Charles Calvin's Backstory Explained (A Henry Stickmin Collection Theory) 

Hearing about the theory that his parents died through a heroic act causing Charles to find out and maybe do it himself and make his parents proud made me tear up a bit ;-;

It's funny because whilst the greatest plan fits with the story, I believed he was attempting to impress henry in an effort to demonstrate his rebellious side. This is far from Charles' personality and this could be why it seems to come out of left field. Charles, sticking with the isolated story, has little experience with friends and does not know how to demonstrate that. The greatest plan is his desperate attempt at a relationship he has never had.

Charles' Backstory isn't talked about as much as Ellie's so it's nice to have a video dedicated to him.

Charles just kind of remind of a kid like movie character that isn’t the best in the team, clumsy unreliable at times, but is loyal and enthusiastic towards his friends and just someone who wants to stick with them (no puns intended). And annoying, but liked at the same time.

Henry Backstory: complete Ellie Backstory: complete Charles Backstory: complete Reginald Backstory: oh it's soon my time to shine

One thing I found particularly interesting is how despite Charles never being able to use the items that Henry and Ellie always use, his helicopter has a multitude of items like them. It would be kinda strange for the government to supply that kind of equipment to helicopters, so I wonder where it comes from...?

The only running thread with Charles that I think you didn’t mention, was I read him with a little bit of Neurodivergence. He seems like someone who doesn’t quite have a fully typical way of processing information. You mention Henry is a bad influence, while true it’s notable not Charles choosing to be ‘bad’, he seems to not fully register the immorality of Henry’s actions. Just seeing him as someone doing what he needs, not registering the moral side of it. It would also tie into why Charles thinks the Greatest Plan is such a great idea when a divebomb is a massive overreaction, he doesn’t have the ability to fully process the scope of the situation and goes way too big. Perhaps it comes from his strange, military-heavy upbringing?

Charles is the wholesome, pure, wonderful character I’ve ever seen in a video game, no joke, I think Charles is one of the best written, funniest, most interesting video game characters in the HISTORY OF GAMING

What if Charles parents don’t die until the valiant hero path, when he says “now it’s personal” maybe the toppats took down his parents. That might explain why he wasn’t scared when he wasn’t in an escape pod. Because he knew even if he died he would be with his parents and take down the Toppats doing so getting 2 of the things he wanted: his parents and revenge

My emotions *Some sad romantic stories:* bruh *Some Stickman trying to make his mom and dad proud by following their steps:* *my face is a waterfall* Edit: i come back 8 months later wtthe 140 likes the most ive gotten lel

Is it bad that I almost cried because of a theory on a Stickmans backstory

If I may, it's entirely possible that Charles' carefree and calm nature in dire situations is actually a result of his pilot training. Pilot's are made to go through simulations of crashing in order to be prepared for an emergency, and I've heard that at least airplane pilots aren't supposed to panic if something goes wrong with the plane in order to keep the passengers from panicking as well. While I don't doubt that he may have always been a little reckless and even a bit stupid at times (still love the guy tho), his training may have brought these qualities to an extreme so that he has more faith in his abilities, but is also more likely to risk his life for a mission. Also, a bonus headcanon for ya: Charles took choir in high school. No you cannot change my mind

I always loved VH because of 3 reasons: 1- It made Charles so unique. He would be just a silly sidekick and not a noble character without that path. 2- There are no endings like it. Most endings end well, or end badly (Revenged and TCW). But VH? That's an emotional moment done well. 3-There is many opportunity for fan- sequels or art.

Charles's personality fits perfectly for a character having a tough life, living in the shadow of the death of his parents, but quickly finding a purpose, Harry Potter style. But the fact he never has any real friends until Henry, the rogue criminal, and they fit so well together until Charles is finally taught to take charge on his own is such an amazing ending for him. Thanks for this story 2 Left Thumbs. :D

"In relationships opposites attract-" In this one sentence, two left thumbs has called the entire shipping community to attention 😂

7:58 "Charles has no literal superpowers" Charles being able to melt bones and mind control: Am I a joke to you?

The man with the greatest plan.

Best Charles theory, better than "Charles survived Valiant Hero" theory

If Curtis was Ellie’s Charles he would have betrayed her joining the toppats, Charles loyalty is a big part of his personality

Ellie's Charles is Dr. Vinschpinsilstien, instead of piloting a helicopter and infiltrating the airship she has a boat and (from my comment on Ellie's backstory video) they infiltrating the submarine

Graeme: **Makes Ellie's Backstory** *Everyone liked that Graeme: **Makes Charles' Backstory** *Everyone liked that as well

The fact that Charles gave Henry a government communication device (seen in the intro to Cleaned Em Out) shows he must have trusted Henry pretty well after the airship mission. That device seems like it would be a risky item to hand over to someone with criminal tendencies, and there was probably a specific intention behind doing so. He wanted to keep in touch, and he provided Henry with ways to contact him directly even from common devices, like the cell phone in Fleeing the Complex or whatever device he used to call him for the pickup at the beginning of Triple Threat (possibly something that was on the motorcycle or a stationary phone somewhere along the way). Also, did you say Burt is a pilot? I thought he was just a communication guy, seeing his bio. And the microphone on his headset looks like a solid immovable one, while the microphone on Charles's (and Quentin's) headset can be folded or flipped out of the way when it isn't needed for speaking. It seems like the headset Burt uses is intended for more constant use of the microphone and was selected for that purpose. And speaking of Burt's headset, I can't un-see the way it goes through his hat, almost as if it sprouted through the sides from the center... If you think about what pushing a headset through a hat like that would do, it makes sense that the hat would have single long tears on the sides and not just lone openings where the headset currently passes through different surfaces. Maybe the fabric between those points got sewn back together so cleanly it's not noticeable from the outside?

He always has the greatest plans. Charles would be great for ramming jobs, just give him a tank already lol.

you are the one thing keeping me on this game’s fandom

I could just imagine someone is already making a Charles backstory fangame after seeing this video lol

love this! i thought ppl couldn't go any deeper into charles as a character, but you proved me wrong haha additional note: if you look real close at charles before the escape pod door closes, you can see that he moves a little bit. he was the one who closed the door before the toppat member could get in :,)

19:40 maybe Henry remembers the fails like with the teleporter. On BtB he is like lets try it. In EtP he was a bit scared to use it. In ITA he was pissed that you chose this option. In FtC he just knew what would happen but used it anyway. In CtM he just broke it and ended up in the right place. Maybe thats why he wanted to do The Greatest Plan because he wanted to feel like charles

Charles Backstory:a good boy who wanted to crash helicopter

So, basically Charles is just a flying boi.

I really love how much you made for Charles based off of the qualities of her personality that he clearly has, it's stuff that's even mentioned on the wiki. Everything you've made for him compliments his character so well and is a good example of how there is and can be more to his character than it seems, and how tragic you made it too. I like a good tragedy here and there. Along with his relationships with characters which is another really cool detail of him that works really well, along with those bits for Henry and Ellie that really fit for them. I am a bit peeved that you didn't mention how Burt is a big parallel to Charles in terms of demeanor, and how you never mentioned that Charles' Song first started with (Singing Fanfare) in Infiltrating The Airship, I mean come on. But that's way smaller and peevy, I really love everything about this, there's even plenty of stuff I never coulda imagined, like Charles becoming his own man and making his own decisions, making Valiant Hero even more meaningful for him and it being his end. And I love all the explanations for why he acts this way like his rambling and oddly casual mood. All of this really suits him, it's so cool.

Is it possible that the death of Charles’ parents could be something to do with the Toppats? It would explain why he’s so determined to take them down and only seems to be on missions involving them.

All his backstory is he was abused by helicopters as a child witch is why he keeps crashing them

Fanfic Titles/Games I'd like to see. Future Sticks Collection Planning the Wedding Honoring the Pilot Saving the Kids Recruiting the Army Creating the Gang Discovering the Secrets Elly Rose Collection Meeting the Rose Robbing the Bank Escaping the Prison Stealing the Emerald Infiltrating the Bikers Fleeing the Complex Completing the Mission Charles Calving Collection Recruiting the Kid Training the Pilot Fulfilling the Role Tracking the Suspect Infiltrating the Airship Helping the Stickmin Completing the Mission

Charles might be my favorite character out of the Henry Stickmin series.

THIS IS THE GREATEST PLAN!!!!!!!!!! :D

that ending got very emotional. damn

Ah yes, the fan favourite!

*This backstory is cannon* And *NO* one can change my mind

His parents doing something heroic and that inspires Charles, is so sad. He did what his parents, thinking that maybe he can go home with Henry. Only for him to stay behind.

I want Reginald and Right Hand Man backstories too! If we have Henry, Ellie, and the Government, we gotta have the Toppat Clan!

Ive noticed that if you choose the Valiant Hero path, Charles dosent sings his usual song "This is the greatest PLAAAN" but instead he sings "I'm the bold action MAAAN" as seen in 20:10. Can this also be releated to the sacrafice his parents made long ago?

Honestly, I always though that his plans to crash his helicopter was just him letting intrusive thoughts win. But your theory added so much more emotional impact and depth that honestly probably made more sense.

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Great video! If you end up doing another one of these, then I would like to see Reginald or RHM.

Charles: Hi Henry! Henry: (Waves to him) The game: *Charles will now die for you*

I feel like the Henry Stickmin Series would make a great turn based RPG. Charles' ultimate would probably be where he crashed into the enemy team but takes serious recoil.

Holy cow. For such a surface level character, you kinda made me cry just a bit with this theoretical backstory. Great job on this!

14:33 "When he teams up with Henry after he's presumed dead-" Me knowing what ending that path ties into: Oh no

Next Up: Reginald or RHM's Backstory?

I think that, in the routes where Charles helps Henry from the Wall, the operation he was on... is, in fact, the Tophat Jungle Base raid. If it's the one where Henry was pardoned, then Charles explains about things and gets Henry to help out, while, well, in the other route, they arrive at the base where Charles was due to show up, and thus the general has to ask for his help - technically, it's due to them helping him get out, but the extra favour (which becomes joining the military in Covert Ops with Charles) is an added bonus incentive.

Fun fact: someone found code that suggested that he was planned to join the toppat clan in one ending(possibly Toppat king) but puffballs chose for Toppat Charles to be his own character which was Burt Curtis

A video about my backstory? Nice!

When Scrabdackle comes out, you should collab with The Game Theorists on a theory.

I cant be the only one who heard him say "2 left thugs* right?

I think you thought about this more than Puff was. I love that so much.

This just makes it sadder.

Gotta be honest tho. This theory made the VH ending much more emotional yet satisfying to know that Charlie finally did his greatest plan

the "when he teams up with henry after presumed dead" scared me lol

“I think I have less to go off of” Video: *longer than ellie’s*

I think RHM may have the best backstory his name is literally dedicated to how he is the Right hand man of the toppat clan

Good theory! Kinda makes the Valiant Hero ending two times more heart wrenching though- :(

I think charles would actually be looking for helping henry because theyre brothers. Charles decided to be in the military while henry breaks the law to survive because he doesnt want to be rejected by a new possible family. And then Ellie, was a neighbor of henrys and the ghost inmate route explaines why ellie will remember that, because henry was normally looking for others that helped him

I love this theory so much. Hopefully this can get the valiant hero deniers some closure haha

This is the first time I’ve ever seen a vid with 0 dislikes. I’m prob never gonna see this moment again

I won't lie I was once a VH denier and refused to accept this ending to be canon but after this video it helped me look at the ending in a different way Charles was more than a sidekick he was the protagonist the hero who would save the day and yes I may be heartbroken over his lost but I am proud him he took charge and rescued his friend I can't be any more prouder thanks for making this video it made me accept the vh ending for what it is and I may get some hate from some people for saying this but it's now one of my favorite endings in the game now

I hate that a story about a stick person with headphones can make me so emotional

Ooh, just in time! Never really wondered about his backstory or anything, but your theory gets me to think.

I'm a simple man. I see Charles, I click

This is now my headcanon for Charles' backstory, ESPECIALY the part about his parents inventing the maneuver; it adds a lot of depth to a simple joke and I love when that happens. Amazing video!

When Charles says that the Toppat thing is starting to get personal, I just thought it was about them getting interrupted by them all the time. Or maybe the Toppats were the ones that killed his parents, which I honestly wouldn't be surprised by because considering that the gang is worldwide, they must've already been around for ages and even if it did happen, maybe he just didn't know until CtM came around. Idk, just a random thought.

Valiant Hero really is Charles' route in CtM, huh? Like I already knew that, he's the one doing everything, I actually like the ending since it's nice to get some emotion out of videogames rather than just constant joy, but this really makes it seem even more like that.

How do I keep clicking on my subscription feed at the exact same time you upload lol

I still haven’t gotten over the valiant hero ending God I frogot how much it hurts

For me, the best ending is triple threat, I just love it

We all love you Charles you always has the greatest plan

This was very interesting and great! Definitely need to take this Father stuff into mind when making my Charles game.

Great and amazing video, the only thing I do want to mention though is that Kirk in the main timeline was more motivated by his father being him and the one your talking about is in the reboot in the Kelvin timeline. Other than that great vid!

To make VH Less sad, I'm Sure Charles'd go to heaven in the afterlife

This video just made me cry about the Valiant Hero ending again. Great job

Henry and Charles are long lost brothers because of their voices

Really experienced pilot. Crashes into Henry

You have to be my favorite channel

Awesome video

9:24 *Godzilla had a stroke trying to understand this and fricking died*

Charles' doppelganger is Burt Curtis! *Everyone liked that.*

Idea for Ellie’s Charles: instead of having her Charles in the later half hers was earlier, possibly having been harmed in his final mission somehow similar to Charles ending, possibly before the wall her version had been killed in the escape when they were the escape driver or died keeping the cops off of ellie

Charles is definitely in my top 3 favorite characters in Henry stickmin and I’m very happy for this very awsome video

this is a really good video

I swear i love these kind of videos! The more theory style ones. But... I just can't see over one little mistake... The mouse that's clearly visible during any "gameplay" part of the video

I personally think Charles’ parents were just normal people and that he joined the military because he had a hyperfixation on flying and helicopters. His greatest plan was probably just something he’s always wanted to do after watching it in a movie haha

Thanks for making the Valliant Hero ending hurt more, mate-

Another great video, I can tell you put time and work into your vids so it’s pretty sad that you don’t have as many subs as others

Wow, how did you get all that! It's amazing and makes so much sense! Good video! >:)

i think this video is the one thing that has finally made the valiant hero ending hurt less for me

thank you I love scrabdackle I can't wait for the full game

What if Charles' Parents were killed by the Toppats when his home was raided and remembered that Jacked Hughman was part of the raid, which is why he risked his life to rescue Henry? It works with his military background you came up with.

Beautiful

Another thing worth mentioning is that the "Charlie's song" motif plays as the last bit of the Valiant Hero song as well!

I had a theory of Charles’ “plan”. I would think that Mr. and Mrs. Calvin’s lives were taken in a helicopter crash that when Charles was given the news, he was so saddened by it that it leads to him crashing into things so much to kind of take his own life just to see his parents again.

Well, now that you've done Charles, I feel as though the only other characters worth covering are Reginald and RHM... at the same time. I think it's fair to say that their stories are intertwined quite deeply, so doing one without the other wouldn't make sense. Also, it's probably the best way for you to talk about the Toppats in general; I don't think there's enough to do as a standalone video on them without it becoming uninteresting.