#pkmshield

The Essay

Video games, beloved by all around the world and the top number one entertainer, hold a special place in all our hearts. The first game was developed in 1958 by William Higinbotham and has come a long way since a dot and two rectangles to fully realistic 3D renders of anything you can think of. The idea and purpose of video games have only but evolved over the years, branching off into different genres, styles, and concepts. Today, one of the most notable gaming legends, is Pokémon, a game about catching and battling pet-like creatures of all different shapes and sizes. The first red and green versions were released on the Nintendo Game Boy in 1996, starting off one of the most well-known gaming franchises known to date. One of the more recent games, Pokémon sword and shield released in 2019, features a plethora of different colorful creatures and several different NPCs to interact with. Apart of the many NPCs, one is named Chairman Rose, the one who introduces the player to the Galar region. He is the worst creation to ever come out of Nintendo and the Pokémon franchise; and in this essay we will explain the obvious reasons why, and why you should hate him too.

Chairman Rose is first introduced in the opening cutscene of the games, giving a run-down of the plot and announcing your role. You are then thrown into the game with another guide/rival, Hop. The player continues to encounter Rose and his simp assistant across their journey in the Galar region until they reach the end where Rose reveals his evil plan, forcing you, Hop, and Sonia to try and stop him. What is Chairman Rose's evil plan? He wants to take control of the Legendary Pokémon Eternatus, who is the source of the Galar Particles that allow Pokémon to dynamax. Not only is it unethical to take control of a living creature for resources, but also the hero complex he develops and the steps he took to try and achieve his goal are horrifying to discover, and slowly notice on a second playthrough.

The first time we meet Chairman Rose, he is bright eyed and passionate about the Galar Region and the Pokémon they share it with; introducing them, getting the player acquainted, and setting the stage for a grand adventure. But by the end, he has brought about another darkest day, ready to fight a literal child to defend what he believes is right. We see him evolve over the course of our journey, his evil plan slowly unfolding as Leon alone tries to stop it. But the worst of it is not in his plan, but instead the journey he took, and things he did to ensure his failed success. First, he manipulates Bede, a child, to collect wishing stars to feed Eternatus, who he pushed so far, he got Bede disqualified from The Pokémon Tournament; destroying his dream of becoming champion, a dream that had cost him nearly everything. However, as luck would have it, he became the chosen one destined to be the fairy type gym leader. Rose also manipulates Oleana to carry out his work, using her for gain, and making her so devoted when he himself has nothing to give in return.