This article contains some spoilers for Pokemon Master Journeys.
Bea breaks the mold that many female characters are compressed into in Pokemon, as the first female opponent that is truly worthy of the title of rival. Fans first witness this fighting champion in the Galar Region in Pokemon Journeys, dressed to the nines in typical martial arts attire.
As arguably the strongest female Pokemon trainer (at least physically), Bea gives Ash a run for his money as she repeatedly proves herself to be a worthy competitor. Both intending on rising through the ranks of the Masters Eight in the World Coronation Series, Ash and Bea find camaraderie from their mutual passion for Pokemon and offer up some particularly exciting episodes in the process.
Bea's Battles Begin
Viewers are first introduced to this Fighting-Type Pokemon trainer in "Solitary and Menacing!" where some old-school 1st Generation fighters are also given some much-deserved screen time at the Stow-on-Side Stadium. It is clear that Bea takes her training seriously, both in and out of the arena, as she shows off some impeccable martial arts skills of her own. Emerging herself fully into each battle, Bea herself displays a karate fighting stance when instructing her Pokemon on their next move, adding another layer of authenticity to her hardcore no-nonsense vibe.
Bea takes on Ash once again in "Octo-Gridlock at the Gym!", using her Hitmontop and Grapploct against her new rival's Pikachu and Riolu at the Cianwood Gym. Each prove to be as good as the other, ending the match in a draw and fueling their competitive energies even further, although the two would not battle again until their Ultra Class rematch in the World Coronation Series. The hardcore Gym Leader later shows her sweeter side, when she joins Ash and the gang after a heavy day of training with Chuck and the impromptu Pokemon match with Ash.
The group is gifted with a rare smile from Bea when she is significantly softened up by the sweet treats they shared. Her love for delicious delicacies does not stop her from sharing her precious snacks with her Pokemon, even going so far as to extend her invitation to Pikachu and Riolu too. Bea's ranking in the World Coronation Series is later revealed to be number 36, promoting her to Ultra Class stratus, which is referenced by her silhouette looming over the ending credits in "Thrash of the Titans!". This is around the same time Ash also joined the Ultra Class, directly after winning against Iris, reaffirming that Bea is Ash's ultimate (female) opponent, with another epic match on the horizon.
Ash and Bea face off for the third time in Pokemon Journeys, "Battle Three With Bea!", where Ash's Mega Glove is put to the test against his rival's Dynamax Band. As usual, Ash chooses Pikachu and Lucario to go up against Bea, whilst also adding Sirfetch'd to the mix. The Gym Leader, on the other hand, relied on her Grapploct, Hawlucha, and Machamp in the dramatic battle that spans over two episodes. Viewers can anticipate some aerial competition as Sirfetch'd and Hawlucha but heads, before the Mega-match-up of Machamp and Lucario decides the victor.
Ash and Bea: Comradery Competition
Regardless of how many run-ins Ash and Bea have, the fighting-type trainer can never seem to remember her rival's name. Instead, she refers to him as "the Riolu Trainer" (and later "Lucario's Trainer") which aggravates Ash to no end and becomes the running gag of their relationship. Bea's goals in life align with Ash's, as she too wishes to be the best Pokemon trainer and climb the ranks of the Masters Eight.
That does not stop the Gym Leader from rooting for her friend in "Ultra Exciting from the Shocking Start!", proving that unlike some other rivals (cough...Gary), Bea wants the best for Ash at the end of the day. However, there can only be one ultimate winner and it is unlikely that either trainer will allow their friendship to stand in the way of success, as both are well aware that all is fair in love and war; making Bea Ash's one true female rival.
Much like Ash, Bea has a significant collection of Pokemon to choose from, all combat-ready and eager to box, however, Bea's usual go-to Pokemon include:
- Grapploct
- Hawlucha
- Hitmontop
- Machamp (Gigantamax)
- Pangoro
Bianca vs Bea
Although technically speaking, Bianca from Nuvema Town is the first female trainer to regularly oppose Ash, not many fans consider their relationship to be a true rivalry for a few reasons. Firstly, their match-ups seem to almost always be accidental, after (literally) bumping into each other along their travels. This suggests that Ash did not feel threatened enough by her Pokemon training skills to actively seek her out to challenge Bianca and prove himself to be the more worthy opponent, as he does with Bea. Also, unlike Bea (so far), Bianca regularly inserted herself into the groups' adventures, aligning Biana more on the side of an ally than a rival. The clumsy nature of Bianca's character makes it difficult to take her seriously, and Bianca is therefore assumed by many to fill in the shoes of comedy relief as opposed to a serious contender like Bea.
Bianca's character lacks that intense competitive nature that the Masters Eight possess, and aligning her on the same level as Ash's other well-known rivals does not sit well with many. As true opponents, surely Bianca and Ash would have opposed each at the Unova League in Pokemon Black & White, because, after all, what is a rivalry without some (official) competition? Bianca seems quite content with simply going about her business, and does not seem overly concerned with achieving the #1 status, and her character, therefore, does not completely align with the definition of a rival.