Zim and Dib being companionable/doing things normally only friends would do in Enter The Florpus
alright yāall listenā¦ YES, for the majority of the movie, Zim is a bastard and basically goes feral and Dib has every reason to be deathly pissed at him, BUT, as a soft gay fandom old with a bleeding heart that has been scrounging for any scrap of friendship or family dynamics in the IZ universe since 2008, the movie had some of the sweetest, friendliest moments (in comparison to their usual interactions) I have EVER seen between Zim and Dib, and I just wanted to take a moment to appreciate them.
so HERE, is a highlight reel of Enter The Florpus: ZADF Edition
Small but substantial, Dib sounds genuinely hurt that Zim didnāt recognize him. Like genuinely hurt. āY-yā We know each other,ā in the tiniest, most timid voice Dib has ever used. If he really had zero respect or regard for Zim he certainly would have brushed this off or just been agitated, but instead his tone suggests heās disheartened that heād be unimportant enough to Zim to be forgettable.
ZIM GIVES DIB ZERO PERSONAL SPACE WHEN THEY REUNITE. Even though Dib apparently smells bad enough to have flies buzzing around him and Zim has a notorious history of complaining about āsmells,ā Zim goes out of his way get in Dibās face over minuscule points, stand unnecessarily close to show him a video on his phone while playfully nudging him with his elbow, and even smoosh his cheek up against Dibās while trying to intimidate him. He has never ever been SO touchy before. Maybe, subconsciously, he missed Dib, and this is his acceptable alternative to a greeting hug.
DIB SYMPATHIZING WITH ZIM AND OPENING UP TO HIM!!! When Zim explains his situation and breaks down as a result, Dib gets uncomfortable instead of laughing or taking advantage of him while heās clearly such a mess, and even goes so far as to say that he feels the same way Zim does. Could he just be talking to himself? Sure, but the interaction reads so much like Dib is saying āhey man, donāt be sad, I understand how you feel.ā Theyāre familiar and comfortable enough to be openly sharing their feelings with each other, which for āenemiesā is incredibly meaningful.
DIB ACTUALLY RESPECTING ZIM WHEN CREATING HIS PLAN! He did NOT have to take the handcuffs off Zim OR give him ANY equal standing, Zim had given up!! But instead of hauling Zimās ass off by the antennae he OFFERS A HANDSHAKE and gives Zim the dignity of asking him to agree to Dibās deal. Zim may be apathetic, but Dib doesnāt force him against his will, which is more respect than Dib had ever treated him with in the past.
A GENUINE COMPLIMENT. DID YāALL READ THE POOP COLA COMIC? BEFORE NOW COMPLIMENTING ZIM WAS VISCERALLY REPULSIVE FOR DIB. NOT TO MENTION HE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BUT CRUEL AND BELLIGERENT TOWARDS ZIM IN THE SHOW. NOW HE LETS HIMSELF FREELY ADMIRE ZIMāS WORK AND GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND I HAD PERSONALLY ACCEPTED THAT IT NEVER WOULD. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS??? GROWTH. RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT. THEIR HISTORY TOGETHER ONLY GETS LONGER, AND THEY JUST GET MORE AND MORE FAMILIAR AS THE YEARS GO BY.
IN CONCLUSION, IF ZIM AND DIBāS GOALS WERENāT DIRECTLY CONFLICTING, THEYāD BE ABLE TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY RELATE TO EACH OTHER AND BE GREAT FRIENDS. THE MOVIE GAVE US A GLIMPSE OF THAT, AND IāM EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MY TED TALK.
MORE SMALLER (BUT JUST AS CUTE) MOMENTS UNDER THE CUT!!
