What if Bianca was in the group instead of Iris?

[Cilan]

This is just something I've been curious about. I noticed a lot of people say that Bianca has some good interactions with Ash and Cilan and I have to agree with that. So what if she was the one traveling with the group instead of Iris? How do you think that would affect the show? Would it make things better or worse? Would you like it if Bianca was traveling with Ash and Cilan instead of Iris?

If she was traveling with them then she probably wouldn't be collecting badges since we have Ash for that. She'd probably be a side character like Cilan. Ash probably wouldn't have Tepig either since she has Pignite and her rival role would have been given to Cheren or another character. As for her being older, they could always bump down her age or her height to make her look younger. A lot of anime characters appear older or younger than they really are so I don't think that would be a problem. The show would be more interesting to me but I like Iris in the group.

 

[Cybersai]

I think the stereotype of a "dumb ditzy blonde" on the main cast would have caused controversy. The reason she's funny is she's a secondary character. You already had enough people complaining about Dawn's girliness, imagine if we had a ditzy dumb blonde as our only female protagonist for a gen?

However I don't think we'd have her collecting badges then.

 

[Iteru]

Here's what I think:

- Bel would be shown in the first episode, going to Araragi's lab with her father trying to convince her not to.
- She would pick Pokabu as its nice and fiery. It would remain a Pokabu until around episode 35.
- Cheren would have a random reference by her, given that with the amount of time on the cast, she'd mention her past at least once. I hope.
- DirtySpoon shipping (I don't know what the real name is for Bel x Dent) would be more prevalent in the fandom.
- Bel's story would be about her experiencing different things out there in Isshu. Dent would be constantly stunned at how little she has done so far and would have to teach her how to do things like with the Fishing ep before. They would be a source of comedy.
- The affinity for small, cute Pokémon would remain.

Eh, it's kind of hard to say more without Best Wishes haven been completed xD

 

[Paperhorse]

I agree with Iteru, I would have really liked to see the storyline involving her father if she joined the main cast. It would be a really interesting story. Except that she really couldn't be collecting badges too, it would be too much if both her and Satoshi were collecting badges.

And her interactions with Dento would be amazing. I think she would make Dent nervous a lot xD

 

[Ampharos King]

- It would be safe to say that both Axew and Excadrill will debut later in the anime than they would had if they did not make their appearances while they were being owned by Iris.
- The Langley character may very well have not existed.
- Drayden (and his Haxorus) would have debuted later on in the anime rather than being seen in that flashback.
- Ash *might* have not caught a Tepig. Bianca could have started out with a Tepig if she was planned to become a main character, as Iteru mentioned.
- Bianca may or may not be competing in gym battles. It would have been very awkward and monotonous to have two main characters compete against the same gym leaders. This was why the writers dropped May from participating in gym battles near the start of AG.
- Bianca might have caught more pokemon than what she had previously let on. In the actual series, we know that Bianca has at least two pokemon. Bianca *could* have more pokemon under wraps, but none of those were shown. If the writers were going to make Bianca a main character, by all means they would have given her at least three pokemon by now.
- The group will never know if they will be caught in a rainstorm. Iris has the ability to "taste" the moisture in the air.
- The writers may give Cilan a group of potions and other antidotes in the same respect that they had done for Brock when he was a main character. This has not been done because Iris is handling the healing of pokemon belonging to the main characters. There's no way that Bianca will fulfill that role, given her lack of experience in practically anything.

 

[JennaJayfeather]

Dento and Ash would have to be her bodyguards! ^^ It'd be like DP Pokemon Special....but no forced Comedy Routines...the comedy would be all there XDD (;_; I'm sorry Dia and Pearl...I love your manzai...)

 

[chimera]

It would be pure madness.

 

[Paulisthebest]

Haha, I like this thread its like asking what would it be like if Barry was in the DP group or if he and Bianca meet up. That would equal...pure comedy gold, complete craziness, a fast paced story line, a lot of falling, crashing and or breaking things from running at light-speed to get something done, and I could go on!

But seriously, I could see Ash falling into the water a lot more and Bianca catching a lot of the Pokemon that he or Dento weaken in battle (that is if she can find an empty Pokeball in her bag first...). Or her calling out attacks while they are in the middle of a battle.

 

[Hassel]

But seriously, I could see Ash falling into the water a lot more and Bianca catching a lot of the Pokemon that he or Dento weaken in battle (that is if she can find an empty Pokeball in her bag first...). Or her calling out attacks while they are in the middle of a battle.

As much as I love Bel, that would get really old really fast if she was a main character.

If Bel was a main character, she would probably be less like Jun and be much more like her game-self. The ditzyness and funny traits would still be there, but I guess she would be a teeny-weeny bit more serious.

 

[Hellion]

The show would 10 000 times better. Simple as that.

Bel brings comedy, good interactions, but also a lightheartedness, an effervesance. She makes me smile and feel happy just by being there rather than bringing everything down. Also, I think that having a character on the main cast who has some confidence and parental issues, who has things to learn, etc. as an heroine would actually make the female member of the main cast compelling and endearing as she would be relatable. I would actually care about her storyline and not dread her focus episodes. I'd love to see a character not knowing what they want to do, not having a clear goal in mind, but being engaged (and therefore engaging) in tons of other goals here and treating each new experience like it's something huge, rather than not do anything about a stated goal and yet being magically good at it.

Also, we would have gotten a comedic and personable Pokabu as opposed to the blandness that is Ash's Pokabu and an hilarious Chillarmy, as opposed to an annoying Kibago, a lackluster and bland Doryuuzu, and a suffocating and stiffling Emonga... That, would just be magical.

Satoshi, Dento and Bel would just make BW the best saga. ; _____ ;

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

That would be AWESOME!

 

[Catzeye]

It would depend on how they treated Bianca's character.

If they made Bianca unsure of her path as a trainer, and toned down the off the wall klutziness, it would make for a fantastic story line. I personally think she would try to do a little bit of everything. She would probably try a couple of gym battles and participate in a musical or two. They could include her Team Plasma plot and her dad's plot like in the games. Heck, I could even see Cheren appearing every now and then as her rival/childhood friend.

However if they just made her a hyperactive ditz 24/7, then it would get annoying quickly. Unfortunately, I could see the writers doing that.

 

[Shinneth]

What the... I proposed this exact same idea for a topic a couple of weeks ago in a blog post, but was too chicken to actually try to make it. Well. This makes things much easier for me. XD

I strongly believe BW would've been a better series if Bianca was the token girl instead of Iris. The way they're writing Iris now really makes her come off more as a poorly-written rival than an actual protagonist. She's already established to have pretty much all the traits needed for a Dragon Master and the writers aren't even trying to give her a genuine struggle to endure on her long path towards greatness, which is what pretty much every main character endures to some degree on this show. She's hard to relate to, her story isn't compelling, and her attitude doesn't really change even though she has a tendency to put people down. Hell, her catchphrase even puts people down; how does that make her a likable protagonist?

If I'm remembering this right, the anime was to some degree implementing Bianca's conflict with her dad, and if she were a main character no doubt that would've been instilled to present a much more engaging storyline. Her personality is full of flaws, but she remains endearing and willing to overcome the odds and better herself and her Pokemon. I dunno about you guys, but that sounds infinitely more like the role of a protagonist than Iris' storyline presented for her character. Since the game settled Bianca in a more supportive role over time, the same could've been done with Bianca to avoid repeat gym battles.

Already, I feel a strong trio bond between Ash, Cilan, and Bianca on the show as it is now, whereas I feel virtually nothing with the Ash-Cilan-Iris mix. Sure, there are some aspects to it, but they feel extremely weak and forgettable compared to the chemistry I've seen with Bianca in the trio.

So... yeah. The BW anime would've been infinitely better with Bianca as the token girl and Iris - with some retooling - would've been better off as a rival instead. It's a real shame it can't be like that.

 

[H.M]

I have to say, Belle replacing Iris would be interesting on the surface.

But one of the things that might've been stopping her from being a member of Team Twirp is that they've done the "female-protag-that-is-very-naive-about-Pokemon-at-first" with May and Dawn. Iris is a bit fresher in that she has some knowledge of the world (and medicinal herbs), though she is learning to become a dragon master. Since having 2 protags going for badges would be repetitive, what could Belle do on their journey? Become a "Cute Pokemon Master"? Musicals seem like a small arc or episode-only deal.

Though, I can easily see Belle being superstitious and arguing with Cilan in the Yamask museum episode with ghosts vs. earth vibrations. XD

 

[Chiplet]

No, I absolutely wouldn't like that. Just no.

Sure, I like Bianca, but that's because of her just being a rival, and not a main character. With the personality she has now she'd get incredibly boring just after like 5 episodes. No, it wouldn't work, if she was in the main cast she might even have been worse than... *gulp* ...Dawn... (Sorry Bianca! ;__
No no no, UGH! And besides, I really can't feel any chemistry between the Ash, Bianca and Cilan. Between Bianca and Cilan, yes, but not with Ash. Ash actually seems to dislike her a little bit because of her hyperactive personality and being clumsy, if you ask me.

I've never loved a character in Pokémon as much as I love Iris, and I know that I wouldn't love BW as much as I do now if she weren't in the main cast.

 

[Karamazov]

She'd have to have a few characterization changes, so she wouldn't be too similar to Cilan (like being a believer of the supernatural and willing to fight Cilan on it, for example.) She'd probably get more depth and character development, maybe get alittle more serious. And of course, her gags would get stale and repetitive, as with every main character in the history of everything.

 

[Chronos]

Okay, I really like Bianca, but as a rival, not as a main character. I feel like Bianca has too many similarities to Dawn in regards to her girlyness, and her love for cute Pokemon. I think Iris is a breath of fresh air, since she's more of a tomboy and doesn't go crazy over everything rainbows and unicorns. Bianca's personality would probably get old and annoying to me really fast if she were a main character. I think she works perfectly as a rival though.

If Iris and Bianca's roles were switched, I don't think many people would enjoy Iris too much. Iris brings a different dynamic to the trio, since none of the other main girls jumped from tree to tree with ease, or knew much about nature and making medicines. Bianca, even though she's awesome and all, has many traits that the other girls had, and it wouldn't really seem as "fresh" to me, like Iris does.

 

[Shinneth]

Personally, I don't see how Iris is so amazingly "fresh". A few odd quirks to her character such as vine-swinging and medicine-making (the latter of which isn't even a unique trait amongst the past main characters) doesn't really mean she shakes up the dynamics of the show to the point where she seems irreplaceable. She's still got a girly side, just as the past main girls before her. But nothing about her really stands out to me; not even her goal (given that it's basically Misty's with a type swap). The writers have been incredibly lazy with her character and I don't find her endearing in the least. She doesn't experience the kind of development past main characters have gone through in the past, and I don't believe that's a "change of pace" for the better.

I was honestly okay with Dawn; I didn't like her as much as May, but I was alright with her. Dawn wasn't nearly as spastic and ditzy as Bianca, and she wasn't nearly as presumptuous and eccentric. Yeah, Bianca's quirks might've been poorly handled in the show, but it's not like they're handling Iris' quirks in moderation either, so no loss there. As a main character there'd definitely be a lot more of her game persona instilled, I believe, and with a solid game canon backstory to build her up on for the anime, I think Bianca would've made a perfect fit for the show. She could be a sidekick and still be an engaging character without horning in on Ash's screentime. Plus, her existence as a main character would've spared Ash from having to catch his boring-as-sin Tepig.

It's really interesting picturing the series with Bianca in the token girl slot. Going off the chemistry the show's already given from the three, I really believe I'd genuinely enjoy this series. And if they did it right with putting Iris as a rival (which would've matched her role in the games better, imo), I think I'd be able to enjoy her as well. Would've been a win-win... for me, anyway.

Pity this can only remain a What-If. And maybe a fanfic one day.

 

[Appletree]

I can actually see her getting a badge in the beginning, but later, she would want to see "more" than just that; to be a "totally cool girl" like Elesa, Musicals, Helping Juniper with her research. I can see her getting less goofy-er, somewhere around the 8 badge saga, where Bianca finally chooses her main goal.

As for Pokemon, I can see her still getting Tepig and still loving the cute Pokemon thingy.

Or Ash's Oshawott instead to give the same lame comedy like Piplup

 

[Magmortar123]

Honestly, I think it'd be much better. The eps that have her in it are always hilarious and she has much better chemistry with Ash and Cilan than Iris does. Plus, minccino is soooo cute! Way cuter than axew.