>>50362660Let me explain everything that has happened since XYZ to you because you still haven't figured it out.
Ash was originally going to be retired after XYZ and replaced with Alain. The heavily implied love interest, the two season long development of what was supposed to be his strongest pokemon, his battle bond forme with said pokemon, Ash's Pikachu going out with a bang by taking out multiple pseudos...it was meant to be the grand finale of his character arc. However, because corporate stepped in at the last minute, the writers were forced to maintain the status quo and keep Ash around. This is why Alola and Journeys feels like glorified filler despite the fact that not only won the Alola """league""", but is also set to defeat multiple trainers that SHOULD be way out of his league and become the strongest trainer in the world seemingly out of nowhere. After this, he will be retired and replaced by a new protag. However, because of the massive backlash from Alain winning the league, all that work in grooming him to be the next protag after starring in multiple specials was all for nothing - Alain cannot be the next protag. This is where Goh comes in. Why is he such a gary stu? It's because he's set to become the new protag after Journeys when Ash finally retires.
TL;DR it was supposed to end, didn't, and is ending for real this time without any stakes this time.
