Pokemon Special/Adventures

I'm hoping White eventually trains her pokemon (even Servine!) to be so strong that when Gigi does decide to come crawling back from being with N, she'll look weaker by comparrission. So no matter what path the pig decides to take in the end, White will have the last laugh.

I also liked Black and White's Ship Tease in this chapter. It's good to see that compared to Ruby and Sapphire, these two could be building towards a more believable romance.

edited 20th Dec '11 6:31:34 PM by ManwiththePlan

So, in the latest chapter of Poke Spe (which won't be scanlated), White shows that, no, she is not an Instant Expert and can't win a single battle while Emmet makes fun of her at her own expense. (She also named her Deerling Jessica 'cause it sounds similar to its Japanese name.) Turns out Shauntal snuck onboard the train for inspiration for her next novel, and she may or may not be a Volkner/Flint shipper. Then the Weather Trio attack and Shauntal manages to fend them off before they disappear. Unfortunately, turns out Team Plasma captured them afterward...

edited 19th Dec '11 6:49:08 PM by TheViolentTomboy

Like... all of them? At the same time?

So much for being legendary if they're all captured in the space of one chapter....

I'm going to say I hope White doesn't become a Pokemon trainer and tells N and Gigi (and apparently Emmet) to go stuff it while she continues doing what she actually likes doing, which would actually show a lot more character strength than giving into their bullying and becoming a trainer, but this is Pokespe so I should probably not get my hopes up and just expect them to go the way that results in more battles. Sigh. (Seriously, we don't even need another battler in the cast. Let her do something more interesting.)

Can you at least find a way to get your petty revenge on the pig that doesn't involve undermining White's character and goals?

White shows that, no, she is not an Instant Expert and can't win a single battle

Did anyone expect her to be an Instant Expert? Though not winning a single battle does seem harsh. There's such a thing as "begginer's luck", y'know.

I'm going to say I hope White doesn't become a Pokemon trainer and tells N and Gigi (and apparently Emmet) to go stuff it while she continues doing what she actually likes doing, which would actually show a lot more character strength than giving into their bullying and becoming a trainer

Y'know, just because she's learning to train pokemon for battle so she could, I dunno, fend for herself when the time comes instead relying on her big, strong man Black to do it for her doesn't mean she's going to give up her original goal and become a full-time trainer. Her disbanding of her production crew is temporary until she can get stronger on her spiritual quest. And yes, she did explain the spiritual quest thing in the previous chapter, so it's not like she's just "giving into their bullying." This was her decision and I hope she keeps at it.

(Seriously, we don't even need another battler in the cast. Let her do something more interesting.)

But White being the only dexholder to NOT battle wouldn't feel right; it would single her out and feel like blatant Chickification of a badass looking girl. Again, even if she wants to do something else, she needs battling skills. If she doesn't have them, what can you imagine her doing in the final battle with N and Ghetsis? Standing on the sidelines while Black battles? Or making pokemon dance to battle music? Yeah, that wouldn't work.

Can you at least find a way to get your petty revenge on the pig that doesn't involve undermining White's character and goals?

No I can't, because that's up to White and Gigi, not me. And what do you care about this manga's characters?

edited 20th Dec '11 5:56:42 PM by ManwiththePlan

What's witth the mentality that she's been chickified just because she doesn't battle? She could easily act as the brain of the group and use her connections from her job to help out - in other words, a unique and interesting role. Not fighting is not what would make her weak. Becoming a fighter just because N pressured her into it would be. (And seriously, Emmet making fun of her for not being good at battling? The hell?)

... Of course, given that I'm only reading this thing to see how terrible it can get, I can't really say I care too much - hell, I might even be a little bit disappointed if what's-his-name actually does something clever. But I'm pretty sure that doesn't invalidate my opinion.

Also, re: all three genies randomly attacking the subway while half the main cast and Shauntalcoincidentally happen so be there: Sure, why the hell not.

What's witth the mentality that she's been chickified just because she doesn't battle? She could easily act as the brain of the group and use her connections from her job to help out - in other words, a unique and interesting role.

Except that Pokemon rarely takes that non-battling route with it's main characters; not in the anime, nor here. And again, it was just feel strange when all the other girls have battled, yet this one doesn't. I mean, Platina, a sheltered rich girl, was a major Action Girl, so why not make the cool looking chick one too?

Becoming a fighter just because N pressured her into it would be.

Except that N didn't pressure her into it; he condemed her for not letting her pokemon ever battle, but he never said "you should go train and battle pokemon to get stronger NOW!" He just left with Gigi and left her with Servine; she made the rest of the decision on her own. Because as much as she loves arranging musicals, N did have a point; she and her pokemon shouldn't have to live on that alone.

(And seriously, Emmet making fun of her for not being good at battling? The hell?)

Good Is Not Nice, apparently. Though I actually always thought of Ingo as the less nice one.

... Of course, given that I'm only reading this thing to see how terrible it can get, I can't really say I care too much

I actually think this arc's been steadily getting better ever since Castelia City. I wouldn't call it "terrible", just still not up to par with most of the previous manga arcs.

Also, re: all three genies randomly attacking the subway while half the main cast and Shauntalcoincidentally happen so be there: Sure, why the hell not.

What's really ironic is that the anime's including those genies attacking it's main characters at around the same time. Though something tells me that Team Rocket won't be so successful in capturing them...

edited 21st Dec '11 7:32:19 AM by ManwiththePlan

I thought Groudon was the Weather Trio. It'd be interesting to see Team Plasma's take on cloud twins' love of destruction. ->Black:"You do realize with no farms millions will starve right?" ->Team Plasma:"They brought it on themselves! If they starve it is the will of Tornadus!" ->Black:"You're okay with all the destroyed Audino nests too?" ->Team Plasma:"It is the nature's wayand free level ups for my Patrat!"

As for White doing what she wants, Ruby is a contestant first and a battler second. There is no reason she can't get a powerful Pokemon that happens to enjoy her job as much as it likes battle, to see that swine get beat down by a Stunfisk while White explains that if she knew Tepig wanted to battle she would have become a battler for it but now it will just have to learn to be happy with N.

I feel conflicted about White battling.

On one hand, her run-in with N made her realize that big shit is about to go down; she did hear her say that he's going to take on the Champion and change the region with his power. She wants to support Gigi, but that means running into N and Team Plasma again, and that one way or another, she's going to get involved with their plans, so she has to be able to defend herself.

On the other hand...White pretty much sacrificed her career. She just successfully pulled off a project that would've set her for life...and then she suspends her business. Who would want to work with her ever again? No one sane, that's for sure.

I'm not saying that White can't battle on the side along with her career. But the way they've introduced the idea here is so contrived and badly pulled off that it's hard to see how White becoming a battler isn't going to be just terrible plotwise. And the fact that most of the reasons you guys have given for her becoming a battler are rooted firmly in what the author has done already -all dex holders and all the previous girls have been battlers - just makes it look even worse.

And if you're going ro bring the anime into this regarding the genies, their plot had them summoning Landorus to stop the other two from destroying the land in their fight. Makes a lot more sense than them just attacking the Subway out of nowhere, and it's even rooted in the mythologies the game mentioned. Sounds like an improvement to me.

But the way they've introduced the idea here is so contrived and badly pulled off that it's hard to see how White becoming a battler isn't going to be just terrible plotwise.

How is it contrived other than "you're not convinced by N's argument?"

And the fact that most of the reasons you guys have given for her becoming a battler are rooted firmly in what the author has done already -all dex holders and all the previous girls have been battlers - just makes it look even worse.

How so? It'll rob White of any "uniqueness"? Maybe it's just me, but I just don't think the Neutral Female thing works for this particular character. Her game counterpart is a Memetic Badass; why should the manga version be made to be a weaker trainer heroine than even Yellow? And I already found it a stretch that this girl who's clearly starting off as older than the past main girls has never ever even tried to learn training and battling once in her life. In this world, you kind of have to know the basics of pokemon battle if ever you needed to defend yourself.

edited 20th Dec '11 10:10:47 PM by ManwiththePlan

I dunno about the battling part. It's stated earlier on that wild Pokemon rarely go after people and that you have to go after them yourself to get them to fight you. As for the previous regions/arcs, lots of crazy shit was going down that enraged a lot of Pokemon, prompting them attacking people and there being more danger. Quite frankly, I can buy White going through her life without having to ever defend herself from a Pokemon attack since evil teams obviously haven't been attacking for always. And it's pretty obvious that White devoted all her efforts into her business, so she never had the time to learn how to fight. When White decides that she has to train, she had to suspend her company. You know, putting people out of jobs and stuff.

Hilda being a Memetic Badass should have nothing to do with White being unable to fight. That's nothing but a fan interpretation.

edited 20th Dec '11 11:42:40 PM by TheViolentTomboy

Unemploying people was stupid, even if temporary, but it's White's spiritual conflict so she can make her own decisions here, good or bad.

And I'm not saying White needs to be super Bad Ass. But I think taking her too far the opposite way and making her so weak and unskilled is too far removed from what one would think the character would be given the design. Kusaka might have been going for irony, but it's fallen flat for me.

It's stated earlier on that wild Pokemon rarely go after people and that you have to go after them yourself to get them to fight you.

When and where was this stated? If it was, then it's bullcrap. The whole reason you need Pokemon at all in the games was to defend yourself from wild Pokemon that might go after you! The idea that most Pokemon are innocent and have to be provoked in order to attack is stupid and just makes the humans look like bastards.

edited 21st Dec '11 7:34:40 AM by ManwiththePlan

Not quite. It's was stated in the Accumala chapters. It's more like if you go into their territory AKA tall grass and stuff, they know you're there to fight them, so they're game with fighting back. Some of the Gym Leaders regularly fight wild Pokemon to train (Clair, Winona, Roark) and the wild Pokemon enjoy it. As long as you're not stupid enough to go into their territory when you're practically unarmed (Platinum in the beginning), they'll leave you alone. Don't forget, it was considered unusual when Black's eventual Galvantula attacked people out in the open.

White? Like I said, she had a full-time career she was responsible for and didn't have time to train. And hell, it's shown that the many Pokemon she had to look over really weren't hers and it would've been incredibly irresponsible for her to fight with.

edited 21st Dec '11 7:43:41 AM by TheViolentTomboy

So it's a territorial thing. OK, that makes more sense.

There are more reasons besides N why I felt like I've been over them all before and don't feel like doing it again. So let's just set that aside.

White is not "weak and unskilled" just because she's not a trainer. You saw how she handled herself at the musical when the prop cases didn't come on time - she stayed calm and found a solution. That sounds like strength and skills to me.

Hilda's Memetic Badass status was not purely created by the fans. In Fire Red and Leaf Green, the character you don't choose doesn't exist. In Heart Gold and Soul Silver, the player character you don't choose remains stagnant. In Ruby and Sapphire the player character you don't choose retires with an unimpressive team and goes into research. In Diamond and Pearl the one you don't choose remains stagnant, again.

In Black and White the one you don't choose raises a battalion of Pokemon that can carry you through the first seven rounds of the battle subway, sometimes up to fourteen rounds with minimal input on your part. It would be strange for Hilda to be the only Dex Holder who did not battle but technically White is not Hilda as Ruby is not Brendan.

I've always found some changes questionable but once they put the two nicest gym leaders in Team Rocket it really should be expected and I couldn't think of a better way to get back at N than for her to restart her business and pick up a more loyal Pokemon who can beat Tepig in battle. A bunch of people are out of work, so? She could build up a new reputation by say, defeating a team of sages, Dennis or the battle subway then hire a new staff, while at the same time having to deal with her rightfully indignant former employees. Alternatively, someone else buys out her business and she gets stuck as a janitor who has to work her way back to the top.

White is not "weak and unskilled" just because she's not a trainer. You saw how she handled herself at the musical when the prop cases didn't come on time - she stayed calm and found a solution. That sounds like strength and skills to me.

I meant unskilled in taking on dangerous crisises. She can handle work related problems and everyday life, but when Team Plasma is literally everywhere you go in Unova and this plot revolves around what they're doing, you're going to need to train your pokemon hard to fight back. If White can't do that, she quite frankly has no place as a main character here, I'm sorry.

In Diamond and Pearl the one you don't choose remains stagnant, again.

Actually, he/she does battle alongside you against Team Galactic on occassions, so they're not totally stagnant.

but once they put the two nicest gym leaders in Team Rocket it really should be expected

What two nicest gym leaders when in Team Rocket? I know Sabrina was one of them, but that was fine with me since nice Sabrina is so boring.

edited 21st Dec '11 11:14:31 AM by ManwiththePlan

Lt. Surge? Granted, evil Sabrina might have been because she was difficult for many people playing the game...but then Whitney and Elisa are much worse in that regard. I feel the the three Rocket Brothers could have fit the antagonist role and the gym leaders could have just been gym leaders but as special always does that kind of thing I'm used to it. The point is people should not bee too surprised by non battler White just because Hilda is a good battler in the games.

The Rocket Elite Trio? Nah, that wouldn't have been nearly as interesting as evil gym leaders. Besides, Surge and Sabrina did explain why they were evil and turned away from it eventually.

edited 21st Dec '11 11:51:29 AM by ManwiththePlan

Binging the series.

Oh COME ON, guys. Just because Koga's the Poison-type gym leader doesn't mean he's evil! And Surge isn't evil! Granted, he's a hardass, but that's because he was a soldier!

But Sabrina was always a psychopath.

...did Red just kill Surge?

edited 27th Dec '11 4:57:24 AM by Nizbel

Pokemon Special is notable for being Darker and Edgier. This would be the thing closest to Creator Satoshi's vision of his ideal Pokemon world.

I know, but why Koga and Lt. Surge? Why not evil Brock or Misty or Erika for a change?

Oh, and I loved every minute of the Safari Zone issue. It was like Jurassic Park, but with two Baragon.

edited 27th Dec '11 6:07:45 AM by Nizbel

Is evil Koga and Surge popular or something? I can at least see them in more villainous roles.

Oh... wait till you get into the Gold, Silver, and Crystal Arc. You won't believe who's the Big Bad.