El Goonish Shive

"Interesting. How does it work? Is it light-based? Psychic? Or—"

"It's magic."

And there it is. RIP Funny recurring joke that never needed to be taken so seriously.

I like the "endless barrel of exposition" gag anyway. And she fits right in! Good.

I actually happen to like when the author makes an effort to tell a story that makes sense.

And I mean fuck, is it so ruinous that this thing that hasn't happened in twenty years is getting updated to the current standards? It's not like aliens walking around unnoticed is a core part of the story. We've seen it, what, twice? It's not even a retcon anyway, it's an explanation that doesn't contradict anything.

Strictly speaking, a revision is a type of retcon

I disagree, I think a retcon has to actually contradict or change something.

Also, you just changed the description of Revision to support your argument. You can't do that.

To be clear, that was to match it being listed as a subtrope on Retcon. Not sure why Revision claimed they were contradictory. (e: Okay actually we dug through the edit history and found an edit that changed it from explicitly being a type of retcon to not being that. With no edit reason. ... our edit also had no edit reason huh, that probably won't help future editors)

It's not like a revision isn't changing something. It's just not contradicting anything.

If a retcon requires contradicting existing text, what do we have the subtrope Rewrite for?

Edited by wingedcatgirl on Jul 10th 2023 at 6:00:57 AM

Not true. Retcons can be additive.

The only requirement is that you retroactively add something to the continuity.

Edited by KnownUnknown on Jul 10th 2023 at 3:12:01 AM

Who is Ellen 153

Yes

YES

The [redacted] is free

They are definitely going to start having regular D&D sessions so they can resolve this plot point.

Layers 24

I’m trying to formulate an opinion on this explanation. Dan’s reasoning reminds me of how, in The Order of the Stick, there was a silly half-elf character with only one Pointy Ear, which precluded the possibility of having more serious half-elf characters later. (There has been one since, but she wears an ear-covering winter hat.)

Also, maybe a certain Animaniacs character has this ability. “HE’S A CHICKEN, I TELL YOU! A GIANT CHICKEN!”

I still remember giggling when the Dragonlance animation (most likely) accidentally paid tribute to that with Tanis Half-Elven's ears sometimes being drawn pointy and sometimes round.

When it comes to exposition like this, I feel like El Goonish Shive almost seems like well thought out world building fanfic whose source series doesn't exist. I mean that in praise and in criticism. It reads both like Dan/Dana is coming up with it on the spot and that they are expanding some very vague world building from an author who is not them. I care more about the characters than the details of how the alien blending tech works, I can read about it in a fanfic or encyclopedia for the fictional world, but I'd rather not have the story grind to a halt to tell us about it.

Who Is Ellen 154

Dan might be admitting here that “Who Is Ellen” is no longer an appropriate title? I’m not sure.

My thoughts exactly. When you stop the plot every few moments to explain things in details it's not interesting, it's distracting.

Layer 25

Given Tedd's stated desire of making magic more accessible to people... yeah, that reaction tracks.

Layers 26

I only sort of understand Edward’s reaction here.

Eh, Edward has had difficulties accepting Tedd's genderfluidity, which is mildly tied to the transformation obsession, so the offhand comment about being so supportive probably hits home.

Maybe even the moreso for the "recently being allowed to officially acknowledge it" feeling like a " Don't Ask, Don't Tell" parallel.

I get the distinct feeling Eddie isn't telling Teddie the whole truth.

At a , I'd say he at least felt like he'd stolen his son's work, and the revelation that Tedd would have been super keen to share it freely anyway is just a, well, panel four.

He probably had a whole speech of justifications and ends and means and you couldn't have patented it anyway, and it turns out all he had to do was ask.

Just a guess though.

Oh I'd bet real money that Edward is still keeping at least five important things secret from Tedd that directly impact Tedd's life.

Layers 27

And there are a few more Edward doesn’t know about.

That woman is Agent Bishop, right? I'm not 100% sure.

I don't think so. Bishop doesn't have long, flowing hair running down her back, and her eyes are different.

Former Mrs. Verres? I forget what happened to her.