In fact, those who DID quit watching are quite a large group but it seems like not too many were those who participated in TV ratings polls. Not only this but even some of the die-hard Pokemon anime fans will admit that the show did loose one thing when Misty got the boot, its sophistication but I see it as loosing more than just that. And yet another die-hard Pokemon anime fan admitted that May alienated the show's female audience for a very large part for being overly girly and Dawn is getting quite close to that point as well it seems. I personally have been following the show's ratings in Japan and they are not too impressive. Its quite rare to see the show score over a 5.9% on them and it only happens on gym battle episodes it seems with contest episodes getting even less of an improvement. Not as much as the contest episodes used to but still noticeable though. I have said it before and will say it again, all signs point to bringing back Misty and giving her the emerging Pokethlon as a goal as a very logical thing. Like contests, it can be stretched out over a long period of time and it sounds quite a bit like something she would do and has in the fifth Pokemon movie but then again Misty also participated in something which was in some ways similar to a Pokemon contest but it was really more like a combination beauty pageant (for the trainers) and Pokemon battle tournament. Despite what some seem to say it actually is possible to return Misty to the main cast, give her the Pokethlon role, and have her find redemption in those who hate her for doing "nothing" while at the same time giving the show something new as its growing dangerously stale. I think that the Pokethlon would actually help Misty achieve her ultimate and so far unfulfilled goal of being a water Pokemon master and it would also help the writers find redemption in and win back Misty's alienated, shunned, and almost completely forgotten (by the writers at least) fan base.
