Monkey Island Question...

[Rath Darkblade]

I'm just wondering... when - in between MI1 and MI2 - did Guybrush turn from an Adorkable Innocent ("Mfgml? Hzxhg? I wish I knew how to talk to women") into an LSL-wannabe (*enters in a dress* "The one and only, sweetcakes!")

Also, in MI4, Guybrush needs a ship (as usual). The only one available is pink, and he's averse to sailing in it, because it's pink. Yet, in MI2, Guybrush has few qualms about wearing a pink dress. *shrug* Oh well!

What's your view?

[MusicallyInspired]

Hey, Guybrush didn't seem that tongue-tied on the pier in MI1 after he climbed up from the drowning attempt on his life.

[Rath Darkblade]

"Hey, you can talk!"

Sure, I understand that. But then, Guybrush in MI1 always struck me as a bit of an "innocent abroad" - he really wants to be a pirate, but he's not very fierce, fearsome, fearless, or ... another word that starts with 'f'.

By the time of MI2, though, Guybrush has become a bit of a ladies' man (at least as far as Elaine is concerned). It's pretty clear that they've had a falling out. So ... what happened? Inquiring minds would like to know ... any ideas?

(Apart from asking Ron Gilbert, that is - I wouldn't know how to even reach him!)

[adeyke]

Ian Danskin discusses Guybrush's characterization across the series in the third part of this excellent video.

[Rath Darkblade]

I just watched the video, and it is an excellent. Have you ever thought of becoming a video reviewer, adeyke? (The only answer to that question is: Never seriously, but I did complete the correspondence course).

Seriously, though, I'm a little confused by one bit of Ian's otherwise excellent video, and that is his description of Guybrush:

1. In MI1, Guybrush is a Straight Man. True. I was racking my brain with how best to describe him - an innocent abroad? An Adorkable Innocent? But Straight Man puts the finger on it.

2. In MI2, Guybrush is "a d*ck" (hint: not a duck). True. I was simply trying to be polite. The fact that he ruins his perfectly good relationship with Elaine is bad enough, but he also behaves like a d*ck to a lot of other people (e.g. Wally, the cartographer). I kind of understand why - fame has basically spoiled Guybrush, so he behaves like the typical depiction of an out-of-control rock star who trashes hotel rooms and treats women like dirt. Plus, Guybrush is so obsessed with Big Whoop that he doesn't realise what it's done to him as a person, and that his fame among other pirates - when compared with what he had with Elaine - is basically, well, worth as much as Big Whoop (i.e. nothing). But yes, like Ian, I simply don't like the fact that Guybrush is now a d*ck.

However...

3. Ian describes MI3 Guybrush as a smartass. I'm not sure about this. How is MI3 Guybrush a smartass? He starts out as realising what a jerk he was in MI2, and Elaine seems ready to forgive him (which, considering how he behaved in MI2, I find hard to believe, but... oh well!) Anyway, he and Elaine find each other; Guybrush tries being romantic, which spectacularly backfires; and he comments "She's not going to be happy about this." In other words, Guybrush realises that he really loves Elaine, and is also terrified of displeasing her by accidentally turning her into a giant gold statue. Basically, he's ready to be a husband. How does that make him a smartass? I'm confused.

What Elaine thinks of all this, as well as why she's forgiven Guybrush for being a d*ck in MI2, is unclear.

4. Ian describes MI4 Guybrush as "a d*psh*t". Again, I don't understand this. What makes MI4 Guybrush "a d*psh*t"? He strikes me simply as Elaine's husband and, basically, out of his depth. He's pretty tough (winning the arm-wrestling competition), but he isn't particularly smart or intelligent. (Then again, when was he ever?) He still manipulates people (e.g. Marco Polo), but this is usually when they deserve it. That doesn't make him "a d*psh*t".

What about Elaine in all this? She also strikes me as out of her depth. Once they both learn that LeChuck is back, Elaine starts doing what she's supposed to be good at - being the Governor - but given that a pirate Governor is basically an unelected job for life, she's not very good at canvassing for votes or the democratic process. At the same time, LeChuck throws his weight around, makes promises he has no intention to keep, and bribes people, which is more like how you actually win an election.

I do agree with Ian on one thing: in MI1 and MI2, Elaine was a competent, smart, powerful pirate who knew how to plan. In MI3 and MI4, we see very little of this. In fact, we see very little of it in MI5 too - until Elaine reveals at the very end how she outsmarted LeChuck, which was a little confusing the first time but made more sense the second time around.

I hope I haven't been rambling. What's your view on all this, hmm?