Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for August 13, 2020

She’s right, Bern doesn’t need that.

Frustrating. ✨

Bernice may not need that lecture, Luann, but you might.

Let’s hope maturity is contagious. Or not?

In any event, this might be just a personality difference rather than maturity difference. Bern hasn’t ever been a friend to do wild, crazy things with.

Luann doesn’t want maturity, it’s boring

It’s amazing how some of the most mature people in the world can look wild and crazy and spontaneous. You can’t always tell a mature person by looking at her.

I’m beginning to think that if there is a story arc behind all this it has died waiting to come on board. Geez, go visit Ben. Go visit Tiffany find out what she’s doing now that Ann is away. Have a sexy not-a-date with Gunther. Just get out of the house!

But Bernice, you can mature after college!!!

Today’s strip actually made me laugh.

So we are descending into Aesop’s Fables? The Ant and the Grasshopper?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ant_and_the_Grasshopper

They can have wild and crazy times, like when they took their trip together to NYC. They can ride in a taxi, spend 5 minutes at a night club before getting thrown out, and not go to bed until 10:30!

Luann, butt out or learn from Bernice. She can teach you a thing or two about focusing on your life and your future. I am beginning to think Greg chose Bernice to fill that rental room to rescue Luann.

Luann is mistakenly thinking that the college version of Bernice shares a few of the traits of her former friend, Bernice, from pre-college days. The sooner Luann realizes that Bernice has changed, the better for Luann. It’s to be hoped that Luann can just go on about her life, whether Bernice or some other stranger is occupying the room that used to be Brad’s…

Opposites attract! That is why their friendship has lasted for good or bad.

I don’t know why Luann thinks things will be different just because Bernice is living there now. Bernice seemed to hang out at Luann’s house almost constantly, and all she and Luann did was sit in Luann’s bedroom. Luann would talk at Bernice, and Bernice would read and ignore her. They could have went out and done “fun, silly, crazy” stuff then, but they didn’t.

And when you think about it, the words “fun” and Bernice don’t really go together.

Not so sure about that, Bernice may want to have a fling in her life. Not likely or required, but a good time for her to see what is next.

Luann, you’re barking up the wrong tree—clearly you need Dez!

Bernice hasn’t recovered from losing her position of authority, Bernice is easing the pain/ lose with work & study. Frolicking lack the intensity of romping around like children. Maybe, Luann needs to go skydiving?

That last frame – shades of Bloom County!

Are there two headphone jacks on that thing?

1st- Luann misses the midnight discussions with Brad. Wants Bernice to fill in as Brad. Luann assumed that Bernice will do it. 2nd – Luann has planned the weekend without consulting Bernice.

She is what she is, Luann. Accept her as she is.

If Luann wants someone to have fun with and do crazy things she should be talking to Tara. On the other hand when Luann is with Tara I worry that she will get into trouble.

I’m sensing that Luann has unrealistic expectations about Bernice living with there.

This would be a good time for Luann to learn from Bernice. Responsible & mature Bernice, not controlling & hung up Bernice.

Bernice is a super over-achiever and WAY too hard on herself. She believes if she’s not lightyears ahead of the curve, she’s lazy and immature. She believes she needs to study hard so as to graduate with high honors, get a high paying job, start a family——then she can have fun.

I really love Luann here. She looks like a little girl who sees one of her biggest dreams come true. Having her best friend live in her house ♡. Too bad Bernice doesn’t seem to care about her at all…

Luann wants to do fun stuff but she can’t think of anything. They both need to get out more often..

Luann stop. Please stop.

I do believe Tara Starr has brainwashed Luann…

Fun is relative.

Wish Monday would come.

A kid and an adult

A few months ago, I expressed a desire that My favorite Nerd “put away childish things.” I wasn’t talking about Bernice. But it looks like Bernice “picked up the baton,” so to speak. Luann’s old friend is gone, maybe never to return. That’s SAD, really.

But Bernice needs to consider. What has her new found “maturity” gotten her lately?

1) Few loyal friends that won’t lie to her. And the one that didn’t lie to her was heavily criticized by both fans and by his girlfriend for not lying to her a few months ago.

2) The contempt of most of her peers.

3) The potential alienation of an old dear friend.

For all of Bernice’s “Stick to the Rules” maturity, she still lost her R.A. Job, and is now sitting in someone else’s house, on someone’s bed, living off of someone’s else’s charity. “WORK HARD BERNICE, AND YOU SHALL BE REWARDED!” The only thing missing is a Giant SCREW sticking out of Bernie’s midsection.

You’re not going to get out of life alive, Bernice. You might as well have some “fun” along the way. ;)

Bernice, you and Luann are sisters now, so why don’t you spend some time as sisters?

One of these days Bernice is going to have a moment where she loses all of that built up inhibition and restriction and goes literally wild. Alcohol may be involved, but not necessarily. I’ve seen it happen with people like her before. It can be a good thing or not, depending on your point of view, or possible collateral damage.

When I was 18-19 in the 60’s, I knew that someday I would have to grow up, but I never thought I would grow old.

I saw a good mnemonic (?) the other day : LOVE = Let Other Versions Exist.

Luann needs a new best friend.

Don’t go there Bernice. Maturity is highly overrated!

I tried it for years, Just wasn’t a good fit! 8^ )

Must remember, in the great scheme of things, this is not a true random sample, it is the thoughts and impressions of a cartoonist who controls characters and “sells” his product to viewers.

I was always looking forward to Bernice getting back (permanently) with Zane. Maybe it could still happen.

But YOU do ,Luann

Actually I think I, at least, am seeing a glimpse of a purpose of this “friends” arc. Both of the friends are opposites, but they are true, lifelong friends at least since 1st grade I think. They became attracted to each other in that ineffable way friends do; I still remember meeting my life long friend in 3rd grade. He fits something in me I needed then and now, and I amazingly, fit something he needs in me. We fuss and argue all the time, and I Iove him like the brother I never have had. That is this, they are different, but they fit something the other needs, and my hope is that Luann will learn from Bernice, but Bernice needs to learn so MUCH from her ditzy, but loving friend as well. Bernice, to be a better what she wants to be needs to understand and be more Luann, and Luann, to be a better what she wants and needs in life needs to become more objective and rational. Friends!

Luann is used to only seeing Bernice when they hang out and thinks all of their time will be like that. She doesn’t see all the time Bernice spends alone studying. Living together she will learn that hanging out with Luann is only a small part of Bernice’s full day.

When these two girls turn 21 … I hope it will be a ‘FUN’ and entertaining arc. Not serious/boring. Maybe a wild trip or college spring break at the beach.

Keep in mind that on Bern’s tombstone it might say “she tested well”. what a legacy.

Omg, grow up Luann, and Bernice probably needs to stop overcompensating

Are they trying to rehabilitate Bernice by making Luann look bad?

It was at that moment when Luann finally realized they were the true “Odd Couple”…

7

A lot of the comments today seem to view both Bernice and Luann as absolute, archetypal characters….. the various impressions I read are:

A) Bernice…. boring, staid, rigid, inflexible, uncaring, studious, focused… etc. B) Luann…. flighty, unfocused, pseudo-party oriented, pseudo-adventuresome… etc.

But, the images I see tend to be a whole helluva lot more nuanced that those rigid boxes folks seem to want to put these two into. I think Bernice and Luann have a lot more similarities than dissimilarities. They are both doing a lot of similar things…. participating in college, working at becoming their adult self, fostering their friendship, and having a variety of adventures with each other (remember the camping trip and the semi-failure of New York…. it was still an adventure, just perhaps not as successful as either would have liked).

What I really tend to see as the primary difference between Bernice and Luann is their thought processes. Bernice tends to be a very linear thinker…. she sees a goal or a plan, and her focus tends to then gravitate towards a step-wise approach of deep focus to get their. Luann, by contrast is more of a non-linear thinker… she tends to flitter about from one topic to the next. The linearity of Bernice sometimes results in her having difficulties because she misses some of the ancillary actions/ideas around her, and Luann’s non-linear focus tends to have her often stall out, usually with many different half completed goals.

Both of these young ladies can benefit from their continued interaction and friendship with each other. Bernice would benefit a bit by seeing how some non-linear thought can help her to become the more whole person she wishes to be, and Luann can benefit from seeing how being a bit more linear at times can help her to also become the more whole person she wishes to be.

Now if Luann would actually suggest a specific activity, she might get somewhere. Like "Bern when you finish listening to that lecture we could_______________________ " fill in the blank (… e.g. go to the beach). I imagine if Bern asked Luann what fun stuff she actually had in mind, Luann might have to think a bit.

Luann will always have more fun than Bernice.

Maybe she’ll let Luann borrow it.

Someone has regressed about 12 years. Can Luann please gain maturity, please. This is pathetic.

Luann forecast# pajama party with Bernice, Luann & ofcourse Pebbles soon to follow. Bern will burn some calories by going nom-nom-nom on late night snacks and have atleast some Luann Grade fun…but that is 13 days later atleast! :D

NO one ever became mature by listening to a lecture on maturity. The only people who would listen to that are probably already mature.

Lighten up, Bernice! Get in the shower, Luann and take Bernice to somewhere fun!

Luann there or people like Bernice that prefer to study and not be a party girl.

Let’s not forget that Luann is mature, too! How many 19 year olds are preschool teachers and college teaching assistants?

Where does Luann get off telling anybody what they do and don’t need when she herself is so useless. She is really the most annoying character on this comic strip. The only reason I look at it is for the other characters. When I see its about her I immediately loose interest.

And this is why Luann and Bernice make such good friends: they balance each other. Opposites can make good friends and spouses. I was happy to see my studious, A+++++ personality niece become engaged to a responsible but outgoing and fun-loving man. He is so good for her!

What “fun” “spontaneous” stuff is Luann talking about? Talking about boys, the malt shoppe, OOOOOO. Mr. Evans, get this strip into the 20s, the 2020s! Social Distancing, paranoia, and seemly dating apps should be the norm!

My hope is that the CEO of Kidz First calls to offer Luann a position as a night child care worker, because the child care business is expanding to 24/7. Part of her pay will be her own room at the business, so she can move out of her parent’s home and leave it to Bernice, the so-called ‘perfect’ daughter that her father always wished for. Meanwhile, Luann will meet some new friends at Kidz First and won’t have time to mourn her loss of her former friend Bernice.

Bernice will meet comic reader 22 and fall in love and marry him.

The CEO of Kidz First will offer Luann a scholarship to a college in another state that teaches the use of arts to help developmentally challenged kids. Luann will leave Pitts behind and not return.

End of ’toon.

Luann is still being portrayed as the same flaky immature person she was in high school.

While its ok to let your hair down , you still need to focus on your goals in life. And not all people do that in the same way. Of course her parents are enablers to just about every bad habit she still has like the pig sty of a room , basically all the laziness and aloofness behavior she exhibits. Bernice on the other hand is a gp getter who wants to move on and she is not the let your hair down type when it comes to college and career.

Luann had better focus on her studies and less on spring break since she is not the type who can get away with fooling around and still get good grades.

You don’t have to be mature or “have it together” to be a psychologist/counselor. All you need is the degree/credentials. I once went to a psychologist (paid for by my job), one visit only, and thought, there’s no way I’m going to follow your advice. I had previouly gone to another psychologist (at my own expense) who was like the dad you always wished you had. The job related psychologist kept trying to call me to tell me that she disagreed with the dad-like psychologist’s advice. I stopped answering her phone calls. Twenty years have passed and I still think fondly of the dad=like psychologist and his advice which has stood the test of time.

tomorrow: Luann talks Bernice into a round of miniature golf!

Shoes on the bed, Bernice?

Bernice is Stalin. Luann is Trotsky.

There are 284 comments and only 157 likes when I viewed the comic. I do not believe any of the other comics I view come even close to so many comments, especially about a teenage girl.

Hopefully tomorrow we will see Luann dressed and leaving the house to go and do something on her own.

Bernice has been hanging out in Luann’s bedroom forever. All that time, all Luann has ever done is mope about how boring her life is. This whole “we’re practically sisters now, let’s get wild” routine doesn’t ring true, except to point out (day after day) how different Luann and Bernice are.

You got Boobs. That’s enough Maturity for now.

Luann just wanna have FUN.

No, Luann. Bernie definitely does need that. But you need it even more!

My favorite character.

Lol!!!