>>56271024The lack of growth and consistency with the writing. In S1 Ash had moments where he does experience growth and it even happens in later seasons as well, but any “lasting” change Ash goes through feels more like it’s because different writers and directors are working on the show and change his personality to fit whatever vision they have for the anime. Pikachu is even worse since his personality was almost completely removed after Kanto so he could be a safe cute mascot.
Also more than 90% of battles are boring as hell. Even not counting ones from CotD episodes or team rocket fights they are the most boring, dull, stake less shit. Gym battles are the worst offenders since there’s literally no stakes for losing yet if he does lose all that happens is that it halts any progression so we waste more time in the same location for multiple episodes. League battles at least does have stakes for Ash losing but it’s a shame those only come at the very end of each series.
