Liz, Cheater Detective
In today’s For Better or For Worse, Elizabeth Patterson gets to redo the old Eric / Tina cheating scenario she did before. Warned by her mother and father that her boyfriend was no good, because he wasn’t there for her trial; warned by her brother that “absence makes the heart go wander”; and then warned by Gary Crane he was “with Susan”, like she was back in 2001 and 2002, Elizabeth ignored all the warnings (except for Gary’s). It makes sense she would ignore the other warnings because they appear stupid. It’s another lesson for Elizabeth to learn: Mom, Dad, and brother are always right, even when they seem so wrong.
I remember back in 2002, when Liz approached Tina’s place looking for Eric, she found them sitting on Tina’s chesterfield in sock feet watching television. This was damning enough, because of all the times we saw Liz relax when she was alone with Eric, which was pretty much none. I don’t know if Eric cheated before Liz got paranoid about what he was doing, or Liz got paranoid because of what Eric was doing. Those questions are lost in the annals of collections I do not have. However, what I do remember is Liz was able to convince Tina that Eric was cheating by saying, “Look at him!” It helped me realize that for Elizabeth Patterson, cheating wasn’t about having sex, or kissing, or hand-holding with another woman. Cheating was about spending time with another woman behind closed doors. Cheating was something which was clearly evident in someone’s facial expression.
So, when we saw the indictment of Constable Paul Wright, for simply being in the same place as Susan Dokis and having an unusual facial expression, it was perfectly in line with what we had seen from Liz before with Eric. When you are writing fiction, sometimes you don’t have to make sense with the real world, so long as you can maintain your own internal logic. Liz has the magical power to determine a cheater, when she confronts them with the other woman. It’s consistent and so snarkable.
Today was the day I wrote my Constable Paul Wright magnum opus on how he finds out all of Liz’s most recent actions (with references to the strip) were intended to get her together with Anthony Caine, and then ignores everyone of them out of his belief in Elizabeth. The way I have been playing the good constable is somewhat consistent with the strip, although I play him stupider a lot for comic effect. No matter what nonsense Liz threw him, he always accepted it. He’s the kind of guy who takes chances, like when he professed his love for Elizabeth after they had been dating for only 2 months. He is up front with his feelings to Liz. The idea he would suddenly turn dishonest with Elizabeth, when he had been so painfully honest before, did not sit well with me. For months, I have had Susan Dokis show Paul Wright all the things wrong with Liz, and hint broadly she was interested in him. For months, I have had Paul Wright be oblivious. I decided now would be the time to turn off the stupid when Susan does the one crucial thing which Elizabeth Patterson has not done once with the good constable in the year and 2 months they have been dating, which is to say, “I love you.” (Yes, qnjones, I know Liz said, "I do!" when Paul said, "I though you loved me!" That doesn't count, in my book.) By having this reversal on Paul’s part occur just before Liz arrived, it would also provide a decent excuse why he didn’t break things off with Liz the moment he started with Chipper.
Yes, Lynn Johnston, I am filling the personality change hole you put yourself in. You have portrayed Paul in his every appearance as being open and honest, to the point of being somewhat pathetic. A guy like that wouldn’t be able to cheat very long before he couldn’t take it any more and he told Liz about it.
Tomorrow’s strip: Everything is working out perfectly, so far. Of course on Saturday, Liz could have a conversation with Vivian Crane, which could mess the whole thing up. But as for today, Lynn could not have scripted it better. She must be reading my mind. Paul says, “It just happened” which means “it happened in the very recent past.”
I remember back in 2002, when Liz approached Tina’s place looking for Eric, she found them sitting on Tina’s chesterfield in sock feet watching television. This was damning enough, because of all the times we saw Liz relax when she was alone with Eric, which was pretty much none. I don’t know if Eric cheated before Liz got paranoid about what he was doing, or Liz got paranoid because of what Eric was doing. Those questions are lost in the annals of collections I do not have. However, what I do remember is Liz was able to convince Tina that Eric was cheating by saying, “Look at him!” It helped me realize that for Elizabeth Patterson, cheating wasn’t about having sex, or kissing, or hand-holding with another woman. Cheating was about spending time with another woman behind closed doors. Cheating was something which was clearly evident in someone’s facial expression.
So, when we saw the indictment of Constable Paul Wright, for simply being in the same place as Susan Dokis and having an unusual facial expression, it was perfectly in line with what we had seen from Liz before with Eric. When you are writing fiction, sometimes you don’t have to make sense with the real world, so long as you can maintain your own internal logic. Liz has the magical power to determine a cheater, when she confronts them with the other woman. It’s consistent and so snarkable.
Today was the day I wrote my Constable Paul Wright magnum opus on how he finds out all of Liz’s most recent actions (with references to the strip) were intended to get her together with Anthony Caine, and then ignores everyone of them out of his belief in Elizabeth. The way I have been playing the good constable is somewhat consistent with the strip, although I play him stupider a lot for comic effect. No matter what nonsense Liz threw him, he always accepted it. He’s the kind of guy who takes chances, like when he professed his love for Elizabeth after they had been dating for only 2 months. He is up front with his feelings to Liz. The idea he would suddenly turn dishonest with Elizabeth, when he had been so painfully honest before, did not sit well with me. For months, I have had Susan Dokis show Paul Wright all the things wrong with Liz, and hint broadly she was interested in him. For months, I have had Paul Wright be oblivious. I decided now would be the time to turn off the stupid when Susan does the one crucial thing which Elizabeth Patterson has not done once with the good constable in the year and 2 months they have been dating, which is to say, “I love you.” (Yes, qnjones, I know Liz said, "I do!" when Paul said, "I though you loved me!" That doesn't count, in my book.) By having this reversal on Paul’s part occur just before Liz arrived, it would also provide a decent excuse why he didn’t break things off with Liz the moment he started with Chipper.
Yes, Lynn Johnston, I am filling the personality change hole you put yourself in. You have portrayed Paul in his every appearance as being open and honest, to the point of being somewhat pathetic. A guy like that wouldn’t be able to cheat very long before he couldn’t take it any more and he told Liz about it.
Tomorrow’s strip: Everything is working out perfectly, so far. Of course on Saturday, Liz could have a conversation with Vivian Crane, which could mess the whole thing up. But as for today, Lynn could not have scripted it better. She must be reading my mind. Paul says, “It just happened” which means “it happened in the very recent past.”
posted by howard at 9:24 PM
4 Comments:
Yes, Lynn Johnston, I am filling the personality change hole you put yourself in. You have portrayed Paul in his every appearance as being open and honest, to the point of being somewhat pathetic. A guy like that wouldn’t be able to cheat very long before he couldn’t take it any more and he told Liz about it.
Yes! She owes you a gift basket with cinnamon buns, coffee cake, and a signed 8" X 10" (21cm X 26 cm) portrait of Paul. ;)
Mmm! Cinnamon buns. Coffee cake. The sweet smell of success!
Woo, I thought Paul was brilliant. And so nice and sincere today--a sympathetic portrayal, pretty unlike what we get from Lynn in a complete character change. Now that you know what's coming for Monday you can be prepared for that too.
I'll miss Paul over at ARB, but maybe he can pop in occasionally and let us know when he and Susan get married and stuff.
Gi'-ga-wa-ba-min' na-gutch, Constable!
jenney,
Thanks for the great compliment. I am glad the Monday strip was available, because it does make figuring out what happened with the transfer a lot easier than what's in the Saturday strip.
As for Paul on ARB, I can see an occasional popping in, if there is some way the day's strip can be related to Ojibway lifestyle or wedding planning. However, it kind of depends on April and Liz's portrayal in the strip. If Liz and April hate Paul, then it may be difficult.
qnjones,
What a horrible day. I hate having to try to anticipate things which will set off a relative's bad moods. Whenever we visit my wife's step-mother, I have to be very careful around her, but it is no where near as difficult as the situation you described. I am sure you are glad the day is over.
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