Common Debate: Tom Nook - Villain, or Misunderstood?

[b100ming]

I say he’s a good guy for the following reasons: He doesn’t add interest onto your debts, he offers several tools in the beginning to help you get started, and you have unlimited time to pay it off. I have other reasons that I’m too lazy to add at the moment.

 

[LadyDestani]

I agree that he's a good guy for all of the reasons you listed above. In the real world, there would be deadlines for loan payments, penalties for late payments, interest added even if you are making all of your payments on time and so on. Plus, depending on which game in the series you are playing, you sell items to him to earn bells that you then pay back to him to pay off your loan. So he's not really earning much if you look at it that way. I mean, yeah I guess he's got the items you sold to him that he can sell to someone else, but is he really going to make that much money off of fruit and seashells and common fish or bugs? I don't think so.

 

[GuerreraD]

I truly think that Nookie is a good guy, and this whole "villain" thing is just a gag or running joke among we fans Nobody should expect getting a place to live for free! Just go ask a Sim and you'll see!

I mean, it's not only the paying-the-house. In the older games he also helps you getting in touch with the other villagers and settle down with the mechanics of the game (the whole tutorial/part-time job). Why would he give a frick about how you're doing, as long as you paid him? And he also used to have raffles, discounts and pretty gifts for you, so he obviously cares.

 

[Corrie]

I agree that he's a good guy too. He's just doing business. You could be in debt to him forever and he wouldn't even give a crap lol. I'd say that's pretty awesome.

 

[deana]

I think my perception of Tom Nook has changed with age. When I was a kid I definitely thought he was a jerk, why is everything so expensive?? I honestly felt annoyed that I had so much work to do just to pay this guy back. Now that I'm older I view him as a good guy I suppose, but he is also just fun to hate I think a lot of people love to hate on capitalism lately (myself included) so the joke of him being a villain just continues. I think it's all just harmless fun either way though.

 

[Megaroni]

He's a hero, trying to save you from having to pay so much. He probably works his butt of getting you those deals lol

 

[Croconaw]

I just hate how he follows you around the store like you’re a criminal. He just gets in the way.

 

[AccfSally]

He's better than a certain annoying yellow dog with the bell hair tie band.

 

[GuerreraD]

I just hate how he follows you around the store like you’re a criminal. He just gets in the way.

HOW DARE YOU!!
You're probably attempting to shoplift that poor raccoon, that's why he's onto you.
Dishonour on you cow!

 

[Beanz]

when i was little i always thought of him as greedy but he’a definitely good guy because he never pressures you into paying your loan and there’s never a deadline for it. he’s especially generous in new horizons for letting you pay in nook miles the first time, it’s still fun to call him “tom crook” and make him into a bad guy tho.

 

[b100ming]

I agree that he's a good guy for all of the reasons you listed above. In the real world, there would be deadlines for loan payments, penalties for late payments, interest added even if you are making all of your payments on time and so on. Plus, depending on which game in the series you are playing, you sell items to him to earn bells that you then pay back to him to pay off your loan. So he's not really earning much if you look at it that way. I mean, yeah I guess he's got the items you sold to him that he can sell to someone else, but is he really going to make that much money off of fruit and seashells and common fish or bugs? I don't think so.

People always want someone to hate, even if there’s no villains in a game they’ll find a reason to demonize someone.

 

[tiffanistarr]

Visiting him in his home in Happy Home Designer really changed my thoughts on him. His dialogue is almost heartbreaking.

Like he addresses that a lot of others think he’s harsh, greedy, etc but he just wants people to be prepared and get a small taste of what the real world could be like. It really was kinda sad. However, his house is like decorated with stacks of cash lmao. I like tom nook though.

I’ve encountered worst capitalist people IRL working in banking and finance so dealing with Tom Nook is a cakewalk compared to that lol.

 

[b100ming]

He's better than a certain annoying yellow dog with the bell hair tie band.

Shh, it’s okay Isabelle, don’t listen to them.

 

[Bethboj]

I think my perception of Tom Nook has changed with age. When I was a kid I definitely thought he was a jerk, why is everything so expensive?? I honestly felt annoyed that I had so much work to do just to pay this guy back.

When I was young and first got Wild World I hated Nook for making me work for him when you first get to your town. Now I think he’s pretty chill, I mean from the millions I’ve given him over the years he should be! We can all enjoy the paradise life that I mostly paid for

 

[daringred_]

i always liked nook, actually, and really enjoyed working part-time for him in earlier games, too. i've never seen him as a bad guy and never really understood the "popular" fan mindset that he is, especially after seeing the dialogue about how he donates a large sum of his wealth to orphanages. (i'm pretty sure it's from HHD.) if you never pay off your loans, he basically lets you live in your house for free forever, he doesn't push/harass you about repaying your loan, doesn't charge interest etc. in NH, he even lets you decorate your exterior free of charge as many times as you please once you're debt-free.

 

[Serabee]

Here's the deal- I see so many people joking about how he's breathing down your neck begging for repayments. And I guess they're playing a different game, because I've played every main series game, and he's the chillest guy ever when it comes to repayment. Frankly, he's kind of a lousy businessman since you can literally never repay him and he never complains. The ONLY thing he does is not let you renovate your house. Which... duh. I mean, it's awfully greedy to want your house remodeled for free when you didn't pay him for the house yet, or pay for previous remodels. Nook's gotta eat, too.

Even the first game, people joked about you being a slave to him and being forced to work right away... but how? The way I see it, a truly greedy guy would've kicked your bum back on the train and been like "tough luck, come back with the money next time." Instead, he works with you. He even gives you a part-time job to help you get situated! Imagine if someone did that in real life. You wanna buy a house, but can't afford it, so the seller lets you work part-time to pay it off. People would be like, "That's either the dumbest or most generous person in the world." Frankly, the only misstep you could argue would be him not giving you a full-time job. But he helps you get situated, makes sure you get introduced to neighbors, and makes sure you have an understanding of how to make more money. That's a pretty neat guy.

And in the current game, he strikes me as a businessman with big ideas and great ideals... but maybe a bit lacking in commonsense. He has a grand vision for this island, but doesn't check to make sure new residents can afford houses, but again- he doesn't freak out or toss them back on the plane. He works with you and never really gets mad. All he wants to do is build his island paradise, and despite the fact that you have no money and no credentials, considers you a partner in developing this island. Like I said, he's a cool dude. I've NEVER understood why people depict him as a villain or a bad guy.

 

[TheWildShadow55]

Considering that the price of the first loan for a house is roughly equivalent to 200~ USD, I'd say that is VERY generous. I will always be a Tom Nook defender

 

[Cakecrazy909]

honestly, i do think tom nook is a good guy, but i can't help but love playing into the idea that he's a money grubbing monster!!!

like, in cannon, he donates 90% of his profits to charity, adopted two kids, builds you a house overnight with often no notice, and mainly become more hardened after getting screwed over by his old business partner (cough cough, boyfriend, cough) and has even softened considerably over the years!

but there's just something about the fannon idea stemming mostly from the old games, with his forced expansions and offhand joke about racoon goons. it's always fun to bash him and go "haha capitalist go brrr", even if it's not entirely accurate. (not to mention, it makes for a great song)

 

[kiwikenobi]

I think the "Tom Nook is a villain" thing was more believable back in the Gamecube days, where you show up in a new town, and suddenly he forces a bunch of debt on you without letting you refuse, and he's basically like, "You work for me now. No, you don't have a choice, now change your clothes and get to work!" By the time New Leaf and New Horizons came around, he was mellowed out into a much less pushy character who doesn't force you to work for him and just seems like a genuinely helpful, nice person.

At the end of the day, all Tom Nook is really doing is making sure the silly person who showed up in town without anywhere to live has a roof over their head. Profiting by it is only fair, really, since that's the business he's in. He's not a bad guy at all.

I don't dislike Gamecube Tom Nook. I thought he was very funny and entertaining. But I also enjoy mellower Tom Nook now.

 

[smug villager]

If any billionaire philanthropist shop owner/landlords out there want to give me an interest-free loan for a home with no credit check that I can pay back whenever I want by leisurely picking fruit and collecting seashells, let it be known I am 1000% interested.