Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce for November 10, 2023

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Nate is too stupid sometimes

Am I the only one who finds it unrealistic that Nate’s the ONLY kid in this whole school who’s jealous/envious of Artur? I mean, ofc this strip focuses on Nate so we don’t get to see what the rest of the school is like, but you can’t tell me there isn’t a single other kid who’s also envious of Artur for being a great artist and a smart student who wins everything he joins in

Trying to beat Artur, making a drawing better than his… They’re both kind of the same, aren’t they?

That would be a fun arc idea. An arc where Nate meets another student who doesn’t like Artur. Story idea: Artur and Nate join an art competition at school, but later on Artur’s drawing got ruined after submitting it. Everyone thought Nate did it since he’s the only kid who doesn’t like Artur, but Nate decides to investigate and it turns out someone else did it because they’re jealous of Artur too. Bonus point if during the investigation Nate found out theres tons of kids like him who struggles with feeling envious of Artur and that he’s not alone about it

We’re falling asleep, Peirce.

Aw, this is so precious! <3 Daphne is such a sweetheart. I love how she grounds Nate so well. She really is a great girl! Excellent, excellent job Peirce!!

Your not even listening to what she said Nate.

I love these two together so much…Nate really needs someone like Daphne

Okay I MUST tell you why I actually love this one because even tho it IS another affectionate eye roll (what love language XD) there IS meaning here!

Nate getting advice from someone and misunderstanding it is nothing new. In a way, it is THE joke, alongside Nate complaining\coming up with a plan and being mocked. How many times have we seen Francis\Godfrey\Rosa\Marty\Nichols\Dee Dee\even Teddy offer him a suggestion, a warning, a counter point, often from a good place, only for Nate (through ignorance, misunderstanding or stubbornness) to truck on towards failure regardless?

And yet, here comes the main difference: Daphne, once again proving she’s the current only nice character and the best match for Nate.

Panel 1: Daphne explains to Nate (who to be fair, does seem like he’s trying to listen) in a calm, non judgemental or angry way, that his feelings towards Artur aren’t helping him.

Panel 2: in a friendly, non condescending way, she offers him advice on how to deal with it without once going “oH bUt aRtUr iS pErFeCt”.

Panel 3: Nate misundertsands, no change there

Panel 4: While amused by this (note that she us amused. Not angry, judgemental, bored, annoyed, fed up, critical), Daphne is satisfied that she at least managed to motivate him, and doesn’t just decide to leave and stop helping him like some “friends” we know. He might be dumb, but she sticks by him and hoped he can succeed because they love each other.

10\10. Duh.

Now that Nate’s continuing there’s still hope yesterday’s prediction might come true

Nate? Focus on himself? Never!!

OK, so she crammed both feet into 1 shoe, and they must be telepathic with no ear canals

Does anyone here miss Jenny?

Well I think it’s nice that Daphne gives nate advice :) I do hope she shows up more

Didn’t Francis say they’d be together for 3 weeks?

I get it! I don’t get it…

….this is likely so (e.i., your theory’s likely VERY valid……), these “others” just aren’t…..widely broadcasted, so to speak, in he strip……..the drama here is always Nate considering Artur as “his un-de-thronable better”……..Nate’s nightmare, Nate’s battle…..

Ah. Okay. So Daphne’s just giving Nate advice on how to deal with his sense of inferiority to Artur. Advice that obviously didn’t work.

I was really hoping Daphne would actually comfort Nate instead if tell him to not focus on Artur, which is clearly very difficult for him.

But hey, it’s Daphne, and Daphne’s refreshing. 5/10.

Even took the wrong way, it’s still a step in the right direction by not focusing on Artur

How dumb is Nate even though this arc is good with dalphine back they should have brought her back before this not now 3/10 nate just needs to actually stop fricking worry about Artur jeese

9/10, Daphne is still acting awesome! No annoyance, no ¨What a dummy,¨ just nice acceptance! Great! Hopefully Nate wins!

I don’t think Artur’s in the room anymore

I thought that was what he was doing yesterday when he drew his beat bobcat ever?

I want to see your drawing, Nate!

Nate has got the best girl friend ever!

Daphne love Nate so much :)

Nate’s friends should be more like Daphne.

You are not ignoring Artur. The fact that you even called out Artur’s name, telling him you’re ignoring him shows that you’re NOT ignoring him! Your actions speak louder than your words do. But that’s besides the point.

Strip rating: 3/10 I might be being a bit hard on the strip, as I see a lot of people are giving this arc positive ratings, but I never liked these arcs where Nate tries to be better than Artur at something. It’s why I never liked Big Nate: On A Roll. I find Nate to be needlessly competitive and mean-spirited when it comes to comics like this. We had an arc similar to this back in February of this year, and I expressed back then how I didn’t like Nate’s personality in that situation, and this is no different.

“Artur I’m ignoring you” LMAOO

This is why Daphne should appear more often: moral compass and overall support. Even if it doesn’t work on Nate at all. She’s a better friend than those other two jerks.

he Heard you, just hasn’t processed it yet.

Ok this is what i hope is next: Daphne continues to help Nate and so when the competition comes Nate wins and realizes that he won because Daphne helped him and gave great advice. So at the end he thanks Daphne and they share there first kiss. (i hope)

Trivia: When does Jenny kiss Nate?

Daphne, you have the patience of a saint

Still a positive littel step.

Stop focusing on Artur! Focus on Daphne! Artur will never get Daphne if you straighten up and fly right! Stop getting sent to detention and spend more time with Daphne.

That last thing Nate said was a complete paradox. Can you see it?