*Forgot to put a neutral option there, like "The anime is not getting better nor worse". I would have to start a new thread then and I'm not going to do that, so you'll just have to post it in the thread. Sorry!*
These are my personal thoughts:
I no longer care about the anime, because it's dead to me. It died when they removed Brock from the anime and gave Ash a failed experimental eye surgery. Removing Misty wasn't a bright idea either. I also heard that Team Rocket got a personality change. It's all going downhill from here. The show should have ended after season 13 while it still had some dignity.
They should replace it with an anime based on the Pokémon Adventures manga. That's hardcore, unlike the current anime where Ash turns into a n00b whenever he steps into a new region and he never ages either. They could do so that one region = 1 year in the anime. Then he'd been 15 by now and the aging problem would be solved.
The older the season, the better:
Season 1 - the best | Misty FTW
Season 2-5 - very good | Misty FTW
Season 6 - good, but a little nooby | May is kinda cool, can't replace Misty though, but still cool
Season 7-9 - good
Season 10-11 - kinda watchable sometimes, very nooby | Dawn is kinda ok, but can't be compared with Misty or May.
Season 12 - kinda watchable
Season 13 - haven't watched
Season 14+ - WTF?! No Brock and Ash has undergone special eye surgery?! Aint even going to bother watching.
Kanto -The first season was pathetic in terms of Gym battles. Ash's badges was like handed to him. The only thing the first season had was its comedy. The battles are barely memorable. Team rocket barely got screen time beside the TR trio.
Johto - Johto pokemons were overshadowed by Kanto starters near the beginning. Then Pikachu hog the gym battles, and in the league? Charizard was the main star. Johto pokemons get shafted while Kanto pokemons dominates two leagues. The matches was far better than kanto though. Vs Gary and vs Harrison are up there for Ashes top matches.
Hoenn - Better pokemon handling, hoenn was given screen time and their own league. The BF comes along to show off Ash's reserve. Hoenn had nice 6 on 6 battles. The flaws was Hoenn turned stale because it was the same 6 pokemon over and over again. This was fix in Battle Frontier. Max was annoying. They screwed up Magma vs Aqua. Only 2 parts? Then there's Lance hogging screen time from Magma and Aqua -.-"
Sinnoh - Kinda watchable? Sinnoh trashes Kanto in every way besides the funny moments. Gym Battle, Character development, Rival Development, Pokemon Development.
THE POKEMON LEAGUE.
Gym battle was top notch - Ash's pokemon was able to shine during the gym battles and show off their strength.
Character development - they finally developed Ash into a trainer that's used everything that he learn through his journey and his rivals. Ash started using the field to his advantage & his switches his pokemon for type advantage.
Pokemon development - Infernape bar none is Ash most develop pokemon. Yes more than Charizard. That monkey had a back story that ties Ash to his rival. The monkey even went super saiyan against Paul. Torterra had a good development, till they focused on the monkey and same with the rest of the of his Pokemon.
Rival development - It's arguable but Paul is Ash greatest rival. The two is like opposite and it was exploited and gave us one hell of a rivalry. From the battle at Lake Acuity where Ash got trash into Infernape evolving in front of Paul into one of Ash's greatest league match. Gary might be his childhood rival but it was so under develop that one league match kinda made us wanting for more. Paul and Ash rivalry had a great start and great ending.
Pokemon League - Old pokemons coming back for nostalgia fans? Check. Cyndiquil evolve? Check. 6 on 6 with Paul? Check. Gible starred a battle? Check. The only thing that was horrible was Takuto pulling Latios out of his butt.
Evil Team - OMG you mean Team Galactic didn't get shafted like TR did during Kanto?
Yes, Sinnoh saga does have flaws, the comedy was turn down. The brock flirting with girls was stale. Dawn and Brock barely had interaction beside Dawn asking Brock about certain pokemons. Brock was so stale, you barely notice him unless he speaks. Ash's other pokemons got shafted near the league for Infernape. The league was good until Takuto sent out Latios LOL. What does he was next? Mewtwo?
TORTERRA NEEDS JUSTICE. JUSTICE.
Unova - Then it's your lost. Your missing out on great stuff BW series has been giving us. They gave us vintage Ash that every Nostalgia fans want, he turn his hat around, he reverted back to "kanto ash" in terms of battling. "OH NOEZ no Brock, series teh suckzorr". Brock was so stale during Sinnoh that it was the time to retire him. The gym battle has been on par with Hoenn gym battles. Ash finally ROTATING his Pokemons. Hell this series broke Hoenn and Sinnoh traditions and gave Ash more than 6 Pokemons just like nostalgia fans wanted "CATCH MORE POKEMONZ"
While the series is good, it is flawed. Ash reverted back to his kanto/Johto self where he barely know crap. Ash's character development and growth during Sinnoh sage was thrown into the window. Trip is a copy of Paul LOL. Pikachu losing to Snivy. That cannot be justified. Even without electric attack, Pikachu has Iron Tail and Quick Attack to destroy a Snivy from Prof. Juniper's lab. Pikachu just tie with Latios then get complete raped by Snivy.
TL;DR
Take off your nostalgia glasses. Kanto can barely hold Sinnoh Saga's shorts in term of Gym battles, Pokemon League, and Rival Development. Kanto ranks about everything when in terms of comedy and Ash's bloopers. Kanto is the worst series in terms of battling (gym and the league) Kanto barely gave us any memorable besides Magmar vs Charizard & Kingler LOLstomping this girl's team.