Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for January 10, 2024

Bets is clearly in denial and will be jumping back into Social Media faster than we think.

Will Gun stay with her if she starts filming everything, again??

She didn’t care about approval until panel 3

I thought that Bets and Tiffany switched rooms. Bets sharing a room with Steph, and Dez with Tiffany. Meaning Bets and Dez are no longer roomies, right? Or, are they still considered roomies because all four live in a Quad dorm?

Hard on her, still craving approval.

We ALL apprreciate approval in some way or other.

A little growth is better than none.

Approval from actual friends is different from that of the online crowd.

Needs Validation?

Bets is clearly delusional, look what she has in front of her a laptop.

Where’s Gunther?

Still seeking approval, Bets. Just from a different and better source than random fans in your Snapgram.

She’s putting a lot on Gunther, to make him her only source of approval. As usual, she goes to extremes — the road trip that was extended past school starting, the social media that became her all-consuming paid job and now, being “cozy” every day with just Gunther. Wasn’t she supposed to be a good student? She needs to add more back into her life; her relationship with Gunther shouldn’t be all there is to it…and where is he, anyway?

She cares, Dez. Oh yes, Bets cares.

Approval from an actual friend means more than approval on social media.

Bets is not gone yet… How about a spin off strip for the Betsy people so we can have more Luann less Bets.

Give her a hug.

Ohh, BEE-ESS…. Social media addictions are usually not so easily overcome…. Especially not with Bets’ narcissistic personality.

Des shows her approval

Bets nearly jumps outta her chair

Nah she’s not hungry for approval at all

Only “lone wolves” don’t care about the approval of others.

So—are Bets and Dez gonna be BFF’s? And will that cut into time with Gunther?

Unfortunately she is addicted to that instant gratification that social media brings. she needs some professional help

When does this turn around and Dez tells Bets to not feel guilty about her little obsession? After all, some people can’t miss their soap opera or even their daily cartoon. Some cartoon fans even communicate with other cartoon fans on a computer forum…like this. Can you believe it?

Bets seems to be getting Dez-perate.

The point is she’s trying. For some people, quitting cold turkey is real easy. But for others? It’s a process.

There is a big difference between seeking the approval of hundreds or thousands of strangers (fans) and that of a good friend. That said, I hope she doesn’t slip back to the “old” Bets.

Bets has Dez’ approval.

Every time I see Bets wanting compliments so badly, I wonder what kind of people her parents are. I can’t stop thinking that they have always neglected her and that’s why she needs to know that others like her. Now she seems happy to just be with Gunther, let’s hope it continues like this. By the way, It’s always nice to see how Dez can bring happiness, maybe Tiffany will bring doubt and Stef will bring irritation? Let’s hope Gunther arrives soon.

Don’t put all your stock in the social validation of strangers online. Very fair. But I can’t help but raise an eyebrow at “I use to crave fan attention. Now I only want his.” It feels a little sad, like she really didn’t have enough appreciation in her childhood and now as an adult she has to boost her self esteem based on what others think. Hopefully Dez tells her to rethink this cause, that’s a lot to ask for from a partner to be your sole source of validation.

One day she’s going to be buying a therapist a new car.

Bets, don’t get any ideas.

Wellll… Ah HO! lowly unworthies… we certainly know Sure as God made Little Green Rutabagas that there is a quick, easy and most satisfying solution to Bets the Bae’s plight… Yep, you guessed ‘er, Chester… Back to Stalking the Wild Shoog Daddies with… with… wait for it… wait for it… Fabulous Ann❤️Eiffel!!! BOOM Problemo solved! Who needs anti social media with all the downers and trolls (we know who you are), yada. Simply hop on the Windstar and jet off to some exotic place with oodles of rich old Shoog Daddies ripe for the picking’, boy howdy. Bets the Bae is easily hawt enough to get oodles of “fan” approval from those rich old goats. Your Be❤️ed Count ❤️s it when there is a solution and happy ending… esp an Ann❤️Eiffel Happy ending >;9 So…. gotta run, hon… ’til the morrow… same Bat time… same Bat channel… To Infinity and Beyond… TTFN… Count OUT!

Hey.

Looks like Bunk-Er-Roo Dez, is a loyal friend to the end. Stick close to her Bets.

And while Tiff is a pretty good friend, she still owes Bets for switching up roomies, and sticking her with toxic Stef.

Okay.

Now let’s get to the “Gunther! You’re spending more time with your work than ME!” part. ;-)

Bets needs to find a different focus for her social media attraction – maybe documenting unjust situations or interviewing public figures. Oh wait…those are the same.

Bets speaks with forked tongue!

“Proud of me? … really? ….. Are you? Look, look … I set my water glass down on the table!! Aren’t I just marvy-poo!?? Should I use that to start a new fan base???”

Gunth walks into a livestream…

How’s she going to pay her bills?

If she doesn’t get control of herself, she will be on “Only Fans” doing God knows what for ‘likes’

Up next Tiff and Stef; can she get some good feelings and approval from them?

In a way, I’m into social media, but only on Sundays at 4 PM.

So how does a person differentiate between approval from strangers, approval from friends, approval from their significant other and approval from authority figures in their lives (such as teachers, clergy, etc.) It seems to me that this character should be focused on self-approval before she gets stretched in so many directions that none of it will count for anything.

I don’t think Gunther expects Bets to be an unmotivated little stepford girlfriend/wife, but I could be wrong. Maybe he wants her to be just like Irma. That would lead to trouble for sure because it’s not in Bets’ dna.

Gun is a loser, of course he will stay with her. He does not have the gonads to leave.

Is this an episode of Bewitched where Bets has to give up her powers so as not to offend her man’s ego?

Really, are you………

“You like me! You honestly like me!”

There’s a lot of people like Bets who for some reason need outside validation. Maybe it’s an insecurity thing.

Nope, this is not Bets. Why has her personality totally changed? This is not believable. She would never be happy with this lifestyle.

At first it’s hard, but becomes easier. Like quitting smoking

Who’s a good girl Bets?? You are, yes you are!!

what happens if Gunther doesn’t show?

So they are going to watch a Star Trek episode on a small laptop for the 75th time?

Baby steps, Bets, baby steps.

Bets’ll haveta sit down an look in a mirror for her daily affirmation

’I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it people like me..’

Gotta get that approval hit frome SOMEWHERE… She should carry around a like button with a thumb…thumbnail

ABBOTT: You know I wouldn’t gamble on a sure thing".

COSTELLO: “Oh,yeah?”

ABBOTT:“You wanna bet?”

Maybe an ice bath would help

Everyone wants approval, but it doesn’t need to come from social media.

Everyone graves approval. Betts just wanted it from her subscribers. Now she’ll take it from Roz, Tiffany, and, specially Gunther. Unless/until she feels the need for more (again.)

A “tell”.

And the monkey never dies.

Bets is an approvalsexual. (See todays )

I don’t think that the main focus of this arc is entirely Bets withdrawal symptoms; it is the one arc that is describing a romantic struggle with characters who really have a romantic (and possibly intimate) relationship in the toon-no one else has and hasn’t since Luann and Quinn.

Correct me if I’m wrong but last year, did they celebrate any holidays? I thought normally every NYE, they have a strip with the current members saying happy whatever year it is

It’s obvious, to me anyway, that Bets has some self-esteem issues that may go back to her childhood. I would like to see an arc where gets to deal with it. Maybe by talking it out with Denise or Gunther?

What is this, ‘Frazz’?

That exchange in the last panel kinda gives the lie to Bets’ premise, but it would be nice if we could take her at her word. Dez is clearly skeptical….