Is the Ash/Paul rivalry being wrapped up?

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Cybersai

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Does anyone else feel as if Paul's storyline in the anime is coming to an end? It feels as if the writers are beginning to wrap up Paul's character, and I get the feeling the Ash/Paul rivalry will be resolved in the Sinnoh league, rather than stretching it out like Gary into another region.

Ash/Paul are having a 6 on 6 close to the end of the region, and we know Ash loses. The writers doing this so close to an end of the region makes it seem like they're gearing Ash to have a comeback victory over him in the league where it counts.

Paul is also going to witness Monferno, who is tied to the same story arc. Monferno could have another evolution during the league, in which Paul will be destroyed by the Pokemon he released.

Does anyone feel as if Paul is going to leave the series after Sinnoh? I'm getting the impression this rivalry is heading toward a climax, and only Barry will continue to the next arc because Palmer is his father.
 
I agree - I think Shinji's time is coming to an end. He's had an awful lot of focus in a relatively short time, and with the recent (well... they haven't actually happened yet :p) developments involving Mouka and Satoshi's crushing loss, it's more than likely that Satoshi will beat him in the league, thus making his rivalry "redundant" from the writers' point of view.

Despite that I love him, I'd rather he goes now when he's been handled so well, than that his character becomes stale because the writers are exploiting it and drags on for the next region.
 
I can see Paul not having a rivalry anymore, but for him to leave the series forever? Hell no! He can still appear in a few more eps as a supporting character.
 
J-J-M said:
I can see Paul not having a rivalry anymore, but for him to leave the series forever? Hell no! He can still appear in a few more eps as a supporting character.
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I'm sure he could still pop up like Gary does, but I mean as the main rivalry.

Also I can't ever see Ash/Paul being friends like with Gary, so I never expect to see Paul at Pallet Town or whatever. Gary is also related to Oak which is why it makes sense we still see him.
 
What would his purpose be though, popping up? Make him another researcher? No! I'd rather that he goes for good when he does, and does so with a bang. Unlikely as it may be, I really don't want him to have some massive character reformation and just become another useless "friend" to Satoshi.
 
Well I can see Ash and Paul's rivalry coming to an end at Pokemon League HQ but I don't want him to leave the series I mean come on he's like Ash's shadow completly the opposite so he should see Ash and co. and least once or twice and hopefully with Ash being less of a little kid saying "You should train your pokemon like they're your friends!" People have their own ways of training pokemon Ketchum! Besides there's a good chance Barry might take over since he is a popular character
 
Scott85 said:
I'm sure he could still pop up like Gary does, but I mean as the main rivalry.

Also I can't ever see Ash/Paul being friends like with Gary, so I never expect to see Paul at Pallet Town or whatever. Gary is also related to Oak which is why it makes sense we still see him.
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Great assessment in the topic post, but I couldn't see this happening under normal circumstances.

Ash and Gary had a competitive yet friendly kind of rivalry, and really proved to have a kind of bond behind it all. For this reason, their "introductions" in the first episode were retconned to give them both a backstory and long-standing history of a close kind of rivalry. So even while they didn't exactly get along, it was never really malicious, and much more of a competitive, ego kind of thing.

Ash and Paul on the other hand, show pure disdain for one another. They don't seem to like one another at all, and especially don't like the methodical approach that either presents. I mean, in Ash's eyes, Paul is a Pokemon abuser. I wouldn't really compare this to the relationship of Ash and Gary at all.

That being said, if we're to assume that Paul suddenly has this Silver-esque character development, then it's likely that they'll have some kiss and make up moment. But who knows? Maybe Paul will do the whole "go off and change" thing that will actually bring his character back into play in a season to come.

I really like the idea of Jun coming in as chief rival though, and I'd like to see more from him, so I'd be content with Paul continuing this road of what appears to be an exit.
 
Nah I wouldn't like to see a change I miss the old bully/braggart Gary

But Barry should still be involved he's the crazy one
 
I think their final showdown will be the Sinnoh League and wraps up there. Then he'll probably be another Gary at best after wards.
 
Its possible the reason why they waited so far into DP to introduce Barry is because they're saving him for the next arc. Barry didn't even appear until after 100 episodes, which is pretty strange considering he feels like a last-minute addition.

Granted I expect Ash to beat Barry in the league too, (who doesn't?), but Barry seems like the competitive guy who would continue being the friendly rival with Ash in the future. And as said, his father is a Frontier Brain so it would make sense to continue to see him.

Paul has had a 3 year run in the anime, and although I'm not sure, I think he's been in almost as many eps as Gary has in his entire run. Anyone want to check to make sure?
 
I sorta doubt Paul will really leave for some time. Even if he loses to Ash at the League, his attitude'll make him keep coming back for more.
Unless, of course, he has a change of heart and decides to finally stop treating his pokemon like ****.
 
or maybe Paul will see the error of his way after he loses in the last gym and ash wins there. (i thinking of the 8th gym in Sinnoh, which is electric). if the Anime follows the way of the game, we could assume that Volkner will defeat Paul, then Paul watch ash Battle and somehow beat Volkner. the Pokemon i predict Ash will use will be Gliscor (Flying/Ground), Grotle (grass), and Pikachu (with Pikachu beating both Electvire and Raichu).
 
Shinji won't see the error of his ways until at least his presumable loss at the league.
 
Genomax said:
I sorta doubt Paul will really leave for some time. Even if he loses to Ash at the League, his attitude'll make him keep coming back for more.
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He'll always continue training, but he could go off to an unknown region so he's not still around.

They never did tell us where Gary went while Ash was in Orange Islands for example.
 
I'd prefer it if Paul was wrapped up at Sinnoh. I could see his character getting very stale if they dragged him out over another 100-150 episode region.

If there is another Battle Frontier run, Paul will almost definitely be gone, since a Frontier has no league, there's really no reason to have a rival during one. It's not like a Battle Frontier is something people are rushing to complete.

However I do imagine Barry will be a recurring friend because of Palmer, but I don't think he'll be in the "established rival" role. Plus since he's a DP-game character, he'll be gone by Gen 5 most likely.
 
Trainer'sInsomnia said:
Which is sort of repetitive, considering the same thing happened to Gary. Granted, Gary never treated his pokemon like dirt.
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If you mean that it's repetitive that he sees the error of his ways, I'm with ya! :p I don't want him to - Shinji's not Shinji if he's a good guy! He needs to stalk off at the end of the league with some remark and never be seen again. None of this reforming and becoming Satoshi's friend business.
 
Boo I don't want Paul to leave, why can't they just do what happend in Naruto have Paul be like Saskue, want to get stronger. Maybe next Region have Paul beat Ash and tells him of a new Region. It'd have Ash want to continue on.
 
While I'd like Shinji to stay on, it certainly does feel like they're wrapping up his story with these recent episodes.

Ashfangirl22 said:
why can't they just do what happend in Naruto have Paul be like Saskue
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Please God no. While I understand your point, the last thing this show needs is a Sasuke.
 
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