May 2003 posts
Caleb, Giles & Faith's return: Thoughts on "Dirty
Girls"(spoilers up to Dirty Girls) -- JCC,
16:46:50 05/15/03 Thu
"Dirty Girls" is the first episode of Buffy this season
that I really enjoyed. Not only did it re-unite the group with
Faith (a part that I felt was a little flat given the history),
but gave a powerful introduction to a very believable evil in
Caleb.
Caleb, a priest who has turned from his search for God and aligned
himself with The First, is basically misogyny personified. However,
he can also be seen as a statement of the hypocrisy of organised
religion. As Gandhi said:
"I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians."
Caleb preaches the Bible to his intended victims in order to lure
them in, before punishing them for trying to tempt the power out
of men. As Christians take on that name and guise, they fail to
live the lives that their teachings preach.
Caleb also enjoys re-enacting his "cleansing" of these
girls he has murdered, as The First feeds his lust for killing.
I'm a big believer that a villain needs to feel justified in his
actions, no matter how wrong they are, and he definitely feels
that he is saving the female race. Caleb is the perfect weapon
against the potentials. Who better to wipe out an army of young
girls than a misogynistic fanatic with super powers? His intro
is made all the more powerful by leaving 2 potentials dead, several
injured and Xander without an eye.
Faith's return, as I said earlier was a little flat for me. Her
meeting of Buffy is used to show Buffy's determination and focus
on the war ahead. As she told Wood, she doesn't have time for
vendettas. The interactions between Faith and Spike were enjoyable.
If only Buffy hadn't walked in on them in the basement...
Another downside to this episode was Buffy's treatment of Giles.
I'm still not sure which side I fall on in the argument of whether
Spike should have been killed or not (when the trigger was active.
I now feel that he poses no threat.) I'm not sure I want to take
any sides in the pit of waste that was "Lies my parents told
me". Giles did what he felt was right for the protection
of the potentials, and I feel he has been badly treated after
it. Buffy's logic was ridiculous. She was content to let Spike
roam the house freely, while he was still The First's bitch, which
makes no sense whatsoever. He should have at least been tied up
full time. But once again, this logic does come from "Lies...",
so maybe we should forget about it.
Even though Caleb is somewhat of an easily understood character
(he's insane. What else do you need?) I enjoyed him as a big evil.
A priest who gets his kicks of murdering girls was a strange choice,
but given the excellent subtle scripting of the episode, he was
very easy to dislike. His calmness throughout and constant Bible
preaching mixed in with insane rambling won me over. Not to mention
a great performance by Nathan Fillion, of whom I'm a big fan (see
Two Guys & a Girl). I'm looking forward to seeing where he's headed.
[> I think Caleb is a preacher,
not a priest. -- WickedSemantics, 17:52:32 05/15/03 Thu
Unless I missed some part of his biography. It's an importance
difference - they aren't interchangeable words.
[> [> ME dropped the
ball on whether Caleb is a preacher or a priest. -- Rhys who
is not Rhys-Michael, 18:41:27 05/15/03 Thu
First off, Caleb has a Southern accent and an Old Testament Bible
name. Neither is characteristic of American Catholics--most Southerners
are Protestant, and Catholics are enjoined to give children names
of saints. (They don't always do so, but--judging by Caleb's apparent
age--names like John, James, Francis, Joseph, Michael and Matthew
would have been much more likely to be given to a Catholic boy
forty or fifty years ago than names like Job, Gideon, Obadiah,
Ezra, Ezekiel or Malachi. Likewise, Caleb uses a lot of the phraseology
of evangelistic preachers.
But then he also brings up the belief of transubstantiation (that's
the belief that the bread and wine of the Eucharist literally
turn into Christ's body and blood in the Mass, even though they
still look like bread and wine. This is strictly a Catholic belief;
Protestants believe that the transformation is a metaphorical
one, not a literal one. Caleb also mentions that his constant
questioning leads to his never staying long in one parish. Priests
(Catholics and Anglicans) have parishes--Protestant ministers
don't. However, the sentence is sufficiently ambiguous so that
he might have been referring to regional divisions, known as counties
everywhere else, but known as parishes in Louisiana.
It looks like ME was not really sure what the difference is between
priests and preachers, and didn't take the time to find out.
[> [> [> Or they deliberately
vagued it up. -- Arethusa, 18:49:12 05/15/03 Thu
[> [> [> [> Re:
Or they deliberately vagued it up. -- DEN, 19:37:43 05/15/03
Thu
I think they deliberately made Caleb's denominational identity
vague--the individual points he mentions, both evangelical and
Catholic/Episcopal, are accurate enough that somebody at ME had
to be aware of the differences. IMO, apart form any antireligious
subtext, Caleb's religious polymorphousness enhances his creepiness.
One minute he comes on like a tent-show evangelist; the next he
talks like a newly-ordained seminarian testing limits (the "body
and blood" riff was perfect). The overall effect is nightmarish.
[> [> [> [> [>
I didn't find the effect nightmarish. I found it confusing.
Sorry. -- Rhys who is not Rhys-Michael, 20:43:36 05/15/03
Thu
[> [> [> Re: ME dropped
the ball on whether Caleb is a preacher or a priest. -- Corwin
of Amber, 21:07:27 05/15/03 Thu
>This is strictly a Catholic belief; Protestants believe that
the transformation is a metaphorical one, not a literal one.
My father says that the Lutheran sect he was born into believed
in transubstantiation also; he converted to Catholicsm after marrying
my mother. I also get the impression that particular brand of
Lutheranism (i forgot which) was very close to Catholicism in
other areas.
I also believe that Caleb mentioned parishes at some point in
Dirty Girls, could someone check their tape?
[> [> [> [> The
Parishes Speech from "Dirty Girls" -- Rhys who is
not Rhys-Michael, 22:05:18 05/15/03 Thu
CALEB (wandering about):
You know, I loved the story of the Last Supper, the body, the
blood of Christ becoming rich red wine... I recall as a boy though
I couldn'thelp thinking, what if you're at the Last Supper and
you ordered the white? Nice oakey chardonnay, or a white zin,
was he gonna make that out of his lymph or some all? I never did
bring it up, but... well I suppose there was reason I never could
stay with the same parish for very long. Just looking for answers--looking
for the Lord -- in the wrong damn places. 'Til you showed me the
light.
Reading books
to fill the void...recommendations? -- lost_bracelet, 18:54:54
05/15/03 Thu
The hunger I feel at the end of a Buffy episode, season,
and now the series itself is a general hunger for a good story.
Sometimes I can fill the void with a satisfying book, especially
in the speculative fiction genre. I also have a passion for young
adult and children's (age 9-12) books. Here are some of my favorites:
the Harry Potter series
Holes
A Wrinkle in Time
I am sort of glad Buffy is coming to an end, because 1)
It's ending while it's still good, and 2) I watch too much television
as it is and would like to watch less. I'd rather spend more time
reading books than watching television, even if the shows are
good (and there aren't that many good shows, in my opinion).
I welcome your comments about reading versus watching television,
as well as your book recommendations.
Thanks.
[> Re: Reading books to
fill the void...recommendations? -- lost_bracelet, 18:57:50
05/15/03 Thu
The hunger I feel at the end of a Buffy episode, season,
and now the series itself is a general hunger for a good story.
Sometimes I can fill the void with a satisfying book, especially
in the speculative fiction genre. I also have a passion for young
adult and children's (age 9-12) books. Here are some of my favorites:
the Harry Potter series
Holes
A Wrinkle in Time
I am sort of glad Buffy is coming to an end, because 1)
It's ending while it's still good, and 2) I watch too much television
as it is and would like to watch less. I'd rather spend more time
reading books than watching television, even if the shows are
good (and there aren't that many good shows, in my opinion).
I welcome your comments about reading versus watching television,
as well as your book recommendations.
Thanks.
[> [> (Please ignore
the second post...it's the same as the first -- technical problem)
-- lost_bracelet, 18:58:50 05/15/03 Thu
[> [> Re: Reading books
to fill the void...recommendations? -- jane, 23:22:13 05/15/03
Thu
I suggest that you check out these books: "Beauty" and"The
Blue Sword" by Robin McKinley; "The Arrows of the Queen",
"Arrow's Fall", "Arrow's Flight" By Mercedes
Lackey. One of my very favourite writers is Guy Gavriel Kay; his
first series "The Fionavar Tapestry" is beautiful. Also,
I really enjoyed a series by Tanya Huff called the Keeper's Chronicles.
First one is "Summon the Keeper".
[> [> Re: Reading books
to fill the void...recommendations? -- ANDREA,
13:40:43 05/16/03 Fri
Hey i can totally identified with you cause i watch way too much
tv, anyway if you're looking for a good story to read, i would
definitly recommend you Norhten lights by Phillip Pullman , its
actually a trilogy im rading at the mo9ment and it is pretty cool.
also The Anatomist by Federico Andahazi, his from argentina and
when you start reaing one of his books you just cant stop.
bye
[> Re: Reading books to
fill the void...recommendations? -- Rendyl, 21:06:34 05/15/03
Thu
Well...embarrassingly enough the last books I read were the 'Call
of Cthulhu' gaming manual, the 'Chicks in Chainmail' anthology
and the 'Adobe Go-Live' manual.
(Hey, it was website research...really.)
Have you read any of Susan Cooper's 'The Dark is Rising' series?
It begins with 'Over Sea, Under Stone'. It is next on the list
to read to my little girl once we are done with 'The Goblet of
Fire'.
My husband just finished 'The Voyage of the Shadowmoon' by Sean
McMullen. He liked it but I haven't had a chance to read it yet.
He also says 'The Briar King' by...ack my mind blanks...ok...Greg
Keyes (I think) is pretty good. I did read 'Knight Life' by Peter
David a few weeks back and enjoyed it.
Ren - hey, the 'go live' manual is chock full of humorous anecdotes...really
-
[> [> Re: Reading books
to fill the void...recommendations? -- Rhys who is not Rhys-Michael,
21:47:48 05/15/03 Thu
Madeleine L'Engle:
A Wind In The Door (follows A Wrinkle In Time)
A Swiftly Tilting Planet (follows A Wind In The Door)
An Acceptable Time
George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series:
A Game of Swords
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett:
Good Omens
Marion Zimmer Bradley:
The Mists of Avalon
Orson Scott Card's Tales of Alvin Maker series:
Seventh Son
Red Prophet
Prentice Alvin
Alvin Journeyman
Heartfire
Terry Pratchett (mind you, these are best of the best of his Discworld
novels):
Of the Death series:
Soul Music
Hogfather
Thief of Time
Of the Witches series:
Wyrd Sisters
Lords and Ladies
Carpe Jugulum
Of the Rincewind the cowardly wizard series:
Interesting Times
The Last Hero
Of the City Watch series:
Guards, Guards!
Men At Arms
Feet of Clay
Jingo
The Fifth Elephant
Night Watch
Stephen King:
Bag of Bones
Will Cuppy:
The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody
I can come up with more, but I think that's enough to be going
on with.
[> [> [> Wow, fantastic
list! I liked _Bag of Bones_ as well. -- lost_bracelet, 23:41:48
05/15/03 Thu
I also enjoyed King's The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and
Hearts in Atlantis.
I didn't know L'Engle had follow-up books! I'll have to check
those out. Thank you.
[> Re: Reading books to
fill the void...recommendations? -- Tar, 22:33:35 05/15/03
Thu
Since you enjoy young adult books and mentioned quite a few of
my favorites, you might also like Philip Pullman's series. 'The
Golden Compass', 'The Subtle Knife' and 'The Amber Spyglass'.
There is also Steven King's, 'The Dark Tower' series which I'm
reading again while I wait for the fifth book to come out. These
include 'The Gunslinger', 'The Drawing of the Three', 'The Wastelands'
and 'Wizards and Glass'.
[> [> Pullman has been
on my reading list for a while. -- lost_bracelet, 23:44:35
05/15/03 Thu
I read a short story in King's Everything's Eventual called
"The Little Sisters of Eluria" that was about a gunslinger.
It was one of the better stories in the collection.
What about that Lemony Snicket guy? Is his series worth reading,
you think?
[> [> [> Re: Pullman
has been on my reading list for a while. -- jane, 00:08:55
05/16/03 Fri
I've read some of the Lemony Snicket; they're kindof cute in a
depressing sort of way.
[> [> [> [> Harry
Potteresque? -- lost_bracelet, 00:21:43 05/16/03 Fri
[> Books Books Books
-- Michael, 04:01:05 05/16/03 Fri
As I think of books, I'll post them. Never give an English teacher
the opportunity to list books...
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
Summerland by Michael Chabon
A Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks (the plague, love, the 17th
century, what else could you ask for?)
The Crimson Petal and White by Michael Faber
American Gods by Neal Gaiman
The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster
Gilligan's Wake by Tom Carson
more to come...
[> Re: Reading books to
fill the void...recommendations? -- MsGiles, 08:31:46 05/16/03
Fri
what springs to mind..
Neil Gaiman's short stories 'Smoke and Mirrors'. Novel 'American
Gods'. Fantasy with contemporary edge. A bit horror-ish, but more
whimsical.
Laurell K. Hamilton 'Guilty Pleasures' on recommendation from
this board. Vampire detection pulp style. I aim to read more.
Umberto Eco 'Foucaults Pendulum'. Just read again, concentrated
read like very rich fruit cake, but packed with templar-type conspiracy
theory jokes, and a good story.
Alan Garner - 'Weirdstone of Brisingamen' and 'Moon of Gomrath'
(children), 'RedShift' (young adult). I just read 'Strandloper',
but couldn't make head nor tail of it, I'm afraid.
Neal Stephenson: Snow Crash (cyberpunky, but not as dark as Gibson).
Most recent one 'Cryptonomicon' - encryption fantasy thriller
set in geek-land, very funny, much appreciated by programmers.
Ursula le Guin, especially 'Left Hand of Darkness', 'The Dispossessed',
'Always Coming Home', but also the Earthsea books for younger
readers eg 'A Wizard of Earthsea'
'Marianne Dreams', Catherine Storr 1952. Classic childrens book.
Terry Pratchett, yes. Also some of Robert Rankin, a bit like TP
with beer, allotment and bicycle humour, set in Brentford (London
suburb). Eg 'The Sprouts of Wrath'
EE Nesbit's 'Five Children and It', for younger children but I
was surprised how much I enjoyed re-reading it recently. 1902,
so it was getting on even when I read it first.
Rosemary Sutcliff's historical books for children eg The Mark
of the Horse Lord (1965) Roman legions, British Dark Ages.
minds gone blank now, but I'm sure there's more
[> [> Oldies but goodies
-- matching mole, 13:05:15 05/16/03 Fri
What a great list! I don't know how many times I reread 'Five
Children and It' as a young lad. 'Weirdstone of Brisingamen' was
one the first books ever to really scare me. Wonderfully atmospheric.
I ordered 'Marianne Dreams' after watching the filmed adaptation
'Paperhouse' which I think is one of the best fantasy films I
have ever seen.
Robert Rankin is a recent discovery for me. Our local library
only has two of his books so I might actually have break down
and order some. Definitely reminiscent of Terry Pratchett in style
but darker.
I guess I should add something of my own.
I recently read a book by Tanith Lee, part of a series set in
an alternative Venice, each book a stand alone story based on
one the four classical elements. The first book by Lee (who's
been around forever) I've read and I was very impressed with her
stylistic acomplishments. Sorry I can't remember the title - something
to do with earth.
[> [> [> I'll try
Tanith, new for me -- MsGiles, 15:06:20 05/16/03 Fri
[> And if you like historical
fiction -- Rhys who is not Rhys-Michael, 10:07:36 05/16/03
Fri
Sharon Kay Penman:
Here Be Dragons
The story of Llewelyn Fawr (Llewelyn the Great) of Wales, King
John of England, and Joanna, the bastard daughter of John and
the wife of Llewelyn. If you only know John through the Robin
Hood legends, you owe it to yourself to read this book. John was
both better and worse than the legends paint him.
Falls The Shadow
Sequel to Here Be Dragons, it's the story of three men: Henry
III, John's son and one of England's most incompetent kings, a
deeply insecure and vacillating man; Simon de Montfort, a French-born
English noble wed to Henry's sister Nell, a proud, rash, blunt-spoken
man who valued freedom and representation in government for all;
and Llelo, later Llewelyn, the grandson of Llewelyn Fawr.
The Reckoning
Sequel to Falls The Shadow. If you saw Braveheart, read this book,
for one of the characters is Edward Longshanks. Falls The Shadow
and The Reckoning go a long way to explaining why Edward was the
kind of person he was. The Reckoning is also the continuing saga
of Simon de Montfort's children--Bran, Guy, Amaury and Ellen--as
well as the intense and passionate love story between the Welsh
Prince Llewelyn and Ellen de Montfort.
If you like stories about people, romance, battles, intrigue,
grandeur and/or larger than life personalities, you'll love these
books.
[> Re: Reading books to
fill the void...recommendations? -- Alianora (delurking),
11:06:17 05/16/03 Fri
In the YA realm: Diana Wynne Jones, I've enjoyed everything I've
read by her
Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series. The first book in the (so
far) four book series, Storm Front, is also on CD read by James
Marsters. I've seen it called "Harry Potter grown up".
Not true, in my opinion, but I think a Harry Potter fan would
likely enjoy them.
[> Thanks, everyone, for
your great recommendations. -- lost_bracelet, 13:32:23
05/16/03 Fri
I've added many books to my reading list.
I was also hoping for more discussion about television addiction,
but perhaps that requires a new topic thread.
The Last Pure
Demon (Spoilers through "End of Days") -- Finn Mac
Cool, 21:12:08 05/15/03 Thu
In "End of Days", the Guardian told Buffy that the Slayer's
Scythe was brought to the Hellmouth in order to kill the last
pure demon to walk the earth after all the others had fled. Now
compare this to "The Harvest":
Giles: "The last demon to leave this reality fed off a mortal
man, mixed their blood, turning him into a human form possessed,
infected, by the demon's soul."
This is a description of how the first vampire came to be. Given
this, I think we can safely conclude that the last pure demon
the Guardian talked about is the same one that created the race
of vampires. This resolves an issue some people brought up after
"Get It Done" aired, where it was said the Slayer was
created to drive off the demons, even though the show's premise
was that the Slayer was intended specifically for vampires. But,
if the Slayer, weilding a mystical scythe, killed the pure demon
that was the father of all vampires, it makes a lot more sense
that they're called Vampire Slayers. Plus, it's quite fitting
that the creator of vampires was killed by a Slayer.
One more thing: according to the Guardian, at one point a Slayer,
presumably before the age of fertilizer bombs, killed a pure demon
with the Scythe. Given that pure demons are described as destroying
entire towns, and how big and powerful the Mayor seemed in his
pure demon state, it makes you wonder how powerful that Scythe
makes Buffy if a previous Slayer could kill a pure demon with
it.
[> RE: ... (Spoilers through
finale previews + spec.) -- yez, 09:02:15 05/16/03 Fri
But if it's for the last pure demon, and the Mayor was changing
into a pure demon (was he?), then wouldn't the scythe have been
important then?
I'm not sure if this whole thing is going to tie up cleanly...
So far, it's all been about the FE and Caleb, and judging by the
previews which show Caleb (or his body anyway) being a part of
the finale, I'd be surprised if we suddenly get the introduction
of another figure -- the last pure demon.
Hhmm... I'm wondering if the FE didn't *need* Buffy to kill Caleb
with the scythe somehow, that this turned him into a truly empty
vessel that the FE could fill and take corporeal form, as it talked
about longily in Touched.
But I'm pretty confused as to why, if the FE was something incorporeal
that was part of everyone -- in their hearts -- it would bother
to take form.
But maybe this is the FE's fatal flaw. Maybe instead of the last
pure demon actually leaving the earth or the earthly dimension,
it changed itself into something that could exist in everyone.
Maybe something spiritual or maybe there's even some part of it
in everyone's DNA.
Maybe the final battle will be some kind of metaphysical genetic
therapy...
Anyway, of course we all know that once it takes on corporeal
form, for whatever perversely touching reasons it may have (no
pun intended), that the slayers will kick its ass. They better.
Dammit, I didn't invest all this time into this show to have them
all fold in the end!
yez
Cordy...baby...where
are you? -- Nino,
21:36:11 05/15/03 Thu
Does anyone have any information regarding Charisma's return to
"Angel?" I know she was taken off of the regulars list,
but has Joss or anyone commented on whether she will be in any
episodes at all? How about Connor? (Not that I wanna see him again...)
But Cordy, she is the heart of the show...she has been there since
the VERY beginning, and after a season where she was MIA, an amnesiac,
possessed and unconcscience for all 22 eps, i need some serious
closure! Please help if you have any info at all...and yay for
Spike!
[> Cordy and Connor will
appear as recurring characters on Angel. -- Rhys who is not
Rhys-Michael, 21:56:49 05/15/03 Thu
[> [> Ummmmm, don't count
on this -- Dochawk, 22:10:04 05/15/03 Thu
As far as I have seen, nothing official has said that CC will
return as a recurring character. This has been fan projection.
I wouldn't count on it happening (unless they come up with a special
story line that they must have her for - think of CC like SG or
AB, not ASH).
Miss Kitty's
lives' story -- HonorH, 22:22:27 05/15/03 Thu
Jane Davitt just posted this at FFN, and I absolutely adore it.
Read and enjoy:
Nine
Lives
[> Yes! Forget Faith, a
Kitty spinoff next, Clem guests -- MsGiles, 07:54:13 05/16/03
Fri
A Super-Evil
Top Ten List: "No Excuses" -- The Unclean, 22:37:47
05/15/03 Thu
It has been a glorious day here at the hive, as my mate and I
and our demonic brethren celebrate the lunar eclipse with our
combination ritual slaughter and backyard barbeque. As I pick
the shards of bone out my mandibles and reflect on the screams
of the dead and the sound and smell of flesh bubbling over an
open flame, my buoyant mood is tempered somewhat by the upcoming
end of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
I have read the mortal commentators on the board waxing nostalgic
over the most romantic moments of the series, or the episodes
that best exemplified the nobility of the Slayer's spirit, or
the laughter that the cyclopean carpenter and the babbling witch
brought to their hearts...
Since I wish to keep down my lunch, I have refrained from reading
too many of those. Honorificus seems to be waiting for the series
finale to unleash the fiery flames of hell upon the board, so
I feel it falls upon me to reflect upon the episodes that bring
joy to every demon's heart: episodes when the Scoobies, those
paragons of virtue and saviors of humanity, betrayed their principles
and sank into the depth of depravity or despair.
As much as I would like to include the jolly antics of Angelus,
the savagery of Vamp and/or Hyena Xander, and the magical merriment
of Dark Willow, I will not allow the humans on this board to make
excuses for their heroes. This is the "no excuses" top
ten--everybody made their choices with a clear head, and now they
have to live with them. (Or not.)
10. ANGEL. No Angelus, so that takes away a great deal of ammunition
for a "worst of Angel" retrospective on BtVS. Of course,
Angel's glorious "multiple murder by inaction" at the
offices of Wolfram & Hart in Season 2 of his own series would
probably top this list, but we're not dealing with AtS here.
I'm tempted to cite Angel's abandonment of the Slayer at the end
of S3, or his merciful (for everybody else) one-punch silencing
of Xander in "Enemies," but he can claim virtuous motivations
for both. No, the vampire with a soul was at his lowest point
at the end of Season 1, cowering in his room in abject fear of
the power of The Master ("Prophecy Girl"). He was ready
to abandon the Slayer and the rest of the human world to their
fates. Considering what I have waiting near the end of this list,
the fact that it was the Harris boy who roused him to action is
deliciously ironic.
9. JOYCE. Ah yes, the sainted mother of the Slayer, always caring
and concerned and ready with a hot cup of cocoa to make the cares
of the world disappear. During the most nightmarish time of her
daughter's life, when Buffy's world was falling down around her
("Becoming II"), Joyce reacted like any understanding
mother would: she threw Buffy out of the house, screaming at her
never to come back. And when Buffy finally returned home ("Dead
Man's Party"), Joyce once again displayed her infinite patience
and love by joining the lynch mob of Buffy's friends and nearly
driving her child away again. Her finest hour.
8. ANYANKA. 1100 years of blessed carnage, a veritable cornucopia
of choices--but that would be too easy. No, to praise as perfect
evil the actions of a creature blinded by rage at mankind is like
applauding the artistry of an elephant stampede. Far better to
judge Anyanka during her second go-around as a vengeance demon
("Selfless"), when she knew full well the weight and
distinctions of human morality--and slaughtered those frat boys
anyway. She did it to fit in with her old friends and to please
her boss--much in the same way the Nazis did in the good old days.
A shame she didn't have the guts to stick to her guns like a good
little she-wolf of the SS...
7. FAITH. Poor little wild child. Never at home anywhere, especially
with Buffy reminding her of all the things she never had. But
then she finally found a new Daddy, the always charming Richard
Wilkins III (I campaigned for him in 1912) and she would do anything
to please him. The near-rape of Xander Harris and the accidental
death of Deputy Mayor Finch were nothing compared to the cold-blooded
murder of the vulcanologist, a murder with all the passion of
dumping the weekly trash by the side of the road. Daddy must have
been so proud.
[In honor of my favorite season--Season 6--the last six entries
salute the disintegration of the Scoobies over the course of 22
episodes.]
6. GILES. Again, so much to choose from, although most of Ripper's
crimes have been relegated to distant memory ("The Dark Age").
The murder of Ben in "The Gift" and the conspiracy against
Spike in "Lies My Parents Told Me" were both prime examples
of the utilitarian ruthlessness I've always admired in Watchers,
but Giles fanatics could easily justify both actions. No, the
true measure of Giles' selfishness came in Season 6, when he magnified
Buffy's abandonment issues by running back to England when she
desperately needed her most.
5. THE NERDS. The Banality of Evil incarnate. It was a pure pleasure
watching Warren Meers develop from brainiac misfit in Season 5,
to self-deluded crime boss, to full-fledged mystically enhanced
psychopath in Season 6. And it was equally pleasurable to watch
Jonathan Levinson--the perennial innocent bystander and eternal
victim of the series--as he refused to acknowledge his own complicity
in this sad state of affairs until it was far too late.
4. XANDER. The love spell in "BB&B"? Done in the
heat of anger, and perhaps somewhat excusable. Summoning Sweet
in "Once More, With Feeling"? He had no idea what the
Dance Man could really do with an attentive audience. No, the
moment when Xander betrayed himself and his loved ones on the
deepest level was his wedding day ("Hell's Bells").
Sneaking out the back door of the lodge and wandering out into
the rain, leaving Anya to walk down the aisle alone, was pure
cowardice. (If he survives the final episode, he will spend the
rest of his days living it down.)
3. WILLOW. I know, I know--Dark Willow doesn't count, because
she was addicted to magic and driven mad by grief, blah blah blah.
But she had no excuse for mind-raping her beloved Tara, barely
months after Tara was mind-raped by Glory. (Actually, I always
thought Willow was sick of Buffy and the rest of the world pushing
her around, and she was attracted to the raw power of dark magic.
Why couldn't she just admit it?)
2. SPIKE. This is a tricky one. Technically, Spike shouldn't be
here at all, since he didn't have a soul until this season, and
his post-ensoulment record has been relatively clean ("Chosen"
pending). But even soulless, Spike maintained the pathetic delusion
that he was a paladin of sorts, a creature first and foremost
devoted to his Lady. The attempted rape in "Seeing Red"
was so heinous, so utterly depraved, that it completely shattered
his well-crafted self-image and drove him to the ends of the world
to obliterate himself.
1. BUFFY. What, the virtuous Slayer? Miss "Everyone Has Been
Evil Except Me"? Perhaps she's forgotten the end of "Dead
Things," when she pummeled Spike into a bloody pulp in an
orgy of projected self-loathing. (I hold out a dim hope that "Chosen"
will reveal Buffy as the Ultimate Big Bad--but I doubt Joss Whedon
will have the courage to Go There.)
Thank you for indulging me. This was a pleasurable trip down memory
lane. Now if you'll excuse me, I have human sacrifices on the
grill and a lot of hungry mouths to feed. (Where did I put the
ketchup?)
[> *Munch* Great barbecue,
Unclean! -- Honorificus (Gloriouser Than Glorificus), 22:55:03
05/15/03 Thu
I had a minion teleport over to grab me some spareribs off the
grill. Hope you don't mind. I must get your sauce recipe some
other time.
However, I frankly must disagree with your assessment of Buffy's
worst moment. For one thing, it was Spike while he was trying
to be a good guy, and I wanted to pummel him myself. For another,
her emotional state was such that she lost control. Thus, it didn't
have the premeditation or cold calculation needed for a truly
evil act.
No, I would far prefer something like her little dance o' seduction
to drive Xander and Angel crazy in WSWB. Or perhaps the stabbing
of Faith. Hitting Angel below the belt with Riley in "Sanctuary"?
No, wait--her whole "Generalissima Buffy" act this season
that led to her "friends" evicting her.
As for Xander, I would more likely say his entire stint as an
18-year-old qualifies as his "worst moment". Did you
see some of the idiocy he came up with in season 3? Human males
that age--to stupid to live, too sweaty to eat.
This is making me all nostalgic as well. My Super-Snotty Alter-Ego
is getting all defensive of her Favorites now, but she's had more
than her say. My say is this: If this Joss creature is truly,
as he thinks, revolutionary, he will end the series with Buffy
giving in to glorious, glorious evil, becoming the First's Slayer
vessel and wreaking carnage upon the helpless human world. The
Old Ones shall rise again!
[> [> And Most Recently
-- fawning minion, 09:27:55 05/16/03 Fri
Your gloriousness is ever the most brilliant, but let me just
suggest that Buffy's behavior on End of Days really should be
nominated: First she browbeats Spike into confessing not lust,
but need for intimacy, almost turning him back into poor William
the poet, and then refuses to own up to her own feelings--and
then, very next time he sees her, she is back sucking face
with her old lover. Gotta love it!
[> [> [> Oh, pah!
-- Honorificus (Evil And Proud Of It), 15:46:29 05/16/03 Fri
Their conversation was horrifically open and (ugh!) vulnerable.
Besides, just when has Buffy ever actually known her real feelings?
She's just one huge mass of contradictions and Issues, which is
one reason I hold out hope for her converting to Evil. As for
the Angel thing, while I approved of the burn it must have been
for Spike, what ruins it for me is the sure knowledge that had
Buffy known he was there, she'd have refrained from licking Angel's
tonsils out of sensitivity toward the Bleached Bomber. Nope. Sorry.
Not evil enough for me.
[> [> You've totally
neglected Tara. And there's a chunk of gristle in your front teeth.
-- Archilochian, 12:14:42 05/16/03 Fri
Tara had more magical powers than she let on - yet she hid them
even when they would have helped keep the Scoobies safe.
Tara sneaking in through the Magic Shops back entrance and casting
that Forget Spell on the entire gang while cowering behind a door.
Sabatoging the demon Locator spell leaving Willow demoralized
about her own powers.
Concealing her family "secret".
and the worst - Willow chasing Tara until Tara caught her. Oldest
trick in the book.
[> [> [> She really
was quite the tart, wasn't she? -- Honorificus (Who Never
Chases, Always Catches), 15:49:55 05/16/03 Fri
You know, in spite of her being all Earth Mothery and goody-goody
(not to mention badly-dressed), I found Tara sort of endearing.
She had more maturity than the others, which made her more bearable,
and could be quite delightfully wicked when she wanted to be.
Remember Spike's "cramp" in the pants?
[> [> [> [> I've
always wondered how many gf's Tara had had before Willow.
-- Archilochian (we already knew Willows background), 17:49:15
05/16/03 Fri
[> Re: A Super-Evil Top
Ten List: "No Excuses" -- Saguaro Stalker, 06:10:30
05/16/03 Fri
I think you've discovered a very profound point. Slayers and their
friends are quite healthy for being such sickeningly good folk.
You mentioned Buffster kicking the tar out of Spike over her self-loathing.
Remember, Faith does the same thing in "Who are you?"
She decides she doesn't like who she is. So she beats up Buffy
while she is still in Faith's body, thereby accomplishing both
self-flagellation, and the joy of punching somebody else. When
Spike decides he doesn't like who he is at the end of season six,
he learns from Buffy's bad example. He doesn't sit around and
mope for umpty episodes. No, he goes out and kills some stuff,
so he'll a be more worthy person. Let's not forget Buffy's solution
to her mental distress over thinking she was trapped in the booby
hatch in a world without real demons. (A thought that would make
anyone depressed and crazy, isn't it?) She decides to kill all
her friends. She may not succeed in that, but she does at least
put a little joy in the world by tying them all up and scaring
them half to death. Isn't that more healthy than keeping your
fears bottled up?
Kudos to ME for keeping these themes alive. Kudos as well to the
true First Evil who has given us a place where we can discuss
these great literary themes without fear of angry mobs.
Observation
on EoD (spoiler, 7.21) -- HonorH, 23:00:43 05/15/03 Thu
Apologies if this has already been brought up and I missed it,
but I realized when I re-watched the ep that the wound Buffy deals
Caleb is low, across his abdomen--the same wound he dealt Shannon
the SiT and that girl the First imitated for him.
That Caleb would wound a woman in that way isn't remarkable. He's
slashing at her womb, the center of life, which must be a fearsome
thing to a misogynist like him. Buffy, of course, knew about Shannon's
wound, so she might have been deliberate in her choice of death
blows. In any case, it seems to me that the writer/director certainly
made a deliberate choice to echo those wounds in Caleb's defeat.
[> Re: Observation on EoD
(spoiler, 7.21) -- grifter, 02:42:09 05/16/03 Fri
Yup, saw it to. I immediatly thought "Entry for Masque´s
"poetic justice" section!". My unspoiled brain
tells me it´s not the last we´ve seen of him though.
[> Re: Observation on EoD
(spoiler, 7.21) -- Cactus Watcher, 06:28:25 05/16/03 Fri
There was another blatant exchange of injuries as well. Buffy
gouged out the eye of the Turok-Han before she killed it. Xander
survived after having his eye on the same side ruined. Caleb killed
Shannon with a slash acros the belly. Buffy does the same to him.
But, from the previews it looks like Caleb will be brought back
by the FE to keep fighting. I haven't kept track, but if I remember
correctly some of the Bringers have been killed by the stabs to
the chest recently just as they were killing potentials early
on.
[> [> 7.22 preview mentioned
above -- anneth, 12:29:53 05/16/03 Fri
[> [> Re: Observation
on EoD (spoiler, 7.21) -- wiscoboy, 16:14:01 05/16/03 Fri
Since she didn't take the logical course to take the time to cut
his head off, of course he will be there for the big finish.
[> They went for Continuity
instead of Justice. Justice would have been a slice about 6"
lower. -- Archilochian, 12:03:38 05/16/03 Fri
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