Who affected Paul more Brandon or Cynthia?

[Paulisthebest]

These two battles were the only ones in the DP series that actually show Paul losing a battle (not counting the Pokeringer Competition). Think about it this way, Paul challenged two trainers that were stronger than average; one was the head of the Kanto Battle Frontier and the other is the Champion of Sinnoh and according to Lucian the master of the champion league.

When he fought Cynthia he really didn’t seem to have the intentions of winning, but against Brandon he was fueled by his anger along with the urge to do what his brother couldn’t. His emotions got the better of him with Brandon. Though in both battles he was battling by type advantages (aside from Chimchar vs. Garchomp that was just for the attempt of unleashing its full Blaze power), but still it proved to not be enough to win the battle (or knock out one Pokemon for that matter).

Cynthia seemed to deliver the harder beating since she only used one Pokemon to knock out 4 Pokemon with only one move. While Brandon decided to switch it up with 3 to take out all 6 of Paul’s in two moves.

After both matches, the two trainers gave Paul words of encouragement; Cynthia talked about how when two lives meet something special is to come of it. Basically she was addressing the importance of friendship. Brandon talked about how it is important not to let the past drive you crazy with anger and uncontrollable emotion. Along with asking why he became a trainer in the first place. Since his match with Cynthia, Paul shows no signs of taking her words to heart in “Chim-Charred” he even mentioned that “It wasn’t his thing…” I think that this issue will be readdressed at the Sinnoh League. With Brandon’s words, Paul seemed to make about a 150 degree turn (he didn’t completely change pace but he did show some minor changes). In his full battle with Ash, he took the role of Brandon if you will. He controlled his emotions, didn’t put down Ash or either his or Ash’s Pokemon, and won with powerful strategies.

His demeanor has decreased in the area of cruelty, but hasn’t missed the chance to pull Ash’s strings when they briefly spoke before the first round of matches in the league. So, who do you think had the bigger impact; Brandon or Cynthia?

 

[MarshiyanMisutaa]

Brandon ofcourse...

 

[Snake Bandage]

Brandon's the reason Paul is THIS MUCH of an ass in the first place. I don't think Cynthia affected Paul in any way.

 

[severus6]

Brandon's the reason Paul is THIS MUCH of an ass in the first place. I don't think Cynthia affected Paul in any way.

Agreed. After Cynthia defeated Paul, Paul just wanted to improve while left to his own devices. Brandon, though, prompted Reggie to arrange the full battle with Ash, because he knew that Paul's morale would be shot if he didn't have the goal of beating Ash.

 

[CommanderPigg]

Brandon's the reason Paul is THIS MUCH of an ass in the first place. I don't think Cynthia affected Paul in any way.

QTF. I mean, Brandon's the reason why he feels he needs to one-up his brother and become "stronger" in his own way. The words "What are you fighting foooorrr???!?!?" probably made him think a bit too. After that, he took battling with Ash seriously instead of treating him like a naive fool (because Ash did, after all, defeat Brandon). And we saw that battle, it was...close to a curb-stomp >_>

Cynthia's words just traveled through one ear and out the other. if anything, I think that Paul sees her as a tree-hugging hippie

 

[pokemonloverXD]

None of them, actually but if I have to choose Brandon

 

[Ampharos King]

Brandon is the person who defeated his brother, and made Paul want to become a trainer focused solely on power and resolve to begin with.
Cynthia, on the other hand, tells Paul to care more about his pokemon and that the meeting between each trainer is special. This could explain why Paul cares more about Ash's endeavors lately, tried to save Ash's pokemon from Team Rocket, or him enjoying their full battle.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Brandon affected Paul more than Cynthia did. Reggie took on Brandon and lost, and this is why Paul is determined to be a strong trainer (but in the wrong terms).

 

[Paulisthebest]

Perhaps the thread should have been a bit more specific. I was referring to the battles that Paul lost not the one where Brandon defeated his brother. It’s pretty obvious that Brandon beating Reggie affected Paul a whole lot more than when Paul lost to him and Cynthia. I mean did Paul’s loss to Cynthia affect him more than his loss to Brandon. To me it was obviously the one against Brandon.

 

[Zwampert]

Brandon, he told Paul that Ash defeated him and not to underestimate Ash.

 

[Queen Cynthia]

If you want my honest opinion , I think that neither of them affected Paul.
As I said in the review thread for "Fighting Ire with Fire", I really like Paul and have respect for him and his skills. I'm totally convinced that we need to see more of Paul in the Anime, because he's a great character
On the other hand, there's is one utterance for which I almost hate him: His derogatory "That's not my thing" in "Chim-Charred" made me so angry, because he didn't even bother to think about, let alone to cherish, Cynthia's wonderful words.

But I reckon that Brandon didn't affect him either, because do we see a significant difference now? All Paul got from those battles was an increased determination to improve at all costs
I know, some of you may interpret Paul reaction in the battle against Brandon as a hint that Brandon may have affect Paul, but I don't think so. Said scene was just a reaction resulting from pure SHOCK! After accepting his defeat and coming to terms with it, Paul just bowed to Brandon and walked away without a word.


I guess that during the league Paul and Ash will remember Cynthia's word, because Brandon didn't give Paul a philosophical advice to take along, but a rather ordinary piece of advice. So I guess after Paul has been defeated by Ash, he will remember and reflect Cynthia's word,so that in the end we will be able to say that she affected him more and caused his possible about-face

 

[Buizelfan!]

Definately Brandon

 

[Okamidna]

both of them did in their own way, but since brandon made paul the way he is id go more for cynthia.

 

[Paulisthebest]

both of them did in their own way, but since brandon made paul the way he is id go more for cynthia.

True, I wonder during the match with Ash, Cynthia will be thinking about her encounters with both Ash/Paul. I remember at the end of DP 185 she saw Paul and Ash (with Pikachu/Electavire) talk about their upcoming match. Of course, I had no earthly idea what they were saying, haha. I wonder if Paul will actually think about “When every life meets another life something will be born…”

When I say who affected Paul more I meant when he battled and loss to Cynthia/Brandon, not Brandon beating Reggie and making him who his is today (Brandon in a sense made Reggie AND Paul who they are today).

Like I said, we will have to wait for the final battle between Ash and Paul to see if Cynthia’s words will finally have an effect on Paul.

 

[LuxrayOfTheWild]

Maybe Brandon had a small impact on Paul....But he's still an asshole. But Brandon is fully responsible for why he's an asshole cause him beating Reggie is what made Paul so brash.

Cynthia explained how important friendship was to him, even explaining it in the nicest way possible, yet we know he ignored every word she said after what happened between him and Infernape as a Chimchar.

Brandon explained how he needs to learn to control his emotions, and to not let the past drive you crazy, along with throwing in a few "NOOOOO!!!!'s" But he had a little more of an impact than Cynthia cause he made Paul think.....but Paul is still an asshole.

Let's just see if he changes a little when he loses to Ash in the Top 8.