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Why does Buffy try to disempower ordinary people who want to want evil? -- slayer, 09:59:28 04/12/04 Mon

In the The Harvest she told Xander she is slayer and he isn't. But he still comes to help out later on. In Season 3, Faith and Buffy hung out slay more than her friends because want them safe. After Riley lost his superpowers she wanted him to partol with the gang than by himself. In Season 6 and 7 she tried to keep Dawn from fighting by sending her away. Ordinary people can empower themselves by fighting but Buffy acts like they no power to fight back.


Replies:

[> And yet... -- Ames, 11:37:07 04/12/04 Mon

When Xander got his eye gouged out, who was quick to blame Buffy? Everyone, that's who.


[> [> Because, of course ... -- Earl Allison, 03:45:11 04/13/04 Tue

Because it had nothing to do with Buffy's poor planning, or her actions afterwards, right? Letting normal people fight alongside the Slayer is a far cry from Buffy's "Charge of the Light Brigade" plan, IMHO. One does not prove or disprove the other.

What happened to these boards, where open discussion used to be more, well, open?

The original poster has a point, one that is underscored by the very existence of Gunn and others like him. The original premise, that only Buffy was equipped to battle vampires and the forces of evil, only worked for so long.

Angel the Series began to undermine that, when we see someone like Fred (Fred, of all people!) dusting multiple vampires. Of course, Buffy the Series tried to keep it going, but it really didn't wash after that.

So much for the claim that you need superpowers to battle the forces of Darkness.

I know where the premise came from, but it really became either laughable or offensive (depending on how charitable you wanted to be, IMHO) in the later seasons. It was painfully clear even as early as "Graduation Day" that normal people COULD make a difference. But they painted themselves into a corner with the "one girl in all the world" angle. Upon major examination, and execution of storylines, it didn't work.

Yes, the Slayer works alone, but at least part of that is her own fault.

Take it and run.


[> [> [> DAMNIT! I lost my large post! -- Majin Gojira, 05:52:44 04/13/04 Tue

It basically pointed out that generally, the main fighters of Angel had longer experience times (Gunn fighting since 1991, Fred raised for 5 years in a hell dimension, Wesley's 4 year transformation into darkness, Doyle was a half demon, Cordelia only began to train in Sesaon 3, Groo is...well...GROO!) and more dedication to physically fighting the forces of darkness than the scoobies. They were more focused on other aspects of life (Xander with carpentry, Anya with money and avoiding rabbits ;), Willow and Tara with Spellcasting, Giles with occult knowledge). And of them, there is one who was -- Riley. He was able to take on a vamp or two by himself. As was Robin Wood. Nice to see them ignored like that.

Also, None of them go out nightly and fight vampires -- there bodies cannot take it (both in reality and in the fact that there is no evidence that they ever did).

No one ever made the claim that one needs superpowers to fight evil. Such a claim smacks of broad-brush fallacy.

The closest one comes to that claim is that the scoobies need Buffy to act fully and effectively. It's not ALL people, it's just them.

AI were dedicated to fighting evil (literally) because that was their job. The Scoobies had other things to worry about.

That said, there is a noticable differential in power level between the two shows. Why I don't know, there just is. Trust me on this.


[> [> [> [> plus, definition of "normal" in the buffyverse -- littletrigger, 06:31:24 04/13/04 Tue

as i see it there are at least to kinds of it;
normal = human (without superpowers or whathaveyou)
and
normal = without any knowledge that there's something like the forces of darkness to begin with

it seems that while on AtS as soon as you don't fall into the latter category and you're up for it you're in, on BtVS the ideal is to force those two categories into one an the same. (andd i think that's the ideal for both the watcher's council and for buffy herself, albeit for different reasons.)

although buffy and angel fight the basically same good fight, they do it for different reasons and with different goals, so i see no reason why their methods shouldn't differ.


[> [> [> [> The Scoobies & Wesley -- Claudia, 07:40:38 04/13/04 Tue

Actually, the Scoobies had more experience in fighting demons, vampires, etc. than Wesley. Even Cordelia had more experience. As for Fred, we really don't know what she was doing during those five years in Pylea, aside from scribbling on walls.

I wouldn't dismiss the Scoobies that easily.


[> [> [> [> [> They maye have done it for longer... -- Majin Gojira, 07:49:34 04/13/04 Tue

But they were never shown activly training/preparing for it as both Wes and Cordy were.

Ad for Fred, she was basically survivng in a wilderness whilst being hunted by mideval authorities. That gives you a lot of experience--day to day as opposed to Monster of the Week.

I don't mean to dismiss them as effective fighters, they simply lack the insane focus that Wes and Cordy put in. For the Scoobies, fighting monsters is an extra-curricular activity. For AI, it's their Bread and Butter.


[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: They maye have done it for longer... -- dlgood, 08:37:22 04/13/04 Tue

But they were never shown activly training/preparing for it as both Wes and Cordy were.

Next question? Why weren't they actively training? Willow did engage in training though - she trained herself magically through experimentation.

Which ultimately follows on the valuation of might as a source of power. Buffy's physical might. Willow's magical might. Those who do not have apparent potential might, are generally encouraged to remain distant from the fight.

For the Scoobies, fighting monsters is an extra-curricular activity.

I don't know that this is necessarily true. It certainly wasn't for most of S7, yet Buffy did not offer to train Xander, Dawn or Anya alongside the potentials.

Despite the fact that Xander could throw a punch in S1-2, Buffy did not seek to increase their capacity, to "empower" him. Indeed, Buffy deliberately taking Dawn out for training in "Lessons" seems to be quite the anomaly in the series.

But then, it's also something that may be specific to Buffy herself, who seems to fall into the trap of seeing too many problems as nails, because she has such a trusty hammer.

Does she exclude them on grounds of "vision" that normal people should be free from having to fight. Or on policy grounds - that normal people aren't capable of fighting? Up in the air, I think. Regardless, for those without readily apparent potential, Buffy does not see value in training or "empowering" them, nor does it really even occur to her all that much.

It is very much a contrast to AtS.


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> The Power to Fight Evil: Tabulating Apocalypses es -- manwitch, 12:49:22 04/13/04 Tue

"Regardless, for those without readily apparent potential, Buffy does not see value in training or "empowering" them, nor does it really even occur to her all that much."

I would just point out that it seems like its as much our perception that "empowering" someone means encouraging them to get into fist fights as it is the perception we attribute to Buffy.

We should remember just how far beyond the scoobs and "normal" people Buffy is. Even in training the potentials, Buffy hands off much of it to Kennedy. In some ways, Buffy is more like a guest lecturer to them. The only people that extensively train or work out with Buffy are Faith, Angel, Spike, Giles and Reilly. Faith, Angel and Spike are not normal, Giles regularly gets whupped even when he's just holding the punching bag, and Reilly, well, Buffy holds back when she works out with him. It could arguably be inappropriate and power-centric for Buffy to force training for such circumstances on people that don't indicate a desire for it. This argument is in fact made consistently about Buffy's treatment of the Potentials.

Dawn is the only one that we know explicitly requested such training and was denied. Except, as you point out, she does get it in Lessons. And that was after she had demonstrated in Grave that she was training herself by Buffy's example with or without Buffy's help. She showed an interest.

While we know Xander wanted to help, we don't see him show the interest in learning to fight. We don't see the work and training he was willing to put in, except as puffy Xander, which was for Buffy's benefit, not his own. We frequently see Xander failing to succeed in fist fights, but we have no evidence that Buffy has in anyway disempowered him or influenced his failure.

That said, it seems to me it would be wrong to say that Xander was less of a contributer to Buffy's success than say Gunn or Wes is to Angel's (not that I think you said that, dlgood. I'm just positing). Xander brings Buffy back to life, thus stopping the Master's apocalypse. Xander has the idea and supplies the weapon and training in it that defeats the Judge, thus defeating that apocalypse. Whether Buffy knows it or not, Xander helps prevent the apocalypse in Zeppo. Xander figures out that the demons are the sacrifice in Doomed, thus allowing Buffy to halt that apocalypse. Xander has the idea and is part of the spell that is used to defeat Adam and avert that apocalypse. Xander picks up the spare that sidelines Glory and allows Buffy to climb the tower and avert still another apocalypse. Xander stops Black Willow when Buffy cannot and averts yet one more apocalypse. So it seems that Xander himself stops one apocalypse, plays a major role in the thwarting of 6 others, and in the remaining two (GD2 and Chosen), he is in the thick of it, yes fighting and leading, even if his role is not essential in stopping it. Isn't it our mistake to see his lack of success as a boxer as a lack of power to fight evil? I don't see how his disempowerment by Buffy manifests itself.

And I certainly don't see how it relates to his fighting evil. 9 apocalypses in which Xander, sans muscle and training, plays a major role. I find it difficult to see Wes and Gunn as contributors at that level, despite their muscle and training.

One could argue that rather than emphasizing might, Buffy actually encourages moreso than Angel other methods of participation, other forms of power, than brawn. It just seems to be a possibility.


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Well said, Manwitch. I totally agree. -- fidhle, 19:06:50 04/13/04 Tue



[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: The Power to Fight Evil: Tabulating Apocalypses es -- dlgood, 06:10:55 04/14/04 Wed

I don't dispute that this is what happened.

What I dispute, is that Buffy had any particular active role in this development, actively facilitated or encouraged it, or thought seriously about implementing it.

That Xander wound up empowered, I won't argue against. But it happened incidentally (and she'll still get some credit) not because of any intent Buffy had in terms of "empowering" him - and in fact - runs counter to what her intentions were.


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Who made that a point? -- Majin Gojira, 07:41:48 04/14/04 Wed

"What I dispute, is that Buffy had any particular active role in this development, actively facilitated or encouraged it, or thought seriously about implementing it."

Who made that statement? Honestly who? Non point.

"That Xander wound up empowered, I won't argue against. But it happened incidentally (and she'll still get some credit) not because of any intent Buffy had in terms of "empowering" him - and in fact - runs counter to what her intentions were."

And this does what? Paintng Buffy in a negative light? She's overly protective of her friends sometimes. It's a character trait. How is this not a thinley veiled Ad Homium against Buffy as your past post has been?


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> The Critical Job Performance Review -- dlgood, 09:26:24 04/14/04 Wed

It's not an "Ad Hominem" against Buffy. It's a serious and legitimate commentary on her management and leadership style. It's a performance evaluation. I'm in the middle of one at work right now. And calling out "Ad Hom" isn't going to mean much to HR.

If I'm critical of her policy, that's very much a professional judgement not a personal one. In the performance of her professional duty, Buffy places far greater emphasis upon might as a form of power, and does an inconsistent job of recognizing other, non-might based sources of power. Particularly, as her tenure as slayer mounts.

Do I argue that it makes her a "bad person"? That's hardly a subject of my commentary, and thus not Ad Hom at all. My argument addresses a flaw in her fulfillment of the performance objectives as a group leader in S7. And it addresses the initial question of why Buffy did not empower people.

And replies to Manwich, who had noted that Xander was "empowered" nonetheless, in a manner of speaking. I'm not making "value" judgments on good people bad people. It's a job critique.

Of course, it's hard to do any sort of assessment, because Buffy's actual job and role has never been clearly defined. And thus she has no standards to either exceed or fall short of beyond whatever standards the individual viewer believes a Slayer in her position should uphold.

Granted, that's certainly linked to a values equation. ut I very much admire Buffy Summers as a person. And I admired her in terms of performing her job. But not so much in S7, where - while she was a wonderful person - she was not particularly skilled in the envisioning or execution of her professional role.


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: The Critical Job Performance Review -- manwitch, 13:02:54 04/14/04 Wed

"But not so much in S7, where - while she was a wonderful person - she was not particularly skilled in the envisioning or execution of her professional role."


And this is certainly one of the interesting and/or controversial things about the end of Season 7. I think most everyone agrees, especially when they see li'l baseball girl and the other images of those "who can stand up will stand up," that the intention was to show empowerment, that Buffy's final victory was based on sharing, dissolving boundaries, erasing separatenes, effacing ego etc. etc. etc.

And yet, by the sharing being limited to potential slayers it can be interpreted as exclusive. And since the sharing was with the intent to create fighters that she was about to drag into hell, the "sharing" and "unifying" aspects can be seen as merely potential byproducts to the desire to manufacture some quick ass-kickers.

I personally don't see it that way. For me she is guilty of the mightcentric view of power up until she gets Richard Seconded. Then she tries something else, even though might is still part of the conflict, her emphasis changes, and the strength she gets to make this change comes from a non-might moment with Spike. I am what you might call "willing" to see it that way. But I'm very aware that a lot of nationally ranked and world-class posters here don't think it gets pulled off successfully.

As far as it not being Buffy's intention prior to that, well, neither is disempowerment. I mean, when Xander shows up to fight, she could kick his ass and knock him unconscious. She could refuse to tell Xander and Willow, and even Cordelia what she's up to. But she doesn't. More often than not she includes them. The fact that she doesn't want to watch them get killed doesn't mean she's disempowering them.

If there is a shootout going on in the street, and the cops in the thick of it tell you to stand back and get to safety, it seems a mischaracterization to say they are trying to disempower you from opposing crime. They are qualified authorized and able to do something you are not and just want to keep you safe. You are more than welcome to call in tips and testify to what you witnessed, etc.

This analogy obviously fails if you are, in fact, in law enforcement.

But your argument and the original one that started the thread seem to suggest that if Buffy isn't letting people get into something where they can get hurt, hurt her, escalate the situation, and possibly contribute to catastrophic consequences than she's disempowering them. Buffy doesn't think might is the only power, but its the one that should by and large be left to her. Buffy rarely does magic or carpentry.

"And replies to Manwich, who had n..."

Oh. Just like Xander. I try to make myself sound like a mysterious and powerful man witch, and I'm reduced to a sloppy joe meal time helper. Oh well...


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: The Critical Job Performance Review -- dlgood, 13:55:45 04/14/04 Wed

But your argument and the original one that started the thread seem to suggest that if Buffy isn't letting people get into something where they can get hurt, hurt her, escalate the situation, and possibly contribute to catastrophic consequences than she's disempowering them.

Mostly, my argument is that "empowerment" really isn't a topic Buffy intentionally deals with either way. She's exclusionary, because she heavily focuses on might.

To the extent that she's "not empowering" people, it's by not offering assistance to increase their capacity to handle themselves in a fight when she's not present. That would be empowering - she doesn't really do that. At least not intentionally. "Development" is not really part of her vision.


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> That's not really Buffy role, imo. -- Arethusa, 15:21:28 04/15/04 Thu

I don't think it's Buffy's role to empower people to fight, it's her role to fight so they can live the "normal" life that she's been denied. Buffy fights demons so the rest of the world doesn't have to know they don't exist, and can live free of the fear of the supernatural. Whether or not that's a good thing is very much up to debate, but the way I see it is like President Bush saying that our soldiers fight in Iraq so we don't have to fight here. (Something that can be seen as cowardly and sleezy, or self-sacrificial so our kids don't have to worry about someone blowing up their school or parents' places of employment every day.)


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Error: "doesn't have to know they exist" -- Arethusa, 15:22:29 04/15/04 Thu



[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: They maye have done it for longer... -- heywhynot, 14:23:16 04/13/04 Tue

The impression I got from the end of season 6 and the start of season 7 was that Buffy did train Dawn during the summer. At the end of the summer, Dawn got her first real hands-on lesson. It should be noted Cordelia did not receive much training from AI until she asked for it. Xander it appears never wanted to be trained, nor did Anya.

To me it demonstrates the difference between AI and the Scoobies. For AI, fighting evil is their chosen profession. For Xander his chosen profession was in construction. Willow was in school for much of her time on the show and trained in magics which Buffy encouraged. Anya was attached to Xander and was interested in making money at the Magic Shop. Gunn grew up fighting vampires & that is what he did. He joined AI & was a professional demon fighter. Fred lived in a demon dimension and then joined AI. Cordelia stayed out of the fights until she made the choice to become a full time fighter and asked Angel to teach her techniques.

For much of the series Buffy was the one being trained, really until season 6. In season 6 she was majorly depressed. At the end of season 6, she begins to train Dawn how to handle herself culminating as I said with the lesson in the graveyard. Dawn was the one who asked to learn how to fight like Cordelia did on AtS. Dawn through much of season 7, takes a step back and fills Giles role of looking information up, doing the work the potentials can not because they lack her experience and knowledge. Never underestimate the importance of a good librarian.

Season 7 has Buffy trying to figure out what is going on, finding the potentials, regaining Spike, training the potentials (with assistance from the rest of the Scoobies), her job at the school, etc.

To me she never really excludes. Does she actively encourage people to become warriors? No mostly I think because of the conflicts she had about being a warrior called into the role. It was a burden that yes she enjoyed at times but it was hard & she did dream of a "normal" life & resented it being taken from her. Not exactly the best mindset to recruit people to become fellow warriors. It is not like the Fang Gang has gone out and taught the people of LA how to fight demons.

Also, was Buffy ever taught how to teach? It might seem trivial but teaching is an art that requires a great deal of skill. Just because she was trained to be the Slayer doesn't mean she knows how to teach. I am in graduate school and the professors are all tops in their respective fields of study but most of them can not teach to save their lives. Why? Because they lack the skill set to teach even simple things like how to write on a chalkboard without standing in front of what you are writing. Besides Buffy learned how to fight as a super-powered being and to take advantage of those skills. A "normal" person doesn't have those abilities, Buffy would not be able to transfer exactly what she learned but who have to adopt it. When you are in the middle of a war against the First evil, drawing up a good lesson plan just doesn't seem plausible. Usually it takes teachers three years before they start hitting their stride teaching a particular class. Lets not devalue the skill & dedication involved in teaching.


[> Re: Why does Buffy try to disempower ordinary people who want to want evil? -- dlgood, 11:42:39 04/12/04 Mon

Ordinary people can empower themselves by fighting but Buffy acts like they no power to fight back.

Historically, Buffy has tended to view power narrowly, and primarily existing only in the forms of physical and magical might. Her views occasionally expand, but in general, she holds to the restrictive and narrow view. Above all, in the fight she values might.

Therefore, she prefers the non-mighty to be fray adjacent, generally believing that her responsibility to protect them is a greater burden then their capability is a boon. She wants them out of the fight both for their own good, and for hers.

Where that comes from, and why she so frequently retreats to that view, is subject for a larger debate than I'm prepared for at the moment. I do think it's excessively narrow a conception, on both practical and ideological grounds.


[> [> Because . . . -- Joyce, 12:16:53 04/12/04 Mon

I believe the reason Buffy does this, is because she fears that ordinary people - especially those close to her like Xander or Dawn - will get hurt, due to her activities as a Slayer.


[> [> Well, Buffy does this in regards to actual, physical fights -- Finn Mac Cool, 14:15:43 04/12/04 Mon

And in those, might is the most important thing, especially when you're taking on beings with superstrength. I mean, when we've seen the Scooby Gang fighting without Buffy, they don't seem to do entirely well. During the summer of '98, the Scoobies did manage to kill the majority of the vampires they faced, but not by much (compared to Buffy who seems able to kill most of the vampires she goes up against). And, in "Bargaining", while the gang handled your standard issue vampires all right, they admitted they needed Buffy to fight a gang of demons. I mean, it's hard to deny that, with the exception of Angel and Spike, Buffy is simply better at fighting demons than any of the people around her (while Willow is certainly more powerful in the later seasons, it's rare that we see her using it to fight monsters other than Glory (I can't be the only one who wondered why she didn't just mentally incinerate the vampires from the teaser to "Bargaining")).


[> I'm not sure its a closed case. -- manwitch, 07:05:01 04/13/04 Tue

Hmm, let's see.

I think the Harvest can be tossed out as an example because, while it does show the phenomenon you describe, it is basically the first time Buffy performs as the Slayer in the series and she has had her whole exposure to slayerness up to that point as being something that must be kept secret lest she put those around her in danger. She has just seen, in fact, that her advice to Willow and her allowing Xander to accompany her to the graveyard put them both in extreme danger, and she holds herself responsible for that and for the loss of jessie. So for her to, at that moment, suggest that she's the slayer and Xander is not, is simply a statement of her perception at that point, being unaware of the vast contributions her friends and family will ultimately make to her mission. She is just parroting what she has been taught and experienced up to that point.

As for Riley, she wants him to patrol with the gang not simply because he lost his superpowers but because she nearly got killed the night before. She is again acutely aware of the dangers of this project. And since she is asking the gang to go along, she really isn't disempowering Reilly, so much as empowering them all to function together in her stead. Its Reilly who perceives that as disempowering because he doesn't have respect for the gang.

I think there are about a gazillion examples, give or take, from each season (I might be overestimating slightly), of Buffy having to rescue or save Xander, Giles, Willow, and other normal people. Buffy expresses an awareness of having to do this and of the danger it poses to her, at least in Graduation Day if not elsewhere. So in that sense, the number of times she does include them seems to speak to her overcoming her own fear of their danger and the inconvenience it imposes on her to neverthless empower them to fight evil as their capabilities allow.

Certainly Checkpoint speaks to that empowerment.

I think many other examples exist of her empowerment of others who wish to fight evil. Certainly in Reilly's moments of self-doubt following Maggie's death, she is extremely empowering towards him. Even in the Harvest she encourages Willow to help as she is able and when Xander does show up she gives him a weapon of sorts in the cross. She brings the whole gang with her to the Bronze, quite consciously.

She is quick to ask Giles to enlist the help of Jenny Calendar and to take Xander with her to the Factory in IRYJ. It would hardly be empowering to Giles, in Prophecy Girl, for Buffy to watch him get killed by the Master and then have to fight the Master alone anyway.

Its hard for me to see Buffy disempowering Cordelia in Homecoming, or anyone in Primeval or Graduation Day. If anything, by midpoint of Season Three, she assumes the help of the gang, rather than rejecting it. Its Buffy's idea to put Willow in the vamp suit in Doppelgangland, and to bring Xander with her to break into the Initiative on more than one occasion. I'm sure Parker Abrams felt empowered. I know I would have.

Of course, there are moments when she is overprotective or absorbed in her own thing, and those tend to be moments where she is shown to be weak or mistaken, and usually she overcomes exactly that sort of behavior to become a more inclusive and empowering person in the ultimate defeat of the big bad. Not always, but not rarely either. A good example of that might be her disempowerment of Jenny Calendar in Innocence, which I think we can all understand and which Buffy ultimately realizes is not productive.

So I kinda disagree with the premise underlying the question. To answer it directly, I would say that when she does disempower people, she does it because she is mistaken, confused, overly protective, properly and justifiably protective, or because its an unintended consequnece of what she is trying to do. (And let's not forget, since I mention "properly and justifiably protective," the number of times that Buffy has been in a knock down drag out with some beastie or other and Xander has been hiding behind the bed or lying by unconscious, while Willow stands by parallyzed in fear or throwing nerf balls. They aren't in there kung fooing demons, not by a long shot, even though the opportunity is readily available and Buffy is not stopping them.) But by and large, I think she is far more empowering than not. The end of the series, Chosen, shows her ultimate victory through empowering others, something for which she seems to be largely castigated in these discussions.

I also disagree in part with dlgood's description of Buffy's narrow approach to power. Buffy certainly recognizes that aspect of power, but I think episodes like Helpless, Graduation Day part One, Intervention, Primeval, Restless, The Gift, even Prophecy Girl, show that there is more to it for her. She is aware that there are greater powers than the ability to beat things up. Its just that she is also aware that she beats things up better than most people do, and she's not wrong.


[> A loaded question -- Kansas, 13:32:07 04/15/04 Thu

I assume slayer meant to say, "Why does Buffy try to disempower people who want to fight evil?"

This is a pretty loaded question, however... the main text of the message would seem to be asking why Buffy tries to keep non-superpowered people out of fights. But the subject says, "disempower", so basically the conclusion is stated and then the question is asked. I.e., the conclusion is that Buffy keeps non-superpowered people out of fights to disempower them. Which, as other posters have pointed out, is not necessarily the case.



Does anyone think Willow has changed from the Chosen spell? -- slayer, 13:26:54 04/12/04 Mon

I think she has been changed by the spell and become a guardian. They probably like becoming a higher being type.


Replies:

[> No evidence one way or the other, really...not enough aftereffect on her seen -- Majin Gojira, 07:17:40 04/13/04 Tue



[> [> Re: No evidence one way or the other, really...not enough aftereffect on her seen -- Alistair, 15:07:18 04/13/04 Tue

I think that the coloring of her hair into white indicated the next step in her development. It was the antithesis of what she became when she went apocalyptically evil back in Season 6. This act, which saved the world was her redeption for the horrible things she did and planned to do. She was able to invoke the good in her and it worked the spell. I don;t know if she is becoming a higher being. We all saw what that meant for Cordelia, having to chill with the powers until one of them used her body to manifest on Earth. What Willow was able to tap in "Chosen" was even greater then the powers, but the Earth herself. Who knows if a Buffy movie will reveal the changes in her.



quesion about buffy music -- ghady, 13:33:13 04/12/04 Mon

What are the songs that are constantly played on Buffy called? There's one called "Close Your Eyes" and there's another one that wasn't played in the earlier seasons; it was only played in seasons 5 and 6 (I THINK.. I'm not sure about 3 and 4, and I haven't seen 7 yet).. I remember it was played in Hell's Bells when Anya was saying her "real" vows to Tara, and Xander was walking under the rain all confused and such (it was also played in many other episodes, but I can't recall which). If you know its name, that'll be great. Now if annyone knows where i can download these two songs from, that'll be great too (i can't use kazaa because of firewall issues). You know what else would be great? If someone had those songs AND MSN. Then he/she could send them to me online (we'll delete/block each other later IF you want).
Ok then. Thanks in advance.


Replies:

[> P.S.quesion about buffy music -- ghady, 00:46:09 04/13/04 Tue

I forgot to mention this, but if someone has the song played when Buffy kills herself in The Gift, that'll be great too.


[> [> a possible resource -- manwitch, 05:46:06 04/13/04 Tue

There used to be a great website called the Buffy and Angel music pages. As near as I can tell it is gone now. The address brings you to something else at anyrate.

The music playing at the end of the gift is on the Once More With Feeling soundtrack CD.

For other music, this address below seems to list everything up through Season 6. Might help you find what you're after.

http://www.buffyworld.com/buffy/music.htm


[> Re: quesion about buffy music -- Ames, 08:30:00 04/13/04 Tue

Buffy music listing sites come and go. manwitch already mentioned Buffyworld's listing. Here's another one:

http://www.sillybean.net/buffymusic.html

There's lots more sites around if you look. Most of the music is available on file-sharing services, and it's usually labeled as Buffy music, although not often with the specific episode.

There have been 3 Buffy-specific CDs released: the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Soundtrack (music from seasons 1-3, not the movie soundtrack), Radio Sunnydale (music from seasons 4-7), and of course the Once More With Feeling soundtrack. You can find the track listings and samples on Amazon. Radio Sunnydale is available in different US and UK releases, and the UK release has a lot more tracks. Unfortunately the current US CD has one of those brain-dead experimental "copy protection" schemes, so it can't be recommended anyway.

Original orchestral music was composed for BtVS by people like Christopher Beck and Rob Duncan. Not all of it is available on CD, although you can download most of it.

Please remember that all of the music is copyrighted, and much of it is available on CD and pay download services. I can't say that buying it supports the artists to any great extent, but it may incease increase the chance that there will be future Buffy-related investments by the entertainment industry. Consider buying CDs or at least a few tracks.



Potentials -- Mike, 15:00:39 04/12/04 Mon

This whole potentials thing has me kinda confused. In the past i always assumed Buffy and Faith and the other slayers were called spontaneously when the previos Slayer died and they were chosen out of all the girls in the world (as the jargon in Season 1 always says) at that time.But now we see many girls in the running to be a Slayer. When are potentials made potentials - is it when they're born - cause if so, how come all of the slayers we know about have always been teenage-young adult types - couldn't there be really young slayers or older ones? If the slayer is chosen spontaneously once one Slayer dies, this could always be averted, but in a potential system - not always so. For example, if the First Evil had carried out its plan, to wipe out the potential slayers, if Buffy and Faith were killed and all the teenage potentials, would more potentials who were teenagers be called or would a much younger girl be called?


Replies:

[> Re: Potentials -- Claudia, 15:53:19 04/12/04 Mon

In BtVS Season 2, it was established that Kendra, unlike Buffy, had been spotted by the Watcher's Council as a potential Slayer, when she was a very young girl. I don't know about Faith, but it is possible that she was spotted as a Potential, before she became a Slayer. Buffy, on the other hand, wasn't spotted until AFTER she became the Slayer.


[> Movie vs. TV show -- Vickie, 15:29:28 04/13/04 Tue

In the feature film (say "fillum"), a potential slayer bore a particular birth mark that identified her. Buffy had "that thing taken off" at an early age. Hence, the council did not identify her.

Which begs the question of HOW the watchers would spot such a mark. Perhaps it was in a visible spot, like the elbow or something. ;-)

Anyway, in the television show, it's clear that a potential slayer's aura or magical presence or spirit or something is detectible to those skilled in magic. The witches of the Devon coven can detect potentials around the world (Buffy S7), though it's apparently fairly hard work. Willow cannot do it, perhaps because it is a matter of precision rather than raw power. The First Evil, or its Bringers, can also find potential slayers this way.

Either way, a potential slayer is apparently born, not made. She is apparently eligible to be called from puberty onward, with some nebulous upper age limit that was never defined. Kennedy thought, at nineteen, that she might be too old to be called. This makes some small sense, as this way young women with the potential can then mature and hopefully pass the potential along to their daughters.



Angel's Epiphany - Gingerbread revisited? -- shambleau, 18:49:20 04/12/04 Mon

I was just wondering what differences people see in the speech Angel made to Buffy in Gingerbread and what he said to Kate in Epiphany. I know many people consider the Epiphany speech to be a pivotal moment in Angel's growth, when he becomes an existential hero, but I personally don't see much difference between the two. In fact, it seems more like he'd backslid during the first two seasons of Angel and was simply coming back to a stance he'd taken before - especially since the metaphor on Seasons 1 and 2 of AtS was of Angel as a reformed drunk, with his backsliding a constant motif.


Replies:

[> Re: Backsliding -- Ames, 08:04:12 04/13/04 Tue

Don't underestimate the effect that going to Sunnydale and then leaving it had on Angel, as seen in this speech to Faith from Consequences:

Angel: Faith, you have a choice. You've tasted something few ever do. I mean, to kill without remorse is to feel like a god.

Faith: Right now, all I feel is a cramp in my wrist, so let me go!

Angel: But you're not a god. You're not much more than a child. Going down this path will ruin you. You can't imagine the price for true evil.

Faith: Yeah? I hope evil takes MasterCard.

Angel: You and me, Faith, we're a lot alike. Time was, I thought humans existed just to hurt each other. But then I came here. And I found out that there are other types
of people. People who genuinely wanted to do right. And they make mistakes. And they fall down. You know, but they keep caring. Keep trying. If you can trust us, Faith, this can all change. You don't have to disappear into the darkness.
-----------------------------------

Angel is speaking about himself as much as Faith here. His departure for LA is still several episodes away, and this foreshadows how much it will cost him. So his state of mind in the first year in LA is quite understandable.

But what always bugs me about this sequence of personal development is that Angel's bundreds of years in a hell dimension in the middle of his Sunnydale period seem to be totally forgotten, like it had no effect on him. It seems pretty cheap to just pretend that he blocked it out.


[> [> Re: Backsliding (spoilers for S5 'Hellbound') -- Pip, 16:19:15 04/13/04 Tue

But what always bugs me about this sequence of personal development is that Angel's bundreds of years in a hell dimension in the middle of his Sunnydale period seem to be totally forgotten, like it had no effect on him. It seems pretty cheap to just pretend that he blocked it out.

It does get referenced. One of the episodes in Series 1 of AtS, Angel responds to 'go to Hell' with 'been there, done that.' And in S5 Hellbound Spike and Angel discuss Angel having been in, and got out of, a hell dimension.

Technically speaking (hey, Lent's just finished, I've been reading this stuff), Hell is a static state in the old-style Catholic theology. So it's entirely possible for Angel to have learnt absolutely nothing from his sojourn in a Hell dimension. People go to Hell (in the classic theology) because they can't change from their condition of sin. Even the smallest, slightest hint of repentance (ie a desire to change) before death is enough to get you out of Hell and into Purgatory [for non Catholics - Purgatory is a boot camp for Heaven. It's about as much fun as boot camp, too. :-)].

So you could argue that Angel's in a Hell dimension because of his refusal to change. His claim in Becoming Pt. 2 is that he didn't remember what he was doing as Angelus. Since Spike appears to have crystal-clear recall of what he did while soulless (even if he is discussing it with people who aren't actually there), it seems more that Angel doesn't want to remember.

Looking at Holtz, who also went to a Hell dimension, he also shows a complete and utter inability to change from his 'revenge' mode. Darla, who was able to change, doesn't remember anything about being dead. Not 'in Hell', then. Spike, also able to change, is being dragged in to Hell (once he's in Wolfram and Hart) but escapes. Again, like Darla, he seems to have no memory of the period when he was actually dead (or perhaps he's simply not saying).

So being 'in a Hell dimension' in the Jossverse might well be a signal that someone is unable or unwilling to change. It's a danger for Spike, but he escapes by his own efforts. Angel doesn't seem to have done a thing to save himself - but something does seem to be trying to save him. Holtz wants revenge despite Angel having changed and despite Angel's being sorry for what he did. Holtz chooses to 'go to Hell'. Darla doesn't remember being there at all, and eventually tries to keep her soul. Buffy, another character who changes, never goes to a hell dimension at all - her friends just think she has.

So it might be entirely consistent that Angel's stay in hell hasn't changed him at all [grin].


[> [> [> Re: Hell and paradise in the Bible (and Ats) -- Anny, 03:09:54 04/14/04 Wed

Hell's dimension known in Ats :Quortoth and may be Pylea.
Quortoth ,from Connor's point of view,doesn't seem to be
a place where you learn nothing(understatement of the year!)Struggle for life in a non-human environnement and a lot of Hell's "beasts" to track or being tracked by,...
Pylea is also(Lorne's opinion in "Over the rainbows")"not Hell,but close second"
There is probably a difference between Hell(The real one) and Hell's dimensions in the Joss' verse.

In Christians' belief,Hell is not a place full of fire and demons,Hell is a big metaphor,Hell is the absence of love.
If you can't love the others,if you can't connect with humanity and love it,then you are in Hell.Hell is not a "place",Hell is in your heart.Hell is pain because you can't be happy if you cant learn to love all humanity.
Paradise is not a place either,but Agapé:happiness in the love of the others and in the love of God.
Hell is not God's punishment.God doesn't punish you even if you are a big sinner because God IS love :if you don't like the message,you're free to dismiss it.He won't send you in a bad place where you will be tortured by red little demons with spikes.
Hell is your own doing.It's Holland's message in the elevator,Earth is Hell and Paradise,good and bad are in mens' heart.They must choose their path.
Humanity's misery is not God's doing but the results of humans' actions(or sins if you prefer)
You can be the biggest bastard on earth,God wont punish you.
You are punishing yourself because you cant find real happiness.
Real happiness cant be found in passion or lust for one person(most of the time it's short and destructive even if the feelings are strong) or even in the more peaceful sort of love,"caritas in latin",the love for a few other people:love for your family,frienship,love between husbands and wives,between lovers,this love bring you happiness and joy and it's a great thing but it's not enough...To reach perfect happiness,God says that we must embrace all humanity in our love... and it's far from being easy!


OT:God's proposition is an "alliance" with him(symbolised by the arch in the Old Testament),it's not an obligation.Happiness,if we follow his advice(and its only an advice) can only be found in the love of others and him.
In the New Testament(Jesus'life),the curtain of the Temple which were in front of the little room where the arch was kept and where noone could go with the exception of the Grand Priest once a year,is teared after Jesus' death and resurrection.God was hidden from men between the curtain and now everyone can see him again.It's the symbolisation of the New Alliance between God and men.The new possibility for men to live in peace with him and the rest of humanity.God is not the Elected People's "property",he wants the message of love to be spread all over the world and not only for the David's sons.That's the message of the New Testament.


God(!),I sound like a preacher(sorry),but the Bible (Old and New)is a fascinating text full of metaphors,parabl and most of the time people tend to take it on the first level.
So,sorry for the little lecture*g*

Return to topic after aparté:

If JW follows the Bible's metaphor,then Angel's sojourn in Hell is only the pain of his lack of love for humanity,his disconnection and apathy for humans'feelings and it was Doyle's message in City of...That's why he probably came back from "Hell".A new chance to discover his own humanity which he is far from at the moment imo.

In the beginning of season three,he was close to that goal,he had Babyconnor,Cordy,Wes,Gunn and Fred's friendship and love,a purpose in life:"helping the helpless",a rewarding job,he was beginning to be happy.The DorkAngel phase that a lot of people hate.Well,I,I loved it.
At last he was more human,joking around,being vulnerable and a little stupid sometimes.Human,you know.
But,hey,people prefer Angel screwed up and it's better TV in Joss opinion,so everything began to escape from Angel's hands and now he is back to his personnal hell,disconnected from humanity.No "caritas" for Angel and certainly not Agapé!
I'm curious to see if they(ME)are going to give him a chance to find a little peace.


[> [> [> Verily, I swear, I hadn't read any spoilers for AtS 5.17 when I posted above (but there's some now) -- Pip, 13:11:52 04/15/04 Thu

Yet another hell type dimension (ok, a holding hell) where nothing ever changes. And Angel says that Lindsay doesn't seem to have learnt anything there.

Hmmmm.

Anny, I agree that you've given a good breakdown of current thought, but I was talking classic hell theology. As in pre-Reformation, Middle Ages, 14th Century or so. Buffyverse theology always feels 'not-modern' to me - possibly because that fits in better with their universe.

Connor does not fit with the 'hell = unchanging' theme, which is why I left him out. He's also the only person who ends up in a hell dimension without deserving to be there . He was a baby, an innocent when he was taken to Quoroth - I think he's quite deliberately not supposed to fit in with the pattern of the adults.



Inca Mummy Girl -- ghady, 06:51:18 04/13/04 Tue

She's a Slayer, right? Just checking.


Replies:

[> Re: Inca Mummy Girl -- monsieurxander, 00:42:25 04/14/04 Wed

Possibly.

They definitely drew a parallel between Buffy and Ampata (single chosen one, sacred duty, etc.), but whether the Inca Mummy Girl was actually once a Slayer... They never answered that question. I think they left it open for interpretation on purpose. That's just my take on it, though.


[> Re: Inca Mummy Girl -- skeeve, 12:20:52 04/14/04 Wed

Why would you even suspect that the mummy had been a Slayer?
Mummifying a Slayer would seem a strange thing to do,
even by Incan standards.
'Twould also seem difficult.


[> [> Re: Inca Mummy Girl -- monsieurxander, 22:44:10 04/14/04 Wed

....Mostly because of the "One girl in all the world chosen to fight the forces of darkness" bit that Ampata repeated. Remember, in an episode of Firefly, villagers on a backwater planet tried to burn River for her psychic abilities (calling her a "witch") rather than take advantage of them. Superstition's a bitch.


[> [> [> Re: Inca Mummy Girl -- skeeve, 08:22:34 04/15/04 Thu

When the mummy girl refered to a chosen one from her time,
she wasn't talking about herself,
she was talking about a princess who apparently was a Slayer.
Since Slayers had previously come one at a time,
it follows that the mummy girl had not been a Slayer.

To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever been
mummified for witchcraft or anything else of which
the mummifier disapproved.


[> [> [> [> Re: Inca Mummy Girl -- ghady, 09:00:20 04/15/04 Thu

No, no, I can assure you she was talking about herself. I saw that episode on DVD not too long ago.


[> [> [> [> [> Re: Inca Mummy Girl -- skeeve, 13:16:58 04/16/04 Fri

Since the mummy had been a princess,
I suppose it is possible that she
was refering to herself in the third person.
In that case, I would infer not that she
was one of Buffy's predecessors, but that
the Incans had another way of defending
themselves from the denizens of the netherworld:
a defender that could turn them into dust bunnies.
The 'bodyguard' would activate her when necessary
and keep her from feeding on the people that
mummified her.

I don't have the DVD. I was going by an online transcript from
http://www.buffyworld.com/buffy/season2/transcripts/16_tran.shtml

[skeeve's note: the mummmy wasn't named Ampata
the real Ampata was male]
Ampata: Thank you. You are always thinking of others before yourself.
You remind me of someone from very long ago: the Inca Princess.

Buffy: Cool! A princess.

She gets up from her bed and opens Ampata's backpack while Ampata tries
out a lipstick.

Ampata: They told her that she was the only one. That only she could
defend her people from the nether world.

Buffy pulls out a pair of boy's briefs and looks at them in confusion.

Ampata: Out of all the girls in her generation...

Buffy looks over at Ampata and sees she's about to open the top left
drawer where she keeps her Slayer stuff. She rushes over. Ampata pulls
open the drawer and looks in curiously.

Ampata: ...she was the only one...


[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Inca Mummy Girl -- ghady, 03:25:14 04/17/04 Sat

Oh.. well, see, i forgot about that. But maybe SHE'S the Princess person, and she's referring to herself in the third person. dunno..



Angel/Connor/Sahijan -- ghady, 07:17:07 04/13/04 Tue

I've seen Angel Season Three. But that was over a year ago, and i missed like 10 episodes. So, a few questions:
1) Why does Sahijan want Angel and Darla dead??!!
2) How did Darla get pregnant??
3) What's with the prophecies about Connor? Are they fake or are they real? I THINK i heard that Sahijan and Lila made them up or something, but i woulnd't know.
4) The Tro-Clon.. or Tri-Clon (i forget).. the first event was the birth of Connor, the second was the surfacing of Holtz.. What's the third??
Thanks a LOOOOOTTTTTTTT!


Replies:

[> answers (with spoilers) -- Ray, 13:08:49 04/13/04 Tue

1) To prevent Connor's birth. The prophecy states Connor will kill Sahjan. Sahjan flitted around in time altering the prophecy so no one would know his intentions. Flitted around in a manly way, just so we're clear.
2) In the episode the Trial, Angel earned Darla a second chance at life. However, it couldn't be used to save her. Unknown to them they had a mystical life floating around between them. When they had sex, Jasmine used this mystical life to bring about Connor.
3) See #1. Sahjan wrote certain prophecies to make it seem that Angel would kill Connor. That way he could push Holtz, Wesley, whoever into caring out his plans.
4) In theory, Sahjan or the "Father will Kill the Son" or perhaps the death of Sahjan. Its not too clear.


[> [> Re: answers (with spoilers) -- Alistair, 15:03:03 04/13/04 Tue

The troclon did not imply a convergence of three events, it was simply a cosmic convergence which seems to involve Angel, Connor, the rest of AI, Holtz, the demise of the Ra Tet, the coming of Jasmine, Wolfram and Hart changes and even the coming of Illyria. The Troclon emergences set off a chain of events which led from the middle of season three all the way until now on Angel.

Whether Connors purpose was to birth Jasmine or to kill Sahjahn or both, is still unknown, but he is a special child indeed.


[> [> [> Re: answers (with spoilers) -- ghady, 05:13:30 04/14/04 Wed

ok ok.. a little lost here.. it's ok, you can spoil me--a bit.. just a little general info..
who's jasmine??? who's Ra Tet?? and who's Illyria (try not to mention any spoilers about Wolfram and Hart plz!)


[> [> [> [> changed my mind -- ghady, 05:19:15 04/14/04 Wed

ok, i changed my mind. DON'T say another word. i don't wanna know ANYTHING. i'm gonna buy angel seasons 3 and 4 at the end of this month, so just tell me this: will i understand everything if i watch them? (oh, i'm also gonna buy buffy season 7.. so yey.. i've been saving up some cash.)



Final six episodes destined to be bloody good - MSNBC Article (very minor spoilers) -- tomfool, 13:52:54 04/13/04 Tue

MSNBC just posted a rather long and actually pretty decent article about Angel coming to a close. From what I could see, the spoilers about the end of the season are extremely minor (dealing with the fate of Fred/Illyria). I stay unspoiled and nothing jumped out at me.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4565069/
I'm sure this is just the first of numerous 'end of series' articles. It does acknowledge and link to the Saving Angel websites.


Replies:

[> Masq, shield your eyes from this one! -- Vickie, 19:22:04 04/13/04 Tue

The writer's a Connor hater, so there's no good for you in this one.


[> [> Oh, I know...The writer annoyed the **** out of me re: those snotty comments! -- Rob, 19:37:46 04/13/04 Tue



[> [> [> Re: Oh, I know...The writer annoyed the **** out of me re: those snotty comments! -- nazlan, 11:14:53 04/14/04 Wed

Indeed. I really don't think such an article was the proper place to bash the Connor arc. Some of us like Connor, even if we weren't too keen on the Cordelia/Connor tryst. Personally, I happened to particularly like the Baby Connor storyline, so take that, Mr. Reviewer!


[> [> [> [> You go! -- Masq with the pom-poms, 14:12:06 04/14/04 Wed

I don't read anything that could even be slightly spoilery (and frankly, I'm afraid to read Connor spoilers at all--last year they put me into a catatonic state), so I didn't read this.

But I'm glad the big ol' vamp-scion brat adorable little tyke has supporters on the board!




[> [> [> [> [> Aww! Isn't he the cutest wittle thing?!? -- Rob, 15:18:10 04/14/04 Wed



[> [> [> [> [> I am! I am! -- Ann, 16:56:46 04/14/04 Wed

And I have an icon that asks the ultimate question!




[> [> [> [> [> [> *Sob* -- Masq, 11:20:36 04/15/04 Thu

I'm already anxious enough about that looming possibility. Didya hafta stick it on a pic of that sweet little face??

Thanks for the support, btw. Sometimes I wonder if all the Connorlurv on the board is just folks sucking up to me.

Nah. Who'd want to suck up to me?


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> LOL -- Ann, 12:15:12 04/15/04 Thu



[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Well, you are the Mother of the Board... -- Jane, 16:46:36 04/15/04 Thu

and as such deserves much sucking up to! BTW, I like Connor too. Always had a bit of a thing for rebels..LOL.


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> But am I the Mother Board? -- Masq *tired after a long day*, 16:56:39 04/15/04 Thu




AtS 5.22 Writer Spoiler only... -- Rob, 19:39:32 04/13/04 Tue

The finale, which was going to be written and directed by Jeff Bell alone is now going to be co-written with Joss, which I'm very happy about, so we at least get Joss, even if he's not directing, working on what might be the final episode.

Rob


Replies:

[> Re: AtS 5.22 Writer Spoiler only...(including title) -- Nino, 20:06:26 04/13/04 Tue

I read a while ago that it was to be written by Joss and called "Not Fade Away" and I also read that it was to be directed by Bell...this is the first I've heard that he would be co-writing. Is there any chance of Joss directing the ep? I wouldn't have it any other way...I can't imagine the last episode of the Buffyverse being in someone else's hands.

Has the ep already been shot?


[> [> Re: AtS 5.22 Writer Spoiler only...(including title) -- Rob, 22:19:09 04/13/04 Tue

There's a good reason Joss isn't directing...The schedule overlaps with the filming of Serenity, the Firefly movie.

Rob


[> [> [> ahhhhh -- nino, 05:42:54 04/14/04 Wed




Xander/Tight Embrace -- ghady, 05:49:34 04/14/04 Wed

Ok, clearly, the second "tight embrace" was meant to replace the word "boobies." HOWEVER, what was the FIRST "tight embrace" supposed to replace (ooh, that rhymes!) Seriously. "Warm in the night when i'm right in her tight--embrace, tight embraaaaaace." They were referring to Anya's...er... vaginal region. But what is the exact word they didn't want to say? I can't think of anything naughty that rhymes w/ "grace" or "night/right." (unless they didn't want to replace anything in the first place; unless they were doing this whole "we don't have anything naughty to rhyme with this, so let's just say 'tight embrace,' because our viewers are intelligent enough to know what we mean" concept.) Any ideas?


Replies:

[> "tightest place"? -- KdS, 09:39:51 04/14/04 Wed



[> Re: Xander/Tight Embrace -- Evan, 09:43:03 04/14/04 Wed

I think they were just repeating the "tight embrace" the first time around to make the line more noticeable so that people wouldn't miss it. Just to make sure that people would get the later "tight embrace" joke.


[> Re: Xander/Tight Embrace -- skeeve, 12:15:57 04/14/04 Wed

Apparently this is a reference to something I missed.
Would someone kindly enlighten?


[> [> Xander's and Anya's song in "Once More With Feeling" -- KdS, 12:39:22 04/14/04 Wed



[> Re: Xander/Tight Embrace -- Matthew Wilson, 12:27:39 04/14/04 Wed

I think that, structurally, it's the same as

"going through the motions, faking it somehow,
she's not even half the girl she - ow"

In other words, the "original" version of the line doesn't need to rhyme, as long as the final version does.

I think.





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why i love joss' little babies -- ghady, 06:46:47 04/14/04 Wed

I was watching Charmed the other day. It was a few episodes into season six; an episode involving "The Cleaners"-magical beings who cover up any signs of magic; they prevent it from being exposed, or they mess around with time and reality to make it seem as if nothing happened. Well, that's fine and dandy, but where the HELL where the cleaners THREE years ago, when Piper and Prue (RIP) where caught ON CAMERA vanquishing a demon! ALL manner of HELL broke loose, and magic was exposed to the public. And they didn't even EXPLAIN their absence in that episode! They could have at least said something like "the Elders wanted Paige to grow into her powers" or "the Powers only whipped us up after your little mishap, my dearest witches." I HATE the way they do that on charmed! The way they overlook things! They way most of their episodes are stand-alone episodes (with only minor things happening that affect the whole season.) The Cole season (season 4) was PERFECTION. There was this BIG story arch-it was SHOCKINGLY good (to me, at least). And now they're doing something with this Chris character. But still, there is no MAJOR continuity. Like also, say Paige has never used her orbing power to orb from place to place; it has been well established that she's not that strong. But they, POOF, one episode changes it all. They suddenly tell her, please try, and what do you know, she orbs! Same goes for Piper and her "can I choose who I want to freeze" thing. She NEVER practiced that before, then one day she suddenly CAN. At least start developing your ideas PRIOR TO THE LAST MINUTE! So, see, there is barely any MAJOR continuity (remember, I say BARELY).

Unlike Buffy and Angel.

The whole "little sis coming, so much to do before she gets here" thing and the "counting down from 7-3-0 thing." I mean WOW! Also, the way they had Buffy die in Season 1 only to have Kendra pop up in season 2. And the big arch with willow and her magical addiction. I'm not saying it's perfect, but still. Also, it's amazing how they introduced the First in season three, only to use him (or it) again as a BIG Bad.

And Angel-ASTOUNDING. The way Darla appeared. Wolfram and Heart. The way Angel and Darla had sex in season two, only to catalyze the almost the ENTIRE series form that point on. It's UNBELIEVABLY brilliant. (I'm not saying the shows don't have their flaws, but I LOVE the way the writers have this whole "forward thinking" thing going on.)

Ok.. just HAD to get that out of my system.


Replies:

[> Right there with you -- Gyrus, 13:41:22 04/15/04 Thu

The whole "little sis coming, so much to do before she gets here" thing and the "counting down from 7-3-0 thing." I mean WOW! Also, the way they had Buffy die in Season 1 only to have Kendra pop up in season 2. And the big arch with willow and her magical addiction. I'm not saying it's perfect, but still. Also, it's amazing how they introduced the First in season three, only to use him (or it) again as a BIG Bad.

I especially like THESE long-termers:

We find out Buffy is afraid of being buried alive in S1 ("Nightmares"). Buffy's worst fear comes true in S6.

Amy stays a rat for 3 whole seasons but is never forgotten and eventually becomes a plot-driving character again.

Buffy's death in S1 -- NOT her death in S5 -- proves to be the reason for the First Evil's return.

"Remember what you said? 'Kick his ass'?" "I never said-!"


[> [> Re: Right there with you (THE FIRST AND S1???) -- ghady, 05:41:20 04/16/04 Fri

Say WHAT??? The First returns because of Buffy's death in S1?? Ok, please explain. I haven't seen S7 yet, but I was under the impression that it was her death in S5 and resurreection in S6 that brought about the rise of the First. Explain, please!


[> [> [> Re: Right there with you (THE FIRST AND S1???) -- Gyrus, 07:00:11 04/16/04 Fri

I'm taking your request for an explanation to mean that you don't mind being spoiled for S7. If you do, don't look below:









In S7, it is discovered that the First has returned because it has a new-found opportunity to destroy the line of Slayers permanently. In Giles' and Anya's interview with Bejoxa's Eye (I forget what episode), it tells them that they created this opportunity by bringing the Slayer back to life. At first, the group thinks that the Eye is referring to Buffy's resurrection in S6. What they find out later, however, is that the Eye was really referring to Xander's resuscitation of Buffy in S1, which made it possible for 2 Slayers to exist at the same time. By breaking the "one Slayer at a time" rule, they made further violations of this rule possible, including the complete termination of the Slayer line. What they also made possible, however, is what Willow finally does in "Chosen" -- to make every potential Slayer an actual Slayer.

At least, that's how I understood it.


[> [> [> [> Re: Right there with you (THE FIRST AND S1???) -- monsieurxander, 22:15:04 04/16/04 Fri

What episode do they find out that it was Xander's resuscitation of Buffy in "Prophecy Girl" instead of being brought back to life by Willow?

While I thought the S1 death causing all the trouble would be more interesting, I actually kind of got the impression that her S5-S6 death was the catalyst... Mostly because of the "[The First] has gotten much more ambitious since then" line (in Chosen, referring to S3 Amends). The First wasn't going all apocalyptic in S3... It just wanted to kill Earth's Champions.


[> [> [> [> [> Re: Right there with you (THE FIRST AND S1???) -- Alistair, 14:39:34 04/18/04 Sun

It has never been suggested that Buffy's death in Season 1 caused the First to take the opportunity to kill the potentials. I think that the reason the First was able to to what it did is because Buffy died in Season 5 for real, her soul left her body, and crossed over to the other side. This crossing over allows the First to take the form of Buffy. The first chooses to manifest as buffy throughout much of Season 7, perhaps because it was Buffy's determinism to fight the good fight which drove the First to right its evil fight. Experiencing Buffy allowed it to accomplish something new, it formed a goal to become corporeal again.

I believe that the Slayer's power perhaps comes from the First evil. The shadow men used the heart of the demon (not any random demon, not necessarily the warrior demon who battled spike) to create the first slayer's powers. The scythe was used to kill the last pure demon to walk the earth. Perhaps this last pure demon was the crab like manifestation of the First evil. The shadowmen endowed the slayer with the first's power and so it went on. Buffy's death made it determined to become corporeal inside every human on Earth, and the scythe was used once to kill its corporeal form. Perhaps perhaps



Jossverse Characters and Fans - Part I -- Rose, 10:56:37 04/14/04 Wed

While skimming this forum, I came across the post in which someone had commented about two old AtS episodes, "Ground State" and "First Impressions". I noticed that the person in question had taken the opportunity to comment on how Charles Gunn is repeating the mistakes he had committed in these old episodes - especially "First Impressions". I also noticed that this is the fourth or fifth time that someone has taken the trouble to post a message about an old episode to comment on Charles' flaws.

Why? Why him? Why is he the only character who is constantly criticized for his flaws in this manner? Has anyone used an old episode as an example of Wesley's flaws? Or Angel's? Lorne's? Spike's? Or even Fred's with such regularity?

I'm beginning to suspect that many of the show's fans - despite any protestations they may state - might be guilty of what I would call subtle racism. Not only is Charles targeted by Jossverse fans for his flaws, but other minority characters (especially African-Americans) or characters portrayed by minority actors and actresses are especially targeted.

A good example would be Robin Wood and Rona from BtVS's Season 7. After Wood's attempt to kill Spike in revenge in "Lies My Parents Told Me" and Rona's snarky comment about Buffy in "Empty Places", both were severely castigated by many of the show's fans, including by certain fans who have always posted intelligent commentary in the past. It was sickening, especially in the way many had wanted these two characters dead by the end of the season.

Yes, Wood tried to kill Spike. Can you blame him? The blond vampire had murdered his mother. Granted, Wood went about the wrong way in doing and I certainly do not agree with what he had done. But I understood. Yet, most of the fans were ready to forgive Giles who committed the greater sin by betraying Buffy - unlike Robin Wood. And no one liked Wood's romance with Faith during the last episodes. Did seeing a black man having a sexual scene with a white woman that disturbing? That was the impression I got from the fans' reactions.

As for Rona, all she ever did was make a snarky comment about Buffy finally leaving and everyone wanted her dead. Mind you, Rona had every right to feel hostile. Buffy had coerced her into the latter's army against the First Evil. Even worse, Buffy's decision to attack Caleb at the winery had left Rona with a broken arm. Instead of understanding how Rona felt, people made comments on how Rona should have ended up with another broken arm. It was disgusting. Especially considering that Buffy had treated Wesley in a worse manner during BtVS's Season 3. Also, I noticed how many fans managed to ignore Rona's decision to fight by Buffy's side in the finale and cheer on Vi, instead. Although Rona still had her arm in a cast, Vi had the right skin color.

Most fans tend to forget that Spike and the vampire in "Fool For Love" was the only vamp who had nearly killed Buffy. There was Mr. Trick who nearly killed her in S3, but . . . no one ever mentions him.

As for Charles Gunn - I'll get to him, later.


Replies:

[> Re: Jossverse Characters and Fans - Part II (Responses) -- Rose, 13:05:06 04/14/04 Wed

While reading another ANGEL forum, I came upon some interesting responses to my post. This is what I had reply:

I'm amazed by some of the responses I've read. Really. It amazes me how so many are determined not to be accused of subtle racism. Yet, your comments leave me with that impression.

One person commented that Rona was one of the most popular SITs and only Kennedy was hated. Hmmm, apparently that person wasn't around during the "Kill Off Rona" campaign that was waged by fans after "Empty Places" aired. Poor Rona. She made the mistake of being catty about Buffy, who had given her every reason to dislike the Slayer. Back in S3 BtVS, Buffy did the same with Wesley, when he had first appeared as her new Watcher. But instead of being castigated, everyone cheered Buffy. And if you thought that Wes had deserved Buffy's scorn, I could easily say that Buffy had deserved Rona's scorn. But alas, Rona wasn't the star of the show. Even more so, she was black.

Another person commented on where was I during AtS's Season 3, when Wesley was castigated for snatching Connor. I also remember that the other members of the Fang Gang, especially Gunn, was castigated for being so hostile toward Wesley. This person added that Gunn was the one who screwed up, this season. Well, gee, wasn't Angel the one who arranged for their mindwipe, this season? Wasn't Fred the dummy who decided to join the others at Wolfram & Hart, despite her concerns? And wasn't Wes the one who shot whom he thought was his father - NINE TIMES, because the latter dared to threaten Fred? Wasn't Wes the one who shot a Wolfram & Hart employee in the kneecap, because the latter didn't want to be bothered with any effort to save Fred? Wasn't Wes the one who stabbed Gunn in the side out of anger and revenge? Wasn't Wes the one who murdered Knox in cold blood out of revenge? Oh, I see. Wes did this all for LUUUV (I hope to God someone like that never fall in love with me). And Knox was the bad guy. If Willow can be castigated for murdering Warren Mears and Rack, why can't Wes? Only a very few number of people have dared to criticize Wes. Yet, so many have literally been wallowing in criticism of Gunn. Yeah, he made a major mistake. But you know what? So did many others? Why are his crimes being singled out? Oh, I forgot. He's black.

Someone else had pointed out that this is the first time Gunn has made a major mistake. HEL-LO? Haven't we forgotten "Symmestry" from Season 4? He murdered Professor Siedel by snapping the man's neck. And by the way, Little Miss Innocent Fred Burkle had a major part in that murder, when she protested against Gunn's attempt to save the man's life. So the argument that this season is the first time that Gunn has made a mistake is at best . . . erroneous.

I also remember that back in Season 3, everyone seemed taken aback by Gunn's romance with Fred. Judging from her comments, I believe Amy Acker was, as well. Everyone thought that Fred should be with Wes. Why, I have no idea. As friends, they have a nice chemistry. But when it comes to onscreen romance, Fred and Wes sucked big time. They were boring. Flat. Even Gunn had better chemistry with Fred. But Gunn, alas, had the wrong skin color. And there are many fans who seemed to accept the Fang Gang's opinion that Gunn is not good for anything else, besides being the muscle. As far as they're concerned, Gunn wasn't worthy of Fred. I'm beginning to think the opposite.

Speaking of Amy Acker, she had made a few comments about the then upcoming romance between Fred and Wes. Not only did she state that she was surprised by ME's decision to have a romance between Gunn and Fred, she also stated that Wes was Fred's destiny. I didn't know whether to shake my head or laugh in disgust. Either Miss Acker is a covert racist, or she's an idiot with adolescent ideas about love and romance. Jeez!


[> [> Re: Jossverse Characters and Fans - Part II (Responses) -- Riz, 13:36:23 04/14/04 Wed

Yes, and the reason that Connor and Dawn are probably the two most hated characters in the history of the shows is because they're bla- wait. . ..


[> [> Re: Jossverse Characters and Fans - Part II (Responses) -- monsieurxander, 22:33:23 04/14/04 Wed

Just adding here that from what I've read of Amy Acker, mostly in the Angel publicity magazine, she was a big fan of the Fred/Gunn relationship because she and J. August Richards were friends. She said something along the lines of "It's easiest on the days that I have to act like I'm in love with him." She also commented on the race issue on that article and seemed very progressive in her attitude toward the interracial relationship, citing her character's line "Texas doesn't hate the black man."

As for Faith and Wood... I never noticed a major dislike of the pairing, but if people didn't respond to it, it would seem to me that that would come more from the fact that they were barely on screen together. Even Joss, in the commentary for "Chosen" (there's a link to the transcript somewhere on the archives of the board), mentions the fact that they only had about three scenes to work with... which, in my opinion, really couldn't be helped, as there were about a gajillion other plotlines to consider, some of which had to be dropped... the writers have even lamented about Dawn and Anya not getting enough screen time. (Okay, kinda went off topic there, but oh well...)

Also, you make reference to people having negative reactions to your suggestion about them being racist ("accuse" is the word you used), and seemed to imply that their defensiveness indicates that your theory is true. I don't agree. Accusing someone of racism, however subtle, is messy business, and not everyone will appreciate that... especially since we live in a nation with a long, sad history of racial tension. I feel that the defensiveness you encounter where you post this message is more indicative of people not being racist. As someone who's witnessed (and been subjected to) a lot of discrimination and bigotry, I would be extremely offended if someone referred to me as racist. Many people weren't too thrilled about being labeled homophobic around the time of Tara's death, either. So, I wouldn't be too surprised at the surly and smartass remarks you're receiving.

Also, a couple of your examples seem to be flawed. Vi got more praise than Rona because you saw her more and she got cooler lines; likewise, Buffy got away with putting S3 Wesley down so much because he was a downright ninny who represented "the man," always choosing the situation over the welfare of the individual (something he is still being criticized for).

Much of the commotion about supposed bigotry seems (to me, at least) to have been caused by the writer's assertion that characters that belong to minority groups should be treated artistically the same as their counterparts. They couldn't not kill off Forrest or Tara because they were part of minority groups. Likewise, they're going to portray minorities the same way they do everyone else: multidimensional, with flaws and a dark side. Moreso, I've witnessed just about every character get criticized and praised for their actions by members of this board and others... and the number of reactions to their deeds seems to be more related to their screen time and the relevance of their respective plotlines than their religion, their sexual orientation, or the color of their skin.


[> Re: Jossverse Characters and Fans - Part I -- Finn Mac Cool, 14:00:50 04/14/04 Wed

Um, I think it's a misperception to believe that Gunn recieves unusually large amounts of criticism (although he has gotten more since "Home", but that has more to do with him being the most eager to join Wolfram & Hart). Surely you must remember Seasons 6 7, when complaints about Buffy the character occupied about half the space on this board? Then there's the mucho criticism Angel's gotten for the mindwipe or trying to kill Wesley. There have been claims made that Wesley is a socipath, that Fred shows poor judgement in her constant flight from one man to the next, that Spike shows an appalling lack of remorse or growth from his soulless days, that Willow doesn't take responsibility for her actions in Season Six, that Cordelia is to blame for letting her pride make her believe Skip's lies. Frankly, I think Gunn's gotten off light compared to some characters.

As for Wood and Rona, I don't think the hostility towards them has to do with their race. Lots of people seemed to love Wood towards the beginning of Season Seven, but then suspicions arose after he buried Jonathan's body, and then he tried to kill Spike, the character who possesses some of the most outspoken and hardcore fans in the Buffyverse. Any character who takes a highly negative stance towards Spike is gonna get some backlash. As for Rona, I count myself among those who were very upset at her for the "wicked witch" comment. Not so much for Buffy's sake (she couldn't hear it at the time, after all), but for Dawn's. I just felt Rona should have realized from Dawn's speech that she was having a hard time with her decision; making a deragoatory comment about Buffy at that moment was therefore highly inappropriate.


[> [> Re: Jossverse Characters and Fans - Part I -- Claudia, 15:29:44 04/14/04 Wed

"As for Rona, I count myself among those who were very upset at her for the "wicked witch" comment. Not so much for Buffy's sake (she couldn't hear it at the time, after all), but for Dawn's. I just felt Rona should have realized from Dawn's speech that she was having a hard time with her decision; making a deragoatory comment about Buffy at that moment was therefore highly inappropriate."

I was cheering Rona. The remark seemed well-deserved. And considering what Dawn had just done to Buffy, I had felt no sympathy toward her.


[> Trust me, Kennedy took way more flack than Rona ever did.*L -- Briar Rose, 17:03:16 04/14/04 Wed

I think that you have to have been reading along for the last three seasons of Buffy to really compare the criticism of ALL the characters to make the point you seem to wish to make.

Sometimes it appears that something is happening because the reader expects it to be so. I remember when there was a major flap that too many people were critical of Amber Benson for being "too chubby", when in actuality there were only a few posts (LESS than a handful) here and anywhere other than the Bronze.

I think the archives here would support my view that sometimes what is seen as a theory does't exactly have as much validity as it may appear. Simply because ten pages sometimes shows that the a certain episode will cause remarks about Gunn while anotherdredges up Wesley's past or Angel's or Spike's or Willow's.


[> Trollery 101 -- Random, 03:08:17 04/15/04 Thu

This, Rose(yes. we know who you are even with the name switches), is a substantiative example of crude trollery under the guise of intellectual analysis. It takes a hotbutton issue -- racism -- and attempts to incorporate a "data analysis" into your own set of obvious prejudices. As such, it would be worthy of dismissal, but I'm taking the time -- yay me -- to summarize the fundamental problems with your posts just for the sake of ensuring you know exactly how offensive you are being.

In essence, you are attempting to analyze the posters and viewers in order to elicit some sort of racial tension. Examining the show itself for racial and racist elements is a valid tack -- more than one poster here has done so quite well, and despite the fact that I strongly disagree with many of the conclusions submitted by said posters, I can't fault their attention to actual verifiable elements no matter how much I feel their extrapolations dont follow logically. However, you are "scrutinizing" (for lack of better word, since very little real scrutiny seems involved) the demographic fanbase, extrapolating racism from the existence of what you consider "proof" (again, for lack of better word.) Your post offers nothing of real substance except vague claims of prepoderance in criticism -- one assumes you've read all posts relating to alll characters -- supporting a view that the fanbase is racist. To support this hypothesis, you cite -- though without citations -- a few anecdotal observations and then offer a conclusion so premature as to make one suspect that you arrived at that conclusion long before you examined the evidence. Luckily, I'm not the suspicious type. Unluckily, I still suspect that was the case. You aren't talking about the show -- you are trying to demonstrate a pattern in the viewers themselves.

The flaws in your process and conclusions are so gaping as to require intellectual I-beams to bridge. I sincerely doubt you have any training or even insight into sociological and demographic studies (), but if you do, the problems with your post would be even worse because you should know better. What you are doing would put a middle-school science fair project to shame in its total lack of anything resembling rigorous examination or logical methodology. You give us a few short anecdotes and conclusions -- none of which verified -- and expect us to accept the prevalence of subtle racism because of conclusions you create and proffer. Then you have the gall in your next post to imply that people giving argument must be demonstrating that you were right by virtue of the very act of engaging you.

If I sound a little annoyed, that's because I am. Trollery annoys me when done on a place that I'm as fond of as this Board. You offer no counterarguments, no real data. You don't address issues that are uncomfortable for your hypothesis simply because your hypothesis is completely lacking in substantiation from you. Could you be right? Certainly. But you'll never be able to demonstrate it. You use language like "targeted" to decribe how fans reacted to Gunn's on-screen actions (I won't even go into how many fallacies you engage in in that short paragraph) to argue something which has not been proved, deliberately inciting a reaction that resembles race-baiting.

Yeah, I'm thinking that's the right word, my dear.

Then you offer up such vague statements as:

Did seeing a black man having a sexual scene with a white woman that disturbing? That was the impression I got from the fans' reactions

Which fans, exactly? Are you hanging out at the Anti-Miscegenation Buffy Boards? Do let us know the source, even if that reveals embarrassing details about where you like to surf.

Although Rona still had her arm in a cast, Vi had the right skin color

Ah. the beauty of deliberate race-baiting language. Is it just me, or does this not sound like you were being entirely sarcastic? A germ of truth in your word choice? Hmmmm....

Say, isn't this game fun? What? Oh, it's less fun when you don't get to make the rules? How shallow of you...

So your reply to people defending themselves against accusations of racism that were so broad and blanketing as to inevitably include them is the idea that they must be racist to be trying to defend themselves. Of course: innocent people would never defend themselves...only the guiilty would try to argue your asinine and highly insulting observations. You see subtle racism in replies that attempt to argue. QED is the funnest, ain't it? Especially when it ensures that you cannot be wrong. Unfortunately, some of us have no intention of humoring your fallacious argument. Deal with it. By assuming that any criticism of African-American characters contributes to a paradigm of subtle racism, you engage the posters in terms that you get to dictate and arbitrate. Don't be surprised when some of us reply that there's no damned way we're gonna play along.

I can think of at least one respected poster on this Board who can't stand Principal Wood, and has stated so frequently, and stated her reasons for this as well -- none of which were racists in the least. Personal issues, yes, but racism wasn't one of them. I didn't particularly like Ronia for reasons that are quite easily summarized: she didn't get enough screentime to off-set the negative impression I got from her comment. On the other hand, I did like Principal Wood. Just as I like Xander. Or Buffy. And I'm not going to be racist enough to set our dear Mr. Wood over to the side and not criticize him, thereby treating him by different standards than, say Xander. Yeah, I reacted differently to Giles' behaviour...because, whether your mind can wrap itself around the concept or not, different characters performing different actions evoke different damned reactions. Try mulling that one for a while.

So exactly what percentage of the criticism should non-white characters be burdened with? I am interested in hearing what your vast catalogue of racist trends in critical posts has turned up. Keep in mind, no-one -- or almost no-one -- criticises the characters that are less-often seen. Hence, I would suspect that Lorne doesn't have an enormous body of literature devoted to his flaws. Since you are arbitrarily deciding that the body of criticism as a whole is subtle racism, you are effectively indicting anyone who writes a critical post about a character. The body is nothing more than its component parts, and doesn't have a mind of its own. By saying that the viewers are demonstrating a subtle racism -- in oblivious conjunction with each other, no less! -- you lay the burden of avoiding criticism on each poster. If I were to say that Gunn made the wrong choice, and posted it, the indictment of racism against me would suddenly be dependent on how many others joined it. If no-one, or very few, agree with me, I am safe. But heaven help me if a larger contigent agrees that my logic and analysis made sense somehow! Furthermore, I am then obliged to offer up a critique of, say, Wesley in orfer to balance out the others and remove the sociologically-created stigma of racism, lest you call me racist? At what point does actual racist argument become supplanted by your cursory, meaningless ad hoc examination?

Do you grasp how utterly stupid this is when examined logically?

So we are left with a few choices. We could dramatically reduce the screen-time of prominent African-American characters, thus reducing interest and opportunity for the fans to criticize. Hmmm...doesn't strike me as ideal. Or, perhaps, we could petition the writers/producers/studios to avoid any negative characteristics in such characters...one-dimensional characters may be criticized as boring, but at least they won't come under fire for their more objectional characteristics and actions. No, doesn't work for me. Hey, howabout this? We could just treat all such characters as above criticism, and declare them off-limits. Perhaps even have a certain predefined percentage of how much any given discussion can be devoted to less-than-positive analysis of said characters. Would that satisfy you? Maybe not, given that you seem to take the existence of some negative postings as indicative of a much broader racist culture in the viewership. No doubt some viewers are racist. No doubt some viewers of "General Hospital" are racist. I suspect many viewers of ABC World News Tonight are racist. Fawlty Towers probably had racists in its audience, as did the Cosby Show. However, this is quite immaterial to your posts.

I do see your point -- rather than trying to justify themselves and defend their social mores, they really should have given your accusation the respect it deserved by totally ignoring it. However, your point isn't a particularly helpful one in analyzing why you are attempting to troll in the first place. You obviously picked the topic "the fanbase is subtlely racist" for a reason, and if I had to hazard a guess as to what that reason was, I'd probably keep it to myself anyway to avoid flaming you outright

I really don't know how this went over on the other boards you post to, but here, it's going to be recognized as the cheap trollery that it is. You cannot hide behind vague phrases like "many of the show's fans" and expect us not to notice that you are indicting the entire corpus of negative criticism. Unless you pretend to trace the progressive pattern of each individual fan/poster and apply rigorous measurement to each one's trend of criticism, you must necessarily make blanket observations. Which, surprise, surprise, is exactly what you did. You don't promote awareness of racism. You and your argument trivialize the existence of it.


[> [> Bravo, Random! -- s'kat, 07:40:17 04/15/04 Thu

Wonderful post Random. In it you said many things I've thought of whenever I've read arguments such as the above.

So we are left with a few choices. We could dramatically reduce the screen-time of prominent African-American characters, thus reducing interest and opportunity for the fans to criticize. Hmmm...doesn't strike me as ideal. Or, perhaps, we could petition the writers/producers/studios to avoid any negative characteristics in such characters...one-dimensional characters may be criticized as boring, but at least they won't come under fire for their more objectional characteristics and actions. No, doesn't work for me. Hey, howabout this? We could just treat all such characters as above criticism, and declare them off-limits.

Herein lies the danger of making an argument that you cannot criticize a character, because they *just* happen to be of another race. It's one thing to criticize a character because of their race or criticize a show on how it portrays race - yes, there racism can be charged and yes, people have made that type of criticism. It's another to claim that any negative criticism of a character who happens to be of another race, color, or creed is racism.
Just as it is somewhat silly and juvenile to do so. It would be like well stating that the reason someone dislikes Jonathan is because he's short or had a criticism of Snyder, because he was bald. Silly. I, for instance despised Principal Wood - but I would have hated him if he was white, short, fat, bald, circular - it was how the character was "written" and "portrayed" with the other characters notably Buffy and Faith that bugged me. Had zip to do with race. Gunn has been for sometime one of my favorite characters, adore Trick, loved Forrest.

I honestly think making judgments on people you've never seen or met, is highly problematic. All you have is a psuedonyme on the internet. You don't know if the individual poster is white, red, purple, black, or gray.
You don't know what religion they profess. Which creed.
Whether they are short or tall. Whether they are fat or thin. Whether they are male or female. One respected poster - has made certain we don't know anything about him/her outside of the psuedonyme. Therefore how can you possibly make any claim of racism on fans when you have no clue what race they belong to? On another board, a well respected poster admitted to being African-American and despising Wood.

I really don't know how this went over on the other boards you post to, but here, it's going to be recognized as the cheap trollery that it is.

Angel's Soul Board deleted the thread and re-posted an explanation from their rules, which more or less stated - that "you should think for yourself not others" and "not put words or feelings in others mouths" and
it is a very *BAD* idea to make claims about people you don't know.

Normally I'd ignore all this, but I wanted to highlight your post - what you stated needed to be said.


[> [> [> And a bravo! right back -- Random, 18:58:01 04/15/04 Thu

Well said indeed. And I like how the Angel Soul Board responded.


[> [> *Fangirls* Random :) -- Sheri, 08:51:51 04/15/04 Thu

That was truly a thing of beauty!


*Gives Random a big box of chocolates*


[> [> To Random -- Rose, 10:25:36 04/16/04 Fri

"This, Rose(yes. we know who you are even with the name switches), is a substantiative example of crude trollery under the guise of intellectual analysis. It takes a hotbutton issue -- racism -- and attempts to incorporate a "data analysis" into your own set of obvious prejudices. As such, it would be worthy of dismissal, but I'm taking the time -- yay me -- to summarize the fundamental problems with your posts just for the sake of ensuring you know exactly how offensive you are being."

No matter how "crude" my post was, Random, I still believe I'm telling the truth. Go ahead and deny it all you want. I see the racism, even if you don't want to admit it. You seem so intent upon criticizing or insulting me that you've managed to avoid the issue about the racism found in many of the fans' reactions to the Jossverse characters. Go ahead and criticize, and rant all you want about me. As for the others, they can applaud your posts and insult me, as well. I know racism when I see it . . . or read it.


[> [> [> Re: So in other words... -- LittleBit, 10:47:15 04/16/04 Fri

There's racism in any response that doesn't agree with you that there's racism. Once again, no substance, hearsay, no references other that "many of the fans." Did you not understand that the criticism was not because there's a denial of racism, but because you made absolutely no case whatsoever for anyone to respond to?

If you want to post that it's your opinion that there's racism, that's fine. But don't do it with so broad a brush that it's not possible to tell where, how or why you come to the conclusion that racism seems to be running rampant in the Jossverse fandom. To support that assertion requires facts and references, things noticably lacking in your initial post. And by that it means "facts that can be verified" and "references that can be checked" not facts that you've seen somewhere and references to boards and posts that aren't specific.

In addition, to state accurately that the criticsim is based on racism, you need to show, not assert, show that there is a noticeable difference in the quantity of negative criticism of the black characters when balanced against that of the non-black characters. And also that there is an inbalance in the negative criticism of the black characters when compared to the positive comments of those same charactrers. In addition, to show that you have truly done the exhaustive research that would be necessary to come legitimately to the conclusion that you have put forward, you need to demonstrate that the balance of the negative and positive comments on the black characters weighs more heavily toward the negative than the same balance for those of non-black characters, and that all of these differences have statistical significance.

When you put forward a statement such as the one you did, without giving the actual demographic of the sites and posts you researched in coming to that conclusion, don't be quite so surprised that, rather than arguing that conclusion, you are questioned about the methods you used to both arrive at it and suppport it. Until then, the most anyone can say is "well, I don't agree with that blanket statement but because you've given me nothing to work with in refuting it other than to go out and perform my own comprehensive study of the posts on the various boards, there's not much else I can offer in debate of the point."


[> [> [> You're not too bright, are you? -- Random, 11:17:36 04/16/04 Fri

You have been called on your antics -- weighed and measured. And found very, very wanting. I didn't try to defend myself, or others, against your accusations of racism for reasons I made quite clear in my post. I merely pointed out why your post was both idiotic and trollish, and why your argument was terminally flawed. See, this is the sort of argument that no-one out of grade school should be taking seriously. You are trying to rely on the fact that racism is such a volatile issue that people feel compelled to defend themselves (you're not the first to try that, and, given that cheap shots are, well, cheap in this world, I doubt you'll be the last. It's a staple of grade school, on many issues, ranging from "you have cooties" to "you're a Jesus-loving dweeb") Unfortunately, you are playing in the big leagues now, kiddo, and you're hopelessly outmatched. You're trying to scream "Fire" in a crowded theatre, only to discover that you're just the comic act up on stage, and we're all watching and laughing. You're not gonna succeed by reiterating that we're all racist and making ominous hints about the fact that you are now reading racism in our posts because we aren't taking you seriously. Give it up...your attempts to troll have failed. I said before and will now say again that tarring us with the brush of racism because we have called you on your flaws works only if we're stupid enough, or care enough, to give your stupid human tricks validation. Does that clear up why we haven't addressed your prejudice? It's not even a question of addressing racism, because you haven't made an intelligent foundation for debate.

I see the racism, even if you don't want to admit it Oh, I'll admit you might see racism, Claudia, though I also posit that you're a troll. But, then, I've proposed that you're not very bright, so I tend to take your words with a grain of salt. After all, I did note that racism almost certainly exists in some viewers. Tis the problem with having a show in a mass-medium: can't control who watches. But you don't seem to grasp that I -- and others -- wasn't addressing your accusations because the basic argument was hopelessly flawed. S'kat made the point quite nicely, and the posts below who noted, with admirable sarcasm, that British people and Californians seem to get a preponderance of criticism summarized the flaws quite nicely. I might as well say that the viewers are anti-Californians and my argument would have as much, nay more, validity than yours. Trust me, I could have done it much better than you.

But my reply wasn't a rant. It was, to be honest, a necessary smackdown. Perhaps I sounded annoyed. That's because I was. I'd taken a break from the Board and come back to enjoy its pleasures again...only to see you trolling hard. You can get your kicks trying to stir up controversy, but don't be surprised that you aren't getting the result that you like.

And one last thing: you're a brainless twit, but that's no excuse for being a racist brainless twit. (Oooh, this is fun! Now I see why you're doing it!) Cause I'm thinking that what you're really looking for is validation that others in the viewership are as racist and race-baiting as you. You trivialize racism by making it a topic of easy dismissal...a cheap trick, there. (Yep, fun! Next up: you, Claudia, are an Anglophobe who hates all things English. Your overwhelming hatred and criticism of Wesley is proof enough for me. Tune it for more!)


[> [> [> [> Best! Subject! Line! Ever! -- The Cheerleadery One, 13:34:05 04/16/04 Fri

Also would like that since she seems to think that dislike of a person of a certain race means that one is a racist, it only seems fair that she tell the board what race she is...ya know, so we know what group we're being "racist" against in disliking her.

Rob


[> [> And now, for something completely different... -- LittleBit, 13:40:55 04/16/04 Fri

The Monty Python Argument Sketch.


[> [> [> Perfect! -- angel's nibblet, 17:21:29 04/16/04 Fri

Why do I get theweird sense of de ja vu when I read that ;-)?

There is no such thing as an inappropriate time for Monty Python!


[> *lol* nice. -- gretch, 05:32:11 04/15/04 Thu

so you just use the same post and just go board to board trying to start arguments? real nice. particularly when the fanbase has been urgently and diligently trying to keep this show afloat.

uh, like i said on another board that you tried this crap on...take it up with creators if you think you have a valid complaint. don't take it up with the fans who both adore and support all the characters in jossverse.


[> [> Re: *lol* nice. -- Jane, 16:40:15 04/15/04 Thu

Well said, Random and S'kat. I'm glad not to be the only one who reacts to these trollish posts with outrage. I just couldn't articulate my reasons without going all flamey. Thanks, from someone who prefers to think for herself.


[> I'm puzzled -- KdS, 04:55:46 04/16/04 Fri

Many posters have attacked Angel and Wesley with remarkable frequency. Could these posters have a secret prejudice against people from the British Isles? It is very interesting.


[> [> Re: I'm puzzled -- nazlan, 09:51:39 04/16/04 Fri

And what about the posters who are critical of actions taken by Buffy and Willow and Xander? Are they anti-Californian?


[> [> [> Nice Try -- Rose, 10:28:04 04/16/04 Fri

"And what about the posters who are critical of actions taken by Buffy and Willow and Xander? Are they anti-Californian?"

I suppose this is supposed to be an example of wit. Not a very good one, I may add. By the way, your caustic remark only tells me that you don't want to admit the racism that is prevalent among the shows' fans. You would rather insult me for bringing it up in the first place, instead of facing or discussing. Typical of many people in this country.


[> [> [> [> Re: Nice Try -- LittleBit, 10:58:31 04/16/04 Fri

Unfortunately, even more typical of some people in this country [looks at Rose] there is a lamentable tendency to counter every disagreement with an opinion by saying that by not giving the opinion the weight the holder of that opinion thinks it deserves the responder must then be part of the group being critised. Either guilty of the behavior itself, or in denial of its existence.

Perhaps you would get a more serious response to this over at the Angel's Soul board where you tell us your posts get the respect they deserve. Oh, wait, wasn't that where they deleted your post because it violated the rules of the board? Perhaps that should have made you take a second look at what you posted? And perhaps, if you actually want a discussion on the subject, go back, do some verifiable work on it, and come back when you have a topic presented in a way that can be discussed? If you haven't noticed, this time no one is willing to take your topic and turn it into something that can produce a good discussion, as has happened before.


[> [> [> [> Re: Nice Try -- dlgood, 11:02:21 04/16/04 Fri

your caustic remark only tells me that you don't want to admit the racism that is prevalent among the shows' fans.

And your caustic remarks indicates that you don't want to admit the Anti-Anglo, Anti-Californianism prevalent among the shows' fans. You would rather insult the previous poster for bringing the topic up, instead of engaging in discussion.

I weep.


[> [> Re: I'm puzzled -- LittleBite, 10:18:25 04/16/04 Fri

Why, yes, of course. Didn't you know? Why else all the "pod Giles" criticism in s7? It couldn't have been because his character seemed to make a departure from the way he acted, so it must be because he's [whispers] British. Besides, when you consider all the featured characters from the British Isles... Giles, Angel, Drusilla, Spike, Wes... have you noticed that at some point each of them has been evil?

I find this trend to be highly suspicious. And I note that there have been other posters (okay, fine, you) who have identified and commented on this appalling trend.

When, oh when, will we be able to portray those from the British Isles simply as characters in their own right, and not just as someone with a really cool accent who can sell the American public darned near anything in an info-mercial?


[> [> [> Well, British people are frequently evil in American films! -- Rahael, 11:09:38 04/16/04 Fri

It's a long and honoured tradition. Or stereotype. Or something. Or just lazyness. OTOH, it just enables great British actors to steal films with witty evil lines.


[> [> [> [> And they have loose morals too. -- Arethusa, 11:22:57 04/16/04 Fri

Just look at all the action the British get on the shows. Angel, Wes, Dru, Giles all have sex-repeatedly!-on the show. And as for Spike, well, you might as well slap a scarlet letter on his chest and call him Hester.


[> [> [> [> Re: Ah hah!!! -- LittleBite, 11:28:33 04/16/04 Fri

It's a conspiracy! Evil becomes the territory of the British in film, and now on the small screen, because it's glamorous and cool.

But is it true that even then, a subtle bit of Brit-hating is there because "4 out of 5" Brits on TV are played by Americans (Giles, Angel, Drusilla, Spike, Wes)? How we try to hide these things; I say we must be willing to face the issues head on! Put those 'u's back in the words, where they belong!


[> [> [> [> [> That's very *non* suble, I say. -- Arethusa, 11:36:19 04/16/04 Fri

Think about the racism of old movies, which was so virulent that they wouldn't even hire people of color to play people of color. Hiring Americans to play Brits is the same thing. Heaven forbid Whedon pay someone who might take the money back to Britain, instead of spending it here in America where it originated. (I think he only hired ASH because he performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show, which proves his other theory that Brits are, indeed, randypants. Oooh, that must mean that Tabula Rasa was secretly encoded with anti-British sentiment, since Spike was called Randy!!)


[> [> [> [> [> [> Randy... -- Random, 11:41:49 04/16/04 Fri

....was just a subtle way of saying British people are oversexed, true, but so was "Spike" -- I mean, how Freudian can you get?


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Stereotypes -- LittleBite, 12:08:26 04/16/04 Fri

And there we have it. How much of what we love in the British villain has to do with the "Britishness" of the character and not with the fact that they can get away with dozens of references to sex simply by using the British slang? Will we ever be able to allow these characters to have depth and layers and not be just a sexy interesting voice?


[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Jumping in with another connection -- Ann, 12:20:22 04/16/04 Fri

Tea drinkers that the British are. This represented in a personal as political way by the Twinning Coffee and Tea company family members running some of the jails/gaols in Victorian England paralleled and related to BtVS with the watchers council as jailer/keeper of the slayer. Giles, as a watcher, was the spokesperson for that coffee commericial a few years back. The Kevin Bacon rule lives.

Sorry for the run on sentence.


[> [> [> [> [> Arethusa and LittleBite -- KdS, 13:29:39 04/16/04 Fri

Of course, Angel would probably be distinctly upset at being accused of being British, given the revelations of his youthful political opinions in Spin the Bottle :-)


[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Arethusa and LittleBite -- dlgood, 15:37:34 04/16/04 Fri

And, there's confirmation of the Anti-British bias. Our titular hero is an Irish partisan who roots against the English!


[> [> [> [> [> [> Sure. -- Arethusa, 16:00:52 04/16/04 Fri

And people carry their prejudices with them. My mother's Irish paternal grandparent had to drop the "O'" before the rest of his name to find work. "No Irish need apply" signs were often seen around the turn of the 20th century. And the prejudice was as much for being new immigrants (versus the immigrants who arrived earlier) as for ethnicity or religion, although my father-in-law was disowned and shunned by his Irish mother for marrying a Protestant.

To us it's old history, thank goodness. I hope some day all bigotries are.


[> [> [> [> [> Angel is originally IRISH! -- Fred the obvious pseudonym, 19:41:11 04/18/04 Sun

Never call an Irishman a Briton -- he may well attempt mayhem.


[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Angel is originally IRISH! -- Pip, 02:52:58 04/19/04 Mon

Never call an Irishman a Briton -- he may well attempt mayhem.

That would depend on which Irishman from what part of Ireland. [grin]

Geographically speaking, the collection of Islands in the North West of Europe have been known as the British Isles for centuries, whether or not the counties included have been politically independent. 'The British Isles' currently encompass the political units of 'The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland', Republic of Ireland, Baliwick of Guernsey, Baliwick of Jersey, Isle of Man.

There's probably more than a hundred islands in 'the British Isles'. 'Great Britain' is what the largest island in the archipelago is called ('great' simply meaning 'big'). Calling someone British is politically OK in that island - England, Wales and Scotland (the 'United Kingdom'), and also in most of the smaller Islands.

In Northern Ireland it depends on the person's politics. In the Republic of Ireland it is NOT advisable to call someone British (unless they're originally from one of the other islands), because the Irish Republic is very proud of achieving political independence from Great Britain. Angel's politics seem to be early Irish Independence, so he probably would see himself as Irish, and not see himself as British. But there are people in Northern Ireland who see themselves as Irish AND British.

The deeply important thing to remember in all this, is - avoid calling anyone 'English'. 'English', not 'British' is the real minefield. There is no faster way to insult a Scot, Welsh person, someone from Ulster or from the Channel Isles than to call them English. In fact, it's probably safer to not call anyone 'English', even if they were born and bred in England. They'll probably glare at you and explain how their parents are Irish. :-)


[> [> [> [> Could very well just be the accent -- Finn Mac Cool, 15:33:22 04/16/04 Fri

An accent determines the way a character is perceived. A Cockney accent is basically another from of "hood-speak", used to indicate this character is a thug. The more uppercrust accent, frankly, just sounds creepier than an American one (I don't think it's at all prejudiced to say certain accents conjur different mental images; no worse than people with high or deep voices).


[> [> [> [> Hah! No one's as evil as those Canadians! And I should know! -- Evil Clone, 21:11:01 04/16/04 Fri

Have you heard what they're up to now? I just recently got an e-mail from a clone to another audiophile quasi-philosopher down in Australia who knows the sister of a German hacker who intercepted a secret satellite transmission pirated from the CIA that reveals the following conspiracy-- the Canadian government is secretly plotting to replace presidential candidate John Kerry with a cat!

This decrypted transmission contains the text of the following interview between a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer (who apparently was about to break the story, but then mysteriously disappeared) and the feline in question, who goes by the name Katzenhammer (or as his evil British associates call him, simply K.:


Reporter: Now let me see if I understand you correctly, Mr. Katzenhammer. You are not a United States citizen, but you intend to run for the office of the U.S. presidency? Don't you know that this is illegal?

K.: Meow.

Reporter: What do you mean you don't care?

K.: Meow.

Reporter: Bush and Kerry are six of one and a half-dozen of the other? They both must die?? Are you mad???

K.: Meow.

Reporter: Besides, cats can't register to vote in the U.S., so who's going to...

(Suddenly, the sounds of a heart-stopping feral snarl followed by a hideous scream rip through the text, then all is quiet except for a soft purring sound, and shortly thereafter the faintly heard words "Uhh... Mr. Katzenhammer? ... K.? ..... Catbert? Is he dead? Should I turn the tape recorder off now?")


Hah! Don't say I didn't warn ya'all!

-- E.C.


[> [> [> [> [> Now, would we really be that evol? -- LadyDarkness, 10:32:01 04/17/04 Sat

Without asking if everyone's okay with that, that is??


[> [> [> [> [> Re: Hah! No one's as evil as those Canadians! And I should know! -- DeathIsYourArt, 17:07:44 04/17/04 Sat

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!!!!

If you do attempt to resist, we will put regected Canadian Idol contestants in charge of you all.

(Paid for by the Canadian Meow corporation)


[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Oh, we *know* they're evil! -- LittleBite, 18:04:47 04/17/04 Sat

They're just polite about it.


[> [> [> [> [> *sigh* Look at what I tolerate from members of my staff.....;):):):):):):):):) -- Rufus (meow), 20:55:06 04/17/04 Sat



[> [> [> Its whisper-quiet! -- O'Cailleagh, 23:23:15 04/20/04 Tue

Damn you LittleBite and your talk of infomercials. Now you've reminded me that I want a Jack Lalane Juicer (is that how his name is spelt?).
Not because I'm racist of course (which, being a fan of the Buffyverse, I undeniably am), but because they look so good. All that juice. From such a small amount of fruit and/or vegetables.
It truly is amazing.

O'Hitler...I mean O'Cailleagh



Was anyone else reminded of "The Matrix"? (Spoilers for tonight's ep) -- Finn Mac Cool, 19:38:20 04/14/04 Wed

I mean, we've got our leather clad heroes trying to convince someone that their normal and perfect life is actually a charade. This is followed by seemingly normal people turning into emotionless killers with guns, resulting in a slow motion fight scene. Sounds very similar to a certain Keanu Reaves film, doesn't it?


Replies:

[> I WAS reminded of the Matrix, but not for those reasons. -- Evan, 20:26:44 04/14/04 Wed

For me, it was because Adam Baldwin looked like Agent Smith.


[> Well, you know what Skip said... -- OnM, 20:26:55 04/14/04 Wed

I love that movie!

;-)

( And he turned out to be working for the Senior Partners too! )


[> [> Re: Well, you know what Skip said... -- DeathIsYourArt, 20:45:17 04/14/04 Wed

And there was what Illyria said about feeling infected by humanity.

I was also reminded of X-Files because Adam Baldwin reminded me of the shape shifter (I wonder if they tried to get Brian Thompson?) and the planned community set was used in one of their epys.


[> [> [> Re: Adam Baldwin -- AngelVSAngelus, 09:37:09 04/15/04 Thu

You may recognize the fellow from late X-Files episodes, in which he was another brand of alien assassin whose spine was made of metallic alloy I think.


[> [> [> [> That would be correct!! I miss that show...:( -- Kris, 13:36:12 04/17/04 Sat



[> [> Is this right? -- Jay, 17:15:26 04/15/04 Thu

( And he turned out to be working for the Senior Partners too! )

I thought that Skip was in league with Jasmine and the Beast who definitely weren't working for the Senior Partners. How wrong am I?


[> [> [> OK, I'm confused now. Is Jay right? Anyone care to clue me in? -- OnM, 19:01:03 04/15/04 Thu

I recall that Jasmine wasn't working for the Senior Partners (or so she claimed), and the Beast was working for her, but wasn't Skip working for the Senior Partners?


[> [> [> [> I guess it's not very clear one way or the other -- Jay, 20:22:20 04/15/04 Thu

http://www.atpobtvs.com/a44.html#417e


[> The Matrix meets Pleasantville? (Spoilers 5.17) -- Cheryl, 21:42:55 04/14/04 Wed

The Matrix didn't occur to me until I saw your post. I kept thinking of Pleasantville (which, btw, included Marc Blucas and Danny Strong) when Lindsey was in the holding cell/penalty box or whatever they called it.

Interesting how Lindsey's "wife" looked so much like Darla.

I loved the shrimp references (a moment of silence please for Anya ).

I didn't like so much that Wes and Illyria were off by themselves the entire time. Although not one of my all-time favorite episodes (a little too slow-moving for me), I want to rewatch another time or two, because there were some meaningful things said that didn't register with me the first time around - mostly with Wes and Ilyria (and how nice to see Fred again, even if it was a dream). Or I could just read this board for all of the amazing insights -no, I'll still rewatch another time or two. :-)

And I'm glad Gunn and Lorne were back in the mix. I was pleasantly surprised that Angel was so understanding of Gunn. In the past, I don't think he would have been so understanding or forgiving, which was always an issue with me considering everything Angel has done and that he was trying to atone - I always felt he was a hypocrite in that regard.

After everything that's happened this season, why didn't it click with Angel before now that the Senior Partners gave them W&H in order to distract them? Hasn't this come up numerous times before? Why didn't it register until Lindsey spelled it out for him? As much as I love Lindsey, I wasn't really sure what his purpose was in this episode. He didn't say anything new really. I guess time will tell, especially now that Gunn is trapped. And maybe now that Lindsey's "home" he can get a haircut? ;-)

Has Mercedes McNab been in the opening credits all season or is this new? I don't remember seeing that before.


[> [> I was actually thinking "Truman Show" much more than "Matrix" or "Pleasantville"... (spoilers) -- Rob, 22:25:37 04/14/04 Wed

....in that an entire suburban fantasy world is created for the sole purpose of entrapping one individual. In "The Truman Show," although no one took out machine guns, all of Truman's "friends" and "family" were similarly unshakable in their quest to keep him from escaping.

I was pleasantly surprised that Angel was so understanding of Gunn. In the past, I don't think he would have been so understanding or forgiving...

What struck me was how similar it was to the famous scene from Forgiving in Wesley's hospital room. Angel has learned from his experiences now, and treats Gunn the way he probably should have treated Wesley back then.

After everything that's happened this season, why didn't it click with Angel before now that the Senior Partners gave them W&H in order to distract them? Hasn't this come up numerous times before? Why didn't it register until Lindsey spelled it out for him?

It hasn't exactly come up numerous times before. Angel was so focused on wondering why he was at W&H, assuming that they want him there to take a part in the apocalypse, that it didn't really occur to him that this wasn't about him "going dark" as it was in the past, which is the game he thought they might be trying to play again. Instead, it's to keep him in a holding pen, like Lindsay, and let the apocalypse happen around him, without him noticing.

Has Mercedes McNab been in the opening credits all season or is this new? I don't remember seeing that before.

Nope. I had read that they were intending to add her to the credits in the sixth season. Since it seems like that isn't going to happen, I guess they wanted to reward her this year. They also, of course, replaced Fred with Illyria, for most of the scenes in the credits.

Rob


[> [> [> They all rip off Philip K. Dick anyway -- d'Herblay, 16:38:45 04/16/04 Fri

Well, not so much Pleasantville, but both The Truman Show and The Matrix are directly inspired by Philip K. Dick. For The Truman Show (and "Underneath") the most pertinent work is probably Time Out Of Joint, in which a post-apocalyptic earth is under attack by aliens. The military finds it imperative to know the aliens' bombing targets ahead of time, so they can concentrate resources for a counter attack, but the only person who is capable of predicting the targets is Raglun Gumm, whose psychic powers work only subconsciously. So the government constructs a simulacrum of an idyllic, middle-American, 1950s small town for him, somehow altering his memory so that he accepts it, and have him predict the bombing sites through a fake newspaper competition. So it continues, until one day at the fair, Gumm watches as a hot dog stand shimmers and shinnies and then winks out of existence. He walks to the void that remains in its spot, where he finds a scrap of paper inscribed with the words "HOT DOG STAND."

In any case, I doubt that there's a direct influence on "Underneath" (though "Normal Again" also played in the Dickian), but ideas and plots promulgated by Dick have so saturated our culture over the last fifteen years that you can't walk into a Blockbuster without tripping over a stack of movies based on or inspired by Dick's ouevre. It's getting to be such a cliche that I'm now shocked by the transgression of movies that have only one reality.


[> [> [> [> Alice through the Looking Glass? -- Pip, 16:54:28 04/16/04 Fri



[> [> [> [> [> Well, Dick keeps getting the credit -- d'Herblay, 20:56:25 04/17/04 Sat

For example, here.


[> [> [> [> Plato, the cave, the myth of Er? -- Cleanthes, 20:36:37 04/16/04 Fri



[> [> [> [> [> More Gnostic than Platonist -- d'Herblay, 20:58:04 04/17/04 Sat

The idea being not that our perceptions of reality are limited, so much as that reality itself is a false construct.





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