Kanto Grand Festival predictions

[CyberCubed]

Now that we're getting to the end of this saga, all people have been speculating about is the Battle Pyramid, such as what Pokemon Brandon will use and what Ash will use to beat him. And then there are people (myself included) speculating that there will be something else after Brandon, because those 7 symbols have got to be used for something. Those two topics have been done to death here so far.

Now for another "not-as-done-to-death," topic but still speculated about. Now that we know that May's final Contest is airing on May 5th (yay for english name connection), we know she'll surely get her 5th ribbon when she beats Jessie in the finals.

With the Contest arc done, the Grand Festival has to be right around the corner right? So now that we've beaten Ash to death, what is in store for May?

We have a pretty good idea of a couple of things about this Grand Festival to expect:

- Both Drew and Harley will be there

- The new opening suggests that her Beautifly, Skitty and Bulbasaur may return for some Grand Festival action, in which case she might be using all 7 of her Pokemon in the tournament.

- Caroline or Norman may show up

In any case, how can they make the Kanto GF not turn into an exact rehash of the Hoenn one? May has no new rivals this saga, as the only new coordinators she met was the Salaryman and Wakana. The Salaryman isn't interesting enough to warrent a second appearance, but Wakana should, even though she had zero ribbons in her debut ep and is considered a rookie coordinator. So that leaves us with only two possible returning coordinators aside from the main rivals.

As far as we know, Robert is not returning, which leads people to expect we may see a third rival emerge during the GF.

So what do you think is going to happen? Last time May beat Harley (and Anthony), and then lost to Drew. Drew then lost to Robert, who won the entire thing. With no Robert around this time, who will win the GF? Will May finally beat Drew? If so, who will she lose to? If May doesn't beat Drew, does that mean that Drew will win the entire tournament? Will any of the two rivals be written out after this tournament?

And last but not least, I really hope it's more than just 3 episodes this time.

 

[S.Suikun]

I'd like to see Wakana appear as a spectator. It would be a bit ridiculous at this point if she actually made it into the Grand Festival.

Since May has not actually faced Drew in a contest this entire saga, but he has shown up from time to time, I find it reasonable to believe that this will culminate in a final battle between the two of them. Harley will no doubt make an appearance, and I expect for him to get his *** whooped in possibly the quarterfinals. I have no true desire to see Robert again. He was never truly interesting in the first place.

I also find it fairly reasonable for a third, new rival to make an appearance (like Tonpei/Anthony in the Hoenn GF). of course, I'd also like to see past coordinators from Hoenn, but the chances of that happening are slim to none. To be honest, I'd like to see May win this. That would not seal her fate of being written out of the show, of course, and it would be nice to have a parallel to Ash, who will more than likely trump the Battle Frontier.

Although, I cringe at the thought of Munchlax or Squirtle trumping Flygon.

 

[CyberCubed]

Heh, the thought of Squirtle's Ice beam being quadruple effective against Flygon's Dragon/Ground types has a lot of people terrified at the thought.

If May does take down Flygon, and Squirtle is used in the match, I hope it only damages it a bit but lets another Pokemon like Combusken finish it off.

 

[♥Princess Ketchum♥]

its gonna be cool xD And may 5th is just before my birthday may 6 so hope its gonna be good

 

[vaporeon89]

I want only 3 things for this Festival:
-A new pokemon for Drew
-Double appealing
-Wakana ! (specially with a shiny Roselia)


;134;89

 

[Jo-Jo]

Eh, everyone knows my main predictions already. May beats Harley, loses to someone new, she and Drew don't face each other.

As far as the battling rounds go, Octillery seems to be the biggest threat on Harley's team so far. Assuming there are more double battles, the other Pokemon he uses against May could well be Cacturne, although I'd rather it were Banette, since we haven't seen it since the last Grand Festival. Ariados is a likely contender for one of the appeal stages; it seems to be good at that.

As for May, chances are all of her Pokemon will be used to battle at some point, but I'd guess Munchlax has the biggest chance of fighting Harley. If she uses Squirtle, I'm sure many people will be hoping it gets KOed. There's a good possibility Eevee will do an appeal - am I right in thinking it hasn't had a contest appeal yet? - and hopefully Combusken will do the other round, since Squirtle's had more appeals than any of the others so far and I didn't like what Munchlax did in the Wakana ep.

Now then, Drew - I'd like to see him with a new Pokemon, since Harley's got more than him at the moment. It should probably be an appeal Pokemon, if I'm right about him and May not battling. Aside from that, Roselia or Masquerain are shoe-ins for the other appeal stage. Flygon's always given me the impression of being more of a battling Pokemon.

The question of recurring characters is a little trickier. The Salaryman is unlikely to show again. I'd be inclined to say the same of Wakana, although I like the idea of her showing up as a spectator, especially if she has a Roselia. In fact, it would make sense for her character if she came and watched, crazy Drew-fangirl that she is. But the writers are likely to disappoint on that score.

Robert I would like to see again at some point, but perhaps not in this GF. (Although that said, in terms of characters we already know about, he is the only one I can see beating May, with the exception of one other who I'll get to in a bit.) I think there's a chance we might hear from him some time in the future, though, especially if May stays in the series long enough to actually become a Top Co-ordinator. And a Drew/Robert rematch would be nice to watch, too.

Finally, there's one more character who May's encountered this season who, IMO, stands a chance of making it into the Festival. This is largely wishful thinking on my part, but what the hey, I'll list her anyway: Shiromi. (That's the girl in the egg farm episode, for anyone who doesn't know.) I can see some possible evidence that the writers were setting her up to return later in the series: for a oneshot character, we got a lot of information on her. Her background and her character design are both quite detailed, moreso than your average CotD. The relationship between her and May was also relatively nuanced and complex, I thought, with Shiromi's initial envy of May and then their developing friendship. And she's already been linked to the contest side story, through her jealousy, her ambition to become a co-ordinator, and the fact that she was the one to give May her Eevee egg. IMO, it'd be cool to see May using Eevee (or whatever it's evolved into by that point?) in a match against Shiromi. What's more, I'd like to see how the baby Vulpix Shiromi got at the same time May got her egg is coming along. I bet Vileplume and Vulpix(/Ninetails?) could make spectaculor appeal and battling Pokemon.

What's more, Shiromi has the potential to be a really tough rival - she gave May and Munchlax a run for their money in her intro ep even though at that point she wasn't yet a co-ordinator. After a year of doing contests, she could be really strong by the time the GF rolls around. And it'd be great to see May with a recurring female rival this time! If Harley gets written out after Kanto, which I think might well happen (*sniffles*), Shiromi would be right there to take over as a second rival.

Assuming she does show at the GF, though, I'm unsure whether she'd beat May or not. It'd make sense for her to win so that May has someone to lose to, especially since there'll almost definitely be a big May vs. Harley battle to make up May's main victory. However, May has been a co-ordinator for longer than Shiromi, so maybe it'd be more realistic if May won.

But Shiromi probably won't turn up anyway... *sigh*

The only other thing I'm not sure about is what exactly will happen with Drew. Either he'll have to lose before May, which would be pretty hard to swallow, or she'll lose before him, in which case you have to wonder who he'd lose to, especially if Robert isn't there. There are two outcomes that I think would work the best:

1. Drew battles Harley and loses. Probably through some risky, experimental strategy of Harley's that he happens to luck out on. This would be good because there's already been some Drew/Harley tension established in canon, so the writers could play that up and make a really interesting match. It would also help to set up Harley as a real threat for when May faces him. May figuring out some inventive way to overcome his new strategy would provide a means to spice up their battle.

A tamer variant of this is that Drew loses to whoever goes on to beat May. This would be one way to establish the new character as a tough opponent. Should this scenario occur, the writers probably won't use Shiromi.

2. May beats Harley and loses to Shiromi/whoever. Then the person May lost to loses to Drew, who goes on to win the Festival. This would probably be the more realistic outcome in terms of the characters' respective skills. It would also set up Drew as an uber trainer for the D/P region.

That's about all I can think of. I'll probably be lucky if a quarter of it turns out right, heh.

Heh, the thought of Squirtle's Ice beam being quadruple effective against Flygon's Dragon/Ground types has a lot of people terrified at the thought.

...It does?

 

[Dreamcoat]

The writers'll pull a Harrison/Tyson and make an unknown person win the whole thing.

 

[CyberCubed]

I really like the idea of Wakana returning as a spectator. Since she probably won't be able to get all 5 ribbons in time, her showing up just to cheer for Drew (and May) from the sidelines would not only be in character, but would ne a neat treat.

Actually, if Wakana didn't show up to watch the GF in person it would even be a bit OOC, since why would she pass up the chance to meet May and Drew again? Wakana said in her last appearance that May was "the girl that Drew respected the most," and I can't figure out how she'd know this unless there are cameras posted all over the Grand Festival grounds or something. I really hope she'll be there, even if she doesn't battle she still has amusing moments. Oh, and her appearing with a shiny Roselia (since it has no unevolved form) would complete her compatibility with Drew and his Pokemon. ( )

I'm less sure about Shiromi though, even though it would be nice to see her again.

I agree that we need to see Harley's Banette and Drew should have a new Pokemon. Since Ash isn't training any Pokemon this time, (unlike Snorunt/Glalie last time), does that mean he'll have more interaction with May during her practicing before the competition, or he'll just sit on the sidelines with Brock/Max? Here's hoping they don't waste too much time with Team Rocket either.

...It does?

A lot of Squirtle haters are worried that it'll receive the glory by defeating Flygon with an Ice beam or two. Given the writers track record, it actually is worth worrying about. Let's hope it doesn't happen.

 

[Wind Waker]

I hope some random guy doesn't win. It would also be nice to see May use all her pokémon too eahc proving themselves worthy. But my main hope is that in the semi-finals or grand final May and Drew are in some climatic showdown that pins everyone to their seats.

 

[Dreamcoat]

I predict that Squirtle will pull a 'Charmander Evolution' out of nowhere =/

 

[Ralts Master]

Although, I cringe at the thought of Munchlax or Squirtle trumping Flygon.

That's at least realistic. Flygon goes down like a ton of bricks to ice attacks...

 

[Jo-Jo]

Drew might well have some strategy to dodge Ice Beam, though. He doesn't tend to underestimate his opponents, and he knows pretty well what May's capable of. Besides... anime =/= games, etc. Drew's Flygon could have better defences.

 

[Flamez]

Man, the thought of squirtle beating drew's flygon has been eating my brain, if that happens i'll go crazy. If the match up comes down to may and drew i want combusken to take out flygon or whoever he uses against her.

As far as the other characters, it would be great to see Wakana again as others have said, and well Harley will definetly be there so maybe munchlax will gets its revenge against octillery.

 

[Gravy]

From what we've seen, Flygon is a speed demon when in flight. So unless Haruka comes up with a strategy that involves disorienting it by having her other pokémon attack it head on and distracting it's attention from a slew of Ice Beams, I'm having a hard time seeing that ickle Squirtle being able to land a direct hit to cause some major damage.
Or at least thats what the logical, more hopeful, side of my brain is telling me.

Gravy would like Grace to pop up again. Yes he would.

 

[V Faction]

My Predictions: Some stuff happens, some other stuff happens.... aaannnd all the characters live happily ever after.

 

[The Big Al]

Hrm. I wonder where they'll have the Grand Festival. Celadon maybe?

 

[jolteonjak]

Gravy would like Grace to pop up again. Yes he would.

I would be so happy if she did!

 

[S.Suikun]

Hrm. I wonder where they'll have the Grand Festival. Celadon maybe?

Maybe. That won't increase the chances of Erika's appearance, unfortunately.

 

[HoennMaster]

All I hope is that Drew appears since he has only appeared twice this season

 

[.Bambi.]

From what we've seen, Flygon is a speed demon when in flight. So unless Haruka comes up with a strategy that involves disorienting it by having her other pokémon attack it head on and distracting it's attention from a slew of Ice Beams, I'm having a hard time seeing that ickle Squirtle being able to land a direct hit to cause some major damage.

Squirtle uses Ice Beam. Flygon dodges. lolwut? Ice Beam has hit the tip of Flygon's wing, severely reducing his speed! Squirtle uses Ice Beam again. OMG DIRECT HIT!!!

Wouldn't be the first time...


Anywhays, what I'd like to see in the Grand Festival is May drop Drew and his MiracleGro-ing Roselia near the quarter finals [c'mon! She needs to beat his at some point] and Harley beat May. Yes, Harley.
It'd be deliciously evil! I mean, wouldn't it be one of the most unexpected but overly satisfying way to end May's Contest run in Kanto? On the note of Harley, however, he needs to use that Banette. Like, pronto.

And as a new GF gimmick, they could have two Co-Ordinators team up against another and have a double battle. To add conflict, she could be paired up with Harley, so they have to team up to win. Of course, their hatred for eachother would surely cause some difficulties.


Yup. That and I'd be happy. About new Rivals, can't really comment as I don't know who it'd be. As for Hoenn Co-Ordinators appearing, I don't know. Really, I dont. Wanaka though, now that's a give-in.