Releasing Pokemon, a thing of the past?

[Cybersai]

With the exception of Team Rocket, the writers have fixed one of the major complaints during Kanto/Orange, and that was the fact that Ash released a number of his Pokemon.

If we look through Kanto-Johto for the characters, these Pokemon were released:

- Butterfree
- Primeape
- Pidgeot
- Lapras
- Starmie/Hosea left at the Gym
- Brock gives Vulpix back to Suzie
- Lickitung is traded
- Victreebel is released

Total Pokemon released in Kanto, Orange and Johto: 9

Then during Advanced Generation, these Pokemon were released:

- TR release Arbok and Weezing
- Misty's Togetic
- James leaves Chimecho

Total Pokemon released during AG: 4

If we look back at the series, there were 9 Pokemon released from the main group during Kanto/Johto and only four (if you don't count May's Swablu) released from the group during AG.

You might not want to count Togetic either because Misty wasn't part of the group when she released it, so its not like we would see her use it often if she kept it anyway. So in reality the only main characters that released Pokemon in AG were Team Rocket.

With the exception of TR possibly releasing another Pokemon, (Dustox is surprisingly managing to last longer than expected), do you think the writers have learned to keep releases to a minimum? I honestly can't see many Pokemon being released in D/P, especially for anyone outside of TR.

Ash hasn't released a Pokemon since Lapras, (Charizard and Squirtle are essentially the same as his Oak'd Pokemon), and May hasn't released a single Pokemon over the course of AG. Brock hasn't released anything aside from Vulpix either. I also doubt we'll see Dawn release anything, since she can just leave Pokemon at her house if she needs space.

What are your thoughts on the way the writers handle the groups Pokemon?

 

[Mickey]

Hmm, interesting. You definitely have to wonder why they didn't release as many Pokémon in AG. Maybe since the characters were already starting "fresh" in the first place, there was no need to do so. On May's part, she had more of a team thing going on, where all her Pokémon seemed to have a very prominent role in her group... until Munchlax and Squirtle took over and let Eevee fade into the background (if it was even front and center in the first place). Ugh.

Hikari sorta/kinda/sorta released Pachirisu for like ten minutes, so we got a semi-but-not release there.

I think it's more because the characters have already started fresh, opposed to Kanto and Johto where the teams were full and needed to be switched around, or, in the cases of releasing, just were cut out of the picture.

I think, with Team Rocket in AG, their Pokémon were released because the writers wanted to give them new ones but keep their team small (god forbid Team Rocket have a full team).

 

[peno]

Charizard and Squirtle are essentially the same as his Oak'd Pokemon

Sorry, but I must disagree about this. They aren't Ash's anymore, even though they helped him sometimes. But it's similar like when Lapras returned for one Johto episode. Squirtle now belonged to Jenny and Charizard… well… Charizard now lived in Charicific Valley, even though he don't belong to Liza. So they both should be considered as released anyway. Otherwise you shouldn't tell Vulpix were released since it don't belonged to Brock. He just have it loaned.

But back to the topic. Yes, they put away the releasing Pokémon in AG, but instead they bring us whole new nonsens with Ash starting in new region with only Pikachu (Aipom is there just for its Sinnoh evolution). I said it's nonsense because no one intelligent trainer left his/her hard trained Pokémon, and start as newbie. Which denies fact that Ash is matured trainer for me. That's even worser for me as when Ash released his Pokémon for reason (like protect wild Pokémon).

 

[Zeta]

I said it's nonsense because no one intelligent trainer left his/her hard trained Pokémon, and start as newbie.

Actually, the stupidest thing someone could do is keep on training the same six. They get really strong, yes, but you don't have any variation and essentially your stagnated by using the same strategy again and again. Starting over also gives you a lot more options to chose from at the tournaments, even though Ash didn't do this in Hoenn. As we've seen competitors can look at their opponent's list of Pokemon. If you're using only six, it's pretty easy to figure out how to beat the other guy. A trainer with 50 or so strong Pokemon will have the advantage because they have a number to chose from. Not to mention that collecting new Pokemon in a new region makes it more likely that they'll learn attacks exclusive to that region, so you can adapt to that area's battling style easier.

 

[Habunake]

I'm glad he did that, because it was boring seeing Charizard win the first Johto Gym for Ash...-_-

 

[peno]

Actually, the stupidest thing someone could do is keep on training the same six. They get really strong, yes, but you don't have any variation and essentially your stagnated by using the same strategy again and again. Starting over also gives you a lot more options to chose from at the tournaments, even though Ash didn't do this in Hoenn. As we've seen competitors can look at their opponent's list of Pokemon. If you're using only six, it's pretty easy to figure out how to beat the other guy. A trainer with 50 or so strong Pokemon will have the advantage because they have a number to chose from. Not to mention that collecting new Pokemon in a new region makes it more likely that they'll learn attacks exclusive to that region, so you can adapt to that area's battling style easier.

I don't say he must train only six Pokémon. Of course he can switch his Pokémon just like he do in Kanto, Orange Islands, Johto and Battle Frontier. The nonsens for me is, kept all these hard trained Pokémon away and used only those catched in new region like Ash do in Hoenn and keep doing in Sinnoh. That's just something I don't like.

 

[bell02+]

I think him leaving his pokemon when he goes to a new region is actually a sign of maturity. It's kind of his way of proving that it is his tactics that will make him a pokemon master, not his pokemon (something the show seems to show-off when ever they show an elite trainer, it seems like it doesn't matter which pokemon they use) It also gives him a sense of adventure, not knowing what may come around the corner.

Plus, we are made to do this in the games, although I'd probably choose the same as ash if we were given the ability to transfer our monsters from the start.

To actually make something on topic, I think boxing pokemon is better than releasing them all the time. Its not nice to hold them back, but really, give the monster a chance, it may actually like you more. Also, the Anime's story for Weezing and Arbok to leave seems like BS to me... I mean, are we honestly suppose to believe a flock of koffing and ekans happen to be in trouble... together?

 

[Nando]

" Releasing Pokemon, a thing of the past? "


One word: Paul. Will most likely release more Pokémon in DP than Ash has in all the previous runs combined.

 

[Dogasu]

I think the whole "fresh start" thing is supposed to be a way to incorporate the fact that you have to start fresh with every new region, like Bell02 said. You'll notice that Satoshi didn't start calling on Orchid'ed pokemon (wow, that really doesn't work with the Japanese names, does it?) until AFTER he completed the anime's equivalent of the Four Emperors challenge, the Houen League. I think it's pretty clear that it's an attempt to mimic the games somewhat.

I don't expect to see Satoshi transferring pokemon freely from Orchid-Hakase's lab until the inevitable filler league between the Shinou League and the Generation V league.

 

[Dogasu]

I think the whole "fresh start" thing is supposed to be a way to incorporate the fact that you have to start fresh with every new region, like Bell02 said. You'll notice that Satoshi didn't start calling on Orchid'ed pokemon (wow, that really doesn't work with the Japanese names, does it?) until AFTER he completed the anime's equivalent of the Four Emperors challenge, the Houen League. I think it's pretty clear that it's an attempt to mimic the games somewhat.

I don't expect to see Satoshi transferring pokemon freely from Orchid-Hakase's lab until the inevitable filler league between the Shinou League and the Generation V league.

 

[Rocketshipper]

Sorry, but I must disagree about this. They aren't Ash's anymore, even though they helped him sometimes.

I have to disagree with you now ^^, at least with Charizard. I think the charizard valley is supposed to be the equivalent of the breeding house things in the games, a place where a trainer can leave their pokemon and have it gain levels while they are out traveling. And it seemed to me that the episode in which charizard was left there implied that it was done so that it could become strong and return to him at a later date (but of course, they also said something similar with Pidgeot, so...^^;; But I agree with you on Squirtle.

 

[A Concerned Solomon]

Well, I'd make the common sense argument that he should know he's going to face a life-or-death situation or two, and he has no way of knowing if it'll be on the boat to said region and caused by Team Rocket, who probably have an anti-Pikachu weapon. Sure, you want to train more than your original six for competitions, but this begs for disaster, doesn't it? I mean, the first rule of being a Pokemon Master, whatever it is, is that you not be dead.

 

[FabuVinny]

- Starmie/Horsea left at the Gym

Techically, the same as the other characters leaving their Pokémon at home. Granted, they just float round in the aquarium but we don't see much of the other characters' left Pokémon.

I wonder how Dawn will do it. Maybe we'll find out where her mum's other Pokémon are when she leaves some at home.

 

[peno]

I think him leaving his pokemon when he goes to a new region is actually a sign of maturity. It's kind of his way of proving that it is his tactics that will make him a pokemon master, not his pokemon (something the show seems to show-off when ever they show an elite trainer, it seems like it doesn't matter which pokemon they use) It also gives him a sense of adventure, not knowing what may come around the corner.

Which only convinced me, that Ash isn't matured at all. If he were, he never do such stupid thing.

Plus, we are made to do this in the games, although I'd probably choose the same as ash if we were given the ability to transfer our monsters from the start.

I can't talk about others opinions, but I believe many peoples jump on chance to get their hard trained Pokémon from previous game at the beginning of the new game.
Sum up, it's simply stupid for me to give up on your strong Pokémon for such stupid thing like personal honour and effort to show something to himself. That proven the fact Ash (and the writers with him ;-) ) tried to opposing, Pokémon being just battle tools. They aren't. They are living creatures with heart, soul and emotions. How they feel if you forced them stay away from you and replaced them by stranger and not so strong Pokémon.

 

[Cybersai]

Well the fresh start didn't happen until AG started. Ash, Misty and Brock went into Johto with the same teams they had in the previous sagas.

I think another reason for the fresh start besides the games is the writers essentially wanted to sever all ties with the Johto region. Ash's Johto team was dumped in one swell swoop rather than getting rid of them one by one, Misty (and all her Pokemon as a result) were dumped, Brock left all his Pokemon besides Foretress, and they got rid of Gary.

AG was essentially the complete fresh start of Pokemon that brought the show back down to basics of Season 1 with a new beginning trainer and an exciting new direction for the series. After the Johto saga disappointed many, the writers must have not wanted any major characters from that saga to linger over into Hoenn. Its also noticeable had Victreebel was released right before Johto ended.

Essentially, Foretress was the only surviving "Johto" character to make it into AG. I guess they did that because Brock needed to bring at least one Pokemon with him and that was his newest capture. Everything else from Johto, (Misty, Gary, Ash's Johto team and Brock's Kanto Pokes) were gotten rid of all together.

When D/P started the writers probably wanted to do the same thing because it was another fresh start. Not to mention his Battle Frontier team was way too strong, Ash would be owning everyone with Sceptile, Swellow and Corphish.

 

[FireEmblemPride]

Wobbufett also made it through to Advanced Generation. I wouldn't call Victreebell (or Arbok and Weezing) Johto characters either, but just Pocket Monsters characters in general.

I'm not sure I buy the argument of "severing ties with the Johto region", at least when presented in that sense. I honestly think they did it for the sake of not having Ash lose them permanantly like what happened with a lot of Pokemon. Plus, the timing of the arrival of AG didn't even allow for that.

 

[xRubyx]

I would never release any of my Pokemon. Well..maybe for a really good reason.