The best aspect of Pokémon and what makes it such a unique
and interesting franchise is the world building, after all, a world that has super
powered animals scattered across the globe along with proof of aliens, gods and
the afterlife would certainly create a rather unique living experience. It is
also why a lot of people’s “problems” with the Pokémon world can be explained
away through the fact their world functions differently from ours on a societal
and biological aspect. People arguing that Pokémon fighting each other is akin
to dog fighting or animal cruelty when it is in fact the literal action of evolution
in their world, along with the fact Pokémon aren’t enslaved animals as it’s
shown they have to give their consent to be put in Pokeballs. Detective Pikachu continues this trend,
it’s development of Ryme City and the world around it helps further develop a
believable and distinct world that fits into the Pokémon universe while also
creating something new in its own right.
That being said, many of the little details in the film also
leads to a multitude of confusing implications that connotes a world that is
similar to ours in ways that it…really shouldn’t be, or at the very least is a
massive coincidence and leads to scenarios that I would like to see further discussed.
For example, as it’s been noted by many people, Pikachu saying the line “Get me
the Hell out of here!” suggests that a Hell exists, or at least the idea of
hell and Christianity as a concept still occurred in the Pokémon world. Now
introducing religion in general into this is a headache on its own, as Arceus-The
POKÉMON GOD-is also referenced in the film so would the definitive proof of a
god not in some way effect other religions? Then again, I suppose the film
doesn’t show literal proof of Arceus, just the idea of him, but the film also makes
subtle references to the original series and Arceus is canon there so he should
be here right?
There are also several jokes made in the film that make me
question things, such as Climate Change is apparently an issue facing the Pokémon
world. How would that even work? Pokémon themselves are used as energy sources;
do they not count as renewable energy? Or do Poison types apparently plague the
eco-system that much it’s actively ruining the planet? Pikachu makes a Seinfeld
reference at one point, what in god’s name does the Pokémon version of Seinfeld
look like? What Pokémon would Kramer have? He feels like a Ludicolo kinda guy.
Does Jerry have to put up with his girlfriend’s Lycanroc? Does George get into
a fight with a Nidoking? Honestly, I would give my right arm for 9 seasons of
whatever the hell this crossover would be.
Of course, none of this matters, they’re all just small
observations to be made and funny connotations made from some throwaway jokes
and…wait a minute. The fake movie Angels With Dirty Souls from Home Alone is featured in the movie but
is treated as an actual noir film. Does Angels With Dirty Souls exist in the Pokémon
universe? Is that a real movie!? You know what? If living in the Pokémon world
wasn’t already appealing enough give me that
movie and suddenly I’m in a better world than ours in every conceivable way…except
for the Climate Change stuff, that’s a bummer.
-Danny
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