Meowth (Team Rocket): Difference between revisions

Meowth is a characteristically jealous individual, particularly with other Cat Pokémon, most notably [[Giovanni's Persian]] and [[Matori]]'s own Meowth. He often clashes with them because they are equally as smug and conniving as himself. Many of his personality traits are typical for other Meowth, where they have an affinity for affection, but has an eye for sparkling objects. Unlike most other Pokémon, who are not truly evil and will only commit evil deeds when ordered to do so, as stated by [[Jessie]]'s {{TP|Jessie|Ekans|Arbok}} in ''[[EP017|Island of the Giant Pokémon]]'', Meowth is both perfectly capable of and willing to commit evil deeds without the aid of others. He is motivated by self-interest and greed, but also enjoys the thrill of taking advantage of others.

Despite his seemingly outgoing nature, Meowth also has a contemplative inner side not seen as often. In one of his image songs, ''[[Meowth's Song]]'', and in ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]'', he is shown to be a bit of a philosopher. In ''Mewtwo Strikes Back'', he and his clone were the only Pokémon not to participate in the giant battle, Meowth remarking in the dub that the originals and the clones shared the same air, moon, and planet, giving them common ground. He noted that if all living beings focused on what was the same among them as opposed to what was different, the world would be a much better place. Meowth comforted [[Ash's Chimchar]] in ''[[DP053|Tears For Fears!]]'' and actually expressed some admiration for Ash and his friends, commenting, "You (Chimchar) have buddies who'd give you the shirt off their backs if you needed one." It is possible during that time that Meowth developed a friendship with it, as seen in ''[[DP187|A Real Rival Rouser!]]'' when he, [[Jessie]] and [[James]] cheered it on, and in ''[[DP132|Evolving Strategies!]]'' when he was happy to see it evolve. On a few occasions, Meowth has become stranded with Pikachu, and during these times, the two work together fairly well. Pikachu distrusts Meowth for obvious reasons, but Meowth is more willing to let go of the past and work together. Usually, by the end of these episodes, Meowth will betray Pikachu once they find Jessie and James.

Meowth is an amorous Pokémon, developing crushes on occasion. His crushes can often put him into hot water, as Meowth tends to ignore the wishes and ambitions of his teammates. The first of these was the aforementioned Meowzie. The next one seen is [[Cassandra]], a herbalist. Due to this infatuation, he decided to help her {{p|Paras}} evolve. However, he was replaced by a {{p|Persian}} so that he can continue traveling with Jessie and James, as Cassandra thought he was a hero and should continue doing his (not so) good work with Team Rocket. After this, three more cat-based Pokémon followed, beginning with [[May's Skitty]]. However, due to the fact that [[Jessie]] wanted to catch the Skitty, Meowth helped Skitty escape in order to avoid Skitty getting hurt with the rest of the team. Later on, in ''[[SS009|Big Meowth, Little Dreams]]'' he fell in love with another Skitty. In ''[[DP178|For The Love Of Meowth!]]'', Meowth fell in love with a {{p|Glameow}} this time, one that belongs to [[Mamie]]. Similar to May's Skitty, Meowth tried to get away from Jessie and James so Glameow would not join them in blasting off. After Meowth was surrounded by Jessie, James, {{Ash}}, {{an|Dawn}}, {{an|Brock}} and Mamie, Meowth gained power from the love he felt, allowing him to defeat several Pokémon thrown at him, including [[Ash's Infernape]] and {{AP|Staraptor}}, [[Jessie's Seviper]] and {{TP|Jessie|Yanmega}}, and [[Dawn's Togekiss]]. However, after getting hit with [[James's Carnivine]]'s {{m|Bullet Seed}}, Glameow evolved into Purugly and squished Meowth, making Meowth lose his feelings for her. In ''[[BW038|Movie Time! Zorua in "The Legend of the Pokémon Knight"!]]'', [[Luke's Zorua]] used this trait to her advantage and turned into a female {{p|Meowth}} causing Meowth to become infatuated and unable to do her harm. He did this again in ''[[BW044|Purrloin: Sweet or Sneaky?]]'' when he fell in love with a {{p|Purrloin}} he thought was female. During the time when Meowth was traveling with the group, Oshawott fought with him, usually when they both exploit two of their characteristics at the same time - falling in love with the same Pokémon, or when their prides are being entangled. Most recently, Meowth was attracted to a {{p|Pheromosa}} in ''[[SM114|Beauty is Only Crystal Deep!]]'', and this led him to help it steal [[Z-Crystals]] from Ash's group and his own teammates.

Much like [[Ash's Pikachu]], Meowth does not stay inside a [[Poké Ball]], though he is technically a [[wild Pokémon]]. He remains a part of the [[Team Rocket trio]] because he feels he has a place. Meowth considers himself the brains of the trio's operations, namely because his ability to translate Pokémon speech for Jessie and James, and also because of his extensive technical knowledge which has helped to construct the many of [[Team Rocket's mechas]]. He utilizes [[Boss fantasy|fantasies]] to truly explain his schemes to his teammates, though these also expose Meowth's ambitions to be Giovanni's one and only companion. On several occasions Meowth's value has been questioned, but he pulls his teammates in line with a quick Scratch to the face. He even had some tension towards [[Jessie's Wobbuffet]] when he first arrived on the scene, after Wobbuffet kept taking his place in the Team Rocket {{motto}}, but the pair now get along. His attachment to Jessie and James is more obvious when he finds himself separated or when the trio has decided to go their separate ways. Examples of this include ''[[EP274|Hoenn Alone]]'' or ''[[M08|Lucario and the Mystery of Mew]]'', when he became sad after Jessie and James got swallowed up by the [[Tree of Beginning]]'s antibodies.

During the {{series|Sun and Moon}}, Meowth has shown concern for {{AP|Litten}}. In ''[[SM016|They Might Not Be Giants!]]'', Meowth was brought to tears when Litten explained its past. His concern for Litten grew in ''[[SM021|One Journey Ends, Another Begins...]]'', when Stoutland began to grow ill before disappearing, and he even informed Ash that he had better protect Litten. Following Stoutland's disappearance, Meowth visited Litten to try and get it to talk before leaving when Ash approached. Meowth later watched as Ash caught Litten, knowing that it was for the best even though it meant they were enemies. Encountering {{p|Torracat}} for the first time since Litten evolved during ''[[SM067|Love at First Twirl!]]'', Meowth seemed to be excited by its evolution.