>>21920685Arguably Ash was already in a mentor role in both ADV and DP, albeit less "emotionally" mature since he got into arguments with both May and Dawn even as he coached them at times. You did have that one great exchange between Brock and Kenny though. Anyway you're right, they compeltely rolled Brock's role into Ash now.
Then they reset him in BW and he was sort of equal to both Cilan and Iris, but that never happened.I don't think Clemont is really being coached by Ash though, arguably Clemont is "objectively" a stronger trainer than Ash if he had his Gym Pokemon, but he thinks his spontaneous battling style is something he can learn a lot from.
Ash's role has broadened for sure, but he's not really "interesting" (but then again it's Pokemon, so who is). I guess he's the aniki character like Roy Focker or Kamina, yet he's the main character at the same time.
