Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 03, 2021

Redemption?

Well look at that! Bets and Tiff finally having a positive conversation.

At least one relationship has been salvaged here.

It’s time for Tiffany and Ox? Let love in,Tiffany.

" Enough with the chimes… now cough up my $300, you b***h!!" LOL

So Bets and Gunth aren’t over quite yet?

Props to G&K for making the generic “go get your man” speech feel sincere and organic. I really like the expressions.

Tiffany I love you but please stop

And so the arc continues…

What, No Tom Farrell?

So minutes after being angry at Tiff for tricking her and demanding a refund, Bets is taking advice from Tiff?

We’re definitely not in the real world now.

And are we really supposed to believe Bets never thought about why she loved Gunther?

Hope Gunther went to get pizza, I could use one myself.

Okay, Tiff, you sprouted pretty words but did not fix the problem. You should have let them alone and let them break up. You got them together for Gunther who was in a funk, and then he walked away. He made his choice so leave it alone. But, no, you had to ring Gunther back.

Tiff: “Think of all the things that could go right”

Bets: “Like you apologizing and giving me my money back?”

Dr.Ruth Tiff is not.

So do we have to wait to Monday.

Looks like I was wrong about what today’s strip would be. Pity. I rather liked my ending better. ;D

Also looks like this Hallmark rip-off is going to continue, so we’ll probably be looking at more of this next week.

Persuasive.

Win or lose, Tiffany means well. Bets looks appreciative.

If you look at Gunthers expression in the second panel yesterday. He’s not looking at Tiffany strangely, for her definition of “hard love”. He’s looking at Bet’s cynicism at fighting. That’s why he left.

Bet’s gentle smile when she thinks about their life turning out ok, is so sweet.

I follow several comic strips and read the comments on most. I’ve just started reading comments on Luanne and they are pretty harsh…is it just in reaction to this Bets & Gunther arc or is it always way? PS I’ve read the strip for years.

End scene. Good to have a resolution that involves the potential marketing of Tiffany’s chimes from the Pagoda of Peace.

Auditory hallucinations are the answer.

No, Tiffany, don’t prolong the agony. Let it go. Don’t keep torturing either Gunther or the readers here…

Could she be getting through to her? Stay tuned…..

Gunther has given upHe should reflect on the old “faint heart never won fair lady bit”

What!? Tiffany now has a completely different personality?!

Bets looks moderately amused. I still can’t say where this will wind up.

Tiff is getting a good business head on her shoulders. Note that she is getting Bets’ Chakra in alignment with those Chakra wind chime bells; she will get Bets dependent on the bells to where Bets will buy them for $300. Strangely, $300 is the magic amount.

.

If nothing else, Tiff will get bets to salivate every time she tinkles the bells…

I expect Rosa to show up from Peru at any time.

I think Tiff’s got it right for once. I’ve been a tad unsure of Bets until recently. This open admission to her fears IS an act of trust. Not something you tell to folks you’re not trusting to. Gunther’s not stupid. He put it all out there. AND….. so did she, where THAT’S laying your soul bare, so to speak. Definitely worth pursuing on both sides, at least for a while more. Trust on both sides AND openness showing. Let’s see where this goes.

Will Gunther answer the call of the wild? Do you believe in magic? And, of course, don’t ask for whom the tiny tinkle bells toll,

Tsk. This couldn’t just be over, could it? I wonder what next week will be? Tsundere cat ownership with Les and Punk? Bernice Learns to Polycule? Maybe we’ll see what a healthy relationship looks like with Brad and Toni! Oof, wait, better not. That way leads to Shannon. Nancy could get hit on some more~ The DeGroot DeVorce storyline in the making!?

It’s like an old Rom-Com flick..

It has been an interesting past couple of weeks with the reader comments and the interpretation of it with some of the commentators. It seems a few have really let their own life experiences cloud their judgment one might assume. We know that Bets “needed space” after hearing Gunther ’s “I love you” and then ignored his attempts to contact her for some weeks. If we go back to the scene where Gunther and Bets sit down at the table.

June 24 – Bets and Gunther sit at the table and Bets still ranting about an apology and refund and it being a set-up, no indication of interest that Gunther is there. It is not the way one who is “in love” would act in that situation. One would expect her reaction (not knowing her true feelings about Gunther) would have been either apologizing to Gunther for ignoring his contact attempts or questioning his presence. Her comment about "She should have known it wasn’t about apology and refund implied that if Tiffany had said Gunther would be there, she would not have come. Her attitude and demeanor was not of one who was in love, IMO.

June 25th – Gunther wants to “understand” why Bets ran off". Bets ignored Gunther to tell Tiffany (offering rose tea) something else, leading to an inane mention of oysters by Tiffany – irrelevant to allowing Bets to say what was really on her mind.

= Continued in my replies to this comment – apparently, comments are limited to 2000 characters. ====

Huh. Guess Bets forgot about the refund.

Tiffany is truly awesome. She understands Bets’ fear and helps her to see the happiness she might have. She has grown so much since she was totally unable to empathize with others and was cold when she saw people sad or in pain. Her friendship with Gunther and all the things happened to her slowly changed Tiffany for the best ♡.

Today’s Star Trek tie – in:

Captain Kirk: “We’re in trouble and there are 100 men coming down to the planet to help us.”

Spock: “Indeed. That’s 200 kneecaps. Good plan.”

Captain Kirk: “Why does it matter how many kneecaps there are?”

Spock: “The knees of the many outweigh the knees of the few…”

Bets has something to think about while Tif is busy tinkling.

Isn’t Bernice more qualified for this advice?

Aww, that’s sweet.

Somehow, ending the week on a tinkle seems fitting.

Atta girl, Tiff! I’ve been in Bets’s shoes and I lost someone who I connected with the most and never heard from her again. She’s my biggest what-if (we all have one). Bets has the golden opportunity to not let her fears and trauma do the talking for her and do the right thing. Nobody can do everything alone and this is a prime example of how we sometimes need help. If you’re strong enough to be an island, good on you. I’m not. Bets isn’t. And I can bet money there are a LOT of people in the comments who are not either.

“Think of how easy it is to bully Gunther into doing what you tell him to do. Think of how he never stands up for himself or pushes back. Think of how much control you have over him and how you can make it all about you without any complaint from him. Where else are you going to find someone like that?”

Bets does not care one bit about Gunther’s feelings. She hasn’t expressed any regret for ghosting him, it’s all about her and her insecurities. She’s only ever used Gunther for her own self-promotion and he’s better off without her. Tiffany is doing a fantastic job of making Bets forget about a refund. But she’s no more quafied to give relationship advice than Bernice is. Bernice can’t handle her own feelings either. Would like to see a new storyline but probably won’t get one just yet.

175 comments, and it’s only 6:24 a.m. That’s ridiculous!

Too much too little too late. I think Gunther has had enough of Bets’s BS. I certainly hope so.

It all so simple, Tiff wants to win at something. If Gunth and Bets break up, the mark she got is undeserved and she is doing what she can to earn it. Bets is poison, but Gunth isn’t all that together either.

Is the tinkling giving Bets an inkling? Hang around…maybe we’ll know even within the year end…!

Tiffanys new career path seems to be heading towards Couples Counselling. Good for you, Tiff.

Ok, now will this arc finally be over Monday or Tuesday or do we go back to Bernice and nil and drag that on for a couple of weeks and then come back Gunther and Bets. (Probably without any resolution to Bernice).

After reading the Strip for the last several days, I come to this conclusion.

We are looking two people who need to change their college majors this Fall.

Tiffany – She was flunking out in business until she got that lone “A.” Hardly a sure path to a degree in business. But hark! She has done a fairly credible job of “analyzing” Bets and Gunther’s “problems” this week. 100 times better than Ms Bernice ever could. Looks like Tiff was paying attention during all those counseling sessions Poppa Farrell paid dearly for. Tiffany should drop business and switch to psychology.

Bets – (Sigh) If Ms Bets is this uncharacteristically timid when she reaches the business world after graduation, then the sharks on Wall Street are going to eat her alive. Bets is good at podcasts and social media. She may want to consider dropping business and changing her major to broadcast journalism. She’d make the the perfect news anchor on something like Good Morning America or CBS this Morning.

Also, I hear that there are going to be several openings on The View.

Let Bets go a couple of rounds with Guinan, I mean, Whoopi Goldberg for a change. ;)

This arc will go on another week!

Go Bets! Sis Boom Rah! Tiff using her cheerleader skills!

It’s called trust and the power of positive thinking, Bets. You should try it. You never know what might happen.

Well it does look like Bets is here to stay. ♥

I think Big Pharma is writing the script for this arc in order to drum up business. “Doc, I’ve been reading this comic strip. It’s bringing up horrible memories of this girl I once knew. I’ve tried venting my unhappiness at a website but it’s not enough. I need you to write me prescription for Zoloft®.”

So what happens next? After all this hilarity my mind reels. It’s good to see Bets smile, but it’s going to take more than Tiffany’s wind chimes to get Bets to address her own problems and behavior. On the flip side I think Les is the right person to deliver some words about tough/hard love to Gunther.

And once again, it’s Tiffany FTW.

I think this is the best writing this strip has seen in a long time. Awesome to see these characters start acting their age …baggage and all.

Tiffany is INSIGHTFUL….who knew?!

“And none of it requires any effort or understanding at all, Bets! Take it from me, Tiffany!”

I’m fairly impressed with Tiffany, our little Miss Sunshine. Maybe she missed her calling and should try social psychology. She’s paid attention to Bets, keeps her focused, and helps her see an alternative. However….. even if Bets mellows out, and decides she wants to trust Gunther’s love, will Gunther trust her again?

GnK may give them both space and go to another arc next week.

Whether or not Tiff succeeds in her efforts, she gets BIG POINTS for trying, as far as I’m concerned. IF Bets can’t figure it out, it is Bets’ problem.

I am dumbfounded at how incredibly stupid this has become. If this story continues next week it will be an all time low for the Luann comic strip.

And what will we see on Monday? Shannon doing something obnoxious? Bernice sitting on the toilet? TJ grinning while cooking?

Is Tiff trying to tell her that Gun will ring her chimes? Or remind her that he rings her chimes? Or…??? That’s the second Greg character that has suggested a sexy comment about this Gun-Bets relationship. Actually, even Irma was portrayed as believing the rumors started by Luann.

And then there was the innuendo about someone escaping Luann’s bedroom window early in the morning, wakening Bernice. Many commenters were suggesting (hoping?) it was Jack.

My, my. Aren’t we getting racy? 8^ )

You know it’s a hard day when Tiff is the voice of reason.

This arc has been okay for me. It has been handled carefully, and Tiffany has regained much of her signature sexiness. Now, let’s see if Bernice can turn up the heat with Nil and go where she’s never ventured before.

I read a definition of love as that condition where the happiness and well-being of another is as or more important to you than your own. Using that as a starting point, I would have to conclude that neither Bets nor Gunther love the other, as both seem more concerned with their own feelings. I understand they’re both young (and I am old), but love is more than the hearts and flowers of romance. Love is standing together when it gets rough because you want to, not because you have to.

Well, I was wrong, Bets didn’t take off in the opposite direction, and perhaps this arc will extend into next week. It does seem like we’ve had a first. This is the first time Bets isn’t looking at Tiff like Tiff is something to be scraped off the bottom of her shoe.

So everytime a bell tinkles, an angel’s heart breaks and goes to heaven?

Did Tiffany just say something kind of insightful? Cool!

What Tiffany is telling Bets is immensely valuable advice, and I believe Bets is coming around to realize she wants to stay with Gunther after all. But that realization started when Gunther walked away and showed her he’s not a complete wuss.

The look on Bets’ face…this is taking a curious turn.

I like Tiffany’s peptalk and I believe it’s very true ..that some people, weigh themselves down w/negative thinking & doubts; instead of having a more positive attitude….Just saying :^)

tiff is making sense and actually doing a good job of being a friend to gunther, the question is, how badly scared is gunther at this point by betts

Next week: Toni wakes up wit morning sickness.

I support Tiffany’s intentions here, because whatever else she may be, she DOES care about Gunther as her friend. However, I don’t think trying to bring them back together is a good idea. Bets does NOT love Gunther. She uses him as a social media photo prop and wardrobe designer. She has always ignored him when he has expressed discomfort in the things she wants him to do, she blows him off and manipulates him when he tries to put his needs first (not wants, needs). She gets mad when he gives any attention to his other friends and insists it should always be focused completely on her if she is nearby.

That isn’t love and it isn’t healthy. Gunther would be better off without her in his life.

Keep going…..

i think what is big here (most noticeable) is the change in Bets’ attitude via facial expressions. When she came, she was angry, defiant and defensive; her face and body postures showed that. Now she looks relaxed. Over the past two days she has been open to talking about her feelings (re: relationship w/ G) and now she’s open to hearing other viewpoints, i.e. open to thinking about a relationship (on its own merits) as a glass half full rather than a glass half empty and doomed to failure. Tiffany too has grown. Sure, she doesn’t want the failure of her dinner and this relationship to be on her watch, but here she seems to truly care about Bets. It would woud be nice if she would let the wind chimes move on their own (w/ the breeze).

I like the way Greg Evans has taken the Tiffany character.

Go Tiffany. You are on the right path with this one. All right Bets! Buckle up! “He who risks nothing, does nothing, and therefore has nothing”.

Sunday: Frank and Nancy discuss wallpaper!

Nooooo!!!! I HATE Bets! RUN GUN, RUN!

Tiffany is giving good advice, but Bets will not change her entire personality after hearing it. Bets would need a lot of therapy to deal with her issues.

Next Week: Tiff and bets finish their plan to visit Gunther, only to find Rosa has come back to him

I hope this arc is done for now, it is dragging on. But I do NOT want to go back to Bernice. A story about TJ would be nice. Or maybe Jack and Nil talking.

Stories we will NOT have next week: Rosa coming back, Gunther returning to Peru, and Tiffany will not move into the DeGroots spare bedroom.

Tiffany’s chime thing gives me a bad feeling that Monday’s strip will switch to a different arc. Here’s hoping I’m wrong and we get closure here first.

That crazy Tiffany is gonna talk them back together!

I swear, if Tiffany fondles those chimes one more time……..AAAARRGH!!!

It feels like she stole that advice from a bad talk show.

Tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky…

(just thought I’d help Tiffany out. may be silly, but that doesn’t stop US)

Tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink tingle tinky tink…

Tiffany….. the Marianne Williamson of the comics page! LOL

It’s a tough audience!

Damn, Tiffany is being an awesome wingman here. She’ll make Gunther a fantastic wife at some undisclosed point in the future.

Tiff missed the old “Better to have Loved and Lost” platitude.

Well, looks like I’m off to the store now. I’m short on Jell-0 banana pie filling and Graham Cracker crumbs.

I called it. We are not finished with Gunther and Bets yet.

This is not a healthy relationship! Please, I’d almost rather have a Shannon arc.

Guess who got “out-Berniced” just now. Wham, bam, thank-you-ma’am.

Well, tomorrow is the Fourth. What kind of fireworks will we see? Or will this fizzle out?

G&K once again show us they have a problem with pacing a story arc. Enough of this “should I stay or should I go” nonsense. Tiffany, who has had NO relationships in this strip is doling out advice like Dear Abby. This drama has become annoying.

The Tiffster is surprisingly wise at an instinctive level. Relationship counseling could be her gig in life. Maybe she can get Bets and Gunny back together on a better level than previously!

But I do wish she could get herself back to her former svelte image….

Tiffany actually says something that demonstrates wisdom. That isn’t an attribute I expected from her.

Why is this girl smiling?

Because Tiffany has just given her an epiphany, and she is going to vault out of the chair on Monday (or in a few weeks), pursue her beloved Gunther, and tell him she is his forever.

That will open up new plotlines, in which we will meet Bets’s family (probably a cause and solution of some of her issues), and the numerous Burma Road turns that will lead to a wedding scene a few years from now where readers will choose Bets’s gown.

Bets has just realized, as Walter Lord wrote about the Battle of Midway, “What ‘must be’ need not be at all.” The reference is in the preface of his book on the engagement, “Incredible Victory,” and is carved on the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, in Washington DC, on the stone that honors Midway.

Bets can write her own destiny and “become the hero of her own life,” as Charles Dickens wrote in “David Copperfield.”

Tomorrow will be a Sunday/Fourth of July strip.

We may not see this resumed on Monday at all, but it will be, soon enough.

What amazes me the most? How fascinated so many people are about this comic strip romance. Beats the heck out betting the ponies, though.

Goodness. After seeing all the comments with varying opinions, lengthy explanations, and hopes for the future, I can only think of a brief summary of the situation as I see it now. Gunther is gone. All this lovey-dovey theorizing is moot. It’s a case of “closing the barn door after the horse is out.” Of course, horses who’ve gotten loose can often be lured back by making them think they are going to get something nice. I hope that doesn’t happen with Gunther.

its this way to much its a comic strip for god’s sake

It’s not working! RING THEM HARDER!!

Just keep walking, Gunther. You’ve had more opportunities with attractive women than George Clooney, and you’ve fumbled them all. Greg has got to stop throwing the ball to you. Maybe Quill can come back, intercept one of those passes, and move in for the score.

Bets is having an epiphany. Look at the smile on her face.

With Tiffany’s advice, she is realizing that her whole past is NOT her entire future.

She is learning that “what must be need not be at all.” Where did I get that? The preface of Walter Lord’s book “Incredible Victory,” about the Battle of Midway.

Tomorrow or in a couple of weeks, she will go out to find Gunther, throw her arms around him, and promise eternal love.

After that, their relationship will more closely resemble the twists and turns of Brad and Toni, right up to the wedding. We’ll discover Bets’s family (hopefully she doesn’t have a Shannon) and learn her backstory.

“All comedies end in a wedding.” Anton Chekhov.