>>41769023Just like everything in the game, he felt like wasted potential. Most of the time I found it very hard to believe he actually defeated the gym leaders, so when he finally admitted to losing it was great and believable. I found his attitude throughout most of the game incredibly grating and not cute or endearing at all, he's a hothead constantly looking for attention and validation, and he has nothing to make up for those bad traits other than his feelings of misplaced pride he holds for both his brother and himself. Leon was right about doubting his readiness regarding the Gym Challenge, a full year traveling around, training and battling would have done a lot of good for him, from teaching him actual tactics and strategy to how to actually take his loses in stride (rather than putting up a facade that would come crashing down given enough time and frustration, like in the main game).
I think a better take on him would have been to take what they tried (and miserably failed to do) in the postgame, and give it a shitload of build up throughout the entirety of the game. Have him start as Galarian Hau only to realize halfway into the gym challenge that it's not as fulfilling as he expected it to be, that he has more fun interacting with pokemon and catching them/filling the dex than he does actually battling, that way him deciding to become a professor makes sense and is something we can cheer him on for. Or maybe his attitude and skills are better suited for something else and he disappears until lategame where he comes back as full-fledged Ranger.
As it is right now, he just comes across as a sucker who gave up too easily and went for the second next best thing he had available, all to salvage what was left of his shattered pride instead of putting some actual effort. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he also sucks as a professor.
