>>52197761Hop had a reason to be pompous too. He was the champion brother’s, he thought he learned everything that was needed to take him down and his genes were backing him up. He and Bede weren’t different in that sense, they thought their endorsement was a sign of them being the chosen ones and therefore everything would be granted to them. But Hop’s character is there to portray the grim truth about competition. Those losses were only for character development, because as a trainer he was competent enough to reach semifinals and became the second strongest trainer in Galar just behind the MC pre-DLC.
>give up on being a trainer entirelyAs far as I know he hasn’t give up on being a trainer otherwise you wouldn’t be able to pick him as partner for the Galarian Star Tournament nor he would not swear he will be still your rival even after going for a different goal that is not being champion anymore.
>handed a legendary pokemon he barely earnedzacian/zamazenta were basically calling for him, Hop helped them out because he saw his reflection on them since they were wandering around without a purpose and feeling an inner frustration (+ the the energy that was hurting them), just like him after being defeated by MC. I think that’s pretty much earned it, the only thing that felt out of nowhere was him being a researcher.
