So this photo popped up on my Facebook feed earlier and it got me thinking. James has never actually caught a Pokémon against its will, he first made friends with him and they began to trust him. He forms such a close bond with his Pokémon that he doesn't even care when they hurt him, whether on accident or on purpose. And his Pokémon always help him, regardless of when he's getting beaten by everyone.

Also, we never see Jessie or James go into the Pokémon Center and they are implied to be too broke to afford potions and the like, so how are their Pokémon healed each time? An attribute of a Viridian Forest trainer is that they have natural healing abilities that can restore a Pokémons energy without the use of items. This often leaves them tired and lethargic, ever noticed how Jessie is always the leader of the pair? It's because James doesn't have the energy to take charge after healing their Pokémon .

Just a little theory I thought up earlier.

Edit: spelling