What's exactly stopping the writing crew from making Ash not serious? I mean, given that the series looks like it's going for a more light-hearted tone and making Ash be the butt of many jokes and gags.
I'm not very eager for any of the starters being his ace, since it's to be expected either way. After what he went through with Greninja, I'd honestly rather see him getting something other than just one of the starters. Rowlet is okay (I like the entire line), but for him to become Greninja 2.0, the mere thought is already boring me, as well as the tiger becoming Charizard 2.0 and failing to receive orders, further implying how much of a "child" Ash is.
I want him to have a bond with a pokemon, but more in the way like how he treats Pikachu, with fondness and showing that he really cares for that pokemon and not always 100% focused on battle, but showing that he still cares for that too. If this show is meant for Ash to learn something, I'd rather him get to learn his mistakes through a unexpected bond with a pokemon and making sure he doesn't repeat them, even if for the sake of that pokemon, without completely casting Pikachu away an having said pokemon interact with Pikachu in a "bros" kind of way.
