The only character on the cast I strongly disliked was DP-era Brock, who was a bad character for obvious reasons. Yeah, let's bring Brock back to run his character into the ground and kill whatever people used to like about him.
However a few more I didn't care for:
- Johto-era Misty. She's basically a flanderized version of her Kanto/Orange self and it became obvious early in the region the writers had nothing planned for her. Considering Johto went on for 157 episodes, why there are so few Misty-centric episode is beyond me. The Whirl Cup felt like the writers said, "Oh crap, we didn't do anything with Misty's water pokemon goal for 5 years, we better give her a quick tournament to make up for it!" and that was it. Prior to Serena, Misty was the least active female companion of the main girls, and did the least amount of on-screen battling, (against trainers, not Team Rocket blast offs). I even think Iris has more on-screen battles than Misty did. Togepi weighed her character down, and well...that was it. I do admit she got slightly better in AG.
Out if curiosity, not trying to invalidate your opinion or anything, but why you always say Misty was "flanderized" in Johto?
I mean flanderization occurs when writers exaggerate one or two character traits to the point of becoming their only defiing characteristics.
But i dont really remember this happening with Misty in Johto.
She was still active and quirky taking role in solving clues and intense situations(like mystery of Gligarman or volunteering to take care of mischief Wooper). She was still sassy and full of sarcastic nature coming up with funny remarks about Brock interest for girls, about Ash appetite, tendency to get him and others lost, commenting on his skills as trainer and overconfidence. I recall she was still enthusiastic about water pokemon wantung to catch several of them (like Quagsire, Chinchau, Teddiursa, Totodile, Corsola she eventually got etc). Dreamer wanting to work as professor assistant in pokemon fossil institute, helping Brock about love problems with girls like Temaku or Suzie, trying to pair others up.
She was still hotheaded and impulsive getting in clash with several characters who "stepped on her foot"(Dorian, Andreas, Egan, Casey, Jessie, Jamesold man who gave Ash pill against nausea thnking hre poisoned him etc).Bragged over being better trainer than Ash arguing with him over missing boat, using his stronger pookemon on inexperienced trainers(like Charizard), about slacking around rather wanting to eat hamburgers than training, Comic scenes getting on each other nerves in more subtle manner such as Ash avoiding to taste soup Misty cooked in "Sick Daze", Misty trickibg him in wearing Octillery costume to help Marcellus out, Ash joiking overr Misty being stubborn like Snubull and Houndoor making her irked etc.
I mean maybe you didn't liked that Misty became less violent in Johto due to not being as impulsive like she used to be in early , mid Kanto? But in that case we are talking about not liking that character matured as part of its personality development. Something i considfered good thing resulting in gettzing over feeling worthless compared to sisters, overcoming Gyarados fear, becoming more compassionate and understanding for her friends viewing them as her family as she mentioned to others like Sakura. Became more independent taking charge in resolving things on her own not requiring Ash, Brock help as much anymore(showed when taking on TR mecha with her Politoad, taking lead in stopping Sneasel by herself saying to Ash to leave this to her, battling TR to resvue SAkura Eevee forms)etc.
While still being quirky, losing strings over bugs, playful and sarcastic liking to sour others up in her recognized way with added dose of spounk and fire not letting others to mess with her in more experienced, matured manner as chronicles, Hoenn showed.
But as far as flanderization goes i didn't noticed that with Misty still showing wide variety of expressions, personality traits and lot of emotion.
I also dont think Misty was background there 90 % of time.
I mean i noticed Misty battled more, had more episodes focused on her, received alot more focus on her career of becoming best water pokemon trainer in world, played role in many episodes coming up with ideas and plans to stop enraged pokemon, expose thieves like black Arachnid, helped stopping war between grass pokemon which disliked their evolution,
Started initiative in luring Rhydon which knew surf out of water being amazed by his resistance and fearlessness from water. Etc.
Much more than she did in Kanto?
Just saying.
Based on length of saga she obviously didn't got as much as she could had, true. But overall she still got more focus than she had in Kanto, Orange Islands. Especially in Master Quest giving her fantastic treatment.
Maybe you dont remember? Since Johto did aired over 10 years ago.
- Battle Frontier-era Max got really pointless, as the writers had run out of ideas for him at that point. I honestly think Max should have stayed home after Hoenn and BF just continued on as Ash/May/Brock until AG ended.
Personally i didn't see it that way.
He was heavily involved with Deoxys crisis and ranger Solana, entered pokemon orientering. Supporting May on her contests quest and getting in their typical childish bickering known for brothers and sisters.Entered Ninja school with others trying himself at art of camouflage, being eager to see fighting dojo pokemon just to end up annoyed when having to take all that hard work ordered by master Hamm. Had many fun moments such as in old pokemon mansion being scared by ghost types, figuring out James and Cassidy plan to steal pokemon after doing resesarch by himself
Often used his pokenav helping to find directions to next town, warned May and Ash about pokemon attacks, gave advices on what kind of strategy opponents uses etc.
I mean for character which couldn't battle and didn't had pokemon Max was treated pretty decent in Battle Frontier, Granted there wasn't build up storywise for him, but since he was planned to be replaced with May it would be counterproductive to start some substantial development ending dropped.
Post-BW2 Iris. This is where the writers completely give up on Iris. What happened to evolving Axew? What happened to her dragon-related goal? Why did they give her a Dragonite to make it look like she accomplished something? It was almost as if the writers felt Iris had completely bombed with the fanbase, leading them to create Serena who was the exact opposite of Iris in every way.
I don't know, i wouldn't be so sure about that. Iris got lot of development in screen time in second half of BW saga. Whole Junior Cup was focused on her issues with Dragonite trying to earn his thrust and reach to its heart. Battling Drayden who is dragon master revealing more of her past and aversion toward Opelucid city having bad memories from there. Teamed up with childhood friend from dragon village Shannon focusing on her ability to read and understand dragon emotions calming outraged Hydreigon down.
Played big role in legendary Kami trio arc making progress in gaining Dragonite respect starting to work as team. Entered Marine Cup, tried to convince her Emolga to go back to her after joining TR, meet up with dragon specialist gym leader clair foreshadowing their future battle etc.
No offense but did you watched whole Best Wishes? Because while there was involved poor pacing and rushed development, Iris was anything but "background" in Unova after Roxie gym.
Forgot to say.
EDIT:
In response to what Takeshi Shudo said. Please dont twist out his words. He only stated how he regrets for Misty not being given bigger role and how he should have done more with character.
But he never apologized for Misty existence in this show or portrayed her as "poor", nor his words reflect opinions from every other writer.
He stated how he didn't really wanted to replace character but at that point he had no choice following upper staff instructions with only TR and Misty being in consideration. And since he preferred TR its not surprising why they were kept. If he preferred Misty it would likely be other way around.
