Hey there and hello! As you may know, I recently finished my review of the entire XY series in a rather comprehensive fashion. Really, while I had some gripes with it, on the whole, I praised and analyzed the storytelling of the entire series. I really do find it to be the best series of Pokemon. However, that is not to say for a second that the series is without its flaws.
To that end, I'll be sharing my own opinion on how XY could have been improved from how amazing it already was. Yes, this means I won't be taking what I view are some nonsensical comments or suggestions from the community at large. To that end, I'll be discussing three separate categories: 1) things that could have been done with the same number of episodes, 2) things that could have been done with more episodes, and 3) things that I would have liked to see, but also turned out great in the original product.
That's said, let's get to it, and hopefully not be as long as before.
Things That Could Have Been Done With the Same Number of Episodes
1) Moved Serena's Goal Up
Now, I don't mean Showcases based on the above, but rather when she had decided upon it. I adore the path taken with Serena in that she was relatable, however, she did take quite some time. So, in order to make her arc be paced a little better for those out there, I think it would have worked to move her arc up.
I don't mean obscenely far, though. She's not May; Serena still had problems with finding an activity and sticking with it as part of her character. So, perhaps just a bit earlier. In other words, move some of the fillers around and swap the Korrina Arc with the Summer Camp Arc. This way, Serena gets her dream earlier and we still have the vastly important Korrina Arc. This could have also paved the way for an earlier Pancham capture, and would thus lead to various other things, the most important of which is below.
2) Made Goomy's Arc Longer
It's no secret that I consider Goomy's arc rushed. He's captured, evolved and released in 15 episodes. Sure, it was planned and is a good character development, but whew, is it rushed! So, if we keep in mind the conjunction of what's above, we could have had Goomy caught before Shalour, or the episode right after, this gives him another 10 episodes already!
On top of this, we could have kept him until just after Laverre City, giving him a second gym match against the type he fears! Plus, Fletchinder wouldn't have been able to take part in yet another Gym Battle. It would have made Goodra triumphing over Florges feel so much sweeter. In general, elongating Goomy's arc would have simply better paced his character, given him more to do and made him far more enjoyable.
3) Changed the League
No, I don't mean make Ash win. Yes, that would have been nice, I'll admit, but that's one of those things where Ash winning the League would have only had an impact on fan perception, rather than the story itself. No, specifically, I'm talking about XYZ 33. Eliminating the rounds where Ash dominates makes sense from a strict story perspective, however, this episode could have featured a bit more of how those rounds went down. Likewise, I would have liked to at least have gotten a full Hawlucha vs. Mega Absol fight.
Had they simply shifted the Goodra flashback to XYZ 30 when they were there instead of keeping it a mystery, we could have gotten this, and people would have been much happier. As it stands, the League is still good, but that is the one sore spot that could have made it amazing.
4) Given More Clemont Focus
In some way, I could have put this in the third section, however, I don't want to. Fact is, Clemont was pushed to the backburner for Serena to take focus in the last half of the series. Yes, he got about 3-4 good episodes prior to the Flare arc. Yes, he was meant to be a support system. However, I still think that quite a bit more could have been given to him to further his development. Perhaps have taken the route that I did in my stories (totally subtle here) of making his confidence be for the support of others.
This could have also allowed others, like Luxray, to have some development. Especially Luxray. He was like a cardboard box that needed some more moments after evolving, and giving Clemont more focus would have helped with just that.
5) Don't Release Greninja
I'm serious about this. Okay, maybe the actual act of releasing him is fine and could shunt this to the third category, but the reason for it was such bullshit that doing so left a bitter taste. Keeping Greninja around was just the far easier option, even if meant the potential of SM getting their hands on him...So, yeah, not much else to say other than don't release Greninja.
Things That Could Have Been Done With More Episodes
1) Sawyer's Growth
Sawyer's rather rapid growth is a point of contention among critics of the XY series. However, given the very short time constraints placed on the anime staff, they had no choice but to speed up his growth. Now, this is explained in the series, thankfully, as Sawyer being a near prodigy, analytical, and putting in the hard work and effort to reach the point that he can battle Ash. With more episodes, though, this would have been more natural.
I could say that had Sawyer been introduced earlier, say, the Summer Camp Arc, it may have, but that would take away from the summer camp trio and the early rivalry with Korrina and Clemont. So, instead, it really falls to needing more episodes. This would have led to more encounters with Sawyer, more battles, more signs of his progression, and would have made the end result feel all the more sweeter!
2) Serena's Journey
Like the above, XY's detractors constantly seem to call flak on Serena's "breezing through Showcases", and while I've demonstrated that each Showcase was meant to be an evolution of the Performer, not something different ala Contests, there still could have been a little more. Perhaps a loss that, to some obtuse viewer's eyes, wasn't garnered by mistake but by being outdone (though making a mistake means being outdone, but whatever).
What I'd really prefer, though, is a little focus to how Serena's rivals got their Princess Keys. I loved how DP showed each of Dawn's rivals winning their ribbons, but, of course, they had 170 episodes to do all of that in from day one. That's why, had XY had some more episodes, they could have shown Miette, Nini, Jessie and Shauna winning their Keys, rather than showing up at individual Showcases, having already won a bunch of them. It could have made it better in that sense.
3) Brought Back the Malamar
XY 54 seemed to close off the Malamar plot, while leaving it open for the future of the story. It was a great plotline, but one that they clearly lacked the time to bring back. Perhaps they meant for it to fold into the Flare plotline, or perhaps it was always its own thing and the creeping up of Sun and Moon prevented them from being able to give another episode with every episode being allocated to the main plot, being a breather or introducing a new Pokemon. Had they had more episodes, the Malamar could have returned for one final round and it would have been so glorious.
Things That I Would Have Liked to See but Turned Out Great
1) Gave Some Moments to Ash and Froakie
The whole back part of the series focuses intently on Ash and Greninja's bond, and while it's definitely developed during all of their battles together, I do feel a little bit could have been done in some filler episodes. Perhaps really had them doing more as a Frogadier. It's a quibble at best as I do feel they developed them as a true battling duo, but it would have been something nice to see. At the very least, they did have some nice focus episodes together.
2) Gave Noivern a Win
Noivern is kind of the lowest on the totem pole here. No Gym Battle, no straight up League win and only defeating Doublade to his name. Now, it makes sense, because Noivern was a baby, which is why I don't consider it the make or break. Likewise, while I would have loved for him to battle Wulfric, the sheer bookend to Ash's gym quest of using Pikachu, Talonflame and Greninja felt very satisfying. That's why Noivern getting a straight win isn't a be all and end all for me. I'm happy with it as it is, but I wish the big guy could have gotten a little more.
3) Brought in Lysandre a Little Earlier
The XY series did a phenomenal job of setting Lysandre and Team Flare's plot behind the scenes. This is what he was trying to do, of course. He didn't want to act until it was time, only doing so when his hand was forced. I loved this aspect of Team Flare. However, it would have been equally cool for Lysandre to show up, say, around the Clemont Gym Battle to take an interest in Ash as a trainer. It almost would have made his later fixation on Ash so much more powerful...but then it would have ruined his expert secrecy, and mired Alain's plotline.
So, that tradeoff is what really makes me say that I'm happy with it how it was, but this would have been equally good for the plot.
4) Made Alain Lose
Again, I don't mean to Ash. Yes, that could have completed his character journey...but at the same time, the impact that hits Alain that becoming the strongest meant nothing wouldn't have been as strong. No, instead, I'm saying that Alain should have lost to Lysandre. Of course, it's largely irrelevant, given Alain still gives up on his pursuit for strength and sees Ash as the better trainer, but I do believe that seeing Alain lose to Lysandre, having Ash finish the match, would have made him seem more fallible and driven the point in just a little bit, watching Ash's love and belief in his Pokemon defeat Lysandre's doctrine of strength. As it stands, though, Alain was handled well enough, but this would have made it all much better.
Conclusion
XY is a great series. Literally the best that Pokemon has to offer. However, there are things that could have been done to make it even better, From elongating arcs and character appearances to shifting them around. To showing off more characters and bonds, the show could have been improved in the ways stated above.
So, I hope you enjoyed this shorter post. If you have any other sane and non-bashing suggestions, feel free to sock them my way to discuss.
Dare to Be Silly,
Epicocity
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