10 TV Fan Theories Confirmed By The Creators
8. Captain Planet And The Planteers - Captain Planet Isn't Real
Captain Planet and the Planteers follows five teenagers that were chosen to protect the world from environmental disaster. The spirit of the world, Gaia, gifts the quintet with five magical rings which represent Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and Heart. When the Planeteers face a threat too powerful to overcome, they call upon Captain Planet; a superbeing who possesses all the power of the magical rings.
One of the most popular fan-theories for any story is the classic "What if a certain character wasn't real?" Jack in Titanic. Donny in The Big Lebowski. Marla in Fight Club. The Internet is littered with explanations how these characters don't actually exist. After Captain Planet and the Planteers debuted, it wasn't long before viewers started to consider if the five teenagers were just imagining the environmental superhero.
Over 20 years after the show ended, the head writer, Barbara Pyle, confirmed that Captain Planet only exists in the imagination of the five kids. Captain Planet is simply a metaphor for the gang's ability to work as a team. Nothing more. Considering the show's message of "Don't pollute the planet" was so heavy-handed, Pyle was surprised that "most people haven't figured this one out".