Why Pokémon Fans Think Ash Is On The Way Out
For over two decades now, the "Pokemon" anime series — arguably the most popular medium within the larger "Pokemon" franchise — has centered around Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum and his group of companions as he sets off on a journey to become the greatest Pokémon trainer there is. Even 25 years after the series' debut in 1997, the mainline "Pokémon" TV show remains extremely popular and among the most viewed animes in the world. For as long as it has been around, Ash has been the focal figure on which the series is based around. However, that may soon be coming to an end.
Right now, nothing is for certain and all the talk surrounding Ash's reported exit from the show is based purely on speculation. However, according to a recent discovery by a popular leaker and the reaction from the "Pokémon" fan base, Ash Ketchum could be hitting the old dusty trail as soon as next month.
Fans think Ash will be written off Pokémon
In a post made to Twitter by user @CentroLeaks, the last three episodes of "Pokémon" set to air in 2022 have episode names that seem to imply a goodbye of sorts. The first of these three episodes — listed as JN 133 — is titled "Project Mew," which is of course a reference to Mew, one of the rarest and most powerful Pokémon roaming the world. The two subsequent episodes — JN 134 and 135 — have some more somber titles, them being "Seize the Future!" and "Pokémon, I'm Glad I Chose You" respectively. Given that the last episode is in reference to the first-ever episode of the TV show — and seems to indicate an end — CentroLeaks believes that this could signify the end of the series altogether.
However, fans of the anime seem to think differently. One user vehemently disagreed with the notion that the "Pokémon" TV series is coming to an end, and instead hypothesized that Ash will be written out of the show. Another user agreed wholesale with this theory, saying that the show will likely transition away from Ash being its main character instead of being brought to an end.
If Ash's days are numbered, his goodbye will surely be one of the most talked about happenings on TV and will most definitely cause some tears to be shed. "Seize the Future" and "Pokémon, I'm Glad I Chose You" are scheduled to be released on December 2 and 9, respectively.