Although Ash and Pikachu have been the best of friends for several years, it’s well-known that the only reason the two got together was due to Ash oversleeping in the Pokémon anime’s first episode. The night before he was set to begin his journey, Ash was shown struggling to fall asleep, unsure of which starter he wanted to pick, causing him to inadvertently destroy his alarm clock in the process.
When he eventually does wake up in the morning, he has seemingly made up his mind and intends to choose Squirtle; however, Professor Oak reveals that it was already taken by Gary Oak, his grandson and Ash’s first rival. Ash is desperate for any Pokémon, so Professor Oak offers him a Pikachu that he prefers to not leave out in the open, as he warns him that it is troublesome. Ignoring this, Ash immediately settles for the electric type, setting up the foundation for his career as a Pokémon trainer. If Ash hadn’t slept in and instead chosen Squirtle as intended, the Pokémon anime may have been much different from its current form.
Ash’s Adventure Would Have a Much Smoother Start
Unlike Pikachu, who has trouble trusting others and has been said to have anger issues, the other three starters seem to be much more mellow and obedient. With a squirtle, for instance, Ash would have no trouble capturing a Pidgey, strengthening their bond right away. Although this would prevent the Spearow attack that ultimately resulted in Pikachu being badly injured, Ash would likewise have never would’ve encountered Misty, who was the first person to teach him the importance of being responsible for his Pokémon.
With two Pokémon on his side already, Ash would be able to make it to Viridian City without an issue, giving him a fresh start to his journey. On top of that, his punctuality and immense responsibility may soften Gary’s arrogance towards him, possibly making them much better friends. Not only would this possibly diminish Ash’s motivation to become a better trainer (in order to surpass Gary), but being paired with a Pokémon other than Pikachu may have delayed the lesson that some Pokémon are difficult around others.
Team Rocket Wouldn’t Bother Ash
For many seasons, Team Rocket has delighted Pokémon fans worldwide. From their whimsical disguises to being “blasted off” in nearly every episode, they have brought a great amount of humor to the anime. Their most constant scheme, however, consists of persistently following Ash and his friends around, attempting to steal his Pikachu, believing it to be much stronger than any other Pikachu.
When Ash first meets them at Viridian City‘s Pokémon Center early in the first season, they are inspired to take his Pikachu when it shocks them after gaining power from a charged bike light. Since Squirtle and Pidgey would likely not be injured, Ash would have no reason to visit a Pokémon Center, hindering him from coming across Team Rocket.
In the event that he visits the Pokémon Center anyway, Ash would still see Team Rocket, though the group of Pikachu that worked there might not be able to heal Squirtle or Pidgey. As this would result in the two using their attacks as normal, they might not get very far, as the Pikachu group and Misty’s destroyed bike were the foundation of Team Rocket being defeated in the first place. Either way, Team Rocket may not follow Ash around at all during the duration of the anime, putting him in a safe position, but decreasing the comedic moments that come with the iconic duo.