El Goonish Shive

[Grey_Wolf_c]

I gotta say, I will be extremely shocked if it isn't a sketch, because I never even considered the possibility of anything else. Even coming to this thread, all the other ideas seem very farfetched. I don't even remember EGS having any dreams that weren't immediately obvious as a dream sequence.

Don't dreams in EGS usually have rounded corners? I think Dan said as much in one of the commentaries.

GW

[Landis963]

Don't dreams in EGS usually have rounded corners? I think Dan said as much in one of the commentaries.

GW

A sketch, put on as a joke for the review. Only true in the reality of the review. We'll see.

[The Rose Dragon]

Don't dreams in EGS usually have rounded corners? I think Dan said as much in one of the commentaries.

GW

Usually, but not always.

Still, even then, it was fairly obvious what was going on.

[Douglas]

Yeah, this is almost certainly a staged scene planned in advance for the review show. The question is, are they going to show Sarah throwing (possibly photoshopped) couches?

[Weimann]

So they've gotten tired of reviews and are trying a cage-fight concept?

Yeah, I agree. I think this is staged. Going back, it really was pretty much as mutual as it could have possibly been.

On a tangent, it was also a pretty damn good segment.

[Beelzebub1111]

I'm thinking that it's a dream sequence that Susan's having. About her conflict between her attraction to Elliot and wanting to believe that it was mutual and there are no hard feelings (Look at her face in Panel 4), and her Loyalty to Sarah.

That, and there is no date given, framing when this scene takes place. We usually get one of those at the beginning of an arc. Unless it's a dream arc (See Power Fantasy)

[Whispri]

I'm pretty sure it's a dream. The commentary makes mention of 'an earlier dream sequence' for one thing.

[VeliciaL]

*reads latest comic*

Yeah... I'm going with dream sequence on this one...

[Silva Stormrage]

Yeah, this is almost certainly a staged scene planned in advance for the review show. The question is, are they going to show Sarah throwing (possibly photoshopped) couches?

Spoiler

Show

Apparently yes. Yes they are. Good guess

[Lord Raziere]

Actually I think its a real show, its just they are playing it for laughs. Its what I'd expect Nostalgia Critic to do, and their show is based on it.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Actually I think its a real show, its just they are playing it for laughs. Its what I'd expect Nostalgia Critic to do, and their show is based on it.

Agreed. In a dream, Sarah would not have a problem lifting and throwing the couch. Here, she seems to be acting, and someone did indeed photoshop it in.

Whomever guessed that earlier, well done.

GW

[Mando Knight]

Actually I think its a real show, its just they are playing it for laughs. Its what I'd expect Nostalgia Critic to do, and their show is based on it.

Agreed. In a dream, Sarah would not have a problem lifting and throwing the couch. Here, she seems to be acting, and someone did indeed photoshop it in.

Whomever guessed that earlier, well done.

GW

According to the commentary:

I found panel five a little bit difficult to stage until I remembered that a) Sarah isn't actually throwing anything and b) it's SUPPOSED to look cheesy and bad. That made matters rather simple.

Which pretty much confirms that it's supposed to be part of the show.

[Radar]

And we have an in-comics confirmation, that it was just a show.

In other news:

Spoiler

Show

Grace makes me nervous. It's as if in a movie we got a scene in the silent inner workings of a gas pumping station, smooth shot of a corridor filled with pipes or whatever going into a close-up on a hidden package with a single bliping red LED accompanied by high tone beeps.

[The Rose Dragon]

Elliot, you are scaring me. You are far too happy - much happier than this situation merits.

Now you need to channel that happiness into something productive, like dating Susan.

[HairyGuy4]

Elliot, you are scaring me. You are far too happy - much happier than this situation merits.

Now you need to channel that happiness into something productive, like dating Susan.

It's not going to happen. Both are overly worried about offending Sarah, and neither would have a clue how to even initiate that. Meanwhile Diane is a nice substitute for Elliot, and she already has her sights on him. I wager Elliot dating Diane, even if briefly, and Susan then feeling jealousy is the only way it's ever going to happen.

[Silva Stormrage]

It's not going to happen. Both are overly worried about offending Sarah, and neither would have a clue how to even initiate that. Meanwhile Diane is a nice substitute for Elliot, and she already has her sights on him. I wager Elliot dating Diane, even if briefly, and Susan then feeling jealousy is the only way it's ever going to happen.

Considering that when Sarah talked to Nanase she was 100% fine with letting Susan date Elliot its not impossible that Sarah could simply say, "Sure go date Susan I am not offended at all by it". That probably would be enough.

Though ya I agree that there will probably be a bit of Diane vs Susan both competing for Elliot.

[HairyGuy4]

Right. Sarah would be fine with it. But both of them openly assume it wouldn't be cool.

[Silva Stormrage]

Right. Sarah would be fine with it. But both of them openly assume it wouldn't be cool.

Ya but multiple people know that they like each other, (Justin for Susan and Ellen and Tedd (Maybe Grace as well) for Elliot) and Nanase knows that Sarah would be fine with it. With that many people its not inconceivable it would be brought up in some form or another.

[Yuki Akuma]

They are teenagers.

Awkwardness is the default.

[Lord Raziere]

0_o

what the…

two Dianes!?!

the person who is after Elliot is separate from Diane?

I'm confused.

[VeliciaL]

Wait, what...

Although I have to agree with Diane here. Elliot, you sweet summer child...

[John Cribati]

0_o

what the…

two Dianes!?!

the person who is after Elliot is separate from Diane?

I'm confused.

I’m not. Seeing as previous-panel-person was watching from a big screen and Diane was watching from her phone.

[VeliciaL]

I’m not. Seeing as previous-panel-person was watching from a big screen and Diane was watching from her phone.

Well that just clarifies everything, doesn't it?

[John Cribati]

Well that just clarifies everything, doesn't it?

Yes. Because we're all to assume that these people are reacting to watching the video for the first time. So if it's Diane is in the last panel watching it on her phone with rounded corners, then it can't be her in the previous panel watching it on a bigger screen with angular corners.

[Friv]

0_o

what the…

two Dianes!?!

the person who is after Elliot is separate from Diane?

I'm confused.

I'm 80% sure that the person silhouetted in Panel 5 is actually talking about making a move on Susan, rather than on Elliot. Could be wrong, to be sure, but that's my hunch.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

I'm 80% sure that the person silhouetted in Panel 5 is actually talking about making a move on Susan, rather than on Elliot. Could be wrong, to be sure, but that's my hunch.

I concur.

GW

[Weimann]

I'm 80% sure that the person silhouetted in Panel 5 is actually talking about making a move on Susan, rather than on Elliot. Could be wrong, to be sure, but that's my hunch.

Thing is, Susan has been single for ages and ages (has she ever even had a partner?). If this person was advancing on Susan, why had they not done it at any time before? I mean, if they were that interested, they'd not wait their chance out in that manner.

Bear with me now, as I explain my harebrained ruminations.

Note how the skull of the silhouette in panel five is round and smooth. This could mean that 1) the character is wearing a beanie or other tight, smooth head garment, or 2) the character is bald. I can't be entirely sure, but since they're indoors, I'll go with the baldness option.

The same baldness suggests this is a man. The most common type of baldness, male pattern baldness, is much more common in males (hence the name).

If this is a man, and we assume that the reasoning about Susan above holds, then there are two further options, namely 1) that he is gay, interested in Elliot and so smokingly hot that he counts on Elliot being as well once he's done (highly unlikely) or 2) that his interest in Elliot and Susan has nothing at all to do with his own involvement, but is a reaction to something that will or is highly likely to happen once they get together. Presumably, something that relates to Susan. Maybe something that has to do with her trauma.

This is my hypothesis. Watch it burn.

Edit: Oh, and the girl in the third panel who is silently tsundere to herself is cute.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Thing is, Susan has been single for ages and ages (has she ever even had a partner?). If this person was advancing on Susan, why had they not done it at any time before? I mean, if they were that interested, they'd not wait their chance out in that manner.

Counter: because Susan is so scary, the fact that she had no chance to be with Elliot meant that boldy's "move" needn't happen just yet. Mr. Bold has been putting it off, because there is a decent chance he will not escape with all his limbs attached if he seriously offends Susan. But with Elliot back in the dating pool, he can't put it off any longer.

Also, I should say that male pattern baldness doesn't give you a completely bald head. I find it more likely this is a purposely shaven head, which many people can pull off.

Grey Wolf

[Weimann]

Counter: because Susan is so scary, the fact that she had no chance to be with Elliot meant that boldy's "move" needn't happen just yet. Mr. Bold has been putting it off, because there is a decent chance he will not escape with all his limbs attached if he seriously offends Susan. But with Elliot back in the dating pool, he can't put it off any longer.

If this person judges the success of an encounter with Susan by the number of extremities they retain afterwards, I dare say they'd do well in rethinking the whole affair.

No, but honestly, though. I really think that no matter what this person is up to, they'll be competent at it. Otherwise they'd not have been hyped up with an ominous silhouette frame and all. The thought of them not making a move due to fear of rejection (or dismemberment) just makes me believe all the stronger that this has nothing to do with relationship jealousy at all. Particularly since Diane (and, it seems, the majority of the female specimen in the greater region) already has that angle covered.

Also, I should say that male pattern baldness doesn't give you a completely bald head. I find it more likely this is a purposely shaven head, which many people can pull off.

Grey Wolf

I'll concede that. I think there'd be stubble if it was a shaved head, though, but maybe the silhouette is just to stylized to bother with that.

Actually, when I think about it, it could also just be the same girl that's in panel four, I guess? She talks something about Eliott maybe having "realized" something, and it'd flow well into the next frame. Her screen has sharp edges, just like the shadow's, and her hair is kind of flat. The only thing is that you can see the shadow's ears, while hers are covered by her hair. I don't know, just struck me right now.

[VeliciaL]

I'm 80% sure that the person silhouetted in Panel 5 is actually talking about making a move on Susan, rather than on Elliot. Could be wrong, to be sure, but that's my hunch.

Now that I re-read it... I'm going to be surprised if that's not the case.