| 1 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bcb_mainimage.jpg]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:350:A bowl full of cats and dogs]] |
| 3 | |
| 4 | ''[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/ Bittersweet Candy Bowl]]'' is a {{Teen|Drama}} {{Dramedy}} webcomic by [[http://taeshilh.deviantart.com/ Veronica Vera]]. It follows a group of [[FunnyAnimal feline and canine friends]] through middle and high school, focusing primarily on a pretty, white-colored {{Tsundere}} called Lucy and her ongoing crush/rivalry with NiceGuy Mike. Also featured are {{Love Triangle}}s (actually, a developing LoveDodecahedron) among JerkWithAHeartOfGold Paulo, [[{{Moe}} cheery]] TeenGenius Daisy, {{Cloudcuckoolander}} David, and Abbey, Daisy's [[SickeninglySweethearts new boyfriend]] with a [[DarkAndTroubledPast troubled past]]. There's also Jessica, a strong-willed cheerleader who [[LipstickLesbian has a fancy for Lucy]] and hates/dislikes Tess, Rachel, a cheerful cheerleader, and Jasmine, Paulo's [[ThirdOptionLoveInterest new girlfriend]]. |
| 5 | |
| 6 | An example of CerebusSyndrome, ''Bittersweet Candy Bowl'' started off almost entirely lighthearted but delved into heavy drama pretty early on — there are still jokes, though they are increasingly rare. |
| 7 | |
| 8 | While the series makes use of anthropomorphic cats, dogs, and birds, these are derived more from the {{Funny Animal}}s trope than any serious links to whatever classifies as a true furry comic. The characters were developed when the author was young and presumably unaware of the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | The comic is an ongoing serial and is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, alongside an occasional [[http://askbcb.tumblr.com/ Ask Blog]] on Tumblr. Be warned: this comic has an enormous amount of teen angst melodrama. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | You can also take a look at the [[https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/bittersweet-candy-bowl/list?title_no=552823 Webtoon release]], which starts from the beginning with updated art and dialog. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | [[LongRunner It's been running]] [[WebcomicsLongRunners since 2006]]. |
| 15 | ---- |
| 16 | !!''Bittersweet Candy Bowl'' contains examples of: |
| 17 | |
| 18 | * AbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder: |
| 19 | ** Mike does not appreciate being told this by his friends when they try to get him to [[spoiler:accept Lucy's confession]] despite already being in a {{long distance relationship}}. |
| 20 | ** In "[[https://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c110/p28.html Eternal Flame]]" [[spoiler: Sandy admits this is the case with her, having developed feelings for her hairdresser and ultimately breaking things off with Mike - only to immediately regret it and get Mike to take her back...[[FromBadToWorse right after he had a rebound kiss with Lucy]].]] |
| 21 | * AllJustADream: |
| 22 | ** The chapter "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c50/p1.html Wonderland]]". Lucy "wakes up" at the beginning of the chapter and the chapter before it was an April Fool's comic, making it all just a dream as well. |
| 23 | ** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c59/p1.html Chapter 59]] was All Just A Daydream. Paulo's. Best. Daydream. '''Ever'''. |
| 24 | %%* AllLoveIsUnrequited: BCB has a chronic case of this. Almost every character in the cast suffers from this trope at some point. |
| 25 | %%** Sometimes repeatedly. |
| 26 | %%* AlphaBitch: [[strike:Katherine]] Katie. |
| 27 | %%** Tess used to be like this as well but is trying to act better now. |
| 28 | * AlternateUniverse: |
| 29 | ** According to the commentary, the chapter "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c59/p1.html Another Path]]" was originally intended to be set in an alternate universe where [[spoiler:Paulo had sex with Lucy during her [[HeroicBSOD mental breakdown]] in "Another Shoulder"]]. The final version has it as a daydream of Paulo's. Paulo does daydream about the events of that chapter, yes, but [[spoiler:WordOfGod says [[http://www.formspring.me/taeshi/q/191619996743395410 they would have happened exactly like they did if Paulo and Lucy had sex that night.]]]] |
| 30 | ** The incentives "Magic Tricks," "Disaster Dominoes," and "Another Chance" are all based in alternative timelines of varying similarity to the canon one. "Disaster Dominoes" was easily the most different. |
| 31 | * AmbiguousSyntax: Paulo and Daisy have a heart-to-heart about his feelings for James, and in the middle of the conversation, the former goes on a tangent about how he's jealous but probably not in love with him since he has feelings for someone else. When Daisy suggests that it's (still) Lucy, Paulo then tells her how hard it is to be in love with a great girl, but having to sit on his feelings since he's not sure if she still wants to be friends and thinks he doesn't deserve her affection. He says all of this while looking directly at Daisy. |
| 32 | * AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: [[spoiler:Lucy's rejected confession of love to Michael in "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c51/p11.html A Distance Apart]]".]] |
| 33 | * {{Animesque}}: While the story leans heavily on Western-style funny animal people, the artwork still has a very noticeable anime/manga presence with the existence of chibis, the exaggerated expressions resembling [[BishieSparkle typical]] [[BigAnimeEyes anime]], and how the eyes are drawn. |
| 34 | %%* AprilFoolsDay: |
| 35 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c49/p1.html "In The End"]] |
| 36 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/misc/aprilfools11.png GARBAGE DAY.]] |
| 37 | * ArchiveTrawl: One of the more effective ways to confirm details in any situation. The chapter descriptions can help when hunting down a page. |
| 38 | * ArmorPiercingQuestion: Chapter 100 has Paulo and [[spoiler:Lucy]] having a fight after he discovers [[spoiler:her friendship with Augustus]]. When he tells her that his actions are hurting him and that she needs to think of her former friends, [[spoiler:Lucy]] says that she doesn't care about them anymore. In the heat of the moment, Paulo blurts out "So why did you even ''come back'' [to Roseville High]?!" It's the only time her "I've moved on" mask had cracked, and she couldn't even give him a straight answer. |
| 39 | * ArtEvolution: The comic started off on lined paper in a simple grid style to ensure proper paneling with toning and everything. Since then, the series has gone through a transition to digital (with a brief stint in watercolors for Volume 5), and the characters given more standardized bodies. Though sometimes during Intermissions, such as "Everyday Life", the notebook format will briefly return. |
| 40 | * ArtShift: During "Escape Route", Lucy starts remembering the events of "Confrontation" in a monochrome, inked and hatched art style reminiscent of the early art at the time of the chapter's revamped release. |
| 41 | * AttemptedRape: |
| 42 | ** [[spoiler: The [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p20.html mugger on Lucy in the Confrontation arc.]]]] |
| 43 | ** [[spoiler:Final Fantasy Cat looked like he was about to do [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c40/p17.html this]] to Daisy, but Abbey intervened, though it turns out he most-likely wouldn't have gone through with it. If that was the plan ''at all''.]] |
| 44 | * AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: |
| 45 | ** Paulo and Mike, despite usually skirting the line between VitriolicBestBuds and WithFriendsLikeThese, have a nice moment after [[spoiler:Paulo's car accident]], where Mike tells Paulo that he's one of his oldest friends and that he's glad he's okay. After some teasing, Paulo ultimately thanks him sincerely. |
| 46 | ** Mike and Lucy also have several of these, [[spoiler:at least until things between them go to hell in "[[WhamEpisode December]]".]] |
| 47 | * AxCrazy: Non-canon incentive arc Disaster Dominoes' [[spoiler:Kizuna]] was this. |
| 48 | %%* BarbieDollAnatomy: Half of the cast walk around in the nude! |
| 49 | %%** ...and then for some reason seem embarrassed by {{Wardrobe Malfunction}}s. |
| 50 | %%*** Early on, Paulo was shown to be cheating with pockets. Taeshi doesn't have confidence in drawing clothes much. |
| 51 | %%*** It's pretty clear that those wearing clothes and showing things they shouldn't is a [[ConvenientlyCommonKink turn-on]]. |
| 52 | %%** The About page addresses this. |
| 53 | %%*** As well as [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c57/p1.html this strip]]. |
| 54 | * BeachEpisode: The summer vacation arc, where Lucy and Mike's feelings for each other are put to the test. |
| 55 | * BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: During his BreakingSpeech to Lucy, Mike taunts her with the idea that she'll be isolated from their friend group while he's still among them. [[spoiler:Come her return, and she's made peace with that fact, while Mike is in knee-deep shit with his increasingly complicated group of friends.]] |
| 56 | %%* BelligerentSexualTension: |
| 57 | %%** Mike and Lucy are fairly excellent examples of this. |
| 58 | %%*** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41.1/p1.html And how!]] |
| 59 | %%** Paulo and Lucy; Paulo and Tess. |
| 60 | %%** {{UST}}: Which may well be what happened to certain people's interactions. |
| 61 | * BerserkButton: |
| 62 | ** Don't abuse/insult a girl in front of Abbey, unless you want a face full of fists. |
| 63 | *** If the [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p22.html Confrontation]] chapter was any indication, Mike can be this way. |
| 64 | ** Don't be [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c55/p31.html too flirty]] about Mike near Lucy. Or too flirty with ''Lucy'', for that mattter. And expect violence from her if you've hit her. |
| 65 | ** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p12.html This]] could be a bad sign. |
| 66 | ** Jessica [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p18.html hates it]] when called out about how she bullies Tess, which led to another button being pressed... [[spoiler:Tess pretty much just takes it.]] |
| 67 | ** Mike would get another button in his long- distance relationship with Sandy. [[spoiler:He gave out verbal thrashings to Sue and Daisy on separate occasions.]] |
| 68 | * BerserkerTears: |
| 69 | ** [[spoiler:Mike, when he snaps at Lucy.]] |
| 70 | ** And again in "Eternal Flame" [[spoiler:when Mike trashes his room after Sandy breaks up with him.]] |
| 71 | * BetaCouple: Abbey and Daisy's more or less drama-free relationship, which took a backseat to the drama-filled relationships of other primary characters. |
| 72 | * BeyondTheImpossible: David wanted a way to climb a cliff without actually ''climbing''. So he shouted [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c33/p6.html "SUPERRRR PANELLLL TELEPORT!"]] and was suddenly on top of the cliff. He was surprised it worked. |
| 73 | * BigBad: [[spoiler:Most certainly Alejandro. His manipulations led to Paulo's jerk mentality, Paulo's phobia of barking, Confrontation in general, and he's being worked for by Augustus. [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41/p1.html He also remembers his grudge against Mike and Lucy]].]] |
| 74 | * BigFancyHouse: Tessa lives in one. Mike and Lucy are [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c28/p4.html suitably impressed]]. |
| 75 | %%* BigBrotherInstinct: Sam, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p42.html here.]] |
| 76 | %%* BigWhat: Paulo, for [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c52/p3.html a page]] and followed shortly by a Little What. |
| 77 | %%* BirdsOfAFeather: Abbey and Daisy, to some extent. |
| 78 | * BittersweetEnding: "Grave Concern's" timeline ends with [[spoiler:Mike married with child with Sandy, but in a long distance relationship and always having to make compromises. However, Lucy is actually well and truly dead; but even that's okay since she and Mike made amends in her posthumous state and she eventually became godmother to Mike's daughter.]] |
| 79 | * ABirthdayNotABreak: "Happy Hour" takes place during Rachel's birthday party. Rather than focus on her, everyone just gets wasted and airs out their dirty laundry. |
| 80 | * BlackAndGreyMorality: There's an obvious moral no-no in this world (Abbey's abusive father, Alejandro and his crew), but the rest of the main cast aren't above getting petty, vindictive, or resorting to violence for what they think is right, and there are some in the cast with less than pleasant views on others. However, the story doesn't treat them like monsters for it; it's all just part of their struggle. |
| 81 | %%* BlackHumor: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/candybooru/post/view/350?search=molly Happy Mother's Day!]] See the first comment. |
| 82 | * BlankWhiteEyes: Everyone has done it at least once. David may as well have it as his default expression. |
| 83 | %%* BlatantLies |
| 84 | %%--->'''Peddler''': [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c18/p6.html ...made exclusively in Paris!]] (He made it with the contents of a trashcan. ''In front'' of them.) |
| 85 | %%--->'''Lucy''': '''[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c20/p2.html "It doesn't upset me"]]''' |
| 86 | %%--->'''David''': [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c33/p3.html "That's perfect for capturing her!! I mean..."]] |
| 87 | %%--->'''David''': [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c55/p2.html I'm menstruating.]] |
| 88 | * BreakTheCutie: |
| 89 | ** Lucy got this in preschool, hence her lack of interest in socializing. |
| 90 | ** [[spoiler:Lucy in Disaster Dominoes. After Mike finally got her to smile, he got run down.]] |
| 91 | ** Jessica got this from a lot of the school and Tess as a freshman. |
| 92 | ** The ENTIRE main cast in Confrontation. ...''seriously''. |
| 93 | * BreakingTheFellowship: |
| 94 | ** Starting with Mike rejecting Lucy's LoveConfession in chapter 51, the main characters' group ("The Table" as they call it InUniverse) gradually begins to corrode and break apart, both out of frustration with Michael regarding his behavior toward Lucy and for other personal and inter-personal problems. |
| 95 | * BreakingTheFourthWall: |
| 96 | ** There's a chapter, "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c38.3/p1.html Out of the Frame]]", dedicated to all the minor characters creating a "neglected club". |
| 97 | ** David winks at the screen and [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c45/p22.html tries to get Paulo to address the audience]]. |
| 98 | ** Right before the example in MomentKiller, courtesy of Mike. |
| 99 | * BreatherEpisode: Several in between many of the more turbulent chapters, most of being intermissions. These are a few regular chapter examples: |
| 100 | ** “Crash and Burn” is about Lucy trying to keep her pets from seeing a naughty email. This happens while Daisy grapples with her self confidence, Abbey blows off some steam, and Tess’ past reputation starts slipping through the cracks. |
| 101 | ** “PDA” is about Madison being angry over being compared to Lucy, only to learn that [[RunningGag Lucy is deaf in one ear]]. This takes place before “High Expectations”, where [[spoiler:Mike explodes at his friends due to Sandy’s neglect.]] |
| 102 | ** “Popularity Contest” is about Sue trying out for cheerleaders when Stacy is embarrassed to hang out with her. This happens after [[spoiler:Paulo and Abbey stop being enemies]]. |
| 103 | ** “Fuel Economy” and “Featured Attraction” are Paulo-centered chapters that take place after “Broken Bridges”, where Mike [[spoiler:is called out by Augustus for getting Lucy’s hopes up]]. However, “Featured Attraction” still has a Downer Ending where [[spoiler:weeaboos get away with demanding the subtitled version of ''My Endless Sunshower'', much to the dismay of a dyslexic girl (and also Paulo)]]. |
| 104 | * BrokenBird: [[spoiler:Lucy]] after the events of December. [[spoiler:She makes a gradual recovery near the beginning of junior year, but it doesn’t last very long.]] |
| 105 | * BrokenPedestal: [[spoiler:Daisy’s crush on Mike has pretty much fizzled out after he verbally lashed out at her in “Witch Hunt” over Sandy.]] |
| 106 | * BrokenSmile: |
| 107 | ** Lucy has one while her first DespairEventHorizon happens at times. |
| 108 | ** [[spoiler:Lucy]] in Disaster Dominoes, to [[spoiler:a dead Mike: "[[DissonantLaughter Ha ha ha ha...]] Sandy can't have you anymore... [[TogetherInDeath I'm willing to join you]] without a doubt... without a doubt... I love you, Mike... I'll keep smiling for you..." Followed by jumping to her death.]] All the while, smiling and crying... |
| 109 | %%* BrutalHonesty: |
| 110 | %%** [[DeadpanSnarker Alec]] [[TheSnarkKnight [=McCain=]]], full stop. |
| 111 | %%** Paulo in 59 [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c59/p25.html failed at tact.]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c59/p16.html A few times.]] And Lucy [[MegatonPunch thanked]] him a few times. |
| 112 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41/p4.html Lucy]] does it, too. |
| 113 | %%* BuffySpeak |
| 114 | * ButNotTooBi: Despite having almost two chapters dedicated to exploring it. Paulo being bisexual is rarely touched upon in the comic. While he does occasionally blush over a few boys and it's implied that he has a crush on [[spoiler:Mike]], his main romantic stories still mainly involve female love interests. [[spoiler:Finally {{Subverted}} as the years go on, since Paulo discovering and accepting he also likes boys becomes a big part of his character arc, and he's later given a chapter exclusively focused on the fact that he has a crush on one of his guy friends.]] |
| 115 | * ButtMonkey: |
| 116 | ** Kizuna is very clumsy. She loves David. David likes sports and forgets her constantly. You see where this is going. |
| 117 | ** Katie takes Kizuna’s place in the revised chapters. She’s pretty much humiliated in the “Field Day” revision. |
| 118 | ** Paulo had some butt monkey time randomly if Lucy (and sometimes Yashy) was nearby until high school. And [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c59/p25.html then]]... |
| 119 | ** Tess has minor butt monkey time around Jessica and Rachel, and Rachel has had some in chapter 63. |
| 120 | %%** Mike. [[spoiler:[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Deconstructed in "Happy Hour.".]]]] |
| 121 | %%* CallBack: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c56/p24.html This]] [[ContinuityNod most definitely shows]] Justin remembers [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c33/p2.html David]]. |
| 122 | * CallingYourAttacks: "AYUUU BEEEEEM", "SUPAHHH CHOP" |
| 123 | * CallOnMe: Mike jolts to Lucy's rescue as she's being assaulted in "Confrontation". |
| 124 | * TheCameo: Many fancharacters given to the author have either become regular cast members or served as background filler. |
| 125 | ** Liam, a fan-made character, even had an entire intermission chapter dedicated to his relationship with Lucy. It has since been taken down and is only available to BCI members. |
| 126 | ** See the example for BreakingTheFourthWall above. |
| 127 | * CannotSpitItOut: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c53/p2.html "Maybe I should just dance around the subject and give everyone headaches. There, problem solved, the Lucy way."]] And then she did. [[spoiler:[[FailureIsTheOnlyOption It didn't help.]]]] |
| 128 | * CantActPervertedTowardALoveInterest: Paulo is particularly protective of Daisy, and immediately shapes up when she's watching. In the chapter "Return", it's revealed that Paulo now thinks of Daisy as more of a sister anyway, and doesn't mind her going out with another guy. However, it is hinted at in "Back and Forth" that he still doesn't want to be seen as a sexual deviant in her eyes, as he immediately notices her and seems worried about her opinion of him when [[spoiler:Tess and Lucy start some drama because of his sleeping around and being a man-whore in general]]. |
| 129 | * CantLiveWithThemCantLiveWithoutThem: Mike and Lucy. [[spoiler:Originally, at least. As of "Pillow Talk", Michael acts like he can't stand Lucy, while Lucy seems to not be able to live without him. Now, no longer the case for either as of "Unspoken Rule". At least until "Eternal Flame", where Sandy breaks up with Mike, and he and Lucy seem to make up and even share a kiss...before Mike gets back together with Sandy, leaving Lucy heartbroken and Mike feeling [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone exceedingly guilty]].]] |
| 130 | %%* CatFight: {{Pun}}nily common. Possibly, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c55/p31.html this]] is the only played straight example currently. |
| 131 | %%** Lucy and Jessica [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p18.html again.]] |
| 132 | * CatchPhrase: |
| 133 | ** Lucy's "jerkface", Mike's "guh!", Yashy's "whore!!", and to a degree Paulo's abuse of the word "AWESOME". |
| 134 | ** David also tends to come out of nowhere with an "'''AWKWARD'''" announcement. |
| 135 | ** Pretty much every time [=McCain=] opens his mouth, the rest of the characters yell, "Shut it [=McCain=]!" |
| 136 | * CatsHateWater: Lucy became hydrophobic after [[spoiler:Mike almost drowned]] when they were younger. |
| 137 | %%* CaughtInTheRain: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c49/p1.html Lucy and Carter.]] |
| 138 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c17/p3.html Mike]] ages earlier, though this was a good thing in the end. |
| 139 | * CerebusRetcon: As it turns out, the difference between AmusingInjuries and an abusive relationship is all a matter of perspective. |
| 140 | %%* CerebusSyndrome: ''AND HOW!'' That being said, the serious chapters start fairly early in the comic's run, and a lot of the change is due to the comic going from random gags to an actual interest worth pursuing as a business, with a long-ranging plot. |
| 141 | %%** To demonstrate, compare [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c2/p1.html this]] page with [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c53/p4.html this]] page. Beware of spoilers! |
| 142 | %%** Inverted later on, the comic suddenly becomes a lot happier after the angst reaches its zenith. |
| 143 | * CharacterizationMarchesOn: Even if fan opinions don't change, characters will. |
| 144 | ** Jessica and Rachel were initially your typical high school bullies with little reason for singling out Tess aside from her being [[ExtremeDoormat an easy target]]. As time went on, though, hints were gradually dropped that there was a deeper reason as to why they bullied Tess specifically, [[spoiler:a reason that was fully revealed in "Pillow Talk".]] |
| 145 | *** Actually, they've always had their reason, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c32/p7.html as shown on this page.]] At least they did as far as Rachel's backstory was concerned. |
| 146 | * TheCharmer: Used on Daisy and attempted unsuccessfully on Lucy. Both Augustus. |
| 147 | %%* CheerfulChild: Molly. [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c56/p14.html Just don't mention her mother.]] |
| 148 | * ChivalrousPervert: When the well-being of Daisy or Lucy is in danger, Paulo tends to forget his perversion in favor of helping them or, at least, trying to. He also reacted this way when Sue got hurt in Confrontation. In general, he can't stand it when people are actually jerks to the girls in serious ways. He has been willing to confront Mike for making Lucy upset (stopped because Lucy told him not to) and he more recently smacked Abbey in the back of the head with a volleyball for implying he would use Daisy then abandon her. He is loyal in his relationships and is more respectful to girls younger than him like Jasmine. His perversion as faded as he has matured. |
| 149 | %%* CleavageWindow: Katie [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c19/p5.html here]]. |
| 150 | * ClingyJealousGirl: |
| 151 | ** Daisy. Frequently in early comics she tries to cling to Mike and force his attention on her, while he is only interesting in Lucy and Sandy. Mike doesn't appreciate it. |
| 152 | ** Averted with Lucy, she never expresses unreasonable jealousy or become more clingy because of it. She is clingy due to fear of abandonment but Daisy and Lucy would have had a much more antagonistic relationship instead of it being as one-sided as it often was. It was also Lucy that initially encouraged Mike with Sandy and comforted him when he was afraid of her never coming back. |
| 153 | %%* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: David. It's only gotten worse with {{Flanderization}}. |
| 154 | * CombatSadomasochist: Alejandro took two of Lucy's [[GroinAttack kicks]], had his teeth smashed into each other hard enough to chip one and draw blood, and was still okay enough to [[spoiler:[[WouldHitAGirl beat Lucy senseless]] before Mike came back]], smashing his face into an alley floor and still not stopping him. It took Mike and Lucy together to start the example in NoHoldsBarredBeatdown. And he beat Mike before all this happened. |
| 155 | * ComicBookTime: The comic initially progressed at the rate of one year per real life year.Now the cast has been in the 2007/2008 school year for seven years. |
| 156 | * ComicallyMissingThePoint: Functionally, most of the older students to Tess. Especially Jessica and Rachel, since the lot of them bullying her is a bit hypocritical at best. |
| 157 | * CompilationReRelease: While Books 1-3 are sold separately, 2020 saw to funding a compilation of all three books in an onmibus, featuring updated art for the earliest comics and rearranging some chapters and events, as well as adding a few BCI comics to properly characterize characters who needed it. |
| 158 | * ContinuityNod: Lucy's [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p7.html reaction]] to Augustus in 63 involves [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c40/p17.html his past actions in 40.]] |
| 159 | * CorruptTheCutie: Augustus' influence on Daisy during Awakening had this effect. Due to insecurity, she isn't fully 'over' him as she enjoyed the feeling of having his attention, even if she knows she can't be the one to help him. |
| 160 | %%** Tessa to Jessica in the past. |
| 161 | * CovertPervert: |
| 162 | ** Blur [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c2/p1.html shows]] ''[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41.1/p1.html tendencies.]]'' Note the {{nosebleed}} on the second example. |
| 163 | ** Daisy of all people. |
| 164 | ** Played with when it comes to Paulo as he always tries to hide it in front of Daisy but he has been open with it with Lucy and other friends. While flirty still, he is much more respectful in more recent comics. |
| 165 | %%* CrushBlush: Both cases of blushing have happened for almost every main character at least once in the series, and its especially prevalent in part two. |
| 166 | * CuteBruiser: Lucy can kick a whole lot more ass than is apparent. She's also one of the shortest characters. However, while she is the strongest girl, she still isn't as strong as most of the boys. It is revealed later on that Mike and Lucy both take Taekwondo, which explains why they are the most capable fighters. |
| 167 | * CuteMute: Amaya never talks for us. [[ElectiveMute Apparently, she can talk, though]]. Still cute. |
| 168 | * DarkAndTroubledPast: |
| 169 | ** Lucy. Most kids excluded her so she didn't have any friends at first. Her only childhood friend eventually was Mike, who abandoned her for Sandy then viewed her as a Sandy substitute for a time once she moved away. She almost drowned trying to save him despite being unable to swim herself and became terrified of deep water as a result, fainting at the sight of it. The first time boys started to pay attention to her body made her so scared that she became more aggressive to scare them off and keep them at arm's length. Within her earshot Daisy and Paulo both made comments early on that validated her fears that guys only wanted her for her looks, and other people were just pretending to care, further justifying her overreliance on Mike. |
| 170 | ** Paulo. Poor and raised by a single father. Poverty alone can be traumatic in its own ways, but in a recent chapter it was revealed that his mother completely abandoned him. There is an earlier chapter that acknowledges his parents argued, that she would sometimes stay out all night, but this chapter addresses that and how it actually seriously affects him. Word of God in her comic comment also points this as why Paulo can be such a forgiving person and lets a lot of things be water under the bridge. |
| 171 | ** Abbey. His father was cheating on his mother and violent and abusive. His father blamed him while being arrested for ruining everything. When he tries to find out what happened to his mother, it turns out that she likely died in the hospital or some time soon afterwards. This shaped so much of his world view, that he could not accept that Paulo was less than evil incarnate for quite a long time. |
| 172 | ** Tess, since she was the girlfriend of the leader of the bullies and [[spoiler:someone who was hinted to have [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c40/p5.html drugged and raped her.]]]] He was a senior, she a freshman. |
| 173 | ** Augustus. He had neglectful parents and had to steal to look after himself. He joined Alejandro's gang at a young age. Alejandro's girlfriend is implied to have had sex with him while he is underage. Toby knows and blackmails him, so Augustus hasn't been able to leave them even though he wants to. |
| 174 | * DarkerAndEdgier: The webcomic gradually becomes more of this over the course of the story, especially after chapter 68. |
| 175 | * DateRapeAverted: Abbey stops [[spoiler:Final Fantasy Cat from [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c40/p17.html assaulting Daisy]]]]. |
| 176 | %%* ADayInTheLimelight: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c33/p1.html David's birthday.]] |
| 177 | %%* DeadpanSnarker: [=McCain=] is built for snarking. Lucy as well. |
| 178 | %%* DeathGlare |
| 179 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c20/p1.html "you goddamn liar."]] |
| 180 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c20/p2.html "It doesn't upset me."]] |
| 181 | %%** Paulo shows us how it's [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c38/p1.html done.]] |
| 182 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p12.html Woah, Daisy]]. |
| 183 | * DeconstructedTrope: The {{Tsundere}} trope, and [[SlapSlapKiss other]] [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale tropes]] associated with it are deconstructed via Lucy. At first, her being a {{Tsundere}} was played straight, but over time those tendencies were shown to be a result of emotional dependence and deep psychological issues, and due to her being a MasterOfTheMixedMessage, [[spoiler: Mike just straight up moves on and dates someone else who doesn't waffle between her emotions.]] It also takes SlapSlapKiss and DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale to their logical conclusion in that [[spoiler: the target of her affections gets really freaking tired of dealing with it, culminating in [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Chapter 68]].]] |
| 184 | %%* DefrostingIceQueen: Lucy. Then refrosting. Then defrosting. Then refrosting again. She's probably quite inedible by this point. |
| 185 | * DestructiveRomance: Abbey at one point breaks up with Daisy since he realizes the she's somehow ''still'' thinking of Mike after all they've been through. But since Paulo cares more about Daisy than Abbey, he essentially bullies him into taking her back. [[spoiler:And it would get worse from there.]] |
| 186 | * DespairEventHorizon: |
| 187 | ** Lucy when [[spoiler:she thought Mike died]] and shortly after, when [[spoiler:she finally confessed her love for him and he rejected her.]] The first one came with DissonantLaughter. |
| 188 | ** [[invoked]]Chapter 63 is getting [[TearJerker sadder]] and Lucy looks about at the horizon [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p5.html here.]] [[spoiler:She was okay, then Mike ignored her existence. Now... Oh good. She's okay. Or acting okay.]] |
| 189 | %%** '''''[[HopeSpot CHAPTER]] [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech 68.]]''''' |
| 190 | * DiabolusExMachina: Perhaps everything in Confrontation until [[spoiler:the end when things started getting better.]] |
| 191 | * DisasterDominoes: To the point that there was an incentive ''called'' "Disaster Dominoes." A very fun incentive. |
| 192 | * DisproportionateRetribution: |
| 193 | ** Abbey's anti-bullying goals and measures in chapter 62 were... [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p10.html extreme]]. |
| 194 | ** Also, for having a not-yet-confirmed [[PuppyLove relationship]] long distance with Sandy, Mike was brutally beaten by Paulo and the Female Student Body for his friendship and [[UnresolvedSexualTension UST]] with Lucy in chapter 20. Twice. PlayedForLaughs. That particular gag even continued into the next 10 or so chapters. Quite a few fans considered it to be very unfunny. |
| 195 | * DissonantLaughter: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c26/p6.html "Barking... barking... endless barking. Hahaha"]] |
| 196 | * DistinctiveAppearances: With their accessories included, every single character has a different silhouette. |
| 197 | %%* TheDitz: David when not [[HiddenDepths suddenly providing sagely advice]]. Not a GeniusDitz, though. |
| 198 | %%* [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength Doesn't Know Her Own Strength]]: |
| 199 | %%** Daisy crushes on Mike ''literally'' [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p27.html here]] and [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41/p2.html here]]. |
| 200 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c44/p22.html Sue]] was worried. |
| 201 | %%* DoggedNiceGuy: Mike. [[spoiler:Arguably, '''''much''''' less so in recent chapters.]] |
| 202 | * DomesticAbuser: Abbey's father toward his wife Charlotte. The web comic has a [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/art/graveyard/unfinishedabbeychapter.png canceled chapter]] that shows the extent of his abuse. It was canceled because the author couldn't stand to continue writing it. Yes, it's ''that'' horrible. |
| 203 | %%* DopeSlap: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p12.html Rachel's]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p13.html all]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p14.html over]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p17.html it]] for receiving dope bops to the head. She's even [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p25.html done one.]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p53.html Daisy got one, too.]] |
| 204 | %%* DoubleEntendre: "Shake things up with Sue" as {{lampshaded}} [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p3.html here.]] |
| 205 | %%-->David & Lucy: '''Shake''' things up with '''Sue'''? |
| 206 | %%-->[=McCain=]: [[AccidentalInnuendo We tried that. Didn't test too well.]] |
| 207 | %%* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Played {{p|un}}ainfully straight for the first half of the comic. [[spoiler:Deconstructed later on, when Mike snaps at Lucy]] |
| 208 | %%* DreamWithinADream: |
| 209 | %%** From "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c49/p1.html In the End]]" to "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c50/p1.html Wonderland]]". |
| 210 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63.2/p11.html This]] guest comic, which was most likely inspired by ''Film/{{Inception}}''. |
| 211 | %%* DrivesLikeCrazy: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p43.html Sam]]. |
| 212 | * DrowningMySorrows: What "Happy Hour" turned into, since they brought up Lucy. Even Abbey when Daisy inadvertently revealed she still had feelings for Mike [[INeedAFreakingDrink needed a drink]] despite heavily protesting to anyone doing so. |
| 213 | %%* DumbBlonde: Katie. |
| 214 | * EasilyForgiven: An unusual example in "Unspoken Rule" - [[spoiler:Daisy forgives Paulo despite his actions day prior. Said actions being ignoring Daisy on purpose after she called him out, choking Mike with his own scarf over Lucy sitting somewhere else, hurting Daisy's feelings, and playing a part in her and Abbey breaking up (for the second time). However, Paulo felt remorse for what he did.]] |
| 215 | * EmbarrassingFirstName: [[strike:Katherine]] Katie hates it when not called Katie. |
| 216 | * EmbarrassingNickname: David calls his history teacher in high school "Mr. Poodle of Noodles". |
| 217 | * EvenTheGuysWantHim: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c11/p3.html When Paulo announces that Mike "plays for the other team"]], a bunch of guys leap in to show their interest. |
| 218 | * EverythingsBetterWithSparkles: Sparkles tend to accompany love bubbles, though [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c60/p7.html Jazzie]] was getting ''too'' into it. |
| 219 | * EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: |
| 220 | ** "Final Fantasy Cat" was coined by readers for Augustus, back when he was a nameless character in his first appearances. He's still called "Final Fantasy Cat" though, even within the comic! |
| 221 | ** Vera has also given a name to another character commonly referred to by a nickname; "Rapecat" (for his [[spoiler:attempted rape of Lucy]]) or "Confrontation Cat" (after the story arc he appeared in), now has the name "Alejandro". |
| 222 | ** The aforementioned history teacher is consistently referred to as Noodles by fans (and the author), since his real name isn't known. |
| 223 | ** Also, the "Flower Girl" that David stalks. |
| 224 | * EveryoneCanSeeIt: |
| 225 | ** Mike and Lucy just don't listen! |
| 226 | ** Abbey's crush on [[ObliviousToLove Daisy]]. Her crush on Mike distracted her to the point that she was the only member of the TrueCompanions ''not'' aware of it. |
| 227 | %%* EverythingsCuterWithKittens: Molly and fanart of pairings with babies. |
| 228 | %%* EverythingsPreciousWithPuppies: Justin |
| 229 | * ExtremeDoormat: More-or-less a valid description of Tess resisting others bullying her. Ironic, since they're doing the thing they hate her for. |
| 230 | %%* ExtremeMeleeRevenge: |
| 231 | %%** Alejandro, after he got mad. |
| 232 | %%** Abbey doesn't like it when you hit or insult girls. |
| 233 | %%* {{Facepalm}}: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c14/p3.html Who else but David?]] |
| 234 | * FirstKiss: Lucy's [[spoiler:[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p48.html kiss with Mike]], though Mike's first kiss [[http://taeshilh.deviantart.com/art/First-Kiss-83160857 was with Sandy]]]]. |
| 235 | %%* FirstLawOfTragicomedies |
| 236 | * {{Flanderization}}: Abbey, to an extent,. He started off as a polite and chivalrous character, only showing a slight dislike for the actions of Paulo and other characters. However, he has started veering into {{Jerkass}} territory, going to extreme lengths to keep ne'er do wells in detention. However, he also started to get more screen time, more friends, and more power, and he has some pretty severe mental issues. |
| 237 | %%** David was never really ''that'' weird, he just became so over time. |
| 238 | %%* FlippingTheBird: Seen [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c54/p9.html here]] and [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p7.html here]]. |
| 239 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c18/p13.html An earlier example.]] |
| 240 | %%* ForcefulKiss: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c40/p15.html Daisy kissing Mike.]] |
| 241 | %%** [[spoiler:Sandy also has trouble accepting that her boyfriend has different interests.]] |
| 242 | * ForegoneConclusion: In "Confrontation", Alejandro mentions that his ex-girlfriend is the one who gave him the scar on his eye, and that he got "even with her" afterwards. Later in Chapter 86, "Trapped", Augustus is having a flashback to when he met Alejandro, and Alejandro was dating a girl named Melanie. Melanie had never appeared before this flashback, and Alejandro had no scar in that chapter yet. [[spoiler: In a slight twist, while he does mess her up pretty badly, this leads to her being able to move away to live with her grandmother.]] |
| 243 | %%* {{Foreshadowing}}: Look at the first page. |
| 244 | %%** Look at [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41/p1.html this]]. Now, we have foreboding atmosphere [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p6.html here]]. Uh oh. If that smile confuses you, see chapter 12. |
| 245 | %%* FourIsDeath: The #[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/candybooru/post/view/4 4]] post in Candybooru. Probably not intentional. Maybe. |
| 246 | %%* FourthWallMailSlot: [[http://askbcb.tumblr.com/ Here.]] |
| 247 | * FriendVersusLover: A very large part of the plot revolves around Lucy (the friend, who had a huge un-admittable crush on him) and Sandy (the lover) competing for Mike's attention and affections, feeling that they can't both have him at the same time. Very much justified on both ends: Sandy pointed out to him how toxic and abusive his friendship with Lucy was and Lucy pointed out how he always abandoned her (albeit mostly unknowingly and unintentionally) once Sandy and Mike started hanging out together. Deconstructed later on in the comic as it causes the end of Mike and Lucy's friendship; [[spoiler: Lucy herself Lampshades it in "Unspoken Rule" when Mike tries (and fails) to apologize and reconcile with her]]. |
| 248 | * FreudianExcuse: |
| 249 | ** FridgeLogic suggests that the reason Tess refuses to get close to Paulo is due to her similar past experiences with older students. She was hurt and doesn't want Paulo to be. The memories of what she went through will keep her avoiding the idea of trying it because she can't help but think she'll just hurt him if she does. Her moments of trying to be close to Paulo may be less likely in the future than we know. |
| 250 | ** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c25/1.html Lucy]] was ostracized by boys ''and'' girls at a young age. She became less cheerful and got Yashy to love, as a coping mechanism. She's not so much unwilling to open up to others as ''unable'' to at this point. There's a lot of social trauma to work through before she begins to smile even half of the time. Hence, why [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c27/p6.html her pets see her differently than everyone]] -- [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c61/p3.html she opens up to them.]] |
| 251 | ** Paulo's fear of barking and growling came from a somewhat-traumatic childhood experience based on them. His jerk-ish habits came from [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c26/p4.html a jerk teaching him how to be "cool"]] as a child. |
| 252 | ** Abbey acting [[WifeBasherBasher violent]] or particularly angry makes him break down at realizing he's acting like his father. Justified, in that his father was a wife-beater. Also why he took Abbey, rather than Abe, as his nickname. His father went by Abe. |
| 253 | ** The chapter "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p1.html Pillow Talk]]" delves into ''why'' Jessica is so dead-set on making Tess miserable: [[spoiler:Tess's then-boyfriend broke the arm of Rachel's little brother. When Jess tried to find a way to get back at Roger, Tess twisted her abortive first attempt to paint Jess as a slut]]. |
| 254 | %%* FreudianSlip: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c2/p4.html "Sonic Ride You" as opposed to]] "VideoGame/{{Sonic Riders}}". |
| 255 | %%** Mike seems [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c20/p3.html prone]] to them, understandably. Lampshaded by Tess next page. |
| 256 | %%* AFriendInNeed: The most common situation where Mike and Paulo aren't rubbing each other the wrong way. |
| 257 | * FromBadToWorse: Confrontation was '''full''' of it. |
| 258 | ** The incentive chapter "Disaster Dominoes" was even ''more'' full of it. At least in the prior example, it was just [[spoiler:two (later one) mugger(s) completely overpowering the main cast]]. Disaster Dominoes mixed things up so that ''everyone's'' lives were complete shit. |
| 259 | ** Lucy's situation with Mike just gets worse in recent time after she [[spoiler:confesses her [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove love]] for him. And then [[HopeSpot December]] [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech cemented]] [[DespairEventHorizon it.]]]] |
| 260 | * FunnyAnimal: The cast are cats and dogs. |
| 261 | %%* FunnyBackgroundEvent: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p12.html When you see it...]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c33/p2.html This page as well.]] |
| 262 | * [[StonersAreFunny Funny Drug User]]: Any time Mike is [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p6.html under]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p7.html the]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c60/p16.html influence]] of something, he's [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c60/p17.html hilariously random]]. [[spoiler:Subverted in [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c80/p25.html Happy Hour]], where Mike finally confesses what he said to Lucy.]] |
| 263 | * FurryReminder: Claws have been bared occasionally in the whole series. |
| 264 | * GilliganCut: In an effort to show Stacy that she can openly enjoy her geeky hobbies and be seen as a cool and popular girl, Sue tries out for the cheerleading squad. One cry of "Watch me!" later, and she's in the hospital with a broken leg, because a girl who doesn't do much athletic activity was never going to keep up with the rest. |
| 265 | * GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger: David and Paulo are very expressive with their hands, and find themselves pointing tons. |
| 266 | %%* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: The "Queen of War" in the HiddenDepths example. |
| 267 | * GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: |
| 268 | ** [[spoiler:Sandy is treated, for the most part, as a SympatheticAdulterer, following the reveal that she cheated on Mike with her hairdresser Francis. While she initially breaks up with him over it, she expresses [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone deep regret]] and begs him to give her another chance almost immediately after, explaining that she was just confused about her feelings due to the loneliness caused by her LongDistanceRelationship with Mike and insisting that Mike is the only one she loves. She also makes a sincere and concerted effort to repair the AllGiveAndNoTake nature of her and Mike's relationship. It also helps that she seems to have mostly had an emotional affair with Francis. All of which makes Mike feel extremely guilty for, despite agreeing to get back together with her, not quite being able to forgive her]]. |
| 269 | ** [[spoiler:Mike himself also falls on the SympatheticAdulterer side of things. He appears to experience a resurgence of his feelings for Lucy as his relationship with Sandy deteriorates, and even kisses Lucy within the extremely brief period (that is, less than a single night) during which he and Sandy were broken up. While he considers this infidelity on his part, telling Daisy in "Double Down" that he feels Sandy developing feelings for Francis was LaserGuidedKarma for his own wandering eye, he remains fairly sympathetic by having similar reasons for cheating as Sandy herself, who had also been treating him somewhat poorly.]] |
| 270 | %%* GreenEyedMonster: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p16.html A boyfriend]] who barely sees his girlfriend... |
| 271 | %%* GroinAttack: This is one of Lucy's specialties. |
| 272 | %%* [[HalloweenEpisode Halloween Chapter]]: Chapter 60 |
| 273 | %%* HerHeartWillGoOn: [[spoiler:[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41/p4.html It]] was a good [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41/p5.html end]] to a bad relationship. [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c47/p12.html Daisy]]]] also did it, after a lot of trouble, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41/p2.html and they stayed friends.]] |
| 274 | * HiddenDepths: Paulo's confident and somewhat unaffected-emotionally personality has issues of confidence after Jessica and Rachel lie just to hurt Tess, is aware of how he spent most of his relationship with Jasmine playing second to most of her life, and, earlier still, him becoming the way he is now to impress Lucy after being too shy to even talk to her. |
| 275 | %%** David. No, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c45/p17.html seriously]]. |
| 276 | %%* HiddenHeartOfGold: |
| 277 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c27/p6.html Lucy.]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p28.html This and the three after.]] She is a [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c61/p3.html Sugar And Ice Personality,]] after all. |
| 278 | %%** Based on the most "popular" opinion of him, Paulo is not obviously a good guy so often. |
| 279 | * HitMeDammit: After [[spoiler:Lucy]] returns, Mike expects her to lay one on him during a school dodge ball game, and gets frustrated with her because she won't. She doesn't give him the satisfaction and simply catches his ball instead. |
| 280 | * {{Homage}}: |
| 281 | ** There were two chapters solely dedicated to ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', and one based around ''[[TheRubRabbits Feel The Magic]]''. There's many more within the story itself, usually referenced by David. |
| 282 | ** Also David's analogy of Paulo's situation during the summer arc repeatedly referencing "[[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Gurren Lagann]]". |
| 283 | %%* HotTeacher: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c19/p5.html Lani]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c51/p6.html Amalu]] is awesome. |
| 284 | %%** Jessica to Lucy. |
| 285 | %%* HurricaneOfPuns: The entirety of "Catty Remarks". |
| 286 | * TheHyena: Rachel is prone to fits of laughing while taking part in teasing. |
| 287 | * IJustWantToBeBeautiful: Daisy is particularly jealous of all the male attention Tessa and Lucy receive, and assumes it's because of her "unremarkable" body. |
| 288 | * IJustWantToBeNormal: Sandy seems far less [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c58/p4.html attached]] to modeling than her mother. |
| 289 | * IJustWantToHaveFriends: Lucy's issues started when she was ostracized by everyone in ''preschool''. Also part of why she's so [[PleaseDontLeaveMe clingy]] at times. |
| 290 | %%* ImagineSpot: Chapter 59. |
| 291 | * IncompatibleOrientation: |
| 292 | ** Paulo begins getting jealous of Rachel's friend Matt in chapter 81, thinking that she's flirting with yet another guy. [[spoiler: The end of the chapter reveals that although Rachel did indeed attempt to woo him, Matt is gay, and has an apparent crush on Lucy's brother, Jordan.]] |
| 293 | ** There's also Jess's crush on Lucy, although it's never really discussed. |
| 294 | * IncorruptiblePurePureness: Daisy, outside of incentives, seems like the good girl no matter what. [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p53.html Her dreams]]... |
| 295 | * InelegantBlubbering: After having a nightmare about all her friends admitting their grievances towards her, [[spoiler:Lucy]] cries for the first time in a long time, showing that she really does still care about them all. |
| 296 | %%* InnocentInnuendo: |
| 297 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c7/p3.html Yashy]] was grammatically correct. |
| 298 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c33/p2.html "C'mon, BE A HOOKER WITH ME!! It'll be so exciting!!"]] Said by the one who usually laughs at innuendo, including the above example. |
| 299 | * InterspeciesRomance: |
| 300 | ** Abbey and Molly's foster parents Kevin (cat) and Janet (dog). |
| 301 | ** As a small set of examples, Katie has flirted with Mike, Paulo has had flings with girl dogs (particularly Rachel), and David hits on Lucy a '''lot'''. [[spoiler:Oh, and David ''may'' have a thing for Mike earlier and Abbey now.]] |
| 302 | ** Sue and [=McCain=]. [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c38.3/p5.html Kinda.]] |
| 303 | *** Not to mention she's the only one who calls him by his first name and [[strike:never]] almost never tells him to shut it. |
| 304 | ** It seems like Roger might be in one, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41/p5.html or at least might've been in one in chapter 41 "Moving On".]] |
| 305 | * {{Irony}}: A semi-common occurrence, but [[spoiler:Lucy's refusal to get closer to Mike before]] and [[spoiler:the end of Mike's hunt for Sandy]] may be the biggest two. DramaticIrony, perhaps. |
| 306 | * ItsAWonderfulPlot: One of the subscriber-only stories puts Mike in one of these, getting to see what Roseville would be like if he had never been born. David plays the role of the guardian angel. |
| 307 | * ItDoesntMeanAnything: Lucy [[spoiler:kissing Mike at the end of [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p1.html Confrontation]].]] |
| 308 | * IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: In Disaster Dominoes, [[spoiler:Lucy says Mike is too good for her.]] She may also be holding the same view now that he's ignoring her. |
| 309 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c47/p8.html Abbey]]. |
| 310 | * JerkAss: |
| 311 | ** Augustus and Roger, Tessa's ex-boyfriend. As well as Alejandro, often called "Rapecat"/"Confrontation Cat", who Augustus (Final Fantasy Cat) [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41/p1.html knows]], with potential dark {{foreshadowing}} for the future. |
| 312 | ** Alejandro; the only thing good thing about him is that [[spoiler:he ''might'' have a soft spot for his henchmen Toby and Augustus.]] |
| 313 | * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Paulo and Tessa; interesting in Tessa's case because she's trying to make up for her years of being a {{Jerkass}}. |
| 314 | %%** Possibly Jasmine, though she's a bit new to make the call.%% |
| 315 | %%* JumpScare: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c68/p13.html Halloween 2011]]. |
| 316 | %%* [[spoiler:KarmicDeath: Possibly, Disaster Dominoes Kizuna. The death part. She murdered four ''known'' people, and drank/played in their blood. Her murdering, as well as drinking the blood of the OD'd Paulo who had any number of [=STDs=], was not wise.]] |
| 317 | * KickChick: Lucy can slap and punch hard, but it's her kicks that hurt most. Also see GroinAttack. |
| 318 | * KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: |
| 319 | ** After breaking Abbey psychologically, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c40/p20.html Augustus starts making fun of him.]] |
| 320 | ** If [[spoiler:Lucy]] hadn't stalled him, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p14.html Alejandro]] would have crushed [[spoiler:Mike]]'s skull while down. |
| 321 | * [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: Kizuna's artist said not to use her, so she's [[http://taeshilh.deviantart.com/art/Farewell-Kizuna-160790131?qj=24&q=sort:time+favby:shadowlover50&qo=5945 gone]]. Also, Carson's gone [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c60/p11.html too.]] As is [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63.2/p10.html Carter.]] In fact, the only fancharacters left are Tess and [=McCain=]; all of the others who weren't KilledOffForReal have been PutOnABus, ''never'' to return.]] |
| 322 | %%* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:Lucy [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p16.html went through it]] for Mike, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p4.html who defended her feelings,]] ''long'' before [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c45/p4.html he decided]] she didn't love him.]] What happened? |
| 323 | * LastNameBasis: Alec "[=McCain=]" [=McCain=]. |
| 324 | * LikeBrotherAndSister: Mike and Lucy used to be this way. [[spoiler:Paulo and Daisy are, according to Paulo himself.]] The LoveChart says this is how Mike sees Daisy. |
| 325 | * LimitedWardrobe: |
| 326 | ** Many of the characters don't wear clothes or wear them at special occasions or specific places e.g. at Halloween, during the play, at batting cages. |
| 327 | ** Taeshi has a low opinion of her clothes-drawing skills but also doesn't want to field a lot of questions about why they do or don't wear clothes, so it is easiest if without is the norm. Background, minor or fashion interested characters are more likely to be drawn with outfits. |
| 328 | %%* LipstickLesbian: Apparently, Jessica fancies Lucy. |
| 329 | %%** Chapter 61 may have raised the number of aware fans. Specifically, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c61/p4.html this page.]] |
| 330 | %%*** It's even more [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p13.html blatant in Chapter 63]]. Rachel pretty much [[{{Pun}} lets the cat out of the bag]]. |
| 331 | %%** On the Ask Roseville High blog, Jasmine was asked her opinion on homosexuality and received glares from both Jess and David. |
| 332 | %%** [[invoked]]WordOfGod confirms that she only slept with Paulo to get back at Tess. |
| 333 | %%* LittleNo: "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p9.html N-no way.]] '''[[{{Melodrama}} YOU'RE ONE OF THEMMMM!!!!]]'''" |
| 334 | %%* LogicalFallacies |
| 335 | %%--> '''Kidnapper''': Oh yes. I've got you now! PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER! |
| 336 | %%--> '''Molly''': No I'm not. |
| 337 | %%--> '''K''': You can't fool me, child... |
| 338 | %%--> '''M''': [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c56/p12.html Isn't the president a dog?]] |
| 339 | * LonersAreFreaks: Lucy's loner preference comes from how she couldn't find acceptance for who she was. |
| 340 | * LongDistanceRelationship: Mike and Sandy. |
| 341 | * LovableCoward: Paulo's complete inability to cope with snarling and barking. He has an [[FreudianExcuse excuse]] for those. [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c60/p13.html These]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c60/p18.html two]], [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c60/p19.html not so much]]. Jasmine makes fun accordingly. The last link even has Abbey call him a coward. |
| 342 | %%* LovableSexManiac: Arguably Paulo. The lovable part, not the rest. [[spoiler:Since chapter 55, he's been better.]] |
| 343 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p52.html Rachel]]. |
| 344 | * LoveBubbles: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c5/p1.html Paulo and Alegria]]. Lampshaded with [=McCain=] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c38.3/p5.html getting a headache from the bubbles]] as he stares at Sue. |
| 345 | * LoveChart |
| 346 | ** Official chart as of Chapter 50 [[http://taeshilh.deviantart.com/art/BCB-Love-Chart-Uncoloured-150136806 here]]. Beware spoilers. Also in [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/candybooru/post/view/232 color]]. |
| 347 | ** And, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/candybooru/post/view/3376 an update]] was done. This is as of mid-63. |
| 348 | * LoveConfession: Provides the trope image, even. |
| 349 | ** [[spoiler:[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c47/p8.html Abbey to Daisy]]]] It succeeded. |
| 350 | ** [[spoiler:[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c51/p11.html Lucy to Mike]]]]. [[spoiler:It failed. Horribly.]] |
| 351 | * LoveDodecahedron: Though he showed minimal interest, Mike had an UnwantedHarem in middle school. Paulo had feelings for Lucy and Daisy along with other girls he's had flings with, Daisy has complicated feelings for Augustus, Mike, and Abbey, and Rachel has lingering feelings for Paulo. That's not even ''getting'' into the secondary or supporting cast here. |
| 352 | %%* LoveTriangle: [=SandyxMikexLucy=]. Also [=AbbeyxDaisyxAugustus=]. And maybe [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c52/p11.html SandyxMikexLucyxPaulo]]. |
| 353 | * LovingAShadow: Lucy had a genuine concern about this in regards to Mike's feelings, especially as he sometimes called her Sandy, pretended she was Sandy after Sandy left, and when out of it, has mistaken her for Sandy. However, it has been shown many times that he had genuine feelings for Lucy. When he reveals his hatred for her and how he never saw her as a friend, Lucy may have taken it that he only had a crush on her due to both superficial reasons (i.e. looks, proximity to him) and seeing her more as a ReplacementGoldfish rather than a true SecondLove. However, his conflicting with his feelings in early comics, his own admission that he once really loved her and his desire to reconcile once she returned, show this is not the truth. His desire to be loyal to Sandy and learning his treatment wasn't okay, made him resentful and even say he wanted her dead, but when she did almost die, he was horrified and his bad memories gave away to the sweet ones again. |
| 354 | %%* MacGuffin: Sandy is one. |
| 355 | * MaliciousSlander: One of Jessica's favorite weapons. [[spoiler:One that was used on her by Tess in the past, to devastating effect.]] |
| 356 | * ManIFeelLikeAWoman: In Janurary 7 of 2011's incentive comic [[spoiler:when, somehow, Paulo and Lucy trade bodies. Paulo's hands take notice rather quickly.]] |
| 357 | * MasterOfTheMixedMessage: Tess also shows... tendencies... She really REALLY likes Paulo, but refuses to let herself get close to him, since she's two years ahead of him and will end up leaving soon. Cue drama. |
| 358 | %%** Mike is actually sick of it from Lucy. |
| 359 | * MegatonPunch: Lucy can be a bit violent. [[spoiler:She usually isn't so often these days.]] |
| 360 | %%* {{Melodrama}}: |
| 361 | %%** "There has been a [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c33/p6.html massive]] kidnapping!" |
| 362 | %%** Pretty much anything [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c18/p7.html this reporter]] did. |
| 363 | * MetaGuy: David is the most prone to [[BreakingTheFourthWall breaking the fourth wall]] and [[ShoutOut shout outs]]. |
| 364 | * MirrorCharacter: Mike and Lucy, surprisingly. As of late, both of them have been having some similar outbursts with their friends for similar reasons: Mike is angry that none of them care about his increasingly hurtful relationship with Sandy even though he pushed them away by becoming a jerk. Lucy is angry because she thinks none of them can help her, despite the fact that she goes out of her way to avoid them now. This is emphasized further by having the [[https://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c110/p18 same]] [[https://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c114/p48 character]] [[NotSoDifferentRemark calling them out on this]]. |
| 365 | %%* MomentKiller: |
| 366 | %%** Yashy a few times in the [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/art/graveyard/unfulfilleddayyyy.png older stuff]] about 2/3s of the way down. |
| 367 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c41/p4.html Thanks]] for that, Lucy. She was trying to be graceful! |
| 368 | %%** Well, it's [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c38/p2.html David]] and all. |
| 369 | %%*** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p37.html MAKE OUT!!]] |
| 370 | * MotorMouth: Rachel is prone to blabbing secrets and saying tactless things when excited/amused. See DopeSlap. |
| 371 | %%* MouthyKid: Yashy, Lucy, occasionally Paulo, Mike under the influence... |
| 372 | %%* MyGirlIsNotASlut: The DoubleStandard is explored. |
| 373 | * {{Narm}}: In-Universe example. Not the comic itself, [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c55/p25.html but the movie Paulo and Jasmine go to see is apparently rife with it.]] |
| 374 | * NeverGetsDrunk: Averted with Mike. He's a [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p6.html lightweight.]] |
| 375 | * NeverMyFault: Abbey's father tore his family apart with his DomesticAbuse, but when the consequences caught up to him? He blamed Abbey. |
| 376 | * TheNicknamer: |
| 377 | ** Daisy (Mikie, Davie, Tessie) and Chirpy (girl-kitty, boy-kitty, curly-kitty, messy-kitty, meanie-kitty, boy-doggie), etc... |
| 378 | ** Yashy (Lucy/Mom) (Chirpy/Chirps) (Mike/Flea/Fleabag) ('''especially''' Daisy/Whore) (???/Blur), and Lily likes to add "-dear" to names. |
| 379 | ** Random people seem to call Mike "green eyes" and Lucy "blue eyes" in-comic. Most recent example is in chapter 61. Some readers consider it an ominous reference to a [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p5.html much earlier chapter]]. |
| 380 | * NightmareSequence: [[https://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c91/p1.html Chapter 91 (Dial Tone)]] is this, whilst also mixing in several {{Cerebus Retcon}}s. |
| 381 | %%* NoblewomansLaugh: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c8/p4.html Mike]], oddly enough. |
| 382 | * NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: In "Happy Hour", [[spoiler:a drunk Daisy apologizes to a drunk Mike over the latter's torment, only to admit her jealousy of Lucy in front of a sober Abbey. This causes Abbey to be insecure and break things off with Daisy.]] |
| 383 | %%* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Confrontation, but especially [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p25.html this page.]] |
| 384 | %%-->'''Daisy:''' Umm, guys... I think you're going to kill him... |
| 385 | %%-->'''Mike and Lucy:''' '''''NO WE'RE NOT!''''' |
| 386 | * NoNameGiven: The characters' last names are a mystery, except Tessa because she's originally a fan character. Also, Blur. Amnesia does that. |
| 387 | %%* NoSenseOfPersonalSpace: David. Dude. [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c44/p13.html Not cool]]. When the group TheCasanova is disturbed, you should take notice. |
| 388 | %%* NonSequitur: Oh, David! |
| 389 | %%-->[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c14/p2.html Ovaries]] |
| 390 | %%* {{Nosebleed}}: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p19.html Not a comedic one,]] like the other examples were. |
| 391 | * NoYay: In-Universe. David trying to ship Paulo with Daisy consistently {{squick}}ed him. Since their vibe was LikeBrotherAndSister at the time, it's certainly understandable. Though, as David brought up, they're NotBloodSiblings. Jasmine [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p18.html agrees]] with the ship. At least teasingly. |
| 392 | * OnceDoneNeverForgotten: The rest of the school subjects Jessica and Tess to this treatment, even though ([[spoiler:Jessica is not actually a slut, and Tess regrets the bullying she did]]). |
| 393 | * OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Alec[[note]][=McCain=][[/note]], Augustus[[note]]Final Fantasy Cat[[/note]], and Alejandro[[note]]Rapecat[[/note]] are not often referred to by name. |
| 394 | %%* SanityBall: Sue usually holds it, though Abbey gets his share as well. |
| 395 | %%** [=McCain=] thinks of himself as this, but his general lack of tact says otherwise. |
| 396 | %%* TheOphelia: Lucy, when she thinks Mike has [[spoiler:died during summer vacation]]. |
| 397 | %%** Lucy again, by Taeshi. Happier [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/candybooru/post/view/1512 ending]], though. |
| 398 | * OppositesAttract: |
| 399 | ** Lucy, a textbook case for {{Tsundere}}, with Mike, a textbook mousy loser. |
| 400 | ** Mike again with Sandy, especially since he's a normal guy who's constantly cracking under emotional pressure and she's a celebrity who seems to have her life in order. |
| 401 | * PantslessMalesFullyDressedFemales: Generally as a rule most people avert this, but when time comes for a special occasion, all of the girls actually bother to wear clothes over their fur, but the main boys will usually remain naked save for an accessory. |
| 402 | %%* PassThePopcorn: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p13.html Here.]] Amaya actually works at a movie theater as well. |
| 403 | %%* PerverseSexualLust: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/forum/archive/69473.html "I would TOTALLY f**k Lucy."]] |
| 404 | %%* PhraseCatcher: "Shut it, [=McCain=]!" |
| 405 | %%* PimpedOutDress: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c22.1/p1.html Minor]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c40/p3.html examples.]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c45/p17.html Royals.]] |
| 406 | * PinkGirlBlueBoy: Sort of. At the start, Lucy has her bow and Mike's scarf is blue. [[spoiler:Mike gets another when he restarts his relationship with Sandy.]] |
| 407 | * PleaseDontLeaveMe: Lucy should get the phrase tattooed on her forehead, no matter how much she tries to hide it. |
| 408 | * PlotBasedPhotographObfuscation: [[https://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c1/p1 The very first page]] has Lucy holding up a picture frame with a crack obscuring Mike's face after Yashy accidentally breaks it. The crack would foreshadow Lucy and Mike's complicated relationship. |
| 409 | * PreAssKickingOneLiner: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p24.html "You hurt Mike. That's the meanest of all."]] |
| 410 | * ProperlyParanoid: Possibly Justin's reaction to meeting David again. |
| 411 | %%* PsychoticSmirk: |
| 412 | %%** Who didn't see trouble coming when ''[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p6.html they]]'' started smirking? |
| 413 | %%--->'''Alejandro''': [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p19.html What I'll do to you...]] |
| 414 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c56/p10.html Here]] and a few less-impressive ones two pages later. |
| 415 | %%* PsychicDreamsForEveryone: Conversed. Mike, Abby, and David believe dreams can be so. Lucy doesn't. |
| 416 | %%* PunctuatedForEmphasis: |
| 417 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c40/p18.html "Get. Away. From her."]] |
| 418 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c64/p1.html "What. The hell. Are you doing?"]] |
| 419 | %%* TheQuietOne: Alec, while Amaya is TheSilentBob. |
| 420 | * RageBreakingPoint: |
| 421 | ** When Daisy tells Jess to lighten up about Tess, Jess basically explodes and gives a tirade that amounts to, "You know what? You weren't there, you have no idea what I went through because of her so '''SHUT UP!!'''" Naturally, Daisy didn't take it well. |
| 422 | ** [[spoiler:In "Happy Hour", [[InVinoVeritas a very inebriated Mike]] snaps after revealing how he drove Lucy to her DespairEventHorizon, slamming his friends for [[ButtMonkey never standing up for him against Lucy's physical abuse towards him]] and thus adding to his overall resentment of her.]] |
| 423 | * RapeAsDrama: Alejandro intended to do [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p15.html this]] to Lucy. Augustus intended [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c40/p17.html it]] for Daisy after breaking her down. The latter one was mentioned [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p7.html here]] later. |
| 424 | * RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: While the cast has done morally questionable acts to each other throughout the story, just about the only character who remains unsympathetic is Alejandro. He goes above and beyond some of the other jerks in the story (including [[AbusiveParents Abbey's Father]]) by outright sexually abusing one of his girlfriends and nearly raping Lucy, [[spoiler:who is still traumatized by the events of the ''Confrontation'' arc]]. |
| 425 | * ReallyGetsAround: Popularly believed to be Jessica. Averted, though, by Pillow Talk. Rachel,[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p52.html on the other hand]]... |
| 426 | * TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: |
| 427 | ** In "December", [[spoiler:Mike nastily picks apart how he perceives Lucy's character]]. |
| 428 | ** Paulo gets this too, [[spoiler: from Jasmine. After he has broken up with her for Lucy, when Lucy is gone she walks into Daisy's study party and finds Rachel all over him. After the party, she picks him apart with a short speech.]] |
| 429 | ** Mike gets several from many different characters after [[spoiler:laying into Lucy in "December" and her suicide attempt]], but the one that stung the most was [[spoiler:Lucy herself essentially cutting off all branches with him when he poorly attempts to apologize for his behavior.]] |
| 430 | ** In the 111th chapter, ''Burnt Bridges'', Augustus gives Mike one in regards to [[spoiler:giving Lucy hopes that the two of them are finally an item after a BigDamnKiss and then immediately reconciling with Sandy afterwards, breaking her heart the next day]]. |
| 431 | --->"You owed Lucy something after that night. Instead you undid every bit of good she did for herself. Every bit of growth she's shown. Now she's back at square one. All for something SHE predicted. Something she KNEW you were going to do. And the only reason she fell for your bullshit again was because she can't stand seeing you suffer. So please just leave her the fuck alone for once. I'd tell you to go fix it, but I know you can only make things worse..." |
| 432 | * RecapEpisode: The first chapter of Book Two serves as this for all of the developments in the first few years of the comic, and Chapter 97 serves as a refresher for everything that happened since [[spoiler:Lucy's suicide attempt and school transfer]]. |
| 433 | %%* RedEyesTakeWarning: Jessica usually averts this, except when Tess is involved. |
| 434 | * ReformedButRejected: |
| 435 | ** "Pillow Talk" reveals [[spoiler:the old Tess]] was quite the nasty piece of work. Small wonder she's had trouble getting others to accept her...The bonus comic after Chapter 97 shows that Tess' influence is still felt by those she hurt by [[spoiler:spreading rumors]], but at the very least Jasmine is on speaking terms with her. She reflected on her actions and even learned about part of the experience when she discovers she's bisexual, but that doesn't mean that they're willing to forgive her just yet. |
| 436 | ** [[spoiler:Augustus]] proves to be the least toxic of Alejandro's cronies, even [[spoiler:earning Lucy's trust by calling for medical attention when discovered her post-suicide attempt]] and properly attending school [[spoiler:with Lucy and her family's help]]. The other cats, particularly Paulo, are still not too keen on him because of how he acted with Daisy. |
| 437 | %%* RelationshipUpgrade: Subverted: [[spoiler:More like a relationship downgrade in Lucy's case...]] |
| 438 | %%** Played straight for [[LongDistanceRelationship Mike and Sandy]]. As well as Abbey and Daisy. |
| 439 | * RememberTheNewGuy: Let's face it, people: Suddenly introducing Sam, Lucy's brother SIXTY-THREE chapters in was a bit jarring... Which is to say nothing of Haley, Mike's sister, who was introduced five chapters after that! |
| 440 | %%* ReplacementGoldfish: Lucy on both sides of it. |
| 441 | * {{Retcon}}: As stated in its commentary, [[https://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p6 this page]] was supposed to foreshadow the appearance of Alejandro and Toby in Confrontation, as well as explain why Paulo has a phobia of barking but it was then changed to be random bullies and [[https://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c14/p10 Toby just happens to trigger the phobia without knowing]]. |
| 442 | %%* TheReveal: Finally, we learn the true reason [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p19.html why Jessica hates Tess.]] |
| 443 | %%* RichBitch: Tess was one in the past. Still rich, not so bitchy now. |
| 444 | %%* RousingSpeech: Abbey gives a [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p11.html big]] one. |
| 445 | * RuleOfDrama: Often in effect and a driving force of the comic, along with CharacterDevelopment. |
| 446 | %%* RunningGag: |
| 447 | %%** "Hi, I'm Daisy!" |
| 448 | %%** BOP. See DopeSlap. |
| 449 | %%* SanitySlippage: [[spoiler:In Disaster Dominoes, Kizuna was losing it. Daisy and Lucy didn't look any better either.]] |
| 450 | %%* SayItWithHearts: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c33/p2.html Personally]], [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c60/p8.html I]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c60/p5.html think]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c60/p3.html you]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p8.html get]] it. |
| 451 | * ScarsAreForever: |
| 452 | ** Final Fantasy Cat has a scar he tries to cover up with his hair. |
| 453 | ** Kizuna has one on her left arm. She begins to explain, but then David cuts her off and we never hear how she got it. [[note]]It's been explained on the forums that she got it from a {{Yakuza}} hitman attempting to kill her after offing her parents.[[/note]] |
| 454 | ** OutOfFocus, but Alejandro got a scar from his old girlfriend. It's one of his defining appearance details. |
| 455 | * SheCleansUpNicely: While already pretty, the prom/carnival night Daisy and Tess were ''gorgeous''. |
| 456 | * SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Mike toward Lucy around the start of the comic. Paulo and Tessa as well. |
| 457 | * ShipSinking: |
| 458 | ** [[spoiler: Any possibility of Mike/Lucy, after Lucy cuts off all ties with him in Chapter 96.]] |
| 459 | ** Paulo/Lucy tanks ''hard'' when [[spoiler:Lucy tells Paulo that he never had a chance]] in Chapter 97. |
| 460 | ** At this point, almost the entire BCB ship fleet is sunk at this moment. The only ones who are still stable are Jessica X Madison and Mike X Sandy (with the latter in real danger of suffering the same fate). Other than that, the only heterosexual ship that even has a remote chance at becoming canon is Paulo X Daisy. |
| 461 | ** As of "Eternal Flame" [[spoiler: Mike X Sandy has finally sunk.]] |
| 462 | * ShipTease: |
| 463 | ** Sue's example in Doesn't Know Her Own Strength, post crushing Mike, looks rather sweet. |
| 464 | ** In "Moments Apart", Abbey finds himself staring at Jasmine during Daisy's birthday party. He insists that she's [[JustFriends just a good, supportive friend]], but he's blushing the whole time he says it. |
| 465 | ** "Date Night", has James blushing over [[spoiler:Mike]]. The two momentarily hold hands in the theater. |
| 466 | * ShipperOnDeck: |
| 467 | ** David wants Paulo and Daisy to end up together, whereas Tessa and Abbey question Mike's relationship with Sandy when they would prefer him to be with Lucy. |
| 468 | ** Also the pets, who continually make allusions to the attraction between Lucy and Mike, are actively belligerent to anyone else who likes Mike (at least, Yashy is), and, well... [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c24/p2.html this]]. |
| 469 | ** I say this shows they were [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c46/p12.html right]]. |
| 470 | ** David in chapter 45 for Paulo. |
| 471 | ** The artist did the appropriately named [[http://taeshilh.deviantart.com/art/Shipper-on-Deck-163992402 Shipper On Deck]]. This may well explain ''where'' Liam popping up came from. |
| 472 | ** Sue got Lucy and Mike into the lead roles of her play, making them ''have'' to be near each other... |
| 473 | * SexIsEvil: The main teacher from middle school was some kind of Sex KnightTemplar. |
| 474 | * ShooOutTheClowns: Besides David (mostly) being absent from any major drama, when [[spoiler:Lucy's pets leave with her and Blur runs away]], you know dark times are ahead. |
| 475 | * ShoutOut: |
| 476 | ** Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Anime/DiGiCharat'', and ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' references are scattered all throughout the comic. |
| 477 | ** David apparently watches ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann''. |
| 478 | *** Apparently, Taeshi [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c35/p4.html reads]] ''Webcomic/{{Lackadaisy}}''. |
| 479 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p17.html I'm feeling]] a [[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]] vibe... |
| 480 | %%* SickeninglySweethearts: |
| 481 | %%** Daisy and Abbey. |
| 482 | %%*** [[spoiler: Not anymore.]] |
| 483 | %%** [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c64/p2.html Michael and Sandy]]. |
| 484 | %%*** [[spoiler: '''Not anymore.''']] |
| 485 | * SignificantBirthDate: |
| 486 | ** Sandy was born on March 14th, known as White Day in Japan. |
| 487 | ** The Flower Girl was born on March 27, when Yukio Ozaki donated cherry trees to Washington D.C. |
| 488 | ** Molly was born on Children's Day in Japan. |
| 489 | ** Augustus was born on October 1st, which is the day Website/FourChan was founded. |
| 490 | * SingleTargetSexuality: |
| 491 | ** Abbey only likes Daisy, unlike everyone else who have various crushes and attractions. Abbey and Augustus can't stand each other, but both are the same way over the same girl. |
| 492 | *** For Augustus, ''may''' be disproved eventually, based on [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p8.html this]] hint at future events. |
| 493 | ** Kizuna only showed romantic interest in David. |
| 494 | %%** CARTER LOVES LUCY |
| 495 | %%* SlasherSmile: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p11.html And then there was barking...]] |
| 496 | %%* SleepCute: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c46/p12.html D'awwww!]] Also a {{tearjerker}}. |
| 497 | %%* SmoochOfVictory: The end of "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p1.html Confrontation]]". |
| 498 | %%** Sadly, Lucy's {{tsundere}}-ism probably led to how things are now. |
| 499 | %%* SmugSnake: Augustus [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c40/p20.html has]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c63/p7.html tried]] to be the ManipulativeBastard, though these friends ''do'' talk. |
| 500 | * {{Squee}}: Abbey's [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p14.html stress ball]], though his facial expression is anything-but. Actually, going by page comments, panel 7 makes ''some'' people want to love him. And others just find it hilarious. |
| 501 | * StageMom: Sandy's mom wants her to be a model. |
| 502 | %%* StalkerWithACrush: Carter (to Lucy), Kizuna (to David), David (to the flower girl). |
| 503 | %%** And then there [[AttemptedRape was]] Final Fantasy Cat to Daisy... |
| 504 | * StatusQuoIsGod: 'Shake things up with Sue' campaign was being troubled by people wanting unrealistic things, rather than Sue and Alec's realistic goals. The point of the idea was to ''not'' just get some random popular kid in office. [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c62/p5.html Silly Sue, realistic policies? Nobody is gonna vote for those!]] |
| 505 | * StealthPun: What David sees most innuendo as. |
| 506 | %%* StepfordSmiler: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c56/p17.html Molly]] at times. |
| 507 | %%** If IJustWantToBeNormal is right, Sandy. |
| 508 | %%* StereotypeGay: Carson. |
| 509 | * StockPhrases: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c28.1/p1.html "Oh, Carson! What'll I ever do with you!"]] He answered. |
| 510 | %%* StraightGay: Matt |
| 511 | * [[StupidSexyFlanders Stupid Sexy Paulo]]: Mike's dream during the vacation. He [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c43/p11.html was]] less than happy. He also looks really good in clothes. |
| 512 | * StupidSexyFriend: Both Mike and Lucy had this going for one another in earlier chapters. |
| 513 | * [[invoked]]SubbingVersusDubbing: One chapter has this as its central conflict. Paulo, Daisy, David, and some other friends go off to watch an anime movie, but they all ended up at the dub showing instead of the sub. The trope is discussed at length by all of the characters, but the worst of the extremists play the antagonist role-- they mistakenly came to the dub showing just like Daisy and crew, but instead of just dealing with it stop the movie wholesale and force the theatre to play the sub version instead. While most of the room cheers, one character is visibly upset because they like dubs and can't keep up with reading subtitles. |
| 514 | %%* SunglassesAtNight: Not shown yet, but Alec is ONLY seen wearing them. |
| 515 | %%* TechnicolorEyes |
| 516 | * TearsOfRemorse: [[spoiler:Paulo]] sheds a few in "Unspoken Rule" after [[spoiler:listening to Daisy's apology]]. |
| 517 | * TeenGenius: |
| 518 | ** Daisy, to the point that she tutored Tessa, who is two years above her. |
| 519 | ** Sue, as Paulo said, is "...too smart for me. The annoying kind of smart...", suggesting she is probably one too. That gets mentioned in Confrontation, too. [[spoiler:She is smart, but may be outclassed by Daisy. Chapter 62 has more on this.]] |
| 520 | * TertiarySexualCharacteristics:What Lucy's bow originally was. It's not necessary anymore, but it's her bow. The ''real'' difference between girl and boy animals? In the absence of breasts, the girls have eyelashes, and the boys do not. |
| 521 | * ThirdOptionLoveInterest: As [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c55/p29.html Lucy and Tess]] struggle over their feelings for Paulo, he finally chooses... the freshman Jasmine, introduced completely out of nowhere! [[spoiler:However, he still harbors interest in Lucy, and ultimately breaks up with Jasmine for her. Not that he counted on her moving away, of course. He gets a fourth option, Rachel, some time afterwards]]. The outcome of it all was that [[spoiler:''none'' of these girls get/stay with him. His real, continuous love interest was [[FirstGirlWins Daisy]], given that their relationship takes the most turns and they receive a lot of ShipTease in the later parts of the story.]] |
| 522 | %%* TheCobblersChildrenHaveNoShoes: The sex teacher. |
| 523 | * ThenLetMeBeEvil: [[spoiler:Paulo goes through a variant of this from "Golden Hour" to "Unspoken Rule" after Daisy literally calls him out for his treatment of Abbey.]] |
| 524 | %%* ThroughAFaceFullOfFur: This really helps with attraction hints. |
| 525 | %%* TimeSkip: In "Another Path", the daydream chapter. |
| 526 | * TitleDrop: Parodied in "Like a Bittersweet Candy Bowl". As the opening chapter of the original edition of Volume 1, the chapter acted as a character reintroduction for new readers. When Mike notices and contemplates how their character introductions show their positive and negative interactions, Lucy chimes in by not at all subtly asking if it's "like a Bitter Sweet Candy Bowl" in the title font. |
| 527 | * [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath: In Disaster Dominoes, shortly after Mike is killed, Lucy jumps from the roof of the school to join him.]] |
| 528 | * {{Tomboy}}: So much so that Lucy didn't get along well with girls in elementary school and only wanted to play with cars. |
| 529 | %%* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Lucy and Daisy respectively. |
| 530 | * TookALevelInBadass: Mike temporarily during the Confrontation chapter while he was drunk. But not for long. |
| 531 | * TookALevelInJerkass: Some view Mike as this after Lucy confessed her love to him. [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c68/p29.html Chapter]] [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c68/p30.html 68]], for example, was just one of many moments where his bitterness got the better of him. Eventually he tones it down and realizes how awful he was being, at least. [[ZigZaggingTrope And then ramps it back]] when [[spoiler:his relationship with Sandy starts to deteriorate, becoming so unpleasant to be around that he starts driving away his friends. This actually coincides with many of them rekindling their relationships with Lucy, which is ironic, given that Mike, during his TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Lucy, predicted their friends would abandon her in his favor]]. |
| 532 | %%** Paulo became more of a jerk throughout volumes 5 and 6, but stops afterward. |
| 533 | * {{Tsundere}}: |
| 534 | ** Lucy is the premier example. [[spoiler: This tendency doesn't go too far, or at least, isn't often narratively rewarded. Lucy, while occasionally sweet, is more often than not rude, condescending, and violent. Mike, the main object of both her abusive and dependent tendencies, finally gets sick of her BS, and even though he handles the situation less than well, quite rightfully points out that his friends always make him out to be the "bad guy" despite being all but trapped in a toxic friendship since before elementary school.]] |
| 535 | ** Madison takes over this role after [[spoiler:Lucy's suicide attempt]], being a mostly bratty but well-meaning person. She only lets out her ''dere'' when she's either with her girlfriend or she starts warming up to others. |
| 536 | %%* TroubledButCute: Lucy and Tess. |
| 537 | * TrueCompanions: Lucy, Mike, Paulo, David, and Daisy made the original five before Tessa and Abbey showed up in high school. Shortly after most of the main cast's Sophomore year begins, Jasmine comes into the picture. She is working towards potentially being a member. |
| 538 | %%* TurnOutLikeHisFather: Augustus beat Abbey by implying this, but [[spoiler:then lost since he couldn't hope to be close to Daisy afterward.]] |
| 539 | %%** Disaster Dominoes' Abbey was a less than good boyfriend... |
| 540 | * TWordEuphemism: After Kizuna was [[spoiler:inelegantly booted from the comic]], the forum's swear filter was used in reverse on her name, to discourage further discussion of the character. When she has to be mentioned, it's usually as K-Dog. |
| 541 | * TwoTeacherSchool: There are several "repeat teachers" since high school. |
| 542 | %%* UnderTheMistletoe: Tessa and Paulo. |
| 543 | * TheUnfairSex: When Mike first revealed he had a longtime crush on Sandy, he was immediately accused of 'cheating' on Lucy and suffered several AmusingInjuries at the hands of 'angry feminists'. This happened ''again'' at the end of "Left Behind", with Paulo teasing Mike about -- {{GASP}} -- ''talking'' to Tess and calling a 'crazy feminist SWAT team' down on him. Has since been deconstructed in that the utter LackOfEmpathy Mike has gotten from his friends after [[spoiler:rejecting Lucy's confession because he was already in a LongDistanceRelationship with Sandy]] only seems to be hardening his heart further. |
| 544 | %%* UnknownRival: Lucy toward Mike. |
| 545 | * UnluckyChildhoodFriend: Paulo ultimately acts as this to Lucy, and Daisy is this to Mike. Lucy ''used'' to be this following Mike's dating Sandy, but her situation is complicated [[spoiler:especially given the relationship troubles Sandy and Mike eventually have once she's revealed to have cheated on him.]] |
| 546 | * UnrequitedLoveSwitcheroo: And how! First we have Mike crushing on Lucy, and Lucy's Tsundere reactions. Then we get [[spoiler:Lucy toning down the bullshit and looking at Mike more romantically...''after'' said Tsundere antics drive him away]]. And ''then'' [[spoiler: Lucy moves on from the experience and cuts off her ties with Mike, and Mike's stuck wanting to apologize but can't since he wanted those ties gone in the first place, but a tumultous relationship fumble with Sandy leads to him desperately kissing (and getting kissed ''back'' by) Lucy despite everything.]] |
| 547 | * UnresolvedSexualTension: Mike and Lucy, the series' primary couple. It is seemingly resolved when [[spoiler:Lucy admits she resents Mike for his part in her suicidal depression, but we later learn it's just a front and both parties still have untreated feelings for each other.]] [[{{Lampshade}} Lampshaded]] in the FAQ page, where for a while, the last question was "Will Mike and Lucy end up together (or something alike)?" The answer would actually blink alternately between Yes and No. Some people took it seriously, and it was eventually removed. |
| 548 | * ValleyGirl: Katie and Stacy. Subverted with Stacy, [[InformedAbility since she's very skilled with the written word]] in spite of how she talks. |
| 549 | * VignetteEpisode: "Everyday Life", the intermission chapter after 97, showcases various characters' lives and actions after certain events. |
| 550 | %%* VitriolicBestBuds: Mike and Lucy. Type 2. [[spoiler:Originally.]] |
| 551 | %%** Mike and Paulo at times. Also type 2. Best buds is pushing it, though. |
| 552 | %%*** Even then, [[spoiler:Mike is finally reaching the point where he's had it with Paulo's teasing. This can only end badly.]] |
| 553 | * VomitDiscretionShot: |
| 554 | ** [[spoiler: Lucy's [[StressVomit reaction]] to Mike's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech and subsequent ''proclamation of hatred'' towards her in "December".]] |
| 555 | ** One of Paulo's [[SarcasmMode benefits]] at his [[BurgerFool job at a local Burger Joint]] is getting to clean up kid vomit. |
| 556 | ** Jess [[TheFoodPoisoningIncident eats some bad oysters]] at a school dance and has to stay behind to, er detoxify while Paulo and two others head on home. [[spoiler: This ends up saving her from a car crash; and adding salt into the wound she's the one to mock Paulo's beat-up face at the hospital later]] |
| 557 | ** In "Happy Hour", Sue, Paulo, and as we later find out, Daisy end up drinking themselves sick at Rachel's party. Notably, [[spoiler: Paulo's vomiting arguably [[CallBack mirrors]] Lucy's StressVomit at the end of "December".]] |
| 558 | * VomitIndiscretionShot: [[spoiler: Lucy]] again in [[spoiler: [[WorkingThroughTheCold "Carry Me"]]]] (Note that unlike December above, this scene was PlayedForLaughs). |
| 559 | * WaterfallPuke: In "Happy Hour" a drunken Sue does this partially offscreen. |
| 560 | * WeaksauceWeakness: Lucy's pretty tough, but reasonably deep water or the idea of trying to swim can freak her out easily. Paulo can be reduced to cowering by mean growling and most barking. Both have childhood trauma justifying it. |
| 561 | %%** The relevant chapters and biggest examples are: |
| 562 | %%*** Lucy: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c30/p1.html why]] and [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c44/p1.html signs]] of it |
| 563 | %%*** Paulo: [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c10/p1.html why]] and [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p1.html signs]] of it. |
| 564 | * WebcomicTime: |
| 565 | ** The Summer Vacation arc took practically a year, lampshaded in a [[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/art/official/bittersweetchristmas.jpg Christmas comic]]: Once Mike realised they're still in Acapulco, the wintry scene changed to a beach. |
| 566 | ** So far, the comic is still in the [[spoiler:2007-2008 school year from the looks of it.]] |
| 567 | %%* WellExcuseMePrincess: [[http://taeshilh.deviantart.com/art/Attention-Please-107494574 "Attention Please."]] ends with it. |
| 568 | * WeUsedToBeFriends: [[spoiler:Lucy's abusive {{Tsundere}} behavior towards Mike eventually results in a blistering TheReasonYouSuckSpeech from him, which effectively destroys their friendship, and leads Lucy to [[BungledSuicide attempt suicide]] and move away. Then, once she [[TheBusCameBack returns to Roseville High]], she makes it clear to Mike that she has no interest in his stuttering attempts at reconciliation. This even extends to rest of their friendship group, as Lucy firmly distances herself from them as well...at least, until she gets back to school, where she amicably talks to them sometimes.]] |
| 569 | * WhamEpisode: |
| 570 | ** "Confrontation" is the first example of this, where [[spoiler: the friend group gets attacked by muggers, and after all that is over, Lucy gives Mike a kiss.]] |
| 571 | ** The entire Acapulco arc. Tess brings everyone on a trip to Acapulco, but Daisy and Abbey stay behind. During the trip, Mike falls off a bridge and almost dies, leaving Lucy a complete wreck. After this incident, Mike declares that [[spoiler: nothing is going to happen between him and Lucy.]] And when everyone returns home from the trip, they learn that [[spoiler: Daisy and Abbey have gotten together.]] |
| 572 | ** Chapter 51, where [[spoiler:[[{{Tsundere}} Lucy]] finally works up the courage to tell [[DoggedNiceGuy Mike]] she loves him... only for him to reject her on account of him already having a girlfriend.]] Possibly WORSE is Chapter 52, [[spoiler:where Mike finally gets sick of Lucy's awful behavior towards him, leaving her nearly broken inside. Keep in mind that nearly the entire comic had been built upon Mike's friendship with Lucy, and his willingness to look past her attitude to see who she really was.]] Yeah. WHAM. |
| 573 | ** "Pillow Talk" just has to be one of the craziest chapters so far. [[spoiler:First, Mike ignores Lucy on her birthday, breaking her more, which then reveals that he's been ignoring her since the debate in "Feline Filibuster". Then, TheReveal on why Jess hates Tess (see FreudianExcuse). And then Lucy's flashback to when she had her real first kiss and Mike gave her a chance to have a relationship with him. But then, she pushes away that chance due to them being twelve at the time. When it ended, Lucy then realizes that her chances with Mike now are gone.]] Yeah... |
| 574 | ** "December". After it seems like the two are finally somewhat reconciling, [[spoiler:Mike]] is reminded why he's been avoiding [[spoiler:Lucy]] for so long. [[spoiler:[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Mike then DESTROYS whatever is left of his friendship with Lucy,]]]] leaving the already emotionally wrecked latter in even ''worse'' condition. [[SarcasmMode Merry Christmas everyone!]] |
| 575 | ** "Breaking Up". [[spoiler:Lucy gets PutOnABus, Paulo begins to break down, and Mike finally begins to [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realize how horribly he'd acted in the past few months]].]] |
| 576 | ** "Happy Hour". [[spoiler: Mike tells everyone about the events of December, Paulo breaks down in front of Rachel, and Daisy blurts out her feelings for Mike in front of Abbey.]] |
| 577 | ** Chapters 95 and 96 are a twofer. [[spoiler:[[TheBusCameBack Lucy returns]], Abbey and Daisy break up, Augustus moves in with Lucy, Paulo and Rachel break up, and Lucy announces that she wants nothing to do with Mike anymore.]] |
| 578 | ** "Eternal Flame": [[spoiler: After learning Sandy likes someone else and was potentially cheating on him, Mike vents to Lucy, who he ends up kissing. However, back home, Mike gets another call from Sandy who apologizes and claims to have cut ties with that person. Mike accepts Sandy's apology and gets back together with her, leaving Lucy emotionally wrecked once again and destroying any possible hope that they could become friends again.]] |
| 579 | * WhamLine: |
| 580 | ** [[spoiler:"What am I supposed to do?!"]] |
| 581 | ** [[spoiler:"I HATE YOU."]] |
| 582 | ** "Breaking Up" boasts several. |
| 583 | ---> '''Ms. Amalu''': [[spoiler:Lucy will no longer be attending this school.]] |
| 584 | ---> '''Paulo''': You don't fucking GET IT! (In response to [[spoiler:Daisy trying to calm him down when trying to learn what happened to Lucy]]) |
| 585 | ---> '''[[spoiler:Yashy]]''': [[spoiler:G'bye, Mike.[[note]]Up until this point, Yashy had only called Mike either "Flea" or "Fleabag".[[/note]]]] |
| 586 | ** "Happy Hour" also had one from Daisy to Mike. |
| 587 | ---> '''Daisy''': [[spoiler:What made [Lucy] better than me]]? |
| 588 | ** "Model Girlfriend" |
| 589 | ---> '''[[spoiler:Sandy]]''': [[spoiler:Why don't you just '''''GROW UP?!''''']] |
| 590 | ** "Love Again" has more than one. |
| 591 | ---> '''[[spoiler:Lucy]]''': [[spoiler:And I'll have you know, [Augustus] is the boy who [[HappilyFailedSuicide saved my life]].]] |
| 592 | ---> '''[[spoiler:Lucy]]''': [[spoiler:(After [[BungledSuicide surviving an attempted suicide]] by jumping off a rooftop.) What just...It hurts...it...it hurts...what did I...]] |
| 593 | ** "Unspoken Rule" |
| 594 | ---> '''[[spoiler:Lucy]]''': [[spoiler:I don't fucking like you anymore, okay?]] |
| 595 | ** "It's All In The Mind" |
| 596 | ---> '''Daisy''': Well, at least you got [[spoiler: Sandy]], right? |
| 597 | ---> '''Mike''': [[spoiler: Haha, I wish. It's been weeks.]] |
| 598 | ** "Witch Hunt" |
| 599 | ---> '''Daisy''': Maybe it's not all about you all the time, okay? (Calling Mike out for constantly insulting Lucy) |
| 600 | ---> '''Paulo''': Yeah, figures I'd get the answering machine. (Later revealed to be him using Mike's phone to leave a harsh message for Sandy) |
| 601 | ** "Eternal Flame" |
| 602 | --->'''[[spoiler:Sandy]]''': [[spoiler:I think... I like... Someone else.]] |
| 603 | * WhamShot: |
| 604 | ** ''Dial Tone'' episode 2: Mike turns the corner in school and runs smack dab into [[spoiler:''Lucy''.]] |
| 605 | ** "High Expectations": Mike angrily [[spoiler: slams Paulo's face onto the table]]. |
| 606 | %%* WhatBeautifulEyes: Lucy. |
| 607 | * WhatIf: Many of these spin off from specific chapters in the series, and with the exception of a handful, are given the collective name of "Another [X]": |
| 608 | ** [[spoiler:"Disaster Dominoes" (thankfully noncanon) asks "What if one of the characters suddenly became an AxCrazy mass murderer? The answer? Very unpleasent stuff happens.]] |
| 609 | ** Another Path asks, [[spoiler:What if Paulo had sex with Lucy during her [[HeroicBSOD mental breakdown]] in "Another Shoulder"? Answer: Paulo and Lucy get together and the strip would end with both Lucy and Mike happy with their respective loves.]] |
| 610 | ** "Another Chance" asks [[spoiler:What if Abbey didn't show up in "Love My Way"? Answer: Augustus would've just kissed Daisy, and she still would be talking to him. Oh, and Abbey and Daisy would not get together.]] |
| 611 | ** "Grave Concern" explores what would have happened if [[spoiler:Lucy succeeded in killing herself]]. [[InSpiteOfANail Not much changes]] honestly, but now [[spoiler:Lucy haunts Mike and comments on the happenings.]] |
| 612 | ** "Another Flame" looks at what would happen if Mike decided [[spoiler:''not'' to take Sandy back after her fling with Francis. He and Lucy also have a much healthier interaction and decide to patch things up and start over as friends]]. |
| 613 | ** "Date Night" gets ''two'' offshoot comics, each where [[spoiler:James]] gets with either Mike (in "Another Direction") or Paulo (in "Another Date"). |
| 614 | ** "Another Choice" explores what would have happened if Mike had simply accepted Lucy's feelings in "A Distance Apart". |
| 615 | * WhenSheSmiles: Lucy, oh so much. We, as the viewers, see a lot more smiles than other characters. |
| 616 | * WholeEpisodeFlashback: "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c30/p1.html Troubled Waters]]", "[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c26/p1.html Misunderstanding and Change]]". |
| 617 | * WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou: Alejandro [[spoiler:[[http://www.bittersweetcandybowl.com/c12/p19.html as he beat and brutalized Lucy]]]]. |
| 618 | * WithFriendsLikeThese: |
| 619 | ** Paulo and Mike were "friends" since the fifth grade but only truly started to get along well during the time that Lucy was away as Paulo matured into being more open with his kindness. In the early comics especially Paulo invoked violence against Mike and hit him multiple times on different occasions. However, in the time Lucy has been gone, Paulo has become the one most likely to ask if he is okay, to reminder him his feelings matter and to express genuine care to him. On the other hand, Mike slammed his face into a table for trying to help him and snaps at him for his concern when it comes to Sandy. |
| 620 | ** Mike and Lucy. They were vitriolic best friends for much of the early comics, and Mike got very aggressive with anyone criticising Lucy despite her frequent physical violence. Mike got meaner after he decided he didn't deserve it and wouldn't accept Lucy getting nicer. |
| 621 | ** Daisy and Lucy. Daisy's jealousy, envy, and crush on Mike meant she would side with Mike, disregard Lucy's actual feelings, and criticised Lucy within earshot in Confrontation cruelly. It was only in It's All In The Mind that this was finally confronted with Daisy going on and on due to envy. This led to Lucy finally snapping and crying, briefly showing how vulnerable she really felt when receiving unwanted attention and how much she really cared for protecting Daisy. This outburst finally makes Daisy see sense and in Witch Hunt and Unwanted Gift, she starts to defend Lucy, offer her some of the same protectiveness back and call out Mike's unfair behaviour. |
| 622 | ** Mike and Daisy. Mike has often been blunt to Daisy, shutting her out, ignoring her, and being cold and uncaring when she gets on his nerves. Daisy can be pushy, especially early on, but rarely does she do anything cruel. When too caught up in his dramas with love interests, he fails to notice anything is wrong with Daisy even when she is absent from the table, which Abbey calls him out on. When it comes to Sandy, he also gets so wrapped up in his feelings, he never notices or cares how much Daisy ends up hurt. In Witch Hunt he purposefully uses her sensitivity about the fact Sandy forgot her to hurt her after she makes a passive-aggressive comment about Sandy. Why would Daisy need an enemy when she has Mike to lower her self-esteem and always care more about someone else's feelings? |
| 623 | ** Augustus lampshades this in Witch Hunt by asking how any of these people are friends. There are many occasions where they would have been justified in ending these friendships. |
| 624 | %%* WouldHitAGirl: Alejandro. |
| 625 | %%* YankTheDogsChain: [[spoiler:The events of "Breaking Up" and beyond.]] |
| 626 | %%** Actually, the whole cast of characters suffer from this, but the spoiler mention above prove this the best |
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