No but Team Rocket is just getting ridiculous at this point. They are still following them after like 2 years, and it's just to capture ONE PIKACHU!
Really, there are many more pokemon to capture, and a lot rarer then a Pikachu.
Another thing is that Ash is jerk. In those episodes where TR find wild Pokemon and try to take them, Ash always has to stop them, even though they're not stealing them from other trainers.
This being one of my main loves and issues with Pokemon, I feel like I should say something, shouldn't I?
I'd say my biggest overall gripe with the anime is the mismanagement of Team Rocket. Team Rocket is an organization and instead, we see it in the eyes of three of its most ineffective agents, occasionally getting a glimpse of the power structure/agents/projects. The series would do well to prolong the series by having Giovanni go after the Trainers that defeat his top agents (At least Special compensates nicely for this) instead of pointless filler but such things aren't going to happen. It seems overall that the producers have given up on the org: we haven't seen new agents such Jinjii/Bashou/Buson, any new projects since Butch and Cassidy's side stories in P Chronicles (I won't get started on their new characterization), we don't even know why Giovanni went on an Gym Leader hiatus.
Incidentally, has Giovanni made an appearance in Battle Frontier yet, besides Scheme Team or going to debut this dub season (spoil away, I don't mind)?
The evidence is obvious and can't have hope for new villains (they started great with Aqua/Magma and, then, petered out and I am dubious with Team Galaxy, but the future isn't set in stone for them) to refresh the series either -- we're stuck with J/J/M and we have to live with it. On the plus side, as I'm coming off negative ish here, I hope J/J/M stay, because frankly, the series would be far worse off without them as we need their antics to counter the boredom/burned out writing of the series. It's a mixed bag, I know.
Now the Rocket abuse and the constant blasts off -- that's another mega-rant for another day.
I hope I'm being germane in my playing with another angle here, because I like the topic.
Another thing is that Ash is jerk. In those episodes where TR find wild Pokemon and try to take them, Ash always has to stop them, even though they're not stealing them from other trainers.
Originally, I think they were villains but the series charged them with an underdog vibe and that's well and good but the constant carrot and stick game is bothersome. In terms of viewer empathy but with the upcoming Orienteering episode tomorrow, I'm thinking slightly otherwise. Speaking of what Icha said to hint of a spoil. Heh.
One thing that many people have forgotten is the fallen grace aspect with Giovanni -- the trio were his best agents and, then, once met Pikachu and Ash, it's been a downward spiral of failure ever since. This tragic image certainly helped cement the viewer empathy but now, it's been eroded away since Hoenn. Granted, Training Daze touched upon this, so the writers haven't forgotten but they haven't used it either.
And props to Icha for taking what I said another step further. Serves me right for writing at 2:00 A.M.
Props...? *is honored*
...Who said they were his best agents? "Training Daze" seemed to point away from that...
Props, propers. Whichever. I go for the slang, boy-ee.
...
That's just terrible.
Anyway! From what I gathered from "Battle Abroad St. Anne", and at the time, J/J/M's losing streak was minor and the general impression was Giovanni had a higher opinion of the trio prior to the episode if you catch it during his initial exposition/dialogue. However, it certainly wasn't at the level of beratement he usually treats them with. I guess I'm inferring respect and the fact we weren't introduced to other agents at that point, means they were more specialized. Of course, I am also using Meowth's "Top Cat" lines/boats for some reference, because at the time (early in the series), had to interpret into something deeper.
Of course, that was before we realized the writers didn't want to use the organization at all and it went to pot with Training Daze. Oh, well, was a fun image. I guess it's the closest you or I could get to fanon.
And RocketCat, oh yes, but remember Ash-tachi are the "heroes" of the series and "heroes" can do no wrong. Same with the villains and how the "villains" (albeit really loosely with the trio 9/10ths of the time) can never win. But they are getting better, with the actual villains at least.
Darker? I dunno, the season five projects (Raikou, Lugia, and Red Gyarados) were rather dark in tone for me (hostages, experimentation).
