Dad?

[jellicentfan1]

Have you ever wondered where the dad is? In all but RSE the protagonist has only ever been seen with their mother. So where is dad? In RSE he is simply a Gym Leader, but he is nowhere to be seen in any other games. Do you think he is sometimes dead? Is he sometimes a leader in another region? Did the mom just get around? Why do you think the dad never appears?

[60]

I've never thought about it tbh. It seems like the whole concept of family isn't all that important in Pokemon, at least not until Bianca's troubles in BW. I mean your mom doesn't even really care that you're going on a never-ending adventure. But yeah idk about the dad, once they started the games with just the mom I guess they never wanted to deviate from that I guess.

[redjacketalchemist]

I always figured they were either dead or off on their own journey, which may explain why the protagonist's mom is so okay with their son/daughter going off on a journey, following in their father's footsteps, etc.

[Sydian]

I never thought about it, really. I grew up in a single parent home and thought it was normal, so I never really blinked twice about missing a dad in the games since I didn't have one that lived with me. -shrug-

[jellicentfan1]

Originally Posted by Sydian

I never thought about it, really. I grew up in a single parent home and thought it was normal, so I never really blinked twice about missing a dad in the games since I didn't have one that lived with me. -shrug-

I guess if you think about it, it is normal, but I just can't believe that he would only appear in one game. You think they would at least give some backstory about him.

[Eternal Shadow]

Yeah i grew up in a single parent home as well, so i haven't given it much thought.

[X3]

when I first started playing pokemon (started on red which was my brothers but got my own game on it when crystal was new out) I was young, the whole missing dad thing didn't even cross my mind until now...

So heres what I think happened: when the player was born the dad was already on a journey to catch 'em all but of course, wasn't as successful as the protagonist of the game and the news just never got to him. So he just doesn't know yet... and the mum doesn't want the kid to find out so hasn't told him anything and sent him on a journey before he gets older and realises his dad is missing.

[Plumpyfoof]

Maybe all protagonists' dads are the same person 0.o

[Nintendork15]

this may sound dark, and un pokemon.
But I heard rumour of R/B/Y that you're dad died in a war in kanto.
It made some sense, the whole region is empty and lacks that certain element which made you believe life was brilliant. Lt.Surge mentions how electric pokemon helped him in a war, and all the citizens tend to be children, old people or criminals.

As for G/S/C, I haven't a clue.
But I believe there's some mention of your dad in Platinum when Barry's dad is mentioned also.

[Olli97]

I've thought about it a few times, but nothing that has really left me wondering. What I think is most likely would be if the dad was out on his own journey, since that's apparently the same thing with Ash from the anime's dad, and even Norman from Hoenn has been on his own journey before he settled down as a gym leader. So I guess it's just a common theme all over the Pokemon franchise.

As for your theory, Nintendork, it could very well be true, but I don't think it's very likely. The only person that ever mentions the war throughout the whole game is Lt. Surge, and he is a lieutenant after all, so it could've been another place than Kanto, although then again, it could be that most people just wanted to forget the war. I don't really think it's too dark for the first generation games, considering how many dark concepts and theories that are, just based around that region.

[93Aiwass]

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Since my parents were never there in my life, I have never really thought of it.

Love is the Law, Love under Will.

[C Payne]

I've always wondered this too. It would have been nice to at least have some other appearances; maybe we'll get one next gen.

[93Aiwass]

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Maybe Brock's father is Ash's father too and we're just waiting for the big reveal? ;-P

"Ash, I am your father" - Brock's father

Love is the Law, Love under Will.

[jellicentfan1]

Originally Posted by 93Aiwass

Maybe Brock's father is Ash's father too and we're just waiting for the big reveal? ;-P

"Ash, I am your father" - Brock's father

LOL. This is funny because he fathered sooooo many kids.

[Rivvon]

I think it's the same with the whole "police force/government" and "educational system" thing: it's there, somewhere, just not important enough to the plot to really bring up in-depth.

[PlatinumDude]

I never thought much about this, but I'm guessing that the dad went off on his journey or he left home for business.

[Mr Cat Dog]

To be honest, I always thought he was just out at work in the PokeMart or Silph Co or whatever stereotypical big business was in the Pokemon region of choice. Whenever I turned off the game, I just assumed he came home for the day. Looking back on it, it's kinda cute, I guess. :D

[Scarf]

Originally Posted by Mr Cat Dog

To be honest, I always thought he was just out at work in the PokeMart or Silph Co or whatever stereotypical big business was in the Pokemon region of choice. Whenever I turned off the game, I just assumed he came home for the day. Looking back on it, it's kinda cute, I guess. :D

That's what I thought. Dad's at work. Mom's at home. "Traditional" and all that. After all, the games are made in Japan and if you're a salaryman then you're gonna be at work all the time.

[93Aiwass]

Originally Posted by PlatinumDude

I never thought much about this, but I'm guessing that the dad went off on his journey or he left home for business.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Well, on the way to Viridian City from Cinnabar, perhaps he made a stop in Pallet Town...

Love is the Law, Love under Will.

[Leaf Storm]

The thought of the protagonist's dad never crossed my mind when I played the games. I always assumed that either the dad is deceased, or is in some business trip outside the region. As Scarf mentioned, it can also be traditional. The dad can be at work most of the time.

[DeLaMuerte]

Well, in the games, usually there is something that "Dad" bought in your room (i,e," A TV Dad gave me for my birthday" when looking at the TV in your room in BW). B'sides, I always thought he was out on his own adventure. Also, I believe in DPPt, Palmer was Barry's (Pearl/Rival) father- It may be possible the Protagonist's father has a similar role (I always thought that Caitlin's Butler/ Battle Castle Frontier Brain looked suspiciously like the protagonist for some reason).

In the anime, isn't it said that Giovanni dated Ash's mother? And with that, wouldn't there be (or has been) speculation about Ash being Giovanni son? With that, wouldn't that make Ash "Silver(?)"

[Toshiro.]

I always assume he went off on his own journey somewhere.

I do want to see a game in the future have the dad be home and the mom absent, just to switch it up a bit.

[DeLaMuerte]

Originally Posted by Toshiro.

I always assume he went off on his own journey somewhere.

I do want to see a game in the future have the dad be home and the mom absent, just to switch it up a bit.

Well, that would be anti-traditional. Doesn't the mother always stay home (stereo-typically)? Maybe grandparents? The mother and father would be... gym leaders (double battle a la Tate & Liza in Gen III)? And they would be home at night-time, seeing now that there are different parts of the day.

[Aera]

Originally Posted by Plumpyfoof

Maybe all protagonists' dads are the same person 0.o

ohmygod thats terrifying

In my headcanon for BW/B2W2, I think that the dad was off working somewhere, like maybe in Castelia City as a clerk or something. As for the rest of the games besides RSE I'm not too sure about...

[NecrumWarrior]

Considering that Barry's dad is a very successful Trainer (Battle Tower Brain) I imagine that it's normal for males in the Pokemon world to continue battling, perhaps to raise money for their family, whom they never really get to see. Also, some mothers in games have also been trainers previously. Considering the world's general view on maternity, it would make sense that in the Pokemon World, women stay at home to care for the child until he/she can become a trainer too. Your father was probably never quite as successful (except in 3rd gen) and as such, you are probably aiming to surpass his legacy. At least, that's how I look at it.