Annotated 50-15
The revelation that Frigg and E-Merl are sleeping together is cool and all. But I’m more interested in what that says about the people they’ve become. The closest thing Frigg had to a regular partner before this was Best, and that went away more or less because she liked it rough emotionally and he got all sensitive. E-Merl, a pile of obvious insecurities, was in need of the more nurturing type, so you can see why he latched onto Rachel. Frigg expressed some interest in him when he and Rachel hit a rough patch, but that never really went anywhere and may not have been healthy for either of them if it had.
Since Rachel’s demise, they’ve evolved toward each other. Frigg hasn’t outgrown all her roughness, but E-Merl’s gotten a taste for some of it. She’s capable of respecting a partner as she wasn’t before—and he’s her partner in education as well as the bedroom. He’s capable of respecting himself—and even pushing back, gently, at things like Frigg’s temper (as in panel 2). (Though it also reflects well on Frigg that she vows never to conscript anyone as she was once conscripted, despite the many other differences between her and Scarlett.) It perhaps helps E-Merl that Frigg is like Rachel but also very unlike Rachel. Their shared loss binds them further, and the pain of that loss has dulled as their school honors her wishes.
I am not sure E-Migg will last as long as Byr’Nj. When I try to imagine the far future for these two, I see branching paths. Frigg-with-anyone is a chancy ship, long-term. But even if it won’t last years and years, it’s making them happier, better people, helping them grow. With a new partner, you got to take it day by day sometimes, you know?
FB: That new coat’s padding is coming in handy.
I dunno, I always liked this little relationship revelation. I see it running for a long time, to the point that it would end in a civilized way. Even if it doesn’t last forever, their combination works great for this “school setting”.
And finally, I have fun wondering what would happen if they ended up having a child. Would they raise a “Rachel” by pure accident/chaotic energy? Would that break them up? I can see E-Merl being the kind of father that proudly hangs his children’s 3-year-old scribbles on the fridge, but I don’t remember where Frigg stands on parenting, if it was ever mentioned.
All I know, is that dad will have the master plan to make mom say yes, but ultimately, kid’s gonna have to ask her mom if she can go to the party and it’s her decision.
Lol! Definitely xD
I absolutely love how this unlikely paring ended together working so well. He’s grown enough to be confident and smart (not that he was ever dumb) to dance around Frigg’s explosiveness shown here and when the trainee like three pages ago set her off. And She’s grown enough to possibly value or respect him enough to let him in a few spots. In another time in our story she would’ve destroyed him verbally and physically. She’s tough, but her softness is showing a little more.
However she still has the power to get him flustered. LOL
I guess it all comes down to children. If Frigg chooses to have a little E-baby, then it’s much more likely she’ll stick with E-merl. I’m not having an easy time picturing her as a mother, but I AM having a much easier time picturing Frigg insisting on having kids as soon as someone points out to her how unlikely that sounds.
“whatcha mean bad-mum material? Imma be The best mothafukin mum of all times you shitstain, just WATCH.”
That also sounds like the kind of sentence that Frigg would come to regret, though never openly, of course.
Pretty sure that would lead to the child becoming attached to E-Merl a lot more than to Frigg. Emotionally predictable parents are muuch easier for children to deal with.
“despite the many other differences between her and Scarlett”
Did you mean ‘similarities’?
No, “differences.” Someone advising Frigg could say “Well, you’re NOT Scarlett, you’re not going to torture anyone or stifle their freedoms like she did, so you could maybe justify it.” But Frigg and E-Merl together unpack why that wouldn’t be a good idea.
I was not expecting this pairing until this page, but I instantly loved it!
Not as much as I love Byr’Nj but it’s still absolutely great, because it also covertly says so much about how Frigg and E-Merl have grown.
Just wish Frigg had grown enough to stay serious for two seconds after E-Merl’s remark in the fourth panel. Just half a sentence or a word of acknowledgement before you break out the jokes.
I think I can see how these two would eventually get in a fight, where Frigg would be incapable of giving in.
I guess after killing your own god and defying their surviving friends, there’s still things to learn in life … :)