Professor Membrane started Dib’s Paranormal Obsession
So feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on anything, but is it Professor Membrane’s fault that Dib is overly obsessed with the paranormal?
In Dark Harvest, Dib said he vaguely remembers being abducted by aliens when he was a baby. I think this memory is what instigated Dib’s obsession with the paranormal (and more specifically in aliens).
While it’s weird Dib can recall being a baby, I wanna point out that this is probably Dib’s first ever cognizant memory (further explained later). Dib is aware he’s a genius. And he easily accepts that aliens contributed to his genius (similarly to how he accepts aliens giving him powers in “Dib’s Wonderful Life of Doom”).
Because Dib WAS a smart baby. In the “Mysterious Mysteries” episode, Toddler Dib could accurately spell out the word “aliens”. He had the ability to read AND comprehend stuff at that age.
(flashback is at Dib’s house)
Dib’s paranormal interest never left as he grew older. It just got worse. Just look at the show. Dib expresses interest in the paranormal but the alien thing seems to take up most of his time.
It can be said that being abducted by aliens as a baby was what instigated Dib’s paranormal obsession, but aliens never kidnapped Dib to make him a super genius baby. What Dib actually remembers is being created in Membrane’s lab.
The show was supposed to reveal that Dib is Professor Membrane’s clone. So Dib’s first cognizant memory is being created in a lab, he was never abducted by aliens as a baby.
But Dib thought it was aliens who made him a super baby, so that instigated his paranormal obsession. This obsession probably just worsened because Prof. Membrane denies paranormal stuff all the time too. I think this whole thing probably could’ve gotten resolved if Membrane just told Dib that he’s a clone, but that’s like a reverse-uno-card to telling your kid he’s adopted and I’ll give Membrane some points for just hoping Dib’s obsession seethes down. eventually. (and ya it never did lmaoo).
Also I think the script for “Mopiness of Doom” made a jab at Membrane for never telling Dib that he’s a clone (or for never explaining the ‘alien abduction’ memory to Dib).
Membrane is banging his head on the table. Gaz walks by and watches.
Membrane: Where did I go wrong!?
At the end of the mopiness script Dib gives up science for his true passion, the paranormal, and Membrane laments on where he went wrong via head concussion. I think Membrane contributed to Dib’s obsession simply because he never told Dib that he’s a clone. By now it too late to change anything.
If Membrane just told Dib that the “alien abduction” thing is Dib being created in a lab, then maybe Dib wouldn’t be obsessed about the paranormal (altho maybe Dib will attain trauma). Like maybe the paranormal would have become a neat hobby rather than something he over-obsesses about. But those are just my thoughts.
Reading this feels so satisfying for some reason.
Like- It’s another thing both Dib and Zim have in common.
We know from those flashbacks that part of the reason Zim is so messed up is due to Irk. Like - they downloaded the history of Irk into their Irken smeets. We know from that robot arm memory that Zim started off being very affectionate - and Zim very much has shown to be the curious sort. Not just because he chooses to learn as much as possible about humans - but do to the fact that he was a scientist on Vort. The only Irken one. And he chose to stay in contact with one of them - the prisoner he is constantly trying to get information from.
Zim, just like Dib, has his own obsession with Aliens, when you think about it. Like - he wants to be away from his home planet and to study alien life and stuff - that’s why he is obsessed with being an Invader. He wants to meet and learn about other life - not even just Earth, cuz we see him throughout both series and comics traveling through space and knowing all sorts of things about other aliens. Even the cosmic Donkey folklore!! He is the only Irken we see that actually digs for this much information about others - the only one we see expressing this much about this type of knowledge.
He’s also the only Irken that calls his own race Evil. And that is 100% Irk’s fault. Because if they hadn’t been so destructive towards other lifeforms and planets and such - I highly doubt Zim would be destroying or killing so much of their own. Even got rid of Tallest Miyuki, we know she’s the one that had the armada created perhaps he had been trying to protect Vort? Or as much of space as he could, to a degree? Was murder on purpose or was he hoping to change her mind? Showing her what he can make with what he learned from the Vortians - and attempt to perhaps try and change her mind gone horribly wrong. Because Irkens value destruction and weapons – of course that is what he thinks is going to change her mind. Make the most dangerous and awesomely destructive blob!! 😢
Of course, Zim wants to good for his people and Irk.
Just like how Dib wants the approval of his father and people - why all his hostilities toward Zim and the supernatural has been linked to him wanting to connect people and achieve world peace and such (like his dad). Trying to follow that value.
I highly suspect Dib would all be for befriending the supernatural and aliens if he didn’t have those possibly traumatic memories of being tested on.
Like… if his first impression of the unknown that is other life is him being in a lab as a baby - it makes sense he’s so hostile towards them. The fact Zim is an invader did not help that impression.
As for Dibs issues with people - that’s bound to happen when he is constantly sent away to a abusive asylum and outcasted by people. Doesn’t help that Membrane is neglectful and the kids could have access to all sorts of crazy science gadgets. Dib is 100% Membrane’s own doing.
It’s a bunch of fascinating parelels between these two.
Both Zim and Dib are the results of their homes failing them. Both of them are very flipping tragic - especially when you consider the Zib comic.
In fact - All this information makes Zib’s situation and everything leading up to it that much more heartbreaking. Not just destroying their homes, but the very cosmos they love most.
TLDR; Both Zim and Dib are more similar then they think, are horribly tragic, and I want them to live that happy life of space travel and adventures and learning space’s mysteries so much please–
