Characters / The Good Life

The TV series

The video game

Morning Bell News

Naomi Hayward

V/O: Rebecca Lachance

"Goddamn hellhole..."

The protagonist - A deeply indebted New York photographer sent to the town of Rainy Woods in order to uncover its secrets.

Tropes:

• Catchphrase: The title quote and one of the only voiced barks outside of the main story.
• From New York to Nowhere: Naomi hates being in Rainy Woods, and hates that she has to talk to all the oddballs that fill the town.
• Hard-Drinking Party Girl: Calls herself the DrinQUEEN of New York in several side-quests, all of them related to drinking.
• Nature Tinkling: As a dog, Naomi can mark her territory. Once the territory has been marked, she can locate dig spots to dig up items.
• Only in It for the Money: When it comes to her presence in Rainy Woods, this is Naomi's prime motivation. Everyone in Rainy Woods is aware of this and often rely on the promise of money to get her to do them favors. Justified, since she's in a staggeringly large amount of debt.
  • Later begins to bite her hard once the science team shows up, as they use her desire to escape debt to force her into kidnapping citizens from across town.

Lucy Turner

V/O: Maya Sondhi

Naomi's point of contact at Morning Bell.

Tropes:

• Defector from Decadence: When able to talk to Naomi and Daniel alone, she reveals she finds what Morning Bell is planning on doing to Rainy Woods and its residents monstrous, which is why she's willing to help out any way she can.
• Voice with an Internet Connection: Constantly communicates with Naomi through e-mail, offering information on the situation at Morning Bell and explanations for all the things Naomi discovers throughout the game. Partially averted in the final stretch, where Lucy is seen on the stream and in video communication with Naomi and Daniel.

Daniel Miller

V/O:

"LOBSTAH!"

A rival journalist sent by Morning Bell. Creator of the Lobstah Pose.

Tropes:

• Catchphrase: "LOBSTAH!!!" Complete with pose. Also, when he leaves. There are very few moments in which Daniel Miller will not mention lobster in his New England accent.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Insults Naomi basically every time they meet up, but is absolutely vital towards the last stretch of the game.
• The Rival: Considers himself this to Naomi. He later drops this after Naomi is effectively disowned by the town.

Hugh Lee

V/O:

The debt collector employed by Morning Bell to ensure Naomi keeps up her end of the bargain.

Tropes:

• Scary Black Man: What Hugh is meant to invoke. He's much larger than Naomi and most of the village's residents, and will always appear when Naomi is in position to score heaps of money in order to remind her not-so-subtly of her debt.

Nicholas Anderson

V/O:

A science consultant hired by Morning Bell. Considers everyone subhuman.

Tropes:

• Mad Scientist: Looks the part, acts the part. Maniacal laughter is his stock in trade and is part of the reason why Morning Bell's plans are ruined in the end.
• Walking Spoiler: While Dr. Anderson is mentioned at several points in story e-mails, he becomes such as soon as he directly interacts with Naomi.

Flora Kelly

V/O:

CEO of Morning Bell News.

Tropes:

• Corrupt Corporate Executive: Flora's plan for Rainy Woods is nothing short of diabolical.
• Distaff Counterpart: Judging by her name, she's this game's equivalent to Forrest Kaysen, a recurring character in SWERY games.
• Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: Takes time out of Morning Bell's earnings call to effectively state this to Naomi when Naomi objects to her moneymaking plan.
• Walking Spoiler: By the time Flora Kelly is even named, the game is already in its ending sequence. She also swaps places with Elizabeth and gets murdered just before the credits in the Rainy Woods ending.

Rainy Woods Residents

Elizabeth Dickens

V/O:

A wheelchair-bound woman who first welcomes Naomi to Rainy Woods.

Tropes:

• Back from the Dead: Suddenly reappears alive and well at the end of the game, and shows off a photo of the murder scene... But with Flora Kelly impaled through the chest instead of Elizabeth.
• Jump Scare: Likes to do these to Naomi a lot.
• The Unreveal: It's never actually stated who killed her at all, with all possible suspects being cleared of suspicion by the end of their routes. And in the end, it doesn't quite matter, since she comes back.
• We Hardly Knew Ye: She can only be interacted with in the early portion of the game, due to getting murdered.

William Dickens

V/O:

Brother to Elizabeth. Accomplished (in his mind, anyway) auteur.

Tropes:

• Cloud Cuckoolander: When talked to during the second part of the prologue, William will refuse to acknowledge Naomi's presence both before and after she delivers him his food pipin' hot.
• Incest Subtext: Practically everyone in Rainy Woods has noticed William's infatuation with Elizabeth.

Rita Barrett

V/O:

An assistant at Town Hall, moonlighting as a poet. Very cold and haughty towards Naomi.

Tropes:

• Deadpan Snarker: If Rita isn't writing poetry, she's snarking at people. Usually at Naomi.

Norlock Homeless (Charlie Smith)

V/O:

Self-styled second best private eye in the world. Always has a parrot on top of his head.

Tropes:

• Sherlock Homage: He intentionally styles himself after Sherlock, and even named his parrot Watson.
• Spell My Name With An S: In the Town Registry, his name is spelled as Norloc Homeless.

George Fahkoury

V/O:

The veterinarian of Rainy Woods. Doubles as the town doctor.

Tropes:

• Super Doc: On top of being a veterinarian, he is also a licensed omnipractician and is the local doctor for both humans and animals. He also has treatments for the common cold, headaches, toothaches, lumbago and alcoholism.

Bruno Evans

V/O:

The proprietor of Mushroom & Evans, a cafe specializing in mushroom-based meals.

Tropes:

• Catchphrase: "Good grief." He'll work it in most of his spoken dialogue at one point.

Jan Yi Han

V/O:

The wandering scone peddler. Her hen, Mrs. Jasmine, lays special eggs.

Tropes:

Virginia Yates

V/O:

The tailor at Fancy and Bunny. Moonlights as a streamer at night.

Tropes:

David O'Reilly

V/O:

A patrolman of Rainy Woods's public footpaths and roads.

Tropes:

• Villain-Possessed Bystander: Towards the end of Route B, an alien moss hive mind takes control of him to try and kill Naomi. In the route's Epilogue, despite regaining control of himself, he still feels guilt for his actions.

Michelle O'Reilly

V/O:

The owner of '1977', the local pub. Her punk aesthetic contrasts with the look of the place.

Tropes:

• The Bartender: Her job in the town and also one who will help Naomi appreciate the finer points of booze and other life problems.

John Berryman

V/O:

A tinkerer by trade who owns John's Cameramart. Son of Martha and Thomas.

Tropes:

Thomas Berryman

V/O:

Grocer and butcher. Has a mechanical hand. Husband of Martha Berryman.

Tropes:

• No Indoor Voice: Thomas is a Large Ham who speaks so loudly that his text is rendered at double the normal size.

Martha Berryman

V/O:

Helps out at the Grocery and Butcher's. Wife of Thomas Berryman.

Tropes:

• Really Royalty Reveal: In Route C, we find out she is a direct descendent of King Arthur, with a pendant containing the point of Curtana which will reawaken the sword's immense magical powers.

Douglas McAvoy

V/O:

The village handyman who owns McAvoy Construction. Never seen without his knight's armour.

Tropes:

• 24-Hour Armor: Douglas McAvoy is never seen outside of his armour.
• Handy Man: Douglas has the ability to smelt minerals, tan leather, construct a whole house in a manner of minutes, redesign an entire outdoor garden to exact specifications and make several decorations from scratch ranging from a beach ball to an entire arcade machine!

Horatio Stringer

V/O:

A blind veteran of the Royal Air Force. Learned the violin from Henry Poe.

Tropes:

• Blind Musician: Learned the trade from Henry Poe after becoming blind. Horatio can be seen playing the violin near the church's graveyard or at the pub 1977 depending on the day.
• Super-Senses: In Route B, Horatio has already picked up on Naomi's scent, and needs her help to mark the way to the veterinarian-slash-doctor's practice.
• Talking through Technique: The translator to Henry Poe's violin sounds.

Henry Poe

V/O:

An old violinist who taught Horatio how to play.

Tropes:

• Talking through Technique: Henry only communicates through his violin, and only Horatio can understand him. Naturally, Naomi has to rush to Horatio to interpret whenever he speaks with her.

Morris Downer

V/O:

Proprietor of the Downer Hotel and the campgrounds found in the outskirts of Rainy Woods.

Tropes:

Lonette Burley

V/O:

Shepherdess at Burley Farms. Unusually strong.

Tropes:

• Don't Call Me "Sir": After Naomi has been knighted, Lonette will insist on Naomi not calling her by her title, while retorting with Dame Naomi, causing Naomi to stop.
• Really Royalty Reveal: By the end of Route A, Naomi finds out she's the last living Bloodwoode.

Benedict Macauley

V/O:

Vicar of Rainy Woods. More often found at the pub than at his church.

Tropes:

• Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Benedict really is a good and holy man, capable of even getting through to Naomi with words of wisdom... It just so happens he's only really capable of this when he's sober. Which is rare.
• Drinking Contest: Naomi's partner-in-booze when it comes to drinking contest. He challenges her to one at the end of Route A so he can obtain the Vampire's Blood.
• Nature Tinkling: One of the side-quests' goals is to catch Benedict relieving himself on the side of the road.
• The Alcoholic: Can be found Monday through Friday drinking at the pub from early morn to late at night.
• The Vicar: Essentially, his job. Naomi can find him offering sermons on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
• Unusual Euphemism: Will never refer to alcohol as alcohol. It is very specifically holy water.

Salome Macauley

V/O:

Wife of Benedict Macauley.

Tropes:

Emma Macauley

Clay Macauley

Charlotte Macauley

Rudman White

V/O:

Landowner of the majority of Rainy Woods and bust enthusiast. More specifically, busts of himself.

Tropes:

Allan White

V/O:

Grandchild of Rudman White and twin of Ian. The innocent one.

Tropes:

• Creepy Child: Along with his twin brother Allan. They're never seen apart from one another, they're always speaking in stereo even when they're not saying the same thing.

Ian White

V/O:

Grandchild of Rudman White and twin of Allan. The violent one.

Tropes:

• Creepy Child: Along with his twin brother Allan. They're never seen apart from one another, they're always speaking in stereo even when they're not saying the same thing, and in the case of Ian, revels in the tasks they give to Naomi.

Others

Pauline Atwood

V/O:

The witch of the woods.

Tropes:

• The Alcoholic: Her incantation when she mixes medicine goes "In Vino Veritas" and how alcohol makes everyone happy.

Stephen S Bergman

V/O:

A self-styled wandering butler.

Tropes:

• Animorphism: He's the Legendary Sheep.
• The Jeeves: Stephen's character archetype.
• Voodoo Shark: He is the voodoo shark. He's required to get past the mystical barrier in Route A, but why a mystical sheep with super speed is necessary to do so isn't explained.

"E"

V/O:

A mysterious entity that contacts Naomi via e-mail after Elizabeth dies.

Tropes:

"Simon"

V/O:

A being with extraterrestrial origins.

Tropes:

• Animal Espionage: They've been trying to communicate with the town through Mrs. Jasmine, and claim that a service of properly-trained Instant Messenger Pigeons could outspeed the internet.
• Hive Mind: They claim to be one that is able to manifest through peat moss.
• Puppeteer Parasite: In the climax of Route B, they forcibly take over David.
• The Unpronounceable: Their real name is this, hence why they decide to go by "Simon" when confronted.