Guys i just realized that Team Rocket's latest arguably astrocious Journey outfits might be supposed to visualize their character development.
It's just a little thing, but I think it plays into a bigger theme. Let me explain.
Okay the outfit thing - think about it. They usually are so so vain when it comes to their outfits. Especially when they're on stage or on air. And it works obviously, their outfits are famous in the pokémon fandom for a reason. (Also for the crossdressing, but still.)
They also usually talk a lot about how pretty their outfits are or we see them adjusting their outfits or they shove themselves in the center of the stage/ of the camera bc look how beautiful we are.
And for the entirety of these league finals we have not seen them do any of that.
And let me remind you, they are on camera. Fans all over the world can see them. But for the first time in the run of the anime they don't seem to care. They seem as if they chose these outfits just because they liked them, because they seemed fun. They are relaxed, just doing their usual banter in front of the camera, they aren't performing.
So, where does this development come from?
I think mainly from their radio show. Ignoring the fact that they did that as a throw-back to the actual Team Rocket radio show back in the days then - isn't it actually surprising that they chose this kind of career, and are content with it?
Think about Jessie, always dreaming about becoming famous due to her looks, being on stage, on camera, an actress, a model. And also the other two. Their dreams usually include: Lots of money. Their names being famous. Being those glamorous, untouchable stars.
And the radioshow actually doesn't give them any of that. They're famous, but people only know their aliases. They are beloved, but "only" for being stupid, funny and themselves.
And they are happy with it. And that's where I think their change happened. Now they are more comfortable with themselves. And when they finally had their face reveal it suddenly didn't matter to them to show their fans how beautiful and well-dressed they are. That's not what their fans adore about them, anyway.
So long talk short, a little Team Rocket change happened. They suddenly seem less vain. Wow. So what?
It's just... those changes are piling up, aren't they?
Last series they settled down for the first time, were shown to be a real family. This series we have this theme of them doing really little work for Team Rocket, being busy with part-time jobs, doing good-guy stuff, and a certain radio show. And with this radio show - we actually see them be really successful for once? Achieving a dream? And while the episode with them nearly quitting Team Rocket arguably turned out not that great I think it was mostly supposed to show that they A) are not content with their Team Rocket Life Style anymore and B) love each other a lot and want to stay together. And about that league finale, their outfits aren't the only thing that's new.
Them cheering for the twerps is nothing new at all. They've done it again and again. But, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is the first time they do it loudly, throughout the whole battle, without any shame. For Iris and especially for Ash. Not pretending not to care even once! That's new. That's precious. And I want more changes like these. I'm eating them up.
Team Rocket's been pretty much unchanging for so many seasons, and for the first time I have the feeling that the makers are picking up the pace and going somewhere with them, and yes. Give me more of this super slow Team Rocket (redemption?) retirement arc please, i love it.
Please add your thoughts. Am I over-interpreting? Probably, haha
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