Wobbuffet's Presence in XY

[Wobbu]

I was really excited to see Jessie's Wobbuffet make a return in XY after going through the whole BW series without it. Wobbuffet was a humorous Pokémon during the Johto series, being the center of attention in many episodes. Wobbuffet was still fairly entertaining during AG and DP, but took a step back from the spotlight. However, Wobbuffet has been very lackluster during the XY series. It only appears in every few episodes, and when it does appear, it's usually only for a minute or two. Not only that, but it hasn't been nearly as humorous as it used to be.

What do you think of Wobbuffet's presence in the XY series? Do you want Wobbuffet to return to its old ways? Do you think the old Wobbuffet would fit in with XY's atmosphere? Or are you content with the current Wobbuffet?

 

[mishy.]

I think the reason why Wobbuffet hasn't really gotten much attention because as a whole Team Rocket hasn't really gotten much of the spotlight. Like, they've been in plenty of episodes but there has been very few episodes with them being in the limelight (the only one I can really think of is the one where they trick Clemont). I think what would help is a more Team Rocket centered episode where Wobbuffet can participate because it couldn't really do it in the last episode where they were centered.

Like, I'm not sure how much it would help but it would probably help more than how the episodes have currently been going when it comes to Team Rocket if you know what I mean.

 

[Garchomp]

I'm not sure what you'd want Wobbuffet to be. Wobbuffet has and always will be the punchline pokemon. All I remember it doing before was dressing up occasionally, while it at least uses counter/mirror coat more often.

Regardless of whether Wobbuffet remains what it is now or not, Team Rocket in anything past OS(And outside of BW) has been, are currently, and will continue to be useless, unnecessary, and unneeded plot device that are only kept on the show for the same reasons Ash and the rat are kept on the show.

 

[Scotash!]

Wobbuffet is an interesting one for me. To begin with I found him funny and a good addition to Team Rocket. But now, he's pointless. It's not funny anymore to hear "Wooooobuffet" anymore. He serves no purpose, (just like Team Rocket these days to be brutally honest), and I personally think he needs to go. Team Rocket needs a huge shake up because in BW they were completely relevant and actually added something to the anime and in XY it's really same old same old shtick that was old 7 and 8 years ago. If nothing better than the catching Pikachu plan/failing whilst blowing up some over the top contraption/getting thundered and blasting off routine can be found for them, I wouldn't be against dropping them completely. Going from Black & White to XY it's like night and day for Team Rocket and obviously the writers don't have a plan for them.


Sorry for going off topic slightly, but that's how I feel about Wobbuffet & Team Rocket as a group.

 

[Perriechu]

Wobbuffet is easily one of my favourite Pokemon from the Anime but I feel that they don't know what they're doing with Team Rocket in the new series.

Wobbuffet easily fit in the with the absolutely awful TR in the original series, Advanced Gen and DP sagas, because they were all buffoons and they provided some great comic relief.

However BW rolled around and since TR started being serious, Wobbuffet, unfortunately had to go, however in XY it seems like they're trying to find a balance between the old Team Rocket and BW Team Rocket and it just isn't working because Wobbuffet only works when they're completely hopeless, I don't like this new "balance" because they cannot find a mix between OS TR and BW TR, they either need to go back to being completely useless and there to provide comic relief or go back to being the TR they were in BW. Wobbuffet only fits in with one of those, unfortunately.

But since the "new" TR are undoubtedly better at battling it's weird that Jesse doesn't use Wobbuffet at all. I know she never used it much for battling before but you'd think they'd have her use it more this time since they're more serious.

 

[Wobbu]

I get that Wobuffet wouldn't seem to fit in with the BW Team Rocket, but I don't see why Wobbuffet could not have also had a slight change of seriousness. Looking back to the first episodes of XY, Jessie was actually using Wobbuffet effectively by making use of its counterattacks. They could have easily done that during BW.

With that said, it is understandable why Wobbuffet has been out of the spotlight due to Team Rocket in general playing less of a role in the anime, but it is possible to maintain a balance between the borderline-serious Team Rocket and the comical Wobbuffet. XY001 and XY008 are both great examples of what I mean. The way Jessie used Wobbuffet to counter Pikachu's attacks in XY001 actually made Team Rocket a threat. For those who have watched XY008, I'm sure you remember this scene:

It's clear that the writers are capable of balancing Wobbuffet in Team Rocket's current atmosphere. I just want to know why they rarely do it.

 

[Hikamaru]

I loved Wobbuffet as a character, he was a very unexpected addition to the team (given Jessie accidentally traded her Lickitung for him) but he really made me enjoy the anime and I guess you could say I started liking Wobbuffet in general thanks to him. I was kinda sad he didn't go to Unova during Best Wishes (most likely due to the whole "advertise only Unova Pokemon" thing in early 5th Gen) but it was glad he rejoined in X & Y given his line is in the Kalos Dex, but I don't think that was intentional.

And yeah I actually got to watch that scene shown in the gif Wobbu posted, from the episode Grooming Furfrou! and by golly Wobbuffet's different "hairstyles" were so funny. I really loved that Mona Lisa one lol. The writers really did take a good direction with Wobbuffet in X & Y that's for sure, especially given Team Rocket actually do use his counterattacks more often now so you can tell he's definitely improved.

 

[mishy.]

I feel like is Jessie uses Wobbuffet too often it would A. Become redundant (not saying that using Pumpkaboo isn't redundant but at least it can do a little more than just countering) and B. after a while it wouldn't really be too hard to counter Wobbuffet (or, alternatively people would start getting upset because Ash and Co still haven't figured out a pretty easy way to counter it).

So that said I feel like Jessie only using it some times kind of gives out a element of surprise to throw the group off-guard? Which is more interesting than her using Wobbuffet to simply counter more often. Though if she can use both Wobbuffet and Pumpkaboo that would be an interesting thing to see. It was interesting to see it when they had the 'mecha-mega' thing on their Pokemon, after all.

As for the more relaxed side of things like in XY008 Team Rocket first need to have more opportunities like that happen more often. Again, it doesn't quite help that the kind of spotlight their getting doesn't quite yield to it right now.

 

[Wobbu]

Wobbuffet would definitely become redundant if they used it all the time, but they don't need to use it for every episode. Wobbuffet's countering would get old but that doesn't mean the writers should refrain from using it. It's a good temporary obstacle when Team Rocket begins a battle. It would also be good to see Wobbuffet working with another one of TR's Pokémon.

It's just that Wobbuffet used to constantly have some little gag but now it's rarely seen. I'm glad they kept the "Woobbufffett" while Team Rocket blasts off, but it could definitely spend more time out of its Poké Ball.