Murch

Murch is Spyke's successor and, in every way that matters, his opposite. Where Spyke lounged, Murch stands. Where Spyke drawled, Murch pitches. In Splatoon 2 he is a small, spiky kid in Inkopolis Square who scrubs gear abilities, adds slots, and orders in items other players are wearing, all with the energy of a young entrepreneur who has something to prove.

Growing up

By Splatoon 3, Murch has grown. Taller, sharper, and based in Splatsville, he runs a real operation: ability chunk management, gear ordering, and the crucial service of swapping a gear item's main ability. His dialogue in the third game carries a note of pride at having built something, and the shift from scrappy kid to established dealer is one of the series' quieter character arcs.

Spyke

The games never spell out Murch's relationship to Spyke, but they imply it strongly. Murch talks about wanting to be nothing like a certain lazy urchin, and his drive reads as a reaction against a figure he grew up around. Fans have variously called Spyke his brother, his mentor, and his cautionary tale. All three fit.

Character

Murch is ambitious, loyal to his customers, and a little insecure, which is a winning combination for a kid running a stall. He represents the generation of Inkopolis that grew up with Turf War as an established sport and saw the gear economy as a career. In Splatsville he fits right in: a hustler in a city that was built by them.