Last's Years' Joke Served Fresh
August 18, 2007 is the last time Lynn Johnston did this "Elly talks to John about Grandpa Jim and Iris and it turns into a 'Who will be the caretaker for us?'" conversation she does in today's For Better or For Worse. She's done this joke a few times before, but usually does not repeat the same joke within the same year. The difference is last time John managed to get a backrub out of the conversation. This time he gets a hug in front of the grill.
Lynn had originally planned to end the strip in September, 2007 with Elizabeth's wedding, but spend so much time playing the game of "Which man will get the girl?" that she did not leave enough time for the wedding to take place. So, she decided to extend the wedding out for another year. She still ended up not allowing enough time to tell the wedding story properly, but seems to be finishing it out anyway. I cannnot help but to think that since August 18 would have been shortly before the strip was originally planned to be finished and since we see the same situation repeated today; Lynn Johnston has always intended for Elly and John to think of Grandpa Jim in terms of their own experience and who will end up being the longterm caretaker. I also think it appears highly likely that Lynn gave Grandpa Jim a second stroke in October, 2007, as a way to keep his stroke storyline going for another year.
Lynn had originally planned to end the strip in September, 2007 with Elizabeth's wedding, but spend so much time playing the game of "Which man will get the girl?" that she did not leave enough time for the wedding to take place. So, she decided to extend the wedding out for another year. She still ended up not allowing enough time to tell the wedding story properly, but seems to be finishing it out anyway. I cannnot help but to think that since August 18 would have been shortly before the strip was originally planned to be finished and since we see the same situation repeated today; Lynn Johnston has always intended for Elly and John to think of Grandpa Jim in terms of their own experience and who will end up being the longterm caretaker. I also think it appears highly likely that Lynn gave Grandpa Jim a second stroke in October, 2007, as a way to keep his stroke storyline going for another year.
posted by howard at 9:36 PM
10 Comments:
howard,
Lynn Johnston has always intended for Elly and John to think of Grandpa Jim in terms of their own experience and who will end up being the longterm caretaker. I also think it appears highly likely that Lynn gave Grandpa Jim a second stroke in October, 2007, as a way to keep his stroke storyline going for another year.
That's the most reasonable explanation. After all, if he had, say, had a scary bout of pneumonia or something, inattentive people might start to forget his stroke and that wouldn't do at all.
I agree with you - Lynn appears to be re-introducing ideas that were supposed to be relevantly placed in reference her original intended "ending" timeline, so as to put them where they "ought to be" in the new and revised later ending of the strip. (And Dear Gods, I hope it DOES end this time around, because she's clearly no longer the clever creator she used to be. Her "prime time" has definitely PASSED. :p)
anonymous
And Dear Gods, I hope it DOES end this time around, because she's clearly no longer the clever creator she used to be. Her "prime time" has definitely PASSED. :p
That time passed about the same time that Deanna and Mike got away with the Big Sham Wedding. I'd spent most of 2001 wondering when they'd be caught trying to deceive Mira on the assumption that when they were, Mira would explain why she wanted what she did and the Pattersons would willingly deliver it. Instead, she became and stayed a cartoon ogre whose only purpose was to boss the Pattersons around.
dreadedcandiru2,
After all, if he had, say, had a scary bout of pneumonia or something, inattentive people might start to forget his stroke and that wouldn't do at all.
I think this plus the fact that Lynn has gotten Grandpa Jim back to roughly the same condition he was back last August. The second stroke doesn't seem to have done much to Grandpa Jim as far as a long term effect goes. He is certainly better than the guy who couldn't stay awake when April was playing to him, or the guy Liz is having the wedding quickly for, before he dies.
I'd spent most of 2001 wondering when they'd be caught trying to deceive Mira on the assumption that when they were, Mira would explain why she wanted what she did and the Pattersons would willingly deliver it.
I was also quite surprised. Usually when you set up a big plot where someone is being deceived by persons who appear to be incompetent at keeping secrets (like Connie Poirier knows, then Grandpa Jim, then April, etc., and Grandpa Jim was making broad hints around the Sobinskis), you expect the big reveal and resolution. And then there wasn't one. Instead, the Pattersons began to treat Mira Sobinski abominably, culminating with a terrible Christmas strip last year.
Anonymous,
I agree with you - Lynn appears to be re-introducing ideas that were supposed to be relevantly placed in reference her original intended "ending" timeline, so as to put them where they "ought to be" in the new and revised later ending of the strip.
There is definitely that aspect to the repetitions. The difference this time is that instead of Elly just visiting briefly and reporting back to John, she actually spends time with Grandpa Jim to relieve Iris. That difference is clearly in response to the overwhelming criticism of the Pattersons and their treatment of Grandpa Jim. If the strip had ended last year, Elly bringing over food would probably have been enough.
Oh, hey, did you see this in today's CT?
Jul 30 strip: EXCELLENT PLAY ON WORDS - "MUCILAGE"!
Carol M, Salt Lake City, Utah
How timely (and unbelievable) after yesterday's discussion! ;)
aprilp_katje,
I didn't see it. Thanks for pointing it out. I guess it just goes to show that for every pun, there is a person out there who likes it.
After I posted that, I even found yet another KAN resident praising that awful punnery:
"Today's strip was absolutely great with the play on words!"
Bleah. Who ARE these people?!?!?!
aprilp-katje,
I believe that are part of the group, PWLM (People Who Love Mucilage).
That would explain it. Or PWLAP (People Who Love All Puns). ;)
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