Warning: Spoilers for Pokemon Horizons Episode #65Pokemon Horizons has just set the stage for a massive change that the original series always shied away from: a true redemption arc for its villain. While it’s looking increasingly likely that Pokemon Horizons‘ Amethio could be in line for a redemption, the original series never offered the same opportunity to Jesse and James, even when the series ended.
Episode #65 of Pokemon Horizons Focused on Amethio and Lyco, who are trapped in a cave together after Amethio’s alleged teammates betray him and trigger a cave-in deliberately. Being together in a cold cave, Amethio and Liko have the opportunity to talk to one another in a non-adversarial way for once, and Liko notices the fact that Amethio is much more honest than his colleagues in the Explorers tend to be. .
The pair eventually worked together to escape the cave, then went their separate ways – but this, too, was part of the trap set for Amethio, resulting in him getting kicked out of the Explorers.
Amethio could get the redemption Jesse and James never did
Amethio’s expulsion from the Explorers gives him a real shot at redemption
Although Amethio is likely to try to get back into the Explorers’ good graces first, Lyco’s observations about him certainly make it seem like he’s set for redemption, rather than a simple return to the bad guys. It would be an opportunity that was never afforded to Team Rocket, despite many chances over the years to change their ways. Team Rocket often proved that they have heroic qualities, especially in the second movie, Pokemon the movie 2000In which they believed that they sacrificed their lives to save the world..
Pokemon Toyed with the idea of a Team Rocket Redemption at a few points; Meowth once infamously joined Ash for several episodes, before it was revealed that it was all a complex prank. There were also times when Jesse or James temporarily left Team Rocket, only to end up back on board at the end of the episode. The series even gave Jesse and James Team Rocket rivals, Butch and Cassidy, a redemption in Pokemon JourneysRevealing the couple retired and went to open legitimate businesses. Ultimately, however, the status quo prevailed each time, and Team Rocket remained angry.
What an Amethyst redemption could mean for Pokemon Horizons
Fans have wanted Amethio’s redemption since the first episode
Although Amethio has done a lot of villainous acts, he has, since his first appearance, an air of being different from a typical Pokemon Villain. Amethio saved Sprigatito when it was blown off the airship’s deck, not intending to use Sprigatito as a bargaining chip to win the pendant, even though that would have been easy to do. Many fans anticipated he would get redemption at some point, and now the stage is finally set for that to happen.
Amethio could prove a valuable ally if he ends up joining the Rising Volt Tackler, or even if he remains independent. He’s a skilled fighter with some powerful Pokemon, and his understanding of the explorers’ goals would be extremely helpful in thwarting them. While Amethio is still a long way from being redeemed, Pokemon Horizons finally gave him the first steps to that redemption.