Two Minute Top 10s are a way for me to satiate my desire for writing lists on my opinions, while not getting stuck in over-thinking them. I get a topic and I spend no more than two minutes putting my top 10 together on that topic — it makes the lists personal and genuine. (I can then ramble on about why each thing is where for as long as I want!)

This week’s Two Minute Top 10 is on my top 10 Kanto Pokémon! I remember watching the original season of Pokémon on Cheez TV before school when I was a kid and when they announced there would be games released I was beyond excited. My first version was Pokémon Blue and thus a lifelong love affair with these odd little creatures was born. 

I love so many of the 20 billion Pokémon that are now available from all different regions, but the first generation Pokémon from Kanto is collectively my favourite set. 

After spending the past two days playing Pokémon GO Fest 2021 I thought this would be a great top 10 list.

For this top ten, I am restricting it to one Pokémon per evolutionary chain. So, for example, if Oddish was on the list then it would rule out Gloom and Vileplume. There’s no one criteria for inclusion, a Pokémon could be on the list because I think it’s cute or powerful or both!

10. Mr. Mime

I loved Mr. Mime when I played the original games because it was far too difficult to obtain than I could ever be bothered doing. Kind of a forbidden fruit Pokémon, I guess. But I also really love the portrayal of Mr. Mime in Detective Pikachu.

9. Arcanine

Fire puppy! What’s not to love about Arcanine? It’s adorable, it’s powerful and I’ve always had an affinity with the fire type Pokémon, even though my first Pokémon was Squirtle.

8. Ninetails

Ninetails is another fire type favourite because it’s pre-evolution form, Vulpix, is adorable but Ninetails is stunningly gorgeous. Sleek, graceful and fox-like, Ninetails is absolutely the Kanto Pokémon giving off the most decadent vibes.

7. Dragonair

I love Dragonair for all of the reasons I love Ninetails, but also because it has the most extreme and unusual evolution. For something as sleek, blue and graceful as Dragonair to evolve into a chonky, powerful, orange Dragonite is just the kind of thing that makes me think some Pokémon designers are chilling with Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

6. Gyarados

I love Gyarados because it’s powerful but also kinda because of why I love Dragonair. Gyarados evolves from what is notoriously the most useless Pokémon of all time, Magikarp, to become one of the most powerful and badass looking Pokémon in Kanto.

5. Mewtwo

Mewtwo. My first rival. No, it wasn’t Gary, that guy was a wuss. It was absolutely Mewtwo. One of the first generations legendaries with a killer backstory, Mewtwo has been almost as big a part of the Pokémon universe as Pikachu. 

4. Lapras

Lapras is so adorable and they can ferry you across the ocean and they are ice types so they’re basically the Elsas of Kanto. I’m a fan.

3. Eevee

There aren’t many Pokémon fans who can deny, Eevee is super cute and super versatile. From humble first generation beginnings where Eevee can evolve into one of three different Pokémon to the current generation with a whopping eight Eeveelutions, you could in theory run an entire party just with Eevee variants. AND the story in the Pokémon cartoon where the kid with the Eevee has three brothers trying to persuade him to evolve it into each of their favourites? Heartwarming af. Plus, did I mention it’s super cute? Look at that face.

2. Pikachu

Yes, it’s totally cliché to have Pikachu on a list like this but do you know what? Pikachu is really cute, a faithful companion to Ash on his journeys and the world’s most adorable detective. Sorry, Basil. I’m here for all of that and everything else the cute little sparky rodent has to bring.

Honourable mentions
Blastoise
Dewgong
Meowth
Psyduck
Rapidash 

1. Charizard

Charizard is everything I love in a Pokémon. Starts off super adorable, then grows up to become an incredibly powerful fiery butt-whooper. And as an added bonus, it’s a dragon. 

If you have a different take or would like to suggest a subject for my Two Minute Top 10s, drop a comment here or hit me up on Twitter!