Let's Talk About Pokemon - The Bellsprout Family

069: Bellsprout

Bellsprout is such a floppy little goofball that it's hard to not at least appreciate it. It's got such a flimsy little stem body that gives emphasis on its large leaf-arms and droopy head. The thing's a very unconventional cutie. And I love its pathetic little roots for legs and feet. It's just such a simple and nice way to do a plant monster that's still fairly unique, especially for the time, that the only other thing like it is the Pea Shooter from Plants vs. Zombies. More plant monsters with little nozzles for mouths!

070: Weepinbell

Weepinbell looks hella awkward, but in a way that works to its advantage. Weepinbell doesn't change a whole lot from Bellsprout, but if you like Bellsprout already that's probably more a pro than a con. It's one of those Pokemon that seem comical on face value but get quite a bit darker when you read their Pokedex entries.

Yeah, Weepinbell is pretty metal. And that awkward little hook is neat in that it makes Weepinbell hung on a branch look like an actual bell. Cool! Though I will say that has it lose out a bit on Bellsprout's dainty, silly charm. Weepinbell has its own brand of silliness going so it's not the worst thing ever, but I think there's ways you could've done the bell-shaped plant look and still give it a silly body.

Personal Score: 8/10

071: Victreebel

Victreebel is the real star of the show here. It's been a bit of a sleeper fave of mine from Gen 1 but I seldom get to talk about it. Maybe if it got a Mega or an Alolan form, but hey. Victreebel just screams unique. It's got a silhouette no other Pokemon has, has an upside-down face, more Pokemon aughta have upside-down faces! I really like the shadow over its eyes as well, adds just a tinge of creepy without it being a focus of the design.

It's about as freaky as you'd expect a carnivorous plant Pokemon to be. It's just pure neat and one of Gen 1's strongest designs. My one major gripe is the "upper lip" leaf doesn't look like it organically connects to Victreebel. The vine-tail is cool and all, but it could've fit together on it way better. And still keep the vine-tail too.

As I said, Victreebel is a carnivorous plant, a pitcher plant to be precise! And while it is a mostly played straight translation, it's just different enough to give it a bit of its own flavor. And its Pokedex entries are about as dark as you'd think they'd be for a pitcher plant Pokemon. I also appreciate that as far as carnivorous plants go, it didn't go for the obvious venus fly trap and end up making a Piranha Plant-like or Audrey II-like plant monster with a big bulbous head and a sassy mouth. Pitcher plants deserve more love!

Personal Score: 9/10

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