What’s So “Special” About the Rotom in Rotom Phones?
Of all the things Pokémon Scarlet and Violet did, the last thing I ever expected them to do was expand upon Rotom Phone lore. Thanks to the game’s academy lectures, however, we’re able to get a little closer to unraveling the truth and circumstances behind how a mischievous plasma-based lifeform might be relegated to smartphone duties.
First, though, if you need some context regarding my longstanding disdain for Rotom Phones and other Rotom-related technologies, you can stop by my previous blog post on the topic HERE. Just note it’s more focused on Rotom tech as a whole (and why it’s a bad idea).
Additionally, while this blog post contains no major spoilers regarding the stories or newly introduced Pokémon of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, there are some very light spoilers pertaining to content from the classes at Naranja/Uva academy, so just a heads up on that.
Now, onto the main event! The following screenshots were taken from the 6th Biology lecture, in which Professor Jacq discusses Rotom in the context of form changes:
You caught what he said, right? The Rotom Phone Rotom is apparently “special” compared to wild and/or battle-ready Rotom… but in what ways? We don’t get a straight-up answer, unfortunately, but the information we do get thanks to Mr. Jacq offers some much-needed context regarding how you’d be able to take so mischievous a Pokémon as Rotom and implant it as the primary power source of a smartphone.
Things only get a little tricky in light of some contrary wording, as his first sentence implies Phone Rotom just doesn’t *try* to enter other devices, while the second sentence’s use of “can” implies Phone Rotom “cannot” undergo the usual form changes for some way, shape, or form. I wonder if there’s anything in the original Japanese version of this text that could help specify what exactly is happening there, and if there is, I’ll happily provide corrections, retractions, etc. Until then, though, this is what we have to work with, and it’s more than enough to lead us to some potential and (mostly) equally disturbing theories regarding the truth behind Rotom Phones:
Theory 0: The Rotom are Actually Just Happy to Be There
Yeah, let’s just get this out of the way: there’s always the possibility that the Rotom of the Rotom Phones are just goody-goodies compared to the rest of the Rotom populace and are fine with being relegated to peoples’ smartphones.
Is it possible? Certainly? Does this theory invalidate any of the ones we’ll be discussing shortly? Not really. Is it a sign of my Rotophobia that I can’t accept this theory? Eh, chance of a chance. Still, until we’ve got official confirmation, I can’t stop myself from believing there’s much more going on here than just good will…
Theory 1: The Rotom are Subject to Some Kind of Conditioning
As I mentioned in my first Rotom blog, the itemization of Rotom given its nature and capabilities seems rather cruel. After all, a mischief-maker wants to make mischief, not phone calls or calendar alerts. However, one interpretation of Phone Rotom being “special” might indicate that something’s been done to them in order to quell their hooligan spirits.
The most likely possibility is that these Rotom have been bred and trained from birth for the purpose of being smartphones, similar to most real service animals. Under those circumstances, a Rotom would be conditioned through training to not engage in electronic pranks. This would at least satisfy “doesn’t try” angle of Jacq’s explanation.
Things get a little darker once we explore the “can’t” angle, though. Is it entirely possible that, in addition to whatever training and mental conditioning a Rotom has received, that a Rotom’s appliance-possessing capabilities have somehow been “clipped” like bird wings so as to properly inhibit its ability to shenaniganize? Could they have even done something to fully restrain it to its phone form?
It always felt illogical to market a phone possessed by a Rotom as a reliable device unless there was a particularly potent failsafe or two in place to keep it in line. At the very least, the conditioning theory provides an explanation as to how a Rotom wouldn’t leak confidential information or leap out of the phone when you need it most. However, it still feels rather icky to plug Rotom into phones and market them as objects. After all, there aren’t many instances of Pokémon being sold rather than caught, traded, bred, etc., and most of them are considered immoral and/or potentially illicit (The Magikarp salesman, the Game Corners of Kanto and Johto offering Pokémon as prizes, and Team Rocket, whose mission statement is to steal and exploit Pokémon for profit).
But perhaps Phone Rotom are special in a completely different and more radical way than this theory stipulates…
Theory 2: The Rotom aren’t real Rotom.
We know from the existence of Porygon and fossil-reviving technologies that people in the world of Pokémon are able to effectively synthesize Pokémon, be they wholly artificial beings or sourced from organic material. For all intents and purposes, the Rotom Phone could be the product of either.
What if the real reason the Rotom in Rotom Phones are special is because they are constructs specifically designed to be part of their smartphone bodies? Better yet, what if the Rotom Phone IS the Rotom, and not just some electronic appliance that was made for one to inhabit? At the very least, this would explain why everybody is ok with the itemization of Rotom Phones, as they are, for all intents and purposes, an item just like literally any other smartphone out there. It’s also possible, if not likely, that this theory extends to all forms of Rotom that can be found outside of battle.
As weird as it is to say, this feels like the more humanitarian of the provided theories between this one and the conditioning one. At least in this case, a live Rotom isn’t being slaved to a phone and instead the Rotom is just the Pokémon world equivalent of Siri. Still, I hope that we don’t end up having a Levincia: Become Rotom situation on our hands anytime soon.
Conclusion:
“I’m telling you, man! The government and corporations are using synthetic/modified Rotom to control every facet of our lives!” (Image sourced from Know Your Meme)
It’s always hilarious when just a few lines of dialogue in a side-event can end up opening the craziest cans of worms known to gaming and storytelling, but Pokémon is just one of those series where I feel my mad scientist come out every once in a while. I may not be on board with the idea of Rotom Phones, but I’ll at least admit that I always have a lot of fun talking about them.
With that said, my next Pokémon-themed blog post will be more substantial than this one, so look forward to some earnest thought-sharing sometime next year.