The Sad Story of Agatha 

Oak ghosted her so hard she specialized in it

Thinking about this, it seems sparring trainers going separate paths later is a running thing in the series. Agatha and Oak, Cheren and Bianca, the protagonist and Hop, even Leon and Sonia. All of them are one trainer going the path of battle and the other going the path of research, and all were rivals.

I feel like Agatha had probably some of the best story potential out of the gen 1 characters, same with Professor Oak. Oak was a former trainer and, in the manga, a former champion. Agatha being someone who battled with him and had been a rival to him in Masters would make her a perfect rival character for a Kanto game about Oak. They had a decent enough setup to make a prequel game to gen 1.

I really wish they would flesh out the Pokémon lore. There are so many interesting characters and all we have are breadcrumbs that lead to more questions rather than answers. I’ve always liked Agatha because there is something so profound about an old lady with an affinity for ghosts.

How random is it that Chantal, a character with no relation to Bertha or Agatha (besides Ghosts I guess), brings up their possible relationship.

Not to trample on your theory on what happened to Agatha, but it's also likely that she could have retired, especially somewhere where she could be alone. In Masters she mentions how she she liked being alone and it wasn't until she met Oak that she found friendship. Though unfortunately that didn't last long as Oak went on to develop the pokedex, leaving Agatha to be feeling unfulfilled due to her reason for reaching out to someone (being wanting to surpass Oak) was taken away from her by the same person who wouldn't leave her alone like she wanted to be and kept meddling with her alone time. So I guess it isn't so much that Agatha was bitter, but more so that after Oak leaving her to pursue researching Pokemon, she didn't really see much of a reason to reach out to someone else since doing so would never feel the same to how she did when she was rivals with Oak.

the way you say nidorino 😂😭

i actually like to think that agatha and oak are really married and like you said, shes just tsundere. i never really saw her as bitter, just a tough ol grandma who cared for oak even though she criticized him

You forgot to mention that in the Pokemon Adventures Manga: Oak, The day care couple from Gold and Silver, Pryce and Agatha were inseparable in their youth. She even composed a song with them which is something I did not expect from Ghost Type Grandma.

Regarding the theory that Agatha is actually from Sinnoh and that she moved to Kanto is confirmed by the Spaceworld demo in 97, where she is geographically present inside in a house in a small town located at the extreme north of Nihon which corresponds to today's Sinnoh.

I love how Agatha in the manga vowed to come back but never did to this day. I think she just had a heart attack and died.

Agatha's main defining trait was her grudge, which is known to be a common trait in ghost types. All this really does for me is make me want a game where all 4 of the first regions are connected.

I like how depending on the game, she swaps between looking like the drag persona of Oak or Giovanni.

I wonder if Agatha is able to talk to Charm As I imagine many ghost type trainers gain the ability to speak to the dead Maybe Agatha’s strongest Gengar is a hand me down

I haven’t seen anyone mention this, but the ties at the bottom of her green scarf actually look quite a bit like voodoo dolls, or just dolls in general, something commonly associated with ghosts (not to mention the several doll-like ghost types)

1:58 her scarf also looks like people bound together at the fringes 😱

Hey, if this month you're going to talk about Ghost Type trainers, I suggest that could be a great idea to make a video about Hoenn's Elite Four Phoebe, because she has a great story told alongside the games. In ORAS we met her grandmother and grandfather in Mt. Pyre, where the Blue Orb and the Red Orb are being protected by them both. When you end the games if you visit again Mt. Pyre, you'll see Phoebe there sad because her grandmother and grandfather had died. It's very interesting, because since Phoebe has been also in Pokemon Masters since the begining of the game, she has appeared in some events and has told more about they. It's a very cool and interesting theme for a video, I hope you do it.

You know there's an old, old fan theory that Agatha is actually Gary's grandmother by way of being Oak's wife.

Fun fact, this is heavily implied and I only discoverd this also a couple of days ago coinciding with this upload of this video. But Agatha can be seen in a picture with Oak and Kurt at Kurts house, though her name is never mentioned... ho check it out because this always passed me by as a kid aswell

If you want more of Agatha, you can play Pokemon Postscriptum the first journey, which is the story of Oak and has a lot of fan made Agatha storyline which is very accurate. The story is very interesting and will shock you with the Pokemon lore

I'm surprised that it's not a common theory that Bertha might /be/ Agatha. Since Agatha is supposed to be a reference to Agatha Christie of murder novel legend (Hence her association with Ghost types and Poison types) and in 1926 Agatha Christie went missing for 10 days and was found 184 miles from her home saying she was a totally different person, which leads some biographers to believe she was in a fugue state after the stress of her husband divorcing her. This distance, and new name could be why Bertha looks like Agatha but with more grey hair. She /is/ Agatha but after something happened to her and she ended up in Sinnoh. Admittedly, this isn't a perfect theory, but I believe it fits pretty well considering Agatha's inspiration.

Agatha passing away would make sense because she represents Ghost type. Plus it wraps up her character well. She can finally rest in peace after living a life of grudge.

Agatha and Bertha are sisters one is mencaning and the other is kind hearted.

Since Agatha's appearance and staff has changed in the Let's Go games, I like to think that maybe the gengar carving was built around the pokeball and all she has to do is press her palm onto the top which would then summon the her gengar and maybe for a brief second, Gengar looks like it's posseessing the carving before it slips out.

I always thought Agatha and Bertha were sisters, Agatha was always focused on battling and quarreling with Oak that she grew distant from her younger sister, Bertha, who decided to stay at home and take care of their family. They don’t like to talk about each other since they grown distant. This is all fan theory and speculation but I like this explanation.

When shawntal said Agatha and Bertha name sound very similar. You have to look at the Japanese version. Agatha is kikuko and Bertha is kikuno

Agatha’s design is reminiscent of a witch/alchemist. Apron for concoctions and maintaining her home, poison and ghost theme to further the spiritual and darker path. With the new redesign adds to the witch of the woods look.

Fun fact: at the end of Blossom’s dream, her nidorino fought with a gengar, which may be a reference to the gen 1 as well, which is cool that the anime links with the game a little more despite their big differences

So... agatha and bertha are charm's regional forms?

Great vid man! I like the references to the manga you always include in these background videos

I remember seeing a comic once of Agatha mentoring Karen to replace her at the Pokemon league Karen also has a Gengar and both dark and ghost were underrepresented and feared in the early generations I think she stayed long enough so Karen can take her place in the league She's also nestled between Bruno and Lance in the Pokemon league order Speaking of its possible that Lorelei could've nominated Koga or Will to take her place at the league

I really like Agatha's design, especially her FireRed/LeafGreen art. From her name to her being an old woman, she doesn't seem like the type to train such menacing Pokemon, but her eyes are hard and her grin seems to suggest a sadistic nature.

Now there needs to be a rock or poison specialist that is younger than Bertha and Agatha just to continue charm’s legacy

Agatha Bertha Charm ABC, it’s all coming together now

When I first saw Agatha I thought she was Oak in drag

I think Bertha and Agatha are sisters, and Bertha just moved from Kanto to Sinnoh. In Masters we have the confimation her Hippowdon is not her starter, making Rhyperior the best option to be her starter at this point, a Kanto evolutionary line.

I really like Agatha. Like, she's the first person that we walk in the footseteps of. Long before Cynthia. And she even had her own rival : Oak himself and that's just so cool. If they want to bring back Gen 1 once more, they should make a spinoff game where we play in Kanto's past. Before the Dex, before the modernisation of Kanto and Poké Balls. Now that I think about it, this would make for a good Legends Kanto game. The male character would be Oak (but we could name him whatever we want) and the female character Agatha (but we could also name her whatever we want). They would be young adults (as they seem to be depicted in the manga at the time of their journey), which would shaken up the formula. We could roam around in a more natural version of Kanto. Maybe with a Saffron Village as a base or something. There would already be gyms and the Elite 4 though. If think that this idea has potential.

I like what Polished Crystal did with her by making her a fightable trainer in Lavender Town. It also included a battle with Lorelei in Ice Path.

I don't think Agatha had died. Though one can live shortly or long, she didn't look that senile. Later we have a person like Opal who is 88 at the time of Sword and Shield. Agatha might be a few years younger than Opal in the games and some twenty years younger than Opal in the anime because no one ages.

Neat analysis video! Thanks for uploading!

I think both the cane designs are cool, so I’d like to propose a compromise. The gengar decoration at the tip of it, but it’s mouth opens up to reveal the pokeball

1:57 her scar really look like people holding hands, like, the circular paterna make heads and shoulders, and the scarf fringes are the legs. Really a nice touch to a ghost type

Her use of poison types can also mean her toxic relationship with Oak

Not to ruin a kind of sad video but like.. Gen 1 had many issues.. Agatha was more of a Poison specialist while Koga was more of a Bug specialist.. and Lance the birdkeeper is there too.. oh and Bruno has been called a Hiker as a joke by a few I have watched on youtube..

I would love to see more lore videos like this!!!

Always been my favorite elite 4 member. Back when I was young and a little dumb the fire red elite four really was a challenge and she made for a fun battle.

Lmfao hearing you say “spilled the tea.” 😭 I loved it

As somebody who played Gen 1 back in the day when Alakazam was the most broken thing on earth with a Gengar in my team of six, I gotta say, it was so cool to see Agatha in the E4 with two of them! I'd also love to see more of her at some point, especially since Oak is still rolling around. I wanna roll up to a spooky house and there she is, just vibing in it with Gengar.

Keep it up on your work and this video and channel

Slight correction: Hippowdon is Bertha's Ace in D/P and the initial battle in BD/SP (and her Sync Pair in Masters). Rhyperior is her Ace in Platinum and in the Rematches in BD/SP, so I'd say that's her true Ace.

Great Stuff! Maybe a video on New Mawville for spooky month?

There were lots of clues and theories about Agatha being Blue's (or Gary Oak) grandmother. Not the one married to Prof. Oak, but the other one and secretly in love with Oak, since they were rivals in childhood. I really like this theory and wish it were canon.

I sure love these videos and yes good video Hope u have a great day

Its need- oh- ree- noh

It’s been a long time, so I can’t remember if, it was the games or the anime that mentioned that Oak used to work as Rowan’s assistant. If that’s the case then I wonder if part of the reason Agatha is somewhat bitter toward Oak, is because Oak chose Bertha over her. Assuming of course that Agatha actually had a thing for Oak. Gary/Blue has to have a mom and grandma somewhere right? Unless the manga fills in some of those gaps?

The LGPE design is not really a scarf, but more of a cape

Nido”rhino” 😂

It makes sense, Agatha must have retired after some loses after battles and personal issues. As for ancestors, i think they do have connections

i would've loved if in gold and silver (or HG/SS) we saw Agatha in Oak's home in pallet town, showing that she reconnected with him and started a proper relationship or something

If Agatha used to look like charm I would see why oak would want to hang out with her

The Fame Checker in FireRed and LeafGreen also mentions Oak and Agatha having been rivals.

Agatha is also confirmed to have had children with Oak in Masters. Blue calls her grandma

My theory about Agatha not being in the E4 in Gold and Silver: After her battle with Red, she recalls some of the battles she's had with Oak and decides to step down as an E4 member to pursue another adventure in a far off land for the remainder of her days (It's worth noting that her and Oak are likely the same age, making her not as old as we believe her to be and that her ghoulish appearance could the the result of her Gengar slowly draining her lifeforce). As for Lorelei, I have a theory regarding her: After Team Rocket's invasion of Four Island, she remained vigilant while staying a part of the E4. When word got around that Team Rocket had reformed, she stepped down from her spot as an E4 member to return to Four Island, in the events that Team Rocket might decide to poach the Lapras of Icefall Cave again.

Good video. I'm more partial to Bertha bc I love ground types.

goodness i love agatha 😭😭😭😭

I thought I knew all about them, but I had totally missed the Shauntal quote!

R. I. P. Angela Lansbury For Voicing Agatha.

Agatha walked so ghost/dark type trainers today could RUN

I have always loved the original Elite 4, and Agatha was always the one that caught my attention the most. She looks completely different than any other trainer in the game, and also is very different when compared to gym leaders and the rest of the elite 4. Kanto is by far the less explored region lore-wise, and with so many holes in the story, I guess we'll just have to imagine most things. I'd like to think that Agatha retired and left Kanto for a more calm region, such as Hoenn, enjoying the warm sun.

7:11 She is also my favorite.

One thing to keep in mind, Johto is closely connected geographically to both Kanto and Sinnoh. Perhaps Agatha was born in Johto and being cousins, her and Bertha's family in Sinnoh were close. But very early in life her family moved to Kanto, separating her from her beloved cousin and she became a loner till she started pining after a young Oak, who sadly despite their strong rivalry, only saw their relationship as such. He ends up with a different woman, pursuing his studies while starting a family to boot, the heartbroken Agatha becoming the woman we know now due to losing 2 kinds of love in life. Having to move from close familial love early in life and sadly learning not everyone is meant to be with somebody as a young woman.... I hope she's doing well later in the timeline(s).

I thought it was a cool sort of work around with the lack of ghosts in gen 1 that in the adventures manga Agatha’s arbok and golbat had more ghostly appearances and powers compared to koga’s

Late comment from me here, but just wanted to point out that Bertha's ace Pokemon in Platinum is Rhyperior, Rhydon's evolution. This, as well as other instances in Legends, shows that Platinum should be considered the most "canon" game out of D-P-Pt.

2:06 Agatha looks like Professor Oak on drag

Well. And i always thought she was a ghost

I actually really like how Let's Go made her more of a crooked old hag than her other iterations. It really helps to emphasize both her Ghost and Poison theming, and while it loses the charm of her being a stoic old woman with a bit of a dark side, I really like it as an exploration of her character.

4:05 "friendship"

Thanks you for your video and channel

I feel like Agatha is just a disguised ghost

agatha: this will be my last Pokémon go GENGAR!!

3:10 "Nidorano"

She became one with her ghost pokemons

Still want that fool art bandit trio card from Lost Origins

Guess it wasn't Agatha all along.

No one: Gator: "Nidorano"

Agatha is the original Tsundere

great video 😊

Agatha is my favorite Indigo Elite 4 member

She became the Verdian city gym in anime

Agatha's purple outfit with an apron looks very similar to a sableyes face to me

Agatha from Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy!

“Need-o-rhino”

Spoopy

Poor Agatha! She creepy as heck but I still feel bad for her

How old are Oak and Agatha really (circa gen 1)? We talk about them like they're ancient but Oak isn't fully grey and Agatha actually has more color in her hair than Bertha. Honestly I never really imagined them older than 55-60.

I just want her to show up again. Maybe for the 30th Anniversary game.

They're not ancestors they're closer to AU counterparts. It's closer to Jojo's Steelball Run universe to Jojo's main universe.

I ❤️ this video and channel

While Hippowdon is Bertha's Ace Pokemon in Diamond, Pearl, and Masters, her Ace in Platinum is Rhyperior. So Charm's Rhydon makes more sense when you consider that.

Used to think Agatha was Giovanni in disguise. Same Face!