Do you think the writers are making the most of the Rocket-Dan-less episodes?

[Dogasu]

So one of the many reasons people like the Rocket trio in Best Wishes! is because they no longer appear in every single episode. In the past, the writers would often throw in a quick battle with them to end whatever conflict is going on, and it made a lot of the episodes feel formulaic. Don't know how to wrap up the episode? Just throw in a battle with the Rocket-Dan! I personally never had a problem with this, but a lot of you guys didn't like how they were often used as a crutch by the writers.

This doesn't really happen so much in Best Wishes!. We've had a number of episodes where the trio appears but never interacts with our heroes, and we've had others where they don't even appear at all.

So my question is: are the episodes where the trio doesn't appear at all better off for their absence? Do you feel like the writers take advantage of the fact that they don't have to spend five minutes on an obligatory Rocket battle? Does the extra screentime make the episodes better? Are the Isshu pokemon being dicks a good substitute for the antagonist role the trio used to play in every episode?

Or do you feel like things are more or less the same as they've always been? Should the main heroes be fleshed out more since they don't have these constant distractions by the Rocket trio?

Basically: Are the writers making the most of the extra screentime given to them by not having the Rocket trio appear in every single episode?

 

[Kavidun]

Rocket were important characters in the Anime, now they're not so important, it feels a bit odd.

I think they were a good addition to the Anime, and as a recurring character were awesome. So yes, the writers are taking advantage of the fact they don't have to, but I think the should WANT to.

 

[Necrozma]

Does the extra screentime make episodes better? Definitely yes, it was nice having some episodes without Team Rocket bugging in at some scenes, but are the writers making the most out of that? I think not, or maybe it's just my opinion.

I mean, I like Best Wishes trio so far, but I'd really like them to develop the kind of relationship Jessie, James and Meowth have. When you look back at the TR's DP episodes, they're always so heartwarming, sometimes saddening and show the true meaning of friendship. I'd like (now that we're getting more screentime for our own trio) for the relationships between each member of our main trio (Ash and Iris, Iris and Dento, and ofc Ash and Dento) better to develop. Not in shipping means, but more in friendship ones. It would truly make BW trio stand out more than the other ones.

And about the Pokémon, I like the fact that Isshu Pokémon are being "dicks", it shows that not every single is nice and that there are some evil and corrupted ones as well. I mean, those Hitomoshi from BW029 were pure evil.

 

[Musashi]

I think they are. It feels like we're getting more character interactions between the twerp trio because the Rocket's reduced time. Even in episodes like the one that just aired that had the Rockets, they were dispatched fairly quickly so there was enough time for Satoshi, Iris, and Dento to add their own humor into the episode.

I know the "dick" wild Pokemon are pretty much taking up the TRio's role, but it still feels different enough to be an enjoyable change of pace.

 

[Zeta]

Not really. There are a lot more lulls in most episodes where it's clear that they're having a hard time filling up time. Ash and Dento are also the only developed humans in the cast, so they're not really using the extra 5-6 minutes for any VALUABLE character interaction with the twerps. I think, instead, that a lot of the extra-time is going to either the Pokemon or the character of the day, and neither one of them is really paying off.

The trio needed to be gone from important episodes like a Gym Leader battle, but the normal character of the day episodes suffer without them being there. They could be making the most of the extra-time, they're just not at all right now.

Also, I think in general the humor of the series has taken a serious dive.

 

[Cybersai]

They should have never appeared in any heavy-battle centric ep to begin with. Showing TR during the Gyms or leagues were always pointless. Do we really need to see them selling stuff? Contests were fine since Jessie actually competed in them.

As for in regular episode, if the ep doesn't need them, leave them out. Why were they in the Cottonee ep for example? Did we really need to see them for 2 minutes?

I like the fact that the writers are leaning off TR. This should have happened back in DP. I feel the writers ran Brock and TR's comedic sides down to rock bottom, and it was a probably especially back in DP.

With Brock finally gone and TR no longer being shoe-horned in every episode, I feel its gotten better. And in any case, I still think we may not be seeing TR return after this generation ends. Though at this point I suppose that depends if we ever see a continuation of the Giovanni/Plasma storyline, which is now on hold.

 

[hurristat]

I definitely enjoy the reduced TR, because not only does it allow them to focus more on Satoshi/Iris/Dent, but TR's new undercover agent role is much better than their previous role. (also, it's just fun to watch their tactics XD)

 

[GreatLiver]

I would agree with the sentiment that they are really given more development because of their limited interactions and appearance. When they do show up they're more or less doing something constructive, and it's not just a waste. They seem to be going back towards what they used to be in recent episodes, but for the most part so far in BW them being limited has made times when they do appear worth that much more.

 

[Dogasu]

This isn't a "let's complain about how useless the pre-BW trio was" thread or a "the new BW trio is awesome!" thread. It's about whether or not them not appearing in every single episode is actually having any effect on the rest of the show. Would BW be any different if they did appear in every episode like they used to?

Best Wishes! is reminding me of the Deoxys movie in a lot of ways. The second Advanced Generation movie was the first to not have a Pikachu short attached to it, giving the writers an extra 20 minutes or so to play around with. And looking at the movie, you can tell that they didn't know what to do with all this extra time. I mean, block robots? Really? The movies that came after it were better, but I can't help but look at the Deoxys movie and see all the obvious time fillers in there.

That's kind of how I feel about Best Wishes!: the writers don't know what to do with all this extra time the lack of the weekly Rocket trio appearance has given them. Other than Bel's debut episode, where we were given an extra battle at the end that probably wouldn't have happened if there had been a Rocket trio battle, the episodes feel the same as they always have. The show's still pulling from its bag of recycled plots (Help the CoTD! Stop the mischievous pokemon! Fight the Gym Leader!) and still feels as Mad Libs-y as ever.

I mean, do you guys feel like you know Iris and Dent better in BW 032 than you knew, say, Hikari by the time DP 032 came around?

 

[Cybersai]

I mean, do you guys feel like you know Iris and Dent better in BW 032 than you knew, say, Hikari by the time DP 032 came around?

And you know good and well that has nothing to do with TR. In early DP, Dawn was shoved down our throats in almost every episode, which is why at the time some people felt she was getting more focus than Ash early on. It was only after we got to the tag battle arc that Dawn's screentime started to lessen as the Ash/Paul rivalry really started to heat up.

Iris/Cilan only have 3 episodes a piece 32 episodes in, Dawn had many and/or the ones she shared with Ash.

 

[Hassel]

I really don't see the problem here. Most of the Rocketless episodes have been enjoyable and fun, and the character have developed well even though they haven't had to battle the Rockets in every episode. I don't remember that far back to DP, but I can safely say that I warmed up to Dento and Iris a lot faster than Hikari. I also feel that the writers can still develop MKN, even though they don't appear in every episode. (Especially towards the end of the series.)

I loved the Arti, Cabernet, Ducklett and Emonga episodes a lot, and I feel that a pointless Rocket battle would've made them just predictable. Isn't it important to show that the twerps can develop without the Rockets, especially if MKN will leave after BW?

About the predictableness - that's how I felt with the Crimgan episode, when they used the same plot from before DP... It just felt so old. Well, to be fair, Kibago did learn Dragon Rage in that episode... But eh. I'm not saying less screentime = more fun, I just with the writers would make up more episodes like BW029 where the Rockets do something else.

 

[Dogasu]

@Gliscor'd:

They had time to shove Hikari down our throats even with the Rocket-Dan interrupting every episode. Iris and Dent don't have that excuse yet they still seem less developed than Hikari was by this same point in the series.

I just think the writers should be using all this extra time more wisely.

 

[Cybersai]

I don't feel like the eps are being dragged out because of no 5-minute TR intrusion. There's been plenty of humor or extra battles to make up for it.

Why aren't Iris/Cilan being developed more? It has nothing to do with TR, I'm sure if they were still the same-old Iris/Cilan would be the same. They're not developed more because whatever people say, Best Wishes is dumbed down compared to DP in terms of storytelling and character handling.

This is the same reason Trip just feels like Paul-lite at this point, the writers aren't focusing on any new character with the same screentime they got in DP. Even characters like Zoey/Kenny, who had lukewarm receptions at best, still had distinctive personalities and roles.

 

[Ampharos King]

There is only so much that the writers are able to work through in a specific plotline for a 20 minute episode.

As long as the anime is able to introduce COTD characters that are somewhat interesting, or display the relationships between characters or characters and their pokemon, TRio should not be needed.

I felt TRio were included in the Cottonee episode because the writers did not know what else they could cover to resolve that plotline in less than five minutes left. Like it or not, the writers are still recycling plotlines from older episodes in past series. I believe Dogasu is right. The writers were so used to having TRio fill up the extra few minutes of an episode that it was understandably difficult for them to find a better way to utilize that time.

The earlier BW episodes that were able to continue on without TRio's interruption either had a developing relationship between one of the main characters and another character (a pokemon or human), or a character who had largely filled TRio's role in that episode to begin with (the Ducklett trio in BW020 or Sunglasses Sandile).

Soon the writers will run out of ideas of characters that they could substitute in for TRio, and eventually there might come a point when TRio does appear in every episode again.

 

[Sweet Veil]

XD People will have a bit of a few issues with Team Rocket don't they?

Well, I don't know what to make of this. I like Nyasu and it's a bit sad not to see him more often but, hey. I feel like Team Rocket not showing up every episode forces the writers to be less lazy, ya know?　It makes me anticipate their next appearances even more. I'm pretty sure they'll start making more often appearances later on anyway.

Dick Pokemon? I'm just gonna call them trouble making Pokemon if that's ok XD

Well, Pokemon in the past have always caused trouble and stuff. Just like the Ursaring and Gyrados every episode.

They were able to fit quite a lot of funny stuff and cool stuff in the Emonga vs. Tsutarja episode. Even in Iris and Emonga's ep they had quite a few funny battles and cool battles that lasted longer a lot of bonding and them and the Kokoromori.

In Kaberune's episode we learned a lot about Sommeliers and Kaberune and had some cool battles to boat. In the Fushide ep, Hatooboh achieved stuff, we saw Shuuti and them heading off to the desert and Arti driving away the Fushide. It may just be because I find the battles the most interesting and coolest part of the episode XD

 

[Arceus the Dragon]

I think its better that they are not in every episode, Team Rocket are so annoying and they always lose.

 

[SolgaleoGX]

I think not having TR in every episode is a step forward. Seriously, I always either changed the channel or fast forwarded a lot of the times they appeared.

But are they making the most of the extra time now? Lol, not always. Aslong as we keep learning more about COTD's than the twerps there will always be a problem.

 

[The Puppetmaster]

I think the writers are utilizing the extra time they have due to the Rockets not appearing in every episode somewhat poorly. Like some of you have already mentioned, it seems like a few of the BW episodes run dry of creativity by the end because prior to this saga, the writers had been relying on the Rockets for plot resolution. An example of this would be BW018 where the episode is a bit all over the place and in my opinion, ends somewhat abruptly.

If you hadn't noticed, the Rockets are also the source of almost every evolution or new move learned by the group's Pokémon prior to BW. I think the writers still need to work on finding other ways for the Pokémon to evolve and develop because I thought Pidove's evolution was underwhelming, and Sewaddle's felt cheap. Also, like Meron said, the writers again used the Rockets in BW030, having their interference be the reason why Axew mastered Dragon Rage.

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

So my question is: are the episodes where the trio doesn't appear at all better off for their absence?

I don't think so. Most of people is like these new "non-TR" episodes because of not their quality, but their "freshness". If you look at them, they are not really different from repetitive "TR is capturing POTD" plots. Only difference is their replacing TR with other pokemon, through a really forced writing. Pendror in BW09, Meguroco in BW12, Shikija and Minuzumi in BW18 are obvious TR replacements in these episodes. Other than that, there is pokemon trios with antagonistic roles and similar to TR trio in some ways: Hihidaruma and two Darumakka in BW08, Ishizumai trio in BW11, Koaruhie trio in BW20, Minezumi trio in BW27, Miruhog trio in BW28. Their freshness will fade as TR because of their repetitiveness and we will see same comments and criticism about them.

 

[Rocketshipper]

You know, I really agree with Dogasu here. It hasn't been all bad, but I do feel like some of the episodes have suffered from a lack of Team Rocket interaction. The main ones I'd point to for me would be BW 7 and 8. BW 7 mostly consisted of Ash battling Snivy over and over and losing in the same repetitive way until the end, and it really felt like they were trying to drag a plot that should have only taken half an episode out to an entire episode, just to make up for there being no "Team Rocket shows up to steal pikachu" plot in the second half. and with BW 008, I felt like the most interesting part of the episode was the part with TR, the main plot of the Twerps helping the Darumakka was just so boring! In the past, a boring filler plot like that would have at least been spiced up by a silly appearance by Team Rocket in some crazy mech, but without them it was just meh...and it made me realize just how much would have been missing from the show if Team Rocket hadn;t been around in the past. Can you imagine all those Johto fillers without Team Rocket to give us some conflict? I also feel the same way about the episode where Den caught Dwebble. That was another episode with a plot that felt stretched out to fill a whole episode.

I don't mind them being left out of the gym episodes though, because those should be all about the battles. And BW has given us some good Team Rocket less episodes, like the two Emolga focused ones a few weaks ago, and Bel's debut episode. (funny how the best TR-less episodes involved Bel...hmm...) But overall, I feel like the show has lost quality slightly because of TR's reduced screen time. Although that doesn;t necissarily mean it will stay that way. As Dogasu mentioned, the writers had some problems with the writing in movie 7, but were able to improve later, so maybe it will be the same here.