I always thought it was kind of sad Squirtle and Bulbasaur never evolved. As a kid after playing the games, that kind of made me feel like Ash just wasn't a very good trainer. I never realized they were traumatized by their friend switching up on Ash. 😢
It's always bothered me that throughout Ash's journey through Kanto, he spends more than half of it with only 5 Pokemon instead of 6! And he never even thinks to have Oak send over Krabby or Muk even after releasing Butterfree!