Pokémon fans around the globe rejoiced after Serena gave Ash his first buss when she said goodbye at the terminate of the anime's Kalos adventures. Amourshippers, fans who suspected and hoped for a romantic relationship between Ash and Serena, were indisputably vindicated by the surprisingly heartfelt moment. Even so, Pokémonfans learned the difficult way that they should be conscientious what they wish for -- this moment is directly responsible for Serena's continued absence from the serial.

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

Serena from Pokemon XY

Interestingly, Serena is the only one of all the girls Ash has always 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 two accept a strong bond. Considering how pop Serena is, and how pop her relationship with Ash is, it seems similar information technology would be a no-brainer for the evidence to bring her back.

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

Pokémon Journeys is all nigh wish fulfillment, and what greater wish-fulfillment could there exist than bringing back the girl who gave Ash his first kiss? Unfortunately, that famous kiss is precisely why Serena will likely never return to the series. If she were to appear, the subject area of that buss would need to be addressed. Pokémon is nothing if non consistent, fifty-fifty at the expense of Ash's character. The series is about run a risk, not romance. Addressing Ash's and Serena's osculation would be too meaning a detour from the show'due south M.O.

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

Bringing Serena back without addressing that kiss would not simply exist a disservice to the weight it brought to the story when it happened, merely it would likewise unleash the fury of Amourshippers everywhere. Pokémon finds itself in the strange position of having a narrative thread preventing Serena'due south render that is somehow both also meaning to address, and too significant to not address. Serena's mail-Kalos limbo is truly a no-win state of affairs for the series.

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

KEEP READING: Pokémon: Ash Was CONSTANTLY Getting Nerfed During His Kalos Journeying

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Ryan McCarthy (260 Articles Published)

Ryan is an enthusiastic fan of the flick and television industry, especially interested in the creative process. Some people need a white dissonance automobile to relax at night, just Ryan needs an audio commentary. Making a living past talking about the movies and shows he loves is his dream. You can observe him complaining well-nigh Ascension of Skywalker on Twitter as @RickeySpanish because fifty-fifty his Twitter handle is an American Dad reference.

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