Thread: Do you think Ash/Satoshi should be replaced?

Originally Posted by Kameinu

WTF? Do I need to count the different continuities for that character? o_o

"making a new short-live alternate continuity while still keeping the original character around" != "rebooting"

Again, can we please be respectful? Telling someone to stop watching a show is not an example of that. Final warning.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by CommanderPigg

MOD NOTE: I'm going to remind everyone that this thread, at its very core, is still a rhetorical and opinion-based question ("Do you feel bored of having Satoshi as the main character for so long, or are you glad the writers decided to keep him around for as long as they have?"); So I ask of everyone to be respectful in their arguments with this in mind. Whether or not it's in the nature of the show to keep Ash around is something that's up for speculation and debate, but not set in stone. For either side.

Thank you.

You're right, and I apologize since I believe I've added fuel to that fire.

To clear things up. I'm just saying what I do because I just want the best for the character and do not wish to him get run into the ground without acomplishing his dreams or competently proving he can maintain consistency to do so. Replacing him or rebooting him are the only two options. And so far I believe the latter is the safest one.

Originally Posted by Adamant

"making a new short-live alternate continuity while still keeping the original character around" != "rebooting"

.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reboot_(fiction)

From a business standpoint, the writers would be taking a huge risk by trying to replace him. The show's doing very well at the moment; enough not to warrant any major change like that. Right now, those who think Satoshi should leave are part of the minority and, as others have said, not the target audience. I understand that, despite being a minority, we're still part of the weekly viewer ratings (the people who watch it live, I mean; our views count towards the counter as much as the five year-old next to us) meaning we hold some importance. I'm sure the staff of the anime do think of all of us older fans, but we aren't their main priority. And we're really the only ones who think about this to such an extent.

Kids get what they want out of this show, really. A main character whose personality is amusing and could easily be compared to their own, an interesting storyline, and, of course, they get to see their adored Pocket Monsters on screen. Satoshi has the best personality a main character on a children's show can have since he could relate to almost every watcher. Side characters are there so we have a different flavor (I'm turning into Dento I swear). They're the sauce on our hotdog

There'd be no point in switching to a new main who'd have a personality similar to Satoshi when we already have the characters he travels with filling the role of "switching around so interest isn't lost." It's not like the show gets stale either, since we're introduced to brand new side characters, Pokemon, rivals, and enemy groups every generation. They don't have to alter more than they need to.

So my answer is no. Better to be safe than sorry. Also, if it isn't broken, don't try to fix it QQ;

I don't think saying to people they can stop watching isn't "respectful" - I'm just honestly not able to understand why some people act as if they're forced to watch... I'd seriously want an answer to that... I'll stop saying it and I'm sorry if that annoyed anyone, but I do find it very related to the current thread's discussion... if some people aren't content with Ash still being here and are really against the way the show is going right now- why are they still watching? also, if they aren't content with the current series, will these people really be happy in case Ash IS replaced? cause as far as I can see, even if Ash was replaced, the show would stay exactly the same as it is now, just with a different face for the main guy... same Gyms, same two sidekicks, same everything, same never ending journey... just with a different face - wouldn't that be the same or worse than just keeping Ash?

Originally Posted by Dento

From a business standpoint, the writers would be taking a huge risk by trying to replace him.

I see people say this, but what exactly is the, "risk."

When a new generation begins, little kids will be interested in seeing all the new pokemon animated from their games. Much in the same way kids now notice that Dawn/Brock are no longer there and replaced with Iris/Cilan, what difference would it make to see all new characters next gen? I'm even willing to bet most of the kids who grew up watching DP as their first saga have probably already "outgrown" the show and aren't watching Best Wishes. Any kid who was 10 when DP was airing is now 15....they've moved on to other things.

How could the writers be risking anything when the Pokemon are the stars? I ask this again, any little kids that stop watching because "Ash" is not there is either a small minority and it doesn't matter because they'll be replaced by new kids.

Same way any of us older fans who stop watching don't make a difference. We're replaced by new younger kids who weren't even born when the first season was airing.

There is no "risk," because the target audience is new each gen.

Originally Posted by Kameinu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reboot_(fiction)

What in the world are you talking about?

The original Spider-man, the one introduced in the 60s, is still around. He's the core version of the character. He's never been rebooted. What HAS been done is the creation of a couple short-lived, alternate universes, most of which only last a couple years, and none of which are intended to "replace the original and become that generation's version of the character". They're just alternate versions of the universe because you can't keep a fuckload of movies and TV series in the same continuity without creating a mess of everything. They're no more reboots than all the different Pokemon manga series and the anime are "reboots" of the video game storyline.

(also, I have no idea what you tried to accomplish by linking to that wikipedia page, because that has nothing to do with any of this)

Originally Posted by Adamant

What in the world are you talking about?

The original Spider-man, the one introduced in the 60s, is still around. He's the core version of the character. He's never been rebooted. What HAS been done is the creation of a couple short-lived, alternate universes, most of which only last a couple years, and none of which are intended to "replace the original and become that generation's version of the character". They're just alternate versions of the universe because you can't keep a fuckload of movies and TV series in the same continuity without creating a mess of everything. They're no more reboots than all the different Pokemon manga series and the anime are "reboots" of the video game storyline.

That's not true at all. That's like saying every incarnation of Batman has been the same. They're all based on the same concept, but each Batman is its own character and not the same as a previous.

Pokemon is about the Pokemon, not Ash.

But then again Scott, in that case, why would they even bother replacing Ash if according to you the kids won't care either way and for them Ash or a new hero would be the same?... I'm asking you this for 11 pages and there's yet to be an answer...

Originally Posted by Piplup

But then again Scott, in that case, why would they even bother replacing Ash if according to you the kids won't care either way and for them Ash or a new hero would be the same?... I'm asking you this for 11 pages and there's yet to be an answer...

Perhaps they would want to do a real reboot someday. I never thought Ash would be here forever, because its obvious the games will go on as long as Nintendo exists (forever), but Ash isn't the type of character you'd expect to still see on television in the year 2050.

Originally Posted by Gliscor'd

That's not true at all. That's like saying every incarnation of Batman has been the same. They're all based on the same concept, but each Batman is its own character and not the same as a previous.

Batman has been rebooted. Spider-man has not. We were talking about Spider-man, not Batman.

Originally Posted by Adamant

Batman has been rebooted. Spider-man has not. We were talking about Spider-man, not Batman.

The new Spiderman movie coming out next year is a reboot, not connected to the three previous movies. Spiderman has also had about 5 different cartoons, all of which have nothing to do with each other and restart from square one.

Pokemon has had psuedo-reboots, they try to start fresh each new gen but since Ash is still there, as well as TR and sometimes Brock, they're all the same continuity.

Originally Posted by Gliscor'd

Perhaps they would want to do a real reboot someday.

Why? You're still not giving any real reason they'd do it after more than 14 years

I never thought Ash would be here forever,

That was your personal opinion/speculation, fact is he did last much longer than you expect and... guess what? it seems to work... again, why would they randomly remove Ash from the show after 14 years?

because its obvious the games will go on as long as Nintendo exists (forever), but Ash isn't the type of character you'd expect to still see on television in the year 2050.

Why? If Sazae-san and many others can do it, Ash can do it too... you're once again trying to make up reasons to support your opinion, yet your arguments makes no sense and you're STILL not providing me even ONE logical reason for them to remove Ash

Originally Posted by Piplup

That was your personal opinion/speculation, fact is he did last much longer than you expect and... guess what? it seems to work... again, why would they randomly remove Ash from the show after 14 years?

Why did they get rid of Brock after 13 years? What difference does it make? Any effort into a new male lead is about the same they had to put into Dawn last gen.

Why? If Sazae-san and many others can do it, Ash can do it too... you're once again trying to make up reasons to support your opinion, yet your arguments makes no sense and you're STILL not providing me even ONE logical reason for them to remove Ash

None of those shows follow a serialized story like Pokemon does.

Originally Posted by Gliscor'd

The new Spiderman movie coming out next year is a reboot, not connected to the three previous movies. Spiderman has also had about 5 different cartoons, all of which have nothing to do with each other and restart from square one.

Yes, and Pokemon has had a dozen different manga series and an anime series, all of which have nothing to do with each other and restart from square one.

What are you even trying to say? You're not making sense here.