#90
I think I was a little more willing to forgive the general absence in conflict from the duck article because it was explicitly aimed as a slice-of-life joint with a relatively upbeat ending, but it doesn't really work for me here. Even in that one, events occur — you get the transfer from 19, the backstory of the family, the ducklings, the birthday party, the ending. All distinct, discrete events. But in this… nothing really occurs. It's just kind of a character-establishing interview with 6425, which is fine, an entertaining-enough character with a charming dynamic with the researcher, but you don't do anything with it like you do in the duck one. It just immediately cuts to the Foundation doing a note-at-the-end that summarizes off-screen character development, then at-face explains the themes you were going for to the reader. The Foundation seems chastened, but there's no real reason for them to feel bad — there's no conflict that occurs from them interviewing Sammy like they have decided they won't anymore. It feels like a large portion of the article between the addenda is just… missing. Something with the AEED trying with the best of intentions to understand Sammy, but somehow messing up and making things worse before learning their lesson and fixing the relationship, which would then lead into the letter. That would've felt like a more natural arc, but right now it's the beginning and end of their arc with Sammy, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and the ending feeling unearned.
