With the generation 5 games taking place in the Unova region, based on New York, it's only natural that certain cultural aspects of New York made it into the game. A trash pokemon, ice cream pokemon, bald eagle pokemon, and of course diversity in its roster!

5 generations in and we finally see the first ever black gym leader in Pokemon. Some would say it's because the first four regions are Japanese, but it's still nice to see in general.

Who is this gym leader? Why that's Lenora, Nacrene City's Gym Leader and Normal type expert! Nacrene City is a small place primarily focused on research. Next to being a gym leader, Lenora is also a wife and the curator of the Nacrene City museum, where her gym resides.

Lenora is the second gym leader the player faces in Pokemon Black and White. However, Lenora is among the small list of gym leaders who got replaced in the sequels, Black 2 and White 2.

Lenora hands players the Basic Badge after being defeated.

Pokemon Black, White

Lenora is first seen inside the gym. Her husband, Hawes, gives the player a short introduction to the Nacrene City Museum. He finishes the tour by dropping the bombshell that the gym leader is none other than his wife Lenora! Sorry buddy but I'm about to humiliate her in front of you.

Lenora's gym itself is a library room at the back of the museum. The player has to interact with the bookshelves and read the various books on display. Books on the same bookshelf will have similar answers, only the ones you climb a stool for are the correct answers. After getting a question right, you get directions to the next bookshelf you have to interact with. Ultimately you pull a Sherlock Holmes and click a button behind a book, causing the bookshelf to slide into the wall. Beneath it are some stairs that head down into Lenora and Hawes's dungeo- I mean gym arena. Was she just locked in there if you couldn't figure it out?

Lenora only has two Pokemon, but she is a scary opponent. Her lead Herdier is very strong for this point in the game. It has Intimidate, lowering your offensive power, while dealing huge damage with Take Down and Bite. Once you get past this thing, Lenora sends out her ace Pokemon, Watchog. This ugly rodent is no slouch, as it will immediately use the base 140 power Retaliate upon switching in. This move is normally a base 70 power attack, but it doubles in damage when an ally was K.O'd the previous turn. If you survive the immediate onslaught, Watchog can put you to sleep with Hypnosis and lower your defense with Leer. Those normal Retaliates and Crunches start hurting real fast!

You meet Lenora shortly after defeating her in her gym. Inside Pinwheel Forest, the player encounters Team Plasma. Near the end of the Forest Lenora shows up, thanking you for clearing them out the forest and handing you a Moon Stone. How kind!

She later is seen at the museum, when the cast of heroes is planning their next move after N obtained one of the ancient relics containing a Legendary Pokemon.

In what is undoubtedly the most epic moment in all of Pokemon, (almost) every gym leader makes a triumphant return to the plot in the final chapter, storming Team Plasma's Castle together and holding back the Wise Sages from aiding Ghetsis any further. Lenora is no pushover and joins the assault.

Pokemon Black 2, White 2

Lenora has given up her title as gym leader since the events of Black and White. Her Basic Badge and Normal Gym were passed on to Cheren, the annoying nerd who followed the Hero around all over the region.

Lenora herself can be encountered in the post-game, when the player reaches Nacrene City. She will hand you a Unovan fossil of choice for your troubles.

Lenora also joins her fellow Unova gym leaders at the Pokemon World Tournament. She can be fought in the Unova Leaders and Type Experts challenges. She adds a bunch of other Normal types to her team. The notable ones are the brand new Sawsbuck, Cinccino, Braviary, and Audino. A bunch of cool but normal additions to the franchise!

---

I love that Lenora starts the diversity of the Pokemon casts. It was long overdue and I like that they don't make it part of her character, she just is who she is.

The Unova gym leaders are such a step above all the ones that came before them. They are heavily involved with the plot of the game and will make frequent appearances. Some of them will actively go with you to places, which is cool, but I also like that some of them take on a more supportive role. Lenora is such a gym leader. She has obligations as a Museum curator, and also has a loving husband with her, but she still shows bravery and interest in helping the player with research or historic information. I wish she played a bigger role in the sequel!