La Serie de Ken: Difference between revisions

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{{quote| "''Are you saying you're Ken of Viridian City? The Demolisher?"''}}
{{quote| "''Are you saying you're Ken of Viridian City? The Demolisher?"''}}


''[[La Serie De Ken (Fanfic)|La Serie De Ken]]'' was a spanish ''[[Pokémon]]'' fanfic based on the original games which had a lot of fame and achknowledgement on its day, from a spanish website focused on the ''Pokemon'' franchise.
''[[La Serie de Ken]]'' was a spanish ''[[Pokémon]]'' fanfic based on the original games which had a lot of fame and achknowledgement on its day, from a spanish website focused on the ''Pokemon'' franchise.


The intention was a fanfic closer to the cynical end of the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]]: it featured darker plots (especially the sequel, which shattered the typical "beat the gym leaders and become a master" plot found in all games) and, more importantly, it deconstructed the way Ash always won by means of [[The Power of Friendship]]. The battles were also a lot more exciting, which helped to boost the fanfic's popularity greatly. It left behind the tropes and stereotypes of classic Pokemon fandom, to make a more realistic, dynamic, violent and charismatic story. It had two seasons (a regular story and a sequel, if you prefer) and was available in ''Universo Pokemon'' and later its own website, ''Ken's Power''.
The intention was a fanfic closer to the cynical end of the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]]: it featured darker plots (especially the sequel, which shattered the typical "beat the gym leaders and become a master" plot found in all games) and, more importantly, it deconstructed the way Ash always won by means of [[The Power of Friendship]]. The battles were also a lot more exciting, which helped to boost the fanfic's popularity greatly. It left behind the tropes and stereotypes of classic Pokemon fandom, to make a more realistic, dynamic, violent and charismatic story. It had two seasons (a regular story and a sequel, if you prefer) and was available in ''Universo Pokemon'' and later its own website, ''Ken's Power''.
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* [[Big Bad]]: Giovanni
* [[Big Bad]]: Giovanni
* [[Big Damn Heroes]]: Natasha in the finale.
* [[Big Damn Heroes]]: Natasha in the finale.
* [[Bittersweet Ending]]: {{spoiler|After overthrowing Giovanni and the Team Rocket for good, we later find out that most of Ken's Pokemon died in subsequent years from [[This Is Your Brain On Evil|becoming ill in their time spent with Team Rocket]], also that Ken's spasms never seem to wear out}}.
* [[Bittersweet Ending]]: {{spoiler|After overthrowing Giovanni and the Team Rocket for good, we later find out that most of Ken's Pokemon died in subsequent years from [[This Is Your Brain on Evil|becoming ill in their time spent with Team Rocket]], also that Ken's spasms never seem to wear out}}.
* [[Breather Episode]]: Ken's free day with the Gym leaders (The one that didn't hate him, anyway) just before the final league battle.
* [[Breather Episode]]: Ken's free day with the Gym leaders (The one that didn't hate him, anyway) just before the final league battle.
* [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]: Ken: 'Let's see if those game designers ever finish the Pokemon games for the GB Advance'.
* [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]: Ken: 'Let's see if those game designers ever finish the Pokemon games for the GB Advance'.
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* [[Cool Shades]]: The 3 of Johto, and later Ken.
* [[Cool Shades]]: The 3 of Johto, and later Ken.
* [[Dragon Rider]]: Since Dratini evolved.
* [[Dragon Rider]]: Since Dratini evolved.
* [[Drunk On the Dark Side]]: starts to but decides not to
* [[Drunk on the Dark Side]]: starts to but decides not to
{{quote| '''Ken:''' I have... I have control of ALL Pokemon of Indigo Plateau! No one can stop me! ... Nah, this is not my style. }}
{{quote| '''Ken:''' I have... I have control of ALL Pokemon of Indigo Plateau! No one can stop me! ... Nah, this is not my style. }}
* [[Eleventh-Hour Superpower]]: {{spoiler|Onix evolving into Steelix in the [[Final Battle]] at Mt. Silver}}
* [[Eleventh-Hour Superpower]]: {{spoiler|Onix evolving into Steelix in the [[Final Battle]] at Mt. Silver}}
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* [[Most Definitely Not a Villain]]: "My name is Jeremy, calm down I'm not one of the bad guys".
* [[Most Definitely Not a Villain]]: "My name is Jeremy, calm down I'm not one of the bad guys".
* [[Mugging the Monster]]: The muggers in Celadon City, to Ken.
* [[Mugging the Monster]]: The muggers in Celadon City, to Ken.
* [[New Rules As the Plot Demands]]: In the games, Safeguard is a move that guards the user from [[Standard Status Effects]], in Ken it's a move that grants inmunity against Psychic, Ghost and Dark Moves.
* [[New Rules as the Plot Demands]]: In the games, Safeguard is a move that guards the user from [[Standard Status Effects]], in Ken it's a move that grants inmunity against Psychic, Ghost and Dark Moves.
* [[One-Liner]]: again too many to list.
* [[One-Liner]]: again too many to list.
** Again, I will start: Ken's 'But if I can't defeat that... monster, I won't even SEE them!!' about Intro's 'good' Mons.
** Again, I will start: Ken's 'But if I can't defeat that... monster, I won't even SEE them!!' about Intro's 'good' Mons.
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** And many of the trainers in the League finals had [[Shout-Out]] names: Harry, Ryddle and Cedric were from ''[[Harry Potter]]'', and Shigeru (Miyamoto) and Satoshi (Tajiri) from Nintendo.
** And many of the trainers in the League finals had [[Shout-Out]] names: Harry, Ryddle and Cedric were from ''[[Harry Potter]]'', and Shigeru (Miyamoto) and Satoshi (Tajiri) from Nintendo.
* [[Spider Tank]]: The Tarantulas.
* [[Spider Tank]]: The Tarantulas.
* [[Surveillance As the Plot Demands]]: Giovanni.
* [[Surveillance as the Plot Demands]]: Giovanni.
* [[Team Rocket Wins]]
* [[Team Rocket Wins]]
* [[Take My Hand]]: {{spoiler|Ken to Giovanni at the end of the Mt. Silver battle.}}
* [[Take My Hand]]: {{spoiler|Ken to Giovanni at the end of the Mt. Silver battle.}}

Revision as of 13:14, 9 April 2014

 "Are you saying you're Ken of Viridian City? The Demolisher?"

La Serie de Ken was a spanish Pokémon fanfic based on the original games which had a lot of fame and achknowledgement on its day, from a spanish website focused on the Pokemon franchise.

The intention was a fanfic closer to the cynical end of the Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism: it featured darker plots (especially the sequel, which shattered the typical "beat the gym leaders and become a master" plot found in all games) and, more importantly, it deconstructed the way Ash always won by means of The Power of Friendship. The battles were also a lot more exciting, which helped to boost the fanfic's popularity greatly. It left behind the tropes and stereotypes of classic Pokemon fandom, to make a more realistic, dynamic, violent and charismatic story. It had two seasons (a regular story and a sequel, if you prefer) and was available in Universo Pokemon and later its own website, Ken's Power.

(From here on, this is a rough translation of the website http://es.fanfiction.wikia.com/wiki/La_Serie_de_Ken where you can read more info if you are fluent in Spanish, which yours truly luckily is. You can also download the fic's material there.)

Ken is a 15 year-old who wants to be the best trainer around, not unlike the famed Ash Ketchum. He is instructed by Profesor Oak and was given his first Pokemon, Dratini, on his 15th birthday. But two bullies called Jack and Walter put their eyes on the little dragon, after Ken used it to defeat them for the first time. Team Rocket offered the troublemakers a place as grunts, and proceeded to make Ken's life a hell.

Soon in his journey Ken finds a rookie girl trainer, Natasha. And as he tries not to entangle her in his own problems, she happily tags along in her own journey to realize her dream: to find and emulate her hero, Ash. Given that half of Ken's motives for being trainer AND champion are related to Ash's humiliating defeat, he lets Natasha accompany him...


This fanfic gives examples of:

  • Anti-Hero: Ken
  • Anticlimax Boss: The last Pokemon that prevents Ken from becoming Champion is M. Power's Starmie. Subverted that, if at first glance does not look like a serious menace, with correct EV placement and careful MT selection you can get the infamous Netbattle's 'Death Star'.
  • Author Avatar: M. Power
  • Badass: Chuck, trying to hold Jack and Walter's Alakazam with only his weakest Fighting Poke. He doesn't suceed. Also Dragonite, Tyranitar, Typhlosion, Blaziken, Gyarados and Scyther.
  • Bag of Spilling: Ken having to resort to his stored Pokemon to travel through Johto.
  • Beam-O-War: During the Indigo League.

 Ken: I HATE those f**ing Shadow Balls!!

 Ken: I have... I have control of ALL Pokemon of Indigo Plateau! No one can stop me! ... Nah, this is not my style.

  • Eleventh-Hour Superpower: Onix evolving into Steelix in the Final Battle at Mt. Silver
    • Heck, many of their Pokemon's evolutions qualify, even the bad guys' ones...
  • Evasive Fight Thread Episode: Subverted. The Ken vs Natasha fight ended in a draw, but Natasha recalled that Ken considered a tie like losing, so she was considered the winner of the earlier bet.
  • Evil Plan: Giovanni's plot concerning the 5 elemental stones: he needed Ken to awaken the ancient statue to get to the big Fire Stone.
  • Face Heel Turn: The premise of the entire 'second season', for Ken's Pokemon, not Ken himself.
  • Flash Back: The entire series is a tale told by an older Ken at a Bar, as seen in the prologue.
  • Flung Clothing: Used by Ken with his Poncho on Mt. Silver.
  • Giant Spider: The "Tarantulas", which were Humongous Mecha in spider form.
  • Gondor Calls for Aid: The Blackthorne city battle.
  • Hero Ball: Sometimes...
  • Heroic Second Wind: Deconstructed by the end of the series. It's revealed that it's a property that a few trainers have, to strengthen their Pokemon when they are losing and getting victory in the harshest conditions. Ken is one of those trainers, as well as Giovanni, and that was the reason he went after him after discovering it.
  • Humongous Mecha: Strangely, one was used by Team Rocket just before the Indigo League.
  • Kneel Before Zod:

 Giovanni: Kneel before me and I may spare your life.

 Ken: Our lives wouldn't be as fun without these guys following us around.