TFHackett

Shower Scene

Evidence of Miranda’s slatternliness extends to every room of the Winkerbean home. It’s enough to make Funky consider converting the half bath in the guestroom to a 3/4 bath with the addition of a shower. He’s pretty resigned about it too, which is surprising; the Funkman strikes me as someone who’s pretty tight with a buck.

bobanero
November 25, 2019 at 8:10 am
Isn’t Holly’s mother roughly the same age as Funky’s father? Why aren’t they just sticking her in Bedside Manor?

I guess it’s cheaper to make the old crone comfy at home, rather than to put her up with horny ol’ Morton at Bedside Manor. And if Funky adds a mini fridge, a hotplate or microwave, and a sturdy lock on the door, he can keep his mother-in-law out of sight and out of mind ’til she blessedly croaks!

Teen-ior Moment

A tip of the SoSF pillbox hat to comicbookharriet for her outstanding commentary these last two weeks!

Before the Army made a man out of him, we all know that Cory Winkerbean was a thief, a cheater, a vandal, and generally a smartass. Today we learn that he was also a pillhead and a slob, too wasted or apathetic to even try and hide his addiction from his mom. I’d suggest that Cory inherited his slovenliness from his grandmother Melinda, but I seem to recall (correct me if I’m wrong) that, like half of his Act III contemporaries, Cory’s an adoptee.

Clari-not

Was not expecting today’s strip to be a standalone gag, but I guess we should be grateful for some respite from Bull’s swan song. And it’s been a while since my high school band days, but we didn’t start practicing Christmas music until football season was almost over. Speaking of football, we’ll get back to Bull’s plight on Monday; the good news is that your guide will be Epicus Doomus!

Gridirony

The two old sportos go for a walk. Buck’s comment about Bull having lost weight is a rare bit of naturalistic small talk, and also aligns with reality: persons with dementia can lose their appetite of their interest in eating. In panel 2, Buck seems surprised that their steps have brought the pair to “the scene of the crime,” the high school football field that now bears Bull’s name (and that of “A&L Automotive“). Has he brought them here on purpose, or is his own mental decline finally kicking in? The upcoming Sunday strip that accompanied the NYT article suggests that Bull’s suicide will take place outside his home. If Bull chooses to end it all on the football field, this amounts to some grim foreshadowing.

Swings and Messes

Linda, you heartless, Brillo-headed bruja. Bull’s mood swings are part and parcel of his illness. and not anything that he can control. I’m sure it’s no picnic having to deal with him, but at long last, have you left no compassion for your poor husband? Hiding the car keys was a dick move, but can be seen as being motivated by safety concerns. Suggesting that Bull’s moodiness is intentional, and doing so with that smirk, is just so fucking tone deaf.