Thread: Will BW be the end of Team Rocket/Rocket-Dan?

I would think, or at least hope, that it will. All the changes made to them seem to indicate that they have (or had) something big planned for them, and their new serious/competent nature would eventually lead them to be promoted further to the point that they get actual new (instead of just recolored) uniforms and have legions of Rocket grunts under their command, only to hit rock bottom and get arrested. Then they would join with Satoshi and co. to help bring down the entire organization, concluding with Satoshi battling and defeating Sakaki himself. Bringing in some of Satoshi's old Pokémon like Lizardon, along with cameo appearances by some other pre-BW characters (Takeshi and Kasumi, anyone? ) would only be appropriate to reinforce the significance of this.

Though I'm well aware of the whole games=/=anime thing, I feel it would've been more appropriate for the Rockets to be disbanded during Johto. That would've helped the "fresh start" feeling of BW tremendously.

Originally Posted by Quagbert

Bringing in some of Satoshi's old Pokémon like Lizardon, along with cameo appearances by some other pre-BW characters (Takeshi and Kasumi, anyone? ) would only be appropriate to reinforce the significance of this

Why in the world would Misty, Brock, Charizard, etc. be involved in a final Team Rocket arc? Its not like they ever had any significant interaction with Team Rocket characters themselves.

Most likely we'll just see Iris/Cilan in a final TR arc, similar to DP's Galactic finale. In all seriousness I doubt Misty is ever going to appear in the anime again, so I don't see why you brought her up.

Best answer i can give at current moment is maybe,because TR can go either way after Best Wishes.

While its true how change of their role being given new mission by Giovanni becoming more competent and serious indicates how very likely Jessie,James and Meowth might depart after Unova if TR organization gets disbanded,im still not sure if its necessarily sets in stone how this is only possible outcome to expect.

First we dont know in what way confrontation between TR and Team Plasma will play out and if Giovanni will finally end up arrested.After earthquake in Japan im having doubts if original story will be used anymore.

And even if it does its not like writers couldnt keep them if they really wanted.I could see Jessie,James and Meowth staying being given some new role after their mission in BW ends,just like Jessie did contests in AG for example.
We dont know what are Jessie,James and Meowth future plans and it would be nice to see them go through some soul searching qiestioning what to do with their lives after their role in Unova ends.Though thats more speaking out of me personal desire than anything else.

However seeing how Rocket trio was part of show for basically forever staying there for 14 years and still counting,on one hand i also find hard to believe that writers will get rid of them after Best Wishes.Judging by past surviving all transitions to new regions Ash headed to,gives out impression how they are intended to stay until series ends.Some say how TR wont go back to their older role of trying to catch Pikachu being used more for comic relief but lately i dont know anymore what to think.

Best Wishes clearly showed how Jessie,James and Meowth still have older personality traits as some episodes showed,with main rason behind their portrayal of serious and competent villains for most BW episodes being done for purposes of TR plot with writers not wanting to stray away from main purpose of this trio in Unova.
So in theory writrs can keep them afterwards if Giovanni somehow escapes with BW not being necessarily end of rocket organization.Not to mention there is still left some potentially unfinished business regarding Mewtwo as well.

So in end i gather how Rocket has 60% of leaving and 40%of staying after BW.

Originally Posted by Gliscor'd

In all seriousness I doubt Misty is ever going to appear in the anime again, so I don't see why you brought her up.

Because not everyone thinks she will never return including myself as well.

Originally Posted by Gliscor'd

Why in the world would Misty, Brock, Charizard, etc. be involved in a final Team Rocket arc? Its not like they ever had any significant interaction with Team Rocket characters themselves.

As pokemon fan 132 said, Team Rocket has existed throughout the anime's entire history. Even if Takeshi and Kasumi never had anything personal with the Rockets, they could (assuming Mr. Ueda and Mrs. Iizuka are willing to briefly resume their roles) still make a cameo appearance to catch older viewers' attention.

As for why they would come all the way over, the most logical reason I've come up with would be Team Rocket going on a rampage in Kanto/Johto only to have all their agents in those regions be arrested, and the main Rocket headquarters destroyed. Kasumi and Takeshi would be dragged by the Rockets into this epic crackdown, and then upon learning that the Kanto police force is traveling to Isshu to take out Sakaki and his remaining agents, tag along with them to help their old friend Satoshi.

That would be the gist of my side-story miniseries idea that also involves Team Plasma and Mewtwo. The former to sneak in and out unnoticed to stir up all this commotion, and the latter so we can see Psycho Break (pfft, Psystrike) in the anime.

Originally Posted by Quagbert

As pokemon fan 132 said, Team Rocket has existed throughout the anime's entire history. Even if Takeshi and Kasumi never had anything personal with the Rockets, they could (assuming Mr. Ueda and Mrs. Iizuka are willing to briefly resume their roles) still make a cameo appearance to catch older viewers' attention.

Misty hasn't even appeared in an episode since AG134 which aired way back in 2005. The character hasn't had a cameo now in 6 years. I severely doubt she would be brought back for a Team Rocket finale. Same for Brock really, I don't think he would be involved in one either. They will likely just use Iris and Cilan.

As for why they would come all the way over, the most logical reason I've come up with would be Team Rocket going on a rampage in Kanto/Johto only to have all their agents in those regions be arrested, and the main Rocket headquarters destroyed. Kasumi and Takeshi would be dragged by the Rockets into this epic crackdown, and then upon learning that the Kanto police force is traveling to Isshu to take out Sakaki and his remaining agents, tag along with them to help their old friend Satoshi.

I imagine if the TR finale takes place in Unova, and Giovanni is either arrested or dies like Hunter J, the rest of the organization would slowly dissolve. They don't need to show the old TR bases in Kanto or Johto.

I'm going to say yes to the organization and no to Musashi, Kojiro, and Nyarth.

I said yes to Team Rocket because they never truely got the villainous spot light like Aqua, Magma, and Galactic and thus never got the chance to get their plans get disrupted by Satoshi and Co.

I said no to Musashi, Kojiro, and Nyarth because they been around too long to see them truely gone from the show, unless they get a reasonably epic mini-arc for them to leave the show permenantly. If TRio stays after Team Rocket is disbanded, I don't want them to become rogue agents and revert to their Pre-BW Selves with their antics towards Satoshi and Co, mainly because its fairly dull. If that doesn't happen, I whould like to see TRio to become the first Canon Ship and somehow help Satoshi with getting beyond being a part of the Top 4 of the Pokemon League in Isshu

Team Rocket are currently going on a 5-ep streak with no appearance. When they do appear they only get 2 minutes of screentime besides their big 2-parter episodes.

Best Wishes is clearly a test to see if the series can work without TR attacking Ash and co. in every episode, and its working. I doubt they'll be around after this gen.

Originally Posted by Gliscor'd

Misty hasn't even appeared in an episode since AG134 which aired way back in 2005. The character hasn't had a cameo now in 6 years. I severely doubt she would be brought back for a Team Rocket finale.

I just want to point out that Misty appeared in a photo in Brock's DP special and she also appeared in High Touch (as you certainly are aware of), which tells us that, even though she hadn't any interaction with Ash and such, the writers DO remember her and don't want the general public to forget her.


I sincerely hope that Jessie, James and Meowth don't vanish after Best Wishes. However, I think that that will happen, due to all the evidence we had (as many of you have already pointed out). But I truly hope that the writers realize at the end of this "test" that Team Rocket is needed. At least for me, I still haven't watched the last 4 episodes because I don't really have any particular reason to see them, even if I admit that they may be good.

I think that the Team Rocket Trio won't leave after Black and White because they have been important characters in every series.

Originally Posted by djulienr

If they do leave this series then

2. I hope Jessie and James make friends with Ash.

4. I've wantred Jessie and James to travel with Ash for at least one episode. Their interactions would be interesting.

The relationship between Jessie and James and Ash has normally been weird because in some episodes and some of the films they have "travel"led or been friends with Ash such as Pokemon Shipwreck, Island of the Giant Pokémon, A Shroomish Skirmish, A Hot Water Battle, Holy Matrimony!, Crossing Paths, Where no Togepi has gone before and The Treasure is all mine!

I really dislike the fact that they scrapped Ash' history and changed the whole anime. This is a horrible step on Nintendo's part.

1. In Unova, they only display Black and White Pokemon. It doesn't really add a wild life pokemon environment. For example, in the fishing connoisseur episode, they only show freaking basculins. Where is the magikarps and remorioids? The 6-10 year old's who had seen Pokemon Diamond will have no clue what happened.

2. Team Rocket is serious now. Too serious. I like the fact that they're kicking butt but where's the humor kids want? The episodes barely crack jokes. I remember Meowth's weird fantasies of the boss... Now they're gone :(.

3. No contests or anything like it. Ok. I have NOTHING against the new characters (except Cilan who's face looks so distorted). The new gang traveling with Ash are joining him cause they have nothing to achieve except rely on some 10 year old kid who pays for their lunch. They aren't really using their pokemon, they're just exploring their own region. What is the fun in that? At least use them in constructive battles.

4. Finally, Ash is a dumbo now. He is still 10, wth? He asks what type of pokemon that is when it constantly shouts it's name. PIKACHU PIKACHU! I wonder what that pokemon is (sarcasm). Plus, he is not achieving anything by changing his pokemon. I thought his "goal' was to be a champion. It has been 10 years. He hasn't achieved anything. Heck, May, Dawn, and Misty probably has done more training than he has. No wonder Ash was never able to defeat Gary.

To conclude, I really dislike what they did to the Pokemon Anime. I can withstand making a new series and adjusting it to the new generation, but literally clearing what the older viewers had seen is not really the best choice. I'm not expecting myself to watch Pokemon Best Wishes anymore (unless old characters return).

TR's fate is still uncertain, but I will not deny the similarity to Brock in the last saga, except that only at the last second did they seem to make an effort to make Brock more interesting. He was otherwise almost becoming non-existent. True, that may happen to TR as well, as the writers have demonstrated they can write eps without TR being involved at all. (and their absence isn't even felt) Right now, I feel everything that has gone into TR now is sort of a tribute to Shudo, since TR was his favorite. (although I am not totally convinced he would've approved this new direction, but I can't be sure) That could be another argument in favor there; Shudo may have been the only thing keeping TR alive.

As for the latest developments, I feel that at least Pika and Meowth will have it out one final time, and if not, I'll be disappointed. Meowth truly did cross a line, and I want to see Pika get vengeance for all those years of abuse and betrayal. Unfortunately, like I said "final" time. For this to happen, I see no alternative but for TR to be done away with for good. If they pull Jesus Ash again, I'll still be disappointed since I refuse to forgive Meowth for that. For Jessie and James, I feel that the Nimbasa plot is the best "capture Pikachu" plot they've ever had, and it will be difficult to top it. (perhaps only taking him to HQ would do it) Otherwise, they would have to be involved in a massive plot akin what they had planned for TP to up the ante. That would be the only thing I think would truly put their existence on the line. True, Meowth comes as a package deal with them, and likewise, I believe that a "final" encounter with Meowth would only be justified by TR having nothing left to lose. (and perhaps Ash and co. have a final bout with them as well) Right now, there is a possibility this can happen, but we don't know for sure. It's certainly higher than it's ever been in the entire time they've existed.

The writers don't seem like they give a Raticate's Tail about Team Rocket ever since Best Wishes started. When was the last time we've seem Team Rocket anyways? All this music and other crap going on, I almost forgot they existed for a second.

They got us all excited when Giovanni had everyone all dressed badass, had Meowth almost kicked out, trolling us with Team Plasma images and still yet no sign of them. I think this might be the last of Team Rocket folks. Sorry to say. This is the first time I have seen Team Rocket so absent from all episodes. But it goes to show you that the show doesn't need Team Rocket for comical purposes anymore. All they need is a another Oshawott like Pokemon and the show is all set.

One reason TR stayed so long was that they were comic relief and caused the conflict of almost every episode. Now that both of those elements are gone, and they're been missing in dozens of episodes, its pretty obvious their overall purpose in the show is coming to an end.

They'll probably get a few more solo missions throughout the arc, and hopefully by the end the whole Giovanni/Plasma storyline comes back which will bring the whole thing to an end.

TR is done after BW. And its good too. They've become competent as they were alluded to be in their very first appearance on the show. They actually succeed at things until Ash shows up and ruins everyone's day like usual (but he is the hero, after all).

Even the whole Meowth thing was pretty crafty, especially considering it could possibly fool viewers themselves about the crackdown that got him "fired" unless they're really good at connecting the inconsistencies. Talk about triple-meaning episode titles ("Meowth's Scrafty Tactics," alluded to Scrafty's appearance, and Meowth's negotiating skills, and the fact that it was all a ruse).

Anyway (sorry for the tangent), TR would do well to disappear. Brock had a major change in DP, and then he left for good (or so we hope). Same with TR. It's a good way to legitimize their farewell by making them seem like they're actually going somewhere. They even tried to trick us in "Noodles Roamin' Off," but the teary-goodbye cannot happen with TR. They need an epic ending.

Will Best Wishes be the end of the Rocket-Dan?

I hope so. I have never been so disappointed with Team Rocket crap before in my life. And I have watch the entire Orange Island series twice without falling to sleep.