Pokémon
Does Ash think of himself as a Pokémon Master? Episode 11 of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master has the answer
In Ash's final episode in the Pokémon anime, the iconic character reflects on his role in the world after his long journey.
Episode 11 of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master brings us to the end of Ash's arc in the Pokémon anime after a long run of 26 years. As could be expected, it is a very moving episode. It is the end of a long journey that has captivated several generations of real-world Pokémon Trainers who had grown to watch Ash try and try again without giving up. Now in that final episode, the character's conclusions about the eternal race to become a Pokémon Master are logical but surprising.
What it means to Ash to be a Pokémon Master
The moment shows us Ash talking to the constant friend that has been with him all these years, Pikachu. His reflections on his place in the Pokémon world are a life lesson that we can apply to our everyday lives. While he begins by saying that he wants to be friends with every Pokémon in the world because that's what it means to be a Pokémon Master, he soon delves into what turns out to be universal advice.
When he was very close to becoming a Pokémon Master, Ash realized that becoming a champion was not his goal. He said, "I still consider myself a challenger. I wanna have lots more adventures, and meet more Pokemon. All the things that happen each day...Every one of them matters…”
After a lifetime of pursuing a goal, what happens when you achieve it? Everything loses meaning. There is a chapter in Roadrunner where the coyote finally catches the ever-elusive protagonist. He stares at him and... lets him go. This is the same thing. Life is the journey, not the destination. It allows us to grow, to progress, to evolve, to change, to constantly learn. The day we have none of that, the emptiness will be unfathomable.
Source | ComicBook