Character Relationship Map: Under the Boardwalk

Characters

• Armen (played by Michael Cera) — protagonist

  A timid land hermit crab who fears water due to his parents' death in a storm. He lives in a rotting shell shared with Anemone. After being swept away with Ramona, he overcomes his fears, saves her li...

• Ramona (played by Keke Palmer) — protagonist

  A tourist sea crab who develops a crush on Armen. She intervenes to help him during a harassment incident, gets swept away, and escapes captivity with him. She shares her struggle with her perfectioni...

• Bobby (played by Bobby Cannavale) — supporting

  One of Armen's muscular friends who takes him to Bruno's club. He befriends Shelly, attempts to stop a violent fight between rival crabs, and accidentally injures Mako. Later, he accepts a peace offer...

• Manny (played by John Magaro) — supporting

  One of the three muscular land crabs and Armen's friend. He accompanies Armen and Jimmy to Bruno's club, where the initial conflict with the sea crabs begins.

• Jimmy (played by Jon Rudnitsky) — supporting

  One of the three muscular land crabs and Armen's friend. He accompanies Armen and Manny to Bruno's club, triggering the event that leads to their eviction.

• Bruno (played by Steven Van Zandt) — supporting

  Armen's uncle who owns a local club. He hosts Armen and his friends, where the rivalry with sea crabs escalates into a fight that results in their eviction.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Armen → Ramona (Romantic Partner) — Their romance crosses the divide between land and sea communities.

  Armen initially develops a crush on Ramona. After escaping captivity and sharing their insecurities, they fall in love, and Ramona kisses Armen after...

• Armen → Bruno (Family Uncle) — Bruno is Armen's family connection to the local club.

  Bruno is explicitly identified as Armen's uncle and owns the club where Armen and his friends gather.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jimmy → Bruno (Social Club Patron Connection) — Jimmy's connection to Bruno is established through the club visit.

  Jimmy accompanies Armen and the other land crabs to Bruno's club before the group is evicted.

• Manny → Bruno (Social Club Patron Connection) — Manny is a guest at Bruno's local club.

  Manny accompanies Armen to the club owned by Armen's uncle Bruno.

• Bobby → Bruno (Social Club Patron Connection) — Bobby is connected to Bruno through Armen's family gathering place.

  Bobby visits Bruno's club with Armen, Manny, and Jimmy, where Bruno hosts the gathering before the conflict escalates.

• Manny → Jimmy (Alliance Teammate) — Their connection is established through shared group activity.

  Manny and Jimmy travel with Armen and Bobby to Bruno's club as members of the same friend group.

• Bobby → Jimmy (Alliance Teammate) — They act as fellow members of the local land-crab group.

  Bobby and Jimmy accompany Armen to Bruno's club and later stand on the same side during the conflict between the land and sea crabs.

• Bobby → Manny (Alliance Teammate) — They cooperate as members of Armen's friendship group.

  Bobby and Manny accompany Armen together as members of the same group of muscular land crabs and friends.

• Armen → Jimmy (Social Friend) — Jimmy is part of Armen's regular group of friends.

  Jimmy is described as one of Armen's friends and joins Armen, Bobby, and Manny at Bruno's club.

• Armen → Manny (Social Friend) — Manny belongs to Armen's close local friendship group.

  Manny is described as one of Armen's friends and accompanies him with Bobby and Jimmy to Bruno's club.

• Armen → Bobby (Social Close Friend) — Bobby is Armen's strongest supporting friend and protector.

  Bobby is identified as one of Armen's friends and takes him to Bruno's club. Bobby later searches for Armen and helps end the violent conflict surroun...

Story Analysis

A timid land crab overcomes inherited fear and social division to save the crab he loves and unite two communities.

Plot Progression

1. Shells Beneath the Boardwalk — Armen lives cautiously among land hermit crabs and avoids water because of his parents' death in a storm. A visit to Bruno's club brings him into direct contact with the opposing sea-crab community.
2. Swept Beyond Home — A confrontation at the seashore leads to Armen losing his shell and being swept away with Ramona. Their separation from home places both characters in captivity and danger.
3. A Journey Across Divides — Armen and Ramona escape and travel through pier attractions while revealing their deepest insecurities. Meanwhile, their disappearance increases conflict between the land and sea communities.
4. War Beneath False Proof — Bobby begins rejecting violence, but a broken arm and a false death claim drive both communities toward war. Armen and Ramona struggle with judgment as their love grows.
5. The Sea of Courage — When Ramona collapses from dehydration, Armen carries her through the fighting communities and enters the water despite his deepest fear. Her revival exposes the false story, enables reconciliation, a...