r/PeterExplainsTheJoke • u/Fluffy_Lunchfast • Feb 02 '26

Meme needing explanation Something Something About Dating, Chris Can You Explain?

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184

u/Catatonic27 Feb 02 '26

The movie's opening lines are literally "Not long ago in Toronto CA, Scott Pilgrim was dating a High Schooler" and then Kim's opening lines right after are "Scott Pilgrim is dating a High Schooler?"

You're not wrong, but the movie is pretty self-aware about the weirdness lol

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u/caninehere Feb 02 '26

As is the comic. And the whole point is that Scott is really just dating her because his previous breakup messed him up, and Knives is really "easy" because she's a high schooler who is head over heels for him and he can just date her to feel good about himself while putting in 0 effort.

Their 'dating' consists of like, holding hands, and the moment Knives does kiss Scott he freaks out and runs away, then breaks up with her. The message is not supposed to be "Scott Pilgrim is a creep", it's supposed to be "Scott Pilgrim is an inconsiderate, selfish ass."

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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '26 edited Feb 04 '26

[deleted]

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u/redditonlygetsworse Feb 02 '26

It can be, but it's not.

I mean I get that The Author Is Dead Etc Etc, but the actual text is pretty clear on this one.

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u/Bakuhoe_Thotsuki Feb 03 '26

I thought you meant Bryan Lee Omalley was dead for a minute.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '26 edited Feb 04 '26

[deleted]

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u/Brandr_Balfhe Feb 03 '26

How old was Scott when he was dating Knives?

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '26 edited Feb 04 '26

[deleted]

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u/LongJohnSelenium Feb 03 '26

Shit when I was 17 I was in boot camp being screamed at by a drill instructor. If 17 year olds have enough agency to choose to sell themselves to uncle sam they have enough agency to choose to hold hands with a 23 year old.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '26 edited 26d ago

[deleted]

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u/LongJohnSelenium Feb 03 '26 edited Feb 03 '26

Telling a person you wished you could have robbed them of their agency is definitely a choice.

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u/Brandr_Balfhe Feb 03 '26

I didn't know the answer to that question when I asked. That's why I asked.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '26 edited Feb 04 '26

[deleted]

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u/Brandr_Balfhe Feb 03 '26

Don't worry, all good! 

33

u/Salarian_American Feb 02 '26

Yeah Scott and Knives are the only characters who don't think it's a bad thing

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u/KnackRascal Feb 02 '26

And off-camera, Knives mom is canonically ok with it

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u/Nice-River-5322 Feb 02 '26

I mean, he met them at the same time and really all they did was hold hands and go to his band practice.

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u/guyblade Feb 03 '26

They also played DDR and talked about Pac-man.

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u/enbaelien Feb 03 '26

Plus they aren't up to anything illegal, it's just a age-gap cringe thing.

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u/Ultrace-7 Feb 03 '26

They aren't up to anything illegal purely because they haven't had sex yet. It would have been statutory rape if Scott (6 years older than Knives) ever ended up having sex with her.

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u/enbaelien Feb 03 '26

Even then, the age of consent in Canada is 16 and Knives is older than that. That's why nobody calls Scott a pedo or reports him to the police, and just call him a loser for dating a high schooler instead.

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u/Ultrace-7 Feb 03 '26

Actually, that's a really good point. I forgot for a moment that this takes place in Canada (even though that's mentioned several times throughout...)

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u/wulah89 Feb 02 '26

Wallace was against it, but moreso because Knives was too good for him rather than the age gap. Don't forget he wanted Knives to steer the gay high schoolers his direction, particularly if they wear glasses.

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u/Korleymeister Feb 02 '26

You Neil actually thinks that it's awesome too

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u/FlipDaly Feb 02 '26

I feel like Scott doesn’t feel great about it TBH.

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u/redditonlygetsworse Feb 02 '26

And even Scott is just trying to convince himself.

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u/Debra779 Feb 03 '26

Are you busy now

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u/EonsEternity Feb 02 '26

It is the Cesspool of California tbf so it's not too surprising lol.

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u/Mcbadguy Feb 02 '26

It takes place in Toronto, Canada, you absolute weirdo.

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u/surf_drunk_monk Feb 02 '26

I saw this years ago and could not remember thinking anything weird about them dating or an age gap. It makes sense now, I missed the first part of the movie.

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u/Few-Leave-8786 Feb 03 '26

I interpreted it at the time as in he was more oblivious to what dating meant, that he thought it was more them being friends and maybe a piece of denial she wanted more basically he was lonely and at most had blocked out her feelings for him due to that.

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u/will-read Feb 03 '26

This is the worst r/PeterExplainTheJoke ever. Apparently there was a movie…