As far as I’m concerned, pokemon villain writing peaked with Guzma. Legitimately worried about the erosion of culture due to hyper-tourism surrounding their sacred rites and practices. Abused as a child, ran away from home to start his countries only youth hostel for similarly troubled kids, and funds it with crime. Bug type specialist, with an ace that is mostly known for its first stage being cowardly. Cultivates a big scary persona as a defense mechanism to protect himself and his members, no one can beat big bad Guzma, so they don’t have to be afraid anymore. His grunts trust him enough to ask him for help when they screw up, despite the fact that they all come from troubled homes. Was so significant that pokemon switched from having cartoonishly evil bad guys and teams to the current model of “sympathetic and understandable antagonist that has some very good points, even as they oppose the protagonist, and is in some way actively doing good in their community by supporting those who are the most in need of assistance, due to some legitimate failing of the current system.” There is a cartoon villain looming behind him, but they’re a twist and not the main team presented. Everyone wants to be him, but they can never replicate the perfection that is this man.
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