Larry (Pokémon)

Larry, known as in Japan, is a character in Nintendo and Game Freak's ''Pokémon'' media franchise. Introduced in ''Pokémon Scarlet'' and ''Violet'', he serves as both a Gym Leader and an Elite Four member in the game's setting, specializing in Normal and Flying-type Pokémon. He is resembled to depict a stereotypical Japanese salaryman, and is known for his expressionless dialogue and personality. In the anime, he is voiced by Kōsuke Toriumi in Japanese and by Benjamin Diskin in English, while in the '' Pokémon Masters EX'' video game he is voiced by Kenyu Horiuchi in Japanese and by Yong Yea in English.

Since Larry's introduction into the series, Larry has received a highly positive critical response, being highlighted as relatable. He has also been described as a breakout character.

Concept and design

Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the ''Pokémon'' franchise began in Japan in 1996 with the release of the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'' for the Game Boy. In these games, the player assumes the role of a Pokémon Trainer whose goal is to capture and train creatures called Pokémon. Players use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon, both in the wild as well as those used by other Trainers. Created for the 2022 sequels ''Pokémon Scarlet'' and ''Violet'', Larry is a "Gym Leader", a type of Trainer that acts as a boss players must defeat to proceed. He also acts as an Elite Four member, serving as one of the four opponents that must be battled prior to the battle against the Top Champion. Larry has been voiced in the ''Pokémon'' animated series by Kōsuke Toriumi in Japanese and by Benjamin Diskin in English.

Appearances

Larry is a Gym Leader in Medali, a town in the Paldea region in ''Pokémon Scarlet'' and ''Violet''. He is described as bland and deadpan, yet an apathetic, self-serving, and emotionally detached, Japanese salaryman. All while refusing to embrace Paldea's vibrant culture, to innovate his battle strategies, and to tend to his duties as a Gym Leader. He is also very dismissive, condescending, and rude towards his fellow Elite Four Members, the other Gym Leaders, and even Chairwoman Geeta, and especially towards his own supporters, because he views them as a mere businesss transaction rather than connecting and empathizing with them. He specializes in Normal-type Pokémon in the first battle, and serves as the third Elite Four member specializing in Flying-type Pokémon. He can be rematched once more in the postgame, once again using his Normal-type team, and can also be rematched in the '' Indigo Disk'' DLC expansion for the game. Larry later appears in the ''Pokémon'' anime series.

Reception

Jenni Lada of ''Siliconera'' praised Larry, stating how expressive and distinct he is from other ''Pokémon'' characters: "However, while he isn't as immediately flashy or memorable at a glance, the character development surrounding him is extraordinary. There's so much personality there, even with as few interactions as a person gets, and it makes him one of the best characters in the game." She opined that characters like Larry do not need to be "flashy" to be well received, describing how they provide a comforting feeling. ''TheGamer''s Ben Sledge posited similar ideas, citing Larry as a relatable character. Larry has been described as a breakout character due to his popularity among fans of the series.

''Kotaku'' Kenneth Shepard stated that "The work/life balance conversation woven throughout Larry’s story is the single most pronounced example of an ongoing thread throughout ''Scarlet'' and ''Violet''," citing that, "Where in other ''Pokémon'' regions like Galar gym leaders are treated with a hint of celebrity, or like professional athletes, the Paldea region seems to undervalue their contributions... Larry's outright disdain for the whole capitalist process has made him analogous to characters like Squidward from ''Spongebob Squarepants'', and fans have taken the comparison and run with it." He further states that "Larry's disgruntled worker persona has made him a bridge between ''Pokémon'' fans young and old. Where the kids find him a silly guy who gives them a challenging fight, adult fans familiar with the soul-crushing weight of the daily grind have found a kindred spirit. Who among us doesn't know what it’s like to hate their job, hate their boss, but still suck it up and do what we’re paid for so we can just go home and enjoy a little peace amid this capitalist hellscape? He is, as the kids say, "just like me, for real." Despite his lack of distinguishable personality, he was praised as a highly unique character due to his realistic worldview. His dialogue has led to discussion about the in-universe position of Gym Leader being a fictional equivalent to a low paying yet important job. ''Destructoid'' Timothy Monbleau named Larry his favorite character of 2022, citing Larry as a highlight for adult fans of the series, praising his relatability.

His blandness and lack of uniqueness have also been popular. His personality, despite appearing one-note at first glance, has been highlighted for its surprising depth. Thomas Greatorex of '' GameRant'' cited that "Larry is a brilliant example of how to create an iconic ''Pokemon'' Gym Leader without the need for pompous outfits or unrealistic exchanges, instead leaning into real-world tropes to tell a subtle story that many players wish they couldn't relate to as much as they do." Larry has also been the subject of shipping, in which two fictional characters are paired into a romantic relationship by fans. He was primarily shipped with the character Rika, another Elite Four member in ''Scarlet and Violet''. The popularity behind the ship was cited to multiple factors, primarily due to the highly contrasting personalities of Rika and Larry, as Rika is primarily depicted with a more active and sometimes aggressive personality in contrast to Larry's calm and disgruntled demeanor. The popularity of both characters was also cited as a reason for its popularity, which has inspired a large amount of fanwork, such as fanart and fanfiction.

References

External links

Larry
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Bulbapedia

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Fictional businesspeople in video games
Male characters in video games
Pokémon characters
Video game bosses
Video game characters introduced in 2022