Who was the best villain in terms of how they were written?

Eremas · February 12

https://community.pokemon.com/en-us/discussion/comment/126638#Comment_126638

All those Pokemon that were KO'd and trainers [and Rockets] whited out to get to the top make him a villain.

MonstaDash · February 12

The best villain writing wise is probably Lusamine (Sun/Moon), having her as ruthless and obsessed with Nihilego.

TheJeffers · 12:23AM

I think stopping the Rockets was justified, actually. They robbed people, kidnapped Pokémon, and held Silph Co. employees hostage.

It's a shame the only police in Kanto were too preoccupied with a luxury cruise and standing in front of a burgled house (with the burglar waiting patiently in the back garden, naturally), or someone who had graduated from elementary school might have been available to stop them instead.

As for knocking out Pokémon, Black and White has solidified that it is morally correct to beat up Pokémon all day. You can still be a good boy and N was just wrong and Game Freak would never morally condemn their own players for engaging with their game's core gameplay loop...

So yeah, I don't see how Red is a villain. An antagonist to Gold/Ethan, perhaps. But as discussed previously, an antagonist is not inherently a villain.