I’m almost certain the grey figures in the background of panel 4 are also repeat offenders, but memory fails and I lack the time to employ v-grep to prove this (the short figure completely covered in a hooded jacket in particular) … any assistance gratefully welcomed.
Poor Shauna. There were times when she was the main character for part of a story or even a whole story- I can see that being permanently relegated to being a supporting character would be tough for her.
Maybe Lottie drank half of Shauna’s. We’ve already seen that, as a proper hard-boiled detective, she can really put away her booze. Maybe they got one with two straws so they could share. Maybe some poor lad got Wickled and she claimed the remainder of his drink as spoils of war.
Unless pubs have changed very much you can order half-pints if you don’t have the space or the constitution for another full pint, and I’m guessing that Shauna knows her limit. The die-hard student in me knows that she wouldn’t simply have left a half-consumed drink on the table. That would be borderline sacrilegious.
Yes, that would be perfectly normal. Some very strong (and expensive) craft beers are even served in thirds and two-thirds.
And note that the Imperial pint is 568 ml, about 20% bigger than the US pint (473 ml). I guess that makes an Imperial half a bit more of a viable product.
Yeah I think this is it, but given the context it’s likely to be due to train catching time pressure. I have had this conversation many times before a last bus or train needs to be caught – “shall we have one more?” “ah I don’t know, I’ve really got to head in a minute” “just a half then?” “ah go on then, I’ve time for a quick half”.
“E could ‘a drawed me off a pint,’ grumbled the old man as he settled down behind a glass. ‘A ‘alf litre ain’t enough. It don’t satisfy. And a ‘ole litre’s too much. It starts my bladder running. Let alone the price.’
This is a fair point, both Shauna and Lottie have big personalities, and I can imagine that sometimes space is needed for them to co-exist. But I will say that Shauna’s personality is definitely strong enough to be a MC even in the presence of Lottie, many of my favorite Bad Machinery moments are Shauna moments.
Toying with her! Shauna sets Lottie up quite nicely with the “Claire’s investigations” line, even if she softens the blow by asking for permission to land it.
look man I just want a proper restoration of ‘mystery/problem solving characters who also represent the tripartite division of the human’! It was Mildred: body (will), Lottie: mind (intellect), Shauna: spirit (heart). I fear Mildred (the body) has gone off to the dark side, just like in the Brothers Karamazov!
Dunno bout this, Shauna was probably always the most intellectual, with her early appreciation for brutalist architecture and her beating the much posher Mildred to the best test scores etc.
I’m pretty sure both Shauna and Mildred have higher IQ scores than Lottie does. Where I think Lottie outdoes the other two is imagination, rather than intellect.
That’s not how tripartite divisions work! They’re all about how characters act in the story. Mildred did physical things. Lottie did the thinking. Shauna.. did the suffering.
so what has Shauna been doing and what is she doing now?
Lottie is the center of the universe and we know more about Fishman the Impresario of Speeding than Shauna the Wickle who said nothing. Maybe Shauna set up the murder frame.
Honestly, I personally missed Shauna, but at the same time… people drift apart. It is indeed a natural thing.
In fact I can’t help but think that sometimes it’s necessary for growth. Shauna and Lottie both are huge personalities Much as they might disagree, them being apart for awhile is probably healthy. And every member of the crew that I’ve seen has grown, whether they realize it or not. Lottie included.
“Festival of Speeding” is the latest rebranding of “Exhaustarama,” which itself replaced the “Celebration of Deafening Noise,” the successor to “Too Bad If You Live Within a 10-km Radius Of This Event.”
This is unlikely to be the source, but Shauna is giving me strong “Imogen Stubbs in ANNA LEE” vibes with that outfit. It doesn’t quite work while in “Guns Out, Anchors Aweigh” mode, but with the jacket back on? Very much so.
Did Shauna ever meet up with Desmond Fishman again? Her first appearance involved Desmond if I remember (though the wee tyke she was back then knew him as ‘Froggy’). Did they ever reacquaint in later years?
The one girl’s definitely Lottie. The other girl’s hair style looks more like early Mildred, but it’s Shauna’s shade. Maybe it was actually all three of them, and Des just never paid enough attention to figure out that there were two different blondes.
Is that Terry coming up the other side of the escalator?!
Sure looks like him!
Probably some other short round bald guy in a plaid coat and red bow tie named Terry.
Don’t be mad.
I’m almost certain the grey figures in the background of panel 4 are also repeat offenders, but memory fails and I lack the time to employ v-grep to prove this (the short figure completely covered in a hooded jacket in particular) … any assistance gratefully welcomed.
That’s just a generic family, don’t worry, no need for “computer enhance”.
Des “doing a Lord March” at Sunderland Hall?
To be fair, I think the center of the universe is actually Shelley.
Or possibly Desmond. But that possibility doesn’t bear considering.
But Lottie was assistant to Shelley and therefore the “periphery” is 100% accurate.
Are you feeling the needing? The needing for speeding?
Indeeding!
Why shouldn’t Des host it? After all, he hosts that beloved series “Top Fin”.
And his behaviour, both on and off the set, has been such a massive improvement compared to some previous hosts of said series.
This story is going to make me cry, isn’t it? I can already feel the upper lip going a bit wobbly.
Oh god the feelings ;_;
I think Shauna misses Lottie a lot. I would like to see they do things together again.
The dilemma.. Be friends with Charlotte Grote, or choose not live your life as an NPC.
Poor Shauna. There were times when she was the main character for part of a story or even a whole story- I can see that being permanently relegated to being a supporting character would be tough for her.
I’m still stuck on 2.5 beers. Does that mean Shauna drank half of Lottie’s, or was there a sad half glass of beer left behind?
Maybe Lottie drank half of Shauna’s. We’ve already seen that, as a proper hard-boiled detective, she can really put away her booze. Maybe they got one with two straws so they could share. Maybe some poor lad got Wickled and she claimed the remainder of his drink as spoils of war.
Unless pubs have changed very much you can order half-pints if you don’t have the space or the constitution for another full pint, and I’m guessing that Shauna knows her limit. The die-hard student in me knows that she wouldn’t simply have left a half-consumed drink on the table. That would be borderline sacrilegious.
Yes, that would be perfectly normal. Some very strong (and expensive) craft beers are even served in thirds and two-thirds.
And note that the Imperial pint is 568 ml, about 20% bigger than the US pint (473 ml). I guess that makes an Imperial half a bit more of a viable product.
Yeah I think this is it, but given the context it’s likely to be due to train catching time pressure. I have had this conversation many times before a last bus or train needs to be caught – “shall we have one more?” “ah I don’t know, I’ve really got to head in a minute” “just a half then?” “ah go on then, I’ve time for a quick half”.
Or two friends can order a pint and split it between them.
“E could ‘a drawed me off a pint,’ grumbled the old man as he settled down behind a glass. ‘A ‘alf litre ain’t enough. It don’t satisfy. And a ‘ole litre’s too much. It starts my bladder running. Let alone the price.’
The boys from the Ministry of Love will be around shortly.
A nice glass of Victory Gin, that’s what he needed really.
When Shauna referred to Lottie as The Center of the World it’s hard not to picture Lottie as King of the Cosmos from Katamari.
This is a fair point, both Shauna and Lottie have big personalities, and I can imagine that sometimes space is needed for them to co-exist. But I will say that Shauna’s personality is definitely strong enough to be a MC even in the presence of Lottie, many of my favorite Bad Machinery moments are Shauna moments.
Toying with her! Shauna sets Lottie up quite nicely with the “Claire’s investigations” line, even if she softens the blow by asking for permission to land it.
Sorry for being dense. If Lottie is the centre of the universe how can she also be on the periphery?
It’s the friend (i.e. Shauna) who is on the periphery.
“You” in “you’re on the periphery” is an impersonal you, by which she actually means herself.
Thanks, got it.
I absolutely lurve the perspective in the 4th panel.
look man I just want a proper restoration of ‘mystery/problem solving characters who also represent the tripartite division of the human’! It was Mildred: body (will), Lottie: mind (intellect), Shauna: spirit (heart). I fear Mildred (the body) has gone off to the dark side, just like in the Brothers Karamazov!
Dunno bout this, Shauna was probably always the most intellectual, with her early appreciation for brutalist architecture and her beating the much posher Mildred to the best test scores etc.
I’m pretty sure both Shauna and Mildred have higher IQ scores than Lottie does. Where I think Lottie outdoes the other two is imagination, rather than intellect.
That’s not how tripartite divisions work! They’re all about how characters act in the story. Mildred did physical things. Lottie did the thinking. Shauna.. did the suffering.
This is all I ask for!
They all did all three, though.
so what has Shauna been doing and what is she doing now?
Lottie is the center of the universe and we know more about Fishman the Impresario of Speeding than Shauna the Wickle who said nothing. Maybe Shauna set up the murder frame.
It’s possible that these questions will be answered at length in 2023.
I like this possibility.
Honestly, I personally missed Shauna, but at the same time… people drift apart. It is indeed a natural thing.
In fact I can’t help but think that sometimes it’s necessary for growth. Shauna and Lottie both are huge personalities Much as they might disagree, them being apart for awhile is probably healthy. And every member of the crew that I’ve seen has grown, whether they realize it or not. Lottie included.
“Festival of Speeding” is the latest rebranding of “Exhaustarama,” which itself replaced the “Celebration of Deafening Noise,” the successor to “Too Bad If You Live Within a 10-km Radius Of This Event.”
Originally simply titled “Noises On.”
WheelBlast 2011 was my favourite
This is unlikely to be the source, but Shauna is giving me strong “Imogen Stubbs in ANNA LEE” vibes with that outfit. It doesn’t quite work while in “Guns Out, Anchors Aweigh” mode, but with the jacket back on? Very much so.
I’m surprised that, after the mention of “UK Bakery Tent” last page, no one has said, “Great British Bump-Off” yet…
I’m sure it’s not a tease of any kind, John (me) wouldn’t do that to us (me)
We are hoping not to jinx it, lest it flee before we can sneak up on it unawares
Did Shauna ever meet up with Desmond Fishman again? Her first appearance involved Desmond if I remember (though the wee tyke she was back then knew him as ‘Froggy’). Did they ever reacquaint in later years?
I believe Shauna and Lottie were responsible for Desmond finding his father (in a brief flashback).
The one girl’s definitely Lottie. The other girl’s hair style looks more like early Mildred, but it’s Shauna’s shade. Maybe it was actually all three of them, and Des just never paid enough attention to figure out that there were two different blondes.