Auto Battles and Battling Autos

I finally got the hang of the difference between auto battles and throwing Pokeballs in random directions. It's actually pretty nice? I'm definitely enjoying not having to grind. After a few hard battles and a distinct lack of potions, I made it the rest of the way to Artazon. My rule about having to try and catch every single Pokemon I've never caught before is causing a surprising amount of trouble, because whenever I get into a new area, two things immediately happen:

• I see a cool new Pokemon
• It turns out to be higher level than the highest level Pokemon in my entire party

And since I have to try to catch it, I can't knock it out, which means it is free to devastate my entire team while I huck 20 Pokeballs at it in hopes that one will eventually stick. So far this has happened to me vs Oinkologne, Skiddo, Litleo, and Oricorio, and it's only through my extensive Sinnoh experience that I haven't had to force myself to chase after a Luxio as well.

I haven't even done the first gym yet. I really need False Swipe.

But I made it, and met... Clive? The director, in the ugliest wig I've ever seen? I have no idea what is up with him vs Team Star. It doesn't make any sense based on what I know of them. Why does he seem like, emotionally upset by the existence of these teen delinquents? Anyways, he was confusing, useless, and further exacerbated the feeling of Pokemon Scarlet being unwilling to let you simply run around and make your own mistakes without being supervised. Did not appreciate it tbh.

Anyways, it's a good thing I figured out auto battles, because apparently the Team Star battles rely on them! There aren't actually any early water types besides my Quaxley (Quaxwell at this point), so I'm glad I had Puddles - and then Sala the Nacli and Canker the Klawf rounded out the team. The leader, Mela, fielded a Torkoal, sending me right back into Ruby/Sapphire flashbacks - and then a car? Hello? WHAT?

Puddles and a heaping pile of potions managed to defeat her, however, and she even gave Puddles a badge. She was very clear that it was for him, and not for me. And then a flashback with the rest of the Team Star leaders. Huh. I'm sure that'll be relevant later but honestly, there wasn't much memorable about it to begin with. Anyways, I think I want to do the gym next - I certainly have enough birds for it! And since Nemona ran off the other direction, I won't have anyone hanging over my shoulder this time.