#emo prince

Like the Lusamine issue is the biggest one. But his dad got sucked into a wormhole and then noped off to Poke Pelago (and in USUM, Lusamine decides not to tell him about his family). Team Skull treats him like fucking dirt, and in the end, they're an extension of Lusamine. Lillie and Wicke are nice to everyone, but they never show Gladion as much attention as they do Lusamine, or even the player.

The anime did address the Mohn issue better than the games. But it made the mistake of neutering Lusamine's villainy. So the happy family seems...hollow to me. The Gladion in this particular image just doesn't feel like him.

As I wrote this rant- which is a long time coming and I'm sorry- I realized it's empty because the writers are determined to "redeem" Lusamine, and in doing so require every other character to forgive her. But (game continuity) Gladion has no reason to do so. Not after what she did to his sister, or Silvally.

Not after what she did to him.

I feel like Gladion's departure in USUM should have been permanent. He needs a support system outside the Aether Foundation- wherever he has to go to find it. He has his Pokemon (many of which are friendship evolutions, so there's no doubt there's affection from them). But he needs a person to talk to. He needs to cope with what happened to him and his family. He needs and deserves friends and a healthy life.

Lillie chose to forgive Lusamine and the Aether Foundation. Gladion does not have to forgive. It's not in his character. Moreover, it's not a fucking requirement. There should be zero pressure on him to have anything to do with Lusamine, Team Skull, or the Aether Foundation. "But who will run the Aether Foundation in Sun and Mo-" nobody. Let it crumble. It was a sham the moment Lusamine and Nihilego met.

Gladion should be allowed to walk away and find happiness elsewhere. The Pokemon World is big. Countless regions exist, and more are being discovered. They're full of people. He doesn't have to suffer alone.

I didn't mean to turn this into an essay. But I have so many Thoughts about him...