Ash Ketchum and Serena are two of the most popular characters in the Pokémon anime series. Their relationship has evolved over the course of the X&Y and Sun & Moon seasons, leading many fans to wonder – does Ash ever meet Serena again after their goodbye in the XYZ episode “Till We Compete Again”? Let’s take a look at the evidence.
Ash and Serena’s history
Ash and Serena first met as young children at Professor Oak’s Pokémon summer camp in the Kalos region. Ash helped Serena when she injured her knee, and she developed a crush on him though he was oblivious to her feelings. Years later, they reunited when Serena began her Pokémon journey and joined Ash on his quest to become a Pokémon Master.
Over the course of their adventures together, Ash and Serena formed a close bond. Serena provided moral support for Ash and cheered him on during his Gym and League battles. She also displayed several hints of her crush, such as blushing when they held hands. While Ash remained focused on his goals, he came to care for Serena and rely on her as a friend.
Evidence for future reunion
Here is the evidence that suggests Ash and Serena might reunite after their goodbye in XYZ:
- Serena kissed Ash on the cheek before leaving, hinting at her hope of seeing him again.
- In a later episode, Bonnie asked Serena if she would see Ash again and she affirmatively said “I’m sure we will.”
- The writers and directors for the anime have stated in interviews that Serena’s story is not over yet.
- There are rumors of a potential return for Serena in the new Pokémon Journeys series alongside other former companions.
Additionally, Ash and Serena share a strong connection in the anime that sets their relationship apart. This provides narrative potential for the writers to bring Serena back to further develop that bond.
Evidence against reunion
However, there are also reasons to be doubtful that Ash and Serena will reunite down the line:
- In over 25 seasons, the Pokémon anime has seldom brought back old companion characters for new full arcs. Misty’s guest appearances have been the main exception.
- The Pokémon anime frequently rotates female companion characters in each region – Serena may be replaced by new girls.
- As of Journeys, Serena has yet to make any kind of appearance indicating the writers have moved on.
- Her voice actress, Haven Paschall, stated in an interview she was not sure if Serena would return.
With other regions and new female companions introduced, the staff may prefer focusing on telling new stories rather than revisiting Serena’s character. Her return, while possible, remains uncertain.
Analysis of key moments
Looking more closely at key Ash and Serena scenes provides more context on their bond and chances of reuniting:
Airport goodbye
In their goodbye scene, Serena firmly tells Ash “See you later!” indicating her belief they will reunite. Ash responds “Yeah, see ya!” while warmly smiling back at her. This suggests he also wants to see Serena again and has reciprocal feelings for her on some level.
Serena’s crush
Throughout her arc, Serena displays progressive romantic feelings for Ash through her blushing, jealousy towards Miette, and culminating in a kiss at the end. This crush remains unresolved and is the biggest piece of evidence she may return to finally confess to Ash.
Ash’s denseness
However, Ash has never canonically shown overt romantic affection towards Serena. While he cares for her immensely as a friend, he remained oblivious to her crush up until the end. Ash’s one track focus and denseness when it comes to romance suggests he may not reciprocate deeper feelings for Serena.
New characters and regions
The introduction of new female characters like Lillie, Lana, and Chloe as Ash travels to Alola and other regions also decreases the chances of revisiting Serena. The writers likely want to develop new potential love interests for Ash rather than rehash his past relationships.
Overall, while Serena’s feelings are clear, Ash’s denseness combined with the rotating cast of Pokémon suggests that their story together may be complete for now. However, hints of a future reunion and cameo do persist in keeping the door open for Serena’s return depending on the writer’s future decisions.
Conclusion
In the end, whether Ash and Serena will reunite in a future Pokémon series remains ambiguous. There are compelling reasons and evidence on both sides of the debate.
On the one hand, Serena and Ash have clear unresolved feelings and plot threads that could be picked up again. This is bolstered by hints from the writers about Serena’s story not being finished. However, the dense protagonist Ash, introduction of new characters, and pattern of the anime rotating companions out weigh against their chances of reuniting within the canon.
For fans rooting for an “Amourshipping” relationship, glimpses of hope remain and the door is still open a crack for the anime to bring Serena back again. But it likely depends on whether the writers have a creative vision for continuing Ash and Serena’s unique story together in a future season. Until then, viewers will have to rely on hints, fan theories, and their own imaginations to envision if and when these two beloved characters’ paths will cross again.