Should There Be Antagonistic Pokemon Deaths?

[Ghetsis-Dennis]

Somewhat inspired by the antagonistic Pokemon thread. There were a few attempts in the Pokemon movies where one of the main Pokemon dies near the end as heroic sacrifices (Ex: Latios), but do you think this should also apply to antagonistic Pokemon? When I first watched Mewtwo Strikes Back in theaters, I expected Mewtwo, who had a villain role, to die in the end because I grew up with movies where villains met their horrible demise (falling off a cliff, explosion, melting, etc.), but I was fairly disappointed in Mewtwo having a Heel Face Turn after Ash was brought back to life. We all know that Pokemon can behave as much as humans do, so maybe we'll have one that's similar to an evil entity, who would eventually suffer from a karmic death. So, do you think death should be expanded to future antagonistic Pokemon in movies?

 

[MizuTaipu]

I....just don't like the concept of someone dying in Pokémon (Latios, Arlon, and Lucario's deaths were hard enough) so no. :-(

 

[El_]

It kills off any future development in my opinion, plus all of the movie antagonistic Pokemon so far (Kyurem not withstanding) are simply misunderstood. They would have to truly introduce an evil Pokemon in order to kill it at the end in such a manner, because being an antagonist does not mean that you are evil.

So I don't ever see it happening until the day that a truly evil Pokemon is introduced to the series.

 

[Garren]

So I don't ever see it happening until the day that a truly evil Pokemon is introduced to the series.

Spiritomb.

No remorse for what it did, no tender moments revealing it had a reason for its chaos, and in the end it was sealed away for all eternity to rot in its own-personal hell.

Apart from that, I can't think of any antagonist Pokemon we've had that deserved death lol.

 

[Peppermint Phoenix]

No antagonistic pokemon shouldn't die they should just be caught. That takes away there Independence so it is a fitting punishment

 

[Jukain]

I've written antagonistic pokemon, but I've never felt the need to truly kill them. Maybe they'll get in a giant climactic battle and faint, but I don't think I ever truly killed them. It could be that I can't be that way, but it doesn't have to end that way. Maybe it's that I've also never had the situation that the only way to stop them is to get rid of them, otherwise they will come back forever. I've only sort of done that for Darkrai, but I couldn't destroy him because he's an essential part of the balance of nature. I can see how it could possibly be done, but the anime will never do that. Maybe it's that I can't see a pokemon being a villian unless it's from the perspective of the pokemon themselves. (think MD)

 

[Almonds]

No. It doesn't do much to the show. When Lucario or Latios died in the movie, we all cried over their deaths, but who's gonna cry over the bad guy's death?

I know she isn't a pokemon, but Hunter J is presumed dead. Did anyone cry for her?

 

[Pidgeot]

I wouldn't mind if an evil Pokemon did die, but there are a few turn-offs:

1. There aren't that many evil Pokemon in the anime to begin with.
2. The Pokemon anime is aimed at little kids (despite the fact that older fans like us like it more).
3. No-one's gonna care all that much if an evil character dies. Something like Pikachu, maybe, but no-one's gonna cry if an evil Pokemon that killed countless innocent Pokemon dies.

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

What about Hunter J's pokemons?

 

[garrison-san]

No. It's just a personal preference, but I do not like seeing antagonists die, period. As a kid, my least favourite part of just about any Disney movie I watched was whenever the villain would make a one-way trip to the boneyard in the end (the only exception being the Queen from Snow White, because the multi-layered nature of her death was ridiculously lulzy), and I would always experience this little internal spasm of joy in those rare instances where they would unexpectantly survive. Ever since I was a toddler, I've been a big believer in the notion that most villains are just far too entertaining to deserve the all-too convenient demises that typically await them at the intervention of clean-scrubbed protagnists.

 

[Karamazov]

I don't like anyone dying in this series. Especially since the franchise establishes that almost any bad Pokemon can be redeemed with love and companionship. I don't know about you guys, but I think it would be horrible if Sewaddle actually died from that fall off the cliff.

 

[Pidgeot]

Personally, I think it's good when the antagonist(s) die, because for some people that's a satisfying end to their story. And it absolutely makes sure that they can't come back again. Shame it never happened to Brock then.

 

[Karamazov]

Personally, I think it's good when the antagonist(s) die, because for some people that's a satisfying end to their story. And it absolutely makes sure that they can't come back again.

But the criminals who get put into jail rarely, if ever escape. Didn't we see Lawrence III and that Zero guy in jail?

Shame it never happened to Brock then.

@Croag
It would be a shame if Brock died.

 

[Pidgeot]

Personally, I think it's good when the antagonist(s) die, because for some people that's a satisfying end to their story. And it absolutely makes sure that they can't come back again.

But the criminals who get put into jail rarely, if ever escape. Didn't we see Lawrence III and that Zero guy in jail?

I remember Zero going to jail, but I don't remember Lawrence III being in jail. I'll check, though.

 

[Hellion]

No. Antagonist Pokémon doesn't mean vilain or evil Pokémon. There's a nuance here that when we see wild Pokémon being the antagonists, it's usually run-of-the-mill animal instincts for food or territory OR it's being played up as comedic. So death doesn't really make sense in those situations.

 

[Araragi-hakase]

The only setting I'd like to see an "evil" Pokemon die is in a similar situation to a villain role; which how often to we get one specific Pokemon acting like that for more than an episode? Even the Pokemon that were ~bad~ were only for an episode or so, not in any major plots that heavily effected the overall plot/protagonists stories.

I highly doubt we'll ever get a plot like this though, because y'know, ~~~all Pokemon have the ability to be good if they meet the right trainer~~~

 

[TeddiUrsa]

Pokémon only die in flashbacks in this series. Well, Pikachu's brother and his trainer died in the big war against Team Rocket, but that was an exception I think.
It would be a good idea if Satoshi's Pokémon would die each time after their saga is finished. Would be a pretty good reason for Satoshi to start from scratch as well, don't you think? Why didn't he use Infernape again? It's dead.

To be perfectly honest I don't think that dying 'evil' Pokémon fit this anime at all. What kind of message would that be for little children anyway? Not a big fan of the concept.
I guess the Pokémon of Hunter J may be dead, but that wasn't really shown on screen.

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

Pokemons are shown many times to be sentient and with human-like intelligence. I can't see why they can't be evil, or killed for that matter.

 

[El_]

Spiritomb.

No remorse for what it did, no tender moments revealing it had a reason for its chaos, and in the end it was sealed away for all eternity to rot in its own-personal hell.

I forgot about Spiritomb, its based off that 108 evil sealed up spirits/temptations myth I think. A truly antagonistic Pokemon also like that example depends on what the Pokemon is based off of probably.

It would be a good idea if Satoshi's Pokémon would die each time after their saga is finished. Would be a pretty good reason for Satoshi to start from scratch as well, don't you think? Why didn't he use Infernape again? It's dead.

That is a horrible idea, Ash would never ever be able to recover from the shock of his Pokemon dieing off after each and every saga. Not to mention that it wouldn't make any sense because Pokemon's lifespans aren't that short. Its already bad enough that they rebooted him, but at least theres the hope of his older Pokemon appearing again, even if its only after Best Wishes is over with.

I think the reason he chooses to start over with Pikachu is enough. As for this thread, I think that an antagonist Pokemon's death can be pulled off, but it would likely have to be meaningful, and knowing Pokemon the villain would likely be redeemed before death.

 

[Adamant]

Personally, I think it's good when the antagonist(s) die, because for some people that's a satisfying end to their story. And it absolutely makes sure that they can't come back again.

But the criminals who get put into jail rarely, if ever escape. Didn't we see Lawrence III and that Zero guy in jail?

I remember Zero going to jail, but I don't remember Lawrence III being in jail. I'll check, though.

Gerladen/Lawrence didn't go to jail, no. His last scene in the movie had him walking away from his wrecked ship, supposedly having learned his lesson.
Phantom from movie 9 ended up getting arrested at the end, though.