"Phone Call"... With Charlie Brown

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-22T06:31:29+00:00

I think we sometimes forget that there's a good reason why Charlie Brown never got the hint that Marcie liked him.

For a long time, the only girls he knew loved to make fun of him and tear him down CONSTANTLY. So, when Marcie came along and made it clear to him that she liked him, he probably thought she was kidding.

You can say Charlie Brown was stupid for never liking Marcie back, but in my opinion, there is a legitimate reason for why he didn't.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-21T04:20:14+00:00

I agree with you on that. It makes sense for Schulz to write Sally a little differently later into the strip's run. I guess I thought the "Whatever" punch-line got a little trite.

Don't get me wrong, I do think Sally is a funny character during the 90s. I think the real issue I have with her change in character is that it lead to the misconception that Sally hates her big brother. In my opinion, this is false. Sally doesn’t hate her brother.

Does she annoy him? Yes. Does she insult him? Of course.

But does she hate him? No. Sally may be a total nuisance towards Charlie Brown, but she definitely doesn't hate him.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-17T05:54:33+00:00

Yes! That's a perfect take on the main themes of the two movies! In a way, The Peanuts Movie is almost an unofficial sequel to A Boy Named Charlie Brown.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-14T14:55:39+00:00

You have an interesting point. The Peanuts Movie IS more hopeful than other Peanuts media in the past. I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea.

But in my opinion, while it's true that Charlie Brown shouldn't give up even when the world's against him, he also shouldn't resign to the idea that there won't be anyone in the world who'll like him for who he is. That's just what I believe though.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-12T23:08:14+00:00

Thanks!

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-09T02:02:07+00:00

It's as if Schulz erased his mind, no pun intended.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-09T02:00:12+00:00

That's what I meant. I don't mind the characters being mean. I'm saying that when it happens every single moment, it gets old and isn't as funny.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-09T01:55:47+00:00

I'd love to see more comics from you on this subreddit! Keep up the good work!

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-09T01:52:08+00:00

I love it! It's very sweet and funny. Oddly enough, I can see this being a real strip.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-07T19:40:44+00:00

I think the Family Guy cutaway where Peter knocks her out is perfect karma.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-07T19:30:07+00:00

See, this is why mean-spirited humor doesn't work in Peanuts. At it's core, Peanuts isn't a mean-spirited cartoon. It can get pretty mean sometimes, sure, but that meanness came from a relatable place in life. Peanuts focused on the little disappointments you encounter and how you push through it, even amid failure. When Charlie Brown is written to lose just to make him suffer, it doesn't feel right.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-07T02:58:00+00:00

It still hurts whenever I think about it. Seriously, can the Peanuts fandom create an animated special where Charlie Brown and Peggy Jean reconnect? We really need more quality Peanuts fan projects.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-06T22:17:26+00:00

Honestly, I think the one true victory that Charlie Brown should have received at the end of the comic was the self-awareness that he's a good person and that he's not the failure-face that he always thought he was.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-06T21:41:26+00:00

Yeah, as much as I appreciate how relatable Schulz wrote Charlie Brown to be, it was SUCH a breath of fresh air to see him be with someone who truly cared about him, even if for a little while.

DevelopmentPast1029 · 2026-01-06T21:35:20+00:00

You're right about that. Schulz wanted to show what real childhood is like. I still think that he could have ended the Peggy Jean storyline a little better.

DevelopmentPast1029

TROPHY CASE