The Plumber (known occasionally as the Mechanic in the original Ratchet & Clank,[2] the WaterWorker,[3] or the Janitor) is a recurring character in the Ratchet & Clank series who makes an appearance in most entries in the series. He is a mysterious traveling handyman from the Solana Galaxy who repairs leaky plumbings and other mechanical apparatuses all across the universe and beyond. He has seemingly omniscient knowledge and often appears to provide aid or cryptic advice to Ratchet and Clank during their adventures.
History[]
Ratchet & Clank[]
Ratchet and Clank first encountered the Plumber fixing a pipe on planet Novalis after the mission "Explore the waterworks". He then sold them an infobot in exchange for 500 bolts to get a shuttle off the planet, which was being devastated by the blarg. The infobot contained a recording of Skidd McMarx and his agent being shot down over Aridia, providing the two with coordinates to the planet.
The Plumber later encountered the duo on Batalia, where he had found work repairing Fort Krontos' heavy turret. While he had successfully repaired it, none of the locals had the skill to use it. After Ratchet offered to use it, noting that the blarg had already chased the Plumber off Novalis and that it would be useless if no one was using the turret, the Plumber reluctantly allowed him to operate it despite the risk to his job, giving them the mission "Destroy the bombers". After Ratchet brought down the blarg destroyers, the Plumber rewarded him with a Metal Detector that his grandfather had invented to find spare change underneath the surface of any planet in the galaxy.[4]
Re-imagined[]
The Plumber had different roles in the film and Qwark's retelling of events. In Captain Qwark's retelling, the Plumber was entirely aware of his events in the original game and had a similar role. Ratchet and Clank found him working on a way to escape planet Novalis, entirely aware of his role in the original release.
The Plumber granted Ratchet and Clank an infobot for planet Kerwan, containing details of Chairman Drek's plan to invade the planet, before offering to help repair their ship. Once the two repaired the ship and saved Agnogg Buckwash, the Plumber repaired the ship. Qwark tried to claim that the Plumber, Ratchet, and Clank encountered a "brain-eating zombie T-Rex" here, though Shiv Helix interrupted Qwark's story, as this was blatantly untrue. Once the Plumber fixed the ship, Ratchet and Clank thanked him, to which the Plumber ominously replied, "See you in the next reboot". Unlike the original release, the Plumber did not appear on Batalia.
In the film, The Plumber had a much smaller role. First, he showed up as a crowd member on Kerwan, gathering around Ratchet. Later, the Plumber appeared at the end of the final credits screen, scolding the audience for having not left the movie yet.
Going Commando[]
During their adventures in the Bogon Galaxy, Ratchet and Clank encountered the Plumber aboard the flying lab on Aranos, where he had been called in to unblock a pipe, a job he accepted as he was paid triple time to complete it, plus travel expenses.[5] He discovered it was blocked by a Qwark statuette, which he then sold to the duo for 20,000 bolts. After selling it, he ominously told Ratchet that he would see him "in another year or so".[6]
Up Your Arsenal[]
The Plumber later met Ratchet and Clank once again, this time in the sewers of Aquatos. Upon their arrival, he ominously exclaimed that they were "right on schedule" (implying he knew when they would show up). He then claimed he was there to make a present for his wife out of sewer crystals, and paid Ratchet and Clank for every Sewer Crystal they collected. After they sold him all the crystals, he said that he would see the duo again "one of these days."
Deadlocked[]
While Ratchet and Clank competed in DreadZone, the Plumber was called out due to a sump pump emergency in the Rygylian Nebula, meaning he was unable to appear.[7]
Size Matters[]
The Plumber did not physically appear, nor was he mentioned, although he could be seen floating around in Ratchet's Dreamtime.
Secret Agent Clank[]
Ratchet encountered the Plumber on the Prison Planet in the showers, fixing the cold water. He asked Ratchet to give him a hand, though this knocked something loose and angered the nearby prisoners, starting a brawl.
Tools of Destruction[]
Ratchet and Clank found the Plumber in the lombax testing facility in Outpost L51, Sargasso, in "Investigate the Kerchu Outpost". He had created a "high-speed interplanetary transportation gizmo" (which resembled a toilet). After noting he almost did not recognize them in high def, he told them that no device capable of vaporizing the cragmites existed in the universe, alluding to the Dimensionator's true nature. He then gave them a 3 Ā¾ Centicubit Hexagonal Washer, a key piece of the Dimensionator, before leaving.[8] Clank then used this to repair the Dimensionator after defeating Emperor Tachyon.[9]
A Crack in Time[]
The Plumber entered Clank's subconscious, mistaking it for Qwark's due to the emptiness. Clank met the Plumber there in "Test Mnemonic Station Iota", seeing the Plumber try to unclog a pipe. After pulling out Ratchet's OmniWrench, the Plumber gave Clank a boost to help him jump down the pipe, and while commenting on Clank's new Great Clock responsibilities and relationship with Ratchet, he mentioned that the hardest part of accepting one's place in the universe was taking the first step.[a] He then cryptically told Clank he "wouldn't risk any more than six minutes" before departing.[10] This advice helped Clank in the Orvus Chamber, when Clank was able to safely reverse time by six minutes to save Ratchet.[11]
Ratchet & Clank comic series[]
During Bros Before Foes, the Plumber operated in the aqueduct in Apogee Space Station. When Ratchet, Talwyn Apogee, and Vorn Garblak in attempting to reach one of the station's teleporters, the Plumber rescued them and advised them against swimming in the aqueduct. Talwyn wondered what he was doing there, but the group shrugged it off and hurried through thereafter.[12]
All 4 One[]
Ratchet, Clank, Captain Qwark, and Dr. Nefarious were confronted by the Plumber on planet Magnus after discovering their exit platform was damaged. Stranded and freezing to death in the icy tundra, the four were encountered by the Plumber after he was sent to replace someone else's job to fix the platform.
The Plumber fixed the platform, and before leaving on it, Ratchet asked if the Plumber had any mystical advice that would help them in their quest to defeat Nevo Binklemeyer. The Plumber simply questioned Ratchet and gave him a wink before the four went on their way, perhaps knowing that Nevo was not the true enemy.
Full Frontal Assault[]
The Plumber appeared in the Starship Phoenix II and made comments as the QForce moved around him. He then left to Markazia after Stuart Zurgo sent a transmission. Zurgo used a Hologuise to disguise himself as The Plumber and access the Starship Phoenix II later. When Ratchet received a distress call from the Plumber and arrived on the scene, he realized that the Plumber on board the Phoenix II was an impostor and quickly returned to the ship.
The Plumber is also a skin in the multiplayer, unlocked by purchasing the Classic Pack downloadable content.
Before the Nexus[]
The Plumber appeared giving advice to Ratchet in communication as he pursued Vendra and Neftin Prog who had kidnapped Fleebar Snuttleblast.
Into the Nexus[]
At some point before the game, the Plumber invented the RYNO VII, breaking it up into holo-plans for safekeeping.
The Plumber first showed up on the Nebulox Seven Prison Ship, apparently doing contract work between toilets. During his work, he got himself locked inside a vault on the ship, which was able to withstand the explosion of the Nebulox when the Prog twins had destroyed it. This vault eventually landed on planet Thram in the Zarkov Sector. In order to unlock the vault, Ratchet collected six keys from across the swamp on Thram, at which point the Plumber could assemble the RYNO VII for Ratchet once given the holo-plans. However, if the player unlocked the safe again in challenge mode already possessing the RYNO VII, the Plumber was gone.
Rift Apart[]
In Rift Apart, Clank meets an interdimensional entity known as Gary who mentions that Clank is a friend of his father, who turns out to be the Plumber, seemingly confirming that the Plumber is indeed an interdimensional traveller. Gary reveals he is a lifelong student of the secrets of the multiverse and was educated by the Plumber to help in watching over the cosmos. Sometime before the events of Rift Apart began, the Plumber went on his first ever vacation, leaving Gary in charge to temporarily take over his responsibilities and entrusting him with his book of universal knowledge.
Kit mentions to Ratchet that Gary's uncles sometimes would play extensive practical jokes on each other from across dimensions using their special powers. Gary having uncles in other dimensions seems to suggest these are brothers of the Plumber. During the end credits, Gary and the Plumber are shown looking through their book of compiled universal knowledge together and cataloguing the events that transpired in Rift Apart.
Characteristics[]
The Plumber is a mysterious being, of the same species as other characters from the Solana Galaxy, such as Agnogg Buckwash, who has demonstrated apparent omniscience throughout his encounters with Ratchet and Clank, as well as awareness of the fourth wall. His omniscience is used as a plot device, but also to break the fourth wall and provide comic relief.[b] However, the knowledge he provided was always cryptic, as he never gave away too much to the duo, only enough to help them complete their quest. The Plumber is also aware of the fourth wall, commenting in Tools of Destruction about the game using high definition graphics.[8] Similarly, in the 2016 re-imagined release of Ratchet & Clank, he is entirely aware of the events of the original Ratchet & Clank, and is aware that he is in a reboot. It is also noted that he can see into both the past and future.[13]
The Plumber also claimed to have been "everywhere in this universe, and beyond" in Tools of Destruction,[8] demonstrating apparent omnipresence. He could reach every galaxy, and also entered Clank's subconscious and mentioned being able to travel to other minds as well. While the Plumber did seem to provide invaluable knowledge to the duo, he nonetheless claimed during many of his meetings with them that they were coincidental, saying that he was hired to do another job.
The Plumber is apparently a skilled inventor, able to create interplanetary transportation devices, as well as the RYNO VII, the most powerful weapon in the universe when it was built.
In Rift Apart it is revealed he possesses and has catalogued a book containing the most up-to-date collection of knowledge in the universe.
Behind the scenes[]
The Plumber was voiced by Neil Flynn, the voice of "The Janitor" on the TV sitcom Scrubs, in the original trilogy. However, he was voiced by Jess Harnell in all of his appearances from Tools of Destruction onwards, including in the re-imagined release of Ratchet & Clank, both by Flynn and Harnell. Jess Harnell also voiced the Smuggler, a similar character who appeared in most entries following Tools of Destruction to provide Ratchet help.
Series writer TJ Fixman had written a reason why the Plumber appeared in every game, which was never revealed before Fixman left Insomniac.[14]
Insomniac concept artist Dave Guertin based The Plumber's design on his father and his own life as a construction worker.[15]
The pipe that the Plumber unblocks in Clank's subconscious in A Crack in Time represents pipes seen throughout the Super Mario franchise, in which the main character, Mario, is a plumber. As Clank invites the Plumber to enter, he responds that it'd be "ridiculous" to have plumbers "just go diving down strange pipes all willy-nilly",[10] a tongue-in-cheek nod to the Super Mario series.
The Plumber has appeared in some form in every title in the series, including the non-canon Ratchet & Clank: Bang Bang Bang! Critical Danger of the Galaxy Legend manga, aside from Deadlocked (though his absence was explained at the end of the credits), Quest for Booty, and Going Mobile. His appearances have become a running joke. Initially, he provided mostly optional missions after his first appearance, though from Tools of Destruction onwards, he provided a more crucial plot role in his appearances, often showing up in the right place at the right time.
Notes[]
Annotations[]
- ā The pipe that the Plumber helped Clank jump down in A Crack in Time was a metaphor for Clank's path as Senior Caretaker of the Great Clock. Of the objects found inside it, Ratchet's OmniWrench was blocking it, suggesting Ratchet was what was holding him back from taking on the responsibility. After helping Clank, the Plumber told him that if Ratchet was his friend, "he'll understand", suggesting he would understand going separate ways thereafter.[10]
- ā The Plumber knew when he would run into Ratchet and Clank, as he noted in Going Commando that he would see them in a year, and then noted in Up Your Arsenal (a year later) that they were right on schedule. Later, in Tools of Destruction, the Plumber knew that the duo would need a 3 Ā¾ Centicubit Hexagonal Washer to repair the Dimensionator when escaping Tachyon, and in A Crack in Time, he knew that Clank would need to travel back six minutes to save Ratchet.
Citations[]
- ā Ratchet & Clank (2016 game) menu § "The Plumber"
- ā Ratchet & Clank (2002 game) script § "Buy Infobot from mechanic (gameplay)"
- ā Ratchet & Clank (2002 game), credits
- ā Ratchet & Clank (2002 game) script § "Well, well, well."
- ā Going Commando script § "Gameplay 3"
- ā Going Commando script § "Gameplay 3"
- ā Deadlocked: Explained during the end of the credits.
- ā 8.0 8.1 8.2 Tools of Destruction script § "Investigate the Kerchu Outpost (gameplay)"
- ā Tools of Destruction script § "Find Tachyon (gameplay)"
- ā 10.0 10.1 10.2 A Crack in Time script § "Test Mnemonic Station Iota (gameplay)"
- ā A Crack in Time script § "The Plumber's Advice"
- ā Bros Before Foes
- ā Ratchet & Clank (2016 game) menu § "The Plumber"
- ā Fixman 2018
- ā The Art of Ratchet & Clank, p. 147
References[]
- Video games
- Insomniac Games (2002). Ratchet & Clank [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
- Insomniac Games (2003). Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
- Insomniac Games (2004). Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal [Game]. PlayStation 2.
- Insomniac Games (2005). Ratchet: Deadlocked [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
- High Impact Games (2007). Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation Portable.
- Insomniac Games (2007). Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- High Impact Games (2008). Secret Agent Clank [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation Portable.
- Insomniac Games (2009). Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- Insomniac Games (2011). Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- Insomniac Games (2012). Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- (2013). Ratchet & Clank: Before the Nexus [Game].
- Insomniac Games (2013). Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 3.
- Insomniac Games (2016). Ratchet & Clank [Game]. Sony Interactive Entertainment. PlayStation 4.
- Bibliography
- Fixman, TJ (2011). Ratchet & Clank (Issue 6: Bros Before Foes) [Book]. Wild Storm.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment (2018). The Art of Ratchet & Clank [Book]. Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 978-1506705729.
- Videos
- Kevin Munroe (Director) (2016). Ratchet & Clank [Film]. Rainmaker Entertainment.
- Fixman, TJ [@TJFixman] (2018, August 29). 1) The Plumber - I had a fun reason why he always showed up in every game. :) [Tweet]. Twitter.