The December 15th deadline applies to Octopus Pie books as well! Past that point I can't guarantee you'll have one in time. So get 'em while you can! #420 – nothing is going to be awesome
The December 15th deadline applies to Octopus Pie books as well! Past that point I can't guarantee you'll have one in time. So get 'em while you can!
86 thoughts on “#420 – nothing is going to be awesome”
Sarah
Quote of my life…
Kevina
🙁 I wanted punchlines, but I guess this works too 🙁
Macks
the punchline is SADNESS.
jcrunch
hahahahahahahaha
your comment was my punchline :]
skwidmonster
"Punched By Sadness" sounds like an AWESOME emo parody band.
"I got punched by sadness
when you broke my heart
now i gotta scream
RAAAAAAHHHH"
Jon
I'm glad there was no punchline. Sometimes, a story needs to be a story, that's what I read for.
If everything was punchlines this would be QC and to be honest, I feel like the story is stronger than QC's for the lack of punchlines. Loved it. Thanks.
Kevina
Haha, I'm also taking Mack's comment as the punchline. I love this strip, and I love that it's not always punchlines! I was just foreseeing one for whatever reason and them bam! sadness.
StJason
Thank god.
And here I thought I was the only one who found people trying to cheer me up insufferably annoying.
Fish
Agreed
Brian
Likewise, Its good to have friends that want to cheer you up, but sometimes you just need some alone time.
Carl-E
But Marigold, you have FRIENNNNNDDDSSSSSS!!!
So good luck with that whole "left alone" thng.
Fnord
Friends do not let friends go to sleep ever.
dood
I feel like there needs to be a Hanna special immediately after this arc to belatedly commemorate comic #420.
KH
You know, that was exactly the same thought that I had. #420 should belong to Hanna.
StephenM3
When you have sadness badly enough, nobody has sadness but you.
Bryy
Marigold just Grey's Anatomy'd them both. And I only know that because I watch Grey's Anatomy on Hulu.
wykstrad
I agree with Eve- Mets vs. Jets would be awesome. I also love that she's shocked to hear how she "just shakes her problems off"
Inara
That was my reaction, too – especially since I sort of saw Eve as going along with this whole 'cheering Marigold up' thing precisely because she can't shake off everything with Will.
Mark G.
TOBY
The Jets and the Mets?
C.J.
I know the teams. I'm joking when I do this. I'm joking when I do this.
Nelg
"Octopus Pie comic #420 wasn’t what you were expecting, was it?"
You can do a special comic later on :3
DaveO
Pwew. I felt this comic. I can't say why. But I know that if I were left alone, problems I'd have would just get worse. Maybe in Marigold's eyes, Eve and Hanna are being worse than distracting?
CLR
Thank you, Meredith, for puttin' words on things.
PersonalGenius
I'll take "That Which Can Not Be Unsaid" for a thousand, Alex.
dottianne
Ooh. Eve in the fourth panel.
Marigold was never one of my favourite characters, but I guess she's alright.
Bok
Eve's reaction is spot on, of course.
"What?"
Rufus
Apparently Marigold doesn't know Eve like, at all.
AlmostLiterally
Sad Hanna in panel five followed by shaky sad Marigold in panel six is heartbreaking.
Andrew
Well, hey, good for Mar. Didn't expect that from her.
AlmostLiterally
Also, I've had stuff said to me that is almost exactly like what Marigold said to Hanna, and quite frankly, it pisses me off. I get that Marigold is at an all time low, but that is no excuse to pretend that others have no problems whatsoever. Some people are just better at hiding it.
However, since this -is- Hanna, and what she and Eve were trying to do wasn't that thoughtful (even though the intentions were good), I've got to give Marigold some credit.
KB
Marigold's reaction is the one thing I find so realistic and appealing about her character, especially going back to the story arc of her trailing Will's "shady, outsider, drug dealin'" lifestyle. I totally agree with you! She looks at the great things in everyone else's life, what she envies, what she wishes she had and has blinders on to their problems because she's so wrapped up in her own. But who isn't guilty of that from time to time?
We all see little pieces of ourselves in these characters, but Marigold I can relate to in my most vulnerable and soul-searching. I've been where she's been. Longed to be part of a group that I thought was "cool" even if I didn't believe in the collective beliefs. Been through the kind of break-up where the relationship was one-sided and couldn't admit it *to* myself. Done the haircut, done the friend distractions, but really it was the moments of wallowing that clarity was found. Sometimes in that kind of heartbreak, you have to get so low before you decide "*I* deserve better. *I* want to be a better person. It's time to stand the fuck *up*."
I'm looking forward to how the character grows from this, because this kind of development is what keeps me coming back to Octopus Pie. The drama is interesting, but what they learn (or don't learn) and what happens as a result of that road bump.
Sorry AlmostLiterally, didn't mean to ramble.
AlmostLiterally
No, it was very interesting! I agree, the character development is absolutely brilliant.
Higgy
Ugh, this makes me like Mer a less and I already didnt like her. Oh boo hoo you got dumped, it happens. You didnt live with him, have kids with him, were even engaged to him he was just some guy you were dating. I can't even recall them exchanging "I love you's"
DavidMcG
You mean Mar! Mer is the one who drew the comic!
Higgy
Whoops! That among many many other typos I made. Buuut I looked through the other posts and I'm not the only one who made that error :]
damien walder
The collective impatience with Marigold's situation seems an indication that perhaps a) lots of us can relate and it's not pleasant or b)quite a few of us might not be very supportive of friends in 'real' life.
I really hope it's the former.
For fiction, this is a pretty true situation – tip o'the hat to Mer/Mar!
pouly
huh. if this was RL, i might be a bit frustrated with mar for being so self absorbed when her pals are just trying to be good friends, and for ignoring the fact that everybody has their own internal struggles. but since its a fictional story, and she's only a minor character, she's right. eve and hanna are the main characters, of COURSE they're gonna end up more interesting, and probably more fulfilled and satisfied. sucks to be a sideliner.
Luke
…you haven't been through many harsh break-ups, have you?
MerchManDan
Lots of people here haven't, it seems.
hal stern
in the mets vs the jets, who would drop more balls? hard to say
Jason
Don't be silly. You don't drop balls in a hockey game.
Orion Moony
I would pay good money to see them try skating, oh yes. That would be the awesomest sporting event ever.
NextChamp
…..Merry Christmas?
Carlos
I would be frustrated with Marigold, in real life but thing is, I would be considerate and not say anything-probably an eye roll, would happen however- and while I understand where she is coming from, that be no excuse to yell. being at wits end is no excuse sometimes, but understandable however criticizing how to deal with problems, is a little bit line crossing. which is something we learn.
Andrew
I don't think Mer is being inconsiderate, and calling her self-absorbed is sort of silly considering the circumstances. If anything, you can accuse Eve and Hannah of that, since neither of them once asked Mer what she needed and what they could do to help her. Instead they presumed to know what she "needed" to feel better and to get through the break-up with Will. In point of fact, they never once asked her what she needed or wanted– they just dragged her off to Times Square. (Alternately, Mer never told either of them what she needed, apart from a hair cut, but I'd argue that the greater failing lies with Eve and Hannah.)
No one cares about what Mer needs to have in order to get by, much less get better. This seems kind of natural since Hannah tends to think she knows what's best for everyone. She and Eve have good intentions but they're absolutely deserving of a tongue-lashing from Mer; for all of their goodwill, they're not being particularly charitable or compassionate.
KB
Perhaps they are dealing with their own guilt re: Will by overwhelming her with this attention? :/
Andrew
Oh, absolutely. Hannah feels guilty for setting them up in the first place. Eve feels guilty over her own feelings for Will. Both of them, in indulging and addressing their own remorse, ignore Mar's feelings.
They genuinely think they're doing the right thing but they're not.
Bob
What Marigold wants is friends to whom she can say that she wants to be alone.
Bryy
YES.
Sara
why is Chicago a guilty pleasure?! i saw them on someone's GP list recently, and now it's here!
Rufus
Maybe you should… listen to Chicago? You would understand why they are a guilty pleasure. [Their first album was good. I said it.]
Jbo
Wow, I've got to say this is one of the best web comics I've read in a while. Really original and fun characters. I sat down and read all the way up this weekend. Awesome comic and great job not to have a 420 comic, wouldve been awesome but I like how you kept the current arc going.
Danny
I would pay so much money to see the Mets vs. the Jets.
SO MUCH MONEY.
That said, the faces here really make the comic. So expressive! Reading it, you really get how overwhelmed Marigold feels right now.
Marshall
Poor Mar, needs to go to one of those parlors where you can break things for cash.
ohnotheradio
Oh man, I need to go to one of those and I'm not even upset about anything…!
Greg
Dear Ms Gran, i have just read through all of Octopus pie in one sitting. Let us celebrate your wonderful work and my complete lack of a social life. Thank you for fantastic comic
Sela
Eve is being a little self-serving, imo. She's using this situation to diffuse and avoid her own overwhelming sense of guilt. She's not really thinking about Marigold, I don't think. Been there (ouch, I know.)
While it isn't excusable behavior on Marigold's part, it's understandable. Breakups are hard. I'd give her a little bit of a break. I'm not a Marigold fan from what I've seen, but I can empathize.
Sagfish
awww nothing special on the 420th comic 🙁
Kiersi
Aaaand Marigold takes the prize again as my least favorite character. I would never get along with somebody like that in real life. Can we please focus on someone else now? Like Will?
Narf
Just in case no one else decides to say it, that's an awful attitude to take with someone else's story. Let the woman tell it – if you hate part of it, don't read it.
Heidi
Mixing the Sinner (Eve), the Savior (Hanna), and the Spurned (Marigold), will never leave a good taste in anyone's mouth.
I'll actually throw a bone in Marigold's court in this case: yes, she is a "D to the r to the a-m -a" Queen in this case, she is in genuine pain (if she weren't, she would deliberately be pulling a pity party for herself).
jenna
Poor Mari. She needs to grow up a bit and get her act together, but I totally empathize. Been there at an earlier life stage (when I was about her age. Now I'm ancient and I know better).
She is in genuine pain, she is admitting how vulnerable she feels – and I'm with her on that, having worried about how pretty I am (not), where I am (not) going in life and all that.
I refuse to jump all over her for feeling this way – and I am surprised that so many commenters are doing so. It's common at that age, it's human, and it happens to the best of us. Sure, she's being a bit blind to the problems of others (Hanna never seems to have any – but Will, Eve and everyone else?) but I do like how she says at the end that she wants neither pity nor validation. I think that shows a growing inner strength that I'd like to see more of in Mari.
Heidi
It's really not just this. Marigold has managed to be very annoying on more than one occasion. To be honest, I think most people who are annoyed with Marigold are actually being a little more sympathetic to her than usual.
jenna
Not everyone's opinion that she's been annoying in the past. I don't share her taste in movies and I find her to be a smidge vapid, but not annoying. I'd look at her kind-of-not-too-mature nature and think "meh, so? We've all got flaws and she may grow out of it".
If I were to choose a least favorite character, it'd be Olly. Honestly.
NextChamp
I just noticed the Mets vs Jets line.
In that game, nobody wins.
Brian
This comic actually reminded me a little bit of myself. I had just gone through a rough break up after 3 years, and my friends were trying to cheer me up by distracting me with as many group activities as possible. I remember just feeling sick, like I wasn't allowed to feel sad about it when I was hanging out with them, and I would leave early to go home, because honestly I think it made me feel worse.
I don't think she's being selfish – she could have not exploded on them, but sometimes feeling alone in a crowd of happy people can feel worse than just being alone.
Rufus
There are few things worse than feeling alone in a crowd of friends, especially when they're trying to change how you feel.
ANeM
Mets Vs Jets
Round one: Baseball
Round two: Football
Tiebreaker Round: Twister.
Scooter
She needs some Victor in her life…
Sarah
We all need a little Victor in our lives.
soo
again – hats off to you meredith. Absolutely brilliant storytelling that mixes familiarity and emotional depth with absurdist, deadpan humour and surreal comedy.
AlmostLiterally
Scooter – Ahah! You're onto something!
Wow at the strong reactions against Marigold here. I've said before that I agree she is reacting poorly, and what she said to Eve and Hanna was blind and insulting, but she had to say something pretty strong to get through to them that she doesn't want their pity. She's genuinely hurt. I've never been a Marigold fan, but I still feel sorry for her here.
Really, she just needs to give up knitting.