Pikachu is the cutest detective ever in Detective Pikachu.

Things We Saw Today: Satoshi/Ash’s Pikachu Might Be Evolving!? Don’t Play With Our Emotions, Pokémon!

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Pokémon fans, we are being baited, but I am weak, so I’m curious about how this is going to play out.

For the past 23 seasons of the anime, Satoshi (or, as we know him in the States, Ash Ketchum) has had a Pikachu perched on his shoulder, winning matches that an electric type has no business fighting on the journey to become a Pokémon master. Despite being at level 100 by now (or at least level 50, we hope), we have not had a serious discussion about evolving Pikachu into a Raichu in decades. However, due to a recent Pokémon leak from Anipoke Fandom Twitter, we have been baited into thinking that just might change.

The summary for the upcoming episode “I Got Pikachu” states, “There’s a Pikachu Outbreak-chu!! Satoshi’s Pikachu finally evolves into a Raichu?! During a new investigation, Go attempts to get a Pikachu and ends up meeting a very obliging female one!” Go(h) is a Pokémon trainer who has been traveling with Ash.

Listen, they spent an entire episode many seasons ago attempting to convince us not to evolve Pikachu into a Raichu because “Agility” was a powerful enough move worth keeping him in that form (a lie, but whatever). At this point, Ash’s Pikachu is more than just a typical pocket monster; it is part of the Pokémon brand itself, like Ash’s hats.

Would they be so foolish to give up that yellow mouse Pokémon cuteness? If they do, that might actually be the boldest most base-breaking thing the franchise has done in a long time.

(image: Warner Bros.)

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Princess Weekes
Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. Still lives in Brooklyn with her over 500 Pokémon that she has Eevee trained into a mighty army. Team Zutara forever.