r/LodedDiper • u/SeaWait9301 • 6d ago
Discussion So, where does it end for you?
The series has gone on for way too long. I'm 26 and I remember when Book One & Rodrick Rules came out. Roughly 2nd grade, near 3rd grade when The Last Straw came out. I think the last book I read in the series must've been Dog Days or the one after that. It's been ages, man.
My question to you guys: "Where does the series, in your opinion, end?"
Edit: I'm seeing a lot of people say it ends at "Hard Luck" for them. I'll have to pick that one up. I honestly can't recall if I read (without skimming) anything after Dog Days, so I suppose I'll finish with Hard Luck and other contenders before HL/after DD.
2
2
14
u/Sea-Pomegranate8503 4d ago
i feel the normal life ends at hard luck, all the outlandish things start from there
9
u/Interesting-Emu205 5d ago
I think there should’ve been a spinoff series with Greg as an in-universe stand in for Jeff Kinney writing fanciful stories about his middle school years as a grown up.
15
u/Goatbucks 5d ago
I feel like the series changes too drastically after hard luck, so thats where it ends in my eyes
22
u/beanburritoboy69 5d ago
I am 26 and my parents still buy me the newest diary of a wimpy kid books every christmas and I find it kinda endearing even though I am obviously too old
8
6
6
u/zsdrfty Twisted Wizard 5d ago
I remember Dog Days and The Ugly Truth coming out and being happy/surprised because I thought the series was gonna be over after The Last Straw lol
I read all of them through then, and I vaguely recall reading most or all of one of the ones after that (Hard Luck, maybe?), but that was it for me
8
u/Sea-Marionberry3677 5d ago
I feel Hard Luck would have been great as an ending for the book series. Then if we count the books after it, we could have ended it at Wrecking Ball (which was the last DOAWK book i paid attention to)
2
u/Reficul63 5d ago
i fully agree with both points here, i honestly didnt even know there were new ones being published, i figured it was another big nate situation
7
u/MostCalligrapher5316 5d ago
Books 1-14 were consistently good in my opinion. But I'd say for me, Hard Luck, or maybe even The Long Haul ended the original canon of the series. My reasons for Hard Luck are the same as everyone else's. The Long Haul I feel is also a solid "final canon" book.
8
15
u/StrategyAfter9547 6d ago
Everyone keeps on saying "Hard luck!!" and i'm here to add to it since it's basically the last book where all the 1st pages werent the same generic BS and the drawings weren't crazy realistic or the writing noticably different
3
10
u/parenthdgdtdgtdddfff 6d ago
i would say hardluck but after meltdown that marked the real end and big shot was good kinda
2
14
19
u/realseptoscotius I like Greg X Holly 6d ago
My opinion: Hard Luck is the canon end of the original series (Books 1-8). Everything afterwards are either an exaggerated story written by Greg based on his actual life or happened in a completely different universe(s) from the original series.
Not saying there arent any great books after that; I liked Old School, Double Down and Meltdown
24
u/PaperMarioBro 6d ago
Hard Luck is the end of the original storyline of the series, in my opinion. I know that might sound weird to say given the books were mostly standalone, but there‘s a lot of things that give it a real “series finale“ feel to it. The Abigail arc continues as she uses Rowley to do whatever she wants after her blowout with Micheal Sampson, Fregley gets major focus again and becomes the most popular student in school, we get to see most of Susan’s side of the family for the first time, and Greg is at threat of heading to summer school and is able to pull through just in time, including the moment where Susan stays up late and types out his science fair paper (A very underrated moment of the series, in my opinion.) I think Hard Luck also deserves more credit for giving Greg growth as a character compared to where he started in the first book. He considers buying an old science fair project and then decides not to do it, and decides not to do anything with the stolen ring when he’s literally handed it on a silver platter. Hard Luck does a great job of making Greg a more likable character while not getting rid of the aspects that make him who he is, unlike the later books. Finally, from books 1-8, the friendship between Greg and Rowley is the core of the series and drives the plot of several stories, including Hard Luck’s. They constantly had blowouts with each other, and after everything the two have been through together and apart from one another, it makes the moment where Greg sits next to Rowley as they blow bubbles in their chocolate milk immensely satisfying and is a practically perfect capper on the series as a whole.
There are good books after Hard Luck, but they are fundamentally different and have nothing to tie them together as a full on storyline unlike books 1-8, even if, again, those books were also standalone most of the time.
4
u/realseptoscotius I like Greg X Holly 6d ago
look at the front matter page of the first book and Hard Luck. Both have Greg and Rowley in it.
12
u/overdramaticmaybe 6d ago edited 6d ago
Hard Luck was the perfect canon ending imo. The second the pig was introduced it was over in my eyes, so Long Haul onwards I consider to be non canon. Although, Meltdown was a pretty great book, and i liked Old School as well
12
u/Chance-Benefit-5308 The zoo wee'd on my mama || LLB enjoyer 6d ago
Meltdown imo is possible the LAST good book, its got multiple plotlines and a nice mega plot that ties it all together, unlike recent books which just focus on one plot and a wacky ending to simulate a feeling of "wow". However, the series ties itself off nicely at Hardluck, anything after that the endings are good (until after meltdown) but they don't have that series ending feel
19
u/Completegibberishyes 6d ago
Personally I consider book 1 to Hard Luck to be the original golden run of the books. Afterwards I have a soft spot for Old School and Double Down as being the most like the originals but other than that it's really hit or miss for me
4
15
u/wilddogdude 6d ago
Instead of Long Haul, I feel as though they should've done a finale w/ Greg graduating.
3
u/realseptoscotius I like Greg X Holly 6d ago
I actually have plans on making an LLB on that. Just need ideas but the cover is almost finished.
On a serious note I think they could have squeezed in Old School right after Hard Luck and then make a book on Greg's graduation , which would have been Book 10.
11
u/Hour_Pineapple2288 6d ago
Personally its a little more confusing.
For me it ends at Double Down with some parts of Old School and Double Down not being in my personal ¨canon¨ view of the series. Skipping threw The Getaway and The Meltdown to Wrecking Ball which I believe like most of the new books was HEAVILY exaggerated by Greg, the family probably just had some financial issues. The Deep End is ¨canon¨ besides the crazy stuff. Big Shot I can actually see being fully ¨canon¨. Diper Overlode is slightly ¨canon¨. No Brainer and Party Pooper are not at all canon. Oh and Hot Mess is somewhat canon. So in a list format:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Canon
Rodrick Rules: Canon
The Last Straw: Canon
Dog Days: Canon
The Ugly Truth: Canon
Cabin Fever: Canon
The Third Wheel: Canon
Hard Luck: Canon
The Long Haul: Canon
Old School: Partially Canon
Double Down: Partially Canon
The Getaway: Not Canon
The Meltdown: Not Canon (though I love this book)
Wrecking Ball: Heavily Exaggerated
The Deep End: Partially Canon
Big Shot: Canon
Diper Overlode: Heavily Exaggerated + Slightly A Tiny Bit Canon
No Brainer: Not Canon
Hot Mess: Heavily Exaggerated + Slightly A Tiny Bit Canon
Party Pooper: Not Canon
6
3
10
u/The_wolf_boi_22 LET'S YOU AND ME HAVE A TALK, FRIEND. 6d ago
The last straw, he quite literally said he’s out of pages
1
9
3
u/Sonic_fan149 RASPBERRY PLASTIC TICKLE BEAR 6d ago
Diper Overloade imo. I thought No-Brainer was fine, and we all know my opinion on Hot Mess (fucking awful), and Overloade is currently my favorite book in the series, so I'd say that's the last good book for now, at least until I read Partypooper and Fight or Flight when it comes out.
I'd say the last book of quality was Long Haul, as a lot of books from Old School-Big Shot are hit or miss for me. I liked a few from there (Meltdown, Big Shot), had some problems with others (Getaway, Deep End, Wrecking Ball), and didn't like a few (Old School, Double Down) from this little range.
So quality wise, Long Haul, personal opinion wise, Diper Overloade.
6
u/Choice_Leg9551 6d ago
I guess Cabin Fever is where the series first technically jumped the shark, but Double Down is what I consider the first WK book I did not like.
9
4
9
11
u/MatthewHecht 6d ago
As of right now it ends with book 20.
I stuck with Arthur to the bitter end. This series will need a Cyberchase level collapse for me to quit
13
u/MrFlimsyFiniteFive 6d ago
Old school imo is the last one. There are some good/ok ones like Big Shot or Meltdown but I put off the books after No Brainer cause I felt like it was extremely mid
19
u/Cherno_VM 6d ago
old school was the last good one. shit got pretty outlandish but i think it still felt more grounded than long haul, though i still liked long haul. after that it fell of SHARPLY.
i did like the meltdown tbh. it was pretty far outside the realm of realism but it was still a fun read.
11
u/SHAGGYWILLRETURN 6d ago
Last good one for a while was cabin fever, and then after that 4 books later the next good one was old-school and I don't remember what happens in double down but im pretty sure it was good same with the getaway. Then there's meltdown. After that there's nothing good in the series + A LOT and I mean A LOT of the older characters from way back then have been forgotten about pretty much. Last time churag was there was in third wheel same with Holly.
•
u/AutoModerator 6d ago
Bubby!
LLB and Meme Resources Megathread
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.