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CyberCubed: Is there any reason to identify Brock role with Ash coach and mentor so much though?
To the point that once his involvement in that area decreases we start viewing Brock as character who "lost his place in pokemon series", "who no longer had purpose in anime anymore"?
Cilan and Clemont were/are hardly cosaches and mentors in any aspect. Instead their role came from focusing on their goals, hobbies, past and personalities giuving chance to learn more about them. How much inflouernce Ash presence leaves on their lives and stories while being older care takers, navigators or problem resolvers.
Something which was applied to Brock fully after Johto series still playing role of older brother who looked after others, keep them out of trouble, showered Ash and others with advices and caeew cooking, cleaning, navigating. And providing sense of security, comfort in main cast balancing out group interactions through his wise, experienced attitude bringing lot of humor, hilarious scenes and suspense with his quirks, flirty antics and selfless nature.
Alongside focusing more on his career of becoming best breeder in world, got many episodes for himself in helping sick, injured pokemon utilizing what he learned from before and came to cognition how to raise up pokemon in better fashion. Promoted idea of friendship in being backbone on which Ash, Misty, May, Max, or Dawn could rely and look for tips, consolidation or help when needed. Such as being sparring partner to Ash in several of his training battles, taught him about first aid and how to take care of his pokemon risked his neck on several occasions to find needed berries or potion for his Pikachu or other injured pokemon being like brothers, accompanied May in her shopping ventures, talked with Misty about romance and love issues and showed lot of concern and compassion when ever she was in danger or got separated from group(such as when she ended split with TR, when falling of the cliff with Max) etc, etc. resulting in development of strong,significant friendship.
Entered various events like pokemon orientering, contests, tag battles, summer school arc, balloon race, transfirmation contest etc,
Caught various pokemon like Mudkip, Lotad, Bonsly, Croagunk. Through lot of devotion and love raised them up developing his talent and knowledge in exploiuting pokemon beauty and inner strength through other ways beside battling. Met several breeders which exchanged knowledge and insights with him developing firward.
Gave us more insight in his family, relationship with parents or younger brother Forest with traveling with Ash helping him in becoming more open and emphatic as person developing lot of care for his friends, found understanding and common language wuth his family and slowly realized where he stands in life and what path he should follow. Traveling with Ash helped him to discover that such as doctor career. Starting to show interest and signs of leaning toward that path ever since Bagon episode in Battle Frontier.
So im not sure how moment when Brock stopped coaching Ash as much as he used to be his role "declined"?
Given how he still played important part in pokemon series just like Cilan and Clemont did.
Because regardless of how much focus , development and attention Brock received does not minimize fact how his character had his own potential, room to be done more with his story and dreams along with playing valuable role in keeping groupo on hold through logistic support and lor if knowledge.
p.s. Also i hope people do realize how lot of episodes focused on Brock were revolved around his breeding goal, evolution of pokemon, his development or exposition of own past, interests and personality.
As such they cannot be disregard as "useless fillers" if we learned new things about character and helped move him forward.
He was just unnecessary in DP, remaining because of what happened in the Orange Islands Saga.
If your referring to backlash, it was 10 times worse when Misty left but as its well known it didnt helped in influencing writers plans and decisions.
Making me question that fans disappointment over Brock removal for Tracey played any affect behind Brock coming back and being kept for this long. Based on interview with mr. Hidaka reason why Brock came back was because after writers saw how no one had problems with Brock eyes and color of skin liking him for who he is with their fears being ungrounded, they decided to bring back his character.
With fans complaints not having much, if any input on that.