Summary
From the outset,Stardew Valleyis a whimsical game about farming and a small, close-knit community of loveable townsfolk. The overwhelming charm of the game, from its lovingly detailed sprites to its heartwarming dialogue, can ease players into a false sense of coziness.
However, hardcore fans of the game know that not everything in Pelican Town is all sunshine and rainbows. Part of what makes the townsfolk so endearing is the fact that they feel like real people with real problems. Not all of them have led very happy or fulfilling lives, while others had to fight tooth and nail for the idyllic lives they have now.
10Jodi
Dissatisfied With Suburban Life
Moms don’t get much more “mom” thanJodi. She’s a doting mother to her boys, whom she loves more than anything. But as players get to know her better, they realize that Jodi may want more out of life than being a wife and mom.
She and Kent married young, and his deployment means she’s had to manage the house by herself. She has no real hobbies other than housework, and her social circle is pretty small. She’s not miserable by any means, but it’s clear Jodi often wonders how her life would be if she’d done things differently.
9Pam
Washed-Up and Always Sloshed
Speaking of moms with regrets,Pam is Pelican Town’sresident alcoholic. She can be found most nights at the Stardrop Saloon, beer in hand. Even when she gets her job as a bus driver back or even gets a brand-new house, she still struggles to overcome her drinking habits.
Pam’s dialogue also strongly implies she views herself as a failure who never amounted to anything, which only reinforces her need for escape. Players can only imagine what happened in Pam’s life to make her the way she is.
8Birdie
A Widowed Hermit Seeking Inner Peace
Not many people live on a deserted island by choice. At least, unless you’re Birdie. She settled into island life after spending three years searching for the remains of her missing husband, who was lost at sea. With the player’s help, she can preserve the memory of her love, but the question is, what’s next?
Birdie’s noble endeavors have led her to lead a pretty solitary existence, and she doesn’t seem to believe there’s much point in changing that. While it’s certainly her right to live in the past, it seems a shame for such a plucky old gal to live with nothing but memories.
7George
Hurting Inside For Thirty-Odd Years
It’s important to note that disabilities don’t always have a sad story attached to them. However,in George’s case, that is certainly the case. A coal mining accident landed him in his wheelchair, leaving him unable to work and having to rely on his wife Evelyn and grandson Alex.
But more than his legs, this accident deeply injured George’s pride. He’s an old-fashioned guy who strongly believes in honest hard work. His inability to do so has left the old-timer feeling pretty worthless over the years. All he does anymore is watch TV, unwilling to make himself an even greater “burden” on his loved ones.
6Alex
Deceased Mother and Deadbeat Father
Many players dislikeAlex for being a stereotypical jockwith some stereotypical ideas about women. However, his 4-heart event makes it painfully clear where he gets it from. His father was a drunken jerk who walked out on him and his mother, who passed after shortly after.
All his father’s talk about Alex being “worthless” still rings in his ears, all these years later. Alex works hard to achieve greatness to prove his old man wrong and to do right by his mother’s memory. It’s a sad tale, but it gives some nobility to the gridball champ.
5Penny
The Understated Effects of A Dysfunctional Home Life
Penny is one of the more popular bachelorettes. She’s shy, sweet, and anxiously polite. The thing is, these mannerisms aren’t just her personality. They’re people-pleasing to the extreme.
Growing up with a mother likePamhas been a constant source of stress in Penny’s life. She routinely takes on the caregiver role, even though she’s the child in the relationship. She manages the house, squirrels away money, so Pam can’t spend it on beer, and tries her best to avoid further family conflict. She really can’t move out quickly enough.
4Shane
A Sobering Depiction Of Depression And Substance Abuse
Like Pam,Shane is another Pelican Town residentwho hides their low self-esteem at the bottom of a bottle. Unlike Pam, though, the source of Shane’s agony is pretty clear. The poor guy is dealing with some severe untreated depression, and working a soul-crushing job at Joja Mart isn’t helping matters.
The poor guy feels crushed by the burdens of modern living, much like the player character did at the beginning of the game. The only difference is thatShanedidn’t inherit the deed to his grandpa’s farm to help him get a fresh start.
3Kent
A Combat Veteran Returning To Civilian Life
For the first year of game time inStardew Valley,Kentwas off on deployment, only occasionally spoken of by his wife and kids. On Spring 1 of Year 2, he finally appears, but according to his family, war has changed him.
Kent’s PTSDis the focal point of his character. He rarely speaks of his military service except to mourn his fallen friends. He’s also triggered by loud noises and struggles to bond with his sons. He’s a good man, but it’s clear that he’s haunted by some truly horrific events.
2Leo
Shipwrecked, Orphaned, and Confused
This poor kid has gone through more than most adults inStardew Valleycould ever dream of.At a young age, Leo’s familywas caught in a storm while at sea. Leo was the only survivor, washing up on the shore of Ginger Island, where he was raised by parrots.
When pressed,Leotries to avoid remembering details about his original family, choosing to believe he’s a parrot himself and suppressing his desire to meet other humans. His past is simply too painful to think about. So is his identity crisis over being a parrot-boy. Someone give this poor kid a hug.
1Dwarf
Alone And Displaced By War
Near the ladder of the Mines stands the only Dwarf encountered in the game, and for good reason. Duringan extended war between the Dwarves and the Shadow People, the Dwarf population was decimated, including Dwarf’s entire family.
Now,Dwarfis all alone, possibly the last of their kind. They can only speculate on some of the Dwarven artifacts the player gives them, clearly disconnected from their own culture thanks to the war. Many people inStardew Valleyhave lost people they love. Dwarf is the only one to have lostallof them.
