Pokemon Journeys Destroyed One of the Best Pokemon Backstories of All Time

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Following Ash Ketchum’s triumph as the champion of the Alola Region in the TV series “Pokemon Sun & Moon,” fans eagerly wondered about its continuation. Few would have anticipated the emergence of “Pokémon Journeys.” Deviating from the conventional format that had been established across decades, “Journeys” didn’t confine itself to a single region. Instead, Ash transitioned into a secondary character in a series of episodic, spontaneous one-off adventures with a new ally, Goh.

It wasn’t just the change in episode structure that contributed to the downfall of Journeys, but rather the introduction of Goh as a character. At the time, he was modeled after Pokemon Go, which had received favorable reviews from players at the show’s premiere. However, Goh turned out to be an annoying and whiny character whose main goal is to catch every single Pokémon he comes across. As he continued to struggle as a trainer but somehow manage to catch some of the hardest-to-find Pokémon, his ineptitude became a popular meme.

The real disappointment with Journeys was the content it replaced. Originally, the series was meant to take place in Galar. By releasing Journeys, they denied animated series fans one of the most captivating character stories within the franchise.

A Watered Down Version of Galar

Mostly, the storyline of Pokemon Journeys unfolds over multiple regions that Ash, the trainer, has explored in his travels. Among these areas, Galar is one of the rare locations that’s new to the Alolan Champion, but it appears only briefly in the narrative. The main plotline is hurriedly told, with Ash and Goh finding themselves in a quickened account of the Eternatus crisis from Sword & Shield. As time goes by, Leon, the Galar Champion, serves as a significant challenge for Ash, marking his progression through the seasons.

In this portrayal, Leon seems devoid of the complexity, emotional turmoil, and personal hardships that the Leon from the game “Sword & Shield” exhibited. This makes him as one-dimensional as Nessa from “Scarlet & Violet,” essentially appearing only as a fierce trainer fixated on battles and title matches. The stripping away of Leon’s background story and tribulations is regrettable, for his narrative in the games was one of the most emotionally tumultuous Champion stories among all generations.

Leon Is One Of Pokemon’s Most Complex Characters

The characters from the Galar region in Pokemon Sword & Shield were exceptionally well-developed, and this is particularly evident with the character of Leon. From a young age, he dedicated himself to training and eventually rose to become the top trainer, maintaining his champion status for years. From the outset of the game, it’s clear that Leon takes his role as Champion extremely seriously, even risking his life to safeguard Galar during the Power Spot occurrence.

Despite appearing strong, there are fissures in Leon’s persona, particularly in his relationship with his younger brother, Hop. Hop admires Leon immensely, but their bond has primarily developed through a television screen due to the age gap – Leon has spent most of Hop’s memory on his Pokemon journey. Intriguingly, Leon asks the main character to be Hop’s rival. This request stems from his desire for Hop to have an opportunity to grow and embark on his own journey rather than merely imitating what Leon did previously.

Leon’s friendships are rocky, with his closest buddy Raihan often acting as both a friend and an adversary to him. This ongoing tension frequently pushes Leon to his limits, ultimately leading to his fall from grace as the Champion. In the original plot, Leon is employed by Chairman Rose, who heads the League in the Galar region. Rose has deceived Leon, along with several other Gym Leaders, into positioning their Gyms at crucial energy spots, triggering the Gigantamax phenomenon that runs throughout the game’s narrative. Unbeknownst to him, Leon is contributing to the issue by managing the unpredictable Gigantamax transformations of Pokémon for Rose.

When we discover that Rose is mentally unwell, it falls upon Leon to manage the consequences, engaging with Eternatus. Yet, at this juncture, he finds himself incapable of subduing the Pokemon, overshadowed by the primary character instead. This culminates in his defeat during the Championship match, resulting in him losing everything.

In spite of everything, he chooses to regain his strength by participating in the Battle Tower battles, eventually establishing the Galarian Star Tournament as a means to aid in the healing process for the region after the deceit of Rose. Leon’s narrative lends depth and intrigue to his character, setting him apart from the common archetypes in the series. Regrettably, much of this richness is overlooked in Pokemon Journeys, allowing a reference to Pokemon Go to take center stage across numerous seasons of the anime.

Critiquing the Pokemon animated series, one major shortcoming lies in the omission of Leon’s tale and a more comprehensive examination of the Galar region. Additionally, Goh was not an engaging character, and it was disappointing that his weak narrative became the central focus in the final Ash arcs rather than an exciting Gigantamax adventure featuring intriguing and well-developed characters. This inconsistency remains one of the series’ most significant downfalls.

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2025-07-24 03:10