RANTS AND TSUNBEARS AND GIANT YORKIES OH MY
IN WHICH I RAMBLE ABOUT BEST WISHES and Ash's new rival 8I
^THIS IS SHOOTY/TRIP. I prefer his dub name, Trip, but I assume he is called Shooty because he takes pictures of everything ever. So far, overall, he's been presented as a kind of snobbish know-it-all city kid, and constantly insults Ash for being from the "boonies" of Kanto (to be fair, Ash hasn't done anything to prove how accomplished he is. HE KEEPS LOSING TO THIS NEWBIE.)
Anyway, I think Trip is kinda cute! His camera thing is just a gimmick, but they've at least shown why it's helpful--he wants to record his Pokemon Journey and he uses the pictures to find errors/improve his training. But that's as far as it goes.
What bothers me about Trip is that he seems to be some bizzare Cheren, Gary, and Paul hybrid. He has early!Gary's smug, holier than thou attitude, Cheren's snobbiness and Alder obsession, and Paul's jerkiness, though it's not as bad. While I can understand him being a Cheren substitute (it doesn't make sense to make a teenager like Cheren Ash's main rival), and I like the city kid/country kid dynamic, I don't get why he's coming off as a mini-paul elsewhere e_ea
It doesn't work for him! He is generally decent around other people, his Pokemon work well with him, and what little we've seen of his backstory shows him as a fanboy. When he was younger (...idk like 6 maybe? HE'S TEN NOW, SO) the Champion, Alder, promised he would battle him some day. So Trip was like "EEEEEEEE CHAMPION SHOOK MY HAND OMG *_*" He was so happy!! So I'm kind of baffled where his asshole attitude comes from. I THINK maybe he's just trying to act COOL? LIKE A CHAMP. He is just 10 after all!
that face hahaha
"But! He has legit reasons to be that way toward Ash!" NOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE. Ash barged in on his very first day as a Trainer, got all up in his business on TRIP'S special day, and it seems to be a running gag for Ash to accidentally stalk him. (Ash is all TRIP BE MY FRIEND TRIP ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO ME 8U LOOK TRIP WE ARE IN THE SAME CITY TOGETHER ISN'T THAT AWESOME 8UU!!) SO YEAH Trip is completely justified in being annoyed by Ash! But I wish they could show that some OTHER WAY other than him looking all broody or "ur pathetic :I" like Paul. This morning's new episode triggered this rant, since that's exactly what he was doing. It was so disappointing after his last appearance--where it seemed like he was becoming his OWN character, rather than some knock-off of a previous rival.
I mean we're 41 episodes into the series! D/P was about...190 episodes? I think? But even at this point Paul had an established personality and did things to back it up (from episode one he was shown to be an asshole, releasing Pokemon, not encouraging them, we got some decent background) and he and Ash were firmly set as Rivals. Right now for Ash and Trip, it seems to be kind of one sided. Again, ICLY Trip has a good reason, as Ash hasn't done much to show him up, but still. I ALMOST WISH that they had done something different for Ash this time around--made him more of a mentorish figure like he was in Hoenn. Then again, since BW is a REBOOT it doesn't make much sense to do so, and that's why he's back to square one.
I DO like that his approach toward Trip is different than how he dealt with Gary and Paul. He was always so angry and all "GARY/PAUL I'MMA DEFEAT YOU 8UU!!11" With Trip he just wants to be his friend for some inexplicable reason. MAYBE HE IS USED TO JERKS BY NOW? So it doesn't bother him as much 8|a; I think it's adorable/hilarious that he pouts almost every time Trip ignores him, sob.
That said, for the first time in a while, SO FAR I don't think Ash really deserves to win the league, haha. He's been so lackadaisy in Unova! NOT LAZY, but hella breezing through. I think he's still sort of on a "this is the best random journey ever" high, and not taking things as seriously. He also keeps applying Kanto/Johto/etc Logic to Unova and it keeps screwing him over. The boy needs to study! He is definitely still training, albeit off screen mostly, and I super enjoy that he's finally learned to rotate his team after all this time! The trade off here is that his Pokemon's personalities aren't developed as much, but so far there's been a good balance.
I've also noticed that Ash has become something of an accidental jerkwad?? I mean he's always had passing moments of that personality, but in Unova especially it's been hilarious. I'm sure he doesn't mean to but, good gosh the boy has no tact!
"Those are Gothitelle's special memories..." "They don't seem special to me 8|a" "MAYBE THEY ARE TO THEM, ASH!"
Also when Trip is inner monologuing about how it is his DREEEAM to battle the Champion, Ash, who didn't even KNOW Unova had a Champion, suddenly decides THAT IS NOW HIS GOAL TOO, WHILE ON HIS VACATION JOURNEY. Gj, Ash, go crush this newbie's lifelong dream on a whim. There have been other instances as well, but like I said, it's unintentional! Just kind of great that Ash gets to be a bit of a jerk as well.
ANYWAY. Maybe next week's episode will make all my ramblings null and void! I mean realistically, we're probably only 1/4 of the way done with Best Wishes. A lot could happen! More character development could happen! So I'm not giving up on the Trip vs Ash rivalry yet, just not sold on it. COME ON TRIP, BE YOUR OWN MAN :I DON'T STAY IN GARY/PAUL'S SHADOW.
That aside, I am also kind of disappointed in Best Wishes for not having too much of a plot, if any. I kinda wish it was just the "Ash, Cilan, and Iris' Wacky Adventures Show" but that's another rant for another day. Team Rocket's miniplot got delayed and I'm not even sad. BADASS TEAM ROCKET IS BORING. THERE, I SAID IT :I Cool, but boring. C'mon Best Wishes, if D/P managed to do it, you can do plot too!! Just waiting for Team Plasmaaaa.
srs thoughts on little boys in a children's anime 8|aaaa
MOVING ON, screencaps!! TWO OF MY FAVORITES APPEARED IN THE ANIME TODAY eeeee and they are owned by reoccurring rivals *_* HAPPY DAY.
LANGLEY IS BACK FOR THE RANDOM TOURNAMENT ARC and so is her Beartic <333
It. It defeats a Joltik by accidently falling on it. SO ONE SIDED...
sob I love this bear you guys. And there's Cabarnet/Burgundy! Cilan's rival (though Cilan is like lol we're rivals?? when it comes to her, haha he is so chill) She has a STOUTLAND.
And Ash is using his Palpitoad!!
Hahhaha ASH LOEV BATTLING 8)
Anyway it beats Stoutland. STOUTLAND IS SO CUTE FFFT giant wet puppy. And the anime made Palpitoad look cute too, gosh.
IN CONCLUSION iiii still love Pokemon no matter how much I rant, derp :|a OFF TO WORK
^THIS IS SHOOTY/TRIP. I prefer his dub name, Trip, but I assume he is called Shooty because he takes pictures of everything ever. So far, overall, he's been presented as a kind of snobbish know-it-all city kid, and constantly insults Ash for being from the "boonies" of Kanto (to be fair, Ash hasn't done anything to prove how accomplished he is. HE KEEPS LOSING TO THIS NEWBIE.)
Anyway, I think Trip is kinda cute! His camera thing is just a gimmick, but they've at least shown why it's helpful--he wants to record his Pokemon Journey and he uses the pictures to find errors/improve his training. But that's as far as it goes.
What bothers me about Trip is that he seems to be some bizzare Cheren, Gary, and Paul hybrid. He has early!Gary's smug, holier than thou attitude, Cheren's snobbiness and Alder obsession, and Paul's jerkiness, though it's not as bad. While I can understand him being a Cheren substitute (it doesn't make sense to make a teenager like Cheren Ash's main rival), and I like the city kid/country kid dynamic, I don't get why he's coming off as a mini-paul elsewhere e_ea
It doesn't work for him! He is generally decent around other people, his Pokemon work well with him, and what little we've seen of his backstory shows him as a fanboy. When he was younger (...idk like 6 maybe? HE'S TEN NOW, SO) the Champion, Alder, promised he would battle him some day. So Trip was like "EEEEEEEE CHAMPION SHOOK MY HAND OMG *_*" He was so happy!! So I'm kind of baffled where his asshole attitude comes from. I THINK maybe he's just trying to act COOL? LIKE A CHAMP. He is just 10 after all!
that face hahaha
"But! He has legit reasons to be that way toward Ash!" NOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE. Ash barged in on his very first day as a Trainer, got all up in his business on TRIP'S special day, and it seems to be a running gag for Ash to accidentally stalk him. (Ash is all TRIP BE MY FRIEND TRIP ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO ME 8U LOOK TRIP WE ARE IN THE SAME CITY TOGETHER ISN'T THAT AWESOME 8UU!!) SO YEAH Trip is completely justified in being annoyed by Ash! But I wish they could show that some OTHER WAY other than him looking all broody or "ur pathetic :I" like Paul. This morning's new episode triggered this rant, since that's exactly what he was doing. It was so disappointing after his last appearance--where it seemed like he was becoming his OWN character, rather than some knock-off of a previous rival.
I mean we're 41 episodes into the series! D/P was about...190 episodes? I think? But even at this point Paul had an established personality and did things to back it up (from episode one he was shown to be an asshole, releasing Pokemon, not encouraging them, we got some decent background) and he and Ash were firmly set as Rivals. Right now for Ash and Trip, it seems to be kind of one sided. Again, ICLY Trip has a good reason, as Ash hasn't done much to show him up, but still. I ALMOST WISH that they had done something different for Ash this time around--made him more of a mentorish figure like he was in Hoenn. Then again, since BW is a REBOOT it doesn't make much sense to do so, and that's why he's back to square one.
I DO like that his approach toward Trip is different than how he dealt with Gary and Paul. He was always so angry and all "GARY/PAUL I'MMA DEFEAT YOU 8UU!!11" With Trip he just wants to be his friend for some inexplicable reason. MAYBE HE IS USED TO JERKS BY NOW? So it doesn't bother him as much 8|a; I think it's adorable/hilarious that he pouts almost every time Trip ignores him, sob.
That said, for the first time in a while, SO FAR I don't think Ash really deserves to win the league, haha. He's been so lackadaisy in Unova! NOT LAZY, but hella breezing through. I think he's still sort of on a "this is the best random journey ever" high, and not taking things as seriously. He also keeps applying Kanto/Johto/etc Logic to Unova and it keeps screwing him over. The boy needs to study! He is definitely still training, albeit off screen mostly, and I super enjoy that he's finally learned to rotate his team after all this time! The trade off here is that his Pokemon's personalities aren't developed as much, but so far there's been a good balance.
I've also noticed that Ash has become something of an accidental jerkwad?? I mean he's always had passing moments of that personality, but in Unova especially it's been hilarious. I'm sure he doesn't mean to but, good gosh the boy has no tact!
"Those are Gothitelle's special memories..." "They don't seem special to me 8|a" "MAYBE THEY ARE TO THEM, ASH!"
Also when Trip is inner monologuing about how it is his DREEEAM to battle the Champion, Ash, who didn't even KNOW Unova had a Champion, suddenly decides THAT IS NOW HIS GOAL TOO, WHILE ON HIS VACATION JOURNEY. Gj, Ash, go crush this newbie's lifelong dream on a whim. There have been other instances as well, but like I said, it's unintentional! Just kind of great that Ash gets to be a bit of a jerk as well.
ANYWAY. Maybe next week's episode will make all my ramblings null and void! I mean realistically, we're probably only 1/4 of the way done with Best Wishes. A lot could happen! More character development could happen! So I'm not giving up on the Trip vs Ash rivalry yet, just not sold on it. COME ON TRIP, BE YOUR OWN MAN :I DON'T STAY IN GARY/PAUL'S SHADOW.
That aside, I am also kind of disappointed in Best Wishes for not having too much of a plot, if any. I kinda wish it was just the "Ash, Cilan, and Iris' Wacky Adventures Show" but that's another rant for another day. Team Rocket's miniplot got delayed and I'm not even sad. BADASS TEAM ROCKET IS BORING. THERE, I SAID IT :I Cool, but boring. C'mon Best Wishes, if D/P managed to do it, you can do plot too!! Just waiting for Team Plasmaaaa.
srs thoughts on little boys in a children's anime 8|aaaa
MOVING ON, screencaps!! TWO OF MY FAVORITES APPEARED IN THE ANIME TODAY eeeee and they are owned by reoccurring rivals *_* HAPPY DAY.
LANGLEY IS BACK FOR THE RANDOM TOURNAMENT ARC and so is her Beartic <333
It. It defeats a Joltik by accidently falling on it. SO ONE SIDED...
sob I love this bear you guys. And there's Cabarnet/Burgundy! Cilan's rival (though Cilan is like lol we're rivals?? when it comes to her, haha he is so chill) She has a STOUTLAND.
And Ash is using his Palpitoad!!
Hahhaha ASH LOEV BATTLING 8)
Anyway it beats Stoutland. STOUTLAND IS SO CUTE FFFT giant wet puppy. And the anime made Palpitoad look cute too, gosh.
IN CONCLUSION iiii still love Pokemon no matter how much I rant, derp :|a OFF TO WORK