Have you ever felt like there’s something you’ve left out in a beloved sci-fi show or movie? As in, you don’t know it until it’s actually a reality and after an episode or a film is over you are left thinking, “Was that really all or was there more that I was missing?” For most of us, the logical next step is to dive into the domain of speculative narratives that thrive in the gaps of fiction–theories proposed by fans. I mean, how else are we supposed to know? And how are we supposed to stop any time soon? Spoiler alert: we can’t, because at the end of the day, fan theories are a trademark of cinematic science fiction.
From the first step of breaking it apart into its components and reconstructing it, we go as far as building a hypothesis alongside the writer who weaved these tales in the first place. The same narrative we are now on board to unravel is going to have myriad fictional dimensions to explore!
I want to shed light on some of the most outlandish fan theories constructed around science fiction. These theories have a basic premise – some riveting, while others highly unlikely. Some intense detective work goes into these theories, and the story lines and character developments are taken from some of the most loved SF franchises on the market. Regardless of whether they are embraced or not, these fan theories make for great conversation around the universes when revisiting franchises we love.
The Unsolved Riddle of Blade Runner Alright, let’s get one thing out of the way: Blade Runner is nothing short of a theorist’s paradise. The 1982 sci-fi classic directed by Ridley Scott has given plentiful content to fanatic’s debate and has been engaging in heated discussions over the film from decades now. Out of all the questions that lingered the minds of people, the most popular of them is: Is Rick Deckard, the replicant hunter in the movie, actually a replicant himself? In case watching movies is something you don’t indulge in often, this is a must-watch.
To summarize, the film portrayal of replicants involves a form of bioengineered life that teeters on the brink of representing an actual human minus profound emotional depth. One wonders how engaging discussions on this topic must be given the term ‘debate’, it makes for a rich conversation and a good workout for the gray matter.
After rewatching it, which was after immersing myself in this theory, I started working through the moments when Deckard’s expression seems… too good, too pristine. I remember moments in the film like him speaking with Rachel, climbing stairs or showcasing some pens, which feel far from pristine, but I cannot shake the fact they feel far too perfect. Every single watch opens my eyes to new details which feels unexplained like an eyebrow-raise here, a too calm line delivery there, and them collaborating sets the stage for Deckard, being played by Ford, to strut in suggestive ways that lean towards him being a replicant. And not in some sort of crude way, where humanity is stripped from him, but framed with the intention, sculpted with time permits us to understand, this is coherent with the essence of free will.
What is it about this theory that so many fans cling to? It’s a hypothesis that has us questioning the very nature of the Doctor’s encounters with their own kind. Take “The Day of the Doctor” for example. When the Eleventh and War Doctors confront one another, are they really just two versions of the same person? Or are they, in fact, instances from two nearly identical timelines where every Regeneration had no choice but to make drastically different choices at each juncture? And don’t even get me started on the twist of the “Timeless Child” which creates more problems than it solves. For fans of this theory, every episode is a text that has to be tirelessly hashed and rehashed for every possible reference to alternate (not always equal) realities like the cracks in time during Amy’s story arc that are, put on the shelf, only to serve the ancients.
And watching the show becomes a source of challenge which blends effortless exploration with effortless complexity.
3. Inside The Matrix: Neo’s Journey Is Not What You Think Further incorporate the previous spin with a truly next-level concept; The Matrix inside The Matrix. You have the intro: Neo discovers that the planet he dwells on is an elaborate setup controlled by machines. He is a good guy and supposed to reclaim the planet back for humans. But what if this setup itself served a higher purpose, at least for the pipe dream of good guys? What if Zion and all other fragments of so-called the real world were not real either?
Most of this theory came up after The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions came out, and the Architect kind of let it slip that maybe Neo isn’t the first, or even the last, human to reach such a point. This theory claims that the real world is merely another layer of the mask. It’s all one system, just with different parts meant for different kinds of humans. Some, ironically, think they are in the real world and living in counter “resistance.”
Perhaps it is all needed to keep the people under the assumption that they are making a different selection when in actuality they are just repeating the actions of the set decision matrix.
Or perhaps it is simply another method to keep humans distracted while the machines control everything else. When consuming the series through this lens, you begin to spot the moments where the ‘reality’ of the ‘real world’ fails.
Yes, I’m really going for it: Jar Jar Binks, the clumsy Gungan from The Phantom Menace, is actually a Sith Lord in disguise. This fan theory spread like wildfire on the internet a few years back. This transformed one of the most despised characters in the franchise into a possible puppet master behind the Jedi’s downfall. And for what? Despite being outlandish, the idea hinges on a character whose existence defies all logic in the franchise and a scenario in which the events of The Phantom Menace forge some meaning for them.
When put this way, it makes sense why it is outlandish, and quite frankly, outlandish is what makes a fan theory unforgettable.
Remember when we were first introduced to this theory at a fan gathering? It changed how I looked at the prequels forever. Jar Jar Binks being a Sith Lord theory made me revisit scenes of him being next to Chancellor Palpatine and lets just say it is so much fun coming up with reasons as to why he is not so ridiculous in the films. Utilizing this theory really unifies the plot and makes it actually bearable to sit through the prequels instead of just randomly watching them.
Stranger Things has captured the imagination of many with its unique blend of ’80s nostalgia and supernatural elements. Some fans engage deeply with the show’s plot and develop sophisticated theories regarding its character arcs. One of the most engaging and popularly debated of these theories suggests that the Upside Down, instead of simply being a parallel universe, is actually a devastated Hawkins set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future. This notion is intriguing in that it rests on numerous clues and argues to resolve some of the most baffling elements of the show. Indeed, there are a variety of ways to interpret these clues, some of which are pretty compelling fan theories of the show’s internal logic.
While considering watching the show again, remember this theory. Every scene where the Upside Down is featured may have clues of what will happen next somewhat like the precognition of an unrealized event. I have fought many battles online with fans who believe this is the most plausible reason why certain things in Hawkins have a bad replication in the upside-down world. Realizing some critical moments like the kids riding into the dark version of their town or Eleven meeting the Demogorgon makes you think if it is only the interaction with another reality, and if this case of contact is not the Upside Down as a parallel universe, but rather a future version of Hawkins, monstrous and warped.
Theories from fans bring creative-like ideas that in many cases foster community. The sci-fi genre has always brought forth communities that come together to discuss and try to figure out what is going on. To express their creativity, a fan theory serves as an outlet and a form of art to many. This lets the person put their mind on a canvas or in a case of a fan theory, a story and dissect every single branch to make sense of the context.
It’s different from just sitting there and receiving a story being fed to you. It is an active interaction with the elements of a narrative; it transforms how you experience a story fundamentally. Every re-imagining and re-watch leaves an unexplored treasure which, when explored further, woven into intricate plots full of suspense with new theories.
The new interpretations opens a portal of imagination. The new lens when doing interpretations with friends bring out the social side of setting out to solve a puzzle, transforming loners into collaborators. Be it Rotisserie duck, McBain, Liz Taylor, or any other iconic name from “The Simpsons” which serves as a standalone cultural achievement, these characters form the virtual but very real backbone of this idle social creativity.
Fan theories represent a culture of collaboration. It is not enough for fans to enjoy watching the content; they go the extra mile to analyze it and create its theories. Many conversations take place amongst fans, and these conversations form the crux of being in a fandom—it is a puzzle with the hope, possibility, and pleasure of having people to solve it with and make sense of its many layers, and in some sense, claiming ownership over it. While fans come up with interesting and entertaining ways to spend their time, those some ways can be formulated fan theories in most circumstances, which in reality, do not hold true in any objectively significant sense.
And in a way, serving to illustrate the elements that define art such as fan-created media; that is, these fans who appreciate art turn certain forms of media into a form of lesson concerning art in progress.
Doctor Who and the Philosophy of Time
I attended a rather engaging Doctor Who panel where we fan experts debated if some episodes indicate the existence of a multiverse as opposed to a singular timeline. There is one brilliant theorist—and I will call her that because she is wonderful for bringing forth ideas, or at least ideas in the context that I like to think of them—referring to some Sixth Doctor dialogue that, to the best of my recollection, I ignored for some reason (and yes, there is a reason), and I realized she was arguing something that recontextualized the entire premise of the show. We all gasped. The last place I remember doing that in public was perhaps a church or a cinema. What made that moment even better is the fact every person (who was fanning forth) was trying to chase the same impossible truth.
Transforming Star Wars into the Jar Jar Binks Sith theory is not only creative but also makes the series enjoyable even for those of us who have watched it hundreds of times. It is almost as if it restructures parts of the story like one would in a mental gym. It feels as if the Star Wars saga is constantly alive in our imaginations, ready to develop alongside us. Let’s cross our fingers that the next installment of Star Wars, sometime in the next twenty-thirty fortnights, manages to fulfill the story’s promise. If not, we’ll sadly be waiting another five years without our beloved series.
Fan theories allow readers and viewers to create alternate realities based on their imaginations because stories are packed with diverse characters and multifaceted narratives. The emotion we attach to complex stories is not packed into one figure and boils down to how our imagination runs free while reading them. Stories that grab our imagination are the ones that make us connected to fiction as vividly as in films because films enable us to explore state-of-the-art technologies, worlds, and realms. The attention enables us to bond with the narrative, build a deep emotional connection, and appreciate the multifaceted protagonists that the different realms offer.
Narratives or tales have a deep political and sociological echo accompanying them that gives fresh insight into the lives we are leading.
For example, the theory of the ‘Stranger Things’ universe being set in the future as well as the Upside Down has to do with the central ideas of the show – loss, nostalgia, and small town trauma. It compels the viewers to ponder on the why’s and what’s of the characters’ actions and gives an emotionally touching experience, which is, in itself, “upside-down.” My favorite part is how fan theories welcome new fans to participate in the debate. There is no need to watch all the episodes, or read the comic books, to participate in the thrill of a gripping theory. Theories are almost always popcorn moments, where everyone gets to share in a series’s possibilities and imagine what could have happened.
Every once in a while, those big conversations are started by outsiders.
The premiere of The Mandalorian brought in many new viewers who had their own interpretations of the characters, which Includes Din Djarin and Grogu. Many of these takes were due to the fandom not having to rely on the deep cuts of the Star Wars expanded universe. What’s most fascinating about the events attributed to these interpretations is that they elegantly encapsulate what is arguably the heart of a successful sci-fi concept — the spark of imagination and the readiness to engage with the unknown.
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Fan theories and speculation rooted in unequivocal acceptance stand out as fantastic components of the sci-fi universe. “Fun” is perhaps the only lens through which we may consider fan theories to be anything other than an effort to make communities more inclusive and less hostile. They enable constant discourse, exploration, and reexamination of cherished narratives within the fandom. To any person who would likely label his younger self as an aspiring fanfiction writer — it would be wondrous to think of fan theories as spoken narratives rather than written ones, and the appeal of such theories is undoubtedly persuasive.
In conclusion, fan theories are frequently one of the most enjoyable parts of being a fan. They revitalize well-known tales, rekindling the spark of the stories we love, and captivating us with the thrill of uncovering something previously hidden. For anyone who is absolutely convinced that Deckard is some kind of a replicant or that Stranger Things is just waiting to unleash a time travel twist, the theories in themselves are unimportant. The chase is what matters. The ability to uncover details that force you to re-evaluate your perception of a narrative is, in fact, the true treasure.
As you get comfy to binge your favorite sci-fi show or prepare for a movie night, try thinking about the fan theories that revolve around your preferred entertainment. The fan theories, if not anything else, are a good reasoning to reengage with a text, especially considering that it revolves around science fiction. I mean, isn’t it true that science fiction fans go through their favorite books, movies or shows in an attempt to decipher additional layers of meaning? If not, science fiction is bound to change their perception regardless.
May I wish you lots of happy theorizing and hope that your next rewatch is filled with new discoveries waiting to be uncovered!
