Brock on the Show

[Jorah]

Brock really doesn't add anything to the group anymore...they should either let him do more stuff to become a breeder or let him go.

Pokémon isn't Pokémon without the original characters.

Pokemon isn't Pokemon without Pokemon.

XD

 

[nickstr]

So you somehow think that having a static cast for all eternity would prevent the series from "getting crap" at Advanced?

I think it would especially when you look at the fact that a large portion of the complaints against the show are about the main cast shuffling. Having the same cast forever can work out very nicely if they are utilized well which seems to be the mistake that the Pokemon writers made and they took the lazy way out by replacing characters. Look at the Simpsons for example, that show is still doing extremely well and it has not had a main cast change since EPISODE NUMBER ONE so Pokemon could be the same way if the writers had not taken the lazy way out and replaced characters but given all three equal chances to achieve their goals. If the characters were better utilized in Johto and the main cast was not shuffled but rather the contest character was added then I think it would be better off today considering that Misty's departure resulted in an angry backlash from her fans and the majority of them shunning the show in protest because they were so upset over it. Also, if May was just added to the main cast rather than Misty being booted off and May taking her place I don't think near as many people would have hated her immediately and still hate her today.

 

[Impmon]

Hell, I'd still like to see Misty come back. But as people said before, Brock could cook, and he balances out the traits of Ash and Dawn.

 

[PorygonSquared]

I think it would especially when you look at the fact that a large portion of the complaints against the show are about the main cast shuffling. Having the same cast forever can work out very nicely if they are utilized well which seems to be the mistake that the Pokemon writers made and they took the lazy way out by replacing characters. Look at the Simpsons for example, that show is still doing extremely well and it has not had a main cast change since EPISODE NUMBER ONE so Pokemon could be the same way if the writers had not taken the lazy way out and replaced characters but given all three equal chances to achieve their goals. If the characters were better utilized in Johto and the main cast was not shuffled but rather the contest character was added then I think it would be better off today considering that Misty's departure resulted in an angry backlash from her fans and the majority of them shunning the show in protest because they were so upset over it. Also, if May was just added to the main cast rather than Misty being booted off and May taking her place I don't think near as many people would have hated her immediately and still hate her today.

Funny that you bring up the Simpsons. Many Simpsons fans have been complaining about how the show has gotten stale and that the characters have been reduced to one-dimensional shells of their former selves. In fact, they even have a term for the latter effect: Flanderization.

And really, you exaggerate the impact of Misty's departure on audience perception. The ratings actually went up during the first season of Advance Generation, and most of the complaints are actually about the show being childish and repetitive to anyone not a fan of the show, and those complaints have been with the series since the first season. May is a popular character in her own right, despite the Misty fanatics complaining about her. The Bring Misty Back lot are merely a very vocal and extremely irritating minority in the fandom, and I see no purpose in having Misty back other than to get that lot to shut the f*** up.

 

[Vernikova]

Bringing Misty back would ruin her already boring character. People should be happy that the writers tried to salvage her character and just not drop her completley.

 

[Charaxes]

Err... technically, Misty CAN cook (I mean, they had to have had SOMETHING while staying at Viridian forest, plus, Brock wasn't with them in the Orange Islands [Tracey was instead], and yet they still seemed to do well without brock {and it was hinted that Misty might have been the one who did the cooking, since she was the one who cooked up the Salveyo medicene, as well as the fact that an official Pokemon anime card had her cooking some sort of stew.}.), as well as May and Dawn. I mean, we DEFINITELY know Ash doesn't have good cooking skills.

Also, I'm pretty sure that the backlashing would actually prove that he's becoming UNPOPULAR instead of his being popular (If I recall correctly, Max was labeled as the most unpopular character in Pokemon, and he was backlashed a LOT). I mean, don't popular people, err... you know, get almost all praise and virtually no backlash?

And another thing, admonishes it? Other than his being pulled by the ear (or in the case of Croagunk [and in earlier cases, Misty], being severely injured].), how exactly does he get Admonished for it? I mean, I really wouldn't count his being pulled away or being beaten as "admonishment", since several shows seem to promote it even MORE by doing it. I mean, take "Jerry Springer", for example: most of the people in that show beat each other, speaks a very uncontrolled string of.... err, "colorful" vocabulary, and at some points even goes as far as to do inappropriate things. The Host, Jerry Springer himself, often tries to quell the fighting, himself, but he in effect actually promotes it. Heck, it's partly thanks to him and some viewers that some toddlers learn their first bad words. See what I mean?

Oh, you're just going to town, aren't you?

If you want to go on Misty's cooking skills, go for it. However, the series didn't exactly highlight it much, therefore, I don't think about it in great detail. As for the cooking details with the OI, you're, no doubt, right -- it seems like a given (as you stated, "who else cooked?)". I was simply agreeing with the quoted member in my post.

And, thanks, Dark Lugia, for helping me there on "the popularity" issue. Of course, Brock returned to prominence in Johto because of his popularity. Conversely, if his popularity slips, the tide may turn on him (as it happens with any TV character, not just him). Probably won't happen, since the Japanese producers obviously like him, just not enough to do much with him. So, I'd say he's fine, so far. Until the fandom is vocal enough to say otherwise. Who knows? The kids like him, so he stays.

You're arguing my use of "admonish"? Look, my point was that the series itself admonishes him and his quest with the ladies, in how it won't let him have a lady for longer than 15 minutes or maybe one episode (not counting Ivy, as we still don't know what occurred, there). It's the constant carrot and the stick game, "how many times do you pursue it before you think you deserve a bite?" Admittedly, his being let down does get to me, at times.

Recent example would be his lady friend from the Tag Battle Tour three-parter. She just up and left with no warning -- how, as a viewer and a writer-in-the-making, am I supposed to react to that? Add it all up, I see it as a negative point within the series' own parameters, thus I form a negative connotation. I then use a specific word to convey such negativity. Now, I thought about using "chide," but I wasn't sure if it was apt enough. So, if you want me to substitute it, fine.

 

[Vernikova]

^ Yeah, I kind of wish she stayed around for a while. Or at least bring her back again. Brock could've been happy. Or maybe Lucy or Susie, though not likely.

 

[Jorah]

Some people think that she could come back at the end of the series and take Brock away from us since 1. She's also a breeder (is she?) and 2. A certain other creepy tag-battle partner popped up for a few episodes again.

 

[weedle_mchairybug]

Oh, you're just going to town, aren't you?

Err... sorry, I don't think I've heard of that one before.

If you want to go on Misty's cooking skills, go for it. However, the series didn't exactly highlight it much, therefore, I don't think about it in great detail. As for the cooking details with the OI, you're, no doubt, right -- it seems like a given (as you stated, "who else cooked?)". I was simply agreeing with the quoted member in my post.

Yeah, sorry, that little thing about cooking was more directed at Melodyfree than at you.

And, thanks, Dark Lugia, for helping me there on "the popularity" issue. Of course, Brock returned to prominence in Johto because of his popularity. Conversely, if his popularity slips, the tide may turn on him (as it happens with any TV character, not just him). Probably won't happen, since the Japanese producers obviously like him, just not enough to do much with him. So, I'd say he's fine, so far. Until the fandom is vocal enough to say otherwise. Who knows? The kids like him, so he stays.

Well, let's just see what happens.

You're arguing my use of "admonish"? Look, my point was that the series itself admonishes him and his quest with the ladies, in how it won't let him have a lady for longer than 15 minutes or maybe one episode (not counting Ivy, as we still don't know what occurred, there). It's the constant carrot and the stick game, "how many times do you pursue it before you think you deserve a bite?" Admittedly, his being let down does get to me, at times.

Err, sorry if I was arguing your usage of admonish, sir. And, well, Although I personally don't like how they did it with him, I kinda viewed it as a lesser evil compared to what they could have had almost all of the girls react to (I mean, that flock of squealing airheads in Princess vs. Princess was bad enough, I don't want almost every single female COTD/recurring female to have the mindset of the girls from Love Hina!). still,

Recent example would be his lady friend from the Tag Battle Tour three-parter. She just up and left with no warning -- how, as a viewer and a writer-in-the-making, am I supposed to react to that? Add it all up, I see it as a negative point within the series' own parameters, thus I form a negative connotation. I then use a specific word to convey such negativity. Now, I thought about using "chide," but I wasn't sure if it was apt enough. So, if you want me to substitute it, fine.

Well, true, but then again, as Jorah stated, it could be setting up for Brock to leave the cast eventually. Besides, May kinda had left with almost no warning in AG (Yes, i know they hinted at her going to Johto since the Kanto Grand Festival, but I meant how she left was considered rushed (she didn't even thank Ash, for goodness sakes. In fact, it seemed as though she didn't like Ash and was overjoyed that she is leaving. Of course, I haven't watched the episode, but the ending was still very rushed.).), they gave absolutely no reference about her (not even in the Dubbed version), and look what happened recently.

 

[Charaxes]

Err... sorry, I don't think I've heard of that one before.

Err, sorry if I was arguing your usage of admonish, sir. And, well, Although I personally don't like how they did it with him, I kinda viewed it as a lesser evil compared to what they could have had almost all of the girls react to (I mean, that flock of squealing airheads in Princess vs. Princess was bad enough, I don't want almost every single female COTD/recurring female to have the mindset of the girls from Love Hina!). still,

Well, true, but then again, as Jorah stated, it could be setting up for Brock to leave the cast eventually. Besides, May kinda had left with almost no warning in AG (Yes, i know they hinted at her going to Johto since the Kanto Grand Festival, but I meant how she left was considered rushed (she didn't even thank Ash, for goodness sakes. In fact, it seemed as though she didn't like Ash and was overjoyed that she is leaving. Of course, I haven't watched the episode, but the ending was still very rushed.).), they gave absolutely no reference about her (not even in the Dubbed version), and look what happened recently.

"Going to town"? It's more of a "hitting places/points all over," or a subtler version of "painting the town red."

Agreed, as I don't want female COTDs devolving into female fangirls and him raising a harem (Lord forbid). Sorry, I just think of Tenchi Muyo with him, and I always have that fear. Thank you for crystallizing it for me.

As to what Jorah said: yeah, the character might return to hijack him, as that's certainly a possibility. However, when I viewed that episode, at the time, I didn't catch any hints on foreshadowing. Face it -- the show isn't that subtle. Although, that's slowly changing in D/P (e.g., their treatment of Team Galactic and the return of May).

In irony, yes, May got actual foreshadowing in her departure, as opposed to you-know-who (plus Brock's own bolting over Prof. Ivy). Dogasu addressed this in the comparison of Harley and Drew's final episode:

"It's a great set-up episode for Haruka's eventual departure, and it just goes to show how much the anime producers have learned about removing characters from the show since the series started. I mean, Kasumi's departure didn't even get half the amount of foreshadowing that Haruka got. She was just hanging out one day when -BAM- time to be a Gym Leader again. "

https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/comparisons/battle_frontier/ep188.html

Chances are, we'll get it once again with Brock, if and when he goes. Judging from how they handled May, I'm pretty sure they've learned their lesson from "Pokeball Peril" and "Gotta Catch Ya Later."

The writing is improving, but they have ways to go. A long ways. And I'm going to throw in what Dogasu said on Max's finale in the final AG episode as my parting shot.

"Oddly enough, Masato seems to get more of a farewell than Haruka does. I guess the writers figured that they aren't done with Haruka but have pretty much exhausted all their Masato stories and figured that this would be as good a time as any to wrap his story up. I very seriously doubt that we'll ever actually see this promised trainer battle between Satoshi and Masato, but having him have that to look forward to is a lot better than telling him that he's going to be regulated to silent cameos where he combs a Kekking's hair for the remainder of the franchise's life."

https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/comparisons/battle_frontier/ep193.html

 

[Jorah]

Well, Conway and Aoi pop up again, despite people thinking they would be forgotten, so who knows what the writers are thinking?

 

[Charaxes]

Well, Conway and Aoi pop up again, despite people thinking they would be forgotten, so who knows what the writers are thinking?

The question I've been asking myself for the past five years. It's not like their production notes are public knowledge, like, say, the Western animation shows. Sighs.

There's a method to their madness, though, and I'll get to it, yet.