Paldean Winds #04: Breathe Together

As most of us expected, the finale of Paldean Winds is an ensemble conclusion to the challenge that was given to our three protagonists in the first episode of the series.

We finally get to see the video that the three unlikely friends have produced as part of their assignment but, first, the episode’s opening sequence shows us an incredible selection of landscapes from all across Paldea. This feels like a great choice, establishing once again the power of these animated shorts to bring to life an otherwise graphically underwhelming videogame.

Three students in a class room, two of them shaking hands and smiling. Their Pokemon partners are also laughing at the back of the class

Getting to see Ryme perform and Iono livestream really does elevate and expand the world-building around the Paldean characters. The episode teases the DLC content, too, with a Carmine and Kieran cameo and a mention of Blueberry Academy.

At their best, these shorts have done exactly this: offer a wider, more polished, visually impressive re-imagining of Scarlet and Violet. The struggles that the protagonists have gone through – Ohara’s insecurities, Aliquis’ questioning of their battling skills, Hohma’s lack of inspiration – are quickly resolved at the end of the episode and that feels… surprisingly okay. We haven’t had much time to bond with these characters but, like it was conveyed in previous episodes, these shorts are only meant to offer a small glimpse into their lives.

Gym Leader Ryme, a Black woman with white dreadlocks, performing on stage holding a microphone and wearing a hip-hop inspired look

The understated, calm ending makes this series stand out from previous collections of Pokémon shorts. It is an excellent reminder of the strengths of this generation of Pokémon, fully committed to showcasing its fully realised cast of characters, from gym leaders to rivals. The shorts are an excellent companion piece to the games, though they do make you wonder whether the potential of this careful world-building has been fully realised and showcased in the games.

I do think we will look back on these positively, even as we move away from Paldea, but at the moment they feel like a painful reminder of what Scarlet and Violet could have been, but never were.

originally written on Thursday, 14 December 2023

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