The Wildest Fan Theories of the Pokemon Franchise Explained

The Wildest Fan Theories of the Pokemon Franchise Explained

As a gamer who grew up with the Pokemon phenomenon sweeping through our childhood like a typhoon, I can’t help but find myself engrossed in the wild theories that have sprung up around this beloved franchise. The nostalgia of those early days is strong, and revisiting these games and shows with mature eyes has opened up a whole new world of interpretations.


The Pokemon universe is an expansive multimedia juggernaut, with its popular games merely a small part compared to its TV shows, movies, and merchandise. The impact it had on countless childhoods worldwide has led to numerous discussions and interpretations among fans, many of whom explore the established storyline in innovative and extreme ways.

Back in 1996, the introduction of Pokémon sparked a sensation, with both its TV series and a multitude of related merchandise rapidly appearing. The appealing blend of a straightforward premise with a vast array of adorable creatures ignited what became known as the ‘Pokémania’ craze, securing the franchise’s command over popular culture on a global scale. As it played such an influential role in the lives of numerous teenagers and adults now, older enthusiasts find themselves revisiting the series with renewed perspective—reimagining aspects that seemed puzzling or beyond their comprehension as children. Ranging from the eerie ambiance of the initial Pokémon’s Lavender Town to theories concocted from plot inconsistencies, there are scarcely any parts of the franchise that fans haven’t delved into for speculations and fan-made content.

Pokemon’s Wild Fan Theories Explained

The Player Killed Gary’s Raticate

One key fan theory within the world of Pokémon revolves around the death of Gary’s Raticate. This mysterious event is pivotal to the theory, suggesting that during their fourth encounter, the player character may have inadvertently killed the Raticate. The reasoning behind this theory includes the fact that Raticate is the only one of Gary’s Pokémon to vanish from his team, and the fifth encounter takes place within the Pokémon Tower, a spooky cemetery for these creatures situated in Lavender Town. Additionally, when the player meets Gary again, he questions why they are there with their Pokémon still alive, implying that something untoward may have occurred.

Lavender Town’s infamous gloom envelops this theory like a miasma, and if it were true it would upset the perception of child-friendly fun Pokemon relies on. However, this theory is one that may be too wild to believe. For example, YouTube user KoolGoldFinch long ago noticed that Gary’s Raticate and Rattata levels don’t suggest an evolution, meaning that the rival would already have swapped combatants before. Moreover, there are far more powerful Pokemon than Raticate, so swapping them out makes more sense than the critter’s death.

Nurse Joy Is A Pokémon

A popular belief among fans suggests that Nurse Joy could be a unique type of Pokémon, with some pointing to an early Reddit post by Bkwordguy as evidence. Fans often ponder why there are so many identical Nurse Joys, but this theory proposes that ‘Nurse Joy’ is actually a kind of Pokémon – one that looks remarkably humanoid. This intriguing idea is also applied to explain the prevalence of Officer Jennys. The theory holds water in several respects; after all, Pokémon are known for their uniform characteristics and behaviors, and even talking Pokémon like Meowth exist.

The Great Pokemon War

One line of dialogue in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen sparked many fan theories. In this game, Lt. Surge references how Electric Pokemon saved him ‘during the war.’ This war, one that apparently saw humans use Pokemon in combat, has major implications for the lore if true. Even with the darker descriptions riddled throughout the Pokedex, this is inserted into the player’s face in a way that really breaks the wholesome facade. Further, the concept of war seems to have been largely dropped from future games, with this instance being its sole mention.

One popular fan theory about the scarcity of adult men in regions like Kanto, notably in earlier generations of Pokemon, is that it’s linked to the supposed “Pokemon War.” Additionally, speculation indicates this conflict may have stemmed from a long-standing rivalry between the Johto and Kanto regions. Regardless of its origin, it seems this war must have held great importance, as it’s referred to simply as ‘the war,’ rather than a more specific name.

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2024-09-21 15:03