I do really enjoy this, for all the reasons in the summary. (Those very Lawrie-esque struggles with the mackintosh are lovely too.) But I do think Nicola has actually resisted Lawrie's demands quite often in the series before - she spends most of End of Term refusing to go along with her over desks, and parts, and Thuggery starts with her going to London despite Lawrie's opposition. So I'm not sure why this occasion is seen as so significant - perhaps because it's at home, and it's within the family context that Nicola's role as the twin that gives way is most entrenched? Or because she's said "No" to Lawrie without the extra nudge of Miranda backing her up?
I also think Nicola's reflections about her best friends earlier aren't entirely justified. She acquired Miranda as a best friend at about the same time she realised she wasn't Tim's best friend, and there's no sign at all in the series of Miranda ever considering dumping Nick. I think this may be a rare case of Nicola being a teeny bit self-indulgent...or maybe not wanting to face head-on the fact it's really Patrick, not anyone else, she's upset about.
Lawrie/Nicola bust up and Nicola and friends
Date: 2014-12-05 07:43 pm (UTC)I also think Nicola's reflections about her best friends earlier aren't entirely justified. She acquired Miranda as a best friend at about the same time she realised she wasn't Tim's best friend, and there's no sign at all in the series of Miranda ever considering dumping Nick. I think this may be a rare case of Nicola being a teeny bit self-indulgent...or maybe not wanting to face head-on the fact it's really Patrick, not anyone else, she's upset about.