What i would like to see from Ash? Thats a very good question because in essence Ash is my favorite male main character in pokemon series and while i like existing premise behind his character representing every young person hopes, dreams, adventurous spirit and innocent desires many of us as kids tend to have. Following life like on going story of one character and where his journey will take him. Journey which values more process of going through various challenges, quests, struggles and tests as way of someone getting there, rather than necessarily reaching ultimate destination.
There is without doubt room left for improval in making his character more rewarding, dimensional and meaningful to follow feeling like your viewing experience wasnt waste of time.
Some things which would improve Ash character imo are:
-extracting wider diapason of emotions from him. Treating his tendency to be reckless, impulsive and frivolous as genuine consistent flaws standing in his way of going further in his quest bof becoming pokemon master. Or when being overconfident believing too much in his skills taking his opponents easily which was showed to be case even in modt recent times(against Viola and Sanpei).
Making him reconsider to change his battle style, develop new strategies and learn how to better control his emotions during battle not losing concentration and head in most crucial moments. Become more poised, rationale and anticipating in battles. Predicting opponent next moves, turn weakness of his pokemon in strength developing whole new level of bond, understanding amd teamwork functioning like one being. Which E4 members and champions like Cynthia, Lance etc revealed to posess.
To maintain his experience and development growing forward instead of suffering from resets and stagnation.
-Seeing some of that egoistic, arrogant and botblooded nature of Ash wouldnt hurt too. Which coincidence or not was revealed most when Misty was around. Its like she knew to fulfill more fire, making interactions between chasracters filled with more energy thanks to her spunky, romantic, caring full of playful sarcasm, hotheaded attitude side. Both in OS and whenb she made returns in Hoenn its like more of Ash stubborn,cocky andty side of character got awakened through herteasing, headstrong nature and competitive spirit.
Because seeing occasional clash and conflict among Ash and his friends wouldnt hurt now in Kalos series. Because even best friends will sometime snap or disagree with you not always being everything happy. Not to mention such moments allows friendship to grow learning how to overcome your differences and flaws making bond stronger.
Not frequently, bu Ash getting in disagreement sometime with Clemont or Bonnie over something they both want to win for example or being inadvertently rude or selfish infront of Serena provoking reaction could be fun watch bringing more variety to their dynamic.
Preventing it to get stale after awhile and more fluid. For time being in XY series its not just Ash. Everyone are super friendly, peaceful and supportive with no clash, strife or disagrements ever really happening making friendship seem synthetic and forced because of this.
-Start noticing other things beside battling, eating and catching pokemon. Such as girls like it was case with Misty and now Serena revealing to have romantic affection toward him making him confised and freaked out rather than acting dimwitted. Potentially leading to profound growth in Ash himself not being ready for such things letting them know how he just wants to remain friends.
Growing up emotionally as character. In sense of paying more attention to his older friends, rival etc. Occasionally visiting them if he is in neighbourhood like Misty at Cerulean gym which is actually very close to Pallet town making them pleasantly surprised. Or calling them on phone(like May, Dawn, Brock, Iris etc) staying in touch and showing how he didnt forget about them.
How he appreciates strong bonds, friendship they share and gratitude for being on his side providing shoulder to cry and rely on when he needed it the most.
-another thing i would like is have writers dive deeper in Ash thoughts, insecuritiers and memories making him reconsider what he expects from future once he finally achieves his dreams.
Showing why becoming very best trainer in world is so much important to him, from where this desire and passion orignates from. Is it legacy from his father, pokemon themselves etc adding justification behind his long journey. Has he ever contemplated about it and if his restless, spirited nature would ever let him settle down?
Misty is an persistant stalker/loan-shark who makes 10-year old newbies pay out the ass to pay for bikes. WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS DAM BIKE!? Normal in shows or films when a character borrows an extra's bike during a chase scene, that's it! That's the last we see of them or hear about the whole thing. But no, not this girl. She tracks him down with pure vigor and doesn't go away until her bike is paid for, with the money that apparently all 10-year olds have on them. After all, it's not like Ash isn't battling multiple random trainers on each route every week and earning PokeDollars after each win. In short, Misty was a situational cliche who over-stayed her welcome.
Im sorry to say this but you must have gained completely false impression on Misty character if you think how she was some "spoiled nagging witch who just cared about her bike and how to make Ash life miserable".
Bike was initial vector behind Misty meeting Ash and deciding to join him, but in reality it was his affection toward pokemon. Selfless care and dedicated attituide in taking care of them which attracted her to him. Wanting most of all friend and someone with who she could talk, confine and share her problems, dreams and desires.
In late Kanto Misty completely stopped caring about bike just wanting to be in Ash and Brock company, explore world, learn as much as she can about water pokemon and become water pokemon master. For first time in life Misty had friends, people who didnt discriminated or judge her on her appearance, talents and skills like sisters and everyone else did, someone with who she could had fun and encounter understandng.
Sure Misty did scold Ash or got in arguments, but mot of time it was because she wanted best for him, not letting to selfpity himself or because he deserved it when acting spoiled, rude and egoistic. She wanted him to take training seriously, put himself together when losing battle or not mindlessly rushing in danger looking after him like true friend would.
If you dont remember in "Gotta Catch Ya Later" when Misty was forced to leave Ash she started to sob being on verge of crying not caring about ill cite "stupid bike" and being hurt by how inconsiderate Ash was by thinking she would be happy of getting her bike fixed.With Brock having to make him clear how Misty doesnt want bike or return back to Cerulean, but stay in his and Ash company discovering new worlds, pokemon and work on her dreams and goals in company of her best friends.
In end whether she overstayed her welcome or not is matter of opinion. But Many people considered Misty fresh, fun and charming character who brought lot of emotion, flare, courage and life in group dynamics. Along with feeling she had lot of untapped potential and unfinished things in story regarding her dreams, insecurities and aspiratioins to continue as main character.
Ash is not character without flaws and negative sides. He will make mistakes and if no one never criticized him, taiught him how things in life works etc he wouldnt be even alive nowadays or become half a trainer/person like it is case now.
Friends who sometime argue with you, being sarcastic or even rude dont do it because of being conceited and malefic, but because of wanting to help you see error of your ways, guide you to right direction and how to be better at something.
Staying quiet and making no actions in trying to stop someone from dong terrible mistake, making fool out of himself or failing hard at something you know is someone passion and life on other hand is reflection of bad friend who does not care.
So i dont see what is so bad about May , Misty, Dawn etc sometime getting into clash with Ash,?
Or God forbid Serena slapping Ash wrist not because shes mean but because of wanting to teach Ash polite manners leaving some cake for others as well.
Not to mention its perfectly normal for friends to sometime tease each other, be sarcastic, out of endeavor making each other mad getting into fight because of flaws and their differences. Making friendship and bond only feel natural, diverse and realistic setting groundwork for stronger bond over time.