#shame daffy never got to have consistent therapy

[that-rackin-frackin-varmint]

#31 — 07/29/2022 8:47 AM

We need to talk about The Looney Tunes Show's depiction of Daffy and Porky’s friendship, cuz it’s pretty funny if not sad to watch at times

Like, Daffy never even realized how much trauma Porky caused him, but because he isn’t good at internalizing his emotions — he doesn’t let it affect his friendship with Porky. Like even tho he remembers his highschool trauma, it never affects how he treats Porky (for better or worse), and in his own weirdo way — he still holds him high enough in importance that he’ll go to him for help.

Also, Daffy not even considering Porky in his top 5 feels like a case of Daffy’s words not accurate to his actions. He goes to Porky for a lot of things. If not Bugs, he’ll take him out on a date. If not Bugs, he’ll rant off to Porky. If Bugs isn’t available, he’ll often reach out to Porky instead. Everyone else he listed is sweet, but Marvin and Peter barely interact with him, and Foghorn Leghorn probably is a father figure to him. Tina would be tied for #2 or #3.

Porky does deserve the acknowledgement from Daffy that he’s his best friend. But I also wouldn’t put it past Daffy to be kidding Porky in a cruel way when he seems to disregard him as an option in front of him. He does to Porky what og Bugs does to og him. Cycle of frequent gaslighting 😔😔😔

All in all, Best friends redux was one of a handful of episodes in tlts which I feel made significant development in addressing Daffy and Porky’s relationship, and not undermining it all throughout. It feels like one with thorough development tbh over Daffy and Bugs’ — since those two kinda flip flop between progression to regresssion to stagnation — idk, episodic shows can just be like that. These two can be nice to watch when Daffy isn’t being absolutely dickish to him, but when Daffy does pull through for him, it feels all the more rewarding. So yeah, I enjoyed their friendship here. Good stuff.

I think it’s a guilt thing Porky had over Daffy. I think he also thought Daffy knew (which to him coulda been why he was passive to Daffy being shitty to him) — cuz he mighta felt like he deserves it for the way he treated him in highschool. Idk if Porky knows Daffy only just then remembered this in the highschool reunion episode — regardless, it doesn’t change the fact that Daffy kinda uses Porky’s meekness as an advantage.

Also it’s interesting to note that between Porky and Daffy, compared to Porky and Bugs — Porky is more likely to go at odds with Bugs than with Daffy. Porky, in spite of how he generally acts, does seem to have a spine when it comes to anyone else. But with Daffy, I think it’s an emotional vulnerability for him. Something Daffy keeps taking advantage of. I like to think after Best Friends Redux, Porky would become less meek — but this show ain’t focusing on linear storytelling so… hcs away!!!

Present day thoughts:

The Looney Tunes Show kinda made everyone think Porky's a doormat submissive type, which I still get petty about. But this show was good at making unexpected development between his and Daffy's dynamic.

I think a lot of the charm of this show comes from the implied backstories of the characters, as well as the loose continuity of its episodic nature. I liked the development between Daffy and Tina's relationship, and enjoyed seeing how Daffy seemed to make strides in developing friendships with the other characters.

The Dafpork energy of this show is miniscule compared to Baffy, but the incline in their friendship beats Duck Dodgers where the opposite happens (but that's a whole 'nother ramble).