2020 Pokemon Sword & Shield Vivid Voltage 043 Pikachu V

Okay, let's talk Pokemon cards. Specifically, let's chat about that zappy little guy, Pikachu. We all love Pikachu, right? He's the face of the franchise. Adorable. Electric. Generally a good egg.

But… and hear me out… am I the only one who thinks some Pikachu cards are, well, a bit…meh? Specifically, I'm staring daggers at the Vivid Voltage 043 Pikachu V. Yes, I said it. Prepare for the downvotes.

I know, I know. It's Pikachu V! It’s supposed to be all cool and powerful. But look at it. He’s… standing there. Menacingly? Not really. He looks more like he’s trying to remember if he left the oven on. "Hmm, did I preheat it to 350?"

The Posing Problem

Seriously, that pose. He’s kind of…awkwardly perched. Like he’s been caught mid-stretch after a long nap. Is he about to leap into action? Maybe. Or maybe he's just trying to get comfortable on that electric cloud. The jury’s out.

I’m not saying it’s a bad card. It’s definitely Pikachu. And Vivid Voltage was a fun set. But when compared to other Pikachu cards – the surfing Pikachu, the flying Pikachu, the chunky, vintage Pikachu – this one just feels…underwhelming.

There are so many iconic Pikachu images. Him winking. Him doing the little arm wave. Him looking completely shocked. Even a Pikachu eating a ketchup sandwich would have been more interesting! (Okay, maybe not the sandwich. That's a bit too specific).

The Art Style Conundrum

The art style is fine. Perfectly acceptable. But does it pop? Does it make you go, "Wow, I need that card!"? For me, personally, the answer is a resounding "…eh." It's a solid, middle-of-the-road Pikachu. He's not a beautiful, shimmering Charizard VMAX. He's a perfectly adequate, slightly-confused Pikachu.

And maybe that's the point. Maybe the artist was going for a more subdued Pikachu. A Pikachu who's contemplating the deeper mysteries of the universe. Like, "Why do humans collect pieces of cardboard with my face on them?"

Rarity Isn't Everything

Let's be clear: rarity doesn’t automatically equal awesomeness. Just because a card is hard to pull doesn't mean it's inherently amazing. Sometimes, the common cards with the quirky art are the ones that truly capture your heart. Like that Rattata eating the cheese. Now that’s art.

Plus, the attacks are…fine. “Thunder Jolt” is a classic. And “Max Volt Tackle” hits hard, sure. But is it memorable? Does it define the card? Not really. The names don’t exactly roll off the tongue, either.

Unpopular Opinion Alert: I'd rather have a common Pikachu card with a goofy grin than a rare Pikachu V with a questionable pose. There. I said it again.

I know some people will disagree with me. And that's totally cool! Maybe you love the Vivid Voltage Pikachu V. Maybe you think it's the pinnacle of Pikachu card design. And that's awesome! Collect what you love.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, Pokemon card collecting is a subjective experience. What one person finds amazing, another might find…slightly boring. And that's perfectly okay. The joy is in the hunt, the trade, the shared love of these quirky little creatures. Even if some of those creatures are standing around looking vaguely puzzled.

So, next time you're flipping through your Vivid Voltage collection, take a moment to really look at that Pikachu V. Decide for yourself. Is it a masterpiece? Is it a dud? Or is it just…a Pikachu, standing there, waiting for his chance to shine (or maybe just trying to remember where he parked his electric scooter)?

Regardless, happy collecting!