RennyBenny
Farmer
i never got the appeal either :/ that's why i married elliott lol
Why the attraction to Shane?
- Thread starter sneakykid
- Start date
nicodeux
Farmer
And Shane is one of your employee, Morris, maybe Joja internal rules forbid employees to engage in personal relations.I see it, somewhat. He seems to be a nice man when you get to know him- Though I couldn’t marry him. His spouse room is far too dirty for my taste. From what I’ve heard, there’s definitely a bit of an “I-can-fix-him” mentality around him as well. He’s definitely not my first choice, but I understand the people who DO choose him.
AguynamedBurt
Tiller
It’s the blue chickens that get ’em.
Ereo
Helper
But you get them without dating him.
PoppyForPenny
Farmer
Shane sometimes sends you a gift of pepper poppers in the mail. If you tailor pepper poppers you get the tunnelers jersey that Shane wears. I think that's a really fun thing about Shane. I know I've also mentioned catching him hiding in the bin of potatoes at work. Haha!
Kumbao
Sodbuster
What I like the most about Shane is how flawed he is. He is deeply depressive and an alcoholic. And he stays that way, even when you marry him. There is no fairy tale ending, in which he easily beats his demons, just because the player character fell in love with him.
The only thing I dislike about how he is written is the fact that he dismisses his daughter whrn he moves in with the player. He should bring Jas with him.
There is a lot that resonates with me. I battle depression as well. I was an addict for a long time. And I have two daughters. So I can definetly relate.
The only thing I dislike about how he is written is the fact that he dismisses his daughter whrn he moves in with the player. He should bring Jas with him.
There is a lot that resonates with me. I battle depression as well. I was an addict for a long time. And I have two daughters. So I can definetly relate.
nicodeux
Farmer
I agree with what you say.
However, Jas is not Shane's daughter, though he is her godfather.
Jas already lives with Marnie when Shane (who is Marnie's nephew) moves in the ranch for a while. I don't think Shane should take Jas with him when leaving, just because he is her godfather.
Ereo
Helper
In addition, Jas also calls Marnie her aunt, so they could also be related (but it could also be a title used without actual blood relation). It also makes sense that Jas stays with the more stable trusted person while Shane gets his life together.
Kumbao
Sodbuster
Like with so many other things in Stardew Valley the whole Marnie/Shane/Jas situation is rather vague. From what I understand, Shane was friend with Jas' parents, before they died. So it would indicate that he was the one who took Jas in. However, life in the city was overwhelming for him so they moved in with Marnie.
Then again, there are old pictures of Marnie and Jas and Marnie mentions that Shane only moved recently to Stardew Valley. Of course, Shane and Jas could just have visitted Marnie back in better days.
As I said, the details are rather vague. Ultimately it is up to your own interpretation. I agree though that it is better for Jas to stay with Marnie, since Shane is pretty messed up.
As a single father myself I just would have prefered to see Jas moving in together with Shane. Because that is pretty much my own life situation and something that my partners have to arrange with.
MogBeoulve
Local Legend
I love Shane's dirty room.
Innis
Greenhorn
Shane just really struck a chord with me, in an unexpected way. In the beginning he got on my nerves because he was always so cold and rude to me, but I began to understand that there was something more to it than pure malice. What really made me fall for his character was the six hearts event. I was heartbroken but I also understood so much more. He isn't perfect, and he still has a long way to go, but I love seeing how happy he is on the farm after marriage.
nicodeux
Farmer
Yes, Shane is definitely not a straightforward character. He has his down sides and bright sides, which makes him an interesting character. I understand that some may strongly dislike his drinking habits, though.
Terdin
Farmer
I'd be more worried about Sebastian's smoking habits. He isn't smoking tobacco, not if Robin commented that his ashtray "smelled really weird".
Shane at least comes to realize he's just trying to self-medicate his depression and anxiety and seeks help for it.
Gamer1234556
Farmhand
I’ve been writing a novel about Stardew Valley, and Shane has become my least favorite marriage candidate. While he’s intended to explore depression, he never truly changes as a character. He continually pities himself, neglects Jas, and even after his 14-heart event, slips back into alcoholism. His depression is never fully contextualized—it’s presented as existing without explanation—which makes his arc feel unsatisfying.
Shane also doesn’t really belong in Pelican Town. Unlike Emily, Leah, Harvey, and Elliot, who fit organically into the town’s ecosystem, Shane is largely enabled by its dysfunction: he overburdens Harvey, mope-drinks at the Saloon, and is stuck in a job he hates without much justification. There’s wasted potential for meaningful moments, like bonding with the farmer over Joja or confronting his own life choices, but the game never explores them.
Mechanically, Shane is easy to romance, but that convenience doesn’t redeem his narrative flaws. By contrast, Emily is at the Saloon too, gifts are easy, and she doesn’t carry the same moral baggage—making her the more coherent and satisfying choice.
Edit: Ugh, this is probably a hot take. Can't wait for the replies to this.
Shane also doesn’t really belong in Pelican Town. Unlike Emily, Leah, Harvey, and Elliot, who fit organically into the town’s ecosystem, Shane is largely enabled by its dysfunction: he overburdens Harvey, mope-drinks at the Saloon, and is stuck in a job he hates without much justification. There’s wasted potential for meaningful moments, like bonding with the farmer over Joja or confronting his own life choices, but the game never explores them.
Mechanically, Shane is easy to romance, but that convenience doesn’t redeem his narrative flaws. By contrast, Emily is at the Saloon too, gifts are easy, and she doesn’t carry the same moral baggage—making her the more coherent and satisfying choice.
Edit: Ugh, this is probably a hot take. Can't wait for the replies to this.
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nicodeux
Farmer
Sebastian stops smoking (whatever he smokes) after marriage:
“I'm trying my best to quit smoking now that we're married...I don't wanna die on you. It's a bad habit. I want to have a future together.”But if the farmer gets low hearts with him after marriage by neglecting him, Sebastian feels stressed and resumes smoking.
Terdin
Farmer
The part I find most problematic is that 10-heart event. A motorcycle ride with someone who's under the influence and has reduced reaction speed. Possibly on the way out and certainly on the way home... Sure, nothing unexpected happens, because it's scripted that way, but I feel like it could just as well end up with the two of them waking up at Harvey's clinic.Sebastian stops smoking (whatever he smokes) after marriage:
But if the farmer gets low hearts with him after marriage by neglecting him, Sebastian feels stressed and resumes smoking.
Gamer1234556
Farmhand
Yeah, in all honesty, I am kind of surprised. SDV made alcoholism a plot point for Pam and Shane but for Sebastian it feels like a huge footnote. He says that he has been smoking less but doesn’t get any treatment for it. I guess I wouldn’t be as worried for Sebastian because at least he isn’t a parent or surrogate parent, but it’s not great.
nicodeux
Farmer
Like many things in SDV, how much Sebastian smokes something else than tobacco, is left to the player's own interpretation. So for his 10-heart event, it could totally be a regular cigarette. Moreover, this event shows Sebastian considering to quit smoking, because two people that he cares about (his mom and the farmer) are worrying about this habit for his health. So, it's interesting to notice that I have an opposite approach to yours regarding this event, that I consider as a positive step in Sebastian's development.
Even Robin's quote about the weird-smelling ashtray she found does not clearly states that Sebastian is smoking illegal substances. It only says that it smelled really weird. And I can name a few perfectly legit cigarette brands that smell really weird also, though the tobacco industry does not put something more illegal in those than the regular hazardous substances they use in all the other cigarettes.
(My own interpretation of this quote is still that Sebastian smokes marijuana, but other ways are open).
I think that Stardew Valley characters are really well tailored because they have enough depth to lead to players discussion like this one, though they have enough grey zones in their story to let players fill the gaps with their own imagination in an engaging way. That's really a strength of the game.
