Controversial opinions

[A Wild Luxray]

It is kinda disappointing how the PWC didn't really have many notable opponents until the ultra class. Before that point, Ash was facing off against one off characters with little significance or time even dedicated to their battles. While he faced Korrina in the normal class, as well as Iris and Bea in the super class, the vast majority of his opponents were one off characters with little time dedicated to their battles. We didn't start to get a steady stream of notable opponents until the ultra class, with Ash fighting against 5 notable trainers, one of which he faced in a prior class.

 

[Rainbow-Rain]

It is kinda disappointing how the PWC didn't really have many notable opponents until the ultra class. Before that point, Ash was facing off against one off characters with little significance or time even dedicated to their battles. While he faced Korrina in the normal class, as well as Iris and Bea in the super class, the vast majority of his opponents were one off characters with little time dedicated to their battles. We didn't start to get a steady stream of notable opponents until the ultra class, with Ash fighting against 5 notable trainers, one of which he faced in a prior class.

What makes it worse is that ALL of those one off characters could've easily been replaced with Galar characters

Why couldn't Vizquez have been Milo?

Why couldn't Rinto have been Hop?

You're seriously gonna tell me HOP. Leon's little BROTHER had absolutely no interest in competing in the PWC when his storyline in the games is that he wants to defeat his brother????

 

[Alola]

After today's episode, I still fail to see how any of these tasks Go has been assigned to do are relevant to catching a Mew. Between the PWC and Project Mew, I don't know which anime-only creation was worse in execution.

The writer's need to go back to the blueprint that is the console games.

 

[Enzo]

Honestly, I think I'd be fine with three-on-three matches. I can understand the disappointment and frustration since going all out with a tournament full of Champions would be cooler, but I think that would just use up too much of their budget. Not to mention I don't think that they'd be willing or interested in having that many multi-part battles given how fast paced Journeys has been. Plus, they generally don't have that many full battles per series. Three-on-three battles should have been the standard for PWC matches, so getting that at least in the last stretch is better than more one-on-one battles.

I get your point, but we're talking about battles against the literal strongest trainers in the world, and the highest stakes Ash has ever faced. 6x6 battles with excelent, top-tier animation are the bare minimum, at least to me, personally.

Of course it's JN so we all should keep out expectations down, but I can't help but have a tiny little slice of hope.

 

[Sai]

Ash's new Pokémon beating Iris so early just devalued what it means to be a Champion in the series. That should have been a hyper class battle and it'd be more believable once Ash's new Pokémon had more experience. Also, I agree with Hidden Mew that 1v1s in such an important tournament make the whole

impressive. I'll even reluctantly accept Marnie being hyper class (even though she always felt a tier lower than that in the games) but if so, give us a better match.

There wouldn't be that much difference if Iris happened later. Having Ash beat her later and still make it to Master Class would have been odder. Ash and Iris have always been roughly on the same level and the writers wanted to show both started off at the beginning and had to work their way up to Super Class.

Obviously Iris is the newest/youngest champion so him beating her isn't going to be treated as big a prestige as any of the long running champions. That's why Ash didn't battle any of the other champions yet

 

[Hidden Mew]

I get your point, but we're talking about battles against the literal strongest trainers in the world, and the highest stakes Ash has ever faced. 6x6 battles with excelent, top-tier animation are the bare minimum, at least to me, personally.

Of course it's JN so we all should keep out expectations down, but I can't help but have a tiny little slice of hope.

I can't really see any other series being capable of having a tournament of full battles for pretty much the same reason, so the issues people have with Journeys feel kind irrelevant to this issue.

 

[Daren]

The Hoenn League did have three full battles in it--which is all we'd need for the Master Eight if we skip non-Ash ones, hopefully with two episodes for each instead of being rushed like back then--but that was many years ago.

 

[Sai]

At the least I'm sure Cynthia and obviously Leon will be 6 on 6, the latter so Ash can use his full JN team.

Some of the earlier rounds being 3 on 3 is possible though

 

[A Wild Luxray]

On average, it seems 2-3 full battles are the standard for series for the most part, though BW and SM are the exception, with both only truly having one full battle...Well, technically BW only had 6 v. 5....

 

[Enzo]

On average, it seems 2-3 full battles are the standard for series for the most part, though BW and SM are the exception, with both only truly having one full battle...Well, technically BW only had 6 v. 5....

So it works then. 3 full battles for Ash in the Masters 8, if they go in with a single-elimination approach.

If there's anytime to go with full battles that go off the budget, it's now.

 

[CharizardFan7]

So it works then. 3 full battles for Ash in the Masters 8, if they go in with an single-elimination approach.

If there's anytime to go with full battles that go off the budget, it's now.

Hell yeah it is. And if we only get three full battles, I can live with that.

 

[Iris_clover]

I don’t like volo……..

Spoiler

even before the part where he wants to kill us.

 

[Weddingbells]

I don’t like volo…….. even before the part where he wants to kill us.

Dang spoiler warning

 

[Hidden Mew]

This thread is also about controversial opinions about the anime and manga, not the video games. Discussions on the video games should be taken to that respective section.

 

[Iris_clover]

Dang spoiler warning

Sorry I don’t really know much controls yet

 

[Weddingbells]

Sorry I don’t really know much controls yet

No problem. Just be a bit careful next time lol

 

[BeautifulEevee]

One of the many points that makes SM far from my favorite Saga is Bewear (then Bewear and Stufful). I can't recall if there is a single reason why she's so obsessed by Team Rocket. Some could say that's because she lost her Stufful, but she kept being obsessed with them even with Stufful back. The fact that she's the "blasting off" gag from SM annoys me a lot. Also, I consider her obsession being worse: she absolutely wants to make them her "golden prisoners". Outside of exceptions, she won't let them go, and the only time she let them go for good is when the Saga ended. To me, she clearly dethroned the alcoholic-nosed food guy (does he have a name? It's been a long time I haven't watched an episode with him) as the Team Rocket-related character I hate the most (I hate the latter for his excessive aggressivity).

 

[cricketlaxwolvesbandy]

One of the many points that makes SM far from my favorite Saga is Bewear (then Bewear and Stufful). I can't recall if there is a single reason why she's so obsessed by Team Rocket. Some could say that's because she lost her Stufful, but she kept being obsessed with them even with Stufful back. The fact that she's the "blasting off" gag from SM annoys me a lot. Also, I consider her obsession being worse: she absolutely wants to make them her "golden prisoners". Outside of exceptions, she won't let them go, and the only time she let them go for good is when the Saga ended. To me, she clearly dethroned the alcoholic-nosed food guy (does he have a name? It's been a long time I haven't watched an episode with him) as the Team Rocket-related character I hate the most (I hate the latter for his excessive aggressivity).

I love Bewear and Stufful so much! The best parts of SM.
Edit: misread your question

 

[Superior Serperior]

I don’t know how controversial this opinion is, but I think May is the traveling companion with the best arc and it’s not particularly close.

 

[Sai]

I think most would agree May was the first character with a well done character arc compared to Misty/Brock in the OS. Of course it wasn't perfect but they managed to give a character a full fledged story and development in a time when the anime wasn't known for much character writing back then.