Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT: 2878-2882 (19-23 January 2015)
Smallest:
If there's a conflict with Claire, I think (especially in the short-term), it's less likely to have anything to do with jealousy (even over time being spent elsewhere), and more likely to be because Claire might think Faye is a harmful thing in his life. I'm pretty sure everyone gets annoyed when their friend, significant other, etc, gets completely sucked into someone else's problems, and talks about them all the time, to the point where it is negatively effecting them. Based on Claire's reaction to cheating and so on, I do think it's fairly likely that sort of thing would bother her. On the other hand, that would depend how much Marten got involved.
eschaton:
--- Quote from: plusorminus on 22 Jan 2015, 14:00 ---But I think the time has arrived. The difference between then and now is that - not to be unfair to Marten - he really didn't have much "growth" going on. He was just sort of there, rudderless, especially after the Dora breakup. He was in his library job just doing whatever. Now, he is taking steps to really do something musically, he has a girlfriend and he's trying to man up ... just as Faye is falling apart. Faye has always relied on Marten sort of just being there for her. I think subconsciously she has relied on the notion that if things had gone a bit differently, she and Marten would be together and she was Marten's 'first choice.' Marten has grown a lot in this time and I don't know if Faye recognizes this. Just as she spoke in an entitled manner to Dora after being fired, I think that Faye feels a bit entitled to Marten's unwavering support. If she doesn't get it, she may very well press the issue. That won't end well for either of them.
--- End quote ---
Remember, it can be argued that Faye set Claire and Marten up. At least, Faye confronted Claire about her feelings for Marten, which may have played a role in why things happened later that night.
More broadly, this gets back to the point that out of all the main characters, Faye really does seem to have the highest "emotional intelligence" when it comes to others. She just sucks ass at understanding why she does things. Which is why I think Faye should be aware of Marten's "growth" - even if it makes her insecure when compared to her own stagnation.
--- Quote from: Orkboy on 22 Jan 2015, 14:29 ---other than Cosette kind of fading into the background, we really haven't seen much in the way of characters becoming less vital to the comic.
--- End quote ---
Totally untrue. There's lots of examples of characters falling into the background. People brought up Steve, who used to be a pretty well rounded, interesting character. Remember the Meena arc? It was refreshing. There's also Raven, who was also unquestionably part of the core comic, and basically has been written out. Arguably Penelope counts as well, although the period she was a major character in the comic only lasted a few years. Hanners has receded a lot as well - she was a main cast member, and has more been a supporting cast member lately, mostly seen only as Marigold's friend. Hell, Pintsize, although he's still seen, really only makes appearances a handful of times per year now.
Conzy:
--- Quote from: Orkboy on 22 Jan 2015, 17:51 ---
--- Quote from: Conzy on 22 Jan 2015, 17:47 ---
--- Quote from: Aimless on 22 Jan 2015, 13:19 ---I find it very difficult to really hate someone on a personal level when that someone is a fictional character
--- End quote ---
I don't think it's necessarily weird or fucked up to hate a fictional character.
--- End quote ---
--- End quote ---
Not going to lie, that came to mind while writing the post. Decided to go with the Caulfield analogy as I though he and Faye were more comparable in terms of reasons why people might hate them. :-)
Cattus:
I'm amazed at some of the negative comments here about Faye and Dora. Lets have a quick look at Faye. When young and impressionable, Faye witnessed the violent suicide of her best friend and Dad. The trauma took years to overcome and she never really got over it. She distanced herself emotionally from everyone, learning in the process that booze numbs the emotional senses and allows her to cope. She FINALLY lets a person into her emotional psyche and he proceeds to leave her behind. It is true that she could have gone with him but that would have meant leaving all her friends behind in exchange for a possibly uncertain relationship. So now she has lost two people she loves. She is certainly in most ways, broken, and booze is her glue. I think all her friends understand that to some degree and Dora especially.
But Dora has her own life and business to protect. She gave Faye a huge amount of latitude over the 'years' (?) but also realized that staff drinking on the job could ruin her business. She did what she had to do and I'm sure she hopes that Faye WILL get some help and at that time I have no doubt they will work things out. It's 'tough love' in action here. Faye will likely fall further before she gets better and her friends and family will likely help considerably.
I find that Jeph is quite insightful when it comes to what's right for his 'family'. I don't think he's going to kill off or otherwise dispose of a loved member. The drama in QC is the drama of real life - exaggerated to some degree, for sure, but not the extent it could be. I anxiously await the next chapters in this story arc.
Call me Ms:
Cattus -- yes, finally, someone said it.
I've been a reader for a few years now, and gone through large swaths of the archive, including the first 500. And while I e-mailed Jeph over a story line or character once, it's the QC events of the last few days that prompted me to find the forums. Have been reviewing comments for the last two days, and this is the first, I think, that I found what I've been wanting to say (it's been eye-opening, actually, to read everyone's take on things... so different!).
Faye's in a bad place, definitely, and quickly spiraling down. But I don't think it's where she has been up till the break up. And as annoyed as I was by her presumptuous, wide-eyed "aren't I kinda cute"-ness when Dora found her drinking, I do feel for her. After all -- she acknowledges her issues. Comes clean and releases Marten. Takes it admirably -- and honestly -- when her friend and boss starts dating her love interest. Does a lot of work, goes overboard on the other end (Sven), does some more work, and finally is capable of, and has, a real relationship.
The long distance question is always tricky, and usually difficult to pin blame solely on either party. To many people, an announcement of leaving feels like abandonment. Regardless of what the facts are, on some level I think Angus' departure has triggered Faye around her father's suicide: the first man she trusted & let in romantically, and he leaves (just like her Dad did). Of course it's set spiraling back into her prickly shell, with a vengeance.
And none of her friends seem to be noticing. She's turning into her father -- I see a suicide attempt coming up -- and the times she's showing her alcoholism I read as those "cry for help" moments.
And I do fault Dora here. Of course it's in her right to fire Faye here. But she's acting in a flying-off-the-handle, I'll-show-you fashion, not a professional, sorry-but-you-give-me-no-choice manner. Much less in a tough-love mode. And in pulling the "insubordination" etc., ish, she is completely changing the narrative the tone & character of the work-friendship relationship she and Faye have.
I'll come back to this point a little later; felt like I've said plenty, for now, especially for a first post.
I hope Faye gets the help she needs, but I do see a suicide attempt -- or something approaching one -- coming first.
Anyway it was good to find this forum! Some really great points & discussion.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version