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Did the writers make Paul a little too one-dimensional?

Did they make Paul a little too one-dimensional?

  • Yes, it would have been better if he showed more emotion and better interactions with the cast

    Votes: 8 29.6%

  • No, I think his lack of emotion and coldness toward everyone is fine

    Votes: 19 70.4%
  • Total voters
    27
C

Cybersai

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As much as I like what Paul brings to the show, the thing I don't like is how they made his personality a little TOO one-dimensional.

There is no emotion in Paul's character, almost never. He has almost the same static interactions with almost every character. Even when his brother Reggie showed up, or Paul got his ass kicked by Cynthia and Brandon...he didn't really change.

Does anyone think Paul would have been more entertaining if he actually had different interactions with people? I think they made him a little *too* one-dimensional, and that makes his character less entertaining compared to what could have been.
 
One of his character's main selling points is the fact he is stoic, rarely talking and anti-social, in a world where electric rabbits shoots rainbow sparks from their asses and fairies travel through time. And one of the few things that differ him from Silver.

Still, he did got a huge amount of interaction, not only with Ash, Brock, Dawn etc., also with Zoey, who had no relation to him.
 
Yeah I guess it could be good if Paul had more characterization, though I really can't see how that could work out. Paul just doesn't seem like that type of character to have a "wide" range of emotions, like being happy or sad. It's probably because of his eyes. :p

But really, as long Paul is an enjoyable character and becomes a "good guy" ever so slowly, it's fine with me.

Dude, Paul is totally hiding a cry-baby behind that stoic face of his.
 
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Gliscor'd said:
As much as I like what Paul brings to the show, the thing I don't like is how they made his personality a little TOO one-dimensional.

There is no emotion in Paul's character, almost never. He has almost the same static interactions with almost every character. Even when his brother Reggie showed up, or Paul got his ass kicked by Cynthia and Brandon...he didn't really change.

Does anyone think Paul would have been more entertaining if he actually had different interactions with people? I think they made him a little *too* one-dimensional, and that makes his character less entertaining compared to what could have been.
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I have to agree. Overall, I liked what he brought to the show, but I found him to be tiring and overrated at times.

I don't know why people hate Dawn and Zoey's rivalry so much. Mellow rivalries are the best.
 
Yeah, he was always angry and stoic. But I'd say that was the entire point of his character.
 
Paul was perfectly fine the way he is. His interactions with others wasn't even static, they were just very subtle about his emotions. With Reggie, you can sense he's actually a little more relaxed around, even though his brother's loss is the main reason he trains so hard. With Brandon, you can sense him getting very emotional, even if he wasn't crying or pouting.

Even with other older characters like Cynthia and Prof Birch, he showed a lot of respect and politeness towards. The only people you could argue he was static with are Dawn and Zoey, and he only really interacted with them once.
 
J-J-M said:
Dude, Paul is totally hiding a cry-baby behind that stoic face of his.
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THIS. WHUT. QFT.

Anyways, I like Paul just the way he is, as a stoic, grumpy character. I rewatched some of the older episodes with Paul in them, and he actually does act differently towards Ash. In his first encounter, he was like, totally fronting him. You could just smell the arrogance emanating from his ego.

But, he's had a few humbling experiences. I suppose, his first one was his lost against Cynthia, and another (probably the most important) would be his lost with Brandon. That's when he was pretty much told to his face that he should control his emotions during battle, and not drive off of anger, or revenge. We got a pretty strong indication that his brother could be the cause of all this pent up rage. damn aniki Paul may be stoic in his personality, but that's not to say that he's one-dimensional.

After his battle with Ash, he did not make fun of him, or criticize him for being pathetic. He genuinely enjoyed the battle, and ever since, it's evident that he's mellowed out a bit. I mean, would early-sinnoh Paul have saved Ash's pokemon? Which, I'm not even sure was completely obligatory, since Ash WAS about to bring out his own.

He'll never completely change, I do think that it's just his nature to act kinda jerky. But he did develop as a character, no matter how subtle it may seem.
 
well the intention of his character or purpose i like to call it: was to be everything ash was not. its actually done a lot more good than harm, because it has opened ash's eyes to how different can two people training styles can be.

and well i just applaud them for this, the show needed some drama like this. he is who is, and i just prefer him this way.
 
CommanderPigg said:
THIS. WHUT. QFT.

Anyways, I like Paul just the way he is, as a stoic, grumpy character. I rewatched some of the older episodes with Paul in them, and he actually does act differently towards Ash. In his first encounter, he was like, totally fronting him. You could just smell the arrogance emanating from his ego.

But, he's had a few humbling experiences. I suppose, his first one was his lost against Cynthia, and another (probably the most important) would be his lost with Brandon. That's when he was pretty much told to his face that he should control his emotions during battle, and not drive off of anger, or revenge. We got a pretty strong indication that his brother could be the cause of all this pent up rage. damn aniki Paul may be stoic in his personality, but that's not to say that he's one-dimensional.

After his battle with Ash, he did not make fun of him, or criticize him for being pathetic. He genuinely enjoyed the battle, and ever since, it's evident that he's mellowed out a bit. I mean, would early-sinnoh Paul have saved Ash's pokemon? Which, I'm not even sure was completely obligatory, since Ash WAS about to bring out his own.

He'll never completely change, I do think that it's just his nature to act kinda jerky. But he did develop as a character, no matter how subtle it may seem.
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This.Just because it is subtle doesn't mean it isn't there.

If he was too one dimensional,he wouldn't be one of the most popular characters this season.
 
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Both sides make good points.

On one hand, when the writers created Paul, they strictly made him into an anti-Ash. So he was more a foil than an actual independant character. I never felt Paul would be interesting or even relevent were it not for Ash, it couldn't stand on its own.

On the other hand, it's true that there's been a change in Paul and he's developped, but that developpement has been microscopic subtle. Still, a little bit more dynamic interaction between him and Reggie wouldn't hurt, just to show a different side.

Basically, he started out as one-dimensionnal, but over time, we slowly saw a bit of change and we understood a little better where he was coming from.
 
Gible said:
On the other hand, it's true that there's been a change in Paul and he's developped, but that developpement has been microscopic subtle. Still, a little bit more dynamic interaction between him and Reggie wouldn't hurt, just to show a different side.
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I have this strong feeling that there will be a notable change in his relation with his brother at the climax of the saga.I feel like there is some foreshadowing in the air...
 
Well at least he doesn't beat you, strip you, and yell at you like some other characters..

I like Paul's stoic and sometimes angry personality. He's not too stoic that he appears emotionless (ala pre-CD!Yuki or teh Rei) and he's not an angry mess.

If he changed, well..He would be like any other Pokemon anime character.
 
Zoey got better character development than Paul did. Zoey got over her pet-peeve of gym and contest people. Paul did what so far. People just find Zoey boring, excluding myself. But to me, Zoey is one of the best characters Pokemon created.

I mean think about it, how many more chill rivals can we get in this series, and Zoey's team is epic! :)
 
Cascada said:
Zoey got better character development than Paul did. Zoey got over her pet-peeve of gym and contest people. Paul did what so far. People just find Zoey boring, excluding myself. But to me, Zoey is one of the best characters Pokemon created.

I mean think about it, how many more chill rivals can we get in this series, and Zoey's team is epic! :)
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Richie? Barry?
 
I agree with the OP. Paul's personality didn't change at all throughout the series. He doesn't even care that he got his butt kicked by Cynthia and Brandon. But then again, that's part of his character, right?
 
PlatinumDude said:
He doesn't even care that he got his butt kicked by Cynthia and Brandon. But then again, that's part of his character, right?
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He seemed like he was suppressing anger/frustration. He obviously cared since he evolved his Magmar.
 
honestly where does this come from? he learns just like everyone else. those battles with Cynthia and Brandon affected him significantly whether he knows it or not.
 
I hope after Ash beats him in the league, Paul actually has some sort of reaction, and not just a walk off.
 
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