Im one of rare pokemon watchers which never stopped following pokemon anime. I still enjoy in prospect of Ash traveling and exploring different regions,his personality,pokemon,development he goes through,rivalries he makes with each new saga refreshing character and reinventing it in different and unique way.
I also like seeing traveling companions getting introduced and forming relationship with main protagonist going through their own development from point A to point B(granted not everyone were used as much as it was possible,but you get the point).Im also interested in new features and pokemon which are transferred from games to anime and in what way writers depicted them.
Sure i have some complaints like older characters being treated like garbage being much better to implement character rotation for a change giving chance to ex companions to use some of potential they have getting chance to shine and receive actual closures,Ash development going at snail pace speed,pacing being horrible for most time etc.
Actually thats my biggest peeve about pokemon anime with producers and show executives doing in longer run very, very unwise move with such strategy.
Because while i still like Ash hoping he will get somewhere, everything loses meaning and credibility if history, past events and characters which molded him in who he is now or their own unfinished stories and lives which shouldnt be ditched aside but recognized are erased away like they never mattered or existed(see Misty, May, Dawn, Cilan, Max etc, etc). Defeating message of consistent story which builds on itself and maintaind ties with its roots, meaningful friendship and relationship which stays relevant and impacting on plot over time and anyone goal and aspirations not being erased like all effort and pain they went through was in vain rewarding them eventually.
But overall at end of the day pokemon show is still enjoyable,refreshing and relaxing to watch at least in my opinion.
That's how Pokecommunity has always been. Remember when DP was airing and you saw a whole bunch of threads about people whining about Misty returning, the voice actors changing, and how they didn't like Dawn and Piplup? The funny thing is none of those people were actually watching the anime at the time, they were just basing what they knew about it from comments or pictures they saw online.
All the anime fans have always been on either bulbagarden or serebii, pokecommunity's anime section has just been filled with people who grew up with the Kanto and Johto portion of the show and never bothered to get into the following arcs.
No offense, but thats very brash statement to make. For example i want Misty back as well, and im regular viewer of pokemon anime not missing on any pokemon season.
I know myself many people which would like that Misty returns, big number of them who followed all pokemon sagas. Simply missing Misty because she was in their opinion more entertaining character missing strong presence she gives to group through her tomboyish, sarcastic, humorous and caring adventurous personality.
And most of all because they were disappointed with way her character was replaced never receiving enough development nor her story ever received closure with many things being left unexplored(like her goal of becoming water pokemon master , childhood dream of meeting legendary water pokemon learning its deepest secrets and fully connect to their thoughts and feelings(which every masrer of type is expected to do),potential to find more about past and some flaws which are standing on way still being left unsolved etc providing enough material to do something worthwhile out of it.
Valid complaint from their side if you ask me, not being wrong thing to miss on character wanting him back.
As long as you dont bash successors and newer sagas, respecting different opinions.
