Max: Difference between revisions

Max received three cameo appearances in the {{series|Diamond & Pearl}}, triggered by May's brief return for the [[Wallace Cup]] arc; during a flashback in ''[[DP076|A Full Course Tag Battle!]]'' and watching May on television in ''[[DP077|Staging a Heroes' Welcome!]]'' and ''[[DP079|Strategy with a Smile!]]''. He also appeared in a flashback in ''[[DP124|To Thine Own Pokémon Be True!]]'', when Ash, Dawn, and Brock said goodbye to [[Dawn's Ambipom]]; and in the side story episode [[SS025]], in a picture on {{an|Brock}}'s memory wall. He then appeared in the {{series|Best Wishes}}, in a fantasy in ''[[BW142|The Dream Continues!]]''; and in ''[[M20|I Choose You!]]'', in a cameo in the film's ending credits alongside May.

[[File:Max Brock ears.png|thumb|220px|Max pulling Brock's ears]]

In his debut episode, Max was presented somewhat of a know-it-all who was proud of his book smarts. For example, in ''[[AG005|In the Knicker of Time!]]'', Max did not approve of how {{Ash}} had used {{AP|Pikachu}} in {{pkmn|battle}} and spent a portion of the episode lecturing him on what he thought was a better way to command the Pokémon. But despite this attitude, Max was not a close-minded person and was always eager to learn about Pokémon first-hand. He would become particularly excited when he could experience a {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}'s [[move]] or [[Ability]], such as {{an|Jigglypuff}}'s {{m|Sing}} or {{p|Sharpedo}}'s {{a|Rough Skin}}.

Over the course of the {{series|Advanced Generation}}, Max went under {{an|Brock}}'s tutelage for real-world knowledge of Pokémon and how to [[Pokémon training#Caretaking|care]] for them. He developed a friendly relationship with Brock, though he did adopt {{an|Misty}}'s habit for yanking Brock by the ear whenever Brock saw a pretty woman. Despite getting off to a rocky start with Ash, Max truly admires him and has proven it on numerous occasions. Over time, Max saw how Ash's unorthodox battle strategies could be beneficial, and by the end of his travels through [[Kanto]], Max was no longer criticizing Ash's battling style.

He shares a deep bond with his older sister {{an|May}}, and their bond only grew stronger while they traveled together through Hoenn with Ash and Brock. He is very proud of May's accomplishments as a [[Pokémon Coordinator]], and is always cheering for her when she takes part in a [[Pokémon Contest]]. However, the siblings were occasionally aggressive towards each other, like when Max told [[Harley]] embarrassing stories about May.

Another example occurred in the {{pkmn|movie}} ''[[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]]'', when May asked Jirachi to "get rid of the problem," referring to the large pile of candy in the room. Jirachi, who was reading Max's thoughts, {{m|teleport}}ed May away, which suggests that Max had been thinking that May was the real problem. Despite their arguments, the two siblings care for each other very much.

Max finally did meet his future partner in ''[[AG109|Do I Hear a Ralts?]]'' when he befriended a weakened {{p|Ralts}}. Wanting to demonstrate that he could be responsible for a Pokémon, he took care of it and brought it to a [[Pokémon Center]] with a little help from {{AP|Snorunt}}. When Max and Ralts parted ways at the end of the episode, they promised to meet up again when Max was eligible to be a Trainer.

Due to not being a [[Pokémon Trainer]] yet, Max is unable to {{pkmn|training|raise}} his own {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}. Nevertheless, he has befriended a variety of Pokémon during his travels. He has also occasionally borrowed [[May's Munchlax]], such as in ''[[AG159|Off the Unbeaten Path!]]'' when he needed a Pokémon to take part in the [[Pokémon Orienteering]] being held in [[Potpourri Island]].