The DLC of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet finally provides us with a wicked rival that fans despise

For some time now, Pokémon fans have been fervently asking Game Freak to return to the good old days and give them a rival in the likeness of Gary Oak or Silver, someone they can truly hate from the bottom of their hearts. However, in the recent generations, Game Freak has chosen to provide us with friendly rivals who are impressed by your battling skills, rather than being annoyed by how much better you are than them. Bede is the only exception, although he feels more like a villain than a true rival.

The "Teal Mask" DLC of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet seems to have finally given fans what they wanted. Upon their arrival in Kitakami, players are introduced to the new rival, Carmine. Carmine is an older trainer who is immediately suspicious of tourists due to her protective nature towards her home and younger brother, Kieran. Coming from Paldea, Carmine is naturally distrustful and hostile towards you, and finally, we have gotten the mean rival we have longed for. Surprisingly, however, it seems that some fans don't particularly like her.

Carmine is definitely a controversial character in the Pokémon community at the moment. Some don't like her aggressive attitude and dislike towards tourists, and in the worst cases, they label her as xenophobic and racist. Others don't appreciate how she treats her younger brother, although their relationship seems to be a fairly normal sibling dynamic. One person has even gone so far as to write a short fan fiction in which Carmine gets hit by a car, considering it a "good ending." Just normal things.

Fortunately, Carmine has her defenders who can clearly recognize that she is merely a flawed character who cares about her hometown, which could become a tourist hotspot. Most of those who defend Carmine believe that misogyny is at play here, as Carmine appears to be held to much stricter standards than previous wicked rivals like Gary and Silver. It is quite a compelling argument, especially considering that Bede from Sword & Shield, as mentioned earlier, is a popular character despite being ten times more of a complete fool.

If Pokémon fans wish to express their discontent, they may want to direct their attention towards the game's performance issues. A number of individuals have shared instances of terrible framerate drops and graphical glitches, with some even turning away from the base game, despite these being addressed prior to the release of the Teal Mask DLC.