Pierre –Stardew Valley’sgeneral store owner – is best known by fans for his high prices, inconsistent schedule, and love of money. And, perhaps, for punching Morris of JojaMart after the completion of the community center. Of the manyStardew ValleyNPCs who players can befriend, Pierre is generally one of the less popular, primarily for the above reasons. But Pierre isn’t really a price-gouging tyrant who could ultimately become as cruel and greedy as Morris. He is simply a man doing what is best for his family while the only business he knows is at risk of being destroyed by a soulless corporation.
Why Is Pierre Unpopular Among Stardew ValleyFans?
Like any shopkeeper in any game, Pierre is disliked because many people feel that his prices are too high. Others find it annoying that his store is closed on Wednesdays, although this will ultimately be rectified should players restore the Community Center and banish JojaMart from the town. Other reasons often given for disliking Pierre include his strained relationship with his daughter Abigail, his smugness if he wins theGrange Competitionduring the Stardew Valley Fair, and the fact that he takes credit for growing produce that the player sells to him.
Perhaps the greatest strike against Pierre is his late-game actions should the player accept a quest called “Pierre’s Prime Produce” and deliver him many high-quality crops. Pierre will not only take credit for growing these crops, he will try to sell them at ridiculously inflated prices until, fortunately, talked down by the other Pelican Town residents. Admittedly, this is a level of greed unseen since Tom Nook ofAnimal Crossingfame, but this blunder aside, Pierre isn’t really all that bad.
Pierre Does His Best In A Difficult Situation
Pierre may not be the most ideal and heroic character, but he is someone struggling to hold on to the business he built himself and, at the beginning of the game, sees his store’s chances of survival slipping away. More and more customers shop atJojaMartrather than Pierre’s – something which must feel particularly like a betrayal, as Pierre has known these people all his life. Worse, Morris constantly taunts him, both in person and via a letter players can find if they snoop around in Pierre’s home. True, his prices are high and his hours irregular, but this is a very realistic portrayal of a struggling small business owner being overshadowed by a big-box store.
Pierre’s home life is less than ideal as well, but here again, he tries. He does care for his wife Caroline and daughter Abigail, even if he struggles to show it. He works so hard – even running a stall at festivals – because he wants his family to have a good life. He worries about Abigail because her interest in combat and adventuring causes her to put herself in danger. Most notably, Pierre does not breathe a word of any suspicions he may have thatAbigail is not his daughter– a common fan theory suggests that her father is the Wizard, not Pierre – and, if he thinks or knows she is not, still unquestionably treats her as family.
One of the many things that makesStardew Valleyso good is that its characters feel human. They have flaws – Pam is an alcoholic, George is bad-tempered,Clint behaves a bit creepily towards his crush Emily– the list goes on. Pierre is perhaps one of the most flawed denizens of Pelican Town, being someone who is willing to go to extremes to keep his store running, and whose focus on work creates a strained relationship with his family. But ultimately, Pierre is not all that bad; he’s not a villain, just a guy trying to make the best of the rough situation he finds himself in.
Stardew Valley
WHERE TO PLAY
You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? It won’t be easy. Ever since Joja Corporation came to town, the old ways of life have all but disappeared. The community center, once the town’s most vibrant hub of activity, now lies in shambles. But the valley seems full of opportunity. With a little dedication, you might just be the one to restore Stardew Valley to greatness!
