Advocating for the devil and all: Ross might know that throwing in with someone willing to spring you from jail for the crime of firing a weapon on a college campus might not be the most moral choice, once you sit back and think.
He is LETTING ONE OF THE PRISONERS GO to ‘Bring me Becky.”. Amber, whether or not she is Amazi-girl, can just GO TO THE POLICE!
On the other hand, I think Ross knows that Amber knows who Blaine is. And she therefore knows that Blaine is not bluffing about his threat. There’s a good chance that if Amber goes to the police, none of the others will ever be seen alive again. :/
What has been written will already have come to pass. However hopeless it may be, please Amber, don’t fall to trope. Just go get the cops. Furthermore don’t let them fall to trope and ignore her, please have them actually respond. Please don’t let this drama continue only because characters are too stupid to do what actually makes sense.
Khyrin, you have the best advice for Amber, but I don’t think for a second Ross is behaving in a redeemable manner. He has the upper hand and he is using it to compel people under threat of mortal harm.
It is true that either way Amber being let go would work out for the best, regardless of Ross’s intentions in doing so. I think Ross’s faith in Blaine has been shaken, but not his faith in himself. Which is a shame, but hey. Gift horse dentistry isn’t necessary here.
We all knew he didn’t have any kind of developmental disability. Just an entitled, childish social parasite who uses his faith to simply validate expecting his own way all the time and to harbor a faultless self-image.
May have even known what he was doing when he inspired Lost Puppy Syndrome in Becky’s Mother or how the hell ever they got together.
Obedience isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, my parents enforced rules, but did not create them, they were not telling me what to do, just making sure I did what we agreed upon.
And oh, how I hope it DOES drop kick him. In one of several possible forms.
(Realistically, GOD I want the police in there, but since all the kids left now are also spares with the POSSIBLE exception of Joyce to Toedad, I will settle for avenging angels.)
Haven’t you noticed by now the Duly Constituted Authorities (TM) in DoA-land range from absent through ineffectual to malevolent?
A Fan
Yes absolutely the DoA authorities are absent. We ask not because I think we really expect different, but because it is a rather overdrawn trope already. Given the generally approachable human drama Willis reliably provides within the absurd construct of the DoA universe, I believe he has the skill and am hoping he has the will to give us a better than cliché story.
Regalli
Because by ‘spares’ I mean ‘completely expendable.’ Blaine has no reason to keep any of them alive because he doesn’t give a shit, and Ross has long since demonstrated he has no compunctions about killing – or dying in a police shootout – in the name of Saving Becky’s Soul. (‘I will die for you, Becky’ very much worries me.)
The ONLY value the hostages have right now to Blaine and Ross (with, again, the possible exception of Joyce) is to keep AG in line. The only things they want are Becky (Ross), vengeance on AG, and a way out of financially supporting Amber (Blaine). We’re already wondering how the fuck Blaine thinks he can get away with taking six hostages and working with Ross and considering ‘he’s already actively plotting murder’ as a solution.
Which means there’s a decent chance Amber doesn’t go to the police because she’s coming to the same conclusion I have – the MOMENT they see authorities, it’s very possible one or both of their captors decide to start cutting their losses/provoking the police to go out in a blaze.
Agemegos
The hostages won’t suddenly acquire a value when the bad dads get what they want. You have identified a problem, but avoiding the police is not a solution to it.
Sombrero
She should absolutely bring Linda Walkerton. Taking her favourite son was a terrible mistake that they will pay dearly.
II Corinthians 5:21 Prove all things. Hold fast to that which is good.
Yumi
Despite knowing of 1 Corinthians throughout my life, largely because of the verses read at weddings, my reaction on reading this comment was, “There’s a second Corinthians???”
In my mind it was just one of those church things I wasn’t meant to understand, I guess.
Jamie
I happen to rather like 1 John 4:16.
Not John. 1 John. Not 3:16. 4:16. I just like how much of an intellectual middle finger the notation itself is. And also I like 1 John 4:16-18 for the message, too.
Matthew 27:52-53. The zombie invasion of Jerusalem.
Rose by Any Other Name
Judges 15:16
“With an ass’s jawbone, I have killed a thousand men.”
Thank you SAO Abridged for that gem.
Jeff K!
There’s a Pinky and the Brain episode where they’re pets of Samson, and the scriptwriters worked in the phrase “jawbone of an ass” like 15 times because they could get away with it.
I particularly like Matthew 6:5-6. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Not really limited to him, though. Both Zac Efron and Daniel Radcliffe pushed as hard as possible out of their most well-known roles and their characters were decently liked.
chris2315
When you get to the point of accepting a role as a farting corpse, I have to wonder if you’re doing okay.
Punaparta
When Daniel Radcliffe took on a role in Equus, a play known for involving a scene of male nudity, there were a lot of stupid jokes about “Harry Potter showing his wand”.
I was really impressed that he took the part he did in Band of Brothers. He can’t have needed the cheque, and you don’t play a contemptible loser like Sobel to puff your ego.
BarerMender
I don’t have any acting experience, but I gather actors like playing heavies.
Agemegos
Yeah, but Sobel isn’t a heavy. He’s a petty tyrant, but weak, and he goes to pieces on field exercises. And Schwimmer did a really good job of portraying him.
I’ve seen one case where a signature was forged. If you feel you’re doing right, all sorts of crimes happen.
Agemegos
It varies. You can give the bank instructions about who or what combination of account-holders are allowed to control the funds.
I have a joint account with my sister that we use as a sinking fund for certain expenses. Either of us can withdraw or transfer funds. We can do it over the Internet.
I think this just moved up my ‘shit hits the fan at Thanksgiving’ prediction to ‘Joyce and Jocelyne tell Thanksgiving to go fuck itself because there’s no universe where Joyce DOESN’T rage against everything for this IMMEDIATELY and Jocelyne’s definitely going to accelerate her own timeline of probable/possible disownment after this one.’ (Unless she doubles down on the closet, also a possibility.)
I think if her little sister was taking both barrels from the folks she’d step up to the plate. She did with the eldest, there, and that wasn’t nearly “your belief system got me kidnapped” level of crazy.
Regalli
Yeah, my only doubt is if she thinks Carol will react to the coming out in the specific flavor of badness Ross has, but I think she’s more likely to burn bridges if she did already for Jordan.
Needfuldoer
How about Joyce and Hank have Thanksgiving at Jocelyne’s, even if it’s just Swanson TV dinners.
Ross may have lost interest in furthering Blaine’s part of the plan, in which case all the worse for Blaine if he brings push to shove. Blaine is in no shape to endure the amount of pushback Ross is able to give.
Ross is carrying out Blaines plan , getting Amazigirl to bring Becky
Agemegos
Yeah, that’s because he actually wants Becky.
Blaine wants Amber traumatised and Amazi-Girl hurt (maimed or killed, I think). Ross may be at the point of pursuing his own agenda and letting Blaine’s goals fail.
Even if Joyce convinces Ross that Blaine is no instrument of God, Blaine is still going to want Becky.
Ron again
They did discuss their goals. They both would want their daughters back. This is really stretching the terms of their pact. “yeah I let your daughter go to fetch mine. That was your plan, right?”
251 thoughts on “Renewal”
Doctor_Who
Aw, Ross believes in her, what a dear. /s
Khyrin
Advocating for the devil and all: Ross might know that throwing in with someone willing to spring you from jail for the crime of firing a weapon on a college campus might not be the most moral choice, once you sit back and think.
He is LETTING ONE OF THE PRISONERS GO to ‘Bring me Becky.”. Amber, whether or not she is Amazi-girl, can just GO TO THE POLICE!
Zaxares
On the other hand, I think Ross knows that Amber knows who Blaine is. And she therefore knows that Blaine is not bluffing about his threat. There’s a good chance that if Amber goes to the police, none of the others will ever be seen alive again. :/
A Fan
What has been written will already have come to pass. However hopeless it may be, please Amber, don’t fall to trope. Just go get the cops. Furthermore don’t let them fall to trope and ignore her, please have them actually respond. Please don’t let this drama continue only because characters are too stupid to do what actually makes sense.
Khyrin, you have the best advice for Amber, but I don’t think for a second Ross is behaving in a redeemable manner. He has the upper hand and he is using it to compel people under threat of mortal harm.
PB
It is true that either way Amber being let go would work out for the best, regardless of Ross’s intentions in doing so. I think Ross’s faith in Blaine has been shaken, but not his faith in himself. Which is a shame, but hey. Gift horse dentistry isn’t necessary here.
Lily
Creepy ass toe man
clif
Oddly perceptive though.
DudeMyDadOwnsaDealership
We all knew he didn’t have any kind of developmental disability. Just an entitled, childish social parasite who uses his faith to simply validate expecting his own way all the time and to harbor a faultless self-image.
May have even known what he was doing when he inspired Lost Puppy Syndrome in Becky’s Mother or how the hell ever they got together.
ValdVin
Oh, Toedad: Obedience is the first thing to go, even if it takes Joyce to 18 rather than her tweens.
C.T Phipps
Toedad: I am the head of my household and that means Becky is my property!
abysswatcher1993
Cue to Willis drawing of a mouse girl with a chastity belt.
C.T Phipps
Immorten Blaine!
ValdVin
Wow, that Hymmel the Humming Hymnal went places I was not expecting.
Fiona
Obedience isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, my parents enforced rules, but did not create them, they were not telling me what to do, just making sure I did what we agreed upon.
Nono
Meanwhile, Sarah is exchanging a look with Dorothy, twiddling their thumbs in awkwardness.
Loki
This is darkness.
BBCC
She’s far surpassed you, Toedad. You wouldn’t know morality if it drop kicked you.
And oh dear, Amber.
Regalli
And oh, how I hope it DOES drop kick him. In one of several possible forms.
(Realistically, GOD I want the police in there, but since all the kids left now are also spares with the POSSIBLE exception of Joyce to Toedad, I will settle for avenging angels.)
Jon Rich
Why would them being “spares” to Toedad mean that Amber wouldn’t or shouldn’t bring the police? She should *absolutely* bring the police.
DSL
Haven’t you noticed by now the Duly Constituted Authorities (TM) in DoA-land range from absent through ineffectual to malevolent?
A Fan
Yes absolutely the DoA authorities are absent. We ask not because I think we really expect different, but because it is a rather overdrawn trope already. Given the generally approachable human drama Willis reliably provides within the absurd construct of the DoA universe, I believe he has the skill and am hoping he has the will to give us a better than cliché story.
Regalli
Because by ‘spares’ I mean ‘completely expendable.’ Blaine has no reason to keep any of them alive because he doesn’t give a shit, and Ross has long since demonstrated he has no compunctions about killing – or dying in a police shootout – in the name of Saving Becky’s Soul. (‘I will die for you, Becky’ very much worries me.)
The ONLY value the hostages have right now to Blaine and Ross (with, again, the possible exception of Joyce) is to keep AG in line. The only things they want are Becky (Ross), vengeance on AG, and a way out of financially supporting Amber (Blaine). We’re already wondering how the fuck Blaine thinks he can get away with taking six hostages and working with Ross and considering ‘he’s already actively plotting murder’ as a solution.
Which means there’s a decent chance Amber doesn’t go to the police because she’s coming to the same conclusion I have – the MOMENT they see authorities, it’s very possible one or both of their captors decide to start cutting their losses/provoking the police to go out in a blaze.
Agemegos
The hostages won’t suddenly acquire a value when the bad dads get what they want. You have identified a problem, but avoiding the police is not a solution to it.
Sombrero
She should absolutely bring Linda Walkerton. Taking her favourite son was a terrible mistake that they will pay dearly.
Some1
James 2:19
Lee
HA. Good choice.
Yumi
The only Bible verse I can refer to that way and know what I’m talking about is Ezekiel 23:20.
Doesn’t really come in handy much.
Chaucer59
II Corinthians 5:21 Prove all things. Hold fast to that which is good.
Yumi
Despite knowing of 1 Corinthians throughout my life, largely because of the verses read at weddings, my reaction on reading this comment was, “There’s a second Corinthians???”
In my mind it was just one of those church things I wasn’t meant to understand, I guess.
Jamie
I happen to rather like 1 John 4:16.
Not John. 1 John. Not 3:16. 4:16. I just like how much of an intellectual middle finger the notation itself is. And also I like 1 John 4:16-18 for the message, too.
drs
Judges 1:19. The LORD is powerless against iron.
Matthew 27:52-53. The zombie invasion of Jerusalem.
Rose by Any Other Name
Judges 15:16
“With an ass’s jawbone, I have killed a thousand men.”
Thank you SAO Abridged for that gem.
Jeff K!
There’s a Pinky and the Brain episode where they’re pets of Samson, and the scriptwriters worked in the phrase “jawbone of an ass” like 15 times because they could get away with it.
AntJ
Willis’ Twitter bio references Acts 10:13 which is pretty great out of context
Carms
Kings2:22. Then two great she bears cane down from the mountain and ripped and tore them every one
Its the only one i know :p
chris2315
Wasn’t that the one where God summoned bears to maul dozens of kids because they made fun of a bald guy? That’s my favorite episode!
Keulen
I particularly like Matthew 6:5-6. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Needfuldoer
Halen 51:50
Ah, there’s still some fight in me
That’s how it’ll always be
Hold your head up high, look ’em in the eye
Never say die
Needfuldoer
I have absolutely no idea about scripture, have a pop culture reference instead.
(Yes I know that’s not the right song, but it’s the right album and it fits so there.)
Everon
Joyce’s speech is a masterpiece.
Yumi
Read this, thought “Ross fucking sucks,” had a flashback to watching Friends.
DailyBrad
God, I pity David Schwimmer. There’s a reason he went out of his way to find parts as unlike Ross as he could in films.
Nono
Not really limited to him, though. Both Zac Efron and Daniel Radcliffe pushed as hard as possible out of their most well-known roles and their characters were decently liked.
chris2315
When you get to the point of accepting a role as a farting corpse, I have to wonder if you’re doing okay.
Punaparta
When Daniel Radcliffe took on a role in Equus, a play known for involving a scene of male nudity, there were a lot of stupid jokes about “Harry Potter showing his wand”.
Agemegos
I was really impressed that he took the part he did in Band of Brothers. He can’t have needed the cheque, and you don’t play a contemptible loser like Sobel to puff your ego.
BarerMender
I don’t have any acting experience, but I gather actors like playing heavies.
Agemegos
Yeah, but Sobel isn’t a heavy. He’s a petty tyrant, but weak, and he goes to pieces on field exercises. And Schwimmer did a really good job of portraying him.
timemonkey
He and God are on a break.
Harvey Janus
I don’t think letting Amber go will work out for the Toe, wrt Blaine. Buuuuuut in the end, none of this is going to work out for anyone.
Mada
Joyce is going to have the most awkward conversation with her mom after this.
“So that guy you bailed out of prison kidnapped me and my friends and locked us in a basement while his accomplice threatened to murder us all…”
timemonkey
She’d probably just blame it all on Becky.
Reaver
‘THAT WAS JUST HIM TRYING TO SAVE YOU JOYCE, UGH COLLEGE HAS REALLY MADE YOU WORLDLY, Now brb I need to bail him out of prison again”
DailyBrad
Oh, Carol is going to get the *shit* rebuked out of her.
Honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the Browns go into the process of a divorce by the end of this.
Agemegos
I wonder how much out of the Browns’ joint account and business into a bond that I think is going to be forfeited.
Needfuldoer
As I understand it, everyone on a joint account has to be in agreement before a large amount can be taken out.
Stanistani
I’ve seen one case where a signature was forged. If you feel you’re doing right, all sorts of crimes happen.
Agemegos
It varies. You can give the bank instructions about who or what combination of account-holders are allowed to control the funds.
I have a joint account with my sister that we use as a sinking fund for certain expenses. Either of us can withdraw or transfer funds. We can do it over the Internet.
Regalli
I think this just moved up my ‘shit hits the fan at Thanksgiving’ prediction to ‘Joyce and Jocelyne tell Thanksgiving to go fuck itself because there’s no universe where Joyce DOESN’T rage against everything for this IMMEDIATELY and Jocelyne’s definitely going to accelerate her own timeline of probable/possible disownment after this one.’ (Unless she doubles down on the closet, also a possibility.)
AntJ
There’s definitely been setup for Jocelyne coming out to her family https://www.dumbingofage.com/2019/comic/book-9-comic/03-sometimes-the-sky-was-so-far-away/removed-2/
Matthew E Davis
I think if her little sister was taking both barrels from the folks she’d step up to the plate. She did with the eldest, there, and that wasn’t nearly “your belief system got me kidnapped” level of crazy.
Regalli
Yeah, my only doubt is if she thinks Carol will react to the coming out in the specific flavor of badness Ross has, but I think she’s more likely to burn bridges if she did already for Jordan.
Needfuldoer
How about Joyce and Hank have Thanksgiving at Jocelyne’s, even if it’s just Swanson TV dinners.
adam Black
She would just deny it, or imply it was not a big concern.
like she did the first time.
She needs to be arrested as an acconmplice
Agemegos
Ross may have lost interest in furthering Blaine’s part of the plan, in which case all the worse for Blaine if he brings push to shove. Blaine is in no shape to endure the amount of pushback Ross is able to give.
adam Black
Ross is carrying out Blaines plan , getting Amazigirl to bring Becky
Agemegos
Yeah, that’s because he actually wants Becky.
Blaine wants Amber traumatised and Amazi-Girl hurt (maimed or killed, I think). Ross may be at the point of pursuing his own agenda and letting Blaine’s goals fail.
Even if Joyce convinces Ross that Blaine is no instrument of God, Blaine is still going to want Becky.
Ron again
They did discuss their goals. They both would want their daughters back. This is really stretching the terms of their pact. “yeah I let your daughter go to fetch mine. That was your plan, right?”
Keulen
I’m assuming Ross actually thinks Amazi-Girl will bring Becky to him. I’m also assuming he’s completely wrong to think that.
Mada
Why is it, right as I clicked to this strip, Nightwish’s “Weak Fantasy” started playing?
auroki