Spider-Phoenix
#ChespinGang
Ok, since we are on hiatus with new content for the show, I've suddently found myself remembering some of the things we've seen already.
Specifically, I'm talking about Serena's goal and Palermo's role on getting Serena to decide her past post-series.
Serena's goal on XY always intrigued me. Back in the day, I've always felt she'd end up as a coordinator. The setup just seemed perfect: she was unsure of her goal just like May was and with the potential of Gen 3 remakes - which you did end up getting - it'd completly fitting if May just randomly showed up and inspired Serena to take contests the same way she's been inspired by that coordinator-whose-name-I-forgot-and-won't-bother-to-search in the past.
Then, they came with showcases that in the end just seemed a discount version of the contests' appeal round thus closer to the game!contests.
Flashforward the remaining episodes of XY, we got Palermo ending up suggesting to Serena to take on contests. So in the end, she basically did what me - and maybe more people - thought she'd do even if it wasn't quite the way we'd expect to happen.
On my reflection, Palermo's reasoning for suggest a jump to contests seems odd. Sure, they are similar but why suggest a carreer that while similar has enough distinctions to be called "different things"?
Then, I remember.
Back in the final match of Master Class we all had our criticisms of Serena pulling a better show yet still losing to Aria because it's not a pokémon major competition without a dream crusher (expect someone else get Mew before Goh haha)
One of the arguments I've remembered is how Serena was overall technically better while Aria just won duo being popular.
Thinking about that made me realize.
Palermo suggested contests to Serena because she figured out Serena was good at technique and skill. Showcases are glorified popularity competition where the best is the one who gets most popularity and appeal. Serena's major strenght was actually not trusting her own charm and appeal but actually having method and thought.
Not to say that showcases doesn't involve technique and all of that. For idols to sell themselves - that's what they do, don't deny it - they need to have a certain level of skill but here's the thing: some of this can be fabricated by their manager. That's what Palermo did to Aria after all. Yeah, we got flashback of Aria working her butt off but if I recall the flashback correctly, we didn't get to see her doing stuff with her pokémon. It was only Aria herself mostly.
Palermo wanted to sell Aria's image. And by "sell" don't take it the wrong way, it's a kids show after all. Serena thought about her pokémon. Not just about herself. She wanted to show how cool and cute her pokémon are, how they had skills and how she was capable of showing off their potential.
So when Serena ultimately rejected her offer, Palermo figured out Serena wasn't cut for that sort of career. Serena might have wanted that - though I've always felt that she taking on contests was more her being influenced by Shauna than anything else. Like Serena was so unsure what to do she end up pushing herself in a position she was living someone else's goal - but in the end, Serena's call was elsewhere even if she didn't know it. She started off Showcases because someone else tipped her on it but ultimately she learned she'd find her one true call on something similar and more fitting to her actual focus.
Then we got the typical japanese anime trope of listening to their elders 'cause they've lived for longer than you - and this show, Palermo might as well be over 1000 years old if Ash is any indication - and Serena got useful advice from someone else to find a more suitable career.
Yeah, actually Palermo suggested contests as a way for Serena to become a better performer and thus get closer to becoming Kalos Queen but I'm not putting past she banking on Serena finding more contentment with contests and end up settling on them.
The last shot we got from Serena was as much representing her new found self-confidence after finally letting her feelings clear and making her on her ultimate endgoal - Ash - but also she finally having clarity of purporse. Long gone was the girl who was scared of walking a dark forest by herself. Now she is out to make herself a charming lady for a certain oblivious boy. And she also finally found what she wanted to do in the meantime.
TL;DL: Palermo did Serena a favor by basically inducing her to quit a business where the most important thing is popularity and then go doing something more suited for her. Something that's similar but where the most important thing was the one thing Serena choose to make her performances stand out: technique and true skill.
Anyway, those are just my thoughts. Just my theory based on observation and reflection. The truth might be completly different and Yajima might end up giving another interview giving a whole different and never-thought-of explanation.
Specifically, I'm talking about Serena's goal and Palermo's role on getting Serena to decide her past post-series.
Serena's goal on XY always intrigued me. Back in the day, I've always felt she'd end up as a coordinator. The setup just seemed perfect: she was unsure of her goal just like May was and with the potential of Gen 3 remakes - which you did end up getting - it'd completly fitting if May just randomly showed up and inspired Serena to take contests the same way she's been inspired by that coordinator-whose-name-I-forgot-and-won't-bother-to-search in the past.
Then, they came with showcases that in the end just seemed a discount version of the contests' appeal round thus closer to the game!contests.
Flashforward the remaining episodes of XY, we got Palermo ending up suggesting to Serena to take on contests. So in the end, she basically did what me - and maybe more people - thought she'd do even if it wasn't quite the way we'd expect to happen.
On my reflection, Palermo's reasoning for suggest a jump to contests seems odd. Sure, they are similar but why suggest a carreer that while similar has enough distinctions to be called "different things"?
Then, I remember.
Back in the final match of Master Class we all had our criticisms of Serena pulling a better show yet still losing to Aria because it's not a pokémon major competition without a dream crusher (expect someone else get Mew before Goh haha)
One of the arguments I've remembered is how Serena was overall technically better while Aria just won duo being popular.
Thinking about that made me realize.
Palermo suggested contests to Serena because she figured out Serena was good at technique and skill. Showcases are glorified popularity competition where the best is the one who gets most popularity and appeal. Serena's major strenght was actually not trusting her own charm and appeal but actually having method and thought.
Not to say that showcases doesn't involve technique and all of that. For idols to sell themselves - that's what they do, don't deny it - they need to have a certain level of skill but here's the thing: some of this can be fabricated by their manager. That's what Palermo did to Aria after all. Yeah, we got flashback of Aria working her butt off but if I recall the flashback correctly, we didn't get to see her doing stuff with her pokémon. It was only Aria herself mostly.
Palermo wanted to sell Aria's image. And by "sell" don't take it the wrong way, it's a kids show after all. Serena thought about her pokémon. Not just about herself. She wanted to show how cool and cute her pokémon are, how they had skills and how she was capable of showing off their potential.
So when Serena ultimately rejected her offer, Palermo figured out Serena wasn't cut for that sort of career. Serena might have wanted that - though I've always felt that she taking on contests was more her being influenced by Shauna than anything else. Like Serena was so unsure what to do she end up pushing herself in a position she was living someone else's goal - but in the end, Serena's call was elsewhere even if she didn't know it. She started off Showcases because someone else tipped her on it but ultimately she learned she'd find her one true call on something similar and more fitting to her actual focus.
Then we got the typical japanese anime trope of listening to their elders 'cause they've lived for longer than you - and this show, Palermo might as well be over 1000 years old if Ash is any indication - and Serena got useful advice from someone else to find a more suitable career.
Yeah, actually Palermo suggested contests as a way for Serena to become a better performer and thus get closer to becoming Kalos Queen but I'm not putting past she banking on Serena finding more contentment with contests and end up settling on them.
The last shot we got from Serena was as much representing her new found self-confidence after finally letting her feelings clear and making her on her ultimate endgoal - Ash - but also she finally having clarity of purporse. Long gone was the girl who was scared of walking a dark forest by herself. Now she is out to make herself a charming lady for a certain oblivious boy. And she also finally found what she wanted to do in the meantime.
TL;DL: Palermo did Serena a favor by basically inducing her to quit a business where the most important thing is popularity and then go doing something more suited for her. Something that's similar but where the most important thing was the one thing Serena choose to make her performances stand out: technique and true skill.
Anyway, those are just my thoughts. Just my theory based on observation and reflection. The truth might be completly different and Yajima might end up giving another interview giving a whole different and never-thought-of explanation.
