Poké-Scandal! What's Really Going On Between Professor Oak and Ash's Mom?

It's a tale as old as time... Boy meets girl. Boy falls for girl. Boy harbors inappropriate feelings for girl despite being married. Boy and girl engage in secret relationship that results in a child the same age as boy's grandchild.

Wait a minute.

Whether or not you're the type of person who likes to "ship" characters in various TV, movie, and game franchises, you have to admit there is something about the relationship between Pokémon's Samuel "Sam" Oak and Delia Ketchum, the mother of main protagonist Ash Ketchum. Hints at something going on behind the scenes are made all the more curious when you remember that Ash's dad has never been shown on-screen.

Could the elderly professor and the young housewife actually be in a relationship? And could Professor Oak, the dad-like mentor and Pokémon icon actually be Ash's dad?!

Whether or not you're the type of person who likes to ship characters, there's definitely something curious about the relationship between Professor Samuel Oak and Delia Ketchum. The mystery only deepens when you remember that Ash's father has never been shown on screen.

The Silver Fox and the Ginger Honey

Samuel... Delia... sound familiar? The names evoke Samson and Delilah, a pairing whose dynamic raises interesting questions about this duo as well. Add in Ash's tree-themed name and the nods become hard to ignore.

Together Forever, No Matter How Long

Time and again, Oak and Delia are shown together or only a shout apart, like a family unit. Is it convenience of storytelling—or deliberate subtext?

Beach Episode and Family Trips

From the infamous Beauty and the Beach to Unova trips, there are many moments where Oak and Delia appear as if they were family.

A Scandalous Past?

Delia once studied under Professor Oak alongside Spencer Hale. The student/teacher trope writes itself. And Ash's absent father remains one of Pokémon's longest-running mysteries.

Will the truth ever be revealed?

Probably not—and that might be for the best. The playful ambiguity keeps the theories alive and the fandom entertained.