That episode actually scared the crap out of me when I saw that as a little kid. Probably because I’d also seen episodes of The Outer Limits and Twilight Zone before and this looked like the same kind of thing.
Given the size and complexity of that raft, I’m betting that it was literally minutes of work. Twenty, maybe even thirty minutes, even counting arguing with Beatrix about where to put the cans.
I assumed she was using literal *very* literally. She spent minutes on building the raft and by her standards minutes is an extremely long time to spend on a project.
I’d guess that “Beatrix” is 8, “Melanie” is 18, Virginia about 30ish?, and “Mrs. Ape” about 60 or 70.
I am reminded of this comic from a while back, maybe a decade ago, where a young Korean-(American?) woman somehow meets with three or four other versions of herself at different ages, similar to the above.
Given that Shaenon has commented that Derek Kirk Kim is a personal friend of hers (maybe Jesse, too) in the Narbonic Director’s Cut, this may be intentional?
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ape_leader
“An old maid’s punishment after death, for neglecting to increase and multiply, was said to be the leading of apes in Hell.”
And another character who’s eyes can’t be seen.
Maybe they all have glowing red eyes beneath? o_O
Or walnuts?
This is starting to sound like that Dick Van Dyke Show episode with Danny Thomas, which is one of the best things on Earth.
That episode actually scared the crap out of me when I saw that as a little kid. Probably because I’d also seen episodes of The Outer Limits and Twilight Zone before and this looked like the same kind of thing.
If it is Virtual Reality, no eyes saves on processing power.
Covering them with reflective surfaces, not so much. Reflections are a bitch to render.
Not if you don’t actually care what they reflect.
Also, there don’t appear to be any males.
Perhaps the VR is segregated by gender? How very twentieth century.
Mere coincidence. Call me back when you have two more characters and p<.05.
I did say ‘perhaps’.
Mrs. Ape, eh? o_O
I sense a literary reference here but I am not sure which work is being referenced. @_@
The gum in the hair part?
There’s a book called. “Mrs. Fish, Ape, and me the Dump Queen” but I don’t think it was a “Mrs. Ape”.
(A little Google is a Dangerous Thing. Browse deep and drink Perrier or something like that….)
This whole thing has gone ape
If Mrs. Ape were Mrs. Gorilla, they could grab her piston engine to power the raft…
Reminds me of when Dave Lister found himself in a personalized Hell…
I bet she’s not using “literal” literally, too.
Given the size and complexity of that raft, I’m betting that it was literally minutes of work. Twenty, maybe even thirty minutes, even counting arguing with Beatrix about where to put the cans.
Also given the location, one might even describe it as -litoral- minutes of work.
Bravo! +1!
“On my beach, it’s litteral minutes of work, and it’s about to be cleaned up!”
I assumed she was using literal *very* literally. She spent minutes on building the raft and by her standards minutes is an extremely long time to spend on a project.
I’d guess that “Beatrix” is 8, “Melanie” is 18, Virginia about 30ish?, and “Mrs. Ape” about 60 or 70.
I am reminded of this comic from a while back, maybe a decade ago, where a young Korean-(American?) woman somehow meets with three or four other versions of herself at different ages, similar to the above.
What the heck was that comic called?
Aha! “Good as Lily”, by Derek Kirk Kim, illustrated by Jesse Hamm
FWIW, you can see all of their eyes
Given that Shaenon has commented that Derek Kirk Kim is a personal friend of hers (maybe Jesse, too) in the Narbonic Director’s Cut, this may be intentional?
Mrs. Ape? Perhaps my guess about the bus driver being Gorgoth wasn’t that far off.
Well, Gorgoth was obsessed with maintaining order.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ape_leader
“An old maid’s punishment after death, for neglecting to increase and multiply, was said to be the leading of apes in Hell.”
Well, that settles it, everyone here is completely mad. Whether they’re actually Mad as well remains to be seen.
Except for Beatrice, she’s too young . . . , to tell, really. There’s isn’t much difference at her age.
Maybe they’re all Gavotte – Bee-atrix, Mel(Latin for honey) -anie, Ape-iary
I don’t really think this theory explains anything, but I truly admire the creativity.
Will we be meeting Polly and Larvaern next? Hope they show up in time for the big dance scene at Tremble High!
Perhaps Mrs. Ape is the physical manifestation of Nick’s swear censor.
She’d be much larger and muscular…
With more arms and bigger ears…
Come to think of it, who’s idea was it to install a swear filter in Nick in the first place? Can’t remember if it came up in the storyline.
Coulda been the military, coulda been Virginia. Not quite clear enough in the strip.
http://skin-horse.com/comic/of-a-man-wearily/
Definitely starting to lean toward this being VR.
So, will they call Dr. Lee “Number 6?” This is reminding me of “The Prisoner.”
Well, there *was* going to be a Prisoner storyline in Narbonic, but it got cut.