Fans can’t help but wonder when Pokémon Horizons will start connecting itself more closely to Ash’s era of the anime, as so far the two series have been quite different from one another. However, before Ash actually meets Liko and Roy, there’s another friend of his who might do a better job breaking the ice: Brock.

Thus far, Pokémon Horizons has gone to great lengths to set itself apart from what came before. Liko’s adventure started out in the Kanto region, but that’s about all she has in common with Ash at this stage. No character Liko has met made an appearance during Ash’s era, although the two series are implied to coexist, due largely to the existence of Nurse Joys in both series. The plot of Horizons also couldn’t be more different, focusing on an ancient legend created specifically for the anime. Jumping straight to an Ash appearance would be too much; someone else should debut first.

Why Brock is the Ideal Connection to Ash’s Era

Brock’s Long-Time Status in the Series Makes Him the Perfect Choice

With the possible exceptions of Jessie and James, Brock is without a doubt the most recognizable character in Pokémon after Ash himself. Brock appeared in hundreds of episodes of the show, acting as Ash’s stalwart companion from the first through fourth generations. Brock’s original goal was to be a Pokémon breeder, but circumstances led him to change his goal to becoming a Pokémon Doctor, something he had made good progress towards by the end of Ash’s series.

Brock is also a Gym Leader, which gives a good reason why Liko and Roy might just run into him one day. Gym Leaders lead busy lives, and will sometimes help trainers in town who are struggling, like when Liko and Roy met Kabu in Galar. Liko and Roy also got quite a lot of advice and guidance from Paldea’s Gym Leaders during their Terastal training. There’s no reason that they couldn’t also wind up in with Gym Leaders who had a bigger role to play in the Ash era, like Brock, some day.

Brock makes for a particularly good choice because he has been a mentor figure for such a long time that he’s a natural at it. Brock would no doubt have some excellent advice for Liko and Roy on their journey to becoming more powerful trainers. With Roy having recently acquired the ability to Mega Evolve, Brock could even provide some insight into the process of Mega Evolution, since he was established to have a Mega Stone for his Steelix. It’s not hard to imagine Brock getting along well with Liko and Roy, perhaps even recognizing shades of his friend in them.

Brock Could Just Be the First of Many Familiar Faces

Brock’s Appearance Could Open the Door for Misty and Others

Brock could make a one-time appearance, or he could become a recurring character that Liko and Roy turn to occasionally. Liko and Roy are often traveling quite a bit, and may or may not be near Kanto at a particular time, so Brock definitely wouldn’t overstay his welcome or cause the show to become too focused on the past. His appearance could, on the other hand, start to open the door for other characters who appeared in the original series to show up in Horizons. Misty would be another easy one, not too far from Brock in Pewter City.

Other characters who had roles in the original series could also make a comeback, from champions like Cynthia to former rivals of Ash’s. There are certainly a lot of Sword and Shield-era characters who didn’t really get to show off their full range during Journeys, so bringing them back in Horizons would be a great way to get those characters more spotlight. Dealing with Ash, who’s on a quest to win battles and be the best, would be quite different from interacting with Liko and Roy, who are currently investigating a mystery that could impact the world.

Given how different the original series and Horizons can be, bringing back an old character, be it Brock, Cynthia, or Bea, could provide a way to see different sides of them. Their appearance would more firmly connect Horizons to the past, and lay the groundwork for a true crossover with Ash in the future. By using smaller characters before Ash, there will be less of a risk of them stealing the show. Almost 100 episodes in, the time has come for Pokémon Horizons to feature a crossover, and Brock is the perfect candidate to do it.