Why not raichu

At first, Pikachu shows disdain for the Thunder Stone but later looks at it more seriously, before the show cuts away to Ash returning to Pikachu's bedside -- to discover no Pikachu -- and no stone. Team Rocket shows up, having stolen the stone, and encouraging Ash that Pikachu doesn't need to change to defeat the new adversary. Unsurprisingly, they turn out to be right and get to make a pretty penny selling the stone!

This doesn't explain Pikachu's aversion to evolution, but Pokemon Journeys may have finally given a subtle explanation. Season 23, Episode 1, "Enter Pikachu" revealed that Pikachu was originally a Pichu and lived with a group of Kangaskhan who grew to be family. Upon discovering the burden he was placing on them, being carried alongside a baby Kangaskhan who was steadily outgrowing its mother's pouch, Pichu decided to leave -- and his feelings of gratitude caused him to evolve into Pikachu.

Perhaps the reason Pikachu doesn't want to evolve is that he associates "evolving" with saying goodbye -- and he's not ready to leave Ash. Pikachu with his friends witness Reshiram awaken from the light stone right before being placed under Team Plasma control, during which Looker, Iris, Cilan and Cedric were able to get free from the bands they were in. When Team Plasma noticed them still trying to get in their way, Pikachu was about to be under their control again but Ash stepped in to protect him with Meowth helping him out as well.

When Ash decided to destroy the device on his own with Jessie and James coming with him to draw their attention away from him, Pikachu was told by his best friend to stay with Looker, Meowth, N, and his foster sisters so he wouldn't be controlled again. However, not caring if he gets controlled again, Pikachu came out of hiding to help Ash when he saw him in trouble with Cilan, Iris and Meowth helping out as well. Pikachu fired an Electro Ball to destroy the device but was hit by it again.

However, Pikachu used his own electricity from the attack to help him fight off the device's control. Pikachu used his Thunderbolt on Reshiram, who was in the way of the device, to wake it up but he got hit by the device again. However, Pikachu kept going with Ash and Iris encouraging him not to give up while saying he's got to stay strong. With their adventures in Unova done, they decided to take a detour to the Decolore Islands with Iris and Cilan coming along with them back to Kanto.

Although he did offer the plane ride back, they all declined to keep exploring. They met Alexa, a journalist from Kalos, there. Pikachu got to see his friends again in the lab then decided to head to Kalos with Ash and Alexa the next day.

Pikachu battling against Diantha's Gardevoir. Pikachu got new close friends in Clemont and Bonnie , Clemont's little sister.

Pikachu found new teammates in a Froakie, who later evolves into Frogadier then later evolves again into Greninja , Fletchling, who later evolves into Fletchinder then into Talonflame , Hawlucha , Goomy, who later evolves into Sliggoo then quickly evolves into Goodra , and Noibat, who evolves into Noivern.

Also, Pikachu gets another close friend in Serena , who knew Ash back when they were children. Pikachu served as the leader of all of the Pikachu celebrities in the movie created by the Pikachu director, Frank who is very fond of all the wild Pikachu from the Pikachu village including Ash's. Pikachu plays the role of Super Pikachu which was also dubbed by Ash on the movie.

Pikachu's stunt double when it flies down on the ground was Hawlucha who also wears a Super Pikachu costume. After watching Frank's movie creation, Pikachu was amazed by the movie he had created as well as the bloopers they have in behind the scenes. Pikachu was in five out of eight of Ash's Kalos gym battles and put on some amazing battles in the Kalos League but Ash ended up runner-up after losing to Alain.

After Ash lost consciousness from the Confuse Ray's effects, Pikachu tried to fight off the Confuse Ray while protecting an unconscious Ash from Team Flare but he also lost consciousness from it as well. Regaining consciousness just after Ash did, Pikachu looked on in horror of the destruction caused by Lysandre's plans along with seeing the Zygarde under their control. Despite not knowing the truth about Squishy sooner, Pikachu helps Ash defend it when Lysandre tells him and his friends about how Squishy will be under their control as well.

Pikachu became worried as he can only watch in horror as Lysandre used the mini version of the Mega Evolution Energy Wave machine on Greninja and Ash so he can control them. However, Pikachu was able to save Ash by calling out to him which got through to him also it got through to Greninja as well, just before both of them were about to give in to Lysandre's control, much to his relief.

Pikachu and Ash arrived back in Pallet Town at night with his Trainer opening the door to his house and telling his mother that he's home. While having lunch, Pikachu and Ash were challenged to a battle by Tapu Koko. Pikachu finds five best friends in Kiawe's Alolan Marowak , Lana's Popplio, who later evolves into Brionne and again into Primarina , Lillie's Alolan Vulpix, nicknamed Snowy , Mallow's Bounsweet, who later evolves into Steenee then later evolves again into Tsareena , and Sophocles' Togedemaru , who are Ash's classmates' partners.

When Ash and his classmates had to switch partners for a class assessment, Pikachu was temporary with Lillie while Snowy went with Ash. Pikachu and Lillie worked together in a battle against her butler, Hobbes. After winning the battle, Pikachu jumped into Lillie's arms in happiness that they won the battle.

Although he had to return to Ash, Pikachu was happy that he formed a stronger friendship with Lillie. Pikachu saw Misty and Brock again for an extracurricular activity where he also got to see his friends at Professor Oak's lab. Pikachu forms a close friendship with a Cosmog , nicknamed Nebby , who Ash decided to take care of after having a dream with him where he promises Solgaleo and Lunala that he would take care of it until they return it to its proper home.

Although Nebby was safe it evolved into a Cosmoem , much to everyone's shock and confusion. Then an Ultra Beast came out of the Ultra Wormhole , as the energy from Nebby's evolution was strong enough to open it. Pikachu came to Poni Island , where the Altar of the Sunne lied, with his friends to not only help rescue Lusamine but also to go look for Solgaleo, who can help them as it can both make and pass through Ultra Wormholes.

Meeting up with the Tapu Guardians , Pikachu was surprised when they explained that they were the ones that brought Nebby to Melemele Island for Ash to find and take care of.

Pikachu later attended Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet 's wedding ceremony. Also, Pikachu and his teammates join the Ultra Guardians to help lost Ultra Beast find their way home and to protect Alola.

Pikachu, with Ash and others, encountered Ilima and were enthralled by his performance when he dived into the water along with his Eevee. Ash and Ilima decided to battle but they were interrupted by Team Skull Grunts. But unfortunately for them, Pikachu shielded itself with its newly learned move, Electroweb. Pikachu and Ash finished the battle by performing their Z-Move, 10,, Volt Thunderbolt, and defeated Mimikyu once again, thus clearing the Thrifty Megamart trial.

After coming back from Ula'ula Island, Pikachu helps Ash and his classmates complete two more Ultra Guardian missions as they help Ultra Beasts return to their homes. Pikachu was later used in a practice battle with Kiawe's Marowak.

But when they tried to perform their Z-Moves , the strange phenomenon that's been affecting the adults in Alola absorbed their Z-Power, making them weak and invulnerable. After Necrozma fused with Nebby and escaped through the Ultra Wormhole, Pikachu and the Ultra Guardians take Lunala to the underground base where it is being treated for its wounds. After travelling through the Ultra Wormhole, the Ultra Guardians enter a strange dimension that used to be the home of Ash's Poipole.

As they search for Necrozma, they are attacked by wild Poipole, but Ash's Poipole stopped them and told them they're not bad guys. Just then, an old and weak Naganadel comes out and the Ultra Guardians rush over to help it, much to Gladion's dismay.

They learned that the reason why Necrozma possessed Nebby and that Lunala wanted a huge amount of Ultra Aura to restore its Ultra form and replenish Poipole's world due to the lack of its light. They also learn that Necrozma is actually the Blinding One the legends spoke about. Suddenly, the gang hears a crash outside and see Lunala still fighting with Necrozma.

Gladion and Silvally attempt to defeat Necrozma, but they were immediately stopped by Ash and his classmates. They tell Gladion that if he drives Necrozma away, Naganadel, Poipole, and its homeworld will die from the lack of light.

Ash and the gang decide that the best way to save Nebby, help Necrozma, and replenish Poipole's world is to transfer their Z-Power. Unfortunately for them, their attempt was unsuccessful. Instead of freeing Nebby, the Z-Moves only increased Necrozma's power and made it stronger. Necrozma goes to attack everyone but is held off by Lunala. But despite their successful attempt, Necrozma became angry at their interference and attacked the Ultra Guardians in a blind rage.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Previous Story. Latest from Culture. Black Lightning spin-off in development for The CW. Latest Online Edition. Latest Magazine. Loading Comments Email Required Name Required Website. Ash's Pikachu, in all iterations, has wanted to prove himself.

Pikachu's choice not to evolve fits the narrative that he was enough without changing who he was. The message that someone could be great while remaining exactly who they were was an important one for the show, and one that stood out to young viewers. The other main reason that Pikachu hasn't evolved is that he has been a symbol of the franchise for decades.

Ash's Pikachu evolving into a Raichu would have been in many ways the loss of an icon.