Françoise and the Five Train-Men of the Settlepocalypse....

[dreadedcandiru2]

The problem with trying to make Françoise a part of the Patterson's lives is mostly that she'll be forced to adapt to five character tendencies that they all share: an inability to realize what others want of them, a default negatvity that leads them to assume the worst in any situation, the bizarre belief that their idea of the true, good and beautiful is divinely inspired and thus must be shoved down people's throats, a crippling inertia that leads them to rely on miracles and dumb luck and the refusal to accept blame for their selfish actions. This is why Liz thinks that if she just stands there pouting long enough, Françoise will simply get the picture and realize that she's supposed to treat the Great White Goof as if she were her real mother. Also, Anthony is expected to browbeat her into compliance but Liz refuses to see that, just like she refuses to see that she's borrowing trouble from the future. Another catastrophe they're willing into existence is the dreaded return of Thérèse. Their inability to deal with the real world in a realistic, honest fashion will, of course, make Françoise into an enemy when they could have simply welcomed her into their lives. This means that she'll seek out people who won't berate or belittle her for trying to stand up for herself which will inevitably lead to their confrontation with Thérèse and her family who will seek, at the very least, an explanation for the conspiracy hatched against her. Simply put, Elly and the Patterson's refusal to recognize that their wishes do not take precedence over the happiness of other people will come back to destroy them. The business partners and lackeys they miscall friends will, of course, betray them to save themselves, leaving the king fish rats holding the bag.

Comments

[howtheduck.livejournal.com]

I am afraid I must vigorously disagree with you on this point. Based on the people we have seen join the Patterson family thus far: Iris and Deanna, little Françoise will not be forced to adapt to five character tendencies, but will instead be forced to work as a servant to the main Patterson characters. As Iris serves Jim, as Deanna serves Mike; so will Anthony serve Liz. Little Françoise will either serve Liz too, or she will fall into the situation of serving Robin and Meredith, given the similarity of their ages. However, once Liz and Anthony have their first baby, that baby’s servant will be little Françoise.

[dreadedcandiru2.livejournal.com]

Good point. The Pattersons don't assimilate outsiders; they enslave them. It seems obvious in retrospect that April's screaming about Becky's treason stems from Rebecca-with-an-H trying to disrupt the Patterson-servitor relationship that was forming between her and Gerald. Because her former friend insisted on becoming a more charismatic figure than she was, it was entirely possible that he would not fall into his appointed place at April's side at the preordained time. That being said, there will be a confusing interlude in the early 2010s as Françoise makes the occasional slip-up in remembering which part of the Patterson family she is expected to show fealty to: the Patterspawn or Lizthony Junior. By that time, of course, JonBenet and EatDirt will have located their predestined Twoo Wuvs so Elly will have to remind her whom to suck up to.

[howtheduck.livejournal.com]

It is these kinds of predictions of the future, which make me wish Lynn had not said she was going to pure hybrid after she wraps up her majour plotlines this year. I can see this prediction happen. By the way, this line made me laugh:

The Pattersons don't assimilate outsiders; they enslave them.

[dreadedcandiru2.livejournal.com]

Well, they do, in a way. Deanna has been reduced to a sort of dependence on Mike, Anthony traded away everything that made him a halfway decent guy to be with Liz, and Elly herself has been forged into John's robot wife.

[howtheduck.livejournal.com]

There are slaves, but there is a definite gender bias at work too.

Deanna slaves for Mike, but is secretly manipulating the situation to something she wants, WRT Mike's job and where they live.

Spot on about Anthony and of course, in today's strip, Liz plays her passive card, so Anthony is the sole parent of Françoise. And yet, despite this, he can't abandon Liz long enough to tuck his daughter into bed.

As for Elly, I think it's the other way around. He doesn't buy a car until he buys her a new one first. It is on her say-so that they move to the Stibbs' house, not his.

Even in slaving for Pattersons, the women still manage to win something for themselves. Anthony is the only pure loser.

[dreadedcandiru2.livejournal.com]

The sad thing is that he'll never realize that. Even at the end of his miserable existence, he'll defend his oppressors' right to dominate him, raving about how Liz needs him.