Pokémon fans around the world rejoiced after Serena gave Ash his first osculation when she said goodbye at the end of the anime's Kalos adventures. Amourshippers, fans who suspected and hoped for a romantic relationship betwixt Ash and Serena, were indisputably vindicated by the surprisingly heartfelt moment. However, Pokémonfans learned the hard manner that they should be careful what they wish for -- this moment is directly responsible for Serena's continued absence from the serial.

Pokémontakes advantage of its longevity by occasionally bringing back Ash'due south former traveling companions to temporarily join him on his current journey. Misty and Brock have made several reappearances, and fifty-fifty Tracey pops up now and once again. May returned in Sinnoh and Pokémon Journeys has seen the return of Iris, Dawn and the entire Alola gang. Max, Cilan, Clemont and Bonnie have never rejoined Ash, but they've appeared equally cameos or in special episodes set after they've parted ways with him. This leaves Serena as Ash's only traveling companion who has reappeared at all since her journey with Ash ended.

Serena from Pokemon XY

Interestingly, Serena is the only ane of all the girls Ash has e'er traveled with that he personally invited forth. Their friendship has never featured any of the childish antagonism that his friendship with Misty is famous for. Serena truly respects and admires Ash for who he is, and the ii take a strong bond. Considering how pop Serena is, and how pop her relationship with Ash is, it seems like information technology would be a no-brainer for the bear witness to bring her back.

Pokémon Journeys is basically the franchise's victory lap. Many classic characters, like Gary Oak, take already had cameos, so it makes sense that fans are clamoring for Serena'southward -- long overdue -- render. At the time of writing, Dawn has simply made her grand re-return to the series, having already come up back once before during Ash'south Unova campaign. That the series would opt to bring Dawn dorsum a 2d time earlier bringing Serena back once doesn't bode well for the chances of it always happening.

Pokémon Journeys is all almost wish fulfillment, and what greater wish-fulfillment could there be than bringing back the girl who gave Ash his commencement kiss? Unfortunately, that famous buss is precisely why Serena will probable never return to the series. If she were to announced, the subject of that kiss would need to be addressed. Pokémon is null if not consistent, even at the expense of Ash's character. The serial is most adventure, not romance. Addressing Ash's and Serena's buss would be too significant a detour from the prove's K.O.

Ash, Pikachu, Bonnie, and Clemont react to Serena kissing Ash in Pokemon

Bringing Serena back without addressing that kiss would not but be a disservice to the weight information technology brought to the story when it happened, but it would also unleash the fury of Amourshippers everywhere. Pokémon finds itself in the strange position of having a narrative thread preventing Serena's return that is somehow both likewise pregnant to address, and besides significant to not address. Serena's post-Kalos limbo is truly a no-win situation for the series.

A character like Dawn can return multiple times because it was her journey that changed her. In Serena's case, meeting Ash changed her, so her return would require more emotionally intimate character interactions than a silly kid'south bear witness tin can afford. For better or worse, Serena's character arc is consummate. Her return would either force the series to pivot away from its cadre tone or damage her legacy. At the end of the mean solar day, this is Ash's show and he'due south not ready for the maturity that Serena's return would force upon him. If Ash ever does grow up, and his journey comes to an end, he may indeed walk into the sunset with Serena. Until and then, she'll take to stay in the fridge.

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Ryan McCarthy (259 Articles Published)

Ryan is an enthusiastic fan of the movie and television receiver manufacture, particularly interested in the creative process. Some people need a white noise machine to relax at dark, merely Ryan needs an audio commentary. Making a living by talking well-nigh the movies and shows he loves is his dream. Y'all tin find him complaining well-nigh Ascension of Skywalker on Twitter every bit @RickeySpanish because fifty-fifty his Twitter handle is an American Dad reference.

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