79 replies to this topic

[SMJB]

http://www.egscomics...date=2012-06-04

[The Old Hack]

Hm. I am of two minds about this. On one hand, seeing a relationship brought under genuine strain and with no quick resolution would add a good deal of interesting tension to the comic. On the other, I am not quite sure how I myself would handle it, were I in the hot spot of telling the story. While taking it to the point of a breakup or even having one happen could work as a good story, I am somewhat wary of the school of thought that says that breakups have to happen. I suspect I have become somewhat annoyed by Joss Whedon there -- while he is a good writer, he seems to create relationships between couples solely to break them up later for the tragedy and horror effect.

[Tricia]

...why in the world are they talking about this several months after Nanase and Elliot broke up? If Sarah had a problem with hanging out with Nanase, it would have come up loooooooong before this. Like, oh I don't know, at the Party of Doom?

[huumdinger]

Finally, it's nice to see some actual tension in one of the three main relationships for once. This should be an interesting arc or two.

Still, I have to wonder why Tedd is bringing up the whole Nanase thing now. Her and Sarah have never had any problems with each other in the past - there's been more conflict between Ellen and Sarah than Nanase and Sarah.

[Jorbun]

...why in the world are they talking about this several months after Nanase and Elliot broke up? If Sarah had a problem with hanging out with Nanase, it would have come up loooooooong before this. Like, oh I don't know, at the Party of Doom?

Tedd and Sarah weren't on good terms back then. This is probably the first time they've felt comfortable enough around each other to talk about something like that.

[The Old Hack]

Hm. Maybe because even Tedd has tact enough to not bring this kind of thing up except in private and he hasn't seen Sarah in private that often? And back at the Party, Tedd had other things on his mind, such as rather pressing personal relationship concerns. *scratches head* That being said, I do see your point, but even in RL things sometimes work out with that much of a delay.

[Tricia]

My point is that it would be blindingly obvious by now if Sarah was uncomfortable spending time around Nanase. It just seems like a really stupid question. I get that it was supposed to be a segue into Sarah's relationship issues (though I don't know why we need that recapped...again...), but I just think there ought to have been a better way to do it.

[The Old Hack]

Ah yes, that I can follow. *scratches head* I suppose there could have been more graceful ways of seguing into that. That being said, this may be a case of 'show vs. tell' discrepancy again -- a different way of doing it would have been Sarah meeting Elliot and then made some revealing remark that showed that she is still resentful over that mess with her sister.

[showler]

Tedd is relationship clueless. He's probably wondering if she's been covering up hurt all this time.

[Youwillneverknow]

Sarah is going to get herself all dolled up only to find that Elliot finds her more sexy when she is herself

[AHR]

The reason Nanase is brought up, is so that it can be a lead in to the conversation about Sarah's sister. It's just a very very very poor lead in.

[SMJB]

My point is that it would be blindingly obvious by now if Sarah was uncomfortable spending time around Nanase.

How often have Sarah and Nanase been spending time together? Even when they do, it's always in the context of the larger group, and apparently there's usually some fresh disaster going on that they need to deal with. Also, it hasn't been that long after the whole Heidi incident, which might have made Tedd re-evaluate his estimation of Sarah's, er, "jealousy-ness", I suppose.

Sarah is going to get herself all dolled up only to find that Elliot finds her more sexy when she is herself

Cliche.

[Vorlonagent]

In fairness to Sarah, it isn't jealousy nearly as much as self-consciousness and self-image issues.

[Yosarian2]

My point is that it would be blindingly obvious by now if Sarah was uncomfortable spending time around Nanase. It just seems like a really stupid question. I get that it was supposed to be a segue into Sarah's relationship issues (though I don't know why we need that recapped...again...), but I just think there ought to have been a better way to do it.

Tedd is relationship clueless. He's probably wondering if she's been covering up hurt all this time.

Yeah, this. Tedd doesn't have a lot of social skills, he's not all that observent about that kind of thing, and he hasn't had much in the way of female friends until recently (Grace is hardly going to give him a good baseline for what "normal" is, heh). He's probably just getting to the point now where he's comfortable enough around Sarah to ask her about this kind of stuff.

[B.T. Isaac]

...why in the world are they talking about this several months after Nanase and Elliot broke up?

Isn't it obvious? Dan started thinking Elliot and his relationship with Sarah is boring. He's been working towards breaking them up for over a year now, in case you haven't noticed.

Allright Dan, we all get the message. We all know wherer this is going. Elliot and Sarah break up, Elliot permanently becomes Cheerleadra, Sarah hooks up with Susan, and I'm leaving for good when that happens. Can we just get it over with and stop pretending there's character development going on here?

[Zorua]

This one continues right after Power Fantasy, three arcs ago. I'm sure June 7 won't last as long as Grace' Birthday Party (I just jinxed it, didn't I?), but it'll still be a long day for us readers.

Hair. Short, sweet, and to the point.

I wonder how those TF Watches work when used by someone whose magic burned out. Well, if Tedd lets his ugly cousin know how to use 'em, we'll find out.

The sore point in Sarah's relationship issues isn't Nanase. It's Carol. And Heidi too. But then you all knew that already.

[The Old Hack]

Allright Dan, we all get the message.

Except me, apparently. I didn't get any of that. *scratches head*

[MorphtronicScientist]

Finally, it's nice to see some actual tension in one of the three main relationships for once.

No. No it isn't. I had enough of that awkward relationship drama when this relationship got started, and when Ellen and Nanase started their relationship. Can't we either have silly stuff or more relevant drama? Plenty of relationships get along fine, why should relationships always have to be strained in the media?

[huumdinger]

Finally, it's nice to see some actual tension in one of the three main relationships for once.

No. No it isn't. I had enough of that awkward relationship drama when this relationship got started, and when Ellen and Nanase started their relationship. Can't we either have silly stuff or more relevant drama? Plenty of relationships get along fine, why should relationships always have to be strained in the media?

I just like seeing changes in the group dynamic. In my opinion, the relationships between Elliot and Sarah and Tedd and Grace have always been too perfect - in other words, boring. Whether this ends up as rough patch or an actual breakup, I don't really care. I like rocking the boat just to see it shake.

[warrl]

In my opinion, the relationships between Elliot and Sarah and Tedd and Grace have always been too perfect - in other words, boring.

???

Tedd and Grace are two abnormal individuals neither of whom have a clue what a working relationship looks like up close. If you think it's perfect, you aren't getting a good close look at it. (And in fact we aren't - which is probably for the better.)

Elliot and Sarah have substantial sources of relationship stress just in themselves - without Carol or Nanase. Sarah is outgoing and adventurous where Elliot is much more introverted and cautious; Sarah is jealous of Elliot's magic; and most of Elliot's female forms trigger Sarah's body insecurity over her merely-normal bust size. (Heidi-form being the most notable exception. I think Sarah would actually like Heidi, in small doses, if it weren't for the Carol thing.)

If that's what you consider "too perfect", I'd hate to be in a relationship with what you think is an ordinary level of difficulty.