Original Commentary

Jake may seem all tough and uncaring, but Jane is his sister. I don't think "Bros before Hos" really applies when said ho is one's sister. But then, it might also depend on how deep the family bond is between said brother and sister. Bah, boys are complicated. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
That's so Robert. Wanting this conflict to be over but not willing to do what it too actually accomplish that. - Terrence

Original Commentary

I'm not even sure what there is to say about this one... Jake seems to be letting a bit of his anger out on Robert- not to say Robert doesn't need a little sense talked into him. It does show a bit of the kind of friendship the two have... just not sure if it's showing anything good about it... -Isabel

Modern Commentary
I will say that there are people I probably should've emailed back a short reply, but I waited too long and feel I owe them a long response because of it. You can't take three weeks to just say "That's cool, thank you for telling me about [thing]. I wish you the best".

So I'd try to write something more, which took even longer. So I'd pretty much never reply. If I've done that to you, I'm sorry. - Terrence

Original Commentary

To a lesser extent, he's also thinking about the fact that he chose fixing his computer over spending time with his girlfriend. He's thinking about her fixing it first because he spent the last week trying not to think about how he chose - Terrence

Modern Commentary
Robert and (early) Brisbane have a lot in common. Brisbane got better. Robert got worse. - Terrence

Original Commentary

I think Robert would probably be happier if Jane yelled at him a little about this. I mean, here he is in a deep, guilty funk and she's trying to get him back. That's just got to mess with his head - Terrence

Modern Commentary
Jake is bringing wisdom. It is a rarity for him and he can only do this when the situation does not directly involve him.

He does not even begin to realize that this is exactly what Sandra did to him... - Terrence

Original Commentary

In panel three I was going to add a line in Jake's panel about him threatening Robert (along the lines of dragging him back if he had to- but taking a slight detour through some dirt first), but Terrence didn't really like it... and when one is congested and not making one sense, one should listen to the suggestions of others before their own. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
How long was Jake gone for? How far away does Robert live? Close enough that Jane wasn't able to really console Sandra in that time.

Regarding the previous commentary, I have to agree with Past Terrence - Jake is subtly threatening and adding more to that steals focus.

"Lucy and Ethel" is a reference too the two female leads in the sitcom I Love Lucy who were famously involved in zany schemes. - Terrence

Original Commentary

Jane just can't stay mad at Robert, can she?

Not when there's Jake around, at least - Terrence

Was Jake going to apologize? Probably not. He just doesn't know how to argue with his sister very well. Sandra's probably one of the few women he could argue with - Isabel

Modern Commentary
I remember that this one surprised me when I first read the script. I hadn't expected Sandra to apologize to Jake. He doesn't deserve it. She doesn't owe him an apology. But this is who she is. - Terrence

Original Commentary

And so Sandra finally admits that she does remember Jake (see this story arc for more on Jake and Sandra)... somewhat- enough for Jake to get it and for Jane to be confused. I don't really see Sandra as a bad person- but she seems to get caught up in these little lies of hers. Perhaps she's just done with it all- or decided it wasn't worth lying to Jake in the hopes of becoming his friend.

Of course, with one plot line tied up, another opens...and such is life. -Isabel

Modern Commentary
Yeah, I don't blame Jane for not wanting to get married to all that - Terrence