Contests

Kenshin5

Wanderer
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    Upon the arrival of Third Generation many things have changed outside of Ash wardrobe, him starting over, and so on. One of thing changes was a new concept to Pokemon called Contests were a pokemon competes in an appeal process and then in battle. Although this is not your standard battle they style plays somewhat of a factor in the said battles.

    So with Contests in the picture we now have something more to focus on outside of Ash, this also gives some added character development to the female companions being that of May and Dawn. And at least to me it reduces the huge amount of fillers that seemed to be in play for stretches of the Johto saga.

    So now that Contests are a thing of the past we can look at them in retrospective. Where they good for the anime as a whole or just the female companion? Did they overly detract from other characters development? How did you as fan feel about Contests in the anime and are you sad to see them gone?

    Where they good for the anime as a whole or just the female companion?
    I think the contests definitely gave May and Dawn quite a bit of spot light and added to the characters. It gave them something to live for, I mean sure being a Water Pokemon Trainer is great but you really can't showcase Water types all the time.


    Did they overly detract from other characters development?
    I kind of got the feeling during AG and DP between Ash wanting to be the best he can be and May and Dawn competing in all these contests Brock seemed like the person let out to dry. Sure he had his time to shine in certain episodes, but it didn't seem like to an extent of Kanto and Johto sagas. Ash seemed to also suffer a little bit, in AG he only had 5 captures in the Hoenn Saga then got Aipom in Battle Frontier Saga. Then in DP he only had 6 captures. Whereas we are half way through Unova without contests and they have 8, so maybe I am just being spoiled or there is really something to this detraction of Ash during these Sagas. Although he did only get 5 in Johto as well...

    How did you as fan feel about Contests in the anime and are you sad to see them gone?
    It gave the anime a change of pace, and added some more flavor and style to battling. It shifted the focus from Ash or at least the main focus and shared it with May and Dawn. I am kind of sad they are gone, but it probably would have got dull after awhile. And thus far I am quite happy with how they are handling Unova without them.
     
    I'm glad contest are gone forever they were so pointless and boring.

    The 4 gen is were the pokemon contest were getting old real fast and people were getting tired of them like mad.
     
    To me, the Pokemon contests were a way to let the female character a chance to shine, rather than just sit there and cheer for Ash during his battles. I also think they're a good way to increase the female character's personality development.
     
    Where they good for the anime as a whole or just the female companion?
    Both really, it gave us something more to enjoy rather than wait between fillers for gym battles, and it gavethe female companion something to do rather than follow Ash everywhere. Ash even entered some too which was cool to see.

    Did they overly detract from other characters development?
    No way, and Brock had plenty, captures doesn't nessesarily mean developement at all if you ask me. He won that dress up contest and got that happiny egg, theres Pastoria City's Croagunk Festival and loads more.

    How did you as fan feel about Contests in the anime and are you sad to see them gone?
    I really enjoyed them, one of my favourites was the Wallace Cup, we even got to see May again. Like Kenshin said, it did give more spotlight on the companions too, so yeah. I do kind of miss them.
     
    They were good in AG because they were sparkly new and because of the character dynamics between May, Drew, and Harley. By DP we had seen it all before and Dawn's rivals were just so boring. There was nothing at all interesting about Zoey or Nando. You couldn't even say there was much, if any, character development for Dawn. She lost to Zoey in her first ever contest, and then lost to her again in in the final round of the Grand Festival. It would've made up for the dullness of her rivals if she had actually developed beyond Zoey before she left, but it seems that Pokemon doesn't like their main characters achieving their goal.

    I'm glad that contests are no longer in BW because I feel like they've run their course now. Not saying that gym battles aren't repetitive, but in my opinion, they have seemed to be able to stay without getting boring as fast, perhaps because that's what the whole game is about and contests were just a mini-game, anyway. Cilan at least seems to be keeping active during the series, but I feel like they're ignoring Iris now.
     
    They were good in AG because they were sparkly new and because of the character dynamics between May, Drew, and Harley. By DP we had seen it all before and Dawn's rivals were just so boring. There was nothing at all interesting about Zoey or Nando. You couldn't even say there was much, if any, character development for Dawn. She lost to Zoey in her first ever contest, and then lost to her again in in the final round of the Grand Festival. It would've made up for the dullness of her rivals if she had actually developed beyond Zoey before she left, but it seems that Pokemon doesn't like their main characters achieving their goal.

    I'm glad that contests are no longer in BW because I feel like they've run their course now. Not saying that gym battles aren't repetitive, but in my opinion, they have seemed to be able to stay without getting boring as fast, perhaps because that's what the whole game is about and contests were just a mini-game, anyway. Cilan at least seems to be keeping active during the series, but I feel like they're ignoring Iris now.


    I agree with the above statement. Contests were something new and different in Hoenn and it was exciting to see all their different elements and it brought so many new storylines instead of just doing some tedious looking filler than i'd zone out of after a few minutes. I really enjoyed it in May and Dawn but they should've really changed it in Sinnoh. Perhaps introduce it differently like the real world with their own traditions. Have contests but with a slight twist, idk. Just rambling now. Although I do agree that they didn't do much with Dawn and made her seem weak and feeble against the powerful rivals she had.

    If they do bring back contests (which I hardly doubt), I think they need to do something really differently with it. Change the rules and structure of it depending on the region they're exploring OR even have a more interesting protagonist take it up. Perhaps a male this time? That would be rather interesting. XD I mean, if they do ever bring it back, they need a more detailed intricate plotline for the character instead of replicating the lose-lose thing they had going on for Dawn.
     
    I agree with the above statement. Contests were something new and different in Hoenn and it was exciting to see all their different elements and it brought so many new storylines instead of just doing some tedious looking filler than i'd zone out of after a few minutes. I really enjoyed it in May and Dawn but they should've really changed it in Sinnoh. Perhaps introduce it differently like the real world with their own traditions. Have contests but with a slight twist, idk. Just rambling now. Although I do agree that they didn't do much with Dawn and made her seem weak and feeble against the powerful rivals she had.

    If they do bring back contests (which I hardly doubt), I think they need to do something really differently with it. Change the rules and structure of it depending on the region they're exploring OR even have a more interesting protagonist take it up. Perhaps a male this time? That would be rather interesting. XD I mean, if they do ever bring it back, they need a more detailed intricate plotline for the character instead of replicating the lose-lose thing they had going on for Dawn.
    Pokemon had their time on the show and they don't need to bring them back.

    I'm glad May and Dawn left since they had their time on the show,they were only on the show to promote contest,it is a good thing that the BW series won't have pokemon contest thank goodness.
     
    Pokemon had their time on the show and they don't need to bring them back.

    I'm glad May and Dawn left since they had their time on the show,they were only on the show to promote contest,it is a good thing that the BW series won't have pokemon contest thank goodness.

    I'd love to know your reasons for detesting contests so much. I personally thought (and alot of people agree with me) that contests were a great addition and gave us more to look forward to when Ash wasn't battling a gym and made for less fillers. but you've never stated a reason for your dislike.

    What is it?
     
    I loved contests so much back in AG, good rivals and May was a fun character to work with. D/P, well writers must have a hard time working on making more than one rival epic. In D/P Kenny/Nando/Zoey were not that fun to deal with, you saw no tension between Dawn or any of her rivals, well hardly we had one but she came in too late. So, while I did enjoy contests at one point, I am glad they didn't bring them back. They are doing a fine job with Iris without them any ways.
     
    I'd love to know your reasons for detesting contests so much. I personally thought (and alot of people agree with me) that contests were a great addition and gave us more to look forward to when Ash wasn't battling a gym and made for less fillers. but you've never stated a reason for your dislike.

    What is it?
    Well Contest were good during the AG series because they were fresh and new at the time,by the DP series era they start to get annoying old and lame,this is the reason why i am glad they won't never be coming back.
     
    Well Contest were good during the AG series because they were fresh and new at the time,by the DP series era they start to get annoying old and lame,this is the reason why i am glad they won't never be coming back.

    I do agree with you that contests became tedious but I think it's because there was no real rivalry between Dawn and her competitions. But I honestly think it wasn't handled well during the Sinnoh era and if they'd bring it back, i'd be more than happy to see it again, as long as they added some flavour to it.
     
    I do agree with you that contests became tedious but I think it's because there was no real rivalry between Dawn and her competitions. But I honestly think it wasn't handled well during the Sinnoh era and if they'd bring it back, i'd be more than happy to see it again, as long as they added some flavour to it.
    I highly doubt that they will ever bring back Pokemon contest since they are no longer part of the show and they are not in the games anymore either..
     
    I highly doubt that they will ever bring back Pokemon contest since they are no longer part of the show and they are not in the games anymore either..

    Never say never (damn you, justin bieber.) we didn't think the writers would ever replace Brock but lookie there, he's gone.
     
    Never say never (damn you, justin bieber.) we didn't think the writers would ever replace Brock but lookie there, he's gone.
    True about the fact that we never tought Brock would leave the show but it did happen. I don't see Pokemon contest coming back at all.
     
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