Nemo: My Dark Theory About the Dentist's Office

Okay, so, Finding Nemo... yeah, I know, Pixar, cute, blah blah. My kids loved it. I liked it fine. But something always bugged me, especially rewatching it now that I'm older and maybe a little more cynical. It's the dentist's office. Think about it. They've got this whole ecosystem in a TANK. Fish just... arrive there. Like Gill, the Moorish Idol, he's clearly been trying to escape forever. My theory? Dr. Sherman is a low-key villain. A collector. He doesn't just find these fish. He buys them. Maybe even orchestrates their capture. Think about Darla, that niece, right? You're telling me a dentist, who SHOULD know about animal welfare, lets this kid terrorize fish? Nah. He enables it. It's like he secretly gets off on the whole thing. He is a sicko! Darla is like, his little helper in his messed up hobby. Remember the pelican, Nigel? He's clearly hooked up with the tank gang. He brings them news, right? What if Nigel is Sherman's supplier? Nigel finds exotic fish and brings them in, and Sherman tosses him some scraps? It's a whole underground fish trafficking ring, I'm telling ya! It's darker than you think for a "kids" movie, I think. Okay, maybe I'm reaching, but after seeing so many '80s thrillers, nothing surprises me anymore. Plus, that whole scene where Nemo is about to be given to Darla? Pure tension and horror. Reminded me of the ending of Marathon Man, just sayin'. It's subtle, but the evil is there. Fight me!