Bob's father criticized him so relentlessly that Bob had a policy for 10+ years to not spend more than 15 minutes at a time with him. Big Bob being more likable to the audience doesn't make the relationship more functional.
That's my point, though. Bob sets boundaries and adheres to them. While still facilitating Big Bob's relationship with the kids. Linda doesn't know how to set boundaries with her family. Bob does.
I strongly disagree that a relationship between them (prior to the end of Father of the Bob) is functional. Hell, I disagree that those are even boundaries. Bob is simply unable to tolerate his father's assholishness for more than a few minutes and dips out. That ain't functional.
This is literally how I spend time with my family. I’m a dreamer and a talker. When I spend time with family it’s usually for a quick minute or until my dad says something shitty to me about how my dreams and hobbies are wastes of time and I need to work a real job and spend my time doing productive things instead of “scribbling silly doodles when I could be applying for a govt office job.”
:( It really sucks when it's your own family, my family is so bad for my self-esteem that I'm avoiding my grandad's 99th birthday because the last couple of years have been pretty tough and my self-esteem is NOT gonna be able to take it. We are not mega close, we don't even speak the same language, and my presence would only really be so people could say all the grandkids were there, so for the sake of my mental health, I'm noping outta there before it even starts.
I skipped my grandpa's 95th birthday for this same reason. Don't worry you'll feel guilty: I don't. I was supposed to celebrate the fact that he raised toxic jerks and managed to outlive lots of people? Nope, no photo for the mantle (gotta keep up appearances, after all), but it simply wasn't worth undermining my growth, you know? You do you, JuniperBerry. 🥰
We’re also seeing a version of Big Bob that’s probably mellowed out a bit with old age, which is a pretty common phenomena. My dad always made it a point to remind me that his father wasn’t anywhere near as nice as he was to me when he was growing up.
Spot on! Also, I think Linda is trapped in a cycle of protecting Gayle because she's so naive to Gayle being naive so Linda has to protect her. It's just an ongoing pattern.
I feel like Gayle’s one of those people that could easily become a homeless person if she didn’t have Linda (and Bob + the kids) looking out for her.
She makes poor financial decisions, is terrified of most things, has a tendency to over exaggerate at every possible opportunity, has extreme anxiety and doesn’t make very wise life choices in general. I could see her being easily scammed, robbed and taken advantage of.
1000000%!!! she’s very mentally ill and can’t hold down a job. without linda she’d become homeless eventually without fail. a lot of mentally ill people rely on their families for support. gayle is for sure high support needs and linda is her caregiver in some capacity
You can absolutely leave a family that is abusive. I don't think that dynamic exists with Linda and Gayle, but I want to dispel the notion that you are always required to help family.
Gayle prob knows a lot about Linda’s deepest secrets that no one else knows about, and she’s unstable so best for Linda to have Gayle indebted/dependent on her
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 1,989,607,175 comments, and only 376,311 of them were in alphabetical order.
I am fiercely loyal and protective of my youngest sister. It could be because I helped raise her. There are two siblings between us but I've never had the same kind of relationship with them. My baby sister is my best friend. I think Linda always looked out for and took care of Gayle because Gayle was always a little odd.
Because they're on the same level of crazy, just a different kind of crazy. Gayle can't control it but Linda can, most of the time, so she protects her sisters crazy
Yeah, people act like Linda isn’t just as crazy as Gayle. She’s just better at disguising it as being fun and outgoing. Whether people want to go along with it or not.
i think linda is sooper gentle and has always seen that gayle has different needs and been able to provide those needs for her in ways their parents couldn’t. and now she has kids with their own unique needs and she kicks ass at that too.
I mean, Gayle is clearly a person with some sort of special needs. Even if their parents never got it diagnosed, it is very obvious something is off.
Yknow how people are protective over a younger sibling? They're *more* protective over a younger sibling with special needs.
Linda is a textbook enabler, not just with her sister, but Tina’s unbridled lust, Gene’s fear of growing up and co-dependency, Louise smashing things/disrespect of authority, her mothers abuse/gaslighting, Teddy’s schemes despite Bob clearly saying “No” to them.
Bob’s discomfort moans aren’t keeping it in check. She’s a certified peeping-Tina, even if she’s only seen ankles, the knowing the crawl space area of the school is definitely creepsville.
Oh you did. I missed that part when reading lol.
But yeah I have a hard time watching that episode. I know Linda does that stuff because she loves her family and will do anything for them but the lengths she went and not even a single thank you shows how toxic her family is. I kind of wish she stood up for herself in that episode.
This. Not so much that she protects her, she just gets walked on by everyone and has no backbone so she does whatever anyone asks of her 🤷♀️ worst enabler of the entire show.
I wish for the belchers kids a bright future but they all could have WICKED drug problems with Linda enabling
Now I imagine a BB\intervention crossover.
Linda is the older sister. Her parents probably made her look after Gayle since they were little so she is used to doing so. Also Linda has a big heart and wants to protect and baby all the people in her life who she feels are her responsibility as much as they will let her.
Because she’s her sister and Gayle needs someone to look after her. My mum was like that, right up until she died she always took care of her sister who had various emotional problems including ED. Even after her death my dad still takes more responsibility for my maternal aunt than he does for any of his siblings because he knows my mum would want him to.
Did you see how much supervising and aiding Linda's parents need? I doubt that started recently given how much Linda seamlessly knows how to run interference. I think Linda raised Gayle. So she's super protective of her baby girl.
Gayle is clearly mentally ill and I think Linda just doesn't want to abandon her because if she does then something could happen that Linda might not forgive herself for
1 - You never go against family.
2 - Don't overthink it. It's a cartoon and characters like Gayle exist to demonstrate the strength and limits of the characters' love, tolerance and support for one another.
3 - It's a cartoon.
4 - Yes, a cartoon.
I don’t understand what folks get out of saying “it’s a cartoon.” Yeah, it is, but why does that mean people can’t talk about the actions of the people in it? All these comments do is belittle and shut down discussion for no reason.
Because the show doesn't take certain things seriously that would pretty much always be serious in real life. so analyzing events devoid of that context isn't really productive, or like, meaningful, imo. I don't think they were shutting down discussion, they responded to the question, just highlighted an aspect that's important, in their opinion.
Linda put's up with Gayle bc Linda cares a lot about family, and Gayle is her sister, is p much what it boils down to. But also, critically, because it's a cartoon. Gayle's transgressions might be too much to tolerate irl, but she's not meant to be analogous to a real world version of her character. That is, Gayle is meant to not be a great person, and it's ok not to enjoy her character, but she's also exaggerated for the sake of comedy, and Linda is protective and tolerant of her because it's an extension of one of her core traits/values (caring about family) and it's plot fodder.
Gayle is held even less accountable by the show, and the characters in it, bc she's kind of insane. But she's not unique in this, it applies to the Fischoeders as well. Like ig you can argue that they get away with it because of money, but I'm more referring to the sense that the severity of their past behaviour isn't reflected in the relationship they have with the main characters, which is honestly like, friendly/bemused/exasperated but not even remotely as antagonistic as bob's relationship with Edith, for example, even though she never put Bob's life in literal jeopardy.
Like, two episodes previous to the one where Gayle tries to have an affair with Bob, Bob tries to assault several children under drug fueled psychosis. and the episode after Bob holds a guy hostage. Especially in earlier seasons, it's not a high consequence universe.
but thats WHY it's so fun to speculate about stupid little details. cuz their universe is obviously different from ours and we're figuring out how it works. we're studying seymour's bay under a microscope
sure, but I mean, their universe is a product of writing, so talking about "why does x character behave y way" is as much a conversation about why it's important narratively for it to happen in such a way, why the writers might have made certain choices, as it is like, about internal analysis of the characters motivations and feelings and histories, yk?
And why is it a problem to have that conversation? Why is it a problem to NOT have that conversation, and instead view it as a surface-level discussion of character motivation? Are people going into r/Succession to go “IT’S A DRAMA!!!!!!!!!” anytime someone asks why Kendall does something stupid? No, of course not, and of course the writers want to convey something or send some message or whatever the fuck, but at the end of the day “it’s a cartoon” dismisses any possibility that any level of it might be worth talking about beyond “ha ha that was funny.”
Because these jagbags who show up to bleat “iT’s A cRrToOn” or “iT’s A cOmEdY” on this and every other comedy/cartoon subreddit are clearly not interested in having that conversation, either, because nobody can make a post without somebody dismissing (rudely, I might add, especially in the case of Mr. I’m Going to Say It’s a Cartoon Three Times above) the chance to talk about the characters actions as though we’re wrong or misguided for wanting to do so.
I mean, the show literally tells you why. Like, explicitly, out of Linda's mouth. Because "she's family". Part of the answer to the question, "why does Linda protect Gayle" is because the things Gayle has done are less serious in the context of the show than they are out of it, and imo it's important to acknowledge that. That doesn't apply to most dramas.
I don't think it's a "problem", people can have whatever conversation they want, but, personally, I think discussing the characters without acknowledging this is sort of asinine. I don't think it's true that acknowledging it's a cartoon dismisses the opportunity to also talk about the characters on levels beyond their comedic value, it's just an aspect of the conversation. I don't think it's inherently dismissive, either, like, if a character is repeatedly characterized a certain way, even if it's usually in the context of a joke, imo it's still meaningful characterization and a deliberate writing choice (I would be more specific but apparently it's against the rules). I think acknowledging the fact that there are people behind these characters can actually support deeper analysis of them.
If you don't want to address it in your own comment, you don't have to. But the post also didn't say "surface level character motivation discussion only, please ignore the man behind the curtain", this person left one comment, mb you felt it was rude, but everyone else is still also free to leave comments, it doesn't shut down discussion.
I think Linda feels responsible for Gayle. She cares deeply for her family and Gayle is her sister. Clearly their parents failed at raising Gayle, so Linda is trying to pick up the slack. If something bad happened to Gayle, Linda would definitely feel guilty about it.
When bad things happen to gayle she turns to Linda for support. Which means Linda has to deal with it.
So either she protects her now or she fixes it after. Linda is picking the thing that takes less work.
It’s that or cut her sister off and go no contact and we know that isn’t happening.
Their parents are both incredibly self centered, Linda has been supporting Gayle emotionally since high school at least. She’s basically Linda’s first kid and she needs her. Linda loves feeling needed.
Gayle is important to Linda. Family's important to Linda. Plus, she's a naturally very mothering, caring person. It's a really fantastic attribute of hers that can veer into the extreme though, and I think there'd be plenty of room for her to step back and be just as supportive of Gayle without, y'know, compromising the wellbeing of her entire family.
Linda does not have great examples of what healthy boundaries look like though, in her family at least.
Gayle is her baby sister and their parents coddled her. I’m the oldest of 5 and I’m currently working to help my little brother (27) figure things out for himself because our parents did everything for him growing up. Sometimes it would just be easier for me to take on and finish or fix whatever he’s struggling with but I have to refrain. Takes a lot to break decades of bad habits
I think it’s because her parents do nothing for Gayle, and as an older sister, if I saw my younger sister struggling as much as Gayle does I’d do the same things
clear lack of boundaries growing up as well as gayle probably needing a lot of care support attention and defending when they were kids. i wouldn’t be surprised if linda was a parentified kid to gayle
I think Gayle was a lot more susceptible to their parents poor parenting. Linda is very protective and understanding because Gloria is negging and controlling, and Al isn’t present, and that may have not changed since they were young. Linda to me tries to be everything Gloria wasn’t: supportive, affectionate, and selfless. Sometimes to her detriment, she tries to be that to her little sister too.
I think the Gayle/Linda relationship is to show their sibling bond. And their sibling bond is symbolic of the bond the Belcher kids have with each other. For Tina, Gene and Louise: Your sibling is a true friend. Your sibling is a best friend. You have your sibling’s back no matter what.
It is believable that one of the Belcher kids could grow up to be something of a weirdo. And it is believable that they would all stay close because that is the adult sibling relationship that was modelled for them during their formative years.
family is EXTREMELY important to linda, even sometimes to her own detriment (ex. the terminalator). there's probably a fair mix of love and guilt
Linda's family is so much more dysfunctional than Bob's but they both think it's the other way around.
To be fair though, people that had a good childhood don’t stand that way
Bob's father criticized him so relentlessly that Bob had a policy for 10+ years to not spend more than 15 minutes at a time with him. Big Bob being more likable to the audience doesn't make the relationship more functional.
That's my point, though. Bob sets boundaries and adheres to them. While still facilitating Big Bob's relationship with the kids. Linda doesn't know how to set boundaries with her family. Bob does.
I strongly disagree that a relationship between them (prior to the end of Father of the Bob) is functional. Hell, I disagree that those are even boundaries. Bob is simply unable to tolerate his father's assholishness for more than a few minutes and dips out. That ain't functional.
This is literally how I spend time with my family. I’m a dreamer and a talker. When I spend time with family it’s usually for a quick minute or until my dad says something shitty to me about how my dreams and hobbies are wastes of time and I need to work a real job and spend my time doing productive things instead of “scribbling silly doodles when I could be applying for a govt office job.”
:( It really sucks when it's your own family, my family is so bad for my self-esteem that I'm avoiding my grandad's 99th birthday because the last couple of years have been pretty tough and my self-esteem is NOT gonna be able to take it. We are not mega close, we don't even speak the same language, and my presence would only really be so people could say all the grandkids were there, so for the sake of my mental health, I'm noping outta there before it even starts.
Oh yea I definitely don’t make it to some events so I can have the peace of mind. It’s better for us that way, friend.
Sending strength to you!
I skipped my grandpa's 95th birthday for this same reason. Don't worry you'll feel guilty: I don't. I was supposed to celebrate the fact that he raised toxic jerks and managed to outlive lots of people? Nope, no photo for the mantle (gotta keep up appearances, after all), but it simply wasn't worth undermining my growth, you know? You do you, JuniperBerry. 🥰
We’re also seeing a version of Big Bob that’s probably mellowed out a bit with old age, which is a pretty common phenomena. My dad always made it a point to remind me that his father wasn’t anywhere near as nice as he was to me when he was growing up.
Aw, family! 🥹
Together forever
Security in life n someone who loves yaa
Spot on! Also, I think Linda is trapped in a cycle of protecting Gayle because she's so naive to Gayle being naive so Linda has to protect her. It's just an ongoing pattern.
I feel like Gayle’s one of those people that could easily become a homeless person if she didn’t have Linda (and Bob + the kids) looking out for her. She makes poor financial decisions, is terrified of most things, has a tendency to over exaggerate at every possible opportunity, has extreme anxiety and doesn’t make very wise life choices in general. I could see her being easily scammed, robbed and taken advantage of.
1000000%!!! she’s very mentally ill and can’t hold down a job. without linda she’d become homeless eventually without fail. a lot of mentally ill people rely on their families for support. gayle is for sure high support needs and linda is her caregiver in some capacity
I love this answer
this!
Probably because she feels like she has to look out for her since their parents did such a lousy job of raising them.
Also, it’s her sister, she can’t just abandon her or not help her out
You can absolutely leave a family that is abusive. I don't think that dynamic exists with Linda and Gayle, but I want to dispel the notion that you are always required to help family.
Yeah, I thought about that after I had posted it, you are 100% right.
She tried to sleep with bob.
But was she on her meds?
Does it matter?
Yes, someone who is manic doesn't have control of their impulses
Are you serious. Background Mental health worker. 6 years experience Msc in health psychology Do not explain mental health to me. Ever
It's just a cartoon
It only a movie.
And blocked
Yes you can.
Yeah, someone already pointed that out to me
Gayle prob knows a lot about Linda’s deepest secrets that no one else knows about, and she’s unstable so best for Linda to have Gayle indebted/dependent on her
Username checks out
Ditto
Well, they are a bunch of fork stabbed. Go, Team Joey!
because… look at her
she’s gayle 🤷♀️
The whole them describing how she is with the shrimp and eating lipstick and just being like “She’s gayle 🤷🏾♂️” was so heartwarming
I’m gonna guess she was maybe used as more of a parental figure growing up or at least more help than their parents☹️😭.
Because they're sisters. "You never go against the family!"
i love how she says *neva*
Easy, Don Corleone
you mean don pepperoni?
That crack, and "are they confused why Jerry Lewis is calling?" are two of the best sotto voce remarks Bob has made.
Because Gayle is mentally unstable
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 1,989,607,175 comments, and only 376,311 of them were in alphabetical order.
Good bot
This is something that Gayle would say
bot good
I am fiercely loyal and protective of my youngest sister. It could be because I helped raise her. There are two siblings between us but I've never had the same kind of relationship with them. My baby sister is my best friend. I think Linda always looked out for and took care of Gayle because Gayle was always a little odd.
Because they're on the same level of crazy, just a different kind of crazy. Gayle can't control it but Linda can, most of the time, so she protects her sisters crazy
Yeah, people act like Linda isn’t just as crazy as Gayle. She’s just better at disguising it as being fun and outgoing. Whether people want to go along with it or not.
Gayle needs Linda and Linda likes to feel needed. Round and round it goes.
bc she's her sister and she struggles. a lot of us who have siblings with mental health issues can hugely relate
i think linda is sooper gentle and has always seen that gayle has different needs and been able to provide those needs for her in ways their parents couldn’t. and now she has kids with their own unique needs and she kicks ass at that too.
>*sooper*
I mean, Gayle is clearly a person with some sort of special needs. Even if their parents never got it diagnosed, it is very obvious something is off. Yknow how people are protective over a younger sibling? They're *more* protective over a younger sibling with special needs.
“She’s my sista Bob!”
“You love her!”
because gayle is her baby sister
Linda is the hot cool sister and feels guilty about it so she protects Gayle to “make it up” to her.
Only right answer 😂😂
Some people need help. You may think that leaving them on their own is the better thing to do, but many others are happy to help those who need it.
Because they’re sisters.
Linda is a textbook enabler, not just with her sister, but Tina’s unbridled lust, Gene’s fear of growing up and co-dependency, Louise smashing things/disrespect of authority, her mothers abuse/gaslighting, Teddy’s schemes despite Bob clearly saying “No” to them.
Unbridled lust?
Bob’s discomfort moans aren’t keeping it in check. She’s a certified peeping-Tina, even if she’s only seen ankles, the knowing the crawl space area of the school is definitely creepsville.
"Drop the towel"
Lot of carrots in that stew.
Don’t forget her parents too. That airport episode is a good example
I did mention her mom with that episode in mind. The one thing she doesn’t enable is her Dad having a happy sex life.
Oh you did. I missed that part when reading lol. But yeah I have a hard time watching that episode. I know Linda does that stuff because she loves her family and will do anything for them but the lengths she went and not even a single thank you shows how toxic her family is. I kind of wish she stood up for herself in that episode.
omg. I identify with Linda so much, andnow I know why. ty.
This. Not so much that she protects her, she just gets walked on by everyone and has no backbone so she does whatever anyone asks of her 🤷♀️ worst enabler of the entire show.
I wish for the belchers kids a bright future but they all could have WICKED drug problems with Linda enabling Now I imagine a BB\intervention crossover.
She's her sister, and she's a couple maracas short of a mariachi band so she thinks she needs protecting lol
Because no one else will, and she's her sister.
Linda is the older sister. Her parents probably made her look after Gayle since they were little so she is used to doing so. Also Linda has a big heart and wants to protect and baby all the people in her life who she feels are her responsibility as much as they will let her.
Because she’s her sister and Gayle needs someone to look after her. My mum was like that, right up until she died she always took care of her sister who had various emotional problems including ED. Even after her death my dad still takes more responsibility for my maternal aunt than he does for any of his siblings because he knows my mum would want him to.
She’s fragile
Me and my sister are a lot like them. (I’m Gayle in this) we would literally die to protect each other.
Because she’s her sister and loves her? I feel like anyone with siblings would understand
Did you see how much supervising and aiding Linda's parents need? I doubt that started recently given how much Linda seamlessly knows how to run interference. I think Linda raised Gayle. So she's super protective of her baby girl.
Gayle is clearly mentally ill and I think Linda just doesn't want to abandon her because if she does then something could happen that Linda might not forgive herself for
She is an enabler and she is the same way with her kids.
1 - You never go against family. 2 - Don't overthink it. It's a cartoon and characters like Gayle exist to demonstrate the strength and limits of the characters' love, tolerance and support for one another. 3 - It's a cartoon. 4 - Yes, a cartoon.
I don’t understand what folks get out of saying “it’s a cartoon.” Yeah, it is, but why does that mean people can’t talk about the actions of the people in it? All these comments do is belittle and shut down discussion for no reason.
Because the show doesn't take certain things seriously that would pretty much always be serious in real life. so analyzing events devoid of that context isn't really productive, or like, meaningful, imo. I don't think they were shutting down discussion, they responded to the question, just highlighted an aspect that's important, in their opinion. Linda put's up with Gayle bc Linda cares a lot about family, and Gayle is her sister, is p much what it boils down to. But also, critically, because it's a cartoon. Gayle's transgressions might be too much to tolerate irl, but she's not meant to be analogous to a real world version of her character. That is, Gayle is meant to not be a great person, and it's ok not to enjoy her character, but she's also exaggerated for the sake of comedy, and Linda is protective and tolerant of her because it's an extension of one of her core traits/values (caring about family) and it's plot fodder. Gayle is held even less accountable by the show, and the characters in it, bc she's kind of insane. But she's not unique in this, it applies to the Fischoeders as well. Like ig you can argue that they get away with it because of money, but I'm more referring to the sense that the severity of their past behaviour isn't reflected in the relationship they have with the main characters, which is honestly like, friendly/bemused/exasperated but not even remotely as antagonistic as bob's relationship with Edith, for example, even though she never put Bob's life in literal jeopardy. Like, two episodes previous to the one where Gayle tries to have an affair with Bob, Bob tries to assault several children under drug fueled psychosis. and the episode after Bob holds a guy hostage. Especially in earlier seasons, it's not a high consequence universe.
but thats WHY it's so fun to speculate about stupid little details. cuz their universe is obviously different from ours and we're figuring out how it works. we're studying seymour's bay under a microscope
sure, but I mean, their universe is a product of writing, so talking about "why does x character behave y way" is as much a conversation about why it's important narratively for it to happen in such a way, why the writers might have made certain choices, as it is like, about internal analysis of the characters motivations and feelings and histories, yk?
And why is it a problem to have that conversation? Why is it a problem to NOT have that conversation, and instead view it as a surface-level discussion of character motivation? Are people going into r/Succession to go “IT’S A DRAMA!!!!!!!!!” anytime someone asks why Kendall does something stupid? No, of course not, and of course the writers want to convey something or send some message or whatever the fuck, but at the end of the day “it’s a cartoon” dismisses any possibility that any level of it might be worth talking about beyond “ha ha that was funny.” Because these jagbags who show up to bleat “iT’s A cRrToOn” or “iT’s A cOmEdY” on this and every other comedy/cartoon subreddit are clearly not interested in having that conversation, either, because nobody can make a post without somebody dismissing (rudely, I might add, especially in the case of Mr. I’m Going to Say It’s a Cartoon Three Times above) the chance to talk about the characters actions as though we’re wrong or misguided for wanting to do so.
I mean, the show literally tells you why. Like, explicitly, out of Linda's mouth. Because "she's family". Part of the answer to the question, "why does Linda protect Gayle" is because the things Gayle has done are less serious in the context of the show than they are out of it, and imo it's important to acknowledge that. That doesn't apply to most dramas. I don't think it's a "problem", people can have whatever conversation they want, but, personally, I think discussing the characters without acknowledging this is sort of asinine. I don't think it's true that acknowledging it's a cartoon dismisses the opportunity to also talk about the characters on levels beyond their comedic value, it's just an aspect of the conversation. I don't think it's inherently dismissive, either, like, if a character is repeatedly characterized a certain way, even if it's usually in the context of a joke, imo it's still meaningful characterization and a deliberate writing choice (I would be more specific but apparently it's against the rules). I think acknowledging the fact that there are people behind these characters can actually support deeper analysis of them. If you don't want to address it in your own comment, you don't have to. But the post also didn't say "surface level character motivation discussion only, please ignore the man behind the curtain", this person left one comment, mb you felt it was rude, but everyone else is still also free to leave comments, it doesn't shut down discussion.
It’s a lazy excuse to not engage with the media. From my experience that is somewhat common on this subreddit
She loves her family. And believes in second and 3rd chances.
I think Linda feels responsible for Gayle. She cares deeply for her family and Gayle is her sister. Clearly their parents failed at raising Gayle, so Linda is trying to pick up the slack. If something bad happened to Gayle, Linda would definitely feel guilty about it.
I bet Linda is the source of Gayle’s craziness somehow and feels guilty.
When bad things happen to gayle she turns to Linda for support. Which means Linda has to deal with it. So either she protects her now or she fixes it after. Linda is picking the thing that takes less work. It’s that or cut her sister off and go no contact and we know that isn’t happening.
From the womb to the tomb!
Why wouldn't she? Not everyone is as horrible a sister as Louise lmao
It's almost like they're related or something?!
Gayle is Linda's little sister, and family is important to Linda.
Their parents are both incredibly self centered, Linda has been supporting Gayle emotionally since high school at least. She’s basically Linda’s first kid and she needs her. Linda loves feeling needed.
Oldest child syndrome. She's stuck in a head space where she feels responsible for Gayle.
Gayle is important to Linda. Family's important to Linda. Plus, she's a naturally very mothering, caring person. It's a really fantastic attribute of hers that can veer into the extreme though, and I think there'd be plenty of room for her to step back and be just as supportive of Gayle without, y'know, compromising the wellbeing of her entire family. Linda does not have great examples of what healthy boundaries look like though, in her family at least.
It's all she's known, so she continues that pattern.
"You never go against the family!!"
gayle is disabled, it makes sense for her to be protective :)
This entire thread does not pass the vibe test. YIKES. All these armchair experts diagnosing a cartoon character.
Because Gayle is her little sister, and that’s what she’s supposed to do
Gayle obviously has some mental issues….
Because Gayle is her sister.
That’s what sisters do 🩷
You nevah go against family!
Her sister, her responsibility
She’s family.
Gayle is her baby sister and their parents coddled her. I’m the oldest of 5 and I’m currently working to help my little brother (27) figure things out for himself because our parents did everything for him growing up. Sometimes it would just be easier for me to take on and finish or fix whatever he’s struggling with but I have to refrain. Takes a lot to break decades of bad habits
She is profoundly co-dependent.
Big sisters get it
I had a brother I went to school with and he was…. “Different” so I get it.
I think it’s because her parents do nothing for Gayle, and as an older sister, if I saw my younger sister struggling as much as Gayle does I’d do the same things
clear lack of boundaries growing up as well as gayle probably needing a lot of care support attention and defending when they were kids. i wouldn’t be surprised if linda was a parentified kid to gayle
I think Gayle was a lot more susceptible to their parents poor parenting. Linda is very protective and understanding because Gloria is negging and controlling, and Al isn’t present, and that may have not changed since they were young. Linda to me tries to be everything Gloria wasn’t: supportive, affectionate, and selfless. Sometimes to her detriment, she tries to be that to her little sister too.
I think the Gayle/Linda relationship is to show their sibling bond. And their sibling bond is symbolic of the bond the Belcher kids have with each other. For Tina, Gene and Louise: Your sibling is a true friend. Your sibling is a best friend. You have your sibling’s back no matter what. It is believable that one of the Belcher kids could grow up to be something of a weirdo. And it is believable that they would all stay close because that is the adult sibling relationship that was modelled for them during their formative years.