Do you think Clemont needs more focus?

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Shoutmon

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So far he's got nothing going for him while his friends all have on-going arcs this season.

Should he get more development or should the writers wait for this arc to end so they can focus on Satoshi,Eureka,Serena,Alan,Team Rocket,Shota and Flare first?
 
Overall, of course he should get more development. As should all the main characters of the anime. That's the ideal thought anyway.

It's true. Ever since his Gym Battle, Clemont has been so out of focus it's embarrassing. Not only is his younger sister getting more focus and screen time, but even his own Chespin has more focused episodes dedicated to it. I guess that has to do with the writers though. If they gave him an active goal, then he'd be more important. But he has no goal, only aspiring to emulate certain aspects of Ash (which I think he's shown by now). And because of that, the writers have essentially written themselves into a character hole-there isn't anywhere else for Clemont to go or anthing for him to necessarily develop. Heck, Clemont even said the only reason he's continuing his journey with Ash is because Ash "needs" a straight man to balance out his zealous personality.

As of now, I feel that there is too much going on with other characters to suddenly give Clemont an obstacle to overcome. Ash has his badge quest and the upcoming Greninja drama, Serena has her TriPokalons and Bonnie, Alain, Team Rocket and Flare will all have various issues & interactions with Zygarde.
 
Ash definitely doesn't need more focus after 900 episodes. Clemont definitely does, but I don't know if I can deal with his stupid inventions or catchphrases. When will Pokémon learn they don't need to give the male companions corny, horrible gimmicks? First Brock the womanizer, then Tracey the sketcher who endangers his own life, then Max the know it all, Cilan the pun queen (yes, queen), and now Clemont's inventions and Bonnie's wife search...

Sorry, that was a tangent. But yes, all of the companions could use some more focus.
 
Hilbert said:
And because of that, the writers have essentially written themselves into a character hole-there isn't anywhere else for Clemont to go or anthing for him to necessarily develop. Heck, Clemont even said the only reason he's continuing his journey with Ash is because Ash "needs" a straight man to balance out his zealous personality.
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And he can't even do that. When was the last time he seriously "balanced" Satoshi?

I don't mind Chespin and Bunnelby getting screentime but Citron needs to act like a trainer to them like Eureka with Puni-chan or Serena with Eevee.
 
Hilbert said:
Heck, Clemont even said the only reason he's continuing his journey with Ash is because Ash "needs" a straight man to balance out his zealous personality.
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What do you mean straight man? There is no non-straight person in the show. Clemont does need some focus though.
 
Ever since Ash had his gym battle with Clemont, Clemont hasn't gotten much focus. It is kinda sad since I've really grown to like Clemont as a companion, over Cilan and MAYBE even Brock. I do hope they give him some more development before the series ends.
 
It certainly wouldn't hurt and I do like Clemont, so more focus would be good. I think that there is a bit of an issue though. Character-wise, it kind of feels like Clemont is already done. His Gym battle with Ash was pretty much the peak of his story. He had become stronger and more confident as a result of traveling with Ash and it showed through their battle.

The problem with that is that the peak of his story came in roughly in the middle of the series, so the writers might not have any idea of what else to do with Clemont. He could have stayed at the Gym to continue becoming a better Gym Leader, which I could still see him doing at the end of XY, and that would have made sense from a character perspective, but they wouldn't want to get rid of one of the main characters before the series, or at least the journey through Kalos, was over. He's there to help out the group and be the more serious man to balance out Ash's personality, but there's really nothing else he can do at the moment. He doesn't have any goal or current conflicts to deal with like the other characters do. I wouldn't mind it if Clemont got more focus. He might be my favorite XY cast member and he has some good moments, but I think that they're too busy with the other goals the characters have to deal with Clemont right now. It also probably doesn't help that they haven't had a particularly good history of developing the secondary male characters either.
 
I mean, they could just make him learn about his fathers secret (BLAZEKIN MAN) and for some reason have him want to live up to that considering Blazekin man is pretty darn strong from what they portrayed him as. Though why would Clemont want to do that... I don't know, leave that to the writers. I'd be satisfied with that outcome though, since Clemont is kind of wimpy so it would be a giant change for him to overcome and be a strong hero like his dad.
 
I love Clemont, and one of the great things about him was that he had quite a lot of well-written development or episodes focusing on him before his Gym Battle. It shows that they can give the male companions some nice focus without them necessarily having an established goal or ongoing story arc. I think he's just being left aside for now.

They shouldn't wait for this arc to end. If the XY&Z arc has room for Ash and Greninja, Bonnie and Puni-chan, Serena and her Performances, Team Flare's introduction, Alain's quest and even the upcoming focus on Team Rocket, it definetly has room for some Clemont-centered episodes from time to time. One of the latest episodes had him having some issues with Bonnie, which was really nice to see. He still has a lot of potential as a character, even if he already had the Gym Battle with Ash.
 
He's still better handled than post-Kanto Brock, so that's all that matters really.

At least Clemont isn't treated like a statue/exposition/repetitive gag character like Brock was for 600 episodes.
 
Yeah. Chespin has my favorite design of the starters so I'd love to see something for it to do since it doesn't have a faux mega or showcases.
 
Clemont was first among new XY traveling companions who caught my interest and that hasn't chained.

I liked how much focus and attention he received for secondary male character to the point of actually being treated with more care than female lead of whatever saga Ash was traveling in. That was precedent in gym leader by role in games being ahead of growth and overall utility female playable character never happening before.
With Clemont relatable characterization representing all those people in real life who are more of indoors type not being especially good athletes and at sports. Who are more interested and gifted with technology and having better understanding of science in trying to make something useful for society helping them improve life being fairly realistic and natural characterization different from most personalities we already experienced with other protagonists in anime.

Clemont had pretty consistent and rapid growth curve until his gym battle with Ash at Lumiose city. We saw him doubting in himself and his own abilities as trainer having very low opinion of himself as we get to see with examples like Chespin.
We saw exploration of Clemont internal motives and logic presented behind his actions in trying to be better gym leader, stronger trainer and gain more courage. Seeing in Ash sense of security and comfort in inspiring him with his own bravery and persistence not to give up himself and be more proactive as person even when he is exposed to danger.

Nicely being showed when he went out of his way to protect and save younger sister Bonnie, risking life to protect his own pokemon from TR or some other schemes. In wanting to redeem himself after helping TR in building Heliolisk mecha. Reconciled with long lost friend Luxray or came to realization how he needs to leave Ash and train in solitude having perfect isolation and peace to prepare properly for battle with trainer under who he looked up a lot being like mentor figure in his eyes.

But most of all through such act Clemont wanted to test himself through that battle to determine how much did he in reality learned from Ash and did he most importantly became better trainer than he was when just starting journey in meeting Ash.

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Lately many say Clemont focus started to decrease after that gym battle and as result of that his character development too and they are right to extent. But Clemont still receives focus through side role such as helping to battle villains by sending his own pokemon in battle. Coming up with various gadgets and inventions to help Ash and co put when group is fighting TR. Trying to find missing pokemon or prevent catastrophe.

We are still getting episodes exploring on Clemont past, like not that much far ago one in exploring more about his past and how he met pokemon Bunnelby. Adding more depth and better understanding of Clemont care and kindness he posess as character and what was his life before meeting Ash.
We saw more attention being given to other Clemont pokemon such as Chespin when being sent on mission to deliver important pieces to machine Clemont worked on. With Clemont being meritorious for fixing problem in pokemon center making it running smoothly.

As well still getting episodes where Clemont great deal of care and love he holds for his younger sister comes on surface seeing those two bond together and build on their relationship. Afterall in recent Bonnier episode Clemont played notable role.

At this point and time Clemont own story indeed isn't moving forward at this point much compared to what was situation before, but looking back its pretty logical when you think about it.

With writers through whole delay of Serena own dreams and her own focus putting Clemont in first plan being their way to balance out focus and amount of attention each of traveling companions could receive. In order to gain something from journey and develop. By dividing XY series in separate arcs where one character would be center of attention, while rest would bde kinda put on backburner, trying to find time in XY series so that all characters could develop, even if its at cost of not being done in proper and homogenous manner.

Which of course isn't done but still.
Now that Serena received fairly lot of development lately being put in first plan, Bonnie admittedly receiving some notable growth and importance herself with whole Zygarde core and upcoming arcs in diving deeper in Ash character through whole connection to Greninja.

I believe Clemont still has time and potential to develop more as character.

Options:
For start his father Meyer collaborates with professor Sycamore and could involve him in plot about Team Flare, Lysandre and utilization of his mega Blaziken to thwart villains plans of remodeling earth. Which is where whole new potential is born for Clemont in finding out how his father runs double life . Starting to possibly form doubts and suspicion of Meyer working for Team Flare causing disappointment and misunderstanding.

Clash between father and son or Clemont after realizing how his father is working in saving Kalos giving helping hand and trying to stop ultimate weapon indirectly through his biggest and most functional invention so far putting to use his intellect.

Writers could dive more in Clemont and Bonnie past finding out what was their childhood, where is mother which admittedly doesn't happen often in this show, but its not like there stops anything writing team to go down that route of they wanted to.

Provide some sort of explanation behind Bonnie desire to find Clemont wife or as it would be more practical. Expand on Clemont passion and love for science and technology entering some sort of annual competition for inventors. Putting to test his creativity, skills and knowledge serving as ultimate test in how much travels with Ash helped his character in becoming more courageous, poised and resolved under stressful situations.

In developing innovations to help improve people life in Lumiose city, just like Volkner did at Sunnyshore. And build up in potentially reaching Volkner level of fame and recognition who also had big passion for technology if im not mistaken.

Granted expecting that all of above happens is ambitious, but I firmly think writers can and have ways to give Clemont more focus and open new subplots in his story to justify more development with this not having to be everything delivered to him in Kalos series.

SSJ said:
He's still better handled than post-Kanto Brock, so that's all that matters really.

At least Clemont isn't treated like a statue/exposition/repetitive gag character like Brock was for 600 episodes.
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Now I understand how your trying to defend Clemont character, but there is no need to grossly exaggerate and present other characters from past series in worse light than what they were during their time in anime.

Whole comparison with Clemont doesn't even hold water, because former character performed still for all intents and purposes different role in this show. Came from different era and ultimately had entirely different purpose. Making Brock imo good character for what was expected from him to provide extending to more than only Kanto.
 
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Gabo 2oo said:
I love Clemont, and one of the great things about him was that he had quite a lot of well-written development or episodes focusing on him before his Gym Battle. It shows that they can give the male companions some nice focus without them necessarily having an established goal or ongoing story arc. I think he's just being left aside for now.
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I thought lot of people were dissapointed with the build up of the gym battle (and outcome)
 
I love Clemont and I'm always happy to see episodes focused on him (and his Pokemon). It's true he's taken the backseat ever since the big Gym battle, but he's definitely not entirely neglected. I do hope he gets more focus in the future episodes, though. There's always room for more focus!
 
More focus on Clemont would be great as far as I'm concerned, I spend all the time he's on screen just wanting to hug him :3
 
I love Citron and I don't think he's in desperate need right now. The plot is (finally!) appearing to move and he isn't central to it. However, even though he isn't the focus of the arc, he still has his moments and he was excellent in the Eureka & Puni-Chan episode so I'm not worried that he's been left to rot.
 
I think the duo of Bonnie/Clemont are among the best sidekick characters the show has ever had. I never imagined the writers would try another little kid character on the group but Bonnie feels so important she could pass for the female lead of the series over Serena. Even now that Serena has a goal it still feels like all the important plot or emotional driven eps go to Bonnie. And Clemont is usually involved in Bonnie episodes so he gets development too.

I mean there's only so much the writers can do with male companions in the first place since the focus is always on Ash, but they've done a good job with him. He feels like an actual character, which is something Brock lost once he came back for DP.
 
Clemont getting more focus would obviously be welcomed. They need to plan out the episodes in a better manner so that all the characters get equal focus. During the first year or so of XY Clemont was getting a lot of focus and Serena was the one getting left out. And now it looks like things have reversed. They should have decided in advance what to do with him after his and Ash's gym battle.
 
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