Pokemon Fan Points Out Grim Pattern With Ash’s Fire-Types in the Anime

An attentive Pokemon fan noticed that several Fire-types Ash caught in the Pokemon anime have a grim detail in common. The Pokemon franchise has children as its main target audience, although it has fans of all ages. Another distinctive feature of Pokemon is that, despite the stories of friendship and overcoming, the franchise has its fair share of dark and sad details.

A well-known example is the existence of sinister Pokedex entries like Gyarados and Darkrai, and sad ones like Cubone, Spoink, and Amaura. There’s even more sadness awaiting when fans remember moments from the Pokemon anime that made them cry, like Charmander’s abandonment and Charizard’s farewell, and Stoutland’s death in Pokemon Sun and Moon. There’s no shortage of emotional stories in Pokemon, and one fan noticed how they influenced a specific group of Ash’s Pokemon in the anime.

Reddit user Iwanttobevisible observed how most of Ash’s Fire-type Pokemon had some emotional issues before meeting the trainer. With the caption “Most of Ash’s fire types need therapy,” the post recalls cases such as Charizard, one of Ash’s most problematic Pokemon, Infernape, Pignite, Torkoal, Incineroar, and Gengar, whom they call an “honorary member” of the group. While Gengar is a Ghost-type, with the help of the other Fire-type Pokemon, Gengar learned Will-o-Wisp, a Fire-type move, before Masters 8.

Pokemon Fan Notes How Ash’s Fire-Types in the Anime Need Therapy

While Charizard is one of Ash’s Pokemon most remembered for the emotional problems caused by abandonment, the stories of the other Pokemon are no less sad. Pignite and Infernape also suffered abandonment by their previous trainers when they were still Tepig and Chimchar. Their first encounter with Torkoal was when the Pokemon got attacked by Skarmory and Magnemite, leaving Torkoal shaken. Before meeting Ash, Incineroar lived on the streets when it was Litten, and had an emotional relationship with Stoutland, who later died of old age. Gengar is one of Ash’s best Pokemon, and another case of abandonment because the previous trainer was afraid of it.

While most of Ash’s Fire-types in the Pokemon anime went through some emotional turmoil, in the comments, fans noted two cases of critters that “turned out just fine.” One of the Pokemon is Quilava, who met Ash when it was still a Cyndaquil, and despite the shortcomings became a reliable Pokemon. Talonflame met Ash in the third episode of Pokemon the Series: XY when it was still a Fletchling, evolving to become a valuable team member for Ash along with Greninja, Goodra, and Noivern.

Pokemon

Pokemon is a franchise that needs no introduction. One of the most successful media empires in history, Pokemon spans games, television, films, manga, merchandise, music, and more.
 

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Satoshi Tajiri