Since XY there's been a more 'gentle touch' approach to the girls. As in we rarely see them put through the wringer, they're usually only in events they win and usually very easily, and there's a real downplay of their flawed side compared to previous girls (or a lean more towards "positive" flaws like underestimating their own potential) and I think that really downplays their ability to gain character agency. A character that's never out of their comfort zone never really grows.
Yeah Misty and Iris weren't brilliantly handled arc wise either, but I think the reason they stuck out a little better to some is that they had blatant flaws and shortcomings, things to improve upon that held them back. They were allowed to be "losers" sometimes and go through trial and error, and that bulks up their approach and dynamic, while XY-SM the girls pretty much go straight up to winning or being plot armoured through all the gritty stuff and most of their roles with the others equate to being straight men.
Lillie's been the nearest to an aversion, but even then you can kinda see signs of them struggling not to faze her out right now compared to the boys, usually only giving her centre stage now when it's her time to be good at something. She is at least game to the slapstick and foible-driven humour however.
Yeah Misty and Iris weren't brilliantly handled arc wise either, but I think the reason they stuck out a little better to some is that they had blatant flaws and shortcomings, things to improve upon that held them back. They were allowed to be "losers" sometimes and go through trial and error, and that bulks up their approach and dynamic, while XY-SM the girls pretty much go straight up to winning or being plot armoured through all the gritty stuff and most of their roles with the others equate to being straight men.
Lillie's been the nearest to an aversion, but even then you can kinda see signs of them struggling not to faze her out right now compared to the boys, usually only giving her centre stage now when it's her time to be good at something. She is at least game to the slapstick and foible-driven humour however.
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