Characters
I'm sorry your mom blew up, Ricky.
— Lane • Better Off Dead
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The speaker apologises to Ricky about his mother having blown up. A routine expression of sympathy meets a startlingly blunt description, creating an awkward comic contrast. The line alone does not establish the outcome or circumstances, so its understatement is clearer than the event behind it.
Context reviewed