Dawn screentime being lessened as DP went on

[Cybersai]

I just noticed that the upcoming Contest is the first Contest ep for Dawn since before Ash's previous two Gym badges. I've also noticed nearly all the recent eps for awhile have focused on Gyms, Galactic eps, or Ash/Paul eps, the introduction of Jun, or training his Pokemon.

Remember how much Dawn promotion the first 50-60 eps of DP were? I remember back then people were actually worried that Dawn was taking screentime away from Ash and she was becoming more important, (lol, as if that was really gonna happen), and that Contests were getting more spotlight than Gyms.

However as DP went on, a lot of the constant Dawn showcasing has settled down a bit and while she still gets a lot of screentime, she's still settled into the secondary Contest role that we expected her to.

I find it funny that in the Japanese DP commercial break eye-catchers, Dawn is still in the center as if most of the show is still about her, yet almost all recent screentime is on Ash or plot-centric elements and Contests have taken a back-seat. Even Dawn's rivals, particularly Kenny, have not appeared in nearly 60 episodes.

Anyone else notice this?

 

[Mooites]

Thank god they finally gave the main character his screentime back.

I think the amount of screentime May got was perfect for a co-star, and thats where it looks like Dawn's headed. Shes still in the middle of things though, so its not like she's faded away.

 

[Piplup]

I still think Ash and Dawn are equals... lately we got some Ash episodes but so what? I'm sure Dawn is going to get her spotlight soon (we know there's the upcoming Phione episode where Phione is intereted in Dawn's Buneary and then there Dawn's next Contest... then they're getting to Snowpoint and it's obvious they'll do something with Zoey there)
It's as stupid as to say "Dawn got more then Ash at the beginning"... it's simply not so easy to focus on both at the same time so sometimes we ge a few episodes that focus more about one and then a few that focus more on the other
I also noticed a lot of episods don't especially focus on one character... so if an episode doesn't focus on Dawn that also doesn't mean it's necessarily an Ash episode...

 

[ShinjiLover]

I have to agree with Mooites in saying, and I quote:

Thank god they finally gave the main character his screentime back.

And then I have to go on to say that I'm glad Hikari is getting less and less screen time. Since that is the case, we many finally get rid of Hikari at the end of Sinnoh. Which I am overly excited about.

 

[Trainer'sInsomnia]

Lol, "equals".

The only reason why Dawn has been doing as much as she has this series anyway, I realized, is because they've been sticking closer to the games than ever before, and she was a fairly active part in the plot for being a little research assistant.

Anyway, there's been less of her because upon Jun's arrival, the show's gone back towards the gyms to pursue the interest of the rivalry and competition there. Can you imagine how much it'd succk to see him appear and then wait another 20 more episodes to use him again because they want to get all Contest-themed?

 

[Cybersai]

I think its because Galactic and Pokehunter J eps tend to be Ash-focused on default since he's the hero. Dawn got stuck with Brock on the sidelines during all the Pokehunter J eps.

During the Galactic eps she gets to participate a bit more, but then again so does Brock.

 

[Piplup]

With J I have to agree they always focus on Ash but with Galactic?... the first short appearance of them (DP 36) was in an episode that didn't really focus on anyone, the next short apperance (DP 60) was a Dawn episode (meet Kenny before the Contest, her Aipom learn a new attack and evolve) and then the first proper appearace (DP 69) once again didn't focus on anyone... and DP 96-97 didn't really focus on anyone either...
I think people really exaggerate with this... maybe I'll try to make a list of all episodes soon and see how many episodes each of them got... I'm sure it'd be more or less equal

 

[Mooites]

Dawn's got a contest coming up, plenty of screentime there. And fanboys can rejoice since Snowpoints coming up, which of course means a new outfit.

 

[ferrari-kun187]

too bad, well I can't wait till I see the next girl. (hope she's as cute as Dawn)

 

[Luxio2k8]

I just think it's because Dawn had a lot of the spotlight eariler in the saga so we can get use to her since she "the new girl". Now, that she's established the focus can be more on Ash again and don't forget there was a long gap between the second and third gyms in Sinnoh.

 

[Piplup]

maybe I'll try to make a list of all episodes soon and see how many episodes each of them got... I'm sure it'd be more or less equal

So I did it... I counted how much episodes were dedicated in DP for Ash, Dawn, Ash/Dawn together, Brock and TRio... I didn't count episodes that didn't focus on anyone (or focused equally on everyone)
If you don't remember the episodes by numbers you can look them at Dogasu's site: http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/comparisons/diamond_pearl/dp_list.html
Maybe there are a few episodes where it's arguable if to count for a certain character or not but most of them I think everyone will agree...

Seasons 10-11 together: Ash 33, Dawn 30, Ash&Dawn 9, Brock 8, TRio 6
Season 10: Ash 18, Dawn 16, Ash&Dawn 6, Brock 5, TRio 1
Season 11: Ash 15, Dawn 14, Ash&Dawn 3, Brock 3, TRio 5

1001- Dawn
1002- Dawn&Ash
1003- Ash
1004- Ash&Dawn
1005- Ash
1006- Ash
1007- Dawn
1008- Ash/Brock (count +1 for both)
1009- Dawn
1010- Dawn
1011- Dawn
1012- Dawn
1013- Ash
1014- Brock
1015- Ash
1016- Ash
1017- Ash&Dawn
1018- Ash
1019- Dawn
1020- Ash
1021- Ash&Dawn
1022- Dawn
1023- *Didn't focus on anyone
1024- Ash
1025- Dawn
1026- Dawn
1027- Dawn
1028- Ash
1029- Ash&Dawn
1030- *Didn't focus on anyone
1031- Ash
1032- *Didn't focus on anyone
1033- Brock
1034- Dawn
1035- Dawn
1036- *Didn't focus on anyone
1037- Ash
1038- Brock
1039- Ash&Dawn
1040- Ash
1041- Dawn
1042- Brock/Rocket (count +1 for both)
1043- *Didn't focus on anyone (or better, it actually focused equally on everyone)
1044- Ash
1045- Ash
1046- Dawn (not too sure if to count as Dawn or no one)
1047- *Didn't focus on anyone
1048- Dawn
1049- *Didn't focus on anyone (or again, focused on everyone... except TRio)
1050- Ash
1051- Ash
--
1101- Ash
1102- James (TRio)
1103- Ash&Dawn
1104- Ash
1105- Brock
1106- Ash
1107- *Didn't focus on anyone
1108- Dawn
1109- Dawn
1110- Brock
1011- Dawn
1012- Ash
1113- TRio
1014- Ash&Dawn
1015- Dawn
1016- Ash
1017- *Didn't focus on anyone
1018- *Didn't focus on anyone
1019- Jessie (TRio)
1020- Ash
1021- Dawn
1022- Dawn
1023- Dawn
1024- Dawn
1025- Dawn
1026- TRio
1027- Ash
1128- Brock (Croagunk)
1129- Ash (Riolu)
1130- Ash (Riolu)
1131- Ash (Pastoria Gym)
1132- Dawn
1133- Ash
1134- Dawn
1135- *Didn't focus on anyone
1136- *Didn't focus on anyone
1137- *Didn't focus on anyone
1138- *Didn't focus on anyone
1139- *Didn't focus on anyone
1140- Dawn/TRio (+1 for both)
1141- Ash
1142- Ash&Dawn
1143- Dawn
1144- *Didn't focus on anyone
1145- *Didn't focus on anyone
1146- *Didn't focus on anyone
1147- *Didn't focus on anyone
1148- Ash
1149- Ash
1150- Ash
1151- *Didn't focus on anyone
1152- Dawn

 

[JB88]

Jeez...you actually did this to prove your point...wow...

 

[Piplup]

Yes I know I have no life XD though it didn't really take that much time... about 10-20 minutes XD now people can't continue to try and argue they aren't equals or that Dawn doesn't get as much spotlight as in the beginning since I just proved them wrong (but I know it'll continue anyway, I just had to do it... I was also curious myself to see how many episodes exactly each got)