Nellie Ramirez Humphrey (voiced by Melissa Villaseñor) is a recurring and supporting character of Primos. She is the younger sister of Tater.
Background[]
Nellie is the younger, yet taller, more realistic sister of Tater, embodying a more mature and laid-back personality compared to her sibling. Her height often gives the illusion that she is older, but in reality, she is the junior. Nellie doesn't hesitate to correct Tater, showcasing her practical and down-to-earth nature. Much like Tater, Nellie was initially unenthusiastic about their twelve primos staying for the summer, foreseeing the potential chaos and disruption.
Nellie has a knack for avoiding responsibilities and chores, always on the lookout for the easiest way out of any situation. Her pragmatic approach often contrasts with Tater's big dreams and lofty ambitions. Nellie enjoys poking fun at Tater's grand ideas, grounding them with a dose of realism and occasionally veering into cynicism. Despite her tendency to discourage Tater's aspirations, this behavior stems from a desire to protect her sister from potential disappointment.
Unlike the typical depiction of middle children yearning for attention, Nellie is quite content being left out of the spotlight. She prefers to stay on the sidelines, avoiding any substantial work or involvement in household chores. However, when she does find herself engaged, it is usually because she has discovered a new obsession or interest to focus on, often immersing herself completely until something else catches her eye.
Nellie's laid-back and sometimes cynical demeanor hides a deep care for her family. Though she rarely expresses it openly, she looks out for Tater's well-being in her own subtle ways. She values her sister's happiness and safety, even if it means stepping in with a dose of reality when Tater's dreams seem too far-fetched.
Nellie's ability to remain calm and detached is both a strength and a weakness. It allows her to navigate the bustling environment of their crowded household with ease, but it also makes her seem aloof and uninterested. Yet, beneath this exterior, Nellie possesses a thoughtful and observant nature. She understands the dynamics of her family well and uses her laid-back approach as a means to maintain her own peace while subtly influencing those around her.
Summer of Primos[]
Nellie, though younger, often adopts the role of the "older" sister, both in physical appearance and her more mature outlook on life. As Tater dreams big about personal growth during the summer, Nellie is quick to offer a cynical reality check. When Tater starts brainstorming ways to achieve her goals, Nellie dismisses them, pointing out the flaws in Tater's personality and circumstances. Yet, despite her critiques, there’s an underlying protectiveness—Nellie wants to prevent Tater from disappointment.
Nellie’s practical nature contrasts sharply with Tater’s idealism. She’s quick to point out how their small town won’t provide the backdrop for the transformative summer Tater hopes for. However, despite her tendency to belittle her sister’s ambitions, Nellie depends on Tater’s enthusiasm in some ways, particularly when it comes to remembering the cousins' names during family gatherings. She might roll her eyes at the chaos the primos bring, but Nellie’s dismissiveness is her way of coping with the disruption to their peaceful life.
The arrival of the cousins disrupts the summer both Tater and Nellie had envisioned. While Tater tries to maintain control by creating a strict roommate agreement, Nellie immediately looks for a way out. True to her pragmatic nature, she joins "Tio-Con" to avoid helping with the logistics of the cousins moving in. Nellie’s avoidance of responsibility highlights her tendency to sidestep any situation that requires effort, especially when it doesn’t directly benefit her.
However, when things go awry with the primos and Tater finds herself locked out of her own room, Nellie stays on the sidelines. While she doesn’t engage in the chaos directly, her detachment here allows Tater to learn important lessons about compromise and family. Nellie steps back, letting her sister navigate the challenges of having so many relatives under one roof, knowing that Tater will eventually find her own solution. Her distance might seem cold, but it’s part of Nellie’s hands-off approach to life—and to Tater’s growth.
Feeling Left Out[]
Nellie’s more laid-back attitude towards life contrasts sharply with Tater’s desire for privacy and focus. When Tater embarks on her quest to find a private space for herself, Nellie teases her sister, suggesting that she should simply relax and meditate instead of obsessing over her “final form.” Nellie’s mockery reflects her belief that Tater’s goals are impractical, but it also serves as a way for Nellie to mask her own insecurities about not having a private space.
When Nellie finds Tater’s hideaway in the crawl space, she initially takes pleasure in disrupting her sister’s newfound sanctuary, even threatening to reveal it to the other primos. However, when Nellie finds herself in danger from an opossum, Tater steps in to save her, showcasing the bond between the two sisters beneath the bickering. Nellie’s admission that she too struggles with the lack of privacy reveals a more vulnerable side to her character, and Tater’s offer to share the space highlights how, despite their differences, the sisters look out for each other in their own ways. Nellie’s reluctance to take Tater up on the offer, instead feigning an allergy, underscores her preference for solitude and her unwillingness to impose on her sister’s space.
Imi-Tater[]
Nellie’s internal struggles come to the forefront as she wrestles with feelings of inferiority towards Tater. Though she usually plays the role of the aloof, cynical sister, Nellie reveals that she feels overshadowed by Tater’s larger-than-life personality. Her decision to outshine Tater by imitating her—dressing like her and creating a more successful lemonade stand—speaks to Nellie’s deeper desire to prove herself.
This highlights the competitive dynamic between the sisters, with Nellie stepping out of her usual laid-back persona to actively challenge Tater. However, Nellie’s actions are driven by a need for validation, and her frustration at not being seen or appreciated as much as Tater is evident when she snaps after being called a joke. Nellie’s anger reveals how deeply she craves recognition, even though she often pretends she doesn’t care about the spotlight.
In the end, Nellie’s realization that Tater has been observing her habits and cares about their bond as sisters helps to mend their relationship. Their heartfelt apology and the decision to use Nellie’s earnings to buy paletas for the family shows that, despite the rivalry, the sisters are deeply connected and ultimately want the best for each other.
Appearance[]
Body[]
Nellie is a Mexican-American girl of medium height, she has brown hair held into a long braided ponytail, brown eyes, and fair skin. She has freckles and red rosy cheeks.
Clothing[]
Nellie wears a light blue t-shirt, purple overalls with a yellow flower stitched onto the pocket, her hair is tied with a green band, and she wears green and yellow sandals.
Trivia[]
- In the pitch bible, Nellie was referred to as Mellie.
- Nellie being younger yet taller might be a nod to the Super Mario Bros. franchise where Luigi is the taller yet younger brother to Mario.
Sightings[]
Gallery
Click here to view the gallery.
To view the various designs of Nellie Ramirez Humphrey, click here.
v • e — Characters — | |
Main characters | Tater Ramirez Humphrey |
---|---|
Recurring characters | Nellie Ramirez Humphrey • Bibi Ramirez Humphrey • Bud Humphrey • Bud Ramirez Humphrey • Buela Ramirez • Pop Ramirez • Cousin Bud Humphrey • Gordita Humphrey • Big Nacho Ramirez • Nachito Ramirez • Tabi, Tere, and Toñita Ramirez • LotLot Ramirez • ChaCha Ramirez • Lita Perez • Scooter Perez • Lucita Perez |
Other characters | Ivan Ramirez • Diego Perez • Gustavo Ramirez • Ignacio Ramirez • Javier Ramirez • Vision Tiger • The Skid • Pam • Blaine • Ms. Mahoney • Gwennifer Malfeo • Serena • Carmela |