I'm too lazy to read everything here, sorry, but as far as I recall she didn't even do much in Johto? They weren't doing much with her to the fact that she was getting more development in the special episodes (aka Chronicles in the dub) than she got in all of Johto. So to be honest, even though she didn't get a nice goodbye (which might be because of lack of things for her in Johto or smth) I think she left before it became too long as she became stale. After all, Brock got pretty stale by DP as I did notice someone mentioned before.
idk how much this is really relevant but I think it's good that she didn't become stale like many believe Brock did and that sticking with Ash wasn't going to help her with her dream (however, leaving Ash did the opposite if the special episodes say anything).
I know you dont like reading big posts but in reply down below ill try to explain some things about Misty, how unfairly she is marked as boring character in Johto and how traveling to new, exotic regions could be of great help for Misty development and making sense in advancing her story.
You should never take what other people say about some character "becoming boring" as true, but watching it for yourself and see if it appealed to you or not.
Because each person has different taste and criteria of what can be considered boring or enjoyable. There is no right or wrong thing in here with people being very subjectrive in this things trying to sometime pass their own opinion as "fact".
Something they shouldn't, but still do.
For example some people think Misty was stale in Johto. Other people think she didn't lost her shtick and appeal as character there suffering from lack of focus in end of 3rd and 4th season but still keeping her entertaining qualities while developing some new fun and exciting quirks because of maturing.
What i can tell you is how Misty battled more than she did in Kanto and Orange Islands combined in Johto, she had whole story arc dedicated to her in form of Whirl Islands catching Corsola, entering Whirl Cup and battling TR to help free Lugia and its baby, she had several character development and episodes focusing on herself. Such as getting over complex of feeling inferior to Daisy and others proving herself to other trainers like Harrison, Trinity, Marcellus etc. Helped other characters who had similar issues with older siblings like she did with Sakura forming strong friendship. Gave us insight in her past and revealed her fears of not standing Garados aleways being uncomfortable with its presence. Revealed why she adores water pokemon.
Learned more about water pokemon and how to establish stronger bond with them(like Wilhlmina Marill she saved from falling tree, trying to take care of mischievous Wooper in kindergarten, helped her Poliwhirl to stand up for himself and get over issue of insecurity building on close bond ful of understanding and support when beng bullied by others like Andreas Poliwrath from Seaking contest.
Became more mature, selfcritic and respectable of different opinions. This was especially noticeable in episode "Some Like it Hot" for example where after heated arguing and irreverence she had with hotheaded fire trainer Egan she came to understand his preference for fire pokemon lster starting to bond becoming friends. With Misty through wisdom and talk about why she likes water pokemon so much helped him to develop strategy in catching and defearing Macargo.
Developed independence stopping to rely on Ash and Brock help as much. This can be noticed in her increase of initiative to take care of things on her own becoming more focused on goal of becoming best water trainer while becoming more confident in her abilities taking charge in battling Jessie, James and Meowth by herself. Trying to stop TR Arbok mecha when Togepi and Pikachu were kidnapped on her own. Took initiative to break hypnosus Ninetales and Lakoko imposed on Brock wanting to save him, encouraged Ash to save Brock from Team Rocket when he was beaten by TR and sick etc .
Perhaps best evidence to show how much traveling with Ash helped Misty to become stronger trainer and more sure in herself happened in "Cerulean Blues" when having to face childhood trauma Gyarados , resolve whole problem with Cerulean gym and make amends with her fears. Developing higher sense of courage and determination there. Doing unselfish and devoted act in risking her life, taking poison sting and harsh beating from three Tentacruel almost ending killed if it wasnt for Gyarados to save her, helping her realize how she developed wrong opinion of this pokemon.
We get to see her play role in various subplots helping Ash fight TR, other villains, try to resolve mysteries like who is Gligarman, mystery of arachnid thief, pleading hwrself to dr. Foster assistant making Brock grab Misty ear(this didnt hapopened very often, it was episode "Fossil Fools" or "Corsola Caper" for example). When Misty went too far in fangirly mode or with her passio toward water pokemon, being hilarious to see Brock for change grabbing her by ear telling her to chill down.
Many people which call Misty boring and terrible character in Johto never even bothered to watch this saga to form their own opinion taking like sheep someone word as "evidence", or never watched whole Johto.
Now regarding Misty dreams and why traveling is of greater help than current situation:
In reality traveling with Ash would be of more help to Misty dreams than staying at gym ever could provide.
Since by traveling Misty could expand horizons being possible to meet stronger trainers or other water trainers which dont come to gym,learn new things about water pokemon much more by observing them in natural habitat than she could ever at gym as well entering tournaments to help her to improve skill gathering at one place higher concentration of high level, skilled trainers and allowing to show your abilities and how adaptable as trainer you are to wider group of people on global basis. Something Whirl Cup as directly tied to Misty dream of becoming master of water pokemon and sea priestess Maya emphasized on.
Not being possible to enter competitions and tasks which push you forward in achieving this title, catch various new water pokemon unattainable in Kanto region as Unova perefectly showed when Clair had to travell all way from Johto to Decolora islands to get Druddigon due to distance preventing pokemon migration.
By staying at gym Misty cant unlock full potential of water pokemon usiung them in most efficient manner such as mega evolution. Most importantly at gym Misty cannot become powerful, creative and honored as water trainer like E4 members are who are top mono type trainers in world. With every gym leader who became stronger leaving gym to travel. Meet stronger trainers than he/she ever faced at gym, battling in prestigue events where all kind of diverse and creative strategies he can encounter, develop its own battling style and facing all kind of unexpected situations and wild unknown pokemon having to improvise and think outside the box sharpening your skills, speed of reaction and originality in resolving problems.
I talked about this in thread i made about Misty water pokemon master dream in here few weeks ago.
Reason why Misty goals werent explored enough in Original series had nothing to do with Ash who doesnt hold anyone back from improving and becoming stronger.
But in Misty being writers first female they wrote for being in pokemon when they still werent sure what they want from show and following different formula where more attention was put on friendship, message of three friends exploring world of pokemon developing on relationship between themselves and experiencing all kind of dangers and adventures between themseles.
In OS priority was development of humans, their personalities, motives, fears and giving viewers insight in their past, hidden thoughts and desires going through emotional growth.
With pokemon training, focus on pokemon creatures, exploration of someone goals and career as trainer not being much represented. Even Ash in Kanto, Orange and Johto very rarely trained, evolved his pokemon snd almost nothing about his master dream was unveiled back in those days.
Its not that Misty goals couldnt be advanced, she was simply in pokemon at time when different standards were followed developing and maturing in personality, her feelings for Ash and Brock and finding strength to forgive her sisters for all degradation she had to put up with in past. But that growth wasnt backed with development of her dreams and story plots.
But if Master Quest was something to go by and abit earlier than that once pokemon formula started to change after mr. Shudo stepped out from position of head writer in middle of Johto with Atsuhiro Tomioka and other writers taking over with Misty catching Corsola, evolving Poliwhirl, entering Whirl Cup which shed light on what title of watere master entails and how water masters were titled "Alpha oMega" of water pokemon, confronting nurse Joy which hated water pokemon being abrasive and adamant in defending specie she loves so much, battling several trainers like Sakura, Delaney with Poliwrath, Coastline gym leader Dorian etc.
Proved how they know and have ideas what to do with Misty career of water trainer.
So in case of coming back or staying Misty not being suitable for contests was hardly impediment in exploring and building on her career of becoming water master.
There existed ton of new water pokemon Misty could caught and develop better understanding of them. Such as Milotic, Swanna, Finneon, Tirtouga or Sealeo for example.
Writers could break new grounds with what they established about title of water master with lore introduced in Whirl Islands, Creating new water tournaments, have Misty meet water sages which learned how to use this type to full potential, participate in all kind of special tasks bringing her closer in achieving dreams(like underwater battles, races). Big tournaments hosted by prestigue trainers like Wallace gathering creme among water specialists.
World tournament writers shamelessly skipped over for most part in BW.
Having Misty and others who pursue water master title having to work on catching pokemon with specific features to have adequate team for every challenge. Developing team which can be good on ground, steel surface, under the water or in air sounds like pretty interesting recipe for unique, viable adventure.
Have Misty involved in arc dealing with legendary water pokemon like Kyogre in clash between Team Aqua and Team Magma, Suicune, Manaphy or Kyurem; establishing close bond full of understanding, support and respect. Reading its feelings and understanding better their vital role in eco system. Which is expected from any water pokemon master.
See Misty battling evaluators and special tasks testing her resourcefulness, bond with pokemon, knowledge and creativity when making strategies in trying to become first female E4 member of water pokemon in history. Since E4 members are best mono trainers, whuch Misty wants to become idolizing E4 Lorelei.
Meet strange species like Surskit which is half bug or Binnacle facing struggling between her aversion toward bug types and pokemon she finds unattractive/scary and passion, devotedness toward water pokemon having to find strength in overcoming her prejudices.
Etc, etc.
Final thoughts:
Logically if Misty developed more than Brock had in OS. If she had more battle oriented dreams requiring entering tournaments and be in action. If writers started giving more attention and love for her goals, development and focus in second half of Johto and later chronicles Hoenn cameos recovering from fading in background during transition period when Takeshi Shudo left his position of writer in charge with writers until 5th season not being sure where they want to go with their characters and pokemon anime.
Brimming with flirty escapades and tomboyish attitiude toward Ash, Brock, various other characters like girl magician which turned Ash in Pikachu, Britanny, Daisy, colonel Hanson, Tracey etc. Delivering lot of action, tension, clash and comedy.
Serves as pretty strong indication how she would be anything but stale with all that potential and all kind of interesting plots and ides new generations introduced existing to develop Misty character forward.
And still does:
- with whole concept of mega evolution having Misty go on quest to collect mega and key stone evolving Gyarados or some other water type like Slowbro.
-Meeting first pure E4 member of water pokemon in history labelerd as water master in games(E4 Siebold)who could teach her how to become stronger water trainer achieving perfect synchronization with her pokemon. Which she still lacks if her problem with Psyduck is something to go by for example.
-Have Misty enter Battle Chateau or big water tournaments gathering water experts from all parts of world in developing more complex battle style and be recognized for her strategy in using water specie pushing her closer in becoming water master. Etc.
