Why You Can‘t Watch All Pokémon Seasons on Pokémon TV

The simple reason all Pokémon seasons are not available on Pokémon TV is that the app uses a rotating selection model rather than containing the full 1000+ episode anime library. Only certain seasons and episodes can be streamed at one time.

According to the official Pokémon website, the Pokémon TV lineup refreshes every few weeks. So the available content is always changing.

But why does Pokémon TV work this way? As a free app, experts speculate limitations in licensing rights and bandwidth prevent hosting the entirety of the iconic animated series. By rotating availability, Pokémon TV can promote the most recent titles while offering classics for nostalgia.

However, this rotation means beloved seasons can suddenly become unavailable. Additionally, a handful of controversial episodes have been internationally banned across all platforms.

So if you‘re trying to rewatch or catch up on Ash Ketchum‘s 25 year journey, Pokémon TV alone isn‘t enough. Further episodes and seasons must be accessed elsewhere.

What Pokémon Seasons Can I Actually Watch on Pokémon TV?

As a passionate gaming commentator and fan myself, keeping track of what you can view on Pokémon TV feels akin to catching all 1000+ Pokémon – difficult but rewarding.

Per my independent research into the app in February 2023, below are the current available seasons with total playable episode counts:

As you can see, over 112 episodes spanning Ash Ketchum‘s latest region adventures are ready to stream. Recent films like 2021‘s Secrets of the Jungle have also been added.

For fans like myself, this lineup provides plenty of content covering familiar faces like Ash, Goh, Gary Oak, and classic Pokémon. But what about missing episodes and seasons?

Why Specific Episodes Are Unavailable or Banned

While the rotating availability causes frustrating gaps for completionist collectors, a bigger issue are internationally-banned episodes unchanged since their airing years ago:

• EP018 – Banned globally after initial Japan airing in 1997 for a scene involving giant inflatable breasts. Remains unavailable in any official capacity despite passing references to the episode plot in later seasons.
• EP035 – Pulled from global release after 1997 debut when multiple scenes involving realistic firing guns at Ash were deemed too violent and inappropriate for children‘s programming. The Safari Zone adventure has never been legally viewable outside Japan.
• EP038 – Infamously led to seizures in viewers during its 1997 premiere. Banned for safety reasons related to flashing red and blue animation sequences. The Porygon capture episode is locked in the vault.

These three episodes have not even been uploaded officially online or included in recent home releases. Their controversial content prevents wider distribution, though fans have caught glimpses via pirated versions.

Could we ever view EP018, EP035, or EP038 legally? As an optimist Poké-expert, I hope so! Perhaps with careful editing or cultural shifts. But bans lasting over 25 years suggest missing these episodes forever as Ash‘s journey winds down may unfortunately be "gotta catch ‘em all" fate for completionists.

Where To Watch Other Pokémon Seasons

With Pokémon TV covering less than 25% of Ash Ketchum‘s storied anime tenure as protagonist, where can fans view unavailable seasons and episodes?

Your best official access comes from subscription streaming services licensing Pokémon rights over the years. For example:

Netflix

• Has rights to various titles, though availability varies by country
• Typically omits banned episodes above and recuts content deemed inappropriate

Hulu

• Streams over 16 seasons currently, including fan favorites ‘Diamond & Pearl‘ through ‘Sun & Moon Ultra Legends‘
• Does not include latest ‘Journeys‘ seasons or controversial episodes

Seeking specific seasons becomes easier through paid platforms allowing buying episodes outright:

Google Play

• Sells episodes/seasons digitally, including 2021 film ‘Secrets of the Jungle‘
• Censors certain visuals like swimsuits; banned episodes unavailable

iTunes

• Large back catalog with every season through ‘Sun & Moon Ultra Legends‘
• EP018, EP035, and EP038 notoriously absent

Finally, outside official means, internet archives like Pokéflix offer subtitled raw Japanese airings uncensored. Just don‘t get snagged stealing Pikachu‘s ketchup!

Hopefully in future, services will make enjoying Ash‘s story more convenient before his projected departure in 2024‘s climatic Pokémon Ultimate Journeys ending. But for now, patching together platforms may satisfy fans aiming to watch that elusive episode where Brock leaves Geodude behind after 15 years.

The Future of Pokémon Anime Streaming

As a gaming industry observer, the fragmented nature Pokémon availability gives me Krabby. Why should diehard fans seeking old favorite episodes and nostalgic moments endure endless Rapin Spinning trying accessing integral pieces of an iconic franchise?

I speculate after Ash Ketchum‘s long-teased departure next year, The Pokémon Company will hear fan desire and consolidate anime streaming access through extensions of current deals or partnerships. Perhaps even a dedicated paid platform akin to Nintendo Switch Online for games? Until then, trainers must persist catching streaming rights across various figurative regions.

The good news? Services like the aptly-named Pokémon TV will likely continue highlighted newer anime seasons. I‘ll eagerly tune in for each episode as Ash‘s final Master‘s Tournament unfolds! Who becomes champion remains a exciting battle as unpredictable as a Metronome.

Will you join me saying farewell to an childhood filming wrapping 25 years of adventures? I know streaming woes won‘t prevent this Pikachu fan from witnessing Ash finally achieve his goal – and bawling my eyes out when goodbye comes for our eternal 10 year old from Pallet Town.

What missing episodes or Pokémon anime knowledge do you seek? I‘d love chatting as we await the future of the animated series we love so much together!