Pokemon has always been Trubbish, and that’s why we love it

As Pokemon fans say goodbye to Paldea and usher in the future of Pokemon, it’s time to remember that the franchise has always had its flaws, but they add to the enduring charm.

I love every generation of Pokemon. Even my least favorite, Pokemon X & Y, has some Pokemon I can comfortably put in the S tier, like my guy Hawlucha, and plenty of the amazing Mega Evolutions.

Now, before you come for me as a new Pokemon fan, I am 34 years old. Do not cite the original games to me. I was there when they were released. Born in 1989, I was swept up in Poke-mania, collected the cards, watched the anime, and bought every single game on its release date even until today.

But I’m no Generation 1 purist. In fact, I find Pokemon Red and Blue almost painful to go back to nowadays, as the Game Boy has not aged gracefully as a console. Yeah, FireRed and LeafGreen solve a lot of these issues, but I also don’t think Kanto has a particularly interesting world or Pokedex.

Yet, with every passing generation, a slew of new fans are born, and many claim their own childhood memories as the peak of Pokemon, often happy to throw aspersions at others, claiming many Pokemon as ‘not proper Pokemon’ or the mechanics as a waste. Folks, listen, every generation is good and bad.

The Wailord in the room

The Pokemon Company / Game Freak

Pokemon, as a franchise, is simply too big to even attempt to rank it. There are just so many games, so many Pokemon, and everyone has their own reasons for loving some of those little goblins we call Pocket Monsters.

New mechanics like Tera Type even allow trainers to give some forgotten ‘mons an edge, unlike the days of Mega Evolution that played favorites with already popular Pokemon.

But with Pokemon Day here and new games being announced almost immediately after I write this, it’s important to remember that with over 1000 Pokemon and countless different ways to play, you don’t have to like all of it.

Fans are quick to stick the boot into Pokemon like Gholdengo, the weird cheese-string golden ghost that flies around on a surfboard. Or poor Klefki, for being a set of keys brought to life.

Let’s take our minds back to 1996 everyone, have you looked at the Kanto region recently? There are sentient magnets, there’s whatever the hell Jynx is, and there’s even a computer program called Porygon, that has escaped the digital world. Pokemon has always been this weird!

Every Pokemon is someone’s favorite

The Pokemon Company

I’m pretty forgiving with Pokemon. While I definitely have some I like more than others, I am usually one of the people who defends even the weirder little dudes because they normally have a lot of thought put into them by a designer.

Pokemon Black and White might be some of my favorite Pokemon games, but I’ve never been huge on the Pokedex, with some of the most forgettable Pokemon feeling superfluous, as they are often designed as copies of Kanto Pokemon, instead of their own thing.

While Pokemon Red and Blue for Grimer and Muk, the sewage Pokemon, Pokemon Black and White got Trubbish and Garbador, the trash Pokemon. I have spent years defending little Trubbish, even though it’s not particularly one of my favorites.

Now, most gamers who have non-gaming partners may have experienced this, but often, our long-suffering significant other may pick up on some gaming knowledge just through osmosis. It’s not hard to imagine the bundles of Pokemon merch adorning my house.

My partner doesn’t play many games but loves to learn all about Pokemon, and one day she learned about Trubbish. I explained it was a forgotten little trash monster, and that the actual Pokemon is inside the rubbish bag, meanwhile, the general Pokemon fandom hates this gross little thing.

The Pokemon Company

Dear reader, I wish I loved anything in life as much as my partner now loves Trubbish. We are a Trubbish household. We have Trubbish and Garbador plush everywhere, we have framed Trubbish cards on the wall, we have pin badges and stickers, and so much more. Pokemon, if you’re reading this, please make more Trubbish merch.

Even for a stalwart Pokemon fan like myself, and one who regularly goes to bat for every generation, seeing another person fall head over heels with this poor forgotten little creature was a stark reminder of the power of Pokemon, and a crucial part of its appeal.

Some people want cool dragon Pokemon, others want creatures that look more like animals, and some people want a disgusting little goblin that eats trash.

There’s enough Pokemon to go around

Nintendo

The reason I make this point is that on the eve of new Pokemon games, and with 2024 currently looking like a big year for the franchise, a lot of fans could do well to remember that Kanto, Johto, and whichever other generation you call your own, probably has as many flaws as others.

Meanwhile, Pokemon is a children’s franchise first and foremost. If you’re looking for a game aimed at 8-year-olds to offer exactly what you want to play at 34, you may have got confused somewhere. The Pocket Monsters series is still here because every generation does something to appeal to a new audience.

So, no matter what 2024 has in store, Pokemon fans can do well to remember that there are plenty of Pokemon games to go around, and some of the old ones are still there. A new entry is more interested in the wide-eyed love of a child than courting the glib acceptance of a jaded adult, and it always should be.

I hope every generation has a monstrosity that upsets some fans because it’ll be someone else’s favorite. Then I hope as Pokemon continues to evolve over the years, the kids picking it up today love it just as much as I do 30 years from now. Pokemon has always been this bad and this good, and that’s why we love it.