Thread: Why is Silver so popular among the fandom?

Originally Posted by NyaChan

I don't get where you guys get the idea that rivals have to be mean and stuff. :/ A rival is a person who is competition, no matter how they act. Rival =/= Mean person. Just a person who would push you and give you competition, someone to be better than.

I used to have that idea when I was younger (before genIII). Me and my cousin used to refer a rival in Pokémon games as a nemisis.

Because underneath his callous exterior he really only wants to be loved...

Plus that he's super-angstlicious.

´Cuz he´s a badass.

Because he's all dark and full of angst and fangirls love that.

I think when I first saw him in the games, I wasn't too fond of Silver (or "???" as I called him in my first game). Now, looking back and feeling a bit of nostalgia, I realise that I like Silver, and back then I enjoyed disliking him.

Silver's the kind of character that you either love or (love to) hate, but it seems lots of people go for the love, if this thread is any indication.

I think why a lot of people like Silver is because he's a douchebag. (Though I think Blue's a lot more of an ass but I digress.) Personally I don't really care much for Silver. However what I absolutey hate about him is his fanbase.

He's got fanboys/fangirls like Sasuke, Sephiroth, and Snape. (Not that every Silver fan is bad. However, I've seen a lot of really annoying ones.)

Cuz da good girls want bad boys. And when there's a bad boy who actually looks decent, it's like hiring a guy to go paste paper hearts over girls' eyes.

For the record you guys, the whole "good girls like bad boys" doesn't apply to all girls. Sure, I might think some of 'em are kinda hot, but that doesn't mean I actually WANT them, lol.

Because he's actually *realistic* :D
Seriously, who would ever have this immense energy and not use it for personal gain

I think it's because he's alot darker and alot more 'adult' than the rest of the characters in the entire in-game universe (with the possible exception of Cyrus, but he's not pretty so he doesn't count.) He's the character that caters to a more mature audience and since the most vocal Pokemon fans on the internet are teens/young adults, that dark edge appeals to them (weather it's in a romantic "he's so hot" kind of way or an idolizing "he's cool" sense.)

When taking into account all of the other characters in all of the games (rivals, assistants, Professors, Gym Leaders, even the evil teams [again, with the exception of Cyrus]) they all seem to range from pretty tame (like Giovanni) to downright huggable (Wally.) Yes, it is a kids game, but that's why it's so much more amazing to find such a dark and edgy character in it. I think that's the reason any way

I see a lot more depth in Silver's character than in Green, Brendan/May or Pearl. In my mind, he's a boy who's conflicted about his morals & beliefs - as a kid he was taught to behave one way and yet is looked down upon by many for that very same reason. He was never shown how to truly function as a member of society, and so he often has to resort to physical violence/criminal methods to get what he wants. He's not really sure what his goals are in life, so he focuses on his hatred of Team Rocket above all else, and for a while it is his sole purpose.
He's a good kid underneath the unappealing persona. It just takes him a while to figure out that hatred & anger aren't the only ways to get what he wants out of life. If that makes any sense.
He's also my favorite rival due to the whole Giovanni/Silver family dynamic. I realize that Gio is probably the root of most of Silver's problems, and yet... I lovelovelove those two, and I think their relationship is a lot more complicated than we might believe. Maybe I'm just over-invested. IDK.

(Plus, Silver's just adorable. <3)

Originally Posted by Envoy

I think it's because he's alot darker and alot more 'adult' than the rest of the characters in the entire in-game universe (with the possible exception of Cyrus, but he's not pretty so he doesn't count.) He's the character that caters to a more mature audience and since the most vocal Pokemon fans on the internet are teens/young adults, that dark edge appeals to them (weather it's in a romantic "he's so hot" kind of way or an idolizing "he's cool" sense.)

When taking into account all of the other characters in all of the games (rivals, assistants, Professors, Gym Leaders, even the evil teams [again, with the exception of Cyrus]) they all seem to range from pretty tame (like Giovanni) to downright huggable (Wally.) Yes, it is a kids game, but that's why it's so much more amazing to find such a dark and edgy character in it. I think that's the reason any way

^ THIS. Envoy, you are easily among the best-spoken members of Bulbagarden Forums.

I love how a part of why some people like him is because he is Giovanni's son. If GF were to, say, create a new rival in S/R/E sequel/remake who was supposedly like, team Aquas/Magmas leaders son/daughter, they would probobly not be as respected as Silver:
1. because they would be new and therefore not hava a pre-existing nostalgia factor
2. because those 2 corporations were run by delusional idiots
3. Also, with the way rivals are going, they'd probobly not be as mean as Silver or even as much an a@% as Blue/Green

Just saying.