Let's Talk Pokemon #2

Pokemon I'm Surprised Ash Never Caught or Kept

Long time anime watchers for Pokemon know exactly what I mean by the title. Throughout Ash's 20+ year run in the anime, he's caught AND lost dozens of Pokemon throughout the years be it he released, traded away or the Pokemon in question decided to go away till further notice. Many of the Pokemon on this list are Pokemon that did in fact leave with the promise to return but for some reason NEVER did.

To close out Ash's story in the anime, the animators gave us 10 episodes where Ash reunited with some of these old Pokemon Companions he parted ways with such as Pidgeot, Greninja and Goodra. So sit tight as we go over 10 Pokemon Ash never Caught but should've, Pokemon Ash should've never gave away as well as Pokemon Ash parted ways with with the promise to reunite but never did.

1. Haunter

I think we all know who I'm talking about. In the first season of Pokemon, Ash had befriended an especially friendly yet goofy Haunter. This Haunter traveled around with Ash for a long time and meshed almost flawlessly into Ash and his team, so much so, the fanbase firmly thought Ash DID capture this Haunter. It was a rude awakening towards the fans when Ash had later given Haunter to the Kanto Gym Leader, Sabrina, as Haunter's silly nature melted Sabrina's heart. Many argue that what Ash did was for the best as Sabrina would've clearly went onto love Haunter and Haunter love her. Doesn't change the fact that Haunter and Ash were made for one another and it would've been nice to see Ash actually become it's trainer. This decision to give away Haunter had plagued the series for more than two decades before the creators FINALLY gave Ash another opportunity where in Pokemon Journey's, Ash took in a Gengar of whom was wrongly abandoned by its original trainer.

2. Butterfree