It is cherry
picking. Here’s why.
Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 53.
The mood of
the strip isn’t that France isn’t buying their pleasantries. He’s both shocked
and surprised but nonetheless expresses happiness at their reconciliatory
efforts.
The context
of the strip + the context of other strips is important here, not just the
former. You can’t understand the progression in their relationship otherwise.
The strip
shows how America and Russia have progressed from physical threats and a more
volatile relationship from the Cold War to exchanging pleasantries with jabs
here and there. In no way are they best buddies–Russia is incapable of
having a relationship like that because of how unstable and unpredictable he is– but they don’t despise each other either.
Instead,
just like any other friend-rival dynamics, they get on each other’s nerves.
Which is a
far cry from what their relationship used to be like.
Ex: Russia once threatened to make America’s gums bleed.
Source: Together with Russia, Volume 5.
The mood of the strip, or rather, the message of the
strip is that the two get along now. Relics from their Cold War past emerge in
their competitive and passive jabs at each other, which prompts France’s uneasy
reaction at the end. It’s still a new thing for them to interact like this.
You see this in the
2013-2014 Halloween Event too, where Russia agrees to help America with the costume
contest, but only if he’s compensated. Again, not buddy-buddy, but definitely
on good working terms.
Previously, he also helped America scare England, without any compensation either.
Source: Hetarchive, Merry Halloween.
If the message of the
strip was what you’re saying–that is, that they don’t get along–then the strip wouldn’t have ended the way
that it did. They’re facing unbuilt ground, i.e., a new phase in their
relationship.
If you have more to say,
please comment below rather than leaving an anonymous question. It’s easier to
keep track of.
Ellawritesficssometimes 