Wasted Potential

The writers were just starting out, and they needed to figure out a way to feature every single one of the original 151 pokemon before their 80-episode-1-movie deal was up. They knew that Ash would use the four biggest cash-cows (Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle and the Charmander line) as his main team, and that left a hell of a lot of pokemon to find a feature episode for. They apparently thought that introducing a species as a temporary team-mate was completely legit and could provide some nice moments, but those characters would only serve their purpose for a short time and simply be part of the journey. That was the logic they went into the show with. Each of the temporary captures had their purpose;

-Caterpie, who was noticeably alone rather than a member of a swarm, wanted to fly, and Ash raised it to be a Butterfree and achieve that dream. It then brought things full circle by wanting to fly away and have its own Caterpie babies and raise a family. Butterfree was never meant to be a battling pokemon, it was meant to showcase the Caterpie evolution line and be developed as a character on their own little journey.

-Haunter was just part of the showcase for Ghost-types (which tied into the debut of Abra/Kadabra) and to be comic relief. Gastly had a major episode, and Gengar would have a large (literally) role in a later one, so this was Haunter's extra bit of a featured role. That's all it was ever going to be.

-And then we come to Primeape, who primarily showcased the Mankey/Primeape family in its debut episode, then was used for a significant challenge and a little character development for Ash, and its departure episode was a chance to showcase all those other Fighting-types which they needed to get through. Primeape did everything it was ever intended to do.

>>31006728
Kanto is only good for nostalgia, Literally the only good episodes were the ones in Sabrina's arc and Blaine's arc.

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>>31006882
That makes perfect sense, actually. I just wish they didn't see those Pokemon as just a means to an end. Butterfree was the only one in that list who was an integral part of Ash's team, until he got released. It would've been nice to see Ash sweep people with Primeape and an evolved Haunter.

>>31006882
This makes sense. The show was supposed to actually end, so even though it looks like wasted potential/plot threads left unresolved, it's just a consequence of the fact that was never the intention.


Ash's Primeape really does need to just be allowed to come back, though. If the movie next year is a retread of Kanto, it's going to either be mildly offensive in ignoring Primeape, or else you're just putting even more ammunition in an already primed Chekov's gun when Ash promises to come back for him.

The anime is nothing but a false advertisment.
The slogan
>gotta catch em all
Is a blatant lie.
Its meant to be an advertisement for the games so they only use pokemon that are going to be popular amongst the current generation and give them the most screen time.
All ending with a status quo loss each and every season.
If you liked primape good that one episode was only meant to make you like it a bit more. And showcase its personality so you'd want to catch one in the game.
Same applies to each team ash has and ever will use.

>>31007034
Don't forget Pidgeot

>>31007122
Pidgeot was released, though. Primeape is just being held for him by some guy.

>>31007152
that was a dub change

in japan, Ash just gave primeape away, he was never planning on coming back for it

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>>31007750

Even in the dub, Ash never said he'd come back for Primeape, the narrator just said that Primeape might return one day.

It never returned, but the writers did acknowledge its existence in BW by showing it with the rest of Ash's Pokemon in Season 2's opening theme.

>>31007152
I'm pretty sure he said he'd return for Pidgeot, but again that might be a dub thing

>>31007750
That's not a dub change, don't make bullshit up, >>31008089

>>31008179
Not a dub change, Japanese original said that as well.