I’m wondering what, in your opinion, is the best Pokémon game. Specifically not your favourite, but the one you would show to a complete newcomer to show what the mainline series is at its best.
My personal thought would be either Emerald or HG/SS, but I admittedly haven’t kept up with the series so much after Black and White 1, which I disliked the designs for and found too slow and hand-holdy.
FRLG because it introduces Pokémon the way it was meant to be introduced, with Pallet Town and Team Rocket, which are cultural references people will hear elsewhere, without being as completely outdated and awkward as gen 1.