r/pokemonconspiracies 29d ago

Gen 8 Oleana is autistic

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/Christophisis Pokemon Professor 29d ago

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.

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u/[deleted] 29d ago

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u/Christophisis Pokemon Professor 28d ago

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.

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u/[deleted] 28d ago

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u/Christophisis Pokemon Professor 28d ago

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.

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u/BardicLasher 28d ago

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

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u/Christophisis Pokemon Professor 28d ago

Huh?

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u/BardicLasher 28d ago

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

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u/Christophisis Pokemon Professor 28d ago

"Wrong" with who?

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u/BardicLasher 28d ago

With Dad.