The 'Pikachu Does The Unthinkable' meme originated from a 2018 tweet by gaming outlet Polygon, which used the hyperbolic headline to promote a trailer for the Detective Pikachu movie. The 'unthinkable' act in question turned out to be something mundane or cute, leading the internet to mock the dramatic framing of the story. Users began pairing the sensationalist caption with various images of Pikachu doing ordinary things or, conversely, actually shocking things. It serves as a classic critique of clickbait culture and the sometimes absurd nature of entertainment journalism.