Ratchet & Clank - The Plumber Theory 

The Plumber is actually an employee from Insomniac that somehow got teleported into the game!

The plumber is a being who exists everywhere but can only be seen in 1 area at a time so he always knows where the two characters are. This also explains the reboot where he knows who the heroes are. He is also a cosmic time lord. That is my proof of said theory.

The plumber is just Insomniacs take on Stan Lee's cameos in media

i noticed the plumber had a personality change after the first two games.

Here's my, SUPERIOR theory: The Plumber, after coming across a mysterious portal, traveled to our world, breaking the 4th wall. He met the Insomniac writers at the time, and they convinced him to assume a more active role in the series from then on. In return they created a contract that he signed, which raises his pay significantly. There.

Maybe Plumber is Biggest Supervillian galaxy ever known. Like Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars is Biggest Darth ;) That's my crazy teory xD P. S. Sry for my bad English, I'm from Poland.

3:35 its not "just for laughs" its actual continuity, something a lot of games lack. One thing that I loved about Ratchet & Clank is the little stuff like that with the Plumber and the fact that if you got the discount at Gagetron you get to use it in the 3rd game. "2 years later"

Always view as the plumber as the closest thing to god in the universe.

U know when in Tools of Destruction, The Plumber says "I've been everywhere in this universe and beyond"? I think he meant that he is the exact same plumber that appeared on Planet Novalis in the reimagining

What if the plumber, is the delevolopers, that they are representing them selves as a "funny" character and give you the right advice at the right time... that will explaine how they know what's gonna happen, and how they get all these weird things that get you out of trouble, also he gives you help in the game by collecting a lot of bolts , like you said in ratchet and clank 3 he put you in a sidemission that you have to collect crystalls. So i think that the developers are the plumber, it's the only character that they kept and not appeared only in a title and that's all. That's my theory :)))

If Kaden was a Plumber hiding to keep Ratchet safe... why he didn't revealed himself after Tachions defeat?

I think that Kaden had a personal relationship with the Zoni that he kept secret from everyone else, and the plumber was a friend of Kaden's on Fastoon. When Ratchet was a baby, he took quite a liking to the plumber, as the plumber would visit often, like an uncle. Anyway, one day, Orvus revealed to Kaden that he'd glimpsed into the future, and had seen many things: Tachyon, the fate of the lombaxes, Drek, Nefarious, etc., and that Kaden's son had a place in making everything right, a place as a hero. Orvus also revealed that due to unknown circumstances, his physical self would perish in years to come. Thus, Orvus told Kaden of his idea to create an heir to the Great Clock, as well as someone who could be of assistance to Ratchet in his heroic ventures (Clank). For unknown reasons, Kaden was warned by Orvus to keep all of this a secret. The furthest Kaden had gone in spilling it was warning Alister Azimuth not to trust Tachyon. When the fate of Fastoon came into play, Kaden remembered the words of Orvus, about Ratchet becoming a hero one day. So he gave Ratchet to the plumber and asked the plumber to flee from the planet and raise him in the Solana galaxy, far away from Tachyon. So the Plumber took Ratchet to planet veldin, a discreet planet with a low population. There, he raised Ratchet until Ratchet was about 10 years old, until one day, the Zoni showed up. When Kaden and his wife had died, they went to the Zoni dimension where they were in constant contact with Orvus. Orvus and Kaden agreed that there must be a living person who can use Zoni ability to foresee the future and know all there is to know about the universe, to guide Ratchet (a cryptic supervisor of sorts). So the Zoni were sent to bring the plumber to The Great Clock, to be this previously mentioned cryptic supervisor. The Zoni's capturing of the plumber was traumatic for Ratchet, thus Ratchet had repressed all his memories of the plumber, and had survived alone for the next few years. Orvus had meanwhile spent those years creating his heir, as well as granting the plumber Zoni-like abilities (along with Kaden's guidance). Sooner or later, Orvus inserted Clank's soul into a robot factory that he knew would lead Clank to Ratchet. From then on, Orvus and Kaden worked together to telepathically communicate with the plumber, so that the plumber could guide both Ratchet and Clank to save the universe many times over. Eventually, Orvus' aforementioned physical demise came into play, with led into the events of A Crack in Time. Long story short, I know this is a bit of a loose theory, but nevertheless, one I've been giving a ton of thought. There are probably gaps in my theory I forgot to mention, but that's basically it :) OH, and I think that one hippie guy from Going Commando had some sort of connection to the Zoni as well!!! (Beyond the plumber, I think there are many plausible examples of Zoni intervention in the series, all done perfectly to make sure Ratchet and Clank achieved all they that they did)

Finished rift apart and it essentially confirmed this whole theory

Crap. I was gonna say that the Plumber was actually Max Apogee...

Anyone here after Rift Apart?

You're probably gonna see a lot of me for a while. I'm a brand new Ratchet and Clank fan and have a lot to catch up on. And I especially love your theory vids on them! I think that if the plumber was a friend of Kaden's, the plumber was actually nearby the whole time. And just is really good at hiding and making up stories when he's needed or spotted. But it makes more sense that Orvus and the Zoni were involved with him, unless Kaden had also communicated with the Zoni. That would be kinda cool. Orvus, the plumber, and Kaden were working together the whole time? That would make a lot of sense and just be really cool!

dude, play Rift Apart, He's now a father and the protector of the dimensions

i always loved the Plummer, he was a fun character, i would love it if he was part of something bigger than just a running gag

What if the plumber was a higher power than the zoni? What if he was their boss or their god.

The Plummer might be ratchets dad using a hologiser

If The Plumber knew to risk only 6 minutes or less, yes it could be Orvus. But if he knows everything that happens... Maybe he risked more then 6 minutes, Like Alister said, the clock may let the one who used it remember some parts of their life or, in ratchet's sake, may let them still meet someone... The Plumber may have remembered his past life and events. In his past life, he could of always been at battles who accompanied Ratchet and Clank, but had to give it up going back in time. He wanted to make a necklace for his wife? You never hear or see anything else of her except for that line. What if he was working with the rangers, and he made a mistake in battle and the enemy killed his wife, so he went back in time to get her back, he gave up being a ranger and gave clues to Ratchet and Clank, helping them everywhere he went wrong. He says that he is not in charge of where things break, yet he knows when he will meet them. If he was working with them in a past life he must of seen the broken things and remembered them, at a certain time going to the certain place, using the broken thing as an excuse to help Ratchet and Clank. That is just my guess... I may have gotten some facts wrong, I have not been in the fandom for too long and haven't heard all of the story.

Man, I have so many questions about this Plumber dude. Popping up out of nowhere, giving hints to Ratchet and Clank. It's like this dude is a God.

I love his timing and can you do a theory about the plumber about how he knows about what happened to the great clock like what he told clank it's unknown

The plumber is the character meant to take the place of a middle ground dirty who can neither help nor not help ratchet and clank through their journeys, much Stan lees cameos mentioned by a previous comment. Stan lee is always there for some deep but of philosophical advice when all hope is considered lost. Characters like Stan lees cameos, the plumber in ratchet and clank and character of God portrayed by Morgan freeman in Bruce almighty.

GUYS IMPORTANT NEWS. (Minor spoilers) IN RIFT APART THE PLUMBER HAD A SON WHICH IS GARY THE PROPHET!!!!

Interesting idea that the Plumber is somehow connected to the Zoni. I'm pretty sure he's more than a running gag but I never gave it more thought. And speaking of the Zoni, I think they are behind everything Ratchet is going through. Think of it, Aphelion didn't remember what happened to the Lombaxes when you ask her on Fastoon. She claims her data banks were destroyed in the crash but apart from that she seems perfectly functional, which makes me think someone interfered with her data banks while she was out (the Zoni probably?) Also after the conversation with IRIS the player has the option to ask again where the Lombaxes went to which she replies that this data had been deleted from her memory banks. By who? I'm thinking the Zoni. What if they didn't want to leave clues of where the Lombaxes are so Ratchet won't give everything up to follow them because the universe needs a hero and for some reason it has to be him? I might be overthinking it but we do need more answers about Ratchet's purpose and the intentions of the Zoni. Come on Insomniac, make it happen! Great video as always! P.S. The deleted scenes of the movie are out. Wow! xD

I've just discovered your channel and your videos are so freaking interesting, I mean this 18 minutes one passed by like a breeze. I'm really glade I discovered you.

The Plumber is actually the catalyst for the plot of every single game in the franchise. He is immortal and omnipotent, and is the mastermind behind the Lombax extinction and created the Great Clock.

6:02 I don't think the plumber was indeed lying because in up your arsenal he mentions his wife and in ratchet & clank 1 he mentions his grandfather so he was telling the truth but he doesn't have the advice anymore like in the future saga

He's the Stan Lee of the Ratchet and Clank universe

i was thinking ratchets father asked that the plumber help ratchet

I think the plumber is Orvus or something greater than Orvus.

The Plumber is the Deadpool of the Ratchet and clank and he probably used the dimesionator to travel to many possible events in dimensions and probably went to the our world dimension which could explain y he keeps talking about reboot and games. Kinda reminds of Rick and Morty saying there r infinite amount of dimensions.

When he says "Did we meet before" he meant by the first couple of games

I think the smuggler knows more than he's letting on...

the plumber is a representation of the typical character that appears at the right time in the right moment,aka the guy who might be interested in getting something from helping the duo like if he's the bad guy who uses his enemies to get rid od potential enemies

The plumber is the Stan Lee of the Ratchet and Clank universe

Could it be that the plumber could be the god of the Ratchet and Clank universe? Because in for example the god in the Marvel universe is always depicted as a human or a dog or something else normal. This gives a good and simple explenation to all of this.

the plumber is eveywhere whenever when ratchet and clank. go's to a new planet he's there

As a kid I felt like the plumber was like a real life person(devs) talking to the game characters lol

A pretty weird theory, but it's not bad, I like

I think of the plumber as something like the plumbers from Ben 10, but only one.

Im pretty sure The Plumber is Orvus in disguise, theres many evidences showing that, he supposed to be a god-like being which can control time(and other abilities) which explain the ability to predict the future and can be anywhere at anytime(i mean he can just go inside someone head just like that?), in the last video message for clank at the end of CIT it shows that he knew that clank wont become the great clock caretaker, and lastly his role in "into the nexus" where he asked ratchet to collect the blueprint that he scattered around the sector to give ratchet the RYNO VII(which he invited) since he know that the main bad guy was another powerful god-like being(if you already rescued him and got the ryno, he wont appear i challenge mode).

Amazing Video! Thanks VTNVIVI! It's an Amazing Theory that just had to be brought to attention y'know. I really believe that's the Plumber's Main Goal, is to look after Ratchet for Kaden.

The Plumber is the universe and it's will that chose the form of the Plumber. His job is to give hints and help the duo so that they can do their job as heroes to take care of the universe. He is also immortal.

VTNVIVI thanks for replaying and also i have you to 4 extra things you should make video for 1 is top 10 best planets from all ratchet and clank games 2 is top 5 omniwrenches i think that they are but i am not sure and also include azimuths omniwrench even and if it is from the cheats cause ratchet can still use it 3 top 10 supportive weapons from all ratchet and clank games what i mean is weapons like the magnet cannon mister zurkon the dance groovitron the lighting spikes and the bees from tools and that mud monsters and the interdimensional monster from crack in time and the freeze grenades and the quantum shotgun from nexus and the goblin monsters or whatever they are called from into the nexus and also there are more weapons like these. 4 is who is really the best looking ratchet from all ratchet and clank games and the ps4 one.

Actually, Secret Agent Clank was released a year after Tools of Destruction. ToD was released in 2007. Secret Agent Clank was released in 2008.

for all we know hes a God and father if a demension traveling crocodile

Am i the only One Who think the plumber could be max apogee, because in tools of destruction he says that he visitited every Place in the galaxy?

I think the reason Clank met The Plumber, was because Clank re fixed the memory machine And Clank was testing it, and he met the plumber

Great theory, maybe Insomniac will be inspired by this video.

I'm quite angry he didn't show up in the movie. Hell, *I* came up with a scene for him and I'm not even a professional.

Alright so what if The Plumber is traveling through different universities, When the Plumber meets, Ratchet and Clank classic, for the first time, he saw them, in U.R.A and up, was the second time he meet them, in the HD games, In the new one since it's been a little bit he wanted to say hi to us, the Player.

The plumber is either a god of the R&C universe or just a prophet of them of sorts

VTNVIVI make a video about these 4 things please 1 top 10 best looking armours. 2 from all ratchet and clank games 2 top 10 deadliest weapon loadout that ratchet has from all ratchet and clank games. 3 top 10 most powerful weapons that are not rynos and 4 make a video about the talwyns race and how many humanoid races there might be in the ratchet and clank universe

Here is my theory: I think the plumber is actually ratchets father because first of all he says have we met before and he gets memories of the old days so I think that is ratchets dad imo.

The Plumber's real name is Garry Stu

Actually... Recently Insomniac said that Size Matters and SAC are canon

I mean in the secret agent clank TV series in the games ratchet isn't a character he plays jeebs or something like that and in the game he plays ratchet. Ratchet isn't a character in the show do I'd say it's not based on a show and is just as canon as any other game

You're probably seeing me a lot in the comments as of recently but I've got one other thing to add. (I'm seriously getting back into the Ratchet and Clank series so that's why. lol) One possible theory is Kaden probably knew the plumber prior to the destruction of Fastoon. I don't believe Kaden is alive, however I do believe that before his death he placed baby Ratchet in the ship he bought from the smuggler and entrusted the plumber to look after his son. I mean assuming Kaden knew the plumber already. That might explain why Ratchet was seemingly living on his own. Maybe the plumber raised Ratchet until a certain point but continued looking after him from afar and Ratchet might not remember him because the plumber cared for him at such an early age.

Zoni(orvis) contacted the plumber to help with the great clock(beyond the universe) and struck up a conversation with him asking about his adventures. The plumber tells him of the time novalis was attacked and he mentions R&C. Orvis asks about clank and if he has seen them since. He talks about their other encounters and orvis asks the plumber to help the duo out by showing him their futures and how they will need guidance. If he happens to meet ratchets father along the way that's his buisness and if he tells him how his son is doing thats just fine.

In the ps4 ratchet and clank the plumber says “see ya in the next reboot”

The Plumber is a Time Lord.

If only the 2016 game had any personality :(

The Plumber is the god of Insomniac Games

What if Orvus and the Plumber are one and the same?

Ok I don't think BTN is legit

I really think that the plumer was in contact with kaden because what if kaden was told by the zoni about whats going to happen to ratchet , so kaden told the plummer and the plummer told clank to keep an eye out. Just like when he said six minutes . So clank went back 6 minutes to save ratchet... MY MIND IS BLOWING FROM THIS AND I LUV IT . THX FOR MAKING THIS . Can you make a theory of who took care of ratchet when he was a baby plz. Plz reply

Is the plumber actually max apogee

Perhaps he is from one dimension and whenever you die in ratchet and clank games he goes to the next dimension to save ratchet and clank

Hope you see this VTNVIVI may be the plumber is a time lord from gallifrey (doctor who,) if true the question becomes what is his TARDIES. P.S. time lords can see into the future mostly If their is temporal disruptions in the time line, also a time lords TARDIES is a space ship, and takes them where they need to as it has a soul a conscience meaning it is self aware and knows where the time lord or time lady is needed at anywhere in the universe where their is trouble. One more thing did also mention it also a time machine it can to any point in time past, present or future. (Sorry for the long comment hope you find it interesting.)🎃👽

He was also in the comics

... talking about the scene of Clank's conscience: i think that the Plumber is not linked to the Zoni. the Plumber was Simply imagined by Clank, a bit like the "Qwark enemies" in the previous "Subconscious station": they were imagined by Clank... So in his conscience, Clank imagine people as they are in the reality... so he imagined the Plumber that give mystetious hints, but in reality the answer that the Plumber give to Clank (6 minutes) was "hidden" in Clank's memory, so Clank already knew how to use the Great Clock, but he had to search the answer in his conscience.

What if the plumber was actually the father of Gary ( from Rift apart)

the only games didn't show up in is ratchet deadlocked and ratchet and clank size matters

this is shockingly close to what was revealed in Rift Apart

I already thouht about that the Plumber about that he meat Orvis before you talk about it. The plumber who now abour the future, the best joke to enoy his 4th wall break. And he say see you in the next game also in the ps4 game. So did he mean next rebuut or the continue of the old series?

i knw i am too months late but more could have ment diffrent dimentions

0:00 - "The Plumber Theory"? Is this about why he is always back? XD 0:20 - Really? I'd assume whatever requests your talking about, mainly with characters like The Plumber you wouldn't take seriously but OK! :) 0:44 - That makes a lot of sense considering his appearance in the Future series. 1:27 - I believe the word was "socioeconomic disparity" meaning working people had to wait on heroes like Qwark to save them. 1:35 - I thought it was "The Water-worker". 2:15 - It seemed like a bad choice making him a villain since his character was just a fanboy. Fun fact: his name was Walter in the 2nd game on PS2 however in Ratchet & Clank: Q-Force his name was changed to Stuart for some reason. 3:15 - UK actually. Not sure if you heard but the UK has now become it's own nation splitting from Europe. 3:47 - Actually he also appeared in Secret Agent Clank as well but I'll assume you're going to bring that up. 3:50 - My 2nd favorite level in that game. :) 4:01 - How do you not recognize Ratchet & Clank in HD? XD 4:10 - Notice how it resembles a toilet. XD 5:15 - We come to the real meat of this guy at last. 5:48 - It's like his holocard in the reboot states, that he can see through the past, present and the future. 5:52 - Still yet to get that or the other 5. 5:56 - Fun fact: that character he rescued, Vorn Garblak is heard in Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One at the minister of defense. 6:49 - Who? I don't know who that character is, I thought they kidnapped Pollyx. 8:36 - Well I wouldn't be surprised if Insomniac Games and High Impact Games were that close considering that the latter is also made up of ex employees of the former and Naughty Dog. Fun fact: there is also a secret skin in Secret Agent Clank, a Zoni skin for Clank if you found the code in Tools Of Destruction. 8:47 - TGX talked about that in his review stating that it's non canon and it's worse then Spyro: Enter The Dragonfly and that's a huge deal considering that Spyro: Enter The Dragonfly is ... terrible. 10:03 - They did hire a doctor as well ... by the name of Dr. Nefarious. 13:57 - Maybe he was trusted by both Orvus and Kaden? Oh! That;s a new theory I've come up with! I'm not sure if you've already come up with this but what if, Kaden & Orvus knew each other? Sure that'd be way to coincidental but think about it. Kaden theorized that the Great Clock existed right? What if Orvus met him and let him theorize but in the wrong direction in order to ensure safety of the Great Clock? 15:31 - I'm certain that the same can also be said about Orvus at this point. You know what'd be funny? If The Plumber worked with both Kaden and Orvus and neither of them would know about each other. XD 16:02 - This could be a terrible case but what if Kaden wasn't such a good guy himself? We only heard a lot about him from Azimuth but that's it. Chances are not all Lombaxes were good, we already have what Azimuth tried to do in A Crack In Time but maybe he's not the only one. 16:55 - What if The Plumber is the equivalent to Samuel from Life Is Strange? Or he could just be a simple spirit looking out for bot Kaden's and Orvus' kids? 17:00 - And if you worked on the whole thing, YOU are awesome. ;) 17:10 - Like I said; I'd believe in the possibility of Kaden & Orvus having a common interest in protect their families and the universe to a point where they hired this one guy. 17:13 - And as always, we are all happy to watch. :)

The plumber is the fucking doctor oh my God

What if angela is ratchets mom and she is clumsy so she fell over and hit her head, giving herself amnesia.

the plumber's race is unnamed common Solana species

I feel like the plumber was met with the zoni and was tasked with a mission or a "purpose" with the dimensionator, well when he completed his task the zoni took him right? Just like clank, except the dimensionator got destroyed, but the zoni took him. *(SPOILERS)* In rift apart Gary is like the keeper of the dimensions? Something like that lol. But he is ALSO the plumbers son. Gary mentions "you are good friends with my father". I don't know. This is my theory, I don't got more to it but I feel like he had some purpose with the dimensionator, and the zoni.

The Plumber is god

11:00 the heck is this thing, it looks massive.

You want the answer for the dementionnator and it was kaden

Personally I think him saying socio economic disparity was a better joke than the hi def one. Even if it wasn't intended as a joke

Deja vu

The plumber is ratchet and clank version of mxzyplitk or bat mite Except causing less trouble

what text to speech software did you use?

Can you return to the subject since rift apart came out?

i think he is a time traveler and that in the futsjer its bad but that he know that Ratchet & Clank can save the galacsie srry for my bad english i'm dutch

Wat if the plumber is traveling through time and dimensions by using the pipes

The plumber is an timelord?

Maybe it's a 4th wall thing.....maybe he travelled the universe and beyond means I travelled the rachet and clank universe and beyond means his life as a voice actor on our earth.....and the guidance is coming from the game developers

Good video

The mysterious person is cross I'm almost sure

i always thought it was a mario reference turned meme

mario and plumber... who will win though?

Wow you are writing the story for Insomniac, they dont need to write it anymore they just look up this video