The Dark(er) Side of Clint // Stardew Valley

The Dark(er) Side of Clint // Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley has stepped into the lives of many-a-cozy farming sim fan over the years, acting as a wholesome, safe retreat away from the harsh realities of… real life. Yet, aaaas many of us have discovered throughout our many… endless hours…

In the game, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows; there’s actually some pretty deep and concerning lore behind it’s heart-warming exterior. And yes, of course we’ve already had a look through the game as a whole, but oh… there’s still so much more.

Let’s take a look at one of the characters that’s more, divisive, in the community. Clint. As I’m sure you’re very well aware, Clint is the blacksmith of Pelican Town, just like his father before him. His birthday is on the 26th day of Winter, with developer ConcernedApe putting his age

In the range of 30s-40s; gifts on his favorites list include: Amethyst, Artichoke Dip and Iridium Bars – with Holly being his most hated gift, beside the universally hated gifts of course. So, what about this guy has pushed players to… mod him out of the game and even create

A hate subreddit out of rage? Was it the sheer audacity that he has in gifting the player some kind of geode at the Feast of the Winter Star that they have to then pay HIM to open? Ugh, let’s… get into it. But first – if you’re new here, hi! Welcome in!

If you like cozy gaming, the dark(er) side of cozy games and just quirky games in general, then be sure to hit that subscribe button as so that you can come back for the next one! Anyway – Even if you’ve not spent much time around Clint himself, there’s likely one fact that

You DO know about him, and that’s his mega-crush on resident blue-haired crystal girlie, Emily. Even a player that’s been safely distanced from the guy, will receive that letter in the mail on Winter 6th from, asking for them to deliver an amethyst to Emily on his behalf,

As he’s too awkward to deliver it himself – not something in itself that’s creepy, just, we’ll get there. Clint’s schedule seems to revolve around visiting the Stardrop Saloon, where… coincidently… Emily works as a waitress, meaning that he just so happens to be there whilst she’s

Working to stare at here while she’s on shift. In Clint’s 3 heart event, the player can find him sitting in the Saloon on said, Emily-watch, when he complains to them that he has no luck with the ladies, prompting you to offer him

Some words of encouragement, before Emily comes over to take his order. He screws this up, and ends off the interaction with a ‘nevermind’, before she moves off. In itself, not too incriminating, right? He’s just an awkward guy with a bit of a crush.

Let’s take a look now, at a bit of a sussy note that can be found in his bedroom, it gives us a bit more of a look into his… more… obsession level, connection to Emily. This note can be found on the floor, neer the door to his bedroom, it reads:

“Dear Emily, I know you only think of me as a friend. It’s my fault. I’m too shy. I’ll never have the courage to tell you the truth. That’s why I’m writing this letter to myself that I’ll certainly crumple up and toss in the corner.”

Personally, it just gives off creeper vibes for me, I don’t know – it’s a bit of an ick, y’know? He must be pretty torn up over her to be writing things down, spilling his feelings; yet she’s just out there, presumably unaware of any of this.

Earlier on today, I spent a bit of time on my, currently, Year 3 Winter farm and took part in the Festival of Ice. With Clint unfortunately, already very much on my brain, and noticing him around Emily – naturally, I decided to go have a chat.

His dialogue line for this sitch, was: “Emily started helping me without any provocation… does that mean something? *gulp*” So presumably she just saw him struggling to build that snowman or something, and came over to lend a hand. Basically, careful if you blink near Clint – he might think you’re coming on to him…

Now onto, uh, Clint’s 6 heart event. In this one you find… well… Clint watching Emily from behind a bush. Not at all creepy there mate… He insists to the player that he had arrived at the house to ask her on a date, but was

Startled by the sound of her coming out of the door before he was quite there, so he dove into the bush and had been there waiting ever since for her to leave the area, so that he could sneak off unnoticed. …Convenient.

You will then threaten Clint by saying that you’ll no longer upgrade your tools with him, if he doesn’t get out and ask Emily on that date – which he hesitantly does, asking her if she would visit Grampleton Carnival with him the next day – aaand Emily accepts,

So I guess she’s either unaware of his obsession, or unfazed by it? For this one to play out, of course, the player cannot be married to Emily or be past a certain heart level with her. On the topic of heart events, I think it’s rather interesting to note that, at Clint’s

7th heart, the player will receive a recipe for Bean Hotpot from him in the mail. Emily will commonly ask the player “Do you know how to cook ‘Bean Hotpot’? I like that dish quite a bit. It’s hard to get fresh ingredients in the winter, huh?” – and although there’s nothing

Too off here, could Clint have discovered her taste for this dish through his spying and learnt it to impress her? It makes me wonder… One final heart event deserving of a mention here, is Emily’s 8 Heart one. This event takes place in Mayor Lewis’ house, after the player receives the following note:

“[Player], I have this crazy new idea that I want to involve you in… It’s called “Clothing Therapy”. Please come to the Mayor’s house today to see what it’s all about. Love, Emily” Basically, Emily attempts to give a few of the villagers a lil makeover, in an attempt

To get them to feel comfortable in showing their ‘true selves’. Present are Mayor Lewis, Shane, Abigail, Robin and… our boy, Clint. Once in full swing, Emily responds to his reluctant dress up attempt with… “Awh… cute!” – not something he particularly wanted to hear from the woman of his dreams.

Once he’s left the building, Emily approaches the player, seemingly in a loving manner, when Clint bursts back in as he had been too uncomfortable outside in his new outfit. Emily jumps upon seeing him, to which he says that he guesses he’s ‘interrupting something’, before…. Congratulating the player??

This is what really seems to rub the Stardew community up the wrong way here, Clint realistically, treats Emily like a prize, something to be won… an object, even? Moving away from heart events, and into a life where the player has chosen to kick Clint in the dirt and… marry Emily. Screw you Clint!

Does his behaviour change? Well some believe not, however I do have to defend him a tiny bit here I guess. PLayers have pointed out their disgust at the sheer audacity of the guy, for example he wonders aloud if Emily might dance with him at the annual FLower dance, even after she’s… very much…

Taken. Although, I don’t think we can really be too harsh here, NPC’s, besides the spouse themselves don’t typically recognise marriage in Stardew Valley, they’ll still recycle lines from before the event, which is what Clint’s doing here – he just doesn’t have

An updated line for post marriage Emily, hopefully this is something we can see updated in a future version of the game! 1.6 I’m looking at you?? Contrary that belief that Clint’s still going after Emily, after the player has seen her 8 heart event, you know, the one where he… congratulates you…

Emily can say the following line in fall: “I think Clint’s mad at me. He never looks at me anymore… I always thought we were friends.” Potentially further proving that he only ever really saw her as a prize, and was never really wanting to invest in her for… her.

But then again, maybe he’s just too heartbroken to see her? Keeping that though in mind however, is CLint really deserving of the hatred that he gets from the wider community – or is he just – misunderstood? I think it’s definitely also worth mentioning in here that Emily was never an original marriage

Candidate, but was rather added in later (along with shane) after a community poll for two new romance-ables. Clint did… not so great… I was genuinely shook to discover people chose Shane over the Wizard though… like… are you all okay?! But ANYWAY-

With this in mind, Clint’s defining character trait was, his love for EMily, something that could potentially have been reciprocated in a future update if she hadn’t been made available to the player… CLint got left behind here with his character remaining largely the unchanged, even though

Her situation had evolved beyond it – hey, something to consider! So. perhaps he’s simply just an awkward, albeit a bit of a whiny, guy who struggles to express himself and interact with others, like hey, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that and same, y’know.

If his story with Emily ever did develop into anything, or they at least became friends – I don’t necessarily think we’d be having this kind of conversation. Largely, I think it’s his attitude that really turns people off of him – he’s defeatist

And feels like he’s owed something, he feels as though the world’s against him and it’s not his fault. And that’s something many of us have likely encountered in real life, so we don’t really have the patience for it in our cozy safe space perhaps?

Although, hang on – I will just add in one last point here, that I don’t think anyone can deny is a massive ick; an experience that only female farmers are… graced with… If you’re playing as a female farmer and (for whatever reason) decide to take Clint

To the cinema, not only will he hit you with a “Oh if this a date then?”, but then also proceed to whisper “…if you’re um… tired… you can put your head on my… my shoulder. Heh… or not.” Mhm. Anyway, what’s your opinion of CLint?

Want to stay and keep EMily as far away as possible, or think he’s just a misunderstood lil guy? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments.! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this video as much as I enjoyed making it! If you did, please consider dropping a like/subscribe down below!

Buy until next time, bye for now!

One of the more, divisive characters in Stardew Valley?

As I’m sure you’re very well aware, Clint is the blacksmith of Pelican Town, just like his father before him. His birthday is on the 26th day of Winter, with developer ConcernedApe putting his age in the range of 30s-40s; gifts on his favorites list include: Amethyst, Artichoke Dip and Iridium Bars – with Holly being his most hated gift, beside the universally hated gifts of course.

So, what about this guy has pushed players to… mod him out of the game and even create a hate subreddit out of rage?

Was it the sheer audacity that he has in gifting the player some kind of geode at the Feast of the Winter Star that they have to then pay HIM to open?

Ugh, let’s… get into it.

Sbooskie x

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Tags: #stardewvalley #stardew #stardewclint #stardewlore #stardewvalley1.6