The last time Elly caught Michael and Elizabeth in a brawl like this (7/20/2017), their “punishment” was sending them to summer camp. Since that obviously didn’t work (no surprise there), Elly is trying to appeal to the idea that her kids deep down actually like each other and the only problem they have is that they need to find an activity they can both do together to set up the “punch” line. Then she just walks off and leaves them to start fighting again and that is the joke.
I know Lynn Johnston has put Michael and Elizabeth into the trademarked Beetle Bailey/Sergeant Snorkle comedy cloud of battle, but I have some problems with the idea that Michael beating up on his 4 years younger sister is supposed to be funny. I know the last time I mentioned this, there were a number of other commenters who thought boys beating up on girls was hilarious, but it still bothers me.
The last time Elly caught Michael and Elizabeth in a brawl like this (7/20/2017), their “punishment” was sending them to summer camp. Since that obviously didn’t work (no surprise there), Elly is trying to appeal to the idea that her kids deep down actually like each other and the only problem they have is that they need to find an activity they can both do together to set up the “punch” line. Then she just walks off and leaves them to start fighting again and that is the joke.
I know Lynn Johnston has put Michael and Elizabeth into the trademarked Beetle Bailey/Sergeant Snorkle comedy cloud of battle, but I have some problems with the idea that Michael beating up on his 4 years younger sister is supposed to be funny. I know the last time I mentioned this, there were a number of other commenters who thought boys beating up on girls was hilarious, but it still bothers me.