Yeah, I'll just join the bandwagon..
1. Rowlet3: Yeah.. #Arrowl2k16. Can't flaw its design at all.
2. Torracat: Who can't like this? Its a fire shooting cat!
3. Dartrix: I can see why some people don't like it. And I just take the snobby attitude for granted, I just know this thing will be awesome on my team until it evolves into the glorious Arrowl.
4. Popplio3: I don't like Popplio's line much, but this design is solid. I can't fault it.
5. Rowlet: Love the little bugger, but the designs above just feel more complete, but that's just due to it being the basic stage.
6. Litten: Same with Rowlet, it's got a good design, but I like Rowlet more.
7. Litten3: I don't dislike it much, I'm actually warming up to it. But I still don't find the design to be all that.
8. Popplio: Yeah.. That starter that you wouldn't mind getting the Piplup/Oshawott/Chespin-treatment just so you don't have to see it go through that.. Don't get me wrong, I like its design, it's sleak... But..
- left intentially open or dramatic purposes..
9. Brionne: Ugly. As. Sin. Immediately there are people that have taken a liking towards it, but I don't see it. At all. It's not the feminity of the frilly dress or the pigtails. It's just the look it exudes in general and those eyes that look like.. yuck. Its snout looks as if it has been glued on, whereas Popplio's looks like it actually is a part of its body. Its just not working for me.
I like the middle stages of most starter pokémon a lot. Seriously, I honestly can't name a lot of them where I didn't had an instance where I regretted evolving them. Ivysaur, Charmeleon, Wartortle, Quilava, Grovyle, Marshtomp, Monferno, Grotle, Dewott, Frogadier, they're among my favorites even though I like Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Typhlosion, Sceptile, Swampert, Torterra, Infernape, Samurott and Greninja probably just as much. Brionne though? Not so much. It joins the small group of middle stages that I actually don't like.. consisting off: Servine and.. BRIONNE.. Just yuck.. -.-
I think the reason some people are struggling with how feminine Brionne is is because Popplio had a masculine vibe to him (due in large part to fan art and people noticing he may be a strongman due to the circus theory). So it is a bit jarring when we see pigtails and a frilly dress and such. And it's totally fine for people to want gender neutral starters.
Personally I'm digging the dorky pop star and I can't wait to see Ariana Grande evolve into Adele
I though Popplio was pretty much gender neutral to be honest. People take issue with Brionne because it's eyes are ugly as sin. I don't mind that it looks feminine at all, I think that its design just hurts my eyes and I'll be glad the moment I fully evolve it in order to complete the 'dex/use Bubblaid.