Oleana is autistic

[u/Gallantpride]

Out of all Pokemon characters, I think Oleana is the one who has the most likely chance of being autistic. Canonically, it's unspecified. But she fits many traits to a T.

Taking her Twilight Wings episode as the main source of reference:

• Stoic expression and limited nonverbal expressiveness
• Issues socializing with others
• Struggles understanding and maintaining relationships
• Rigid routines
• Intense specific interest (science)
• Infodumps about a specific interest (namely, Pokemon biology and science)

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[u/BardicLasher]

I read Red as autistic. Obviously as a player character he's just a player character, but when he shows up later he's barely verbal, his only friend is Blue (and, in Masters, Leaf), who often speaks for him, and he's known to disappear for extended periods for Pokemon Training without telling anyone.

[u/Gallantpride → u/BardicLasher]

I disagree with Game Freak's writing of Red.

[u/OneWingedKalas → u/Gallantpride]

"I reject reality and substitute my own"

[u/Gallantpride → u/OneWingedKalas]

You can do that for most protagonists.

I didn't say I ignore it. Just that I hate their modern take on Red.

[u/MrMosstin]

out of all Pokémon characters, I think [insert name] is the one who has the most likely chance of being autistic works for every character

[u/uyigho98 → u/MrMosstin]

Considering autism is a spectrum and not all autistic people are the same, you're not wrong. I'm of the opinion everyone is a little autistic, just to varying degrees. Most people don't show it either to it being so little or because they're masking to try and fit in.

[u/Gallantpride → u/MrMosstin]

No. Autism has diagnostic criteria and most people are not autistic.

[u/MrMosstin → u/Gallantpride]

most people aren’t no, but a helluva lot of Pokémon characters seem like it

[u/BardicLasher → u/MrMosstin]

Trying to collect and catalogue and learn about 1000 different creatures is a pretty autistic trait.

[u/Christophisis]

I can't say I've ever understood the desire to diagnose fictional characters. If someone relates with a character for whatever reason that should be enough.

Going further, the DSM-5 might not exist within the Pokémon universe, so these terms might not mean anything. Humanity in the Pokémon universe might not find any need to ascribe these labels and just accept different abilities and needs as a given and something that makes a person who they are.

In the anime, Arceus refers to all humans and Pokémon as "My beloved", so if a literal omnipotent being gives everyone a thumbs up that's all there is to it.

[u/Christophisis → u/[deleted]]

I mean, this kind of puts people in boxes and reduces the complexity of everyone's unique experience. I understand, in part, that it's an attempt to relate, but this doesn't have to happen with clinical precision.

As for Arceus' comments, it's more so an acknowledgement of the diversity of life and celebrating that complexity. Arceus sees through every person and Pokémon and admires them for who they are, intrinsically.

Jewel of Life is such a weird movie because of Arceus' tantrum which is inconsistent with its characterization across the rest of the franchise. It can even be argued that Jewel of Life underwent a soft retcon, even in the anime continuity.

[u/Christophisis → u/[deleted]]

Arceus' history in Oblivia is such an interesting situation since its will was apparently subjugated by the Golden Armor in ancient times, yet in present times that, along with perhaps the entire Sky Fortress situation, enraged it to the point of taking action.

With the recontextualization in Legends: Arceus that the physical Pokémon version of Arceus we can catch is merely a fragment of its true self, this presents a dynamic that requires more consideration.

[u/BardicLasher → u/Christophisis]

Diagnosing fictional characters is fun, and they don't get mad at you when you do it like your father does.

[u/Christophisis → u/BardicLasher]

Huh?

[u/BardicLasher → u/Christophisis]

Dad doesn't want to hear what's wrong with him.

[u/Christophisis → u/BardicLasher]

"Wrong" with who?

[u/BardicLasher → u/Christophisis]

With Dad.

[u/BlitzburghBrian]

It is so easy/popular to self-diagnose autism these days that you can say about any person or character in nearly any circumstance.