User blog:Weavillain/POLL: Do the Loud Sisters Really "Get Away Scot-Free"?

The notion of the Loud sisters "getting away scot-free" isn't a brand-new outcry against the show. It's been around since practically the beginning, and it usually comes from fans "realizing" that while Lincoln is almost always punished for his mistakes or forced to reflect his misdeeds, the Loud sisters never have that happen to them; they always get away with everything and are never put in positions where they are properly given their just dues.

So, what do I think about that? Honestly, I'm not going to go down the usual road of making snide remarks or sarcastic quips about how silly that notion is because believe it or not, I can see where people are coming from when they think that. I suppose I say that because while yes, I disagree with that belief, it can be pretty easy to believe that when you consider that Lincoln is the main character, and most episodes have him as the focus. Therefore, it's pretty much expected that if there's a life lesson to be learned or a misdeed that needs to be made up for, it's usually going to be Lincoln.

But see, that perception ignores what the show has been consistently been doing since the beginning, and that's treating sins as sins whenever the episode deems them as such. I don't really count the sisters "getting away scot-free" as an acceptable answer to situations that are clearly played for laughs and such "misdeeds" aren't presented as serious issues that can't be talked around or glossed over; those situations demand a proper resolution. For instance, in "[Making the Case]", Lincoln humiliating his sisters is not played for laughs. It's not a joke that the episode treats as a simple gag; it's a big mistake that Lincoln has to fix. Likewise, there are countless sister-focus episodes that treat the sister's actions as behavior that needs to change because of the gravitas behind their sins. Episodes like "Lynner Takes All" "Spell it Out", "Party Down", "Change of Heart" and "A Tatter's Tale" are episodes about introspection and realizing that what the respective sister is do is wrong. Sure, there might be some comedy thrown in the mix, but when push comes to shove, their is a worthwhile resolution that involves punishment and/or a commitment to change for the better.

So really, I have to question what people mean when they beat this drum, this idea that the Loud sisters are never required by the show to be put in a position of self-reflection or punishment for their misdeeds. Are their exceptions to the rule? Most certainly, but I can't throw out the baby with the bathwater just because of those few exceptions.

Do the Loud sisters truly "get away scot-free? Yes No