March 13, 2011: Sunday Showdown!

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Clockwise from the bottom left:

• Loretta does a fine job of both building herself up a little while simultaneously bringing Leroy down with her witty comment. While there are many ways to interpret how Loretta could leave Leroy "breathless", the statement comes a little too close to implying that the Lockhorns may be having sex (or at the very least getting involved in sexual situations). I would not put it past Loretta to, in an ultimate display of bitter spite, actually attempting to screw the physically fragile Leroy to death. That last sentence may have been the most disgusting sentence I have ever written. Loretta gets the point.
• Over the years the depictions of Leroy's idiocy have ranged wildly from comically dimwitted to just plain surreal. Leroy's party planning debacle falls into the latter category. While a traditionally stupid man would probably either fail to get entertainment or hire entertainment of poor quality, Leroy hiring a manic, crazy eyed, balloon artist just goes beyond being a dumb guy and into being straight up delusional. In either situation though, Loretta usually manages to score a point. Loretta goes up 2-0.
• Speaking of Leroy being incongruously idiotic, from his appearance, it would seem that Leroy's game of "Go Fish" occurred in a saloon in the Old West. Personally I just never got the old timey trope of a person losing everything having to wear a suspended barrel. The barrel always seemed more expensive then the everyday clothing it was replacing. Burlap sack I can understand, but the barrel doesn't make much sense to me. Barrel opinions aside, Loretta misses a fine opportunity to mock a compromised Leroy, but with the push, still remains on top 2-0.
• I don't think I can really credit Leroy with a point in this panel. The message is clear that Leroy hates Loretta's mother but it's taken from Loretta's complaint about Leroy's eagerness to end their visits to her house. As for Leroy, instead of looking boldly unapologetic about his antagonistic action, he just gives Loretta the stink-eye like she's suddenly shattering Pullman's idea that Leroy didn't hate his mother-in-law. It's a tough call but I'm going with a push. With a 2-0 record Loretta clinches the win.
• Not to be completely shutout Leroy manages to salvage some dignity and gives himself some momentum going into the week with a last panel burn on Loretta. Here he tells his odd shaped friend that, while he does not have a conscience like most human beings, he does have a nagging wife that won't stop bothering him about his snoring. Loretta's sinister reaction would suggest that he may no longer be snoring, or breathing, the next time he falls asleep with Loretta. Leroy gets the point. Loretta takes the day 2-1.

Official Count:

Leroy - 27
Loretta - 25

Push - 20