Summary
Gym leaders in Pokémon Horizons are depicted as important community figures, offering support and mentorship to new trainers. Becoming a gym leader means becoming a local celebrity in the Galar region, of which Kabu is beloved by the people. The interactions between main characters Riko and Roy and the gym leaders are more nurturing and supportive than Ash’s competitive encounters.
Because Pokémon Horizon‘ the main characters aren’t chasing gym badges, it seems like they have little reason to interact with the gym heads, but this really gives an opportunity to see a This is a different aspect of these gym leaders than the one Ash usually faces.
Currently in the Galar region, Pokémon Horizons has sent its heroes on a detour to meet the gym leader Kabu, whom Ash has never met, in the hopes that he can tell them something. about black Rayquaza. Hearing their goal, Kabu agrees to train them a bit in preparation for their final encounter with Rayquaza. This is actually Rayquaza’s second time leading Riko and Roy as gym head, as Roy actually fought Brassius, a Paldea gym leader, in a practice match a few episodes ago. It gives an idea of what gym leaders do beyond badgers, and it turns out they’re pretty important figures in the community.
Gym leader Kabu is a beloved local celebrity
Riko and Roy first meet Kabu at the end of episode 19, many people nearby react with surprise and joy when they see the head of their local gym. He offers to have a kid visit his gym afterwards and praises Riko for her fighting abilities. Upon learning about Rayquaza, Kabu did have some information, but he insisted on helping them train a bit before revealing it. Riko and Roy also meet Wakaba, an aspiring fitness trainer who hopes to one day work under Kabu in the gym. Kabu takes on the role of mentor in the episode, giving them advice and reminding them that failure is part of growing stronger.
Between Kabu and Scarlet and Violet’s Brassius, the series gives the clear impression that being a gym leader also means being a community leader in some way, helping new trainers learn how to handle Pokémon and give them the tools to develop themselves. Since Ash almost always interacts with challenge level gym leaders, his interactions with them tend to be quite varied. That’s not to say that no gym leader has ever helped Ash; after all, he has traveled and worked with quite a few of them, even for short periods of time. However, Ash’s interactions with the gym leaders have always been competitive first and foremost, while Riko and Roy see a more nurturing side.
Since champions are often portrayed as protectors of their regions, it seems quite logical that gym leaders also have a protective and supportive role in the cities they play in. headquarters. Portraying gym leaders in this way makes them still come across as respectable figures, whose power comes with responsibility beyond just their own Pokémon or gyms. That’s another way Pokémon Horizon is setting itself apart from its predecessor series, and it gives these characters a new avenue to use in the story.