Personality Discussion

[Sweet Veil]

This thread is made to discuss the personalities of Satoshi-Tachi's Isshu Pokemon. Many think that Satoshi's Pokemon in Isshu are boring, bland, and personalityness for this reason is why people often look at a lot of them in a dim light. Satoshi has at the moment currently is rotating through a dozen Pokemon. Now, I wanna know do you think his Pokemon are bland and have no personality? I also wanna know your favorite personality-fied moments from Pokemon in Best Wishes

 

[Jukain]

Well, not all of them are bland. Obviously, Oshawott and Snivy have the most personality out of them. Osha is the ambitious douchebag, and Snivy is the snappy mature figure of the team. Next I think is Krokorok, but only because of his background in other eps before he was caught so far: rather insecure unless he has his sunglasses, where he becomes kickbutt. Tepig's character is more subtle: he tends to show great sadness if he fails Ash, possibly as an allusion to the fact he was abandoned. Scraggy used to headbutt everything for the heck of it, but it has since sort of mellowed out, and even has a particular bond with Iris's Axew, as his "little brother". Sewaddle was spunky until it bonded with Ash and lost all personality upon being caught. Palpitoad was a douchebag, but turned nice under Ash for no explained reason. Pidove/Tranquill hasn't shown too much that I remember, but I think she does enjoy battling and getting stronger. Roggenrolla/Boldore hasn't really shown much at all, other than a general willingness to help out.

My general impression is that they really shouldn't have tried to involve this many pokemon, not even for team rotation purposes. It's spread the character development way too thin. I'm not even sure if I listed all of his current pokemon up there. I realize that they did this for two reasons, though; the first being imitation of the original saga, the second was that they had little time to develop these pokemon anyway, so perhaps I'm being a bit too harsh since even if we had lesser pokes, they probably wouldn't have been developed too well, but it would be better than we have now. I'm also wary of the matter of Ash having caught two pokes already evolved, since it seems to indicate that the writers are aware that the starters may not fare too well once we reach the league, and if they do, I'd be surprised at least in terms of Osha, since he seems like only an average fighter. (Snivy may be excusable, and Tepig's going to evo, so that is no longer valid) On that, the evos seem to be going to the pokes with the least development. It's certainly a shame that two of the starters have not shown any signs of evolving, and we're going to be through most of the saga soon. A double disappointment is that I really wanted to see Osha evo, but since he's such a goofball, it's highly unlikely he ever will. I just don't like how they've done this group, and there is little that can be done now. True, it has made things sort of interesting that we can never tell which one of his reserves will appear next, but I will agree that not a lot of Ash's current pokes are that interesting, not even battle-wise.

 

[Jaye]

Some have personalities, others haven't enough screentime to show they have one while a couple are a bit bland regardless.

Snivy, Oshawott, Scraggy and Krokorok have the most defined personalities and are usually entertaining whenever they appear on screen (unless they're shoved in our faces). I really enjoy it when Snivy appears, in particular, and her refusal to wear the afro wig in the recent episode ranks up their as one of my favourite moments of "Pokemon personality", as do her actions against Emonga when it was first caught.

Tepig shows glimpses of personality but I generally find him to be bland. The same goes for Palpitoad, too. His case is worse since he actually had a personality before he was caught but has seemingly now lost it.

Tranquil, Swadloon and Boldore are not seen often enough to show that they have personalities, although with the first two being set to evolve soon, perhaps that will change.

It all comes down to screentime in the end and unfortunately that has been mis-managed throughout this saga.

 

[Karamazov]

In Roggenrola's debut episode, it was shown to be pretty creative. It used Cilan's stupid cloche against Oshawott. And it spent the episode trying to convince others to save the other Roggenrola.

 

[Heartilly]

They have personalities... Just very bland ones. Plus, they all mainly rely on their annoying running gags. Like, Oshawott always coming out of his pokeball, but then going behind Ash and wanting Pikachu to battle instead. I can't tell if it's supposed to be funny or not, but I don't think it is.

 

[L-05308]

Oshawott
He is incredably self important. His egoistic attitude leads him to often put himself before others. He is selfish but not always on purpose, ergo he makes mistakes. He is selectivly lazy, making out somtimes that he can't do somethings, hoping that Ash will not ask him to do it. Not sure why I'm defending Oshawott, people complain that their is to much focus on his personality

Tepig
He is determined to always please people, its obvious that he is worried about what will happen if he dose not please Ash. He appears the most friendly of the Unova starters on Ash's team, playing with the younger Axew. Just overall a really nice Pokemon. Nice dose not mean boring, though its not just viewers that see it that way, the writers do to as they feel its not enough to give him an episode focusing on him, like Oshawott and Snivy often get.

Snivy
She is increbibly righteous. She has a zero tolerance policy to any kind of dissfunction and will calmly stop any fighting and scold others for their flaws. She only ever loses her cool when confronted with Emolga who really pushes her buttons. Snivy is also very maternal and protects her friends always. She is my favourite Pokemon on Ash's team because of this perrsonality.

Scraggy
He has to be sure somone is his friend before he shows them any compassion. He likes to take on tasks that challenge him, believing he'll have a chance. Scraggy is a headstrong and happy pokemon.

Tranquill
Obidiant, forgiving, slightly dence, etc. She has not shown much but it is still there.

Swadloon
He can be a lot like Ash somtimes. He is also reluctant to 'let people in' but will warm up to them quickly. He is not quite sure of how to express intrest so he just attacks.

Palpitoad
Err.... Mood swings?

Boldore
I don't know how people can say he has no personality, look at how excitable and urgent he is, always jumping about and shouting. he is just so happy.

 

[투 애니원]

Only Satoshi?

 

[Hellion]

@투 애니원 You can discuss other Best Wishes pokémon's personalities if you want.

In Roggenrola's debut episode, it was shown to be pretty creative. It used Cilan's stupid cloche against Oshawott. And it spent the episode trying to convince others to save the other Roggenrola.

I think that's an interesting point to make. In my opinion, I wouldn't necessarily say Dangoro was bursting with personality in its debut, but it showed some traits there that could have lead to a strong personality... had they been picked up again. I think that when people say that the Pokémon have no or little personality, I don't think they say that there exist no single scene where the Pokémon show personality, but that the writers aren't constant with it. At least that's how I see it. They usually have ok to strong personality in their debut, but it's just never picked up again and we only see the most generic traits instead, like "This Pokémon is fired up before a battle" or "It doesn't give up" that could apply to pretty much every Pokémon on the main cast.

Pokabu is a great example. We see in its debut a very frail and scared Pokémon, sad because he was released by its trainer and afraid that it would happen again. Nothing wrong there. Next episode, Poabu is sent out in a Gym Battle, supremely confidant, no doubt, no fear, no nothing. His sadness at losing is present in some episodes, absent in others, but it's never hindered him from battling. We've never seen it affect the plot in any way. The writers could make an episode where Pokabu loses and chooses to leave Satoshi because he doesn't feel good enough, only to have Satoshi convince him to come back, building their friendship more. Same for the Crime Boss Gamagaru who is docile in its next appearance. Dangoro who can be seen ressourceful and energetic in his debut, only to be much more subdued and having nothing really distinctive battling wise afterwards. The same for Kurumayu. Mamepato really had something with its slowness and obliviousness, that I kinda feel was greatly subdued and forgotten after evolving. It's those things that make them unique, that make them characters that are dropped, leaving only qualities that are common and generic.

Personally, I feel that Tsutarja and Zuruggu are really the standouts personality wise on Satoshi's team, because their personality are a constant throughout the saga and can actually be seen changing a bit, with Tsutarja slowing growing closer to the Pokémon in the group, especially the babies. Zuruggu is growing up a bit, but without losing his childish attitude and his desire to battle is still present. They're consistantly presented as personable without being overbearing.

I'm mixed on Mijumaru and Waruvile. Both have personalities, but in the case of Mijumaru, it's often overbearing and just shoved into episodes where it doesn't really belong. That being said, episodes that focused on Mijumaru slowing growing out of his initial brattiness, like the lost Otachi episode or Gamagaru's capture episode have been really good for it. Waruvile, I felt, lost a lot of his uniqueness when it was captured, and his personality fitted more a recurring character than a Pokémon on the main roster.

Other standouts for me this saga have been Pansage, Iwaparesu, Maggyo, Bel's Chaobu, Chillarmy and Chevargo that I really like.

 

[L-05308]

Other standouts for me this saga have been Pansage, Iwaparesu, Maggyo, Bel's Chaobu, Chillarmy and Chevargo that I really like.

What about Emolga, they've done a great job with her personality.

I'm very happy that Pansage, Crustle and Stunfisk have been given such standout personalities. Considering Brock's pokemon's personalites, altough they were they're, were rarely shown before P, I was scared Cialn's pokemon would prehaps get left out. I was also scared because Dwebble and Stunfisk were not that marketable, unlike Emolga and Pansage.

I'm also glad the Bianca's pokemon all have great personalities, this is good for a rival. The only other rival pokemon I can think of with personalitis are: Gary's Electivire, Paul's Electivire and Torterra and Tyson's Meowth.

Luke's Zorua is also a standout for me as in the Don battle she was sought of like her own character, interacting with Bianca, Langley and Iris more than her trainer.

 

[Hellion]

What about Emolga, they've done a great job with her personality.

I'm mixed on Emonga personally. They have given her some strong traits that have been consistant (vanity, selfishness), but her 180 about obeying was jarring and I don't really find myself laughing at her scenes most of the time.

Luke's Zorua is also a standout for me

True.

 

[Sweet Veil]

Personality wise for Pokemon in BW, I'm loving a lot of them. Satoshi's Mijumaru is the main standing point for me, ever since his first episode he appeared I loved him. I remember how much backlash the otter got pre-BW for being "ugly, potato-nosed, dumb freckles, stupid shell" but, since episode one I've really enjoyed the otter a lot. Seeing his blush after Satoshi says he's cute, his shock over not being picked by Shuuti, rescuing Kibago and Pikachu, him following Satoshi-Tachi, him battling Yanappu and pulling through like that, his crush on Emonga, and his battle against Waruvile were just great moments personality wise for him. I really enjoy Mijumaru and still think he's the best handled Pokemon overall in BW and my favorite of the BW Pokemon in the group. On the other hand you really can get sick of the little guy after a while, I do admit that the writers overdo it at times with Mijumaru probably because he's the most marketable starter in BW thus far.

Iris's Kibago is another selling point in the area of personalities, I really enjoy his a lot. Kibago has been shown to be a very caring Pokemon, when Iris was sad he went and picked some fruit for her. In Zuruggu's episode he went and told Satoshi-Tachi after Zuruggu went off to face the Denchura. In Emonga's second episode Emonga chose to run off, Kibago immediately followed her in concern. In the Koharu episode he went so far as to have a nightmare over his bro possibly becoming Gochimu's. Him finding Mijumaru's hotachi. Like Iris he has a bit of a disdain toward cold as evidenced when Tsunbear intimidated them with it's ice breath and he recoiled, as well as Banipuuchi's presence. As shown before he can be playful like a toddler like when he messes with the wild Kurumiru, plays with Zuruggu, he had a brief crush on Emonga even sharing an apple with her. His cute personality moments the most recent that comes to mind is when the Buffron are chasing him down and he's running and a crying sobbing mess until Tsutarja intervenes.

Luke's Zorua goes without saying is a trickster playful and overall entertaining, one of the better done Pokemon of BW. Waruvile is fun and his trait of going into a timid mess without his patented glasses is a stick out. Kurumayu when he was a Kurumiru his personality in Yaguruma Forest and in the Cabernet and gym episodes was so much fun, I still think Kurumayu has a personality he just hasn't had the episodes and screen time to display it, his little moment with Luke's Hahakomori made me smile. Komatana's pose and little flowery-girl scene after Mero-Mero failing to infatuate her was hilarious, something rarely seen out of rival Pokemon in BW is personality so that was nice. There's also Mamepato's muscle bulging before evolving.

Iris's Emonga is very cute and I've been enamored with her personality since episode one, she truly is a bad ass. I enjoyed her moment with the Afro in the Buffron episode. I like how she uses Mero-Mero to get what she wants at times, her rivalry with Tsutarja can be funny like in the Gamagaru episode where she grabs the volley ball and throws it at the Grass Snake in contempt and spite, I liked the moment where she offered Tsutarja an apple after their team up against Baokkie, Tsutarja taking the apple and calm and cooly slicing it into three pieces for her, Emonga, and Kibago was just golden. She also has shown to be lazy battling whenever she wants to, battling Bel's Charbu for a while but then after subduing it battling Chillarmy and using Volt Change to leave, she battled when forced to face wild Pokes like Kokoromori and Baokkie, battling Enbour for a while but then leaving with Volt Change, and choosing to fight when she wants. She's shown to be trifling and a straight up bitch at times. Emonga still very much has her heart in the right place since she protected Iris and Kibago from the Kokoromori and helped out Tsutarja against Baokkie, she even got pissed over the Kurumayu in Raimon City using String Shot on Erina's Kibago-Chan and then used Discharge out of frustration.

Satoshi's Tsutarja has no tolerance for any mindless behavior as shown when dealing with Emonga and Gochimu, she never has officially dealt with Emonga but, with Gochimu when Gochimu is about to attack Dasutodasu Tsutarja whips her causing the Gochimu to spill tears out of pain. After calming the giant down, Gochimu has a bone to pick with Tsutarja, Tsutarja shrugs it off as beats her the next day flawlessly. She has a soft spot for Pokemon like Kibago and Zuruggu also, and often plays the big sister role in episodes like the Buffron one, Gochimu one, Emonga one, and Subway eppy. I still think her move pool and development have a tad more to be desired but, she's enjoyable none the less. Reminds me of a female version of Satoshi's Kimori.

Personality wise for Maggyo he doesn't really entertain me at all, neither does Yanappu due to their lack of personality and personality enjoyable moments. I really did like Ishizumai's personality that it showed before in it's capture episode being timid and in the Gamagaru episode where he fears getting hit and pops the ball by accident that's disappeared since then so he doesn't really have a personality anymore since that episode and since it's evolved it hasn't really shown that either which I guess makes sense given he's suppose to be tougher and stronger now.

 

[Pyrossword]

Since I'm not a big fan of B&W cause of Ash's amnesia I only started watching from Elesa encounter. Now I'm waiting for his 6th badge when he evolves his Tranquill (I think I'm pronouncing it right). I personally think that Snivy is his best Pokemon in personality. It's really calm and cool unlike Oshawott who is self-centered . Anyway Pikachu is a "peace maker". Krokorok is pure awesomeness when he evolves. Tepig is his main fire-power (no pun intended). That's basically that.

 

[Shinneth]

In my opinion, I wouldn't necessarily say Dangoro was bursting with personality in its debut, but it showed some traits there that could have lead to a strong personality... had they been picked up again. I think that when people say that the Pokémon have no or little personality, I don't think they say that there exist no single scene where the Pokémon show personality, but that the writers aren't constant with it.

This is exactly how I feel about the majority of the BW Pokemon. Many of them displayed at least some signs of a personality at first - some more than others - but afterwards, the majority suffered minimal screentime after their debuts where their personalities rarely shined, if at all, after being captured. Also:

They usually have ok to strong personality in their debut, but it's just never picked up again and we only see the most generic traits instead, like "This Pokémon is fired up before a battle" or "It doesn't give up" that could apply to pretty much every Pokémon on the main cast.

Even when the Pokemon that lack personality are used in battles and whatnot, such as Tepig, traits like this do absolutely nothing to further their character or solidify their identity. They gave Tepig a backstory when it debuted, but it's never really referenced to after the fact, so why did they even bother forcing Tepig into the stereotypical overused "abused Fire-type starter" role, which already compromises its individuality? Charizard and Infernape at least had those backstories relevant to their development and both were in entirely difference circumstances, which helped make the two distinct, different characters despite having the same backstory. With Tepig, they don't really give it much to work with because continuity isn't utilized to develop it. Its personality of being eager to please doesn't really help it stand out at all; it feels, well, stagnant. I understand the writers perhaps wanting the Fire-type starter to take a backseat this time since Infernape was so integral to the main part of the last series, but that doesn't mean they had to just slap the exact same backstory that ALL of Ash's Fire-type starters have on it and call it a day. It could've taken a completely different route and stood out without taking up the spotlight that Oshawott's self-entitled to, but I really don't see much effort put into Tepig's character at all. And no, learning new moves does not count unless there's a real plot attached to it, which it isn't in Tepig's case.

Swadloon seems to be the complete opposite of Sewaddle in the worst way possible - in that Swadloon lacks a personality altogether while Sewaddle had quite a personality when it debuted, but that was quickly dropped. Roggenrola shows some personality when it debuts, but no more personality than the average Pokemon-of-the-Day does, and after its capture it goes quite a while before even being used again, and shortly after it does appear again, it suddenly evolves and... well, what more can really be said about it? Unfezant is like the blandest of all of Ash's regional birds; it's sad when its most notable quality is its gender (opposed to Snivy, who isn't defined simply by her gender), and its only notable feats are aiding in the capture of Snivy, helping in a filler episode, and just recently winning Ash his sixth badge - two of these accomplishments resulted in an evolution. Yeah, they really are just phoning in everything with Unfezant. It doesn't even get to be a balloon-popper like Pidgeotto because of TR's role shift, how sad.

Things already look bad for Krokorok, given how it performed at the recent gym battle and considering how it had a stronger personality than the majority of Ash's Pokemon before its capture; now it's faced with sharing screentime with all these other Pokemon and a fate of fading into the background and becoming only a shell of what it once was seems imminent. Really, the issue of Ash having so many Pokemon is the core of the problem in regards to his Pokemon lacking in anything beyond a basic personality, in addition to the disproportionate amount of screentime allotted to Oshawott, where often its screentime only emphasizes its comic relief rather than building its character. There were good episodes that helped Oshawott see underwater and learn to cope without its shell, but I felt that only really had a lasting change on its battling abilities rather than its actual personality, other than making Oshawott a little braver. This is the perfect time for Ash to finally have a Water-type starter with all the screentime Oshawott's getting, but as the series goes on, the more it feels like Oshawott's going to simply be the new Piplup where it never evolves beyond its base form and its role as a comic relief bumbling buffoon, which can only go so far.

The only Unova Pokemon I genuinely like are Snivy and Scraggy, for the reasons @Hellion stated. They're the rare few who actually have more than one or two characteristics that make them stand out, and they're consistent with their personalities without completely boning them in the screentime department. Snivy also really needs to evolve (much more so than Tepig); I'm really hoping she doesn't become the Unova equivalent of Bulbasaur. The only thing lacking with Snivy is her moveset, which I hope improves in time (though most of Ash's Pokemon suffer this problem too).

I don't care for any of Iris' Pokemon because none of them maintain consistent personalities and their subplots have had terribly rushed resolutions. I'm okay with most of Cilan's Pokemon, but still... they sure don't beat Brock's Croagunk.

 

[Almonds]

Snivy and Pansage were given good personalities - the rest were pretty bland to me.

 

[Trainer Yusuf]

Even though I constantly bitch about Kibago's development, I really like his personality, and how his mannerisms parallel to those of a human child. Besides his bro Zuruggu, I don't think any of the cast member's baby Pokémon showed such childish personality, or if they had, they had additional personality traits that often overshadow their childishness(Haruka's Zenigame's girliness, Pochama's selfishness and, uhm, "relationship" with Hikari, Hikari's Hinoarashi's tendency to burn Hikari and its mostly unexplored relationship with Pochama). Kibago has no additional gimmicks, he just acts like an avarage human male child, and that is pretty sweet.