was truly heartbreaking. If you are a fan of Pokemon and you've watched the first 5 seasons, you must watch it. The line of all lines is "You're more than just my best friend". The writers have acknowledged that they have feelings for each other but the sub-plot damn dies all the same.
Misty's last line if you were wondering is "Now I know how you really feel about me Ash". Again the writers are openly acknowledging their relationship but it dies all the same.
3. Is there any hope for Pokeshippers?
Well, the answer is yes! In a Sinnoh (Diamond and Pearl) episode Ash is very protective of Misty's special lure. So this means that the writers haven't totally forgotten about Misty and would like to finish their story. They care about that storyline and I would put my money on that it would be the ending to the final series of Pokemon. However there's a major catch... In order for this sub-plot to be completed the entire Pokemon series must end. But it can't end until Nintendo decide to stop releasing games... You see the problem?
For Pokeshippers like me to get their wish the entire Pokemon series must come to an end. Now this is not going to happen for a long time seeing that Pokemon has maintained its popularity and excitement still ensues with new releases such as X&Y. I can't really see Pokemon dying to be honest for a long time. But Pokeshippers R.I.P at the fact that Ash and Misty are the one true couple and that given the chance, they would be together :')
However there is more. We have concluded that in order for Pokeshipping to be realised, Pokemon has to come to an end. But that's not the thing that 100% has to happen. Let us not look to the life-span of Pokemon but to the life-span of Ash Ketchum. I mean really? He can't really do this forever right? By "this" I mean, every single region he has ran around collecting 8 badges and failing to face the Elite Four. Same again. Same again. And well done its gonna be the Same again. I mean the writers have said themselves, Ash is going to do nothing more than what I've explained above. But after a while its gonna get a bit iffy right? I mean failing that many times? How can he still have that ambition and determination, let alone the possibility of him losing that many times. Admittedly he has got closer and closer every time, but as I said above, just like the AAML (Ash and Misty Love) sub-plot, the real plot can't be allowed to end either because Nintendo need to promote games. Eventually its gonna get so boring and predictable that Ash has to come to an end. Then Pokeshippers may get their wish.
I mean the writers right now could take a rather big risk. There have been complaints enough about how the characters suck etc... They could wrap up AAML and introduce a new character. This may kill the series but admittedly its going downhill already and guess what happened when the writers tried to delay the AAML plot... The series is stuck in time atm, and introducing new characters would be new and fresh. Don't get excited though (IkIk I should stop crushing wishes now...), Ash and Pikachu are the icons of the show, so getting rid of them would be very risky. Suggestions have been for Ash's Son/Daughter to take over but that's too cheesy right?
Oh I'm also gonna sort of half-crush the idea that if Pokemon ends, the AAML story would finish. That's not entirely fool-proof. Saving Misty for the end is going to be treading on active waters, though. Pokemon is something that has survived so long on the mere fact that with each new generation of kids, there is a new generation to expose to Pokemon as well as generations beyond that still enjoy the games. So the short version of what I'm saying is that Pokemon is something that is virtually immortal, meaning the show might never pay off the Ash/Misty romance that it teases us with so much.
We have gone back and forth so bloody many times it is time for a summary. The writers wrote themselves into a hole. So they scrapped Misty. They managed to mess up more by making a horribly sad ending. AAML will probably finish when Pokemon finishes. But Pokemon is virtually immortal. It wont finish until Nintendo want it to, but its still very very popular. Looking at Ash ending is a possibility. Pokemon is getting bland and one dimensional so if popularity dips any of these options may come true.
"I hope they bring the Trio back for Ash's final season"
4. Why all the characters suck?
This (above) is why there is a severe lack of character growth in the later seasons as well. They know that if they allow characters to grow, then eventually they'd reach a point where they couldn't grow as a character anymore, and that would also spell doom for the series. The writers of Pokemon have even stated that they don't plan to do anything more than let Ash run around from region to region, getting his eight badges, entering the league, and then moving on to the next region (which would be from the newest Pokemon game). It's not a matter of they don't care about characterization anymore, it's that they can't allow for there to be anymore characterization. If they did, it could put them in another situation that could end the series, and that time around, simply writing off a character might not be enough to save the series. This is why Dawn has a personality of a wall and Iris is just no. I think they took May a bit too far too, I mean watch Pokemon Ranger and The Temple of the Sea and you'll know why.
This is just an example of the writers learning their lesson and making Pokemon what its meant to be, a kids show. I'm sorry but that's the truth.
Why no other Ash shipping is quite like Pokeshipping :)
Well to be honest after the AAML ordeal the writers would not have any intention to display any romantic feelings. Advanceshipping is an exception with a few occasions. All the other shippings is, is speculation. The writers, unlike Pokeshipping, never meant to make any romantic hints. Just take the goodbyes. Misty gets a song in which their feelings are acknowledged. May gets a wave. Dawn gets a wave. If you think Advanceshipping exists go take a look at "Home is where the start is" The goodbye is not really romantic or emotional, just as it is meant to be. May declares she leaves. Ash displays no sad emotions, and the goodbye is tearless.
