But since the show is aimed at 4 - 12 year olds, Ash will always reset no matter how much progress he makes in a region, he'll always get curbed stomped in the league by a deus ex machina, there are times when he's winning steadily and then bam!! he has to fight a legendary.
Ash will forever be 10 years old to appeal to the new generation of kids each time.
I honestly think they should make a darker/gritter pokemon anime along side the main one, like the black and white animated trailers showed, to be aimed at the fans who originally grew up with it and are now young adults / adults.