Hector [hek-ter]
noun
1. Classical Mythology. The eldest son of Priam and husband of Andromache: the greatest Trojan hero in the Trojan War, killed by Achilles.
2. (lower case) A blustering, domineering person; a bully.
3. A male given name.
verb (used with object)
4. (lowercase) To treat with insolence; bully; torment: The teacher hectored his students incessantly.
verb (used without object)
5. (lowercase) To act in a blustering, domineering way; be a bully.
Additional References before we begin.
EX. WARNING! Minor, very minor, like talking about the character without getting too deeply in detail spoilers ahead. Today we're talking about my favorite character in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword...
GROOSE
THE BULLY WITH A HEART OF GOLD!
I knew Groose was going to be the most awesome character in Skyward Sword weeks in advance of even receiving the game for Christmas. And, honestly, he is perhaps my favorite NPC character in Zelda history and, whole-heartedly, deserves to have reincarnations of his likeness in future Zelda titles in the same way that Link, Zelda, and several other characters have been reused and recycled to tell new stories with the same box of tools. Yet, what makes Groose so special?
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| The similarities between his design and that of Beauty & The Beast's Villain Gaston can't be coincidental. |
Groose starts out the story as a bully and a pretty ineffective one. The first time we see Groose, and his two cronies, he gives Link a hard time. He comes on screen with goofy theme, that ironically is the most memorable of the game, and is generally the big dumb alpha male jock bully gorilla stereotype that honeslty hasn't been done in a Zelda game until Groose.One of the first things that happens in the game is that Zelda arrives, we see Groose has a big crush on her and resents Link for being her friend (and obvious love interest), and is easily cowed by the strong-willed, talented, smart, and beautiful Zelda.
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| Another red-headed bully with a heart of gold? My favorite character of Yu-Yu Hakusho, Kuwabara. |
He then steals and hides away Link's Loftwing (the bird you ride on the back of in the game) and blames Link for delaying the knight's graduation challenge. The game's narrative for this character takes an interesting twist because, while in most fiction a character such as he would cheat and win the race and have to be foiled in the third act, Link defeats him and it becomes clear that Groose is really no competition for Link. Groose resents Link more, but it is obvious his pride was wounded by the defeat.
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| "I got little birds... in my pompadour..." |
Groose has the only major character arc in the story and it is an interesting, if not fully developed one, that endears him to the player. His transformation begins with Zelda going missing; the poor sod is so torn up about it that he just sulks in his room and feels impotent while Link is out there saving "his girl". He ends up following Link to the surface and, discovering the severity of Link's quest and Zelda's peril after watching Link defeat an escape attempt from Demise, Groose volunteers his help in anyway he can to the only woman that lives in the Sacred Temple.
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| Hair gel exists in all parts of the Zelda Timeline. |
By the end of the game, Groose is, in his own small way, as much a hero as Link. Not only does he help Link defend the Sacred Temple from Demise, he seems to not only accept his role in the story, but that Zelda and Link are basically destined to be with each other. He still loves Zelda, but loves her enough to let her be with Link. He grows up and accepts things the way they are and even tries to shield the old woman of the temple from an attack. He is no longer a bully, he is a protector, and he is what Link has been needing for twenty five years of games; Link didn't need a fairy, a talking hat, a talking boat, or even a talking sword, he needed a friend. He needed Groose and the Legend of Zelda's future needs more characters like Groose too.
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| "GERONIMO!" |
