Pokémon anime

I'm pretty sure the reason Ash only got the water type starter this gen was so they could bring back Charizard and Sceptile later on, once he's gotten to the point where he can use Mega Evolution.

Agreed. I thought Steven was right to blast them off. Besides, we need to show off how Badass he is, right? As for if him being a one-shot was intended from the beginning despite his buildup, several one-shots have been built up beforehand (most recently Mable).

Lorelei/Prima is still a oneshot, and so was Agatha.

Caellach: From what I recall, Wallace was presented (in the Anime) only as an Ace Coordinator, and not as a Battle Champion at all.

No... I'm pretty sure he was also presented as being the Champion of Hoenn; and in the English dub at least, I think it also said he was the former Sootopolis Gym Leader (but I'll have to check back on that). But I'm certain they didn't rule out his battling ability (besides, Fantina and others have had their dual or multiple skills focused on as well - it was the point of Zoey's arc, if you recall). Either way, the focus during the Wallace Cup was on him as a Coordinator rather than a Battler (and more on the tournament after his Day in the Limelight, anyway).

I'm definitely glad that Steven has the title now in the anime-verse; though the fact that they're promoting the remakes has at least a bit to do with it. After all, they seem to be leaning more towards the plot of Ruby and Sapphire rather than Emerald; elements will be included I'm sure, but otherwise certain facts and figures will be closer to each respective version...

I'm really hoping that they still try and give both games a fulfilling aspect, so it doesn't feel like we've completely missed out (ie: don't limit us to one team, keep the element of both Legendaries being involved in the climax). Having, say, 3 battles with Maxie in Ruby and only one with Archie, while Sapphire reverses it; at the very least, it would make a bit more sense than how Emerald did it. Really, Archie should have been battled at least once more at an earlier point; Maxie getting 3 battles throughout felt grossly uneven IMO, the plot was left a little wanting in terms of "balancing" the screentime each team got (Matt only appeared distinctly to be battled once, Courtney was never identified, Shelly was fought only 2 times to Tabitha's 3 times, and so on...)

As for Wally, I'm torn between feeling like They Changed It, Now It Sucks! - concerning his Gardevoir being replaced by a Gallade, which feels unnecessary save for the more masculine appearance of the Mon, and peeves me because I'm sick-to-death of Gallade's overhype (and I really like Gardevoir - why don't they just Retcon all Glalie into males and Frosslass if they're so concerned?!) - and feeling keen to see if they give him a bit more significance (especially since I like the chap in canon). I'd love for him to appear in the anime (WITHOUT his sickness Adapted Out, thank you very much!), but I'm not holding my breath exactly...

No... I'm pretty sure he was also presented as being the Champion of Hoenn; and in the English dub at least, I think it also said he was the former Sootopolis Gym Leader (but I'll have to check back on that).

Bulbapedia confirms it.

Alrighty, today's English episode...where the hell did the Mary Sue complaints come from regarding Serena?!?

The dark side of the fanbase.

I got the impression is was one or two people on Tumblr that everyone decided was "everyone".

x4: I didn't say Wallace didn't have any battling skills; having battling skills is implied in a "Top Coordinator" title given how the Anime does Contests. Throwing in a reference to being a (Battle) Champion would be rather superfluous in light of the arc's focus.

On the other hand, given how there are two different styles of "Champion" in the Anime-verse, it could've been^note in said Anime 'verse that Wallace was merely the lesser version, i.e. having only won a Regional Tournament, but not conquering the Elite Five; putting him on par with Tyson, Tobias, and Virgil, and not Lance and Cynthia. Sort of a Lucky Expansion, if you will. The downside is that Steven (and by extension the other Title-Champions) may also only be regional champions, so that, e.g. Tobias directly replaced Cynthia. But given how the DP Season fleshed out the process in its Aborted Arc, the odds of that are rather low. This series needs different titles for "Regional Tournament Winner" and "Senior Elite".

Off the thread's topic, I'm thinking that if they do go the R/S route, that they could retain the Evil Versus Evil aspect by having the Rival go after the other team. Granted, this would lead to the Lilycove and possibly the Route 119 Battles being a bit more Dramatic than in the original.

As for Wally, I can only see him cameoing in the upcoming Mega Evolution Special. I just can't see him still having his sickness and being able to go inter-continental.

edited 20th Sep '14 7:24:28 AM by DonaldthePotholer

I'm kinda disappointed they made Serena so girly and feminine. I mean she doesn't seem to have that spark or slight temper that May and Dawn had. May and Dawn might have been girly (Dawn moreso), but they never took a crap and always stood up for themselves and talked back.

I really couldn't see Serena interacting with rivals similar to Drew/Harley like May did. Or interacting with Paul or talking back to Ash or fighting Team Galactic like Dawn did.

Serena is by the most girly, feminine and weakest (not just battle-wise, I mean personality wise) among the main girls. The only time she gets snooty is when she thinks a girl likes Ash. Making her as incompetent and lackluster in battling as she is doesn't help matters either. The writers literally re-did what May was in early Hoenn to absurd extremes.

@Caellach Tiger Eye

Funny thing you have to mention the 3 vs 2 for the Korrina Gym Battle.

It's going to be Fletchinder, Hawlucha, and Pikachu vs Mienfoo, Machoke, and Lucario (with Mega-Evolution).

As for Serena, she has shown a sassy attitude towards her mother as well as to her rival, Miette. Not to mention that she's more comfortable to scold Ash such as trying to eat the whole slice of cake they had.

Serena's certainly capable of showing sass.

But since she has a crush on Ash and admires him and all she doesn't turn on him in rages like May and Dawn would do early in their adventures.

It doesn't help that she has no goal to get annoyed with Ash for interrupting yet, and is perfectly happy to admit she's got no clue how to be a trainer, unlike Dawn and May who tried to pretend they knew what they were doing and would get mad at Ash for obviously knowing they didn't.

Plus the XY group just...seems to generally get along alot better than the other groups do. Clemont is Meek and subserviant, Bonnie is just silly at worst unlike Max who was kind of bossy and got into trouble, and Serena as mentioned doesn't have any obvious rage buttons like the older girls do. The only pushy one is Ash, and everyone just goes along with what he wants.

But it's still only barely a quarter into the show. Let's see if Serena doesn't start to get more bossy and butt heads if she finally starts getting wants of her own.

Like her upcoming ep when she'll finally make a catch. Will she start to get annoyed at Ash because of failed attempts like May and Dawn did? We'll see.

Oh, that looks epically wonderful.

I have to admit, I'm more pleased to be getting a proper, even-numbered match-up like is normal for this series - not just for comfort, but because it gives them all some chance to stand out in it (as opposed to how Roxie Worfed 3 of Ash's less-exposed Mons for instance, poor Boldore/Unfezant/Palpitoad...)

Not that I'd be spitful or anything if it was just Mienfoo and Lucario, but I actually do prefer it this way. My main issue is Machoke's overexposure as a Gym Leader's Mon, like Geodude and Onix - but at least they've taken turns NOT being on a single team at least once; even with Grant's changed team, because Roxanne never had an Onix. And it looks like Fletchinder might get a win (in a Gym Battle which IS the winning one, unlike Viola's), Hawlucha will get to shine, and of COURSE Pikachu vs. Lucario was the planned endgame here...

Hoping poor Froakie gets some opportunity to get exposure though - out of the first 3 Gym Battles, the only one he's gotten to be in was beating the NON-strongest enemy (contrast to Treecko and Turtwig, who beat the best Mon of either the 1st or 2nd Gym Leader of their region and also faced the other of the 2; Oshawott and Tepig also took turns with their first 2 Gyms in Unova, and pulled good effort overall; and Johto also let Cyndaquil especially shine early and onwards, but even Chikorita got some time with the first two Gyms and Totodile with the 3rd...)

I'm definitely leaning on Froakie getting to battle against Ramos and/or Clemont, just to round off the "type disadvantage" thing we MUST get again in this region: with Clemont Ash's only Mon actually suited for the match is Pikachu, and the Grass-type he'll probably have by then; that leaves one slot in a 3-on-3 to be filled, with either one of his Flying-types or with Froakie himself. With Ramos, he has his two birds to sort out 2 of the 3 Mons, but then there's either Pikachu or Froakie and neither is best-suited in terms of typing...

What grass type could he get though?

Chespin's taken by Clemont, Pumpkaboo's taken by Jessie, Alexa has Gogoat. That leaves Phantump or a Skiddo that might not evolve.

Gogoat shouldn't be counted out because a minor character has one, though I'm hoping he gets a Phantump.

He could also just catch a previous gen grass type.

He doesn't have a grass type so he can recall Sceptile later on for 3rd Gen Remake promotion and Mega Evolution.

I like how they set the sky battles in a location where people could plausibly keep gliding throughout the entire battle. Also Fletchling is too cute.

I'm cool with that, but given how the anime has been laid out since the beginning, Ash only catches Pokemon native to the region he's currently in, except for Aipom and Gligar and even then, they had Sinnoh evolutions.

or...

This, which would also be fine.

edited 21st Sep '14 10:44:08 AM by MetalMichelangelo

Would a previous gen grass type with a Mega Evolution count then? I don't think there's one at the moment that'd really work out, though.

Again. Sceptile.

Although considering how XY had minimal new Pokemon and lots and lots of old ones (many of which hadn't appeared in games in a while at that) Ash could theoretically catch some older gen ones too.

I don't see Ash getting Sceptile out unless its like towards the end of this league.

Maybe Ash can get an old-gen pokemon as a Wild Card, but really we have Skiddo/Phantump for the Grass Type so I don't see why they'd bring back Sceptile (who really shouldn't come back till the League/Mega Evolution Tournament Filler Arc).

edited 21st Sep '14 10:11:37 PM by WorldTurtle

Nice to see Fletchling finally evolve.

That Talonflame almost seem to say 'get on my level' when it refused Fletchling's intent to battle.