Worst Trainer Ever (Episode 11: Charmander, The Stray Pokemon)
It’s a poor analogy, but Pokémon basically are pets that just happen to speak, albeit barely. As a kid, if we have pets, we’re taught to treat them with love and respect, not playthings you can just treat like trash. While Ash, Misty, and Brock know this, other trainers don’t, and one such trainer is Damian.
Damian is that kind of trainer, the one who thinks the best way to get their Pokémon to be stronger is through abuse and treating it like a toy, then getting defensive when called out on it. “I know you heard me talk about how I just left my Charmander out during a rainstorm, but I’m doing it a favor, honest!” Yeah, the kid is a jerk, and it’s sad to see a cute little Charmander forced to stay in the rain because its trainer doesn’t know how to care for it.
The worst part about it is that once Ash and company brought the Charmander to the hospital and it got better, it went back outside to wait for Damian. Ugh. Abusive relationships (and that’s basically what this is) are never fun, and there’s no denying the feeling of satisfaction that comes when Charmander and Pikachu scare the brat off for good.
