Plot/character guesses

Do you have any theories or predictions as to what direction the plot and characters are going to take? Share them here!

You know, Sada/Turo and Nemona don't give me the best vibes, but thinking about it, perhaps it does make sense that they are prime candidates to be/turn into outright villains. No main series Pokémon game so far has had either the Professor or the rival turn out to be evil. (You could make a case for Silver and Bede, but even then they had only loose connections with the main antagonists of their origin games.) And since the plot of these games takes place within an academic environment, what better time to pull off that twist than now?

As much as now would be the time for them to finally give us a new plotline instead of the one we've been getting over and over again since Gen 3, I don't get the feeling that we're getting something new.

I could be wrong though since we have like zero real clues about what the plot will entail

hmm very hard question. I feel like the main "plot block" to solve is how the two worlds shown in the trailers interact with each other. As we have seen Scarlet is connected to an orange and we have clothes of the same color and that's the same thing for Violet with the purple clothes. So, this might be connected to the Legendaries. In Scarlet, the "dragon of past" is venerated, while in Violet the one of the future is. The Professors are different: the one in Scarlet wears clothes giving the idea of past, while the one in Violet wears a cyber suit. With no much surprise and as everyone said, it really is past and future. However, will the story actually be "past vs future"? I mean, do in Scarlet games exist people who are rebels of the "veneration of the past" and in Violet the opposite? That's hypothesis one: Evil Team wants innovation in a game where traditions reign (and vice versa in Violet). The consequence is they awaken the Legendary of the other game version and we have to team up with the Legendary of our version and defeat the Evil Team. Like in Ruby and Sapphire, but in the opposite way. Honestly? Imo it's too basic and also, there's a huge detail: the two pokemon in the trailers look in different directions and seem somewhat not connected to each other. This could be a sign that this time the two legendaries might be unique (in Scarlet universe it doesn't exist the Violet Legendary) and they are kinda similar. But, that's impossible because otherwise you wouldn't be able to get the other version legendary, because plot wouldn't justify it.
I have a crazy hypothesis: They're actually the same pokemon that evolved or had a different development in the two game versions stories. I think that might be too crazy tho lol.
However there are other paths, especially if we consider two important elements: the third legendary and the mechanic. Swo/Shi were really clever about this: the plot bond together box Legendaries, the third Legendary and the mechanic. So, it's right to take into account that this could happen again. We have no clue on the mechanic, but we know that it has to do with a star and with light, so maybe it's connected to pokemon types. Because after all, Violet and Scarlet aren't connected to the idea of "future", but to light spectrum. So, second hypothesis: again we'll see a plot about the Legendary being connected to the game mechanic and the third Legendary might be involved in that.
I am very keen to think that this time we could get no third legendary, but it's too improbable, so yeah just forget about it lol.
About the rival, you might think that she could be the evil one, that has different believes than us, like N basically. However, I don't think so because in the trailer she is shown wearing the uniform of our same color and she looks really friendly. Considering the role rivals had in the last games, I pretty much doubt she is going to have the development of the rival that is friendly at first, but that then wants to stop us because she has different ideals. I don't think it's going to happen in a pokemon game. Those are mainly "theories".

Imo they're just taking what they did with Hisui and Sinnoh and making it into one game. I imagine the "past" will be the villainous group in the future, and likewise the "future" will be the villainous group of the past. Existing within the same timeline but telling two sides of the same coin over a long period.

Maybe two islands? One that embraces nature and primitive Pokémon care, while the other sees technology as the best method for care?

_confused_piplup_ said:

About the rival, you might think that she could be the evil one, that has different believes than us, like N basically. However, I don't think so because in the trailer she is shown wearing the uniform of our same color and she looks really friendly. Considering the role rivals had in the last games, I pretty much doubt she is going to have the development of the rival that is friendly at first, but that then wants to stop us because she has different ideals. I don't think it's going to happen in a pokemon game. Those are mainly "theories".

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Interesting point here! I wasn't precisely thinking that she could be directly antagonistic, but moreso groomed and radicalized by the antagonists of the game - probably the Professors themselves. Academic environments are rife for this kind of manipulation, and I have no doubt that a young, enthusiastic person like her could be their target - a perfect pawn for their plans. That would make one hell of a heartbreaking moment if true, though.

Seeing the past/future aesthetic seen in the new trailer and other discussions, I'm expecting the return of separate villain teams for each version. I hope it goes like the villains from the past version wamting to like tear down the place and make it futuristic or the future version villians be like do the opposite or something I dunno.

I think it pretty obvious at this point we'll be getting Gen III's plot again and that fandom theory/excessive reading between the lines will do Game Freak's work for them. Why would it be any different this time?

Dawn said:

I think it pretty obvious at this point we'll be getting Gen III's plot again and that fandom theory/excessive reading between the lines will do Game Freak's work for them. Why would it be any different this time?

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I don't wanna be that negative about it (more than I already am, anyway), but you might be onto something.

Here's something to think about: Archie and Maxie, the Leaders of Team Aqua and Magma respectively, were named after the elements harnessed by the Legendary Pokémon they were after. You could say the same about Sada and Turo; Sada's names in all languages derive from various words for "past," which is what Koraidon seems to represent, and Turo's names likewise come from words for "future," which is what Miraidon embodies. Both Professors' clothing is certainly... coherent with their motives, but kind of odd compared to other Professors' and to the world around them. Finally, neither Professor is named after a plant or tree, as previous main Professors have been; if you remember Colress, many guessed that, despite his resemblance to a Professor-type character, he was not on our side because of his name.

In conclusion: Sada and Turo are not the real Professors of the game, but the villains. What they plan to do with the Legendaries, the lengths they will go to achieve their goals, and whether they might be manipulated by a higher force remains up in the air, but at some point, we will find out that we're best off not placing our trust in them. If they are villains, and their actions cause them to lose their positions in the academic world that we're affiliated with, we also better be looking forward to seeing a more "traditional" Professor, complete with a plant name. (Heck, they could even bring in a grown-up Hop to fill the vacancy in post-game, therefore establishing continuity with Sw/Sh!)

Vielleroue said:

In conclusion: Sada and Turo are not the real Professors of the game, but the villains. What they plan to do with the Legendaries, the lengths they will go to achieve their goals, and whether they might be manipulated by a higher force remains up in the air, but at some point, we will find out that we're best off not placing our trust in them. If they are villains, and their actions cause them to lose their positions in the academic world that we're affiliated with, we also better be looking forward to seeing a more "traditional" Professor, complete with a plant name. (Heck, they could even bring in a grown-up Hop to fill the vacancy in post-game, therefore establishing continuity with Sw/Sh!)

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Huh, I don't know if I 100% believe this but it's definitely very interesting! Got my attention more than any trailer-given story beat.

I honestly like the idea of Sada, Turo and Nemona being the villains or antagonists of the game. Nemona could either be working for the professor from the start or later.
If it's the latter than I can see it being due to her losing over and over to the MC, who is a few years younger than her and has just started their journey.
It would be a nice twist to the "friendly" rival staple, which honestly I'm not a fan of, so I'm hoping for the twist to be a thing.

As for the professors being the villains, that would also be an interesting twist.

New characters revealed today! Two new rivals called Arven and Penny, the school headmaster Clavell, Prof. Jacq, and the Ice-type Gym Leader Grusha along with a bunch of unnamed Gym Leaders or important Trainers.

I... can't say I'm looking forward to meeting any of these characters except perhaps for Grusha, whom I find adorable. Serious contender for favourite Ice-type specialist there. Clavell in particular reminds me of a Paldean form of Alva from the Magearna movie, but having him be the main villain would be too obvious, wouldn't it? Jacq kinda reminds me of Aster from Xenoverse except... purple, grimy, and not even half as charming. And while I do find Penny's design creative, I do fear she is another attempt to create a marketable trendy girl character like Lillie and Marnie were in their time.

I'm personally more interested in the unnamed characters - in particular, the buff teacher guy who kind of looks like a Paldean Nobunaga or a tanned Kamado. Heeeello there, what's your name?

I think Penny is going to be from Kalos. Looking at her hair, it reminds me of a mega stone, not that it means megas return. But I just think that would be a nice call back to Kalos.

Kinda wondering how the whole "3 different stories" thing is gonna work out. Is it gonna be where you choose one and are locked into it and locked out of the others for the rest of the game, or will you be able to follow/do all 3 at once?

Maybe this is asking too much for a Pokemon title, but...

I wouldn't mind seeing a plot that puts emphasis different on characters and strong devolvement.

Nah said:

Kinda wondering how the whole "3 different stories" thing is gonna work out. Is it gonna be where you choose one and are locked into it and locked out of the others for the rest of the game, or will you be able to follow/do all 3 at once?

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I think it is safe to say we will be able to do all three. In the trailer it states, "Which one will you choose to do first?" And I know one leak says you have to finish all three stories to unlock the final part.

Iceshadow3317 said:

I think it is safe to say we will be able to do all three. In the trailer it states, "Which one will you choose to do first?" And I know one leak says you have to finish all three stories to unlock the final part.

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Today's trailer revealed that this is indeed the case! There are three paths - beating the Gym Leaders, battling the local delinquents (Team Star - grrrr, I wanted the name first!) and looking for rare Pokémon.

Along with that, a few new characters were revealed - Gym Leader Brassius, League Chairwoman Geeta, Team Star's Squad Boss Mela and the Team Star Grunts. I'm... not sure what to make of any of them, though, and out of the new characters Grusha remains my favourite.

(I admit Brassius might be growing on me - heh - though. Older man bias aside, and I'm coming to terms with the fact that I just can't fix that, he stands out from the rest of the Grass-type specialists by being a gloomy, weathered artist. He might well be on his way to being my undisputed favourite Grass-type specialist simply because I didn't like any of them as much as I like him.)