Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT 2897 - 2901 (16-20 February 2015)
Aziraphale:
--- Quote from: Carissa79 on 18 Feb 2015, 19:50 ---I'm seeing what some of you are saying about these strips lacking character/plot advancement, having too much dialogue/cuteness, and overall acting as boring filler. But I think it's a good thing that there are so many strips about Marten and Claire just hanging out together. It's a depiction of a relationship between a trans person and a cis person, and I could be totally wrong about this, but I feel like it's a nice thing for trans people to see a representation of themselves being handled in a totally casual way - it's important that we have this emphasis on the relationship because it really secures the fact that just because Claire is trans, it doesn't mean Marten has to treat her any differently than he would have treated Dora, or Padma, or any other girl he's had feelings for. Thoughts?
These strips stand out from the comic because of their content and style, sure, but I can definitely see where Jeph is coming from. Also, Claire and Marten are cute as fuck together, and I'm down with that.
--- End quote ---
Some of it stems from the much different dynamic in this relationship. Marten's relationship with Faye, though it's always been platonic, has been complicated as hell from day one. His relationship with Dora had not only its own issues (like his passivity and Dora's trust issues), but had residual Faye baggage layered on top of that. The relationship with Padma was overlaid with post-Dora drama, more indecision, and the fact that Padma was leaving soon to take care of her grandmother. Delilah wasn't so much Ms. Right as Ms. Right Now. The relationship with Claire has had time to develop; there was already a friendship there, he's not encumbered by other people's expectations or drama, and things have had the chance to come together a lot more organically (and on a more equal footing) than the other romantic relationships we've seen him in up to this point. When you don't have all the other crap to deal with, it's a lot easier to come into a relationship with a clean slate, letting yourself and the other person just be who you are as individuals and see what that means for you as a couple. It probably looks boring as hell to some people from the outside (including a significant portion of the forum), but it's probably a bit more sane and healthy than his last few attempts.
And yes, I think he does treat Claire differently, but I see that as a function of him finally being more comfortable in the relationship than having anything to do with Claire's trans-ness. That may be, in his eyes, mere background noise at this point -- something he deals with if it becomes anything more than a dull hum (i.e., when Claire brings it up), but over which he doesn't otherwise obsess.
PS: My apologies in advance regarding the "background noise" comment; couldn't think of a better way to word it. I don't intend it to mean that he's in any way demeaning or minimizing Claire's experiences or feelings; moreso that he isn't getting carried away over the fact of her trans* status.
explicit:
I don't think it's boring or anything, but I have way too much testosterone for this amount of cuteness on a daily basis. I can't play with my puppy now, my quota for adorbs has been met. Don't you question my manliness, this cuteness doesn't bring happy tears to my eyes, you shut up.
CaptainFish:
Claire's half of the conversation was, predictably, way more interesting. The relationship is much more of a revelation for her than it is for Marten. Kinda feels like he should be the one taking the initiative to check in on her, not vice versa, but that's a nitpick since they're communicating well.
Gladstone:
This is great. So far we've only really had Marten's side of the relationship, how he feels about the way things are going. So it's great that he finally asked Claire for her feelings on the matter. Communication! And now I have to second AprilArcus' request for some other story developments, because I have had enough goddamn cuteness for a good long while and I think Marten and Claire are going to be okay if Jeph shuffles them aside for a bit to focus on, well, EVERYONE ELSE in the comic.
--- Quote from: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 18 Feb 2015, 20:01 ---Don't worry, next week we'll move on to more of Faye, including her going back into therapy with a new therapist...
....YELLING BIRD!!
--- End quote ---
Damn it, no! Bring back Dr. Corrine! See if the FDA has approved kicks-to-the-rear for trial phases yet.
TheEvilDog:
--- Quote from: cesium133 on 18 Feb 2015, 19:54 ---So about the complaints about the lack of drama and character advancement, this part of the story is the setup to the drama. Particularly today's comic: it's setting up Claire's uncertainties about their relationship, which will likely be the basis of future drama. Y'all just aren't noticing it because it's buried in squee.
Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to do more manly things.
--- End quote ---
Glad to see I'm not the only person to notice that. This is Claire's first relationship and a lot of her uncertainties are going to be come to the fore over the next few weeks and months.
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