I’m not much on my name — never have been if I’m honest. There’s a horrible song that uses my namesake, and when I introduce myself, people often ask me if my mom has it going on. There are so many other ways my name could have been used, but that’s one it’s commonly remembered for.
It wasn’t until I played Breath of the Wild, however, that I considered changing my name, specifically to something ending in “-son” so I could hang with one of the cheeriest people in Hyrule, Bolson.
You first run into Bolson just outside of Hateno, observing his crew as they work on demolishing an old house. “Times are rough, not a lot of buyers, y’know?” he tells Link. I firmly believe they were demolishing it to make room for more of their trendy two-floor cube houses, but I’m sure Bolson would never admit that out loud.
Bolson greets you with cheerful singsong, asking if Link needs something from him. There are several conversation choices available to introduce Bolson, all of which should be straightforward, but this man has a flair for drama and makes that known early. He’s a bit coy, and when he gets around to answering, the man doesn’t introduce himself as just the owner of Bolson construction. Rather, he’s the “luminary, president, architect, and design lead,” of the company branded with his moniker.
“My name is Bolson,” he sings, not expecting Link to be impressed, just joyful about his existence. And it’s after this that Bolson’s flair really comes out.
With no melody to guide him, save for the one in his head, Bolson begins a song and dance. “Bolson! Da-da-da-Bollllllson!” he croons, waving his hands and hips in hula fashion before finishing with a “Walk Like an Egyptian”-esque pose. I’m not sure how Link felt, but I was instantly enthralled with this man and wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.
Bolson first thinks you’re being cheeky when you offer to buy the house, calling Link “Young Money Bags” under his breath and expressing some doubts about his resolve. After detailing the history of the house and why it’s being torn down, Bolson drops a 50,000-rupee price on Link with little preamble. He gets it out of the way early, wanting to test Link perhaps and see how serious he is. If Link says it’s impossible, Bolson will pleasantly reflect on his own struggles with money in his youth. If Link says he’ll pay the 50,000 outright, Bolson will be impressed and calls him a go-getter, saying Link reminds him of how he was back in the day. Two different stories if you ask me.
Regardless, the exchange ends with Bolson proposing the sale of the house for 3,000 rupees and 30 bundles of wood, which isn’t a lot, but acquiring the materials can seem monotonous if you haven’t been cutting down trees. But with enough patience you’ll eventually gather the required materials, and the house becomes yours. Though, that doesn’t mean Bolson and his crew just vacate. Hudson does eventually pack up and head for the Akkala region, but Bolson and Karson stick around to build Link weapon mounts and a door, plant trees and flowers, and help him make the house a home.
I found so much amusement in these small interactions. Everything about Bolson made me laugh. His design mimics the joyful carpenters we saw in Ocarina of Time, and I’m so glad. It’s perfect, from the flamboyant open-chested vest with a tiger-striped collar to the pink trousers and pointed shoes that complete his outfit. I envy his ability to rock a pink headband so well, and to be so confident in his business that he not only requires employees to have names that mirror his own — all of them ending in “-son” — but he also revels in his own creativity and creates a theme song for his business that he’s surprised hasn’t caught on. Oh, my friend, if only there was a YouTube in Hyrule. Your song would be viral in days and every person would be vying for the team at Bolson Construction to design their home.
But Bolson isn’t just fashionable and creative, he’s also loyal to those in his “family.” He gives Hudson his blessing to expand the Bolson Construction business all the way up in Akkala, and he welcomes Karson as his second-in-command after that, even though Karson is fairly new to the business. Together, he and Karson smash and “hyah” their way through building a plethora of furniture for Link at his request, and Bolson Construction leaves Link with a mass of furniture for free after doing so much business with him. And when Hudson announces his engagement, Bolson makes the trek across the country to celebrate with the entire crew of his expanded enterprise.
I think all of us could use a friend, or a manager, like Bolson in our lives. Not only for his loyalty, but for his catchy theme song, his unique “Okey-doo” phrase, and his enthusiasm for all things ending in “-son.” Perhaps I can find a suitable name for myself that will allow me into this elite club, and I too can spread the Bolson Construction brand throughout the world.
