The writers having a lot of the same Pokemon on the cast in Sinnoh

[Cybersai]

Spoilers:

One thing I've noticed about Sinnoh is how many characters have almost the same exact Pokemon:

- Both Ash and Paul have a Torterra
- Both Ash and Paul had/have a Gliscor
- Chimchar of course was Paul's before Ash got it

- Gary has an Electrivire, Paul also has/will have an Electrivire
- Johanna (Dawn's mother) has an Umbreon, Gary also has an Umbreon.
- Johanna and Zoey both have Glameows.

- Dawn, Kenny and Barry all have one stage of the penguin line, (Piplup, Prinplup, and Empoleon respectively)
- Dawn has a Cyndaquil, just like Ash.
- Dawn will be getting a Togekiss, same Pokemon line a certain other character had in the past.

- Barry and Ash both have Staraptors
- Barry, Ash AND Conway all have a Heracross (that's 3 Heracross)
- Barry and Nando both have Roserade

- Ash, Ursula and Cynthia all own one stage of the Garchomp line, (Gible for Ash, Gabite for Ursula, and Garchomp for Cynthia)


Is it just me, or is this being done purposely? Never before in a single saga have we had so many characters have almost the same exact Pokemon, (or the SAME Pokemon), in some cases. There have been the same Pokemon on the show at the same time, (like the two Wurmple in early Hoenn), but that was done to show a branched evolution.

Why do you think the writers have been purposely giving the same Pokemon, or the same evolutionary line, to so many major characters?

 

[Hellion]

Probably because in gen IV, at least before the platinum expansion, there weren't that many new pokemon that weren't linked to an evolution line from a previous generation... Plus, not all of the new ones had super interesting designs... Also, each genereations, the most popular pokemon are usually the starters, that's probably why we've been seeing so much of the starters' evolutionnary lines.

That being said, I don't really mind cause the writers have done a good job of giving pokemon of the same species or same evolutionnary lines different personnalities, different movepools and different battling styles that often match the battling styles of their trainers who have themselves different personnalities (ex : Ash and Paul's Torterra and Gliscor) The closer in personnality the pokemon are, the closer in personnalities their trainers are (like Ash and Dawn's cyndaquil) which means that the writers are actually not as bad as we seem to think... just my thoughts

 

[Sleet]

Aside from coincidence, the only explanation I can think of is pretty cynical: it allows them to play up certain Pokémon into mini-Pikachus for merchandising. I'd like to think I'm wrong, though.

 

[PlatinumDude]

I say this is a coincidence...

I never really noticed that.

 

[Trainer Yusuf]

Writers are very creative indeed.

 

[Cybersai]

It does seem like the writers are trying to draw obvious parallels this gen

 

[Force Fire]

- Gary has an Electrivire, Paul also has/will have an Electrivire

Source?

 

[Cybersai]

Source?

Paul's Electabuzz is almost guaranteed to be evolved by the league.

 

[Force Fire]

Paul's Electabuzz is almost guaranteed to be evolved by the league.

Right.

 

[Grave-E]

Truth be told, I do find it kind of irksome. The show already relied on recycling a lot of the same pokemon as it was, without it overflowing into the main character's teams. I mean, I like Barry and all, but sheesh; If they stick to the games, the only unique pokemon he’s going to have is Rapidash.

 

[hhhhdmt]

its because many of the new pokemon have horrible designs, so they have to give cool/cute ones to the main or fairly major characters, so ofcourse there will be repitition.

 

[Geechisu]

Truth be told, I do find it kind of irksome. The show already relied on recycling a lot of the same pokemon as it was, without it overflowing into the main character's teams. I mean, I like Barry and all, but sheesh; If they stick to the games, the only unique pokemon he’s going to have is Rapidash.

This.

 

[Cybersai]

its because many of the new pokemon have horrible designs, so they have to give cool/cute ones to the main or fairly major characters, so ofcourse there will be repitition.

I'm sure the writers don't think like that.

 

[Luna Tiger]

It does seem like the writers are trying to draw obvious parallels this gen

Doubt it. They realized most people didn't have heart attacks when May not only got herself a Bulbasaur, just like Ash, but then a Squirtle. Just like Ash.

And if you're not counting that because they weren't in the party at the same time, then you better nix the Togekiss/Togetic comparison, 'cause Togetic's gone like a mirage.

 

[Trainer Yusuf]

I'm sure the writers don't think like that.

During an interview with former director and storyboard artist of the Pokémon anime, Masamitsu Hidaka, he revealed that Dawn's Piplup will probably not evolve very soon, referring to his evolutions as "ugly" or not good for contests

Yeah, they sure don't.

 

[J J M]

Coincidence for the most part, game-related reasons another and most important of all, it's just the writers' preference.

 

[Grave-E]

Yeah, they sure don't.

Obvious exception, since Piplup's a big money maker. They can't exactly say 'we keep Piplup as is because it makes us mucho moolah' in an interview.
Besides that, Barry and Kenny have Empoleon and Prinplup, both of which always seem to appear, so...yeah.

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

Yeah, they sure don't.

You're really missed the point...

 

[Cybersai]

then you better nix the Togekiss/Togetic comparison, 'cause Togetic's gone like a mirage.

To be honest, I just put that there for amusement reasons. The initial reaction to Dawn getting a Togekiss on the forums was priceless, especially from certain parts of the fanbase.

 

[Luna Tiger]

So you're baiting? Are you admitting it?