#i'll be more interesting when we get to johto probably

[front-facing-pokemon]

[drawnbinary]

It's me again! I hope that you don't mind me chatting you up, just say so if you do, I'll understand! 😅

Do you think that Hassel can be originally from Johto? Since Blackthorn City is a home of probably the most well-known active dragon clan in the series so far (since Draconids, the people Zinnia's from, are mostly gone)? I've seen theories that the little cape Hassel has on his jacket is a call back to the capes "dragon tamer" trainer class has (and I'm mostly agreeing with this). And when I thought about it, I had this idea: What if Hassel's first pokemon wasn't the baxcalibur that's his ace now, but the dragonite he uses in the school champion tournament? Since the dragon clan from Blackthorn mostly uses the dratini line. What if he got that dragonite as a dratini when he was a kid and raised it his whole life, and now kinda retired it after a lifetime of battling? Baxcalibur is his main now during champion assesment, but he brings out dragonite for some friendly competition every once in a while, like the school championship. And, of course, that would mean that Hassel, Lance and Claire are distantly related.

Oh and I think that Hassel is totally besties with Rika. Gay/lesbian solidarity who go to brunches together. I think that it would be a fun contrast between his husband being such a grandiose artistic mind and his bestie being a very grounded and sober-thinking person.

Oh my god, could you imagine if the DLC will allow us to have some kind of a gym leader/elite four doubles tournament like they did in SWSH? If I'll get to see Hassel and Brassius fight together in doubles as partners I think that I will explode.

I'm also super excited to see them both in the anime and maybe, down the line, in masters. And I hope that they will somehow will return/be referenced in the DLCs- the first one is a school trip, so maybe Hassel will go as a chaperone.

And I totally get you about fanfics and such- I'd love to write something for them one day, when I will have a specific concept in mind. I'm thoroughly disappointed that I can't find any character studies for them, my favorite genre 😔 do you have any headcanons you'd like to share? 👀

You're definitely not alone on pretty much all of those >:D

Again, under a cut because I'm long-winded lol

I've got Hassel from Johto, Galar, or a region we haven't been to yet. Regardless of which region, I figure all the dragon clans are connected in some way so he's cousins with Lance and Clair in some sort of way. The childhood dratini -> semi-retired dragonite is definitely one I've seen and discussed before. I think the fic where Hassel rescues/nurtures a sick baby one isn't on AO3 but it's cemented for me that he's had it since he was young <3

The cape is a nice visual to connect him to other dragon tamers and it being short and part of his jacket also separates him from the dramatic looks of Lance and Clair

I think Rika teases Hassel for being old and out of touch but it's just friendly banter. I hope she was the one who told him about "fleek" over a cup of coffee with pastries.

I pray so hard for them teaming up for double battles (my drawing of them in a silly double battle pose) and/or for them to be at the festival at all (I drew them in the outfits from the trailer). I'm hoping for crumbs at most but I definitely want so much more of these two. They're so interesting.

I am so impatient to see Hassel in the anime. Besides that I love him, I also need to see him moving in 2D so I can figure out how to draw him better/more easily because he gives me so much trouble 😅. I want to know what kind of voice they give him too. Brassius' voice surprised me but it worked really well and wasn't distracting

If they end up in Masters, then I will be downloading Masters. God I want to see them put in funky alternate outfits. And whatever else happens in that game.

I'm super self-conscious about writing (and as you can imagine from my drawings, I'm all about that soft, tender shit) so most things I write pretty much live on Discord

I'm a little head-empty right now so the only headcanon that immediately comes to mind is that Brassius being ill and them spending a lot of quiet time together while Hassel helps care for him gave them both time to figure out their feelings and they don't do anything about it until after Brassius is better.

[friendly-local-trash]

Hey guys what's up I'm the leader of Team Skull: Johto branch, and we're accepting members. Have you ever wanted the economic security and sense of belonging of being in a gang, but didnt want to join the mob? Are you absolutely sick of blasting off again and ready to settle in some place where the vibes are less take over the world and more pillow fort? Have you ever wanted to live somewhere with a bunk sofa? Team Skull is right for you! Join today! We meet in the park where I totally don't live.

~~~

My name is Sol and I'm a poison type specialist. I used to be a trainer; I have all my certifications, blah blah blah. I work for a non-profit cleaning up routes and distributing those free items your twelve year old picks up while catching Zigzagoons. It's a very wholesome job. I also do poison "pest" control on the side to make ends meet; moving Beedrill nests away from kiddie parks and relocating Trubbish to the local dump and wrangling Ekans, all that shit.

My only Pokemon currently is Queef (he goes by Fart because my brother refuses to call him Queef but his name is Queef damnit he makes the exact sound), a classic Grimer I rescued from a clean up job. Mostly I just rehabilitate or foster, but Queef is here full-time.

If you're also a poison type lover, definitely hit me up, I love the little buggers.

UPDATE: Currently living in a park 👍 I now also have a feral Nidoran M who will be released once he stops injuring himself, and an Absol who I don't think I technically own but lives here also. Their names are Lil Bitch and Soteria respectively.

Caard

OOC STUFF BEHIND CUT

HEY EVERYONE, I'm irl Sol, actual Sol behind the fictional Pokemon Sol. I follow back from @solitarelee which most of you probably figured out immediately given my name LMAO. So my activity page looks like this!

Which I'm super pumped about actually. I didn't foresee any of this happening when I started the blog but I'm having a blast.

If anyone wants to OOC plot stuff to happen in "real pokeverse life" with me, my ask box and DMs are open (at least I think my DMs are open. if they're not right this second they're about to be). If you want something to be OOC discussion via ask box just let me know and be sure to send it off anon so I can answer privately. If we wind up doing a bunch of stuff together we could also trade Discords if necessary!

I'm gonna try to create like a list of all the members so I can keep them straight, but it might take me a second because I'm pretty busy irl. I'll also be trying to create a tagging system so people can tumblr savior or block certain RP threads if they feel like they're getting spammed to hell.

I created this blog as like a fun night time distraction on nights when I have to stay up, so it probably will never be super active during the day, at least not for while this semester is still going. If I don't reply right away it's definitely because I physically haven't seen it yet!

Thanks for all of your interest and for having fun playing in this sandbox with me!! I am living out my childhood pokemon rp dreams right now.

[chibisnowfox]

(Over) Analyzing Pokemon Hints (4)

This post will look different to how I started posting these analysis posts. This was how I wanted to do them. When I first started there was more of a focus on Halloween, and at that time I had a cold so I wasn’t really able to keep up with things that well. If these get too long I'll probably do a brief summary thing at the bottom.

So now the posts will be much longer unless it’s a slow week. Because my last post was on Friday, this one will start with Saturday.

On Saturday- Pokemon GO got a Mega Garchomp Raid Day. I’m assuming this is probably just an event for Mega Garchomp, but if it does mean anything it could be foreshadowing to a Trainer with a Garchomp that can Mega Evolve in the Indigo Disk DLC, or possibly in the games that will be coming out next year.

A bit of a side note, the US Pokemon Twitter account did share a gif of a Garchomp Mega evolving. This was probably posted because of the GO event, but could still be foreshadowing.

I am now terrified we’re going to walk into the wrong classroom and Cynthia is going to jumpscare us with an unescapable battle. The Pokemon Masters EX Twitter account has a post featuring Cynthia, Lyra, and Ryuki. This could be foreshadowing some interesting stuff. -Ryuki is Alder’s grandson. So maybe foreshadowing something with Unova, whether that’s the Indigo Disk DLC or next year’s games?

-Cynthia is wearing her Kommo-O Sygna Suit. The reason I find this interesting is because the only time we see her use a Kommo-O in the anime was in the PLA special.

-Lyra is from the Johto games, so a possible hint to Johto remakes? It’s just a post relating to Ryuki’s event, but it’s still interesting they chose to feature Cynthia.

US Pokemon Twitter is also still posting pictures of Wooper and Quagsire, though today it was Paldean Wooper and Clodsire. On Sunday- A new battle mode for Pokemon Masters EX was announced, Ultimate Battles. This features Anabel and her Entei. I find this interesting for a few reasons-

Anabel is from the Hoenn Battle Frontier. I don’t think this means we’ll be getting Hoenn remakes soon, but if this means anything we could be getting the Battle Frontier again if we’re getting Johto remakes next year. Or it could be hinting a Battle Frontier mode, which would be really fun. Anabel is a Faller, so maybe this could be a hint to a story-line with Ingo reuniting with Emmet (even though it hasn’t actually been confirmed Ingo is a Faller). Maybe there will be an event in the Indigo Disk DLC with Anabel relating to this? This could be a hint to getting a Paradox Entei event soon. As of right now I don’t think one has been announced. But if there is going to be one that will probably be announced in the Pokemon Presents next year. This could also be hinting towards Johto remakes as Entei is from Johto.

Definitely over analyzing this. But it is interesting they chose Anabel instead of someone else with a Legendary Pokemon, like Cynthia with her Giratina. Also, the US Pokemon Twitter account posted a gif of a Wooper sliding down a pipe. I believe this is a scene from the Pikachu and Pichu Bros short that came with the Enter the Unown Pokemon movie. This could mean a few things: More Wooper, which we will be able to catch in the Indigo Disk DLC. Enter the Unown takes place in Johto, so possibly a Johto remake hint. The main Legendary of Enter the Unown is an Entei. So possibly another Paradox Entei hint. It’s probably just hinting at a trailer for the Indigo Disk DLC because of the Wooper. On Monday

SO many Eevee events announced! In Pokemon Sleep, starting on the 20th will be Eevee week.

There will be Eevee Mass Outbreaks in Scarlet and Violet from the 17th – 20th. There will be a 7 Star Tera Raid for a Mightiest Mark Eevee, also from the 17th – 20th. It will have the Normal Tera type. The 17th is a Friday, and the 20th is a Monday. 7 Star Tera Raids usually run from Fridays to Sundays. Ending on a Monday is interesting.

The 17th is also about a year since Scarlet and Violet were released. I don’t know if that’s related, but it’s interesting these Eevee events are happening almost exactly a year later. The Pokemon Masters EX Twitter page has highlighted Penny’s soundtrack. She is an Eeveelution Trainer, so possibly another hint.

On Tuesday In Asia Pacific, Pokemon GO has started Fashion week with Dragonite and a Wooper. I won’t really analyze what the Wooper and Quagsire’s hats mean, but it’s still more Wooper and Quagsire.

The Pokemon Masters EX Twitter account is still promoting Penny’s event. So still lots of Eevee promotion. Also specifically posting images with characters from Black and White 2. There is also a post of Eevee Trainers gathering on Pasio. This image specifically having two Eevee.

The UK and US Pokemon Twitter accounts have posted a promo image for the Indigo Disk DLC featuring the Kalos starters. This is most likely just what it is, Indigo Disk promo with the Kalos starters. But it could also mean there will be some sort of connection to Kalos. Something smaller like a Kalos Gym Leader or Elite Four member making an appearance, to something much bigger, such as finally resolving any unfinished plotlines. I’m not sure what these would be, and I don’t know why they would be included now, ten years later. If it is some sort of Kalos remake hint, it’s most likely a hint to the Kalos remakes are just starting to be worked on. If this is true, we will know in a few years, because the Johto and/or Unova remakes they’ve been hinting at will probably be released first.

The trailer for Pokemon Concierge and it showed a Dragonite quite often. Dragonite has been promoted a good amount recently, so maybe this is a hint to something like a Paradox Dragonite? Today, on Wednesday

A few announcements from Pokemon Masters EX: On the 17th, we will be getting the Let’s Go in Search of Wonder event and will be getting the Sync Pairs Elaine & Eevee, and PokeKid Eve & Eevee. Also, on the 21st, there will be a special Eevee event focusing on the Eevee Sync Pairs and we will be getting Elio & Espeon and Selene & Umbreon.

The 21st is a Tuesday. Big announcements usually come on Wednesdays. If we are getting an Eeveelution it will probably be announced on Wednesday. In the UK there will be pop-up stands where you can send special cards to another person. This is adorable, and the two Pokemon they feature are Pikachu and Eevee.

Yeah I’m thinking they’re heavily hinting we’re getting at least one new Eeveelution. I kind of doubt they would go with a Paradox Eeveelution for one game, but not the other. There could be version exclusive evolutions, like they did that for Charcadet. Paradox Eeveelutions are possible, but I’m not sure. I feel like they would only exist in the Scarlet and Violet games because the Paradox Pokemon probably won’t appear much in other regions. Having a Paldea-locked Eeveelution wouldn’t be fun.

Also, just remembered… If you go into Nemona’s house, there is a painting featuring two Eevee. If this does mean anything, I’m hoping it means there will be two Eeveelutions.

That should be it for this week, but knowing how these posts have been going there will probably be a 4.5 in the near future.

[theangrypokemaniac]

I've been on Tumblr ten months now, and this blog has existed for nine of them. During that time I have noticed something.

The majority of the posts I've come across have been by and for the S&M scene, as is to be expected.

The second-most frequent are Indigo League, which I don't think is bad going considering it was broadcast before most Tumblerries were born.

Third-most popular I would say is Sinnoh, probably for being the introduction for many here.

After that I've seen bits on Johto, a smattering of Orange League (unsurprising given it's briefness) and maybe a single item on Hoenn.

No one likes that then? Is it Max? Go on, it is.

What I find odd is that, in all that period, I haven't seen anything on Unova or Kalos. No fan art, no screen shots, nothing.

I'm sure someone can point to a bounty of pieces I've overlooked, all done within the last year, but if so, they're well-hidden, as none of the people I follow have shown any interest in re-blogging them.

If you have done any, you must admit the amount has depleted considerably.

Why is this? Is it of no interest anymore?

This in itself validates my own opinion. Had I been here when Unova and Kalos were broadcast, I presume over half of the posts I'd see would've been devoted to them. If I then spoke harshly of either, that would not have been well-received.

However, if dropped, both by the audience and writers as soon as the latest generation arrives, wasn't I right to not be impressed?

If cast aside by those who claimed to worship them, were they really of any worth at all?

Well the same fate has now befallen Alola. I make no secret of how much I despise it, and can not grasp its appeal for anyone.

I don't know how Pokémon even has a fanbase anymore, given that it's ugly, boring and repetitive.

Prior to the arrival of the S.S., I suspected that Alola material would drop, vanishing altogether once a year's worth came to a close, and so it has proved to be.

It's gone from making up roughly 60% - 70% of dashboard posts to about 10% - 20%, in only a few months. Is it that bad then?

It can't be explained as excitement for the new, not with the amount of coverage Kanto gets, and even that isn't motivated by reminiscence, given the average age of the current viewer.

Why are you still posting about something that old? It reminds me of my wasted youth, but what's your excuse?

Why, when the writers want to wallow in nostalgia, do they hark back to Kanto, which no modern fan can remember?

Is no one looking with misty-eyed fondness at Iris and Cilan? Why not?

Or is that an admission that it was so appallingly bad even the writers recognised it, that's why it's been so hastily forgotten?

You could watch Pokémon from the beginning to the close Sinnoh, skip the next two eras, starting again with Alola, and you would never know there'd been a between.

Unova is described as a 'soft reset', with regards to its inverted nature. The arrogance of those writers is staggering:

• Trying to erase all that'd gone before, supplanted by their half-arsed efforts.

• Redesigning everyone with Fish Eye and flat profiles.

• Resetting Ash as not even knowing the basics.

• Warping Team Rocket's established personalities into disgusting, soulless lizard people robbed of all charm and charisma.

• Only new Pokémon existing.

• Catches kept with Juniper not Professor Oak etc.

The irony is that Unova Pokémon are copies of the first 151, so whilst deliberately ignoring the past, they can't resist imitating it, thanks to their own woeful inadequacy. I suppose they hoped if they didn't notice, we wouldn't either.

They then undermined their own decision by stuffing everything available into the third run, as a blatant effort to win back the crowd, including:

• Reverting to Team Rocket's actual motto, not that embarrassingly pretentious codswallop.

Too bloody lazy to make it rhyme now!

Notice they opted not for the Sinnoh one, although more recent. It was straight back to the beginning.

• Look at these hundreds of Pokémon we suddenly remembered!

Just before Giovanni's mid-life crisis, Ash spotted a Rattata, but it having been so isolated from the outside world, his brain fell to mush at the concept, and pronounced it 'retarda'.

Idiots are so easy to please!

• Charizard! Genwunners love Charizard! Give 'em Charizard and they'll forget everything else we've done! Let's condense his entire story arc into one episode of meaningless retelling!

So, Charizard was there to bait the first wave, and yet we had the plot we know repeated to us anyway?

Don't refer to the past and everyone will think it's brand-new!

It makes no sense. How could this be done with the hope of drawing in old fans, and yet filling up an episode with it as plotline isn't an issue, when the intended targets know it's been done before?

• Butterfree! Genwunners loved Butterfree leaving! Let's condense his entire story arc into one episode of meaningless rehash!

Why would they remain when finding the same thing again, absent of feeling and subtlety, not to mention upon discovering the damage done elsewhere?

Recent incomers, who might assume it's a fresh idea, have no emotional connection with Butterfree, so who is it meant to please?

Why is Mewtwo a woman?

• Mewtwo! Genwunners love Mewtwo! Let's copy its background for Genesect rather than be creative! Look, it's Mewtwo! Watch it!!!

Erm... It's not the same Mewtwo...

It's not the same Mewtwo?

You believe the way to an original fan's heart is to lie to them, and in the process smash a fundamental principle of canon that there can only be one Mewtwo?

The writers get a deserved excoriation round these parts, because someone has to, as what part of that film suggested the current crop give the tiniest toss about what matters to you and me?

I'm glad Unova is labelled 'the Dork Age' as every series since its dawn has been atrocious.

Hoenn and Sinnoh held massive flaws, but they're masterpieces compared to what followed. At least they felt like Pokémon, albeit a watery interpretation.

Unova has to be truly lowly for the dunces responsible to recognise it, and neither Kalos or Alola have been as cut off from their predecessors.

I don't believe that's a sign of contrition, more a matter of necessity. Thanks to the same personal limitations there just weren't enough new Pokémon in either era to make such insularity possible. Even between the two it'd be a scrape.

Except whilst previously invented Pokémon designs may be involved, there's no sign of actual familiar characters.

Ash took his original team to Johto, and even in Hoenn and Sinnoh, where local catches took precedent, older Pokémon were still referenced and came back for the League, but that stopped with Unova.

It's evil influence strikes again!

Despite flimsy nods to the past, which can't be avoided, each generation is now a world unto itself, to the point that individual episodes live by their own canon, a feeble web of strands unrelated to anything else.

Why is it considered 'retro' enough to say, have Forms of Kanto Pokémon, for which we're expected to be so grateful, when there's no mention of Ash's earlier squad?

Remember Tauros? And Kingler? And Muk?

Remember Bayleef? And Noctowl? And Heracross?

Remember Corphish? And Torkoal? And Swellow?

Remember Buizel? And Gible? And Torterra?

They don't. As far as I can tell none of them exist anymore, and maybe aren't meant to ever have done.

Same as Gary, Cassidy and Butch, Jessibelle, Tracey, and so on. Until they do, and don't again. Whatever is convenient to today's storyline.

My typical attitude is that the first series is the best thing ever, and it's all been downhill from there, with Unova and all that came after reaching incredible depths of tedium. I don't suppose you like that, but the ephemeral tendencies displayed on Tumblr hardly help change my opinion.

At some low ebb I'll get round to watching Galar, which I'm confident I'll hate as much as the last few generations, based on what I've already seen and heard.

There's little point doing otherwise. Why bother getting involved with the 'plot' or characters if, when it's over, they'll never be spoken of again?

What incentive is there for me to even force myself to like Galar when, once the ninth generation (Pokémon Keenan and Kel) emerges on the distant horizon, those who've sung its praises for three or four years and scoffed at criticism, will drop it without a backwards glance?

Yet talk about the Indigo League is ever present, somewhat proving its superiority. Attachment to it is a subconscious acknowledgement of the dearth of quality in the modern mentality, but which no one can bring themselves to admit.

[gaycey-sketchit]

(Gary anon) Yup, makes me not looking forward to the excuses fans will come up with when Ash defeats Cynthia; even with the battle being a long-awaited dream since DP. And, if Ash vs Leon isn't a full battle... (I'm gonna guess it's probably an "effort" to make Hop look more pitiful. And I couldn't tell ya if the side that wants to uplift him, by downplaying his brother. Or the other side that grows tired of friendly rivals and likes to dunk on them often) I think that's one of the sole

.

(Part 2) reasons why I put off looking at Undertale, besides the *multiple paths and endings. (*Which Let's Players were given a hard time about) Sans alone perfectly describes the era of when that game dropped. At least it didn't cause Toby Fox to quit, but I believe the fandom did stress him out at points when it really blew up. (People really need to understand how much game developing [and animation] is time-consuming; and unfortunately, some things have to be dropped in order stuff to)

(Part 3) (work. And the fact some folks are not being paid enough for the crunch time they do. Some complaints I understand, but please learn the process first) Have to find the time to read the whole series in full; the RBY saga I remember finishing with bits and pieces of everything else. As far as Blue, I remember him eventually being this big brother mentor to Silver, which isn't too unlike what's apparently happening in Pokemon Masters currently. Just with different personalities. And him

(Part4) training under Chuck when he was younger. (I think the one thing I would have preferred is Blastoise not being unveiled under their Johto battle, but rather Gary's prelim matches to give some type of build up. And Ash deducing himself to bring back Charizard rather than Brock doing it) I still think we're kinda owed a childhood flashback, besides that very brief 'at the movies' one.

(Part 5) Chances of Journeys rectifying that has largely dwindled. Eh, I'm not losing sleep over it, just a bonus at this point. But yeah, OS writing hurt some things. (Hmm, heard we might get more episode titles this week, possibly up to 3. We know 2 of those will be the rest of the first round) We'll see how TRio fares in this tournament.

Yeah, that's going to be a whole thing.

Could be. Could be both sides doing that also.

Yeah, the fandom put me off of it for quite a while too. (It took two years for me to cave and finally watch a couple LPs. I wish I'd been able to experience it without any spoilers, but I cried the first time I saw the true pacifist ending anyway.) Yeah, people pressuring LPers to do things a certain way were kind of... missing the point? Because in a game where most of your choices have some kind of consequence, people should get to make their choices and see what happens.

Yeah, I'm kind of amazed at how Toby Fox managed to handle... all of that. And to this day he's still active on social media sometimes.

Yeah. Game development takes so much time and effort and the people who do it are not being paid enough.

Yeah, same. I managed to get my hands on the first four volumes a few years back and I've read and reread those and that's basically it, but I've heard interesting things.

Blue and Silver actually interacting sounds so good, I love them. (Reminds me, I need to try to pick Masters back up.)

Oh, yeah, that would've been good.

Despite how much the chances of it have dwindled, I'm still yearning for a childhood flashback. Would love to see the boys at their most baby so much. I'll be fine if it doesn't happen but if it does, it'll be fantastic.

Ooh, episode titles. That'll be interesting.

Yeah, we'll see! Here's hoping all goes well!

[gaycey-sketchit]

(Gary anon) I continue to dread the day Goh encounters Mew again; would not be shocked if him capturing [with help again], it actually drowns out *Ash's results of the PWC. (*Assuming Ash wins or ties, we know the storm that will happen if we don't get either situation. At least Goh won't be lonely in the stands; if Chloe shows, it'll probably be the finals. Not sure why they're trying so hard to keep her from watching Ash battle.) Speaking of the Regis episode, some

.

(Part 2) leaks possibly spilled out, same source: Gary may have another new capture, not referring to the Regis, is one that's finally not from Kanto, Johto, or Sinnoh; but this capture probably means any Bede appearance or importance is dead. So, full Gary team confirmed? (Paul apparently got something new too; had a feeling it wasn't going to anything post-Gen 4. Garchomp still not confirmed) The best outcome is a tie, but with the writers of Ash becoming more

(Part 3) unbeatable, let him be the wall this time. (I will accept that if the ball halves actually get it brought up again outside of flashbacks. Or even better, the two connects them together again before going separate ways again. Or travels together, I'd take either) If any rival should serve as the final cap off, it should be him. No matter what future rival did what better, Gary's influence and guidance transcends series, even when he's not physically there.

(Part 4) Again, I'll hold off until we get more towards the end. But, the pattern IS there. Don't break it, Anipoke. (I know a duo song with the VAs is out of the question since we typically don't get that for this dub. But something that feels more like a "finale" would've been more thematically fitting. Or even another remix of "The Journey Starts Today". Oh well)

Yeah, hopefully that goes okay but the fandom... there will be Discourse no matter what happens.

Yeah. I really feel like all this is leading up to Ash defeating Leon. Yeah, it's nice that Goh will have some company in the stands!

How Chloe's been handled throughout Journeys is... a little frustrating. It feels like she and Ash really haven't gotten that close, and that she tends to not show for his battles and he didn't show for her first contest is... unfortunately indicative of that.

But I digress. Oh, I heard about Gary's (possible, if the leaks are legit) new team member! It's sure an interesting choice, not a Pokemon I think most expected for him, but I don't dislike it. RIP Bede's chances at plot significance though.

I don't think I heard about Paul's though! That's interesting too.

I guess we'll see if the alleged leaks are true soon!

Yeah, that's fair. Ash not entirely losing but still facing an obstacle to learn from before the biggest tournament he's faced would be good.

Oh, yes! Would love a moment like that.

For sure! Gary was the anime's OG rival, the blueprint, and he motivated and inspired Ash like nobody else. What they have is special and it'd be such a good way to cap off Journeys. (Also hopefully having Ash reunite with his first traveling companion at some point too, really come full circle.)

Here's hoping!

Yeah. Alas. But I'll admit it's starting to grow on me.