>>26509452Falkner, the first Gym Leader in Pokemon GSC has an underleveled Pidgeotto that his dad gave him, "my dad's cherished bird Pokemon". And he is always talking about how great his dad is in the games. Farther in the game, you find him tlking to Janine (Koga's daughter):
>"Out of all the Trainers out there, the best Trainer would have to be my dad.">"You are mistaken. My dad treats Poké..."He cuts himself off. Maybe because he knows his dad isn't what Falkner claims to be? Anyways, he asks if you heard him and changes the subject:
>"You were listening, right? You agree my dad is greater, right?"It seems like he's in denial and needs input from other people to reassure that the image he has of his father is innocent and normal. And it's not like they were out in the open talking about this, they were huddled between to shelves in the department store. Sketchy.
But my headcanon is the Falkner's dad is a member of Team Rocket, specifically part of the group involved in forcing Pokemon to prematurely evolve (e.g. Lake of Rage Magikarp/Gyarados). Hence why we never see Falkner's dad, why Falkner is somewhat obsessed about spreading his father's name under a good light, and why he has an underleved Pidgeotto (that Falkner's Team Rocket Father gave him)
