Hot Take: The World Coronation Series could have been used to introduce new trainers from the games, or give trainers like Hau and Cheren more focus.

Kathylikestoread

Kathylikestoread

Life is sweeter when you are
Eiscue's Exciting Exchange + Winter Roundtable 2025
Joined
Aug 10, 2025
Messages
1,798
Reaction score
529
Pronouns
  1. She/Her
  2. They/Them
It would have been a great way to show trainers like Caitlin, Hau, Cheren or Marlon again, or introduce trainers like Wally, Hugh, Silver, Benga or the Galar Gym Leaders, instead of showing characters that have already been used a lot, like Korrina or Volkner. Like, Korrina just got tiring when she reappeared in Journeys, and why Volkner, that was totally random.
 
Not the first time I hear this, people have complained about it since Visquez was used in favor of Lt Surge. I don't think there was time to see every character ever, but some more would definitely have helped, as their replacements weren't that good. Most people talk about Drasna than about Rinto (yes, I know you forgot he existed) who had more screentime.

Personally I think Galar Gym Leaders and Elite Four from all regions should have been the priority. The first case needs no explanation and would have helped showcase more Dynamax and Galar mons in general, and in the second case JN should have been THEIR series. Elite Four were always hyped as something Ash could only dream to be, and now that he's finally on their level, he only gets...a 2vs2 he almost loses.
 
I also think that the elite 4 from each region should have played a more prominent role. I would have liked to see Lorelei, Alder, Wikstrom, Flint or Drake from Hoenn take on a combat role.
I would also have liked to see some of the gym leaders return, such as Blair, Sabrina, or Lt. Surge for Kanto. Paul, Tyson, and Tobias could have been highlighted, and I would also have liked to see a special place for three particular trainers: Drake from OI, Brandon, and Giovanni.
 
The thing is, we know that Team Rocket is a criminal organisation that has infiltrated Kanto, running its casinos, businesses and, apparently, its shipping companies. Some gym leaders are more or less in cahoots with them... I can totally imagine Giovanni being perfectly capable of deceiving people or bribing the right people to participate (after all, it depends on the cast; a Giovanni without Mewtwo certainly doesn't have the necessary level, but with Mewtwo, he's almost at the top 8 final level).

But my point is that the scriptwriters have deprived themselves of some very good trainers (and sorry, but Iris as champion instead of Alder is something that seems implausible to me).
 
Back
Top Bottom