How do we fix Middle stages? So many in recent generations just feel like fucking garbage, an awkward filler between the first and final stage. It's especially bad in Gen 7's starters, where the middle stages are just forgettable, ugly and atrocious.

Where are the cool middle stages that have a distinct look of their own yet still have a connection to both other Pokemon in their line, and make you wanna slap Eviolite on it and never evolve it?