2019/03/01 - Dramatic Retelling

Post by **D-Rock** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:02 am

[2019/03/01 - Dramatic Retelling]
Title Text: and then, suddenly, ninjas!

Eh, who cares about historical accuracy, you got ratings to increase.

Saturn381 · Post by **Saturn381** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:03 am

Maybe Res can write the book version of Max's story.

Gbr23 · Post by **Gbr23** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:04 am

Peanut, if something ever happens to me... tell my story.

IceKitsune · Post by **IceKitsune** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:04 am

Oh Peanut, please never change.

fenrirblack · Post by **fenrirblack** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:05 am

Seriously what is wrong with Peanut?

Now Peanut is stealing my thing. I’m the one who make up crazy stories and dialogue based on these characters to share with everyone.

Gameb18oy · Post by **Gameb18oy** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:10 am

A little annoyed Max didn’t get at least an apology, but eh, Rick did need to conclude the arc. Will be a bit cynical though and say Sabrina and Peanut have not been redeemed yet in my eyes. Peanut is one of Max’s closest friends so it was kinda insulting to Max that he didn’t take his friend’s story seriously as is in the end, and Sabrina is usually one of the more responsible pets, so it actually be mildly out of character if she didn’t make sure she buried the hatches with Max

TOPCATDIGIANIMEFAN · Post by **TOPCATDIGIANIMEFAN** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:15 am

(LoudSqueeing Intensefiese)

Champion Wallace · Post by **Champion Wallace** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:16 am

Sweet Rex in the background has rapt attention. Even if Peanut is a good enough orator to fool Rex and Dallas, shouldn't Fido and Sabrina recognize he's making this up because they just heard it from Maxwell. We finally have concrete evidence for what gender the coyote was ("her mistake").

Welsh Halfwit · Post by **Welsh Halfwit** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:24 am

It's not what you tell but how.

Dallas is branching out from the nerd pack? Good for him.

It all depends how you tell the tale,
the reaction you get from the others.
The teller elicits the response you see,
from the sisters and the brothers.
Even Sabrina, whose heard it before,
listens intently to this new version;
the action tale of Mini Maxwell
has led her to a conversion.
And in the pool we spot Dallas,
Fido, Rex and a Bigglesworth bored,
not believing a word s/he hears
but, with the others, Peanut’s scored.

leinglo · Post by **leinglo** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:29 am

Peanut is following in the footsteps of the great Varrick: "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, kid!"

NHWestoN · Post by **NHWestoN** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:42 am

You can almost hear the soundtrack in the background - yah gotta admit, the young fella's a natural screen writer! ........... Or tv commercial agent. So finally got an "Imaginate" even if it was just one panel.

fenrirblack · Post by **fenrirblack** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:56 am

It’s kinda sad we don’t see Tarot in this scene. I’m curious to see her reaction to her boyfriend put on a one man show.

trekkie · Post by **trekkie** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 6:52 am

I would’ve liked to see Peanut, at least, apologize, but Max has at least found some closure with Rufus. Also, I love Maxwell’s little smile in the last panel

GameCobra · Post by **GameCobra** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 6:59 am

Gotta admit - never expected this for an ending. They went back to the spa and find everyone is listening to Peanut's version of the story. Even Fido and Sabrina. Wow.

On the bright side, this makes Maxwell's story more personal for him and Grape. And hopefully this means more personal time for the two of them now that Grape knows what kind of person he is more.

Now go use the snuggle baths before the spa moves out, you two kitties :3

EDIT: On an interesting note - seems anytime Peanut tells a story, people listen to him more. Foreshadowing?

EDIT 2: So are we talking 9 part mini-series like IT the clown or Netflix? =3

Nathan Kerbonaut · Post by **Nathan Kerbonaut** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 9:03 am

So ends another arc. I enjoyed it, backstories are always fun. But I'm glad to see the series moving forward again. I can't think of a better way to mark the transition than a classic Peanut moment.

Macsen · Post by **Macsen** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 11:44 am

The cogs are turning for Maxie.

fenrirblack · Post by **fenrirblack** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:58 pm

Now that we are done with this chapter, we find ourselves at an interesting crossroads. The next chapter can either be another normal chapter or the Year 11 finale chapter. The final chapter historically start in April like almost always. The only ones that didn’t was Year 2 which didn’t have a real finale and Year 4 because the Trial in Heaven was so short. Then there is Year 9 that was one day off. Anyway, will Rick mix things up and do a longer more detailed final chapter or follow the normal routine and have one more chapter before the final? Most likely the later but who knows.

Speaking of finales, the last Pridelands book should have been published by now so I wonder if we’ll see Grape’s reaction to it especially considering everything they did to get it written.

Cesco · Post by **Cesco** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:08 pm

That's a nice ending, and finally Max found his inner peace with Rufus.

Well, for Peanut doesn't seem to be so, Max.

It's good that you can accept it.

Yeah, maybe Grape could involve Res into the idea to write new books based on this story.

Eheh, Peanut, your fantasy is every time so much surprising!

I agree with that the coyote is wondering.

Gameb18oy · Post by **Gameb18oy** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:13 pm

fenrirblack wrote:Now that we are done with this chapter, we find ourselves at an interesting crossroads. The next chapter can either be another normal chapter or the Year 11 finale chapter. The final chapter historically start in April like almost always. The only ones that didn’t was Year 2 which didn’t have a real finale and Year 4 because the Trial in Heaven was so short. Then there is Year 9 that was one day off. Anyway, will Rick mix things up and do a longer more detailed final chapter or follow the normal routine and have one more chapter before the final? Most likely the later but who knows.

Speaking of finales, the last Pridelands book should have been published by now so I wonder if we’ll see Grape’s reaction to it especially considering everything they did to get it written.

The fact that Res has still been banished from the mysterious land of CA-NA-DA by Rick is so bizarre. It’s not like the shipping war for which cat Grape ultimately likes more in that way

GameCobra · Post by **GameCobra** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:31 pm

Macsen wrote:The cogs are turning for Maxie.

Courtesy of Grape. This is going to be a thing :3

NHWestoN · Post by **NHWestoN** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:51 pm

So, here's to you, Rufus, from one geezer to another. Been just a joy to see you again. Happy horizons and don't be so long next time.....

Amazee Dayzee · Post by **Amazee Dayzee** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:52 pm

Not really sure how this will help because everybody hearing the story that Peanut is telling really isn't gonna help anybody care about Maxwell's personal history and they will just be gripped by the action-packed fiction that Peanut is telling and prefer that one. Just like Peanut prefers that one and won't ever acknowledge what REALLY happened.

fenrirblack · Post by **fenrirblack** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 6:51 pm

They probably have screwed up pasts too. Mr. Bigglesworth alone is probably screwed up as is. There should be a story there about how one or all should be fighting for their independence and stand out from the rest like the Mysterious Racer B. Anyway, Sabrina, we know has had a hard life being moved around so much a kitten only to be essentially abandoned by her owner. Fido is pretty put together but he and Max have never really been a thing. Rex is the same way. Have those two ever had an actual conversation or interacted in any meaningful way? Dallas is well, Dallas. He exists in his little bubble anyway.

trekkie · Post by **trekkie** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 6:59 pm

Amazee Dayzee wrote:Not really sure how this will help because everybody hearing the story that Peanut is telling really isn't gonna help anybody care about Maxwell's personal history and they will just be gripped by the action-packed fiction that Peanut is telling and prefer that one. Just like Peanut prefers that one and won't ever acknowledge what REALLY happened.

Maxwell might prefer that is something that only he and Grape know about, it could be a special connection between the two of them, even if they don’t end up as romantic partners.

fenrirblack · Post by **fenrirblack** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 7:05 pm

Amazee Dayzee wrote:Not really sure how this will help because everybody hearing the story that Peanut is telling really isn't gonna help anybody care about Maxwell's personal history and they will just be gripped by the action-packed fiction that Peanut is telling and prefer that one. Just like Peanut prefers that one and won't ever acknowledge what REALLY happened.

What's really strange is not just Peanut retelling the story to be more dramatic but the weird lines of pseudo-social awareness. It happened before with "I'm a victim of circumstance" and now it's the perpetuation of the cycle of violence? What ever happened to good old violence, screaming at each other, and threatening one another with more violence? Peanut clearly needs to watch more anime. But then ninja's attack which is always a win. "It was dark, I was in my towel, when the ninja's attacked."

Prof · Post by **Prof** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 7:13 pm

Peanut embellishing Max' story reminds me somehow of "Where the water tastes like wine". It is a game about storytelling. The by far most interesting part of the game is, when a story grows and changes during retelling - often in a unexpected direction ^_^

link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4471 ... Like_Wine/

Gameb18oy · Post by **Gameb18oy** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 9:12 pm

GameCobra wrote:
Macsen wrote:The cogs are turning for Maxie.
Courtesy of Grape. This is going to be a thing :3

It’s weird how often the lack of named cats in the comic comes up, Sabrina I think was literally the only cat that wasn’t there and that’s merely because Max didn’t want his ex showing up

NHWestoN · Post by **NHWestoN** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 2:43 pm

Outside of Grape and Maxwell, cat characters do no seem to flourish in "Babylon Gardens". Marvin's been long time gone (Tiger, too, I guess).

There's been some ruminations about the Bigglesworth bunch, but that poses some narrative background problems. The "B" cats originated as a parody of the "crazy-cat" lady and never seemed destined to develop beyond single-strips or one panel walk-ons. Having so many of the poses another challenge - Do you elaborate one or two characters, giving them names and reveal personalities as well, and let the others stay in the shadows? Or they become a sort of collective personality working on a communal project (a birthday gift for their "Mom" or start the Good Ol'Cars club or found a business with "Four-Fingered Jack" or Gale Puma. )

either way, building the Bigglesworths would take a gradual evolution. There's been a very intriguing theme of paring Rex the Bulldog romantically with one of the "B" cats. I have some reservations there, but that 's likely just me. True, very, very, very early on in the strip, Rick introduces us to the Fido-Sabrina dog-cat couple but you get to do such sudden narrative "lurches" at the beginning.

Rex himself is one of the "present-at-the-creation figures. Although he very rarely appears anymore, the stories which feature the muscular, grouchy overbearing thuggish bull dog to a more sensitive, cultivated, kindly soul with strings reservations about Bino, his boss. Still, to be convincing, Rex would have to show us more of his maturation from a red-eyed cat-hater to someone a cat from the "B" clan might date. We'd want to see his feline friend make the transformation believable, too.

Transformations are tricky. I did mention before that I was a bit taken back to suddenly learn that Kevin, like Rex a basically caricatured comedian of the oafish, muscle-head type, had magically turned into Sasha's legally-sophisticated patron and an educated bourgeois gentleman. Gave me narrative whiplash. Okay, it's Rick's world; he can turn all his "Housepets" into garden flowers if he likes - and ill still read this comic. But, for me, making Kevin her permanent squeeze, mechanically removing "Daddy" Hartford from the scene (and all the unresolved issues about him and Sasha), shutting her out of Fox's life - well, for me, it just makes Sasha much less poignant, much less beguiling, much less unpredictable, much less interesting. And, I hate to bend anybody's CB antenna, but now Kevin's even more of a good than before. Or so thinks I.

So if there's A "Romantic Rex" in Rick's storyfile - okay! I love bringing back the long-time character must like Rick did with Rufus, the Barn Cats, and Sabre-Tooth Girl. But develop it out, please - you'll get more of us sentimental types hooked.
Regards.

Argent · Post by **Argent** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 2:58 pm

Don't forget Fiddler and Keys and Jasper and Delusional Steve.

Gameb18oy · Post by **Gameb18oy** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 4:53 pm

Argent wrote:Don't forget Fiddler and Keys and Jasper and Delusional Steve.

How could we remember them? Collectively they all barely can handle a one-off, Jasper not even that. And Delustional Steve isn’t even a Babylon Gardens resident

Amazee Dayzee · Post by **Amazee Dayzee** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 5:59 pm

Well at least Fiddler and Keys then. We still need to solve the mystery about their genders!

GameCobra · Post by **GameCobra** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 6:11 pm

I never forgot about Fiddler and Keys. x3

I just think they are a travelling band of cats at this point. Unless Rick wants us to do a world tour arc for them. That would be fun. =P

Marvin, on the otherhand... poor Marvin.

Silly Zealot · Post by **Silly Zealot** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 6:38 pm

Saturn381 wrote:Maybe Res can write the book version of Max's story.

fenrirblack wrote:Seriously what is wrong with Peanut?

Now Peanut is stealing my thing. I’m the one who make up crazy stories and dialogue based on these characters to share with everyone.

In a world, were even the characters are writing fanfic....

Gameb18oy wrote:A little annoyed Max didn’t get at least an apology, but eh, Rick did need to conclude the arc. Will be a bit cynical though and say Sabrina and Peanut have not been redeemed yet in my eyes.

I like to think they are just going to apologize off-screen.

Gameb18oy · Post by **Gameb18oy** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 8:04 pm

Silly Zealot wrote:
Saturn381 wrote:Maybe Res can write the book version of Max's story.

fenrirblack wrote:Seriously what is wrong with Peanut?

Now Peanut is stealing my thing. I’m the one who make up crazy stories and dialogue based on these characters to share with everyone.
In a world, were even the characters are writing fanfic....

Gameb18oy wrote:A little annoyed Max didn’t get at least an apology, but eh, Rick did need to conclude the arc. Will be a bit cynical though and say Sabrina and Peanut have not been redeemed yet in my eyes.
I like to think they are just going to apologize off-screen.

I really wish Rick would do that less, if the audience doesn’t see it, it’s practically like it didn’t happen.

Buster · Post by **Buster** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 8:52 pm

Amazee Dayzee wrote:We still need to solve the mystery about their genders!

we already did, months ago, a thread got taken over by discussion of calico genetics because of it. you were there.

Amazee Dayzee · Post by **Amazee Dayzee** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 10:14 pm

I was talking about officially but yeah if that is the case, then I will drop it. Also I can't remember what goes on from a few months back. I can barely remember a week ago,

Postcard · Post by **Postcard** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 10:48 pm

Gameb18oy wrote:I really wish Rick would do that less, if the audience doesn’t see it, it’s practically like it didn’t happen.

I have to disagree, because it keeps up the pace of the story. Yeah, it'd be nice to see every small event happen but that's unnecessary as long as we can see the characters progress, or at least being amicable to each other in the future in this case. Just like how Fox used to be the king of things happening off-panel, we can fill in the blanks ourselves with good accuracy most of the time.

Gameb18oy · Post by **Gameb18oy** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 11:08 pm

Postcard wrote:
Gameb18oy wrote:I really wish Rick would do that less, if the audience doesn’t see it, it’s practically like it didn’t happen.
I have to disagree, because it keeps up the pace of the story. Yeah, it'd be nice to see every small event happen but that's unnecessary as long as we can see the characters progress, or at least being amicable to each other in the future in this case. Just like how Fox used to be the king of things happening off-panel, we can fill in the blanks ourselves with good accuracy most of the time.

Fair argument, but there are times it’s been unbeneficial as well. Elements of relationships like those between peanut and Tarot and Grape and Max have been unclear to us despite them being around for more than any of the other ones present for the easiest example I can give you.

GameCobra · Post by **GameCobra** » Sat Mar 02, 2019 11:21 pm

Gameb18oy wrote:
Postcard wrote:
Gameb18oy wrote:I really wish Rick would do that less, if the audience doesn’t see it, it’s practically like it didn’t happen.
I have to disagree, because it keeps up the pace of the story. Yeah, it'd be nice to see every small event happen but that's unnecessary as long as we can see the characters progress, or at least being amicable to each other in the future in this case. Just like how Fox used to be the king of things happening off-panel, we can fill in the blanks ourselves with good accuracy most of the time.
Fair argument, but there are times it’s been unbeneficial as well. Elements of relationships like those between peanut and Tarot and Grape and Max have been unclear to us despite them being around for more than any of the other ones present for the easiest example I can give you.

Well to be fair, i'm certain the fans are mostly focused on the relationship between a select few characters. Over the years I just came to enjoy when Rick gives certain characters unexpected spotlights that we probably wouldn't expect at times. Fox is an example.

Rufus, however, was a huge unexpected character and Rick gave him amazing characterization, but part of this characterization went hand-in-hand with Maxwell, who also didn't have as much characterization (Also because he's one of my personal favorites, of course, so i can't leave that out x3). It's characterization like this for characters that put this seemingly small arc right ontop of my list of favorites already. I like to see more characterizations like this for characters.

fenrirblack · Post by **fenrirblack** » Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:14 pm

This is why backstory is important. At this point we need to get all the pets in a room, put them in a circle, put on a cup of coffee, and have everyone go around the room and talk about the stupid carp from their lives. Then clap afterwards. Then have a good cry.