MAJOR SPOILERS AHEADLike many past gens, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet represent a major dichotomy, with their focus on the past and future bringing forth the Paradox Pokemon. Each game features seven of these creatures, as well as the box art legendary. Koraidon is the past paradox form of Cyclizar, while Miraidon is its form from the future.
After beating Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's three major storylines, they'll embark on a fourth where players learn that Professor Sada or Turo is actually an AI-powered robot, built by the original before their death. The original professors supposedly invent a time machine that lets them send Master Balls to the past or future to receive these Pokemon.
However, it should be noted some believe that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC will reveal this isn't a time machine, but instead some form of "imagination" machine connected to a Pokemon that can bring others to life based on one's imagination. That would make more sense as to why these are called Paradox Forms and not just Ancient and Future Forms, but it remains to be seen. Operating under the notion that this is not true, though, sets up a terrifying future after Pokemon Violet.
Pokemon Violet: An All-Robot Future
There are two common criticisms lobbied at Pokemon Violet's paradox forms: one being that each Pokemon is essentially "X but robot" and that their names are all essentially the same: "Iron Blank." This can be chalked up to the new Pokemon designs and left there, but it also implies there is a future where all Pokemon are robots. If that is the case, the question becomes why did all Pokemon follow an evolution line where they ended up robotic in nature. Surely, not all of these Pokemon were built by humans after all.
In contrast, Pokemon Scarlet's Paradox forms all represent a wild, untamed past. If the endgame was an entire game plot, Pokemon Scarlet would essentially be Jurassic World, where past Pokemon are rampant and at odds with the current environment because of their nature. The past was not tamed, nor civilized, and it's clear in their designs that they freely dominated the Paldea region. Over time, especially with human intervention in evolution as seen in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Scarlet's past eventually would reach the modern day. But if Pokemon Scarlet is Jurassic World, then Pokemon Violet is something more akin to Terminator, specifically Skynet.
The creation of an AI-powered robot and the implication that it was only possible due to the Terastallization gimmick in this region implies that a future where these are more common is possible. AI Turo is a force to be reckoned with, and a world full of them, especially with more advanced AI like Skynet implies a future where Pokemon could only continue to exist if they adapted robotic, AI forms. This type of rapid, forced evolution could explain why most of the designs are "X but Robot" and why the naming implications are the same; they are surviving in a hostile, dystopian, robot-ruled world. And given how much Sci-Fi loves dystopian futures where robots and technology overthrow humans, it makes perfect sense.
Of course, again, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC could show these Paradox Pokemon are representatives of one Pokemon or person's imagination, and not accurate representations of the past or future. But if they are, then the Pokemon World apparently has a future dominated by robots to contend with and/or stop, a major task for a ten-year-old or teenager if it were to ever be represented in-game.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
