I don't think gender matters that much, but I'm noticing it's becoming a trend. In Z (assuming there is a Z version coming) I'll bet it will be someone different who was an NPC in X and Y. Would be cool if Red came back though... maybe all grown up or something. xD Black and White are supposed to be set several years after the earlier generations, and BW 2 two more years after that. Yet at the PWC Red (and the other Leaders for that matter) haven't aged a day. xD