Harley and Drew in Shinou (*SPOILERS*)

[Jo-Jo]

Anyone who doesn't want to be spoiled for the Kanto Grand Festival, hit the back button now.









OK, so May finally won a battle against Drew. The title of the as-yet unaired AG186 is 'Haruka VS Shuu! Rivals Forever!' Harley will almost certainly be in this episode too, as the title was first revealed on his Japanese VA's website. Many people have speculated that Drew would receive the Gary treatment once May beat him and leave at the end of the region. Sooo, opinion time! What's going to happen in Shinou?

 

[Nathan Madien]

I'm going to go will possibility A. Both Drew and Harley have been established rivals for May since Hoenn. Unless the writers intend on clearing their slate, the writers will probably just rehash the two fan-favorites for Shinou.

 

[ハルカ and ゴンベ]

I'm sure that both Shuu and Harley-san are going to be Haruka's Rivals forever, Plus, an episode title is called Haruka vs. Shuu Rivals Forever
So...meh.

 

[intergalactic platypus]

They're both fan favorites, so I don't see why they would be written out. Theres no behind the scenes issues, no low popularity, and no loss of use. I don't see why they would leave

 

[Judai Yuki]

Why would either of them be?

 

[dannyphantomhott]

Well wasn't Gary a fan favorite and they got rid of him? So to be too shocked if they got rid of another fan favorite. Plus the whole Brock insadent, I don't know what to think. Them writers are so crazy.

 

[CyberCubed]

I think they'll both be in Shinou. The only reason I can think that one of them would be written out is if the writers have some brand new rival planned, (maybe one of the D/P trainers?), and need to make room, since three ongoing rivals might be a bit too much.

If not, I'm guessing they'll stay. Harley was #1 on Pokemon.com's Top 10 rival list, so we know the guy is as popular in the U.S. as he is in Japan. Drew is also VERY popular in Japan, (you cannot throw a stick without finding another Japanse fansite about him), so I doubt he'll leave.

Also, the writers probably had Drew lose by time running out rather than a KO so they could keep him. That way it's still debatable that Drew might have won, (Absol didn't look as worn out as Combusken did). Maybe they won't write him out until May beats him completely, KOing both his Pokemon in a GF to settle that she's stronger than him once and for all.

Anyway, I think they'll both stay for Shinou. Unless the writers plan to give May some new rival and they need to make room, there's little reason for either to leave.

 

[Seiryu]

Well wasn't Gary a fan favorite and they got rid of him? So to be too shocked if they got rid of another fan favorite. Plus the whole Brock insadent, I don't know what to think. Them writers are so crazy.

Yeah, Gary was dropped even though he was popular, but that's because there were issues with his VA, and unlike here, if a VA quits in Japan, instead of passing along the character's role to someone else, they tend to write his character off the show (unless it's someone exceedingly important to the series, like Ash to Pokémon or Yugi to Yu-Gi-Oh!). I think they might've been testing the waters when they replaced Brock with Tracey, because I'm pretty sure he was brought back due to negative fan response.
As intergalactic platypus said, there are no behind-the-scenes issues that would warrant either Drew or Harley being written off the series. Since they're among the most popular characters in Japan, then by all means, they should please the fans! Keep 'em both!

 

[intergalactic platypus]

Why would either of them be?

Because they're enormously popular. The contest arc wouldn't be nearly as popular without good supporting characters, and if they start making boring fellow coordinators Mays arc might take a severe drop in popularity

 

[Flamez]

I dont think there going anywhere, i expect to see them both in Shinou. Harley still has the most potential, May's beaten him 4 times while he's beaten her only once. We all know he still hates May. Drew just barely lost and as Cyber pointed out combusken was more worn out then absol. Im sure that rivals forever episode will say that drew and harley will be heading to shinou, and ofcourse may will go there as well.

 

[Judai-and-sho]

If we dont have both Drew AND Harly as her rivals in Shinou, what would be the point of bringing May?

 

[CyberCubed]

^ May can function without her rivals, obviously. After all, she's in more than 165+ episodes of AG without Drew/Harley. It's not like she constantly needs them around to remain interesting, since they only appear once in a while anyway.

Do you think she lacks a point in those 165 AG episodes? I sure don't. She's very entertaining by herself, her rivals just add spice to the Contest arc.

That's like saying what's the point of Ash with no Gary.

 

[Torchic23]

Of course I don't want Drew or Harley to be written off!

But I have a bad feeling about that "Rivals Forever" title. Drew and Harley aren't boring characters, and in fact, I believe they both have much more character potential. On the plus side (well, not really), I think they'd only write them off if May were to be written off for the new Shinou girl.

I'm not for sure, but I hope they do stay for Shinou.

 

[Rugia]

I'd like to see at least one of them get written off. Just because a character is popular doesn't mean that they have a one-way ticket to the next season. Brock was a fan-favorite but they've overused him until the point where he has no purpose on the show and to me seems stale. I would rather people miss a character, not be happy that they're finally gone.

 

[Stephy]

Maybe...

Drew and Harley will both continue to be May's rivals in Shinou.

They are the main rivals after all...Right? :\

Or...

They'll both be written out.

Haruka will have new rivals in the new region...

But of course, I don't want either of them to be written out. X_X

I'm slightly cautious of the episode, "Rivals Forever", though. X_X;; Either Harley or Shuu gets written out in the episode...But I hope they don't.

If they do, keep Shuu in the show.

~Cecilia~

 

[ghost master]

I'm unsure. The upcoming episode can be taken in many different ways. I dont know what I'd like to see either. Drew and Harley are both good characters but half way through shinou they could become really annoying. Harley was shoved down our throats this saga and now has 5 pokemon. In hoenn May had a lot of alone time and the amount of times drew showed up was a good amount to teach her lessons and not often enough to be shoved down our throats. They could toss in a new rival to spice things up but it would be a bit much for May to have three rivals and Ash none. Her rivals are what keep her alive for a lot of people. In Hoenn she was enjoyable on her own but Kanto has kinda killed almost everything I found enjoyable with her.

 

[CyberCubed]

Wow, looking at the poll after all this time has passed, seems like 25 people expect both Drew and Harley to continue to Shinou.

At this point I would be honestly shocked, if that "Rivals forever" episode turns out to be the last ep for one of them, really. They both seem to have the stamina to last for another full region at least, although I can see them getting a bit tired after that. In any case, Shinou would be a fitting saga to end the rivalries if need be, but Battle Frontier seems a bit too early.

I just hope they ease back on the Harley next saga, because I don't want to see him grow stale.

 

[Infinite Master Sceptile]

It would be nice to have a girl rival for May, a recurring one. Possibly May goes against her in one contest and loses, meets her later, and then sees her at the GF. But three rivals could be hard to juggle. Can it be done?

 

[Jo-Jo]

I think the problem with Drew and Harley both continuing to Shinou is that so far, they're the only characters May's had proper battles with in the Grand Festivals. Her matches against Anthony and Saori were cut down to under two minutes each. I'd like to see her fight someone new in Shinou. I think if I had temporary writerly powers, I'd either:

a) have Drew VS Harley in the Shinou Grand Festival while May battles a new trainer, and then let May battle the winner;

b) have Drew go off somewhere for one region and come back after Shinou.

It would be nice to have a girl rival for May, a recurring one. Possibly May goes against her in one contest and loses, meets her later, and then sees her at the GF. But three rivals could be hard to juggle. Can it be done?

^___^ SHIROMI/WAKANA!

OK, it'll never happen. Le sigh. Saori might be good, though - now that May's caught up to Drew, she could use a new rival to be the underdog to. And maybe we could get to see Drew VS Saori, finally.

Failing that, there's always the D/P girl. (I would totally ship her with May. And Drew. Possibly together.)

 

[karila]

I liked if Harley would be rivals with May but Drew he acts not like a rival i thonk he likes her but he doesn't admit it.I think Drew will move on from the rival categorie.