Diamond, Pearl anime series has become unpredictable: Difference between revisions

{{CategorizeIn|Editorials|1|08}}

{{EditorialBy|Argy}}

With [[bp:Ash Ketchum|Satoshi]]'s capture of [[bp:Ash's Gligar|Gligar]] this week, it has become apparent that Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl is no longer following the formulas of past series constructions. Fans who complain about the predictability of the series may no longer have the justification to do so. Pokémon have been traded, released and given vibrant, unique personalities. The main characters don't always win, and it often takes several tries to finally do so.

Before Diamond & Pearl began, [[bp:Dawn (anime)|Hikari]] was billed as a co-star to Satoshi. She has not quite taken the same proportion of screen-time, but her place in the series is greater than that of [[bp:May (anime)|Haruka]] and certainly [[bp:Misty|Kasumi]]. Both ending themes of the series, ''[[bp:By Your Side ~Hikari's Theme~|By Your Side ~Hikari's Theme~]]'' and ''[[bp:Message of the Wind|Message of the Wind]]'', give substantial focus to Hikari and the institution of [[bp:Pokémon Contest|contests]].

We are seeing more of the same evolution lines among principal characters. Hikari's other rival and friend, [[bp:Zoey|Nozomi]], has a [[bp:Zoey's Glameow|Nyarmar]], just like Hikari's [[bp:Johanna|mother]]. [[bp:Paul|Shinji]] has three Pokémon with counterparts in other characters. His [[bp:Paul's Electabuzz|Eleboo]] is a weaker version of [[bp:Gary's Electivire|Shigeru's Elekibull]], perhaps serving as a symbol of Shinji's relative immaturity as a trainer when compared to Shigeru. Even more striking is Shinji's possession of evolutions of two of Satoshi's Pokémon, [[bp:Paul's Gliscor|Glion]] and [[bp:Paul's Torterra|Dodaitose]]. Glion was captured in the same episode as Gligar. Satoshi has a long way to go with his Pokémon if he expects to win with them against Shinji.

The delay in changing the opening theme, ''[[bp:Together|Together]]'', is curious, especially since the evolution of [[bp:Aipom (Pokémon)|Eipam]] to [[bp:Dawn's Ambipom|Eteboth]] has not been reflected in the song's accompanying animation. An opening change is imminent, but for what are we waiting? Another major team alteration, it seems, since the captures of Gligar and Glion will not be enough to change the song in [[bp:DP065|DP065]].

Diamond & Pearl is more than a year in, and Satoshi will not even be challenging his third [[bp:Sinnoh|Sinnoh]] [[bp:Gym|gym]] until late February. Hikari's twin losses leave her with one [[bp:Ribbon|ribbon]] and her first gym match in [[bp:DP067|DP067]]. The series will last for at least two more years, meaning Satoshi will either have the same six Pokémon for a long time, or he will be doing more swapping among his Pokémon in storage. However, the Pokémon currently in his possession have many evolutions to make, if they indeed go that far. [[bp:Ash's Chimchar|Hikozaru]] in particular seems destined to fully evolve to challenge its former, abusive trainer.

The audience has been made to anticipate a DP series finale featuring a battle between Satoshi and the [[bp:Sinnoh Elite Four|Sinnoh Elite Four]] and [[bp:Cynthia|Shirona]], whose title in the anime is "Champion Master." Should Satoshi win, it is logical to assume he will earn the same title. Is this the same as a "Pokémon Master"? Surely he will not turn down the title he has been seeking since [[bp:EP001|EP001]], unlike when he turned down the offer to be a [[bp:Frontier Brain|Frontier Brain]] in [[bp:Kanto|Kanto]]. The fact that DP has been so unpredictable so much and so early is an indication that anything is possible, and predictions should be made prudently and without empiricism.