Why were Ash and Misty never a couple in Pokemon? Any suggestion of a romantic relationship between Ash and Misty ended immediately after Pokémon moved on from its original series to Pokémon Advanced Generation. Misty has made subsequent appearances in the show after that point, but she has done so without any of the original’s romantic undertones. But why was the romance abandoned even after it was initially hinted at with a will they/won't they story?
The Pokémon television series was created to introduce the exciting world of Pokémon to children through the eyes of Ash Ketchum (voiced by Veronica Taylor). On his quest to become a Pokémon master, Ash caught distinctive Pokémon, won hard-fought battles, and met entertaining companions in the form of passionate chef Brock (Eric Stuart) and water-type trainer Misty (Rachael Lillis). Together, the trio embarked on an exciting expedition through the extraordinary Kanto region to explore a world filled with Pokémon. During this journey, the show’s producers began developing a will they/won’t they relationship between Ash and Misty. What started as a mission to get compensation from Ash for her freshly burnt bike slowly evolved into an adventure filled with action, comedy, and heartfelt moments. Despite their constant bickering, the two were shown to care deeply about each other and repeatedly became flustered at the notion of being a couple.
In the end, however, the romantic relationship between Misty and Ash was put to an end when Pokemon was renewed for additional seasons. The producers wanted to change Ash Ketchum’s Pokémon and companions along with a change in environment to keep the show feeling fresh. This decision resulted in Misty finally getting her fixed bike, removing her reason to continue traveling with Ash in the process. Her adventure with Ash officially concluded by permanently staying in Kanto to become a full-time water Pokémon gym leader. Instead of trying to depict the complications of a long-distance relationship, the producers opted to drop the romance between Ash and Misty in favor of a simple yet strong friendship. Effectively, in order to prevent Pokémon’s television show from growing stale, the producers determined that cutting their romance entirely would be the best course of action.
Like several notable children’s television shows in the late '90s and early 2000s, the Pokémon anime was a marketing tool made, in this case, to promote the Pokémon video games. The series occurred in the wondrous Kanto and Johto regions of the first two generations. Iconic characters like the Kanto gym leaders, Professor Oak, and Blue (Gary Oak) were directly taken from the games and given new life in the show. Even Brock and Misty, who were just gym leaders in the games, were upgraded to Ash’s traveling companions in order to add more unique Pokémon as recurring characters. Due to the success of the original television series, the Pokémon company wanted to repeat this formula for its future video game installments. This meant introducing new environments, new Pokémon, and new characters from the future installments to the television show. Replacing Ash’s Pokémon and human companions each time he visited a different location was a clever way to seamlessly transition this new material into the show. Unfortunately, this decision meant sidelining Misty and any potential romance developed between her and Ash.
Though Ash and Misty’s romantic relationship was cut short, their friendship remained stronger than ever. As recently as Pokémon Sun & Moon, Misty, Ash, and Brock were shown happily reminiscing about their time together in good old days. That said, Pokémon Journeys: The Series has drastically changed the classic Pokémon formula by bringing Ash’s past companions back into the spotlight. This change could also rekindle the long-dormant spark between Ash and Misty if the producers wish it so.