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Ash’s successor in Pokémon has some pretty big shoes to fill, and, ironically, one such hero has already appeared and did a better job than he did.
With Pokémon likely continuing on without Ash in the next season, whoever will take the perpetual 10-year-old’s place has some pretty big shoes to fill since they will be following 25 years’ worth of material. Ironically, the perfect replacement has already been featured in Pokémon XY.
Though it’s difficult to imagine the world of Pokémon’s anime without Ash, his character had one major flaw that always held him back. He was literally like every other shonen protagonist in that he had a dream that he knew he would fulfill one day no matter the odds, except most other popular shonen series pulled this character off more effectively. Making Ash’s blandness worse is that it never really mattered if he lost a gym battle because he could always try again the very same day if he wanted to, lowering the stakes considerably. However, with Ash potentially retiring as the Pokémon anime’s lead, another series hero could step up to outshine the series’ longtime protagonist.
In the second season of Pokémon XY, Serena proved herself more complex than Ash. She loses her first Showcase competition, and while she puts on a brave face, she ends up breaking down in a heartbreaking fashion. By the end of the episode, it seems Serena has come to terms with her loss when she cuts her long hair short because she believes it was a “time for a change.” But a few episodes later in “Battling with Elegance and a Smile!”, Serena gets so frustrated by her Pokémon not being able to get along with each other that she storms off without them and even begins to doubt if they will ever want to perform with her again. It’s only after Serena battles against a new friend and finds strength in Ash’s resolve that she’s able to reconcile with her Pokémon and continue on her path as a Pokémon performer.
Why Serena Should Be the Next Face of Pokémon
Although Ash gives her strength during a pivotal moment, this doesn’t make him an effective protagonist. He is too perfect. When Ash was first starting out in the Kanto region, he believed so strongly in the bond that a trainer must have with their Pokémon that he was willing to risk his life for his Pikachu even though Pikachu hated him at the time. From that moment on, Ash would never reach such lows again. Even though Ash did lose his first gym battle against Brock, he rebounded much more quickly than Serena did and was able to have a rematch almost immediately. Meanwhile, Serena had already been traveling with her own Pokémon for some time when she loses faith in her bond with them and only returns due to words of encouragement from her friends. This is what makes an intriguing hero, one who struggles and needs support. Serena’s journey has also seemed like a more difficult one than Ash’s. These are all qualities that the new Pokémon protagonist needs.
Unfortunately, Serena’s story has already been told for the most part, it’s unlikely that she will actually become the next face of Pokémon, especially since she’s a performer, not a trainer. It’s a shame especially because of how inspiring her journey was especially in relation to Ash’s 25-year Pokémon epic. Though Ash might be iconic, Serena could take the Pokémon anime to new heights.
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