>>52526461>>52526479He's a very bland rival and all his growth happens between gens 1 and 2, offscreen. I don't give a shit how much meme potential he has.
Also, gen 7 has Gladion who technically counts as a rival. Hop is actually a very interesting character, just because he's not an asshole like (you) doesn't make him bad, him deciding to become a researcher and leaving his brother's shadow is on par with Silver's arc in gen 2.
>>52526617>YES IF I COMPLETELY REMOVE ANY NUANCE I AM RIGHT!Silver is probably the most nuanced rival in the whole franchise. He starts off as a violent thug who literally punts you away and by the end of his arc he's accepted his way was wrong and changed, and this is exemplified both in his crobat - a friendship evo - and the postgame battle with Lance and Claire. There's also the additional layer of him being giovanni's kid they made canon in gen 4.
