Bittersweet Candy Bowl Forums

Proof to Lucy that she's still not alone. YAY. I'm so glad she actually called Paulo. That is just a defining moment, right there. I made a bet with my friend about what would happen; he said Lucy would call, thank Paulo for the cake, then immediately hang up. I said they'd talk for a while.

So how will this end, I wonder...? One more page.

Easily the worst page in the chapter. Lucy, gross. Going to eat that cake and get all fat and naaaasssttyyy. Mhhhhmmm.

Have y'all been reading the comments? It's hilarious to watch people fight over who would win in an imaginary fight even though we already know the answer.

She scraped that shit right off the ground into her gullet.

The plate was a formality.

Ace is correct, we do know who would win in a fight. (Here's the link for the newcomers.)

Paulo's definitely happy to hear from Lucy. Of course he's still with Jasmine, so we'll see what happens there. He definitely has some thinking to do. He's a pretty faithful guy, but I think he'll eventually realize Jasmine isn't where his heart is leading, and so he'll try to let her down as gently as possible.

I'm glad Lucy realizes she's not completely alone. This might help her to reach out to some of her other supportive friends (Sue, for example) so that she doesn't need to rely upon Mike anymore (which would be healthy for her).

Janus said:

Isn't wishing death on a character a bit extreme? True, Mike could have handled the situation in "December" with more grace, but you must remember it was Lucy who heaped abuse and insults on Mike for years. A friend who'd punch you hard enough to injure you is no true friend, and Sandy helped him realize that.

The Swimmer said:

This whole chapter has been a homage of sorts to Paulo's penis. Whether that is intentional or not, I cannot say.

ILB said:

Lucy already knows that Paulo's with Jasmine. I'm inclined to think the darkness of Lucy's room is simply matching her mood, and isn't indicative of anything extra we don't already know about.

wacko, on 29 May 2012 - 02:48 AM, said:

I'm having fun, not making an argument, which in my head means "hyperbole is ok"
When I'm argumentative I do this:
1. Lucy saved his drunk ass recently, from a conflict Mike instigated himself by being gullible and stupid.

2. Lucy has difficulty expressing herself because earlier in her life she was being either ignored or hit on by everyone she met. Mike was actually willing to understand and tolerate it while he had the hots for her. It's only once he got together with Sandy that he changed his mind. His actions say he was only willing to be understanding of Lucy until she stopped being a love interest to him, at which point he says "fuck her."

3. Mike's life is not particularly difficult, aside from Lucy he has no friction to deal with. Take in contrast Abbey or Tess - who have demons that interfere with their daily lives. Considering that, I expect someone like him to be able to spare some moral support to one of his oldest friends at his own expense. The fact that he, again, was willing to do so while he thought he was getting some tail, but not after, does not speak well of his character.

4. Mike's another failure is his refusal to approach things maturely. I have not seen him try and bring up his trauma in a conversation before. He had plenty of time to confront Lucy about it in a serious manner and warn her that he didn't want that kind of treatment - why hasn't he? What he did was endure it while he was interested in Lucy, and when he wasn't anymore he just let their friendship deteriorate. He payed no mind to Daisy in a similar way, because she was not a love interest, and Abbey even called him out on it.

...God, I just wrote all that because of a comic about cartoon cats. What is wrong with me?

Janus, on 29 May 2012 - 07:35 AM, said:

You're a fan and that's nothing to be ashamed of

wacko, on 29 May 2012 - 02:48 AM, said:

Exactly. I don't want Abbey to die, I just want him to hate himself as much as I hate him until he kills himself.

Oops.

Janus, on 29 May 2012 - 07:35 AM, said:

Let's just overlook that part where he saved her from being raped.

Janus, on 29 May 2012 - 07:35 AM, said:

Which doesn't mean Mike has to put up with her shit if she's a persistent cunt.

Janus, on 29 May 2012 - 07:35 AM, said:

He tolerated her until Sandy pointed out how badly he was being treated.

Janus, on 29 May 2012 - 07:35 AM, said:

Only in a romantic sense. He desperately tried to be her friend, but the timeline shows him gradually learning to hate her as Sandy, correctly, points out the abuse he's enduring to make nice. She was literally abusing him physically and he was putting up with it because he wanted so much to stay friends with her. That's what Lucy is: a realistic approach to the entire "tsundere" trope in anime. Most Mike-haters don't get that because they've been so conditioned to tolerate that kind of behavior. You can even see Lucy herself realize how intolerable she's been when Abbey makes the comment about bullies during the student election.

Janus, on 29 May 2012 - 07:35 AM, said:

That was Abbey's boner for Daisy talking. Like usual, he was making issues out of issues that were none of his business. Which is part of why he's a terrible character.

You're right. Here I thought my tendency to see the positive side of people was a virtue, but it must be some sort of pathological response to abusive relationships. If I don't fix myself now I might end up living with a trailer-trash abusive spouse, whom I desperately try to please because of my dependency issues.
Thanks for opening my eyes there

And I do like Mike a lot, but his most endearing quality to me was that he used to always be the bigger man, despite all the shit he got for it from Lucy. Once he gave up trying to be strong for her, I couldn't see anything sympathetic in him anymore. Now he is just "that normal suburban kid."

Lucy has issues and because of that I find her more interesting and likable.

Yeah, now that he doesn't have to deal with anything but minor drama from Sandy anymore, he's just kind of a background character until the Sandy arc comes. And destroys him.

So what's the deal with the new page? Does he have a boner or something?

I didn't know Paulo was ambidextrous, or favored 'The Stranger'...either or, still learned something new about him today.

I'm not sure. Either he thinks he gave her the wrong idea by saying "it's quiet without you," or he feels guilty because his concern for Lucy overshadows that for Jasmine...

And here I hoped I would get some closure from this last page.

Meowth, on 30 May 2012 - 04:38 AM, said:

We already established that he's wanking it.

The Swimmer, on 28 May 2012 - 11:05 AM, said:

This post has been edited by Janus: 30 May 2012 - 04:54 AM

dammit, Paulo! pick a vagina and thrust already!

Alright, quick question: in panel seven, why does Paulo's penis have a fingernail?

Ah, I missed the cloud of hearts in the 8th panel. Yeah he's definitely in love and angsty about it.

ChewySmokey, on 29 May 2012 - 09:49 AM, said:

Yep. And I'm way past the age when I'd be ashamed of stuff I like.

Meowth, on 30 May 2012 - 05:05 AM, said:

That's not a fingernail, it's semen running down his cock that leaked out, he was very aroused.

ChewySmokey, on 30 May 2012 - 05:47 AM, said:

You sir... Well played

Paulo really found himself in bind, between one girl he truly feels for and another whom he is starting to see as just a friend.

But that's another story for another time. Anyway, it was nice to see Lucy smiling for the first time, just from that conversation with Paulo.

Looking forward to the next chapter this Friday.

Well, so Lucy hung up on Paulo. I guess the fact that he thought of her is sufficient to cheer her up somewhat, and she doesn't feel the need to unload her problems on him. Guess that leaves Paulo stuck between two girls for the moment, since he still doesn't know what happened to Lucy.

And yes, it has been a week since Mike told Lucy he hated her. Which means it's just about time for more drama to occur in the form of Mike's fashion show date!

Jerk said:

Yes, you hate Abbey so much that you'd date me if I were a girl.

Great chapter overall, mostly due to PauloxLucy...

Whilst it's very conflicting, looks like Paulo still has feelings for Lucy.

Just please, Taeshi, for the love of God, GO BACK TO THE OLDER style when it comes to the art! No more water colors. Even December and stuff looked better than that shit. I think your best art is still around the Pillow Talk era.

Watercolors look good. Don't ruin that for me.

I honestly couldn't care less about which style she goes with, both look equally good to me.
Also, me are confused.

Paulo is quite clearly conflicted, and the conflict is exactly the same as the one from earlier. He likes Jasmine, but likes Lucy even more - or at the very least, he is more excited about her. The dangerous thing here is that he has started justifying, to himself, why he likes Jasmine. That is a very worrying sign in regards to their relationship. It might signify the end of the two's time together. Then again, it might also be that he has had a bit of a flighty turn, and that it will pass.

Undoubtedly, though, Jasmine and Paulo are highly unlikely to remain together until the very end of the comic. The question is how long they will last. I will leave that topic be for now, however, and instead keep on saying "poor Paulo", and also, poor Lucy - although she has just received a reminder that there is, in fact, somebody looking out for her. Naturally, if she would still favour a romantic relationship, she has the downright cold and shunning Michael on the one hand, but the warm yet tauntingly unavailable Paulo on the other. Conflict and drama will prevail, at least for quite a long while longer. ^_^

ILB, on 31 May 2012 - 03:42 PM, said:

Don't rain on my parade. Lucy needs to curl up in a ball and cry more.

Now, now, Ace, that is misconstruing content.

Admittedly, however, the context is exactly right.

A new phrase needs to be launched to mark this immense and extraordinary event. ^_^

Janus, on 31 May 2012 - 10:05 AM, said:

I couldn't agree more. Her water colours are very lovely and feel more... lively? I'm not sure which word I'm looking for, but by comparison the previous digital style feels flat.

NintendoSegaSonyGuy said:

NintendoSegaSonyGuy, you may wish to have a look at this.

Suffice it to say that there would be little point in Taeshi continuing BCB if she were continually unhappy about the way she was producing her art. Since she's much happier doing the watercolours, you should probably stop complaining, or else stop reading BCB and find a different comic with artwork more suited to your taste.

wacko, on 31 May 2012 - 08:36 PM, said:

Just my opinion on the art. Really, isn't that the whole idea of the forums? Express viewer opinions?

I'll keep reading it however it goes. Story is more important than the graphics. But I'll always have my favorite styles the comic's had in its lifetime.

NintendoSegaSonyGuy, on 31 May 2012 - 09:57 PM, said:

If you'd like to state your opinion on something that someone works really hard to create and provides a public domain for you to view it on, and especially if it's something you enjoy - it's generally a good idea to think about what you're saying and make it a critical, constructive comment, as apposed to just saying "it's shit."

Janus, on 31 May 2012 - 10:51 PM, said:

I couldn't have said it better myself.

NintendoSegaSonyGuy, on 31 May 2012 - 09:57 PM, said:

All of your opinions fall somewhere on a spectrum between "boring shit" and "stupid shit." I just figure you're autistic and generally ignore you like most everyone else does until you say something that swings so far over into the latter category that someone has to call you out on it.

fuck

This post has been edited by Purin: 01 June 2012 - 03:58 AM

I hope Lucy doesn't ruin anything

Murderer, you may not have noticed, but it's now chapter 71. New thread needed.

huh, I didn't even realize someone had posted already so I made the thread. whoops.

wacko, on 31 May 2012 - 08:36 PM, said:

I can't tell if you have completely misjudged Taeshi or just every artist ever.

Oh, are you referring to Artist's Disease where they're always hating some aspect of their work? That's pretty normal, actually.

No, I mean that if Taeshi finds herself happier working in a different medium or using different techniques, then she should do so. That's how artists grow and learn. Sure the results might be a bit inconsistent at first, but as with anything else, practice makes perfect. And we the readers can all adjust in the meantime.

So, while we're waiting for a new page I was thinking.
I tried to find the plot point where Mike shifts from being voluntarily protective of Lucy to hating her, but I couldn't. Before the trip to Acapulco (the Daisy arc), he's determined to remain as her friend, and is inspired to become a great swimmer because of her phobia. And on the trip - bam - "I hate Lucy."
When he's remembering how she was mad at him initially for nearly dying, he's concerned and worried.
At Acapulco, same story, she is angry because he almost died, only now he's cold and indifferent. I feel like I'm missing some event that flipped his attitude in a matter of what seems like a month, two at the most.

Unreliable narrator.

Acapulco is indeed when we first start to see an obvious change in Mike's attitude towards Lucy. But it was never anything sudden, it was something that had been building over a while, as this page seems to indicate ("I've grown to deal with that"). And Mike's attitude further hardened when it sunk in that Lucy had really been bullying him. Sandy helped him realize it too; note that the first time Mike comments about Lucy's actions to Sandy is during the period he wasn't wearing a scarf, towards the beginning of 9th grade, well before the Acapulco trip.

Ah, I see. I didn't realize the absence of the scarf meant that particular period. That does clear things up a bit. Still, it seems like the change from Mike in this last panel to this Mike is a bit sudden. But at least now I understand how that happened. And I'll shut up now.

This post has been edited by Janus: 09 June 2012 - 01:48 AM