Greggory "Gregg" Lee isn't just a hyperactive fox in a leather jacket. If you’ve spent any time in the crumbling, rust-belt aesthetic of Possum Springs, you know he’s basically the heartbeat of Night in the Woods. He’s loud. He’s impulsive. He shouts "Crimes!" with a level of enthusiasm that most of us haven’t felt since we were ten years old. But beneath that "trash king" exterior is a character that feels uncomfortably real to anyone who’s ever felt like they’re failing at being an adult.
Honestly, when I first played through the Gregg Lee Night in the Woods route, I thought he was just the "fun" alternative to Bea’s heavy, grounded realism. I was wrong.
The Reality of Greggory Lee
Gregg is messy. He’s a college dropout’s best friend who still lives in the town everyone else is trying to escape. He works a dead-end job at the Snack Falcon, wearing that ridiculous uniform while dreaming of a life in Bright Harbor with his boyfriend, Angus.
What makes Gregg so compelling isn't just the fact that he's a queer fox who likes to smash light bulbs. It’s his vulnerability. He explicitly mentions having "up up days and down down days." While the game never sits you down for a clinical lecture, it’s heavily implied—and confirmed by co-creator Scott Benson—that Gregg lives with bipolar disorder.
Why we do "Crimes"
When Mae comes back to town, Gregg is the one who enables her worst impulses. They go to the woods. They shoot crossbows at rotten logs. They smash cars for batteries. It feels like a regression, a desperate attempt to grab onto a childhood that’s already dead and buried.
- The Knife Fight: That scene in the woods isn't just a mini-game. It’s a moment of raw, dangerous intimacy between two friends who don't know how to talk about their feelings, so they use dull blades instead.
- The Battery Theft: Stealing a battery from a parked car isn't about the parts. It’s about feeling powerful in a town that makes you feel small.
- The Donut Wolf: Even a simple trip for food becomes a reflection on their shared history and the "legends" they think they are.
The Tension with Angus
You can’t talk about Gregg Lee Night in the Woods without talking about Angus Delaney. They are the "only two gay guys in town," which is a heavy burden to carry in a place as stagnant as Possum Springs.
Angus is the anchor. He’s the one saving money, the one looking for apartments in the city, the one trying to build a future. Gregg, on the other hand, is terrified that he’s "parking lot trash." He’s scared that his mental health and his penchant for trouble will eventually make Angus realize he deserves better.
It’s a specific kind of relationship anxiety. It’s the fear that you are the "bad" part of a "good" thing. In one of the most heartbreaking scenes, Gregg tells Mae that he needs to change because he doesn't want to lose the one person who actually sees a future in him. He feels like he’s holding Angus back, even though Angus clearly adores him.
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A Bittersweet Growth
If you choose the Gregg route, the ending isn't a simple "happily ever after." It’s an acknowledgment of distance.
Gregg and Angus are leaving. They are moving to Bright Harbor. And Mae is staying. The realization that your best friend is growing up and moving on while you’re still stuck in the same cycles is the core tragedy of the game. Gregg isn't leaving because he doesn't love Mae; he’s leaving because he has to survive.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of fans see Gregg as the "chaotic" one and Bea as the "mature" one. That’s a bit of a disservice to Gregg.
Staying in a town like Possum Springs, working at the Snack Falcon, and trying to keep a relationship together while dealing with a mood disorder requires a massive amount of strength. Gregg isn't just "silly." He is a person trying his absolute hardest to be "good" in a world that doesn't give him many reasons to be.
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He’s a punk, but he’s a punk who cares deeply. He’s the guy who will stand up to an eldritch cult in a mine because his friends are in danger, even if he’s shaking the whole time.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Playthrough:
To get the most out of Gregg’s character arc and see the full depth of his story, keep these things in mind:
- Commit to the Route: If you want to see Gregg's growth, you have to hang out with him exclusively during the "Weird Autumn" segments. Mixing and matching with Bea will dilute the emotional payoff of his specific ending.
- Watch the Background: Look at the way Gregg reacts during the band practice scenes. His animations and dialogue change based on how well (or poorly) you play, reflecting his own internal energy.
- Talk to Angus: When you get the chance to talk to Angus alone during the Gregg hangouts, do it. He provides the perspective on Gregg that Gregg is too insecure to give himself.
- Listen to the "Up" Days: Pay attention to the days when Gregg is extra loud. In the context of his bipolar disorder, these "crimes" are often a way to burn off manic energy that he doesn't know what to do with.
Gregg Rulz. OK. But he’s also a reminder that being a "legend" is mostly just about showing up for the people you love, even when you feel like trash.