It’s possible that Dina heard his statement out of context and assumed it was advice about Becky. That has to be a least as likely as interpreting it as referring to Joyce.
I’m glad we’re getting a callback to this line. (from 10-2, i believe? when he talks to jacob in the exercise room right after the whole fake dating thing)
—
“Joyce is imperfect, but she’s getting better, which means all the collateral damage she causes along the way is fine actually” being a thing Joe believes really puts into perspective why he’s been acting the way he has in these storylines!
So-called dramatic narrative fans when the narrative has drama
Tequila Mockingbird
okay, props to you, because i burst out laughing when i read this. thanks for that, fellow audience comrade. much obliged.
StClair
nah. it’s more that we have a character who is an acknowledged surrogate for the author, and so while they will sometimes do and say dumb things, it’s not their fault, they’re not a bad person they just don’t know any better right now, and once they learn the same lessons the author has, they will be their best selves and everyone will be cool and not blame them for all of those mistakes that are totally in the past, because they are a good person.
—
It’s a lovely (self-justifying) story, and wouldn’t it be nice if life actually worked that way?
clif
Are you related to Rachel by any chance?
flake
ok, but why does a character being inspired by the author mean everything the character does is good actually? i’m a work in progress to this day. If I was to make a character about me I’d pick interesting characteristics, not idealised ones. Nor would I portray my life as one of linear progress. Did Willis say something to the contrary?
I got very tired of joyce time from joyce pov but i’m actually getting back into now that other characters are starting to react to her. IMO jury’s still out on where this is going
Obligatory link to the strip being referenced here. I am… not entirely sure how to read this strip. Is Joe regretting trying to be with Joyce? Regretting not dating her sooner? Realizing she’ll never be perfect?
i see it more like… he’s just reminiscing what he once thought and realizing that joyce in fact got way better in a lot of aspects. i also believe when he said that in the original reference strip he was starting to fall for her — he wasn’t this joe right now that’s trying to be kinder, smarter, a make better decisions.
it’s like a “hey, she in fact got perfect. who’d have known >i< would be the one wishing i'd gotten in. dang", at least how i see it
i see it more like… he’s just reminiscing what he once thought and realizing that joyce in fact got way better in a lot of aspects. i also believe when he said that in the original reference strip he was starting to fall for her — he wasn’t this joe right now that’s trying to be kinder, smarter, a make better decisions.
it’s like a “hey, she in fact got perfect. who’d have known >i< would be the one wishing i'd gotten in. dang", at least how i see it
Dina just witnessed the equivalent of a mother not only forgetting to pick up her kid after soccer practice, but the moment she just happens to drive by the school she remembers its the last day to get a McRib, and floors it to prioritize THAT.
Well, kinda worse actually, given getting the McRib does not usually entail giving unsolicited bullshit relationship advice to someone having one of the worst days of her life
given Joe is Dina’s friend whose getting short ended like THIS?!?!?!
make no mistake — she is PISSED.
and for good reason too 👀
I genuinely think anything else would be the result of a complete and total failure to properly convey information. To me, Dina is very clearly supposed to read as “getting annoyed at Joyce” here.
Or she’s irritated at being referred to as being in a “funk”, which might devalue her emotional state, and thus mad at Joe.
Rectilinear Propagation
I did think that she might be annoyed at the idea of staying with someone because one day they’ll be perfect, but she’s glaring a Joyce not frowning at Joe, so I think Joyce is who she’s irritated with. (And following my initial thought still leads to annoyance with Joyce anyway.)
Agreed. Taking Joyce’s advice would be such a step backwards for Dina as a person/character. As much as she’s unhappy to not be with Becky, taking a firm stance on not playing second choice was a moment of strength that deserves only praise.
Though it could be better: Dina could express why she made her decision to Joe and convince him to respect himself by not pining over Joyce further. That would be the most perfect outcome to this disgruntled Dina face that I can think of.
Yes. YES.
She played along with her bullshit last strip only really because she didn’t want an argument with Joyce on TOP of the other shit she had to deal with today.
I also have come to reckon with a GRAND PREMONITION.
Between Joe and Walky and Dina,
The League of “Evil” Exes,
Will soon BEGIN. 👿 *plays “Start of the Counter-Attack” from Pokemon Movie on hacked muzak*
Ah… so he did step outside to give them privacy. I am generally pleased with this. He did not have to hear the bullshit. But I’m also concerned about the call back which I cannot remember but it sounds like it’s biting him in the ass.
But oh look… Dina looks like she’s a little pissed. Was she just going with the motions to shut Joyce up? Or did the brief moment Joyce walked away give her more negative thoughts? Questions… questions.
Well he wasn’t IN the room, but he was still standing awkwardly by the door! Maybe Joe will have grown a backbone when we seem him again in 3 months, but I highly doubt it.
*Sigh*
So close, yet so far away with Joe here. Like, c’mon man. She keeps showing him just how much she values him and he’s standing there musing about her being “close to perfect”.
–
Definitely agreeing with the Dina face right now
I think we have officially gotten to the point that Joe was so horrified at the idea of becoming his father, and how his behavior around the whole list thing turned, that he became his mom.
Repeatedly taking it on the chin, convincing himself that the person who will be “perfect someday” will get there.
The thing is both Joe and Dina are ambiguous here, although for different reasons.
It’s unclear whether Joe is echoing his earlier statement because, although circumstances have changed, he still agrees with it, or if he is echoing it because he no longer agrees with it. With Dina, it’s because we don’t know if she’s reacting primarily to what Joyce said, what Joe said, or the situation with both Becky and Joyce apparently pedestalling Joyce.
The way she gave advice is very telling about her current state of mind and her priorities.
It’s been a very… tumultuous 24 hours for the group. And it’s because it’s so little time I’m giving some grace here, but saying all of thst in earshot of the guy you still have on the hook and I’m assuming he’s allowing this because he’s viewing it as a necessary experience for her coming to terms with a big part and he’s scared of losing her…
There’s a lot here showing how destructive taking that selfish action can be.
I hope Dina finds her OWN reason to reconnect with Becky, but selfishness shouldn’t be it.
That “someday” is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Joyce is rotten. Sure, there are worse people in this comic, but a piece of shit is still a piece of shit whether it’s big or small. The only question is how long it’s going to take for her to be tolerable again.
I love love love how Dina and Joyce have consistently been foils for each other. They have been friends since the very beginning (or at the very least Dina has been part of the group) but they are often on opposite sides of things, the God debate, dinosaurs, Joyce’s discovery of her autism while Dina had a difficult time receiving a diagnosis due to racism, Becky sometimes forgetting Dina to help Joyce out, Dina is always very careful with her words and is a very kind person versus Joyce is very kind but not careful with her words and sometimes ends up hurting people because of that. etc. It’s good writing and we see it again here.
Joyce has a history of condescending to Dina and using her as a measuring stick for how “normal” she is in comparison. Now Dina can tell she and Joe are using her situation to cope AFTER Joyce indirectly blew up Dina’s spot in the first place. I don’t think Joyce has ever had to reckon with the disconnect between them and I’ve often questioned the extent to which Dina considers Joyce a friend vs somebody she tolerates for Becky’s sake.
Joyce has a history of condescending to Dina and using her as a measuring stick for how “normal” she is in comparison. Now Dina can tell she and Joe are using her situation to cope AFTER Joyce indirectly blew up Dina’s spot. I don’t think Joyce has ever had to reckon with the disconnect between them and I’ve often questioned the extent to which Dina considers Joyce a friend vs somebody she tolerates for Becky’s sake.
I hope Joe realizes soon that he deserves better than Joyce, who is definitely not perfect and has actually become a much worse person since she got together with Dorothy. And while it would be nice if Dina and Becky talk and they get back together, if Dina doesn’t want to do that she shouldn’t feel like she has to just because Joyce and others in her friend group want her to.
81 thoughts on “Funk”
NGPZ
“For reals? Her??? PERFECT?!?!”
“I’m second place to THAT???”
(-_-)
Gigafreak
Maybe it could apply to Becky too.
I don’t think Joe means it in that way, but maybe.
clif
It’s possible that Dina heard his statement out of context and assumed it was advice about Becky. That has to be a least as likely as interpreting it as referring to Joyce.
QueenofSodor
I’m glad we’re getting a callback to this line. (from 10-2, i believe? when he talks to jacob in the exercise room right after the whole fake dating thing)
—
“Joyce is imperfect, but she’s getting better, which means all the collateral damage she causes along the way is fine actually” being a thing Joe believes really puts into perspective why he’s been acting the way he has in these storylines!
Rectilinear Propagation
It sure does! I wonder if he’s also remembering Jacob saying it’s different when you’re the one in the situation.
StClair
Lately I have to wonder to what degree Willis also believes exactly this.
Esha
So-called dramatic narrative fans when the narrative has drama
Tequila Mockingbird
okay, props to you, because i burst out laughing when i read this. thanks for that, fellow audience comrade. much obliged.
StClair
nah. it’s more that we have a character who is an acknowledged surrogate for the author, and so while they will sometimes do and say dumb things, it’s not their fault, they’re not a bad person they just don’t know any better right now, and once they learn the same lessons the author has, they will be their best selves and everyone will be cool and not blame them for all of those mistakes that are totally in the past, because they are a good person.
—
It’s a lovely (self-justifying) story, and wouldn’t it be nice if life actually worked that way?
clif
Are you related to Rachel by any chance?
flake
ok, but why does a character being inspired by the author mean everything the character does is good actually? i’m a work in progress to this day. If I was to make a character about me I’d pick interesting characteristics, not idealised ones. Nor would I portray my life as one of linear progress. Did Willis say something to the contrary?
I got very tired of joyce time from joyce pov but i’m actually getting back into now that other characters are starting to react to her. IMO jury’s still out on where this is going
apocryphascribe
It’s not the Jacob callback I expected (I was hoping the two would get a scene together — and they still might!), but it is welcomed nonetheless.
Rachel
https://www.dumbingofage.com/comic/situation/ here’s the strip
GreyICE
Joe is a rather imperfect person who has caused a lot of collateral damage – far more than Joyce has ever done.
Maybe his plea for understanding wasn’t entirely about Joyce?
AshleyMagica
Somebody please do my bidding and dig up the strip that references what Joe is calling back to.
Doopyboop
https://www.dumbingofage.com/comic/situation/ Ta daaa~
TrueVCU
I crown you God’s Strongest Soldier
Doopyboop
https://www.dumbingofage.com/comic/situation/
Obligatory link to the strip being referenced here. I am… not entirely sure how to read this strip. Is Joe regretting trying to be with Joyce? Regretting not dating her sooner? Realizing she’ll never be perfect?
Blibdoolpoolp
Thank you for your service.
Doopyboop
You are welcome and I love your name.
xis
i see it more like… he’s just reminiscing what he once thought and realizing that joyce in fact got way better in a lot of aspects. i also believe when he said that in the original reference strip he was starting to fall for her — he wasn’t this joe right now that’s trying to be kinder, smarter, a make better decisions.
it’s like a “hey, she in fact got perfect. who’d have known >i< would be the one wishing i'd gotten in. dang", at least how i see it
xis
i see it more like… he’s just reminiscing what he once thought and realizing that joyce in fact got way better in a lot of aspects. i also believe when he said that in the original reference strip he was starting to fall for her — he wasn’t this joe right now that’s trying to be kinder, smarter, a make better decisions.
it’s like a “hey, she in fact got perfect. who’d have known >i< would be the one wishing i'd gotten in. dang", at least how i see it
Quinn
Thanks for the reference link.
Astariel
Oh dear, that’s not a good look.
NGPZ
Yeah ya THINK? 🤪😑
Dina DEFINITELY overheard and resented that “funk” comment as well.
saltchocolate
I haven’t seen that look on Dina’s face before. Yikes
apocryphascribe
You’re right. It’s a GREAT look. I adore that look. I hope it leads us to interesting and dramatic places.
NGPZ
Dina just witnessed the equivalent of a mother not only forgetting to pick up her kid after soccer practice, but the moment she just happens to drive by the school she remembers its the last day to get a McRib, and floors it to prioritize THAT.
Well, kinda worse actually, given getting the McRib does not usually entail giving unsolicited bullshit relationship advice to someone having one of the worst days of her life
given Joe is Dina’s friend whose getting short ended like THIS?!?!?!
make no mistake — she is PISSED.
and for good reason too 👀
Yotomoe
I rarely dare to dream but maybe that face at the end is meant to indicate that maybe Dina takes umbrage with Joyce’s advice.
I hope.
Alongcameaspider
I think I’d like this whole interaction between Joyce and Dina more of it ends up making everything worse
AshleyMagica
I genuinely think anything else would be the result of a complete and total failure to properly convey information. To me, Dina is very clearly supposed to read as “getting annoyed at Joyce” here.
Thag Simmons
I struggle to see a plausible alternative read
The Lurker
Or she’s irritated at being referred to as being in a “funk”, which might devalue her emotional state, and thus mad at Joe.
Rectilinear Propagation
I did think that she might be annoyed at the idea of staying with someone because one day they’ll be perfect, but she’s glaring a Joyce not frowning at Joe, so I think Joyce is who she’s irritated with. (And following my initial thought still leads to annoyance with Joyce anyway.)
Armadillo
Agreed. Taking Joyce’s advice would be such a step backwards for Dina as a person/character. As much as she’s unhappy to not be with Becky, taking a firm stance on not playing second choice was a moment of strength that deserves only praise.
Though it could be better: Dina could express why she made her decision to Joe and convince him to respect himself by not pining over Joyce further. That would be the most perfect outcome to this disgruntled Dina face that I can think of.
Coatl
True, besides, Joe’s face in the last panel and Dina’s comment seem to imply that his perception of Joyce… well, I think we understand.
NGPZ
Yes. YES.
She played along with her bullshit last strip only really because she didn’t want an argument with Joyce on TOP of the other shit she had to deal with today.
I also have come to reckon with a GRAND PREMONITION.
Between Joe and Walky and Dina,
The League of “Evil” Exes,
Will soon BEGIN. 👿
*plays “Start of the Counter-Attack” from Pokemon Movie on hacked muzak*
Dot
Putting a little stank on that look, I see you Dina
DiDi
Ah… so he did step outside to give them privacy. I am generally pleased with this. He did not have to hear the bullshit. But I’m also concerned about the call back which I cannot remember but it sounds like it’s biting him in the ass.
But oh look… Dina looks like she’s a little pissed. Was she just going with the motions to shut Joyce up? Or did the brief moment Joyce walked away give her more negative thoughts? Questions… questions.
clif
Could be that Dina feels Becky prefers Joyce to her and now Joe (apparently) feels that Joyce is perfect.
I dunno. I just read these things. The last time I was absolutely certain, I was wrong.
Nono
Sunk cost fallacy does not work in relationships!!
clif
I think the fact that it doesn’t work at all is what makes it a fallacy.
Unless you’re saying it’s the being a fallacy part that doesn’t work.
StClair
How’s that working out for you, Joe?
Cameron Stone
Well he wasn’t IN the room, but he was still standing awkwardly by the door! Maybe Joe will have grown a backbone when we seem him again in 3 months, but I highly doubt it.
darkoneko
someday… who will be perfect ?
RassilonTDavros
You’re either perfect, or you’re not Dina.
at least three people are probably gonna beat me to that one but screw itclif
To the contrary. I’m not Dina AND I’m perfect at not being Dian.
clif
To the contrary. I’m not Dina AND I’m perfect at not being Dina.
clif
So much for changing it after hitting post comment and then rapidly hitting Post Comment again.
Grimey
Dina in Panel 5: I believe the current lingo is ‘fuck outta here, b.’
Slartibeast Button, BIA
JACK: You’re quite perfect, Miss Fairfax.
GWENDOLEN: Oh! I hope I am not that. It would leave no room for developments, and I intend to develop in many directions.
– “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde
RexLatro
*Sigh*
So close, yet so far away with Joe here. Like, c’mon man. She keeps showing him just how much she values him and he’s standing there musing about her being “close to perfect”.
–
Definitely agreeing with the Dina face right now
Coatl
At least that expression suggests that Joyce’s word should not be taken as absolute.
Grimey
I think we have officially gotten to the point that Joe was so horrified at the idea of becoming his father, and how his behavior around the whole list thing turned, that he became his mom.
Repeatedly taking it on the chin, convincing himself that the person who will be “perfect someday” will get there.
clif
The thing is both Joe and Dina are ambiguous here, although for different reasons.
It’s unclear whether Joe is echoing his earlier statement because, although circumstances have changed, he still agrees with it, or if he is echoing it because he no longer agrees with it. With Dina, it’s because we don’t know if she’s reacting primarily to what Joyce said, what Joe said, or the situation with both Becky and Joyce apparently pedestalling Joyce.
K
Dina please talk that man out of his own funk
Mr. Random
The way she gave advice is very telling about her current state of mind and her priorities.
It’s been a very… tumultuous 24 hours for the group. And it’s because it’s so little time I’m giving some grace here, but saying all of thst in earshot of the guy you still have on the hook and I’m assuming he’s allowing this because he’s viewing it as a necessary experience for her coming to terms with a big part and he’s scared of losing her…
There’s a lot here showing how destructive taking that selfish action can be.
I hope Dina finds her OWN reason to reconnect with Becky, but selfishness shouldn’t be it.
Shogo
That “someday” is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Joyce is rotten. Sure, there are worse people in this comic, but a piece of shit is still a piece of shit whether it’s big or small. The only question is how long it’s going to take for her to be tolerable again.
Claire
I love love love how Dina and Joyce have consistently been foils for each other. They have been friends since the very beginning (or at the very least Dina has been part of the group) but they are often on opposite sides of things, the God debate, dinosaurs, Joyce’s discovery of her autism while Dina had a difficult time receiving a diagnosis due to racism, Becky sometimes forgetting Dina to help Joyce out, Dina is always very careful with her words and is a very kind person versus Joyce is very kind but not careful with her words and sometimes ends up hurting people because of that. etc. It’s good writing and we see it again here.
Fail Earnhardt
Joyce has a history of condescending to Dina and using her as a measuring stick for how “normal” she is in comparison. Now Dina can tell she and Joe are using her situation to cope AFTER Joyce indirectly blew up Dina’s spot in the first place. I don’t think Joyce has ever had to reckon with the disconnect between them and I’ve often questioned the extent to which Dina considers Joyce a friend vs somebody she tolerates for Becky’s sake.
Fail Earnhardt
Joyce has a history of condescending to Dina and using her as a measuring stick for how “normal” she is in comparison. Now Dina can tell she and Joe are using her situation to cope AFTER Joyce indirectly blew up Dina’s spot. I don’t think Joyce has ever had to reckon with the disconnect between them and I’ve often questioned the extent to which Dina considers Joyce a friend vs somebody she tolerates for Becky’s sake.
HueSatLight
TBH, Dina’s “friendship” to Joyce has felt more obligatory to me than her friendship with Joe.
Armadillo
Since long before the Joe friendship was officially declared non-obligatory, yes.
Fail Earnhardt
OOF, that look in Panel 5. That’s how real beef starts.
ClaudeLemieux
Starting to wonder if Becky won’t resolve things with Dina by saying she no longer wants anything to do with Joyce.
“She’s selfish. She’s destructive. I choose you.”
StClair
I doubt it.
apocryphascribe
See, this is why I need to practice patience this year. SO much relief in seeing this strip today.
-cautiously wheels my SICKOS.PNG back in from off panel-
Shepsquared
Well, I guess we’re done with Joe for the storyline. What a shame, he was having an interesting conversation with Dina before Joyce showed up.
Francoinblanco
Ok Joe start strife from support into cant be wrong goddes worship
Kyulen
I hope Joe realizes soon that he deserves better than Joyce, who is definitely not perfect and has actually become a much worse person since she got together with Dorothy. And while it would be nice if Dina and Becky talk and they get back together, if Dina doesn’t want to do that she shouldn’t feel like she has to just because Joyce and others in her friend group want her to.
Sirksome
Hm. Perhaps my wish for Joe and Dina to ally in a campaign to destroy their enemies will come true.
NGPZ