January 15, 2012: Sunday Showdown!

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Clockwise from the bottom left:

• This panel takes a departure in terms of setting and perspectives for a typical Lockhorn dinner scene. Instead of the usual wide shot of the Leroy and Loretta sitting across from each other, sharing a meal of oddly colored shapes, today's scene goes for a more cinematic shot from slightly over Loretta's shoulder. I for one like it; it's a welcome change of pace. I am going to actually defend Loretta a little here: the steak, while probably still disgusting, doesn't look nearly as charred and inedible as Leroy claims it to be. Leroy gets the point.
• Now that the Blackberry has declined into irrelevance amid the new wave of smart phones, it is not surprising in the least that Leroy is now a dedicated Blackberry user. Loretta's plan for obtaining Leroy's undivided attention appears flawed. Judging by the look of things, hiding Leroy's Blackberry has just made Leroy completely preoccupied with locating it. Additionally, why would Loretta even want Leroy's undivided attention in the first place? Still, you can't deny the hateful intent. Loretta gets the point and ties it up 1-1.
• Just over two weeks into the new year and the Lockhorns are still doggedly pursuing their fitness resolutions. While their efforts are commendable, it seems to be a rather brutal approach to gauge your individual workout times by the amount of weight you lose while attempting them; it seems like something only boxers looking to quickly make weight before a match would do. If the Lockhorns intend to maintain this strict regimen, I would suggest to Loretta that she use an actual hand weight rather than a marching baton painted to look like a weight. It's a push, the score remains 1-1.
• I love the look on Leroy's face in his wedding portrait, just an emphatic display of simultaneous terror, unhappiness, and revulsion. One wonders why Loretta would even allow such a large ghastly indictment of her marriage to be so prominently displayed in their living room. Maybe it's still the happiest looking picture from their wedding. Hopefully Leroy won't be too preoccupied with enjoying his victory over Loretta to avoid the two scalding not mugs of coffee she looks intent on throwing at him. Leroy goes up 2-1.
• Loretta's comment to the hostess obviously points out that Leroy is a degenerate drunk, but what I don't get is why doesn't Loretta just drive the car home herself rather than give directions to a totally intoxicated Leroy while he struggles behind the wheel? Are we to believe that Loretta is so dangerously inept at driving that even she acknowledges that it's actually safer for everybody to have her yelling instructions to a near blackout drunk Leroy then to let her be the sober designated driver? I'm almost inclined to give the point to Leroy, but I'll take her insult at face value and give her the credit. The day ends in a 2-2 push.

Official Count:

Leroy - 5

Loretta - 6

Push - 4