Unfair Judging of May

[RebelMagmar]

This'll be a short and sweet rant.

In "Crusin' For a Losin'", May's Bulbasaur is knocked down by Lairon. The judges rule it out almost immediately, much too fast IMO. May protests, and the judges verbally (and from how I saw it, far too harshly) lash out at her, embarressing her so much that she cannot even stay in the contest arena to see her new friend battle. Bulbasaur is perfectly fine afterwards, so it looks like it collapsed temporarly from a mixture of some damage and stage fright. It was brutal and mean-spirited. From a TV show POV, the writers wanted to rub it into May's face very hard about her attitude.

In "A Cacturne for the Worst", Harley pulls out a tape recorder and plays a recording of something that was made to humilate and degrade May. It works, as the entire audience begins cruelly laughing at her. She is embarressed, hurt and angry, and Harley orders his Pokémon to attack her Bulbasaur when both May and Bulbasaur are distracted. And the judges and referee do nothing.

What is wrong here? Why is it that Harley can get away with doing such a horrendous thing and no one stops him, but May will be put down by officials for wanting to continue the fight? Pokémon previously and ahead took far more abuse than Bulbasaur and managed to get back up, and TR has been disqualified for using foreign items on the battlefield.

How do you all feel? Do you think May was unfairly treated in those two episodes, because I sure do.

Y'all take care.

 

[Cybersai]

It's called, "character development."

If May didn't have any conflict, or any faults, her storyline wouldn't have been interesting. It's good writing to see the writers constantly set May up for defeat everytime she gets overconfident. Harley was a great character, although it is odd the judges didn't care about the tape recorder. Come to think of it, I loved how the writers handled her losses:

When she was overconfident for her first Contest, Drew wiped the floor with her. When she was overconfident in the Rubello Contest, she lost to Savannah.

Then she lost to Drew in the Grand Festival which was much needed. When she thought Harley was no match for her in Modama town, he cleaned her clock as well. And we can't forget how Saori completely crushed her in the Grand Festival, and Drew came back to do the same in "Rivals Forever."

I loved how everytime the writers had May on a win streak, they'd suddenly turn around and give her a crushing defeat. It's what made her arc so enjoyable, she could be winning Contests one day and then be completely and utterly defeated the next.

They'll have to work hard with Hikari to make her arc better than May's, the Hoenn/Kanto Contest arc was definitely one of my favorite moments of AG and the show in general. Great stuff!

 

[RebelMagmar]

It's called, "character development."

I'm talking rules here. Harley should have been disqualified for what he did, and May was taken down too far harsher than was needed.

If May didn't have any conflict, or any faults, her storyline wouldn't have been interesting. It's good writing to see the writers constantly set May up for defeat everytime she gets overconfident. Harley was a great character, although it is odd the judges didn't care about the tape recorder. Come to think of it, I loved how the writers handled her losses:

When she was overconfident for her first Contest, Drew wiped the floor with her. When she was overconfident in the Rubello Contest, she lost to Savannah.

They did overconfidence with Ash. It's cliché that May is it too, not to mention that confidence almost always turns into overconfidence.

Then she lost to Drew in the Grand Festival which was much needed.

That was worst battle I saw. Drew's Pokémon dodged an attack each, and May lost 3/4 of her points! Right after, May's Pokémon dodge Drew's attacks, and he barely loses anything.

When she thought Harley was no match for her in Modama town, he cleaned her clock as well.

Harley has lied to her multiple times, used her, allied with Team Rocket, tried to kidnap her friends, and humilated her in front of the audience. She should feel like she can and will defeat him!

And we can't forget how Saori completely crushed her in the Grand Festival, and Drew came back to do the same in "Rivals Forever."

Which is sad, because they concentrate on May vs Harley and May vs Drew so much, then Saori beats her with 10 seconds of shown footage. And why is it neccesary to have Drew defeat her again?

I loved how everytime the writers had May on a win streak, they'd suddenly turn around and give her a crushing defeat. It's what made her arc so enjoyable, she could be winning Contests one day and then be completely and utterly defeated the next.

And I find it sad and pathetic that main characters must lose the tournaments and key battles with their rivals. Invincibility is one thing, but unable to completely win is just plain losing. What's the point of watching when you know they're going to lose the key battle?

They'll have to work hard with Hikari to make her arc better than May's, the Hoenn/Kanto Contest arc was definitely one of my favorite moments of AG and the show in general. Great stuff!

Now don't get me wrong, I love the animé and many things about it. But some things, mainly this topic's subject, upset me. I want to know why the writers must make May arrogant all of a sudden just to have her embarressed and defeated, but normally she's a sweet and friendly girl. How can Harley get away with such tactics? Why can't May have her Bulbasaur continue when others have suffered worse? Why can't May win a Grand Festival?

 

[RebelMagmar]

Oh, and about character development, how is winning a Pokémon Tournament or Grand Festival going to hurt Ash/May/Hikari? They are the most competitive and stubborn characters, they won't stop trying. If they actually, for once, win, they would NOT stop competing, they'd keep on winning.

There's nothing wrong with winning. If losing is in your character development, then you're a loser.

 

[The Big Al]

They lashed out at her because Bulbasaur was scared out of its wits and May didn't seem to care.

 

[Zeta]

It's happened to other characters in other episodes. Grass Roots? Ash's Bulbasaur was still standing and looking fine but it was ruled unable to battle. And in Falkner's episode, all of his Pokemon got at least a minute or so of time to try to recover after clearly being knocked out.

 

[Pie]

I think the judges are on crack. Or, well, to be serious, the writers don't always write the battles well enough to fit the pre-determined outcome. Which makes it seem as though the judges are on crack.

Don't get me started again on how skewed things were in May's favor in her contest battle against Brock. Just don't get me started.

 

[The Big Al]

It's happened to other characters in other episodes. Grass Roots? Ash's Bulbasaur was still standing and looking fine but it was ruled unable to battle. And in Falkner's episode, all of his Pokemon got at least a minute or so of time to try to recover after clearly being knocked out.

This is why I support a ten count in Pokemon. Then you wouldn't have this crap.

 

[Habunake]

Doesn't May usually seem to have the points work mystically in her favor?

Sukizo knows why....Simply Remarkable!

 

[RebelMagmar]

Doesn't May usually seem to have the points work mystically in her favor?

Sukizo knows why....Simply Remarkable!

Ehehe... remember how she lost to Drew in the Grand Festival? Drew's Pokémon dodged an attack each, and she lost OVER HALF her points! Meanwhile, May's Pokémon dodge attacks left and right, Drew barely loses any. And May seems to win most of her battles by KOing her opponent.

May did care about Bulbasaur. The lesson about 'caring for your Pokémon' has gone so far as to become anti-battling. I mean, c'mon, Bulbasaur was nervous because May shouted at Ash. How did THAT make it scared? They just wanted an excuse to rub it in May's face, and they weren't kind or smart about it.

 

[RebelMagmar]

I think you're all missing my main point. My main point is that in CfaL, the judges shoot down May harshly, but in ACftW, they do jack-squat when Harley publicly humilates May.

 

[Cybersai]

Maybe its because nobody thought Harley did anything wrong with the tape recorder? Or maybe you're just over-analyzing something the writers weren't think about when writing the episode?

The point bar will probably be just as random in Hikari's Contest battles as well. I see no reason to nitpick it, it's the battles that matter, not some counter. It's not like the battles were ever going to have a different outcome.

EDIT: May didn't win a Grand Festival because she would look like a Mary sue. Why have her win her first or second competition?

Instead, placing in the Top 8 and Top 4 was much more rewarding and satisfactory an ending.

 

[RebelMagmar]

Maybe its because nobody thought Harley did anything wrong with the tape recorder? Or maybe you're just over-analyzing something the writers weren't think about when writing the episode?

I fail to see how playing a recording of someone discussing something embarresing about your opponent could not be seen as immoral, if not illegal, to the judges; not to mention he has Cacturne attack when May is crushed and Bulbasaur is looking concerned at its trailer. And maybe I am overanalyzing (it is a kid show), but how can you let someone do something that cruel and undermining and allow it?

The point bar will probably be just as random in Hikari's Contest battles as well. I see no reason to nitpick it, it's the battles that matter, not some counter. It's not like the battles were ever going to have a different outcome.

The points are worthless. They decide who wins at the beginning, and they drop at unreasonable rates for such stupid reasons it looks like the fight is rigged. I mean, I've seen it plummet so fast it'd hit zero in a second, but somehow the person endures. There's no sense in having a point meter if there isn't any point system to begin with!
Also to note is the time. It's also ridiculous how they have a 5 minute timer when they aren't going to bother keeping real time. I mean, the Pokémon preform three attacks, and I'm supposed to believe that took 4 minutes? Maybe all that talking the trainers do really does make things take longer.

May didn't win a Grand Festival because she would look like a Mary sue. Why have her win her first or second competition?

Maybe because, I dunno, I'd like to see someone WIN!? People aren't Mary-Sues because they're good or they win, they're Mary-Sues if they're too perfect. Winning your first fight and/or winning a contest doesn't make you a Mary-Sue. Losing your first fight AND the main contest makes you a Mary-Loser.

Instead, placing in the Top 8 and Top 4 was much more rewarding and satisfactory an ending.

No, it wasn't. What's the point of watching a show when you know the characters are always going to lose the main contests? Ash and May never won the main contests, and when Ash won Orange Islands/Battle Frontier, Gary came and beat Pikachu without breaking a sweat. Why should the animé support losing? It's not like Ash/May are going to win a tournament/festival, and then settle down and never compete again.

***

We're getting sidetracked. I'm asking you people, why does Harley get to do such a thing while May is chastised for her actions? What rules allow this?

 

[Kasumi]

Because Harley is so awesome he can do anything he wants.

 

[Roses Ablaze]

I actually agree with the point on Harley. But last time I brought it up I got snapped at for character bashing -_-;

 

[FabuVinny]

The point bar will probably be just as random in Hikari's Contest battles as well. I see no reason to nitpick it, it's the battles that matter, not some counter. It's not like the battles were ever going to have a different outcome.

The counter is extremely important. The winner is selected by who has the most points when there isn't a KO so if the point loss is unrealistic then we have an unrealistic victory. And since the battling ties into whether it is realistic...

The sad part is that it would actually be unrealistic for the contest judging to be fair since it looks like we're stuck with the same judges for Shinou. (See the Grand Festival picture of Hikari's mother in DP001.)

 

[Zeta]

Harley was sleeping with the judges, obviously.

 

[Kasumi]

Not with Nurse Joy, I'm sure.

 

[Habunake]

Harley and Joy had a sleep-over and were talking about Contests and Sukizo while doing each other's hair and doing Face Masks.

 

[Kasumi]

Now that's a more likely scenario.