Gunnerkrigg Court 3: Mystery Solved!

[Psychonaut]

Yeah, well, that's Jones. She's just an advisor. The rest of the Court decided Andrew was better for their purposes.

Also, it could be that Jones/the Court reconsidered after Annie's most recent forest escapade, given that it occurred after Jones made her recommendation.

[Giggling Ghast]

There's some supernatural craziness at work here.

Is Coyote overwriting reality somehow?

[Glass Mouse]

There's some supernatural craziness at work here.

Is Coyote overwriting reality somehow?

Very possible. Or he only reacted in the second-to-last panel. We've seen him freeze time before.

[SlyGuyMcFly]

My prediction is that somehow, someway, Tom will manage to leave this a cliffhanger until Monday. I don't know how he will do that, but this setup suggests we should get an answer Friday. But from my reading of the comic, I think Tom is allergic to solving ANY mystery on a Friday. So somehow he will make this cliffhanger last till Monday, even, or perhaps especially because he has setup a situation which suggests the answer would be in the next strip.

It's a very common ailment among webcomic authors. Friday Cliffhanger Syndrome, I think it's called.

[Othniel Edden]

Or maybe they just didn't hear Smitty's name.

[fwiffo]

Usual setup with these type of situations is that one person mishears, or hears what he wants to hear, and then makes a fool of himself acting as if he was chosen when he is not. Tom, of course, being a writer that he is, would have none of it.

Still, the original point that was made by several people stands. How can they all mishear? It is not like "Andrew Smith" sounds anything similar to "Antimony Carver".

Or did they all mishear? Take a look at the last panel. It is virtually identical to panel five, except that Reynardine is smiling. It is never a good sign when Reynardine finds something amusing. I bet he knows what is going on, and I am leaning to agreeing that very likely Coyote is messing with the process. We know Coyote would it rather be Annie than anyone else.

[Qwertystop]

Usual setup with these type of situations is that one person mishears, or hears what he wants to hear, and then makes a fool of himself acting as if he was chosen when he is not. Tom, of course, being a writer that he is, would have none of it.

Still, the original point that was made by several people stands. How can they all mishear? It is not like "Andrew Smith" sounds anything similar to "Antimony Carver".

Or did they all mishear? Take a look at the last panel. It is virtually identical to panel five, except that Reynardine is smiling. It is never a good sign when Reynardine finds something amusing. I bet he knows what is going on, and I am leaning to agreeing that very likely Coyote is messing with the process. We know Coyote would it rather be Annie than anyone else.

That's not a smile. That's his chin.

[Coidzor]

He looks rather confused to me, I must admit.

[Othniel Edden]

I mean they literally didn't hear Smitty's name. Reynard did.

[Glass Mouse]

That's not a smile. That's his chin.

Ohmygosh I can't unsee it now! He looks so cute!

[SlyGuyMcFly]

Ohmygosh I can't unsee it now! He looks so cute!

Can't unsee it now either. And the shading makes his fur look like a beard

[Imgran]

OK, we know Jones recommended a female, which is not Smitty. So the Court is for reasons of their own ignoring both Jones's recommendation and Annie's obvious talent and going in favor of perhaps the less talented but far more predictable Smitty. Easy enough to see why.

[John Cribati]

OK, we know Jones recommended a female, which is not Smitty. So the Court is for reasons of their own ignoring both Jones's recommendation and Annie's obvious talent and going in favor of perhaps the less talented but far more predictable Smitty. Easy enough to see why.

Because Annie has shown obvious favoritism to the forest over the court, and as such cannot be a reliable medium between the two?

[The_Final_Stand]

In retrospect, it's obvious Smitty would be the medium. I mean look at them. Parley's the tall, and Annie's the short. Therefore, Andrew is the medium.

[John Cribati]

In retrospect, it's obvious Smitty would be the medium. I mean look at them. Parley's the tall, and Annie's the short. Therefore, Andrew is the medium.

[mystic1110]

OK, we know Jones recommended a female, which is not Smitty. So the Court is for reasons of their own ignoring both Jones's recommendation and Annie's obvious talent and going in favor of perhaps the less talented but far more predictable Smitty. Easy enough to see why.

Wouldn't Smitty's special ability make him the perfect Medium/Mediator?

[Marnath]

Wouldn't Smitty's special ability make him the perfect Medium/Mediator?

Either that or he'd be the worst choice. Introducing a guy whose power is to create order to a God who basically embodies chaos might potentially be like introducing anti-matter and matter.

[slayerx]

Because Annie has shown obvious favoritism to the forest over the court, and as such cannot be a reliable medium between the two?

Not only that, but annie has been proven to be most unruly. She constantly ignores the court's rules and just does whatever she feels like; in a way it makes her rather undisciplined. Heck and when it comes down to it she hasn't been taking her trips to the forest very seriously. So the Court has a few reasons to overlook her in favor of someone else.

Smitty may not have annie's charisma when dealing with those of the forest, but he is much more stable and his abilities can serve the court well when trying to maintain order between the forest and the court.

[ThirdEmperor]

Because Annie has shown obvious favoritism to the forest over the court, and as such cannot be a reliable medium between the two?

And because she treats both the court and the forest with complete disrespect?

And because Smitty would actually make kind of an awesome negotiator, once he's learned to not get all freaked out by the supernatural? Negotiators are people who can keep their heads cool, examine a situation from all angles and, most of all, maintain an emotional detachment.

For all Annie acts aloof, she's clearly shown herself unable to do any of those, especially the last. Seeing as Smitty possesses the drat awesome power of ORDER, he's perfect for the job.

[eee]

None of this is good. Especially not Annie's reaction.

And the 'Furthermore' suggests things are going to get worse.

[fergo]

Not only that, but annie has been proven to be most unruly. She constantly ignores the court's rules and just does whatever she feels like; in a way it makes her rather undisciplined. Heck and when it comes down to it she hasn't been taking her trips to the forest very seriously. So the Court has a few reasons to overlook her in favor of someone else.

Smitty may not have annie's charisma when dealing with those of the forest, but he is much more stable and his abilities can serve the court well when trying to maintain order between the forest and the court.

This. From what we've seen, Annie would make a pretty awful Medium. Sure, a lot of her flaws can be excused because of her age and personal circumstances, but that doesn't change the fact that the Court needs someone reliable and steady-headed right now.

That said, I can't help but feel that the [suit-guy... Head Master?] has his own agenda here, and it probably doesn't bode well for the future.

But I still say that Smitty is probably the best choice for the job, from what I've seen.

[sihnfahl]

That said, I can't help but feel that the [suit-guy... Head Master?] has his own agenda here, and it probably doesn't bode well for the future.

Well, everyone has their own agenda. However, given the Court's shown to be very focused on protocol and their voting, I'm leaning towards this is a Court decision, not a Headmaster agenda.

[fergo]

But Kat's parents and Eglamore looked shocked. Presumably they'd have a say in the Court's decision-making process--if there was a vote, surely they'd know the result; if there was some other way of choosing, surely they'd at least suspect something was going on.

But no, they all look shocked.

Jones made a suggestion, and we can assume to [suit guy] personally. Surely she would have phrased her words differently is she made a statement to the decision-making members of the Court as a whole.

[BRC]

I don't think Smitty's power is actually relevant for Mediation. It seems to influence probability, not an individual's opinion. Personality wise, he's somewhat spineless, making him a poor choice. He's not the best guy to stop a fight from breaking out, but if it does, all the punches land in statistically even locations.

[Imgran]

I don't think Smitty's power is actually relevant for Mediation. It seems to influence probability, not an individual's opinion. Personality wise, he's somewhat spineless, making him a poor choice. He's not the best guy to stop a fight from breaking out, but if it does, all the punches land in statistically even locations.

Yeah, I agree to an extent. Smitty is a distinctly type B personality, and when the fat hits the fire that can be a problem. And there's the Parley factor to consider as well. Smitty is fairly levelheaded. Parley is NOT.

[fergo]

I don't know guys.

Smitty isn't as forward or agressive as either of the girls, but I don't think that necessarily makes him 'type b'--at least to such an extent he wouldn't be able to be a god Medium.

Smitty is perfectly happy letting George be the dominant one in their relationship because it makes them both happy--it's what result he wants, and he chooses to take the back seat because that's what George wants.

That sort of attitude could be extremely useful as a mediator between the Court and the Forest. I don't think we can assume he'll be a push-over, or will be especially easy to manipulate by one party or the other;* I think that we've seen various personality traits that actually make him suitable for the role.

* I think this is going to happen anyway, but would probably happen to anyone in the role--especially someone of their age. The Court has its own agendas, its own secrets, and lots of experience in going about them by less-than straightforward ways. And Coyotee is literally a being that has spent millenia manipulating and tricking others.

[PhantomFox]

That 'Furthermore' concerns me. Why do I get the sinking feeling Annie might be punished rather severely, or even banished?

[Somebloke]

Either that or he'd be the worst choice. Introducing a guy whose power is to create order to a God who basically embodies chaos might potentially be like introducing anti-matter and matter.

At the very least, he'll drive Cyote mad with his sheer dullness and ability to cut through complex situations.

Hey, maybe he's been selected as a punishment?

[BRC]

I don't know guys.

Smitty isn't as forward or agressive as either of the girls, but I don't think that necessarily makes him 'type b'--at least to such an extent he wouldn't be able to be a god Medium.

Smitty is perfectly happy letting George be the dominant one in their relationship because it makes them both happy--it's what result he wants, and he chooses to take the back seat because that's what George wants.

That sort of attitude could be extremely useful as a mediator between the Court and the Forest. I don't think we can assume he'll be a push-over, or will be especially easy to manipulate by one party or the other;* I think that we've seen various personality traits that actually make him suitable for the role.

Except, you have to remember the Forest Creatures are not Human. They bare their teeth and growl at each other, for them posturing is not the action of an insecure bully, it's how one establishes one's strength at the negotiating table.
It's not about being manipulated, it's about not being respected. If you don't walk in like you're ready to kick somebody's ass, then nobody will listen to you.

An Ideal Medium needs to be tough enough to make everybody listen to them, without offending anybody.

[fwiffo]

Are any of them good choice? Medium is kind of like ambassador - they have to represent the place they are from, but have good understanding and ability to work with the country or culture they are sent to. Has there been any indication that either Parley or Smitty have skills to relate to the forest?

Annie can relate to forest, and on that merit she qualifies; it is likely that Jones recommendation was based on that. That said, her ability to represent the court is marred by being a loose cannon. She might be too forest focused to be a good medium.

Medium committee? Appoint all 3 of them?