lot to say about the end of ash ketchum and pikachu's run, but one detail i really love is one of our final moments with the two being a walk amongst cherry blossoms
nice little visual representation of one of my favorite parts of the "mezase pokemon master" theme used for the show in japan: like a bud that will someday bloom, my dream will come true
right before this scene, after 25ish years of the show, ash finally understands and contextualizes what his dream has been this whole time; what being a "pokemon master" actually means to him
thus the world responds to his epiphany through the lyrics of "mezase pokemon master"; the buds are blooming today, ash's dream of being a pokemon master will surely come true
i'm sure at some point they'll bring ash back, for one Final This Time For Sure ride to cash in on our collective nostalgia or address the complaints of things missed by journeys and mezase pokemon master to wrap up the show's legacy. but as a goodbye that transitions into ash and pikachu tossing a stick in the air to determine the next fork in the road to follow while type: wild starts playing, it's a pretty beautiful one
