An update on Freshly Squeezed

Hey, Arkholt's back.  Great.  So, on Monday I wrote about the new syndicated comic strip Freshly Squeezed, and how I was worried that I may possibly not like it based on Comics.com's recommendations based on it.  I've read the strips for the intervening days, and the verdict is in.

In the words of that horse guy from Ren and Stimpy, "No sir, I didn't like it."

To lay out the premise again, it's about an older couple who move in with their daughter, son-in-law, and grandson of indeterminate age.  It's a very awkward situation.  That's about it.  There's not really anything clever or funny about it.  It just seems like one long awkward moment.  Now, I'm sure it's a weird feeling to have something like this happen to you, but there are only so many jokes you can make before "Hey, isn't it weird and awkward? Ha ha ha!" gets a bit old.

Frankly, some of them are a bit insulting.  Take these two, for instance:

The first one is basically saying "Yeah, this is weird and we're all just lying to each other about how excited we are about the entire arrangement." The second one is basically saying "I'd rather be anywhere else than here."

Oh, and I can't forget this one:

"We're going to need a lot of alcohol to get through this one."

Oh, yes, and we must immediately establish that the kid does not help with the awkwardness at all, because he doesn't understand anything that's really going on:

Right.  So not only is it awkward, but the grandparents get no empathy or understanding from their daughter, son-in-law, or grandson when they've just had to leave their home because they have no money.  Where's the care and compassion?

Now, I'm not saying that this strip can't ever be good.  Mr. Stein's got a great grasp of good newspaper comic strip art and layout, so he definitely has that going for him.  If he can work on the writing a little bit, it could be great.  For me, right now, it's just not doing it.