Zim before he releases the Virtual Reality Helmets on the Grout Family.
The Virtual Reality Helmets are, as the name implies, Irken-made helmets for the purpose of creating a virtual reality world for the wearer. Presumably this is done for many different reasons, though the only time they're seen on the show, Zim uses them to force the inhabitants of the city into buying his Poop candy bars to help the Skool, as he naively believed he would win a “secret prize” that could aid him in his quest for world domination if he sold the most out of all his classmates. They made their only appearance in “Door to Door”.
Before the helmets were released on the population, Zim had them compacted in a briefcase that could fit in the palm of one’s hand. After Zim used a remote that controlled the helmets, they were able to shoot into the air and fly onto the heads of humans and expand over them to form the same type of helmet that Zim has in his PAK, except without the telescoping eyes.
The Helmets in use.
Once the helmets are activated, Zim creates a virtual world where Irkens have enslaved humanity, much to the horror of the humans that were unlucky enough to be under the helmet’s influence. This way, Zim was able to fool his “customers” into believing the only way to prevent such a terrifying future is by buying his candy. With this strategy, Zim was so successful that he was able to sell over 1.2 million candy bars.
Unfortunately for him, his efforts were for naught, as the prize ended up being nothing, as Ms. Bitters admitted that the Skool made it up in order to make kids work harder for no money.
Facts of Doom[]
- Originally when Zim puts the virtual reality helmets on the Grout family, the virtual screening showed New York, implied by the Statue of Liberty floating in the water. Since the September 11 attacks happened three days before the episode's originally planned airdate, the scene was cut and replaced with another one in which the Irkens seemingly hired another alien species to help them in their subjugation of the human race.
- The helmets seem to be a compacted version of Zim’s holographic room that was seen in “Dib's Wonderful Life of Doom”, and presumably the holo-visors that the Irkens use for military simulations as documented in the unmade episode “The Trial”.
- The range of how far the helmets can fly and hit their target seems to be limitless, as Zim used several helmets to fly all over the city and onto the heads of presumably the entire population for him to be able to makes millions of sales.
- Ironically, Zim could have easily fooled humanity into making him their ruler using the helmets, but instead used them in order to get a secret prize. This is an example of how Zim has the necessary tools to easily conquer the Earth but fails to use them properly.
- Interestingly, it’s plausible that the apocalyptic scenario Zim showed humanity is one he desires for the conquest of Earth, showing his desire to complete his mission.
- Curiously Zim never used the virtual reality helmets on either Dib or Gaz, possibly hinting that he knew they wouldn’t be so easily fooled like the rest of the population.
- It’s unknown how Zim came to be in possession of the Virtual Reality Helmets, but considering how the Megadoomer had similar colorations, it’s possibly hinting that they’re Vortian in origin and presumably Prisoner 777 was his supplier.
- It’s unknown what became of the helmets after their use, but presumably Zim put them in storage somewhere in his base.