History UnintentionallyUnsympathetic / Pokemon

** There are numerous occasions where [[Characters/PokemonTheSeriesMisty Misty]] and [[Characters/PokemonTheSeriesBrock Brock]] will self-righteously (or at least smugly) claim that Ash only got his first two badges out of pity. It's treated as a needed splash of cold water in the face to deflate Ash's ego, but these claims [[SelfServingMemory drastically underplay what actually happened]] and come across as little more than a selfish preservation of Misty and Brock's own fragile egos. Misty's sisters gave Ash the Cascade Badge because he saved their gym from Team Rocket in the middle of his match. Pikachu didn't want to battle against Misty, so Ash respected its wishes and didn't force it to battle. Misty's sisters later noted that if Ash had used Pikachu, then Misty would have lost for sure, and even without its participation, Ash was on the verge of ''beating'' Misty's Starmie when the match was interrupted. As for Brock, he was the one who insisted on giving Ash the badge after Ash refused, not wanting to take further advantage of accidentally setting off the gym's fire sprinklers; it was actually ''Ash'' who felt sorry for Brock, not the other way around. Repeatedly saying that Ash only got their badges out of pity, when he simply showed better sportsmanship than they did, comes across as [[SoreLoser sour grapes from Misty]] and [[{{Hypocrite}} shameless hypocrisy from Brock]]. When they bring it up again during the ''Sun & Moon'' seasons, it can seem less like old friends joking about the good old days, and more like Misty griping about her sisters not declaring her the winner of a match she had essentially lost already. It doesn't help that even after Ash definitively defeats her on other occasions, she still keeps up this attitude.

** In [[Recap/PokemonS1E8ThePathToThePokemonLeague "The Path to the Pokémon League"]], we're supposed to see AJ as this guy who's tough but fair to his Pokémon, especially his Sandshrew, but it's hard to think so with the whips he lashes out and giving them short breaks of rest.

** Norman from the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter is meant to be seen as a [[ParentsAsPeople flawed but understandable parent]] who wants to prepare his son Ruby for the world's dangers, but struggles with the fact an accident Ruby caused[[note]] ''Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire'' would later reveal Ruby wasn't responsible for Rayquaza escaping but neither knew that at the time[[/note]] cost Norman a major promotion and hit to his reputation. In practice, many people see Norman as a controlling AbusiveParent due to his dismissal of Ruby's trauma and willingness to use violence to bring him home after he ran away. Said accident involved Norman taking the blame to protect Ruby, but he was only six at the time so likely wouldn't have gotten serious punishment making Norman's self-inflicted by his needless sacrifice.

** Similarly, we're supposed to be on Lillie's side whenever her strained relationship with her mother is brought up. But while her mother's parenting is [[ParentsAsPeople undeniably flawed]] (she's [[WhenYouComingHomeDad constantly busy]] due to her work), she doesn't bring this up at all - instead, Lillie is angry with her mother for once evolving a Clefairy that was under ''her'' (not Lillie's) ownership without consent. And if Lusamine's ImagineSpot is to be believed, Clefairy had no problem with evolving, so Lille can't even claim to be standing up for it. In the present day, Lusamine brings the whole gang to Aether Paradise for a tour, but when she uses the opportunity to try and make small talk with her daughter, Lillie actually takes offense and angrily storms off with the rest of the gang, more upset with being treated like a child than happy her mother is attempting to set aside time for her. [[spoiler:When Lusamine is taken by Nihilego, Lillie continues to treat her mother as selfish and condescending for being absorbed despite Lusamine TakingTheBullet for Lillie's brother. The speech she gave her mother did get cleaned up and made a bit more impactful in the dub as Lillie did say near the end she respected her mother.]] Part of this issue seems to be because of the AdaptationalHeroism and AdaptationPersonalityChange given to Lusamine, who, in the games, was the BigBad. Lillie's behavior works for the game characters, but due to the anime's changes, she no longer comes out as being entirely in the right.
** Faba is meant to be somebody whose villainy came from letting jealousy get the better of him in a MomentOfWeakness and is working towards improving himself and [[TheAtoner making amends]]. However, since Faba's first action upon being caught was trying to [[NeverMyFault pin his crimes on Lusamine]], his HeelRealization occurs offscreen, along with a lack of any major changes in his behavior, makes many feel he's just pretending to be remorseful to gain a lighter sentence. This sentiment got reinforced when he tried to sabotage Ash in the Alola League by attempting to control him with hypnosis, one of the actions he was previously treated as a villain for doing.

** Norman from the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter is meant to be seen as a [[ParentsAsPeople flawed but understandable parent]] who wants what's best for his son Ruby while preparing him for the dangerous world but with the fact an accident Ruby caused[[note]] ''Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire'' would later reveal Ruby wasn't responsible for Rayquaza escaping but neither knew that at the time[[/note]] cost Norman a major promotion and hit to his reputation. In practice, many people see Norman as a controlling AbusiveParent due to his dismissal of Ruby's trauma and willingness to use violence to bring him home after he ran away. Said accident involved Norman taking the blame to protect Ruby, but he was only six at the time so likely wouldn't have gotten serious punishment making Norman's self-inflicted by his needless sacrifice.

** Norman from the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter is meant to be seen as a [[ParentsAsPeople flawed but understandable parent]] who wants what's best for his son Ruby while preparing him for the dangerous world but with the fact an accident Ruby caused[[note]] ''Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire'' would later reveal Ruby wasn't responsible for Rayqauza escaping but neither knew that at the time[[/note]] cost Norman a major promotion and hit to his reputation. In practice, many people see Norman as a controlling AbusiveParent due to his dismissal of Ruby's trauma and willingness to use violence to bring him home after he ran away. Said accident involved Norman taking the blame to protect Ruby, but he was only six at the time so likely wouldn't have gotten serious punishment making Norman's self-inflicted by his needless sacrifice.

** The main villain of the ''Gold & Silver'' chapter, [[spoiler:Pryce]], aka the Masked Man. The reader is clearly supposed to find him sympathetic since he [[spoiler:lost his two Lapras to a freak accident]], and it's made obvious that he truly cares about his Pokémon in general. That doesn't really justify kidnapping children to be forced to work for him, brainwashing a group of criminals, funding a program that forces evolution (which is implied to be painful), and attempting to murder 2 minors. He can easily come across as a huge {{jerkass}} because of all the things he did just to reunite with them instead of just accepting a loss that wasn't really his (or anyone else's) fault and doesn't even try to go about it in a less extreme manner. The only mitigating factors are that [[spoiler: one chapter shows that he ''does'' care about the children he captured but due to his frigid emotional state he can't express this except in ice sculptures, and that he seems to feel guilty about all that he's done, as he attempts to strangle himself after it appears to have all been for nothing.]]

** Norman from the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter is meant to be seen as a [[ParentsAsPeople flawed but understandable parent]] who wants what's best for his son Ruby while preparing him for the dangerous world but with the fact an accident Ruby caused[[note]] ''[=OmegaRuby=] & [=AlphaSapphire=]'' would later reveal Ruby wasn't responsible for Rayqauza escaping but neither knew that at the time[[/note]] cost Norman a major promotion and hit to his reputation. In practice, many people see Norman as a controlling AbusiveParent due to his dismissal of Ruby's trauma and willingness to use violence to bring him home after he ran away. Said accident involved Norman taking the blame to protect Ruby, but he was only six at the time so likely wouldn't have gotten serious punishment making Norman's self-inflicted by his needless sacrifice.

** Norman from the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter is meant to be seen as a [[ParentsAsPeople flawed but understandable parent]] who wants what's best for his son Ruby while preparing him for the dangerous world but with the fact an accident Brendan caused[[note]] ''[=OmegaRuby=] & [=AlphaSapphire=]'' would later reveal Ruby wasn't responsible for Rayqauza escaping but neither knew that at the time[[/note]] cost Norman a major promotion and hit to his reputation. In practice, many people see Norman as a controlling AbusiveParent due to his dismissal of Ruby's trauma and willingness to use violence to bring him home after he ran away. Said accident involved Norman taking the blame to protect Ruby, but he was only six at the time so likely wouldn't have gotten serious punishment making Norman's self-inflicted by his needless sacrifice.
** A RunningGag in the ''Emerald'' chapter is Ruby [[ShesNotMyGirlfriend not presenting himself as in a relationship with Sapphire]], much to the latter's irritation. While this is meant to be seen as Ruby being afraid to [[RelationshipUpgrade take the next step in their relationship]] after their LoveConfession during the climax of the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter, several readers instead found Ruby's behavior to be rather callous. Rather than talking about the situation with Sapphire in private, Ruby chooses to [[ObfuscatingStupidity act clueless]] whenever the subject of their relationship comes up. Ruby goes as far as to [[IRejectYourReality deny the fact he and Sapphire confessed their love for each other]] to Sapphire's face, which comes across as cruel and humiliating to the girl he supposedly loves. [[SalvagedStory Likely as a response to these criticisms]], the ''[=OmegaRuby & AlphaSapphire=]'' chapter has Ruby get over this and eventually admits to his feelings, [[spoiler:allowing for them finally go on their first date together]].

** A RunningGag in the ''Emerald'' chapter is Ruby [[ShesNotMyGirlfriend not presenting himself as in a relationship with Sapphire]], much to the latter's irritation. While this is meant to be seen as Ruby being afraid to [[RelationshipUpgrade take the next step in their relationship]] after their LoveConfession during the climax of the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter, several readers instead found Ruby's behavior to be rather callous. Rather than talking about the situation with Sapphire in private, Ruby chooses to [[ObfuscatingStupidity act clueless]] whenever the subject of their relationship comes up. Ruby goes as far as to [[IRejectYourReality deny the fact he and Sapphire confessed their love for each other]] to Sapphire's face, which comes across as cruel and humiliating to the girl he supposedly loves. [[SalvagedStory Likely as a response to these criticisms]], in the "Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire" chapter, has Ruby get over this and eventually admits to his feelings, [[spoiler:allowing for them finally go on their first date together]].

** Kenny is meant to be seen as a guy who secretly loves and admires [[Characters/PokemonTheSeriesDawn Dawn]] despite his teasing. However, many fans feel that Kenny's LovingBully tendencies lean far too much into the bullying angle to be seen as genuine affection. This perception is caused by how often Kenny embarrasses Dawn by sharing embarrassing stories from their youth and by constantly referring to Dawn as "Dee Dee", a nickname Dawn has made clear she hates. Compounding the issue, Kenny's final appearance has him try to force an ultimatum on Dawn by making a bet with Ash that states Dawn has to travel with him instead of Ash if he beats Ash in a Pokémon battle, something that screams EntitledToHaveYou. While he accepts Dawn's choice to go with Ash anyway, even when Kenny wins the battle in question, it can still be hard to reconcile with his pushy behavior in this episode and others.

** Norman from the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter is meant to be seen as a [[ParentsAsPeople flawed but understandable parent]] who wants what's best for his son Ruby while preparing him for the dangerous world but with the fact an accident Brendan caused[[note]] ''[=OmegaRuby=] & [=AlphaSapphire=] would later reveal Ruby wasn't responsible for Rayqauza escaping but neither knew that at the time[[/note]]cost Norman a major promotion and hit to his reputation. In practice, many people see Norman as a controlling AbusiveParent due to his dismissal of Ruby's trauma and willingness to use violence to bring him home after he ran away. Said accident involved Norman taking the blame to protect Ruby, but he was only six at the time so likely wouldn't have gotten serious punishment making Norman's self-inflicted by his needless sacrifice.

** Norman from the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter is meant to be seen as a [[PartentsAsPeople flaweded but understandable parent]] who wants what's best for his son Ruby while preparing him for the dangerous world but with the fact an accident Brendan caused[[note]] ''[=OmegaRuby=] & [=AlphaSapphire=] would later reveal Ruby wasn't responsible for Rayqauza escaping but neither knew that at the time[[/note]]cost Norman a major promotion and hit to his reputation. In practice, many people see Norman as a controlling AbusiveParent due to his dismissal of Ruby's trauma and willingness to use violence to bring him home after he ran away. Said accident involved Norman taking the blame to protect Ruby, but he was only six at the time so likely wouldn't have gotten serious punishment making Norman's self-inflicted by his needless sacrifice.

** [[Characters/PokemonTheSeriesSerena Serena]] can come off this way in her relationship with her mother, Grace. We're meant to see Serena feeling as though Grace is pushing her into following in her footsteps as a racer and wanting her to do things she doesn't want to do as being valid and having reason to root for her. But it's made clear that Serena chose to try out Rhyhorn Racing, actually does have a talent for racing but doesn't enjoy doing it because it gets too rough for her, and indeed has a history of giving up on something she takes on the moment it starts getting too hard and requiring more extra effort from her. Grace thus seems insistent that Serena stick to racing because she knows that's something she's skilled at and pushes for her to put in more effort and work harder at it so that she can get better at it, which isn't an unreasonable thing for a mother to want for her child. Yet Serena acts as though her mother was overbearing, even when Grace has given her enough comfort and freedom of choice that her striking out on her own in order to join Ash on his journey was possible in the first place.

** As a result of his desire to [[GottaCatchEmAll catch every Pokémon species]], [[Characters/PokemonTheSeriesGoh Goh]] is meant to be seen as an ambitious and vigorous boy, but a number of fans find the way he goes about achieving this goal (or even the goal itself) to be rather callous in nature. While the games encourage players to catch every Pokémon to fill out the Pokédex, the anime made it clear in the very first episode that catching a Pokémon is not required to obtain that species' Pokédex entry in this continuity. This means catching every Pokémon serves no purpose beyond bragging rights in the anime. Moreover, the anime throughout its entire run has emphasized that [[QualityOverQuantity having fewer but stronger relationships with Pokémon is more desirable and respectable than having several shallow ones.]] Adding to the problem, Goh clearly favors certain Pokémon over others (out of the 115 Pokémon Goh owns, only 27 have made multiple appearances, with three of those Pokemon being permanent fixtures in his party). It doesn't help that any headway Goh makes toward treating his Pokémon better rarely transfers over to other species, [[AesopAmnesia with Goh having to constantly relearn the same lessons.]]

** Norman from the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter is meant to be seen as a parent who wants what's best for his son Ruby while struggling with the fact an accident Brendan caused cost him a major promotion and hit to his reputation. In practice, many people see Norman as a controlling AbusiveParent due to his dismissal of Ruby's trauma and willingness to use violence to bring him home after he ran away. Said accident involved Norman taking the blame to protect Ruby, but he was only six at the time so likely wouldn't have gotten serious punishment making Norman's self-inflicted by his needless sacrifice.
** A RunningGag in the ''Emerald'' chapter is Ruby [[ShesNotMyGirlfriend not presenting himself as in a relationship with Sapphire]], much to the latter's irritation. While this is meant to be seen as Ruby being afraid to [[RelationshipUpgrade take the next step in their relationship]] after their LoveConfession during the climax of the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter, several readers instead found Ruby's behavior to be rather callous. Rather than talking about the situation with Sapphire in private, Ruby chooses to [[ObfuscatingStupidity act clueless]] whenever the subject of their relationship comes up. Ruby goes as far as to [[IRejectYourReality deny the fact he and Sapphire confessed their love for each other]] to Sapphire's face, which comes across as cruel and humiliating to the girl he supposedly loves. By the time of the "Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire" chapter, he gets over this and eventually admits to his feelings, [[spoiler:allowing for them finally go on their first date together]].

** Norman from the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter is supposed to be seen as a noble PapaWolf who cares for his son deep down in [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold spite of their differing interests]], and is simply frustrated by the fact he was forced to take the blame for his son letting a Rayquaza escape captivity, [[note]]Ruby wasn't actually responsible, but neither Ruby nor Norman knew that at the time.[[/note]] which delayed his promotion to Gym Leader by five years and forced Norman to spend multiple years searching for Rayquaza. The reader is supposed to see Norman as a good father and person given that [[spoiler:Norman's death triggers Ruby's HeroicBSOD and his [[BackFromTheDead revival by Celebi being treated by the narrative as a joyous moment]]]]. However, there are multiple reasons that some fans doubt Norman's love for his son and feel Ruby would be better off without him. For starters, Norman was at best annoyed by his son's decision to become a Coordinator, which Ruby did in part due to the trauma of the Rayquaza incident. It's implied this disapproval is because Norman carries resentment towards Ruby for the Rayquaza incident, but ultimately, there was no reason to take the blame. Ruby was only six at the time, so it's highly unlikely there would've been any serious punishment given, making Norman's choice to protect Ruby a StupidSacrifice and his subsequent viewpoint on Ruby's choices feel like a cruel dismissal of Ruby's trauma. Furthermore, when Ruby runs away under the belief Norman would never approve of him being a Coordinator, Noman goes searching for him. However, when Norman manages to locate his son instead of trying to talk things out, [[AbusiveParents Norman proceeds to punch Ruby and try to take him home by force]].

** [[Characters/PokemonTheSeriesIris Iris]]' dynamic with Ash was supposed to be seen as a replica of Ash's dynamic with Misty from the Indigo Series. However, since Ash would only occasionally snark back at Iris in Best Wishes (unlike Kanto Ash who would ''always'' snark back at Misty when Misty insulted him), this is what caused some fans to feel like Iris' constant teasing of Ash came across as unnecessarily mean spirited (unlike Ash's dynamic with Misty).

** A RunningGag in the ''Emerald'' chapter is Ruby [[ShesNotMyGirlfriend not presenting himself as in a relationship with Sapphire]], much to the latter's irritation. While this is meant to be seen as Ruby being afraid to [[RelationshipUpgrade take the next step in their relationship]] after their LoveConfession during the climax of the ''Ruby & Sapphire'' chapter, several readers instead found Ruby's behavior to be rather callous. Rather than talking about the situation with Sapphire in private, Ruby chooses to [[ObfuscatingStupidity act clueless]] whenever the subject of their relationship comes up. Ruby goes as far as to [[IRejectYourReality deny the fact he and Sapphire confessed their love for each other]] to Sapphire's face, which comes across as cruel and humiliating to the girl he supposedly loves.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'': [[spoiler:Lusamine]] is supposed to win the player's sympathy due to [[spoiler:her being a victim of Nihilego's mind-altering toxins, which helped warp her into a horrible person selfishly obsessed with the Ultra Beasts at the expense of everyone else and drove a wedge between her and her children]]. However, the attempts at sympathy fell flat for many players as [[spoiler:Nihilego's toxin is less of a brainwashing substance and more of something that amplifies the worst traits in someone, making her come off as someone who'd be horrible with or without Nihilego's influence]]. In addition, the claims that they were genuinely good prior were undercut by how they spent their whole time on-screen as a FauxAffablyEvil BitchInSheepsClothing, with neither specific details of their former kindness (the closest being [[spoiler:Lillie relaying a tale of how she'd went and danced in the rain with her when Lillie was young, causing them both to catch colds]]), nor direct depictions of their attempts to atone (the closest being [[spoiler:Lillie explaining that Lusamine had wanted to come to the player character's Champion ceremony after waking from her coma]]). Notably, this was a rare case where it made the character better received as such a LoveToHate, [[RealismInducedHorror realistically personal]] villain whose conflict was seen as the one stand-out great part of the game's otherwise bland story. But the creators recognized the story they wrote for her weren't coming off as intended, so every future portrayal went to great pains to tone down their nastiness, [[spoiler:usually by [[AdaptedOut adapting out]] or downplaying Nihilego's role in warping in her mind]], while retaining a core piece of their character: [[spoiler:being a lousy parent with messed up priorities]].