Pokemon Journeys has taken the anime to places that it has never gone in past seasons of the show. However, a recently released summary of an upcoming episode is letting fans know that the show may be making a big change to an aspect of the show that viewers thought would never change — Pikachu.
Pikachu is one of the most well known Pokemon in the history of the franchise. From the very beginning of the series when Ash first left Pallet Town to become the best trainer in the Kanto region, Pikachu accompanied him, though somewhat begrudgingly at first. Over time, the trainer and the Electric-type Pokemon grew close, their strong bond rivaling many others and allowing them to face huge challenges together by battling many Legendary Pokemon and saving the world on multiple occasions. However, it appears the writers of the Pokemon anime may be changing up their dynamic slightly with a choice that would rock the fanbase.
A new synopsis for an upcoming episode of Pokemon Journeys has come out recently, and fans are reeling from the blurb. According to the summary for episode 35 of the show, the iconic Electric Mouse Pokemon may finally evolve into a Raichu. The episode features Ash and Goh as well as their Pokemon visiting a Pikachu Outbreak, where the small Electric-types are digging up Thunderstones in order to evolve into their final form. The episode description says that "Ash's Pikachu finally evolves into a Raichu as well thanks to a Thunderstone discovered by a obliging female Pikachu," and the fanbase's reaction to this news is not positive.
Many people reacting to this news online believe that if this news is true and if this isn't a bait and switch, then it would have to be very well thought out by the Pokemon anime writers in order to be successful. Some stereotypes of the Pokemon anime, like Ash perpetually being 10 years old, are ready to go, but Pikachu has been the icon of the series since its creation. Some fans think that Pikachu may evolve because Goh recently acquired one as well, so the most famous Pokemon will still remain in the show regardless.
However, many fans believe that this will not be the case, citing previous episodes in the show where fans were tricked into believing that Pikachu evolved only to learn that it was a wild Raichu and Ash's Pikachu had been off somewhere else. It is impossible to know for certain what the anime will do until the episode comes out.
Part 2 of Pokemon Journeys: The Series will release on Netflix September 11.