The most recent episode of Pokemon Journeys featured a major development for Ash’s journey through the Master’s Eight, although Ash himself wasn’t really involved. It also underlined why Cynthia is one of Pokemon’s most interesting characters, as well as the way Pokemon sometimes feels like it’s holding her back from her full potential. It all comes down to Cynthia’s lipstick and what may be one of the coolest moments in Pokemon history.
First, let’s clarify what Master’s Eight is. It consists of eight Pokemon League Champions, including Ash. It’s usually the national champions from each region (Ash is the Alola champion), but they’re just there by being better than everyone else, not by automatic qualification – which is why Alain takes eighth. There are some main characters and some lesser characters, and at least until the semi-finals we know what’s going to happen. For example, in the quarterfinals, Cynthia will face Iris. Since I’m sure you all just opened a new tab to look up who Iris is, it should come as no surprise that Cynthia won. This puts her in a semi-final with Ash, who is harder to call. There’s a theory that Ash will win and leave the show completely, but every time Ash came across the Pokemon League, there was an expectation that he would win – but he only succeeded once. The truth is, we just don’t know. On the other half of the stand are Leon and Lance, whose winner is also too close to call. Leon vs. Ash is a dramatic rematch, but Cynthia vs. Lance feels like the true battle of champions.
While Cynthia’s win over Iris was obvious, the method was a big surprise. Cynthia revealed that she had a Key Stone, meaning we saw her Garchomp Mega Evolve for the first time ever. It’s an interesting psych-out tactic – although it wasn’t necessary against Iris, especially it gets her into Ash’s head. He couldn’t beat her without a Key Stone, now he has to confront her with it. Granted, he has one of his own, but still. It’s a promise to Ash that she’ll be on her a-game.
If revealing the Keystone alone wasn’t enough to get into Ash’s head, her method will have done the job. Instead of keeping the stone in a ring or bracelet, as you might expect, she instead keeps it in her lipstick and reveals it with a single swipe of her lips. This is both incredibly cool and incredibly stupid. I know I’m thinking too much about a Pokemon character putting on lipstick, but you can’t do something that’s so much my problem and not expect me to have questions.
First off, what Cynthia reveals is a lipstick, but it’s applied in one go and leaves a sheen, like a gloss. Second, why is Cynthia trying to get into the minds of her opponents with the softest shimmery pink Barbie shade imaginable? Cynthia wears a black coat with a fur trim and powersuit pants with a fitted plunging neckline complete with teardrop jewels. Admittedly, she usually doesn’t wear lipstick at all, but if she does, it wouldn’t be this. Cynthia is more of a 3INA woman, with dark shades of chocolate, berry or black. Maybe she’s packing MAC lip fluid, or the dusty unique notes of Selena Gomez’s Rare line. She doesn’t shop at Claire’s Accessories for her makeup.
It’s rare for power and femininity to be combined in this way in popular media, especially when the target audience isn’t just girls. It’s incredible to watch Pokemon tell the world that the coolest thing you can do is lipstick, it’s just a shame they picked the least Cynthia lipstick imaginable. Roll on the semis when she reveals her Key Stone is in some Clarks Mary Janes I think.
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