Hank's Bargain Bin

pigma's history prior to his betrayal of james is relatively unknown. all we know is that pigma betrayed james and peppy for andross and is possibly the reason james died (i'm not going with the "james is actually alive" theory, sorry)

what makes pigma so interesting is the possible depth he has, more that is very faintly alluded to that we don't see or know about. star fox is a very simple story and is not character driven like a lot of stories in media but that does not mean something isn't there at all! it's why i love little details like this in star fox zero

the ripped photo in peppy's arwing has the right side by peppy ripped off and it's very safe to say that pigma is the one that got ripped off the photo. i feel like if pigma were just another gun they hired to help out, peppy wouldn't have a photo of him, james, general pepper, and pigma in his arwing, that seems very personal. even in the reboot with star fox zero and fox in the introduction sequence saying pigma was "an honorless slime-ball who 'volunteered' for the assignment" that's fox's perspective and all he probably feels he and we as the player need to know. but pigma "volunteering" for the assignment... what was he doing before that?

in pigma's bio for star fox zero on the official english site:

"disgraced former member of team star fox"

why would pigma need to "volunteer" if he was a full member of star fox? it would be weird if he worked for andross the whole time and only worked with star fox on the one mission to venom. he would have to be trusted to be allowed to go on the mission to venom. in the star fox 64 3d book (japanese version) it explains that pigma is the one who designed the star fox logo!

so i think it's safe to assume pigma was trusted to go with, he'd volunteered to go with because james might have been originally going solo or smth and peppy and pigma were refusing to let him go alone, who knows? the mystery between them all is so interesting and it's no wonder a lot of people ask for a game just following that day when james died and pigma betrays star fox. it's just weird to think about all this knowing that pigma is racked up as a greedy uncaring bastard (which... yeah) but then he jabs at peppy about their old times and peppy has the torn photo... i think it adds to the drama if pigma had been a really good friend.

but what incentive did pigma have to betray star fox?? again, we don't know. was it money? was he really that greedy? did he see a point in andross's plans? why would he be pulling the strings for andross in keeping star wolf under andross and manipulating wolf (according to the star fox 64 manuals) for andross?? money?? is it all really money?????

bc tbh with what we got of pigma's personality and what is assumed of james based off the limited amount we got of him and then what we got of peppy's personality... i can see how pigma would be friends with the BOTH of them.

but in the end, it does not matter what or why pigma did what he did, even if it is fun to speculate about. because pigma, like every character made is, is a means to advance the story, and if anything, the most important part of the story for fox mccloud and the lylat wars.

there's a reason star fox 64 is seen as the "definitive" star fox game, and even if most star fox games (except command) are not character driven, the characters still serve a purpose. pigma serves the purpose of literally being the cause of the inciting incident for why fox reforms star fox and wants to get revenge. sure, andross killing james would've likely had the same effect, but the added betrayal of it being pigma, a former friend and star fox member, who was working for andross?? and they both serve as reminders for fox of what happened?? it adds more weight to the story, to fox's revenge, etc. there is an added tragedy and then even greater pressure on fox to be more like james or the added taunts pigma throws towards fox's way about his father.

and it's so easy to hate pigma from that point of view, because you as the player have fox's point of view. and his point of view of pigma is likely based off of peppy's point of view of pigma.

pigma's purpose in the story is to add fuel to the fire and create a connection to the player to want to see through to the end of the star fox games where pigma is a vital player (64, 64 3d, zero, heck even assault). pigma's actions are what make the star fox universe orbit lol

and also?? fuck u, pigma is hilarious. he's a fucking walking, talking meme. every day i think about the starlink cutscenes and his dialogue i can't believe this bastard did uwu speak to lure star fox into a trap and they (and you, the player bc yeah u got no other choice) fall for it like COME ON HE'S CRAFTY!! HE'S SO SMART!!!!!!! him being smart is how fox says that "no one saw it coming" in the opening of star fox zero about pigma betraying them!! and then we see more of pigma's intelligence in starlink and assault!! yes assault!! you spend like, 3 out of the 10 mission levels in star fox assault chasing after him and those missions take up a good chunk of the game's time!!!!

he grates on your nerves. he pisses you off, he keeps getting away and it angers you that he keeps slipping from fox's, YOUR fingers.

you as the player, want to fight him.

and guess what you do in the game?

you fight him. multiple times. throughout the series.

pigma is supposed to be "unlikeable" because if you like him/care for him like you would peppy or james or hell even WOLF??? you wouldn't keep fighting him and being exacerbated by him like you do.

pigma is simply a tool for the story like all characters are.

but that also doesn't mean he can't have the "how can we make him feel like a complex being?" treatment like the fanbase does with the other characters. pigma is template for villain but tragedy perfection. he chooses to stick to what he's good at and what he's known for. but does he regret? in the assault book it says pigma sees star wolf as his friends still despite being kicked out by wolf for being untrustworthy, does he actually care for them? why would he stick with them after the lylat wars if andross isn't paying his bills anymore and not telling him how to pull the strings on wolf? does pigma keep manipulating wolf for his own personal gain after? what did pigma do that was the final straw for wolf to kick him out? did wolf actually kick him out?

pigma is a good character in how he serves his purpose and with a bit more thinking done by the player or reader or viewer or whoever, he's a bad person, yes, but even people who are bad can care, can ache, can regret, can have fun and find happiness. those aspects of pigma are just left up to us like a lot of sf characters are because those parts of him are not important to the story until they are.

and also if he were a hero, y'all would be going off abt how cute his design is do not @ me

tldr; it's fine if you don't like him, the games assume that you don't!!! BUT your personal dislike/hatred for pigma dengar does not mean he is a "bad character" or poorly written. there can be depth to him like people give to the other characters, y'all just don't want to, which is fine but you can not say he is a "bad character" only because you think he sucks. your personal hatred and his actual quality as a character with a purpose in the story are not the same

pigma dengar is one of the most well written characters in a series where it is not character driven in a typical way, y'all just don't want to apply critical thinking skills for him compared to other characters because you think he's ugly and smelly