Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for November 30, 2017

Which “StarTrek” I wonder. The original, “The Next Generation”, “Deep Space Nine”, “Voyager”? I kind of grew up watching TNG & DS9.

There was once a time when Tiffany would have gladly chosen to go to a lingerie party with Luann and her frien….What am I saying? That would never have happened!!

Love it. We mentioned Star Trek here. I bet G/K E had the thought a long time ago.

Gunther – Have Tiffany watch The Next Generation episode “The Inner Light”. By the time the episode is over, Tiff will be ready to take you for life and probably give you the 2.5 kids you saw in your future. Have your handkerchief ready, just make sure you get the peanut butter and jelly off it first, it can be a real tearjerker…

I think that I must be trapped in a nightmare. A heavy Tiffany in a shapeless sweatsuit getting ready to watch a Star Trek marathon? With Gunther? Followed by a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show?

Whoda’Thunk that Tiffany would turn down something considered ‘chique/chic’ like a lingere party, and that Luann wouldn’t quite necessarily enjoy something Tiffany would’ve considered “declasse” (from Tiffany’s old standpoint)?

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Things have become more civil between Luann and Tiff, so there’s some progress.

But deciding on a common agenda is still a little out of reach.

So frivolous, vain, and foo foo is not “perfect”

Luann missed the boat there. Luann should have said she could watch Star Trek for a little while, but some people are expecting her in an hour. That would have been nice. After Luann leaves, Tiff and Gunther can snuggle on the couch and maybe get romantic. Even falling asleep on the couch together would look like progress.

Les needs to be a real man, and come in and rescue Tiff from Gunther. Strong interest from him could help her snap out of her depression.

Tiff would lose her excess weight in the first 48 hours with Les, and they’d live happily ever after.

Well, if Luann is being invited to join the Trek-a-thon, Tiff cannot be thinking of it as much of a “date”. Even is Gunther is … fully functional.

Wow so Tiffany is passing up a lingerie party to watch a Star Trek marathon with Gunther, while Luann is poo pooing a Star Trek marathon to go to a lingerie party. I don’t know what is more amazing: the reversal or events per character, or the fact that Tiffany is in her room watching a long science nerdy (and don’t get me wrong I love science fiction, and Star Trek is a major part of contemporary SYFY, I have seen all the TV series and the movies) fiction marathon alone with Gunther. Gives those who hope the nerd and the beauty become boyfriend and girlfriend and more even. I keep saying great but what happens if Rose should come back. It might happen, and I will go out on a tiny limb and predict it might. Or not.

Compromise: Beam the lingerie up. Never a dull moment.

Lingerie party is shallow and tacky. Watching Star Trek or whatever with a supportive friend is far more healing and worthwhile than some of the fantasy scenarios being put forth. Tiffany is visibly showing her depression here, while Gunther despite all the jibes and criticism he’s getting seems to have grown up.

The good thing here is that those who were rooting for Luann to be jealous that Gunther is visiting Tiffany are disappointed, and those who were cheering on Tiffany to diss Luann are disappointed. Okay, next arc…

What’s wrong with liking both Star Trek AND lingerie parties? Of course one can’t do both, not at the same time, anyway. Lu should just thanked Tiff, and said she would be happy to join them another time if it was OK with Gunther.

Or went with Kenhense’s suggestion. That would work, too.

Tiff is a trekkie? Hmmm, I figured she’d dig the lingerie more. well, she digs Gunthie and I guess she’ll go along with anything he likes.

Skipping a lingerie party to marathon Star Trek episodes with Gunther? That’s actually rather adorable. It’s nice seeing Tiffany’s laid-back, non-image-obsessed side. Still, severe depression is too high a price to pay for that.

“Assume The Juxtaposition”

“Mission:  Impasse-able”

“Fruitlessness Of The Loom”

“This Is My Damage Control Top”

“A Fashionless Passion For Passionless Fashion”

“The Prime Misdirective”

“Set Your Phase-s On ‘Stunned’ "

“I Buy One Who Is Free Fallin’, But I Don’t Get One” (♩)

“When You DropThe Pretense, It’s Not So Tense”

“Easy Comfort Zone, Easy No-Go”

“Don’t Trip Over Trepidations”

“Rebuild And Recharge”

or

“Puttin’ Off The Ritz” (♬)

Some of what we are interpreting as depression on Tiffany’s part may be due to medication that her counselor might have her taking. Antidepressants can leave people acting as though they are slowed down…

I’d rather watch a “Star Trek” marathon than attend a lingerie party. And I don’t even like “Star Trek”.

Wouldn’t it be sweet if Tif offered to loan Luann some glamorous gear to wear at the party? After all she no longer fits in it herself. There was an arc a long time ago when Luann decided to dress like Tif. She wasn’t comfortable at the time but her body image seems to have changed since. And she looked adorable in her miniskirt!

I’m so glad Tiffany turned Luann down. In the past Tiffany would have loved to go to a lingerie party and I honestly still believe that these parties are going to end on a bad note. I like Tiffany is hanging out with Gunther more, proving that she’s doing better off than Luann and Bernice.

They miss Tiffany? Why? She hated the job, doesn’t like kids, was so inept that the boss had her doing office work, and was openly hostile to Luann. I really can’t see why they’d want her back.

I detect a note of sarcasm in Tiffany’s invitation. She really didn’t expect Luann to take her up on it.

A Star Trek marathon with Gunther… resistance is futile, isn’t it?

I like ’em firm and fruity.

As I read through the comments I wonder, of the men who read this comic, how many would consider having an exclusive relationship with Tiffany. Or how many women who read this comic would have an exclusive relationship with Gunther.

5

Morning pipe and coffee break commentary:

1. Things seem definitely more civil between Tiffany and Luann than I was fearing. That is good.

2. I am a bit disappointed Tiffany does not yet feel ready to go visit the kids.

3. I am glad Tiffany simply says she has no interest in attending the “Lingerie Party”. I was a bit concerned it would be a point of emotional breakdown for her. I can understand her lack of interest in going, but I think it also would have been very interesting to have her there if she was in a good frame of mind.

4. I am glad Luann said “no” about the Star Trek marathon.

5. While I very much like and enjoy Star Trek (especially the original series), the idea of watching a Star Trek marathon with Gunther does not seem enjoyable. But, that is of course due to my current disdain for Gunther in general of late. Hopefully Greg will (if he shows aspects of this marathon watching) guide the story in such a way that I will begin to see Gunther in a more likable light again.

6. I do think there is a fair amount of insight that Tiffany may be able to glean from watching Star Trek that could be helpful for her, even though I doubt that will be the focus of the arc.

You know late Millennials (just early 20s) and Post-Millennials (born generally around 1998 to 2002) often times don’t even know about Star Trek. They know a bit more about Star Wars, but the old Star Trek series on TV, or the original few movies, they have not—much—a clue. I know this from bringing it up in classes I teach, and the freshmen look at me clueless when I bring up Star Trek. They may get excited but Disney is pushing Star Wars so much more, from toys, to TV shows, to all the movies off the original two trilogy’s that the Millennials and Post-Millennial kids know Star Wars-Star Trek? Not so much.

Yay! Good decision Tiffany! The Star Trek marathon will be infinitely more interesting than the lingerie party.

Tiffany and Star Trek? She is not the type. Is she doing it for Gunther? Doing this thing to spend time with him? Of course Tiffany passed up the lingerie party – there’s no guys there. Tiffany does not get along with other females. Not even Crystal, her supposedly BFF. Hope Gunther will do something that Tiffany likes to do – that’d cement the relationship as a lasting relationship is doing things with and for each other. I wish you the best, Tiffany & Gunther <3

A bit of thinking outside of the box is in play for each of them. As Chuck Berry once astutely observed, “It goes to show you never can tell”.

Want to see Luann and Gunther kissing? Follow this arc for about a week.

http://www.gocomics.com/luann/1996/05/16

Depression is pretty much all bad, of course. But one slight positive is that one’s ego gets crushed. So Tiffany is open to a Star Trek marathon, whereas in her pre-depression life she (perhaps) would have scorned that as hopelessly uncool. Her motive now is simply that she feels safe with and accepted by Gunther. This is not sexual or even romantic, just animal comfort, like with your dog or cat. Those eager for them to “get it on” may see them watch Trek all night long. Whoopee … .

Interesting – there was a story arc from way back about Gunther using a VERY similar approach with Luann after she had oral surgery (wisdom teeth removed? tonsillectomy? I forget). Anyway, Gunther brought some gifts for her (some DVD sets of The Simpsons, perhaps some ice cream, etc.). Luann was obviously in a state where she could not go out. Now here’s Tiffany who DOESN’T want to go out and is self conscious about her image to others. Luann should realize Tiff would obviously and absolutely REFUSE to go to a lingerie party! It would likely make her more depressed in a ‘oh, in my thinner days, I would have ROCKED in those scimpy outfits … but NOW??!!’

That said, ST marathons are OK – but maybe Gunther might switch it up a bit to ask Tiff to take some walks for a bit now and then – short ones at first, and maybe at night and in nice quiet areas where there’s not too many eyes.

Not sure the school would WANT Tiff back. Yeah, she worked well with one or two kids, but the administration didn’t seem thrilled with her nor she with them. Still think Tiff best bet is to drop out. Right now she’s got a counceler and possible meds to help her cope with the academic environment, and then what? She gets a job that uses her skills from a time she hates and subjects she learned online due to lack of passion? Cut your losses now Tiff. You’re better off using daddys money to start a business where you can hire Bernice and Luann after they graduate. God knows you could pay Luann more than a public school career will.

Btw, can we consider this a win for average Luann? Tiff has been trying so hard to fit into the role of a serious academic that she’s put on weight, depressed, and is dating Gunther. Luann has been competing with Tiffs high school image of attractive, fun, outstanding cheerleader. Meanwhile Tiffs been competing with Luanns high school image of average smartish girl. If you take the competition out of it…who wants to be average?

BTW, neither Tiff nor Tara seem much interested in the party. Going to this seems to be more for Luann who seems a little abnormally obsessed with body art and panties. Perhaps Tiff and Tara are both realizing there is more to life than being a object of male fantasy, while Luann can’t really define herself without it.

My son and I went to a Star Trek marathon. Watched all the movies back to back, with a break for lunch.

I don’t think Tiffany is ready to step outside her dorm room any more than absolutely necessary. Certainly not to face a room full of women at a lingerie party that includes Luann and her friends. She is comfortable with Gunther, and I expect she will do whatever Gunther wants to do (within limits) if it’s within the walls of the dorm.

Reminds me of the story about George Bernard Shaw (Irish playwright, looked as if Santa Claus had gone on a starvation diet) and Isadora Duncan (invented modern dance back in the early twentieth century). She said to him, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you and I had a baby? Just think, with my looks and your brains!” “Yes,” he said, “but what if it had MY looks and YOUR brains?”

Tiffany may seem “slow-ish” or “deflated” in her countenance, but what if it’s just that she’s not talking to Gunther, and becomes ‘more alive’, in his presence, and is just ‘struggling’ to be cordial (as in dealing with her in a reserved way) with Luann, yet not wishing to provoke a fight?

R.I.P. Jim Nabors. Great singing voice.

Perhaps we will gather to see Tiffany in Spock ears.

Talking about being brain dead these to fit the bill

They should watch “Travellers” on Netflix… a very well-written sci-fi series with a gripping story line and excellent acting. Five stars.

Here’s a thought. Tif is upset because her father has taken up with ‘a floozie.’ Well why shouldn’t he? However, A floozie of about the appropriate age has just returned to the strip. Yep, Ann Eifull! If Ann is the lady in question then Tif needs to meet her – so the lingerie party might be more interesting than previously expected.

I hope Gunther knows what he is doing. When I settle in for a Star Trek Marathon (Original series only) I usually knock down a bucket of the Colonel’s or a pizza single handedly. But then I’m the typical Trekkie.

Time to spice this arc up… maybe some mud wrestling between Tiff and Toni.

so, does Luann “take a powder” quickly , or hang around till Gunther shows up?

Alas. This golden opportunity for Luann to help Tiff and maybe even bond with her has instead turned into Two Ships Passing in the Night.

Net forward movement of this arc: zero.

I love today’s strip. To me, It shows Tiffany changing. I see her evolving (slowly) from someone caught up appearances, images, and related trimmings to someone with other less superficial interests. The 2nd panel shows her in a thoughtful mode.

I like the way Evans is going with this story arc, but I have also felt less sympathy for Tiffany than ever. Yes, I know she’s depressed … but considering how nasty she’s been to Luann from the beginning, she should be happy to get a visit from someone she’s rarely been kind to…