September 2002 posts


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So what do you think the Scrappy Gang will do? -- Charles Phipps, 16:37:21 09/25/02 Wed

I personally think they won't play much of a part in the new season but mostly be there as sort of a weird comical mirror on Dawn and Buffy's adventures and perhaps they'll all get brutally murdered in some horrofic way to remind Buffy that the Slayer having friends (or anyone having friends on the Hellmouth) may be a bad idea.

They might also push Dawn into heroics and otherwise be like Scrappy :-)
[> I think they'll be Dawn's friends. -- HonorH, 16:45:39 09/25/02 Wed

No, just that.
[> For one thing, motivate a lot of the action this season (spec) -- verdantheart, 06:09:47 09/26/02 Thu

Here's my guess:

I thought it was interesting that they were the three that were isolated by the manifest spirits and they were all the interesting characters identified by the new principal. It certainly was no coincidence that the spirits were targeting Dawn, so I think that there might well have been some reason that they were targeting Kit and Carlos as well. Also, it seems that they were more interested in those three than in Buffy (who was presented with distractions, first in the form of the spirits, then Spike). Go on to the end and note that the thing that seems to be the motivating force here is most interested in power--something that Dawn is literally made of.

'Course, it's early yet, I could be way off on my guess!
[> They will need saving alot.. -- neaux, 12:39:11 09/26/02 Thu

A good reason to introduce new characters is to have someone for the hero to save.

Buffy does save the world alot.. but she also saves the same people over and over and over again..

I think its about time Xander, Willow, Giles, and Dawn quit being the save-ees and focus more on being saviors. c'mon they got 7 years of experience.

let the new kids be stupid and meddlesome.. and get saved
Existentialism vs. Postmodernism in the Season 7 opening (long!) -- Slain, 19:27:44 09/25/02 Wed

Okay, I only got to see the episode, hmm, one hour ago, but I'm already trying to link it into the two things I've been thinking about recently - existentialism and postmodernism. There's no way I'm going to sleep tonight until I've written this down. So...

I'm convinced that last season was The Existential Season. I was the season where the group dynamic and relationships fell apart - where other people weren't able to help others, they were forced to always help themselves. Whereas, in contrast, the show is generally postmodern. Not incompatiable concepts, but it has the key effect that 'dramatic' aspects of the show compete with monsters and demons and ass-kicking. In Season 6, there was generally no postmodern feeling; the show wasn't really about vampires, horror, humour or wit, it was centred around the individuals, and their quests for an authenic existence (cue existentialism).

Picking up from this, and with an expressed intention to get back to the postmodern lightness, 'Lessons' has an interesting job. Willow has guilt, Spike has guilt, Buffy has guilt and Dawn has school; all rather heavy, all things which apparently need lots of dramatic space, and lots of scenes in which the characters come to terms with the unanswered questions of Season 6.

I was deeply impressed by the way the two strands were handled in the episode. On one hand, Willow and Giles' scenes are all about Willow's individual journey, and deeply focussed around this character; perhaps the extreme postmodern reaction would be "Oh, get over it" - that is, postmodernism could favour lightness ever existential pondering. But the scene isn't shot in the dark, interior style of Season 6. It's deliberately open, bright, and a departure from the paradoxical darkness of Season 6 Sunnydale. Equally, it presents a cliched, countrified view of England; this is deliberate, because postmodernism embraces genre and cliche. The postmodern style of the scene lightens the mood.

As a postmodern show, Buffy was always concerned with reconstructing genre features; now it's stepped up a level, and is beginning to reconstruct itself. With the return of high school, Dawn in training and the apparent emergence of the Scrappy Gang (I know Joss will love that term), we see Buffy Year One. Or, rather, we see Buffy postmodernising on it's own ass, so to speak. Genre features are embraced again, with reassuringly familiar zombies and a vampire rising from his grave in time-honoured fashion. In Buffy style, they're reinterpreted, with the polite vampire and teenage zombies. There's nothing particularly existential about the main plot of 'Lessons'.

Spike, however, was always the most obvious existential character; despite being a vampire, he was usually exempt from postmodernism. He's a vampire, but he doesn't conform to any genre features, and he's far from a reinterpreted archetype. His internal struggle is made explicitly so by Buffy's leaving him alone; Buffy returns to the more postmodern world of Dawn and the Scrappies. However, Spike's struggle isn't internalised in the same way. Existentialists hold that no one can help you through your own life; but Spike is beset, and influenced by, various demons (real or imaginary?). Spike's struggle is taken into a more literal world with these manifestations; these demons are themselves postmodern, as they look back, the show recalling and reinterpreting itself.

It seems to me that this episode, and probably the beginning of Season 7, mark a transition between two dominant modes: existentialism to postmodernism. We will see more about the struggles of the character (mostly Willow and Spike, I think), but I think the way that they'll be resolved would be different.

An existentialist would say that the only way Willow could come to terms with her actions would be from herself, not through others or through magic; in Season 6, it was Willow who took herself away from magic; but in Season 7, Giles, the earth and magic itself seem to be what will bring her back to 'being Willow again'. She has an internal struggle, but it's not solely internal any longer. Other people aren't the percieved problem (wrongly so or not), they're the solution.

So, for Spike, I'd argue that it is a combination of other people (Buffy, possibly Scoobies?) and some kind of genre feature (demon-fighting, magic?) which will allow Spike to comes to terms with events in Season 6.
[> Re: Existentialism vs. Postmodernism in the Season 7 opening (long!) -- Xaverri, 20:31:23 09/25/02 Wed

Fabulous analysis, Slain! I enjoyed every letter of it.
[> Is Spike postmodern? -- Indri, 23:32:36 09/25/02 Wed

Thank you for the essay. If I may recap, to ensure that I understand you?

The existentialist mode is characterised by inner struggle. The postmodern mode is characterised by struggle with elements outside the self and by genre play.

(For my own edification at least, perhaps you could point me in the direction of a good definition of postmodernism. I understand the genre play aspect, but had not come across the "outer threat" aspect, if I am understanding you right. Would be much appreciated.)

Spike, however, was always the most obvious existential character; despite being a vampire, he was usually exempt from postmodernism.

I have always thought of Spike as postmodern, at least in terms of genre play and use of metanarration. He was brought in as a cardboard villain for the first half of Season 2 and obeyed at least three major conventions of serial narratives (TV, comics etc). Firstly, he was a villain smart enough to hatch a plan that puts the heroes in genuine peril, but this peril is then lessened through some act of stupidity on his part so that the heroes may more easily save the day ("School Hard,"Lie to Me", "Harsh Light of Day","Yoko" and "Out of My Mind" at least). Secondly, he and Buffy often part after fighting (without pursuit) for little narrative reason except that the recurring villain is required to fight another day. Thirdly, he looked the part and had the attitude. But ME have then gone out of their way to deconstruct this (or has deconstruction got nothing to do with postmodernism?---see, I need help here!). His last-minute bouts of stupidity are fleshed out as due to believable and crippling impulsiveness. The continued and unlikely survival of both Buffy and Spike has been developed into a peculiar rapport and/or one-sided obsession (shipper or nonshipper, whatever). And the whole "Big Bad" look and posturing has been relentlessly lampooned, e.g. in the scene in which he's waiting for his nail varnish to dry.

In terms of metanarration, he sometimes acts as an almost authorial voice (his oft-quoted speeches) or even as the fan voice ("The Annoying One" and his insulting of Glory in "Intervention"). In fact, his introduction in "School Hard" seemed to be a deliberate subversion of what we thought we knew about unsouled vampires from Season One. In contrast to the Master, he is physically mobile (drives a car), has human traits (fondness for Dru, smoking, TV), and modern (the video camera, death of the Anointed One). And since then, he has been one of the focal points for the reimagining of the Buffyverse and its morality.

He's a vampire, but he doesn't conform to any genre features, and he's far from a reinterpreted archetype.

Do you mean he's not a reinterpreted vampire archetype? Because I can think of other archetypes and stereotypes that Spike has been built from, or acquires aspects of. And William, from what we can teel from his brief appearances in "Fool for Love", is a perfect archetype.

Anyway, I suspect that I do actually agree with you but that I'm muddling some terms and definitions. Would appreciate input, especially as this is my first long post. Thanks.
Metanarration, Antimatter, and the Unmirrored Universe Before the Big Bang - Thoughts on *Lessons* -- OnM, 21:17:51 09/25/02 Wed

*******

Buffy: So, whoís got the power, Dawn?

Dawn: Well, Iíve got the stake.

Buffy: The stake is not the power.

*******

Dateline: Thursday, September 19, 2002 Posted: 10:08 AM EDT (1408 GMT)

Physicists brew antimatter to test Big Bang theory (exerpts)

LONDON (Reuters) -- European scientists have developed enough antimatter to try to answer one of the
great questions of Big Bang theory, researchers said. Scientists think the Big Bang that created the cosmos
about 15 billion years ago produced equal amounts of matter and antimatter. But the antimatter, in which
subatomic particles have the opposite electrical charge to matter, disappeared just after the Big Bang.

Now researchers at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva have created
large amounts of antihydrogen -- the partner to hydrogen in antimatter terms -- to test the standard models
of physics and help discover where the antimatter went.

ìThis is a milestone that has opened up new horizons to enable scientists to study symmetry in nature and
explore the fundamental laws of physics which govern the universe,î Professor Michael Charlton, of the
University of Wales who worked with the CERN team, said Wednesday.

Charlton said the breakthrough is timely because it coincides with the centenary of the birth of Paul Dirac,
the British-born scientist who first predicted in 1930 that every particle has an equivalent antiparticle.

( Copyright 2002 Reuters ) - http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/space/09/19/antimatter.reut/

*******

Buffy: Vampires, demons... theyíre nothing compared to whatís coming.

Dawn: I know. I canít believe itís back.

Buffy: Believe me, I thought I was long past it. I guess you never are. Just a few more days till it starts,
and then weíll never know whatís coming next.

*******

Metanarration, much?

Back in the second episode of season five, The Real Me, a sequence of dialog takes place that, if
interpreted with a certain degree of foresight pretty clearly foreshadows what is to happen over the course
of the season. The writers, as it were, tipping their hand just a mite to the more obsessively serious fans in
the audience.

Natuarally, I didnít interpret it as such at the time, but only noticed it at all with the convenience of
hindsight. In addition, to be perfectly fair, the interpretation that suggests the foreshadowing could be held
to some degree of skepticism by a disinterested individual; say a casual viewer of the show who isnít
looking for deeper meanings and who also tends to think that over-analysis is a form of auto-eroticism for
the mind with too much free time on its lobes.

Well, I accept that, being a skeptic about more than a few things myself, but Buffyverse-wise I still stand
by my convictions in this regard. The instance in Real Me wasnít the only one, either. Last year, in
the season-opening episode Bargaining, the scene with Buffy and Dawn up on the tower
foreshadows the remainder of the sixth season in an elegantly microcosmic fashion. Buffy has been cast out
of paradise, she longs to die again and return to that bliss. Live, for me, her sister/ëchildí pleads
with her. And she does, and eventually learns to live for herself as well.

Perhaps Western religious thought has gotten it all wrong all along. Perhaps it wasnít the first woman and
first man that were cast out of paradise, perhaps it was God. Or maybe God just left it one day, and never
looked back. Or perhaps s/he did look back with great longing, but also bound with the thought that as
long as Evil exists in the universe, it isnít the design of the virtuous just to small-mindedly retreat into bliss.

The first episode of the 7th season of Buffy has presented us with a vision of a heroine who has
faced the darkness and existential despair of the human world, and still turned her back to a heavenly
reward in order to help make the darkness lighter where mortality rules. The person we see depicted in
Lessons is a new Buffy, still young, but carrying a new confidence and maturity. Better yet, her
sister/daughter is newly confident and powerful along with her, and itís a delight to behold.

If the general quality of any given Buffy ep can be approximated by the number of times you eagerly
re-watch the tape before you even begin to suss out the subtexts, this new beginning is off to a great start.
My initial impression on first viewing would place the show at a solid 8 on a 0-10 scale, based on no more
than the superb cinematography and editing, the clean, fast-moving pace, and of course Whedonís
marvelous script. Iím currently up to four repeat viewings, the rating is up to a solid 9, and Iím discovering
new layers and linkages each and every time, all marvelously clever. In addition, there is more overall
metanarration than I can recall the use of in any previous BtVS program, but at the same time itís so
seamlessly blended you are rarely consciously aware of it until that ëHuh, wait a minute now...í
neuron fires in your forebrain.

Some of the professional media critics who were able to preview Lessons took note that unlike last
year, the show offers a simple-enough-appearing surface level that someone mostly unfamiliar with the
program could still follow along without getting hopelessly lost in a sea of context-deprivation. I not only
agree with this, but Iíll go a step further. If you hook a friend or aquaintance on the show this year, this
episode is going to blow their minds when they catch the first rerun of it, and begin to realize how skillfully
they were tricked into thinking it was only about a teenage girlís first year in high school, and how those
spooky creatures were roaming around in the basement.

Joss has done something quite unique with this episode, something perfectly in keeping with his stated goal
of giving the showís fans ëwhat they needí. The twist is that, after years of torturing us with trying to
decipher the hidden clues needed to prognosticate the ultimate conclusion of the season, he has quite
suprisingly given us the answer to what is usually a carefully guarded secret until a goodly ways into the
year. This in itself seems like a kind of heresy-- Joss hates spoilers, has said so publicly many times. He
likes to keep the viewing audience on the edge of the couch, ëleaning forward and thinkingí as we heard
James Marsters so succinctly put it.

But I donít think this is a heresy, I think it is a reward. We have followed his epic adventure for six years
now, hanging over every subtle nuance, absorbing all of the detailed shades of meaning, following the clues
into what seems like one blind alley after another. We follow our heroine through heaven and high water,
and end up just as confused as ever. And then itís suddenly clear. Not the ultimate ending, of course, but at
least what the final battle will be. Of course, I could be wrong. But I will say in my defense that while he
may have ëspelled it outí, the word still wonít scan except for the seriesí most hard-core fans. So
whatís the scoop?

The First Evil has returned. Conveniently appearing to bring Angel out of the hell dimension he was
banished to at the end of season two, The First Evil vanishes again when challenged by Buffy, who
subverts itís plans to turn Angel evil or, failing that, destroy him. It seemed like such an easy victory
against an entity that that ëthe darkness itself fearsí, and I think that was the point. The viewers were
intended to eventually forget about the First Evil, and the ease of itís ëdismissalí was likely a red herring.
Joss has stated that the ëthemeí for Buffy, Year 7 will be ëBack to the Beginningí. And so it
is. But it isnít about revisiting Buffy, Year 1-- oh no, dear friends, itís about revisiting the beginning
of space and time, the void from which all matter and energy, all good and all evil sprang forth. It about
where the First Evil came from, and-- I strongly suspect-- itís metaphysical ëanti-matterí counterpart.

Itís about The Key. This is all completely conjecture of course, and for certain itís pretty risky conjecture
since we are all of one episode out from of a grand total of 22. But Iíll credit the argument its source in
just a little while, for now I want to have you consider the following possibility:

The monks who formed the human Dawn out of the natural energy of the Key, and then sent her to The
Slayer for safekeeping were more than just desperate to keep the Key from the clutches of the Beast. They
were attempting to achieve a higher purpose, because somehow they knew-- or at least strongly
suspected-- what the Key really was.

The Key, I am thinking, isnít just ëa green glowy energyí, or simply a means to open dimensional
doorways. The Key is the elemental substance of creation, the source from which the universe and
the beings that eventually inhabit it came into being. The Key isnít ëGodí, it is what gods were born out
of. The Key is not merely ancient, The Key is the beginning of time itself. The Key is the ultimate
progenitor of life, be it Evil or Good.

To the hellgoddess Glory, the Key was a means to open the barriers between all the dimensions and allow
them to bleed together. Glory sought chaos, death and suffering, so the tragic results of mass-opening the
dimensional barriers did not concern her, but perhaps she didnít know that her actions might have lead to
the ultimate dissolution of the entire universe. That didnít seem to be her intent-- she just wanted to
return to her own hell-dimension and re-assert her power there.

So, my conjecture is that this is the goal to which the First Evil aspires. It would seem to be a logical
progression-- Buffy has saved ëthe worldí several times over, and in the case of her battle with Glory, she
may have saved many of the other worlds within the multitudes of other dimensions that could have been
folded into one. But the entire universe? That might take a level of power beyond what even a hellgod
could wield, but perhaps the First Evil could arrange for this to occur. The idea would make sense from
Evilís perspective-- it feels that it it is losing to the powers of Light, so itís time to create a new ëbig bangí
and start over again, molding the new universe in its image alone.

Now, for some observations to back up this admittedly wild idea:

1) The opening scene in Istanbul, the meaning of which is not answered in this episode. Who were the
hooded figures? Why were they chasing the woman, and why (presumably) did they kill her? She seemed
to carry some aura of power or strength about her. Was she a potential Slayer? Is one of the seasonís
major subplots a concerted effort by The First Evil to kill off all the potential future Slayers?

2) The opening scene in Sunnydale, where Buffy lectures Dawn about ëpowerí, and who has it.

3) The ëresentful deadí, who mock Buffy for not preventing their deaths, and then attack Dawn and two
other students who, it seems, may have a destiny of some kind together-- perhaps a new, younger Scooby
gang?

4) Anya and Halfrek in the coffee shop, where Hallie remarks that something ëhas everyoneís (meaning
demons etc.) tail in a twitchí and ëit doesnít look like a good time to be a good guyí.

5) The manifestations that appear to the (mad?) Spike, and the words that they say to him. This is a truly
scary scene, especially when the final figure appears before his eyes, and that figure is Buffy. Here it is:

Spike: I had a speech. I learmed it all. Oh God, she wonít understand, she wonít understand.

(Manifestation of ) Warren: Of course she wonít understand, Sparky. Iím beyond her understanding.
Sheís a girl, sugar and spice and everything... useless unless youíre baking. Iím more than that. More than
flesh

(morph to Glory)... more than blood. I am-- you know what, I honestly donít think thereís a human
word fabulous enough for me! Oh, my name will be on everyoneís lips, assuming their lips havenít been
torn off. But not just yet. But thatís all right, though.

(morph to Adam) I can be patient. Everything is well within parameters. Sheís exactly where I want her
to be. So are you, Number 17. Youíre right where you belong.

(morph to Mayor Wilkins) So whatíd you think, you get your soul back, and everythingíd be
Jim-dandy? Soulís slipperyír than a greased weasel, whyíd you think I sold mine? (laughs) Well, you
probably thought youíd be your own man, and I respect that. But you

(morph to Drusilla) never will. Youíll always be mine-- youíll always be in the dark with me. Singing
our little songs. You like our little songs, donít you? Youíve always liked them, right from the beginning.
And thatís where weíre going.

(morph to The Master) Right back to the beginning. Not the Bang... not the Word... the true
Beginning. The next few months are going to be quite a ride. And I think weíre all going to learn
something about ourselves in the process. Youíll learn youíre a pathetic schmuck... if it hasnít sunk in
already. Look at you... trying to do whatís right. Just like her. You still donít get it. Itís not about right.
Itís not about wrong.

(morph to Buffy) Itís about power.

Itís been a long time since I felt a chill when watching a horror/suspense movie, but the calm, casual look
on ManifestBuffy when she speaks those three little words really sent one through my body, not the least
of which was from the accompanying surprise when she appeared so unexpectedly in this vision. It became
obvious after the transitions from Warren to Glory to Adam and so on that we were ëregressingí back
through the past seasons of the show, hearing thoughts spoken by/through them, the ëbig badsí of the
repective eras of Buffyís time as Slayer.

But then the Master disappears, and Buffy appears, and speaks of ëpowerí. What other entity
besides the First Evil would use this modus operandi? Itís exactly like the way it tortured Angel by
appearing in the visage of Jenny and others that he killed when he was Angelus. It also excoriated him for
not ëbeing what he wasí, just as the manifestations excoriated Spike for his supposed ëfailureí.

Ya know, this could be one heck of a season! Joss has spoken of a season-ending battle like no other
before it, and the man does not lie. (Except when he wants to, of course. So not going there! ;-)

Of course, I could be-- and likely am-- completely wrong. As such, letís leave the grand visions that Iím so
inordinately fond of alone for a while, and get back to some of the more ëmundaneí, but still delightful
aspects of this seasonís wonderful opening act.

As I mentioned before, the high quality of the cinematography and film editing work really stood out to
me, especially the latter. Scene transitions were handled with a level of skill and artistry that was
exceptional even by normal BtVS standards. Particularly effective were the ëmirroringí shots, reinforced by
the dialog. This is why the matter/antimatter idea popped into my head around the third re-viewing of the
show. First, the story opens with a scene of evil triumphing halfway around the world from Sunnydale,
then we see the forces of good winning a battle that ëbalancesí it as Dawn and Buffy dust a vamp. This is
followed by the theoretically ëneutralí act of the rebuilding of Sunnydale high, but as we hear from Buffyís
comment just before, it is an occurrance with bad portents at minimum.

We see a scene with Willow and Giles in England. I now pause briefly to give myself just a little pat on the
back in that I was correct in predicting that the coven wouldnít remove Willowís powers, and that instead
they want her to learn how to control them. I liked Gilesí line that ëthis isnít a hobby or an addiction
anymore, itís part of what you areí. I have always thought that theWillow ëmagic addictioní arc was not an
end in itself, it was a transition period through which Willow had to pass, just Buffy has had to face and
come to rise above and control her own weaknesses. As long as Buffy intends to be the Slayer, her
responsibilities require her to mature and learn control, to prove she is stronger than her. Willow needs to
do the same, she has too much power to do anything else. I expect it will take her quite a bit of time to
learn to live with what she has done, and I liked that the wardrobe and makeup departments did a fine job
of assisting Hannigan in portraying the fear and weariness shadings she needed to bring out.

There was the nice transition between Giles telling Willow that ëwe always are who we are, no matter how
we appear to have changedí, and then a cut to Xander, dressed neatly in a suit, getting out of his car in
front of the Summersí house.

At the center of the ëbalanceí is Buffy and Dawn, who appear to have used the summer months to really
closely bond with one another. The interplay in the fight scene the night before clearly shows that Buffy is
living up to her promise to ëchange thingsí, and to treat Dawn like a responsible adult instead of a whiny,
annoying child. Also as I predicted (yay me again! OK, sorry...) Dawnís previous erratic behavior did
indeed appear to be a reflection of Buffyís inner turmoil and depression. Now that Buffy is ësolidí and
ënormal againí, so is Dawn, who is treating her sister with admiration and respect, but not in a saccharine
way-- there is a give and take quality that both women appear to expect and accept. I also loved the big
grin and the eager look when Buffy presents Dawn with her ëback-to-schoolí gift, which Dawn quickly
guesses is ìa weapon?î Iím telling you, that was a ëFaith momentí if ever there was one. I liked the
diamond pattern with lights and darks and shadings that Dawn was wearing (as opposed to Buffy in
white/light colored clothing), which also goes hand-in-hand with my Dawn = Buffy + Faith theorem.

I liked the little real-world touch that many parents would like to send their children to a better school, but
simply canít afford it, and have to make do the best they can by staying closely involved with the school
and itís staff. I thought it was classy of Dawn to allow Buffy to ëwalk herí to the school, waiting until
bacically the last possible moment to tell Buffy ìíServing Humanityí is a cookbook, I love you, now go
away!î

Then there is the principal, Robin Wood. Robin Wood? Robin Wood/Robin Hood, take from the
ërichí (evil) and give to the poor (good)? Wood = stake = danger to vampires? Wood = tree = tree pretty,
meaning heís a good guy? Interesting name choice, and nice to see another African-American in the
Buffyverse. He does seem to be a potential good guy, and as the show progressed, I couldnít help but
wonder just how much he does know about the Summersí women, especially Buffy.

Lessons carries through in a more solid fashion with a theme that has appeared before, but in a far
more erratic manner, namely the ways in which Dawnís personality differs from Buffyís. One amusing
difference is that Dawn doesnít ësuck at undercoverí-- witness the incident where Buffy bursts into Dawnís
first class and then makes up the intensely feeble excuse about ëfear of you smokingí. Later, when the dead
student manifests himself and stabs Dawn in the eye, despite experiencing something that would totally
freak any normal individual and render them a babbling idiot, Dawn takes only seconds to make up what
was actually a really clever-- and believable-- excuse, with the ëa bee flew into my eye, and Iím really
allergicí. She then realizes that itís time to get out of the class and do some ëresearchí, as well as collect
her thoughts and focus.

The cell phone as the ëweaponí, or more accurately the ëweaponí at the other end of the call, was a
great touch, as well as giving a little nod to the X-Files, where Mulder and Scully were inseperably linked
by the device for the course of numerous adventures.

Dawn and Kitt fall into the basement, and we see Giles and WIllow in England, Willow showing great fear
after having seen ëthe Earthís teethí, a clever use of dark visionary terminology that mirrors her ëall
connectedness, Gaia, moleculesí speech earlier. The beautiful camera work as the lens pulls back through
the doorway, then recedes into the hall outlining the door frame and the dark/light areas inside and out.
This is followed by a jump cut to the hole in the lavatory floor, looking up at it from the basement.

(A note here-- the timing of this scene associates Willowís ëvisioní with what is happening with Dawn and
Kitt, but this could be a misdirect-- perhaps the trigger for the vision is the killing of the woman in Istanbul,
or something related to that. We may be assuming synchronous events, when they may not be. Have to
wait and see, natch).

We get Dawnís other new acquaintance, Carlos, saying that he ëran like a girlí (when he saw the dead
janitor) shortly after which he sees two of them not only not run, but fight like they know a thing or two
about it. Again, Dawn thinks fast and logically, fashioning a weapon out of Kittís purse and a couple of
brick Carlos found.

There was also the visual metaphor-- not entirely sure of the meaning at this point, but for some odd
reason I feel it wasnít accidental-- when Dawn states to Kitt and Carlos that there must be ëa stairway
somewhereí and then we immediately cut to the scene where Buffy is talking to Principal Wood, and as the
camera does a 360 we see a stairway in the background. Letís see-- Dawn is in the basement, and mentions
that ëthe reception is frickiní greatí considering their being down there. Buffy and Robin Wood are on the
ground floor, and there is a stairway--going up-- in the background. The camera is moving around them.
Central figures, and theyíre in the middle? The middle of what? And whatís above them, up the stairs?

So Dawn calls Buffy, and Buffy again makes a very ludicrous excuse about her ëdogwalkerí and the dogs
being dead. Principle Wood reacts to this with shock, again dropping a little hint he may be one of the
good guys. Since itís a fairly well-known literary wordplay to use dog = god, does this further foreshadow
something the First Evil is behind, i.e. ìitís the guardian of the gods (ëdogwalkerí) -- the gods (ëdogsí) are
dead?

Buffy and Spike, ah yes. I was glad to actually see exactly what I had hoped to see when they first
met up again-- Buffy reacts in a fashion that indicates that she cares about Spike, but isnít in love with him.
Sorry, B/S shippers. Iím making a serious prognostication that after a slow evolution over the course of
the season, that these two might work together, but I donít see any more Spuffy. I had great
admiration for the way Joss wrote the scene, and the way SMG and Marsters played it-- Buffy can now
shift effortlessly between SlayerBuffy and Non-SlayerBuffy, and back again, depending on the needs of the
moment. The dissociative qualities she was demonstrating in the past few years, especially last year, are
nowhere in evidence. It struck just exactly the right note, I felt, when Buffy shifts out of Slayer mode to
look at him with some compassion for his obviously disturbed state, but then realizes that this isnít the time
to pursue what has happened to him, and shifts quickly back to SlayerBuffy to continue her rescue of
Dawn and her companions. The madness Spike is apparently suffering is an interesting dramatic choice,
and was even more compelling in the final scene when one of the manifestations was Drusilla.

So, Buffy saves the day, but with a lot of genuine help from her sister. We donít know whatís up with
Spike, or what heís been through over the summer, but finding out will certainly make for some good
storytelling in upcoming episodes. Iím wondering, naturally, which ep will be the one where Buffy finds
out heís ensouled? And will he tell her, or will she discover it through some other party or circumstance? If
I had to guess (well, which I do, Iím afraid) I would say that it will be in the end scene of the third ep,
since that would mirror when Spike found out that Buffy was pulled out of heaven in season 6, ep 3. Then,
perhaps the rest of the Scoobies wonít find out until the 6th episode, which would balance with Once
More with Feeling and Buffy revealing her secret to the Scoobs.

Finally, some wonderfully funny lines (besides the hilarious ëfrickiní reception is greatíone):

Vampire: ìI think Iím stuck-- my footís caught on a root or something.î

Dawn: ìThat martial-arts thing they all seem to pick up on.î (Vote for best meta-narration, too! ;-)

Buffy: (after Dawn executes a really slick maneuver while fighting the vamp) 1*You could do that...î

Xander: ìHow do you ëmakeí cereal?î

Halfrek: ìHis wife wanted you to turn him into a frog. You made him into a Frenchman.î


And then some choice words to the wise, when one is confronted by really pissed-off dead people:

Buffy: ìIf at first you donít succeed-- cheat!î


Now thatís my girl, and her little god too!

;-)


*******

Not meta-narration, may or may not have an anti-matter counterpart, but certainly oh so true for my
particular universe:

OnM: Next Tuesday canít get here fast enough

*******
[> *** Spoilers *** for Season 7, Ep 1, of course - all else within is pure speculation. -- OnM, 21:26:29 09/25/02 Wed

[> Thank You OnM;-) -- Drizzt, 22:05:39 09/25/02 Wed

Have not seen ep 7.1...UPN stopped broadcasting here, but you have given me an appatiser to chew on and wonder untill I do see it;)

Plus, Kuddos for cool ep summary and the bonus theorising...

;)
[> Exceedingly cool, OnM! -- HonorH, 22:24:04 09/25/02 Wed

I like your take on the Key. I really do hope that Dawn's Key-ness will be readdressed this season, or one has to wonder just what all those monks died for. I want to see the Key be used for good.

I also like your comments on the Buffy/Dawn relationship. They've really settled into themselves and each other, and I love the comfort level they exude. I love the comfort level Buffy exudes when ordering Dawn to get some breakfast. Little moments like that are what make a relationship real onscreen.

I'm with you, too--I think Wood is good. If nothing else, it'd be a nice change to see a principal who's really on Buffy's side. Totally with you on the Spike matter as well.

Aw, heck. I just totally agree with you. Want a sycophant?
[> Re: Metanarration, Antimatter, and the Unmirrored Universe Before the Big Bang ("lessons" spoilers) -- Rob, 23:20:03 09/25/02 Wed

We are on exactly the same page, OnM, as usual. First off, the essay was brilliant. I so can't wait to read your next! Or rather, I can't wait for the next ep to air and then read your next.

I completely agree with you, and I hope you're right. Perhaps if this is the First Evil and this huge battle thing is gonna happen, we'll finally get the answers we've been waiting for, not just about the First Evil, but about the origins of the Slayer, the Watcher's Council, the Key, the whole shebang...I think your assumptions are very likely. That's very Joss to have a villain like that appear in one episode of the third season, never mention it again, have everyone think the matter has been completely forgotten...then four years later go back to it.

While watching "Lessons" the second time around, I had much the same reaction you did. For starters, I can tell how much I love the episode by the fact that the instant it was over, I rewound the tape and watched it all over again. I haven't done that since the night OMWF aired. I adored all of the sixth season, and watched every episode 2 or 3 times again in the course of the week after it aired, but the need to watch it immediately again wasn't there until now.

I even actually watched it a third time two hours later, and still, no less fresh, funny, or brilliant than the first time. In fact, it was even more so. While I didn't notice the staircase in the revolving around Principal Wood and Buffy scene, I did notice some of the other great transitions. That's actually one of the first things I thought of. From the skillful cutting from Buffy investigating to Dawn being in class, to the cut from Willow and Giles to Xander lookin' all spiffy...wow! And more on camera work, I especially loved the zoom-out on Willow and Giles that pulled all the way back into the house. Beautifully shot!

Oh, and, although I didn't realize that it was the First Evil on any of my viewings, basically b/c I just wasn't thinking like that, I did about an hour later. I was lying in bed at about three in the morning and couldn't get the episode out of my head. I was starting to drift off to sleep, and suddenly out of nowhere, I muttered to myself, "It's the First Evil." And then it became so clear.

Then I began to second-guess myself. Would Joss reveal the villain that early? Isn't that too easy? So I posted farther down on this page that maybe it was the First Evil, but it probably wasn't. But you, my friend, have convinced me to go with my first impression. Now, I obviously don't know for sure whether all of your spec is accurate, but I sure hope it is, or at least close to how you envision it. Because if it works out the way you're thinking, this could become the best season of all. In fact, if SMG doesn't renew her contract for sure, I hope this will be the last season. What a way to go out...the entire story would be brought full-circle. Questions from early on would finally be answered, etc. Although I reserve the right to cry and scream that I didn't mean it if this does turn out to be the last year. I mean it!

I know I'm probably jumping the gun here, but I just love your ideas about this so much.

Some other comments:

I'm glad that Buffy has finally entered the next stage of the hero's journey. As Campbell says, after the hero's death, he or she will usually be brought back to life, and sometimes against his or her will. Check.

That sometimes it will take the hero a while to reintegrate back into the world. Check.

That, once that process has ended, the hero with new clarity will inspire others and help change the world. And this is where Buffy is now. Inspiring others, and, furthermore, not just protecting them as she once did. She's now showing them how to protect themselves. Kind of like the old adage about teaching the man how to fish so he can eat for the rest of his life, or something like that. You know I can't stand to talk about fish for too long. ;o)

Buffy not only began helping Dawn be able to defend herself, but she also did the same for these two friends. She taught Dawn defense in battle, and the two friends defense in the other great battle, high school.

This season seems like it will be brilliant. Before, Buffy was the high school student, growing up. Now she is a seasoned, mature hero, returning to the land in which she grew up to pass on her knowledge of the world, and her constant protection.

Just as Socrates discovered that the wisest are those who are wise enough to know that they know nothing, Buffy teaches Dawn at the start of the episode that she who realizes that she isn't as powerful as the enemy, ultimately is the one with the real power. And Dawn, a very quick study, does exactly what Buffy says--uses the vamp's own superior strength against him. And later passes on Buffy's information to her own newfound friends. The first time I saw the episode and heard Dawn tell her friends, "Lesson 1) It's always real," I had completely forgotten that Buffy had told her that same thing earlier in the episode. Upon rewatching the show, I said "A-ha!"

Since I kind of jumped around here, I'm not sure how to wrap up except to say that "Lessons" psyched me like nobody's business for this year, and more so than perhaps any other season premiere of "Buffy"'s (except maybe for that "Whoa!" moment at the very end of "Buffy vs. Dracula"...I was unspoiled at the time--and I'm glad to say that I am again now--and that threw me off guard, to say the very least.)...

...and your essay, if it's possible, has psyched me even more! So thank you for a fasinating read. So many things to think about now!

Rob
[> Re: Metanarration, Antimatter, and the Universe -(spoiler speculation HERE) -- Cactus Watcher, 06:45:19 09/26/02 Thu

Considering how the First Evil was eventually foiled the last time it was in Sunnydale, you have to wonder what else might show up. It seemed to me the first time, the First Evil was something of a braggart and had precious little power (there's that word again) of its own, except to work upon the deep guilt of others. If this is the First Evil again, I would expect it to be using newly resouled Spike to get the power it wants.

"Large" amount of antimatter? Gulp! That concentrated anywhere is like keeping a large amount of warm nitroglycerin in your abode. Hope, that word 'large' is meant relatively!
[> [> Re: Metanarration, Antimatter, and the Universe -(spoiler speculation HERE) -- ponygirl, 08:24:10 09/26/02 Thu

Got to wonder if the First Evil has some sort of vampire with a soul detector. The first time around its agenda seemed to be to get Angel to come over to the dark side, and failing that get him to kill himself, now it's tormenting Spike. Of course I have a perfect track record of being wrong about predicting the season, so the fact that my first thought after viewing Lessons was "First Evil" doesn't bode well for everyone's theories.

I loved the line about going back before the Word. I know the biblical reference but it also reminded me of Buffy's dream in Hush, where Maggie talks about the moment before we articulate something, that moment when an idea connects to everything, that moment of inspiration. Of creation.

Other lines that struck me, besides the ones about power, Willow's "everything's connected" - a hint to the viewer?, and Buffy's constant urging for Dawn to find/use a weapon. Reminded me that the Slayer is supposed to be a weapon of the Council.

Great essay OnM!
[> [> MAJOR Spec (mostly unspoiled--only one small casting spoiler at very end) -- J, 10:11:04 09/26/02 Thu

Everything following is pure spec - I have no spoiler knowledge to speak of, with the sole exception of the casting spoiler marked off at the very end of the post.


If this is the First Evil again, I would expect it to be using newly resouled Spike to get the power it wants.

And what about cave-boy? I have to think that what we're referring to as the First Evil and the cave demon are related, if not one and the same.

In fact, I have a (not well-developed) theory that Spike's journey (chip-to-buffylove-to-soulquesting) may have been motivated and directed by the First Evil all along.

Here it is: for some unexplained reason, the First Evil wanted Angel to drink Buffy in 'Amends,' and was slightly disappointed when Angel chose to kill himself instead. Perhaps there is some sort of as-yet-unrevealed prophecy regarding a souled vampire drinking the blood of a slayer, and when the PTB's saved Angel, the First Evil had to go looking for a new candidated to fulfill the prophecy. Hence Spike. Since the First Evil presumably has the power to influence other, lesser evils, we get chipped Spike, then eventually Buffylove Spike, then finally crazy souled Spike, driven by his insanity to drink Buffy's blood.

I know this doesn't quite fit with the bit in "Graduation Day, Pt. 2" where Angel drinks from Buffy to counter the effects of the poison, but I suspect that the writers will find a clever way around that. Assuming, of course, that I'm right -- a big assumption of course.

- J

--SPOILER--


I suspect that this may also have something to do with Faith's reappearance on both Angel and Buffy this season--perhaps Faith, rather than Buffy, is the one who gets drunk.
[> [> [> A small point - but Buffy has been drunk - thrice -- Sergio, 11:57:23 09/26/02 Thu

Angel nearly drained Buffy in Graduation Day II. She has also been drunk by the Master and tasted by Dracula. Don't know what that does to your theory but there has to be more than draining a slayer (and remember the power the Master felt at drinking Buffy, as much as the many souls he hoped for in the harvest).
[> [> [> [> *Snerk!* I thought you were gonna -- HonorH, 12:03:51 09/26/02 Thu

point out all the times Buffy's gotten sloshed. I was thinking, "Let's see--'Beer Bad', 'Life Serial', and what's the third one?"
[> [> [> [> [> ROLFMAO! Me, too! I'm particuarly fond of the "Life Serial" incident myself. -- Rob, 12:11:17 09/26/02 Thu

...and that adorable little "yuck" noise she made for every swig of vodka she took. :o)

Rob
[> [> [> [> [> When Buffy Got Drunk -- Finn Mac Cool, 13:48:32 09/26/02 Thu

I'm not sure if "Reptile Boy" counts or not. Buffy did drink alocohal and pass out from it, but it was undeniably drugged, so it's hard to say if that counts as getting drunk.
[> [> [> [> Re: A small point - but Buffy has been drunk - thrice -- J, 12:58:42 09/26/02 Thu

I mentioned "Gradutation Day" in my post, and while I was aware of the other two, I don't think they matter--neither the Master nor Dracula had a soul. My "theory" (I hesitate to even call it that) has to do with a souled vamp drinking the blood of a slayer.

- J
[> Stevie Smith's "Our Bog is Dood" -- Scroll, 08:02:48 09/26/02 Thu

I don't know whether this has anything to do with "Lessons" besides the wordplay of Dog = God, but I remember analysing this poem in British Lit and wanted to share.

Our Bog is Dood
by Stevie Smith (1950)

Our Bog is dood, our Bog is dood,
They lisped in accents mild,
But when I asked them to explain
They grew a little wild.
How do you know your Bog is dood
My darling little child?
We know because we wish it so
That is enough, they cried,
And straight within each infant eye
Stood up the flame of pride,
And if you do not think it so
You shall be crucified.
Then tell me, darling little ones,
What's dood, suppose Bog is?
Just what we think, the answer came,
Just what we think it is.
They bowed their heads. Our Bog is ours
And we are wholly his.
But when they raised them up again
They had forgotten me
Each one upon each other glared
In pride and misery
For what was dood, and what their Bog
They never could agree.
Oh sweet it was to leave them then,
And sweeter not to see,
And sweetest of all to walk alone
Beside the encroaching sea,
The sea that soon should drown them all,
That never yet drowned me.

Most people interpret "Bog" as God or Dog and "Dood" as either Good or Dead. And since we're talking about the First Evil, it only makes sense that we talk about God, or the Jossian version, aka the Powers That Be. While the PTB aren't terribly active on Buffy (or else they're incredibly subtle) the way they are on Angel, it's easy for us to dismiss them. But they made it snow in southern California during a heat wave, so I'm think they have some power.

How will they choose to interpret this power? Are they truly on the side of Good? Are they the source of the Slayer? the Key? Are they the "matter" to the First Evil's "antimatter"? How are they connected to Willow's root system?

Smith's poem seems to indicate that the wiser person (the narrator) is someone who doesn't bow to institutionalised religion but instead gains strength by standing alone, who thinks for herself and questions the establishment. Will the coming Big Bad be like the encroaching sea? Buffy isn't easily drowned, me thinks, and she's never been one for towing the line. I don't really know if Joss had this poem in mind with the "3 dead dogs" tragedy, but you never know with Joss...

Scroll
[> [> About dogs...(Spoiler from next week's promo only) -- Rob, 08:45:02 09/26/02 Thu

I wonder if this god/dog thing really is intentional, seeing that it seems, in the season premiere that someone's dog gets swallowed up by some hell beasty. A reference to "X-Files" when Scully's dog, also on one of those retractable leashes, was eaten by that monster...or another reference to the possible death of gods? Hmmmmm.....

Matters are very rarely coincidental on "Buffy," and especially seeing that Buffy lies about a dog dying, and then the very next episode, this seems to happen...Wow, my brain's going in all sorts of twirly directions right now!

Btw, thank you for posting the poem. I really enjoyed it.

Rob
[> [> [> We don't get the promos (speculation) -- Scroll, 09:28:49 09/26/02 Thu

Unfortunately, we don't get the promos here in Canada. But I am counting down the days until next Tuesday.

Isn't there a three-headed dog guarding the way to Hades in Greek mythology? Is that hell-dog going to die? That way the path would be unguarded, and nasty things could come and go as they pleased. Opening the Hellmouth?

Btw, thank you for posting the poem. I really enjoyed it.

You're welcome. :) Smith was one of the poets I actually enjoyed studying! She makes a lot of allusions, is a bit absurd and pretty irreverent in her tone. Kinda Joss-like, perhaps?
[> [> [> [> Buffy.com to see the promo for next week -- neaux, 11:06:09 09/26/02 Thu

you can always see the promos for the next week at buffy.com

Yes you do need Real player which sucks but the Real One player for Macintosh os X isnt horrible.
[> [> She's going to be a fireman when the floods roll back. -- Arethusa, 08:50:55 09/26/02 Thu

WARNING: rambling ahead!

I see the PTB as agents for equilibrium, keeping the balance between good and evil. There is no free will without both good and evil, so the PTB make the tiny nudge or honkin' big snowfall as needed, instead of eliminating evil. The PTB merely try to maintain a little order in the face of evil's agent, chaos. And chaos's agent is power-its use, misuse and possibilities for corruption. The First Evil's power was (so far) only the power of suggestion. It couldn't hurt Angel, but it could make him hurt others or himself. "Lesson"'s evil was able to manifest zombie-like creatures, so I'm not sure if the First Evil has returned or not-maybe it learned a few new tricks. It's been around long enough to have quite an arsenal.
I can see the First Evil going after Dawn's power-that might be why it is trying to use Spike; to get to Dawn. The Key was/will be raw, unshaped power. And there are Apocalyptic battles ahead, which by definition will be a vast (or even final) battle between good and evil. Since this is the last year for Buffy but not Angel, the end of the year will probably not be a matter/antimatter fight, but still a major power struggle, perhaps for the power lying dormant in the Key.
[> [> [> And a quote: -- Arethusa, 09:25:06 09/26/02 Thu

From Buffy to Dawn in Grave: "

BUFFY

Things have sucked lately, but it's
all gonna change - and I want to be
there when it does. I want to see my
friends happy again.
(more emotional)
And I want to see you grow up. The
woman you're going to become...
Because she's going to be beautiful.
Dawn takes this in. Moved.


BUFFY (cont'd)
And she's going to be powerful.


Quote by psyche; my emphesis on "powerful."
[> [> [> The PTB (spoilers for Lessons) -- Scroll, 10:01:45 09/26/02 Thu

I'm not sure that the zombie/ghost things were conjured up by the First Evil (if that's who it was). Xander broke the talisman and the zombie-ghosts disappeared but we still saw the Big Bads haunting Spike, so clearly they don't have the same source.

You're right that the First Evil couldn't really hurt Angel. It could only manipulate his mind, torture him psychologically, the way the Big Bads are haunting Spike now. But if the purpose of the First Evil is to nudge borderline good guys over the edge into full-out evil, then shouldn't the PTB be considered their opposites? I do agree that the PTB are balancing forces, but I see it more like the Evil is so overwhelming, that all the PTB can do is fight back hard enough that Evil doesn't totally overwhelm the world. In that vein, I see the PTB as recruiting vampires with souls, good demons like Whistler, Doyle, Skip and Cordelia (and Anya?). Maybe the PTB are barely keeping the balance as we speak, which is why the rising evil is going to be so devastating. Of course this is all speculation on my part. :)
[> [> [> [> Same here. -- Arethusa, 10:29:21 09/26/02 Thu

All speculation. It's possible that the First Whatever conjured the zombies and had one of them make the tailsman, but of course I don't know for sure. The tailsman could only control the zombies, not the FE-if they were zombies, if it was the FE-too many unknowns to say. And yes, TPTB would be opposites to evil. But are TPTB good? Or are they merely trying to maintain balance?
[> [> [> [> [> Or...(more spoilery spec re: Lessons) -- Rob, 11:15:22 09/26/02 Thu

The First Evil could have compelled a human or demon in the physical world to create the talisman.

Perhaps that being is Spike?

Rob
[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Or...(more spoilery spec re: Lessons) -- VLS, 14:51:26 09/26/02 Thu

Where is Ethen Rain ?
[> [> [> [> [> Re: Same here. -- Miss Edith, 16:05:36 09/26/02 Thu

Didn't Whistler tell Angel in Becoming part 2 that his side wasn't necesserily about doing good? It's been a while since I've watched that episode so I may have got it wrong but I'm pretty sure I remember Whistler talking about how he was there to maintain balance, and it wasn't about good or evil. And the PTB on ATS have made some pretty questionable decisions recently perhaps indicating that they are not necessarily the good guys?
[> [> [> [> [> [> Yes -- Arethusa, 16:57:59 09/26/02 Thu

The relevant quote:

Buffy: (exhales) You don't have anything useful to tell me, do you?
What are you, just some immortal demon sent down to even the score
between good and evil?

Whistler: (impressed) Wow. Good guess. (grins)

Buffy: (steps up to him) Well, why don't you try getting off your
immortal ass and fighting evil once in a while? 'Cause I'm sick and
tired of doing it myself.


Although not so sure about the PTB on Angel-for some reason, I think their mistakes are more ones of neglect, rather than evil.

quote by psyche
[> [> [> Re: She's going to be a fireman when the floods roll back. -- pr10n, 11:30:37 09/26/02 Thu

I love that line.

It's my single favorite Buffy quote, IMHO the most poetic, the most mysterious and intriguing line of all.

Internal contrast, personal prophecy, defiance in the face of doom, elemental summons, and more: When that long note resolves at the end of the Buffy Symphony, then we're gonna see something!
[> [> [> [> Re: She's going to be a fireman when the floods roll back. -- alcibiades, 11:20:05 09/27/02 Fri

I touch the fire and it freezes me.

Fire bad, tree pretty.

PRIMITIVE to Buffy:

You are full of love. You love with all
of your soul. It's brighter than the fire, blinding. That's why you pull away from it.

BUFFY
I'm full of love? I'm not losing it?

PRIMITIVE
Only if you reject it. Love is pain and the Slayer forges strength from pain.

BUFFY
Yes.

Buffy nodsÖ
PRIMITIVE
Love. Give. Forgive. Risk the pain. It is your nature. Love will bring you to your gift.

Pulling away from love seems one good precautionary method of being a fireman. Catch it before it starts.

OTOH, according to the PRIMITIVE if she wants the strength - or power - she's got to risk the pain.

And I don't think we are talking about Dawn love here.

And on a less serious note, this all does put an interesting spin on why Buffy was risking the pain last year in the sack with Spike.
[> [> Drowning or Waving? -- alcibiades, 11:04:57 09/27/02 Fri

Speaking of it''s all connected, wasn't Stevie Smith the one who wrote the poem about drowning or waving from which Bush wrote their song
[> [> [> Re: Drowning or Waving? -- ponygirl, 11:28:18 09/27/02 Fri

Ah sweet google, provider of all knowledge:

Not Waving but Drowning
Stevie Smith

Nobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.

Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he's dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.

Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.
[> [> [> [> Wonderful, thanks ponygirl. -- Arethusa, 14:45:05 09/27/02 Fri

And appropriate for S6 Buffy: "I touch the fire and it freezes me," and pulled out of heaven, not hell.
[> Oh, that was GOOD! -- Wisewoman, 10:31:14 09/26/02 Thu

Thanks, OnM. That was great!

Haven't had time to read all of the greatness on the board (and I suspect that's going to be the situation all season if the posting keeps up at this rate!) so I hope I'm not repeating someone below, but I was personally delighted and relieved to see sad, gentle, magical Willow. One of the on-going subjects we've debated over the years has been the difference between Willow as a Buffyverse "Wicca" and real Wiccans in the Realverse. Everything Willow said in "Lesson" leads me to believe that Joss heard at least some of that, somewhere. Sure, Willow's still going to have powers that none of use can ever hope to attain, but at least she's got the main point down; "It's all connected."

;o) dub
[> Oooh! Oooh! Just thought of more evidence for your "Robin Wood/Robin Hood" theory! -- Rob, 12:34:25 09/26/02 Thu

In the first book of T.H. White's "The Once and Future King," "The Sword in the Stone," Robin Hood appears but is called Robin Wood, after Sherwood Forest. They claim that the substitution of the "H" was a misnomer.

So your Robin Hood theory seems even more likely now!

Rob
[> Thank you, really enjoyed this. -- Caroline, 13:48:06 09/26/02 Thu

And I agree with most of what you said. Except I think that Spike will have a more pivotal role in the evolution of the story about this year's big bad. I say this because I think that morphy is somehow keeping Spike there, the manifest spirits were trying to stop Buffy from seeing Spike and it sounds like morphy definitely had big plans for Buffy and Spike - he's got them both where he wants them. And morphy tells Spike that it's about the power, the same thing that Buffy has been trying to find the source of for the last few years. But time (and Joss) may well prove both of us wrong!
[> Wonderful essay! So many possibilities ahead! -- Dichotomy, 16:00:34 09/26/02 Thu

Wow, OnM! Great analysis! After watching Lessons, I was so intrigued by the possiblities raised in one, too-short hour and anxious for next Tuesday to come. Before I read your analysis, there were three big unknowns that left me speculating like mad. It seems to me that there are so many ways that these could develop:

1. Our nice-guy principal, Robin Wood: As you mentioned, most signs seem to point to him being on Buffy's side. But then there's that small matter of his office being right on the Hellmouth, his knowledge of Buffy's school record (why exactly would he need to know so much about a former student?), the job offer (is it just that he noticed Buffy's skill at reaching troubled students, or part of some larger plan to get Buffy where someone or something wants her?) I'd love it if he turned into an ally, but I wouldn't be too surprised if he turned out to be an instrument of the Big Bad (knowingly or unknowinlgy).

2. The morphing entity and its plan for Spike: Of course, we're all wondering what havoc it wants to wreck, but I'm most intrigued by how it itends to use Spike, and how Spike will come through this. Will he become an instrument of evil or fight through his insanity and the additional mental torture being inflicted upon him by this entity? I'm very afraid for Spike but not convinced he's beyond salvation.

3. The Istanbul incident: I thought perhaps she was a Slayer in Training, but what the...?

I think your speculation could be right on the mark. It certainly filled in some gaps in my thinking and truly added to my enjoyment of the ep. You can bet I'll be watching this season carefully and trying to pull out that which is below the surface. Failing that, I'll be back here to see what you and all the other knowledgable posters have to say.

Woo-hoo! I think it's going to be a great season!
[> Wonderful essay -- Sarand, 16:16:06 09/26/02 Thu

Very nice. I'm printing it out so I can study it more carefully.

I've not been reading many posts because I really don't want to be spoiled. So maybe others have discussed this but I haven't seen it. Anyway, I was a bit more encouraged about the prospect of Spike and Buffy working together because of the fact that his help, even in his delusions or madness, was essential to her saving the day. She didn't know what she was dealing with until he told her about the spirits and the talisman. It was only when he told her that she put it together with the small doll-like thing she saw in the bathroom. She may have figured it out eventually but we all know Buffy's not big with the research.

Like I said, I hadn't seen that discussed in any of the posts I read so I thought I'd throw it in. I don't know what I want of Spike and Buffy - just not a repeat of last year. If they can find a level of friendship and be able to work together, I would be happy. Plus, with Dawn - bonus. I'm also interested in what you said about Dawn's Keyness. I'm hoping that will be explored further. I've been hearing talk of the show continuing next year with Dawn as the Vampire Slayer. I'd be much more interested if a show with her was based on the powers related to her Keyness, rather than making her another Vampire Slayer. JMHO.

Again, terrific essay.
[> Please make me shut up about postmodernism -- Slain, 16:26:34 09/26/02 Thu

...If you can! But, until then:

It strikes me that one of the main features of Buffy is a combination of postmodern intertextuality and meta-narration. Or, in other words, it's a combination of a silly-titled genre show about vampires, and a deliberate complexity underneath the surface. Postmodernism would say that there's no need to inject meaning into a text, as this compromises the style of the surface narrative.

But of course meta-narration doesn't work that way; the surface narrative isn't unweildy or complex, as the meta-narration works underneath, adding to it without detracting from the overall lightness or style; intertextuality is where the text is influenced by other art, while meta narration is where the text makes its own, independent meaning. In Buffy, the two don't neccessarily conflict so much as exist in harmony; except in episodes such as 'Restless'. But then it's just fun.
[> Utterly Amazing, OnM... thoughts on the Big Bad -- Dochawk, 16:34:23 09/26/02 Thu

OnM, that was fabulous. There are far too many of you who make me feel not fully educated and horribly ineloquent, but we do the best we can.

Once again I think I am on a lonely front when it comes to the story. I have a difficult time believing that the shapeshifter is the big bad and if it is that it is the first evil. I happen to agree that the shapeshifter was probably a manifestation of the first evil, but if so who summoned it? (Remember it was summoned in Amends). And more importantly, the first evil is a seducer, not an inflictor. it doesn't seem to have any power of its own. I think the big bad is something even older, deeper. What was there before the word? before creation? I am going on a limb here but I think the first evil is just a messanger for the big bad, the power that D'Hoffryn is afraid of and that Willow feels 1/3 of a world away. What could be worse than a hellgod? What created the first evil? I think we are seeing the presages of a true apocolypse, the battle remembered in Fray, that the big bad may be Satan him (or her) self.
[> [> I think you may be right, Doc -- Vickie, 17:40:07 09/26/02 Thu

As I've said below, this could be the BB or a communist codfish and we really don't know yet. And I agree that the self-proclaimed First Evil was a wimp. Always thought a lot of that thing was PR.

The thing talking to Spike scared me a whole lot more than the FE ever did. This is bigger. This is a lot bigger.
[> [> Um, I just had a rather deflating thought... -- Wisewoman, 17:52:21 09/26/02 Thu

What if the shapeshifting BBs Spike was seeing were all in his obviously shattered mind? No one else saw them, did they? He told Buffy there were three of them in the basement (i.e. Spike, Buffy, and IT) but she didn't notice, didn't question him, and didn't see anything.

I've already admitted I'm never going to have the time to read all threads and all posts this season, so I apologize if this has already been debated into the dust...

;o) dub
[> [> [> Quite probably not, WW -- Vickie, 18:54:17 09/26/02 Thu

Don't worry. One shape (the Major) Spike had never seen, and another (the Master) we have no evidence that he had seen. The basement baddie could be in Spike's head, but we don't really have evidence of that yet.
[> [> [> No, not deflating-- it is a definite possibility -- OnM, 18:58:26 09/26/02 Thu

I took the tack that what Spike was seeing was 'real', and not an hallucination on his part, but the hallucination tack is perfectly possible.

I based my ideas on seeing the exact same modus operandi used here as was used previously when TFE tried to turn Angel or kill him. Also, there is the question of why Spike would see Mayor Wilkins or the Master, since if I recall he never met either of them. And then, why Buffy? If it's a case of TFE trying to intimidate him by throwing Buffy's 'power' over him in his face, then that would make a certain degree of sense. Otherwise, why hallucinate her?

No, I think this could turn into another 'Normal Again' Is-the-ASV-real/not real argument, unless future eps make it absolutely clear if this is TFE in action or not.
[> [> [> [> Another thought too (spoiler for Lessons).... -- mm, 19:35:56 09/26/02 Thu

What if the "she" that the "Master," "Adam," et al kept referring too wasn't Buffy, but Dawn? No, probably not. Just exploring all the angles.
[> [> [> [> [> Re: And still another (spoiler for Lessons).... -- mm, grasping at straws, 19:46:21 09/26/02 Thu

Maybe this has been mentioned, but I found it interesting that "Adam" referred to Spike as "Number 17," rather than "Hostile 17," as I believe he was called in S4.
[> [> [> [> [> [> I thought that might be a reference to *The Prisoner* -- OnM, 20:43:38 09/26/02 Thu

Because Spike has 'resigned' from being a soulless creature (just as Number 6 resigned for what was always implied as being moral reasons) and then becomes a 'prisoner' in a 'village' (Sunnydale/The Hellmouth) that won't allow him to 'leave'.

I am not a number-- I am a FREE MAN!!

But he never ultimately was, even after he escaped, was he?
[> [> [> [> [> [> [> right, not really hostile anymore -- vh, 06:19:21 09/27/02 Fri

The emphasis is on how he is powerless. Why give him power by calling him "Hostile" 17? "Number 17" drains power; "Hostile 17" bestows it.
[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: And still another (spoiler for Lessons).... -- anom, 14:38:18 09/27/02 Fri

"Hostile 17" was the Initiative's term for Spike. Adam wasn't exactly on their side.
[> [> [> [> Re: No, not deflating-- it is a definite possibility -- Slain, 15:46:48 09/27/02 Fri

My own assumption was that it was a combination of reality and hallucination - if Buffy had walked into the room, she wouldn't have seen anything other than Spike cowering in the corner. The shapeshifter was inside Spike's head - but it was still possibilty a real presence. Failing that, I don't see a problem with it simply being a vision of something, much like Buffy's own visions in times past.
[> [> [> Here's my theory about that...(spec re: season 7, some "lessons" spoilers) -- Rob, 22:47:24 09/26/02 Thu

I don't see what Spike has seen as hallucinations brought on by his madness, but perhaps the other way around. Their appearances to Spike are helping to contribute to his mental breakdown. I think they are going to try to use Spike to do some, if not all, of their dirty work, which adds more to my "it's the First Evil" thoughts. But the fact that some of those villains are ones that Spike has not met or at least not had a meaningful relationship with leads me to suspect that these are not hallucinations. I think that the fact that we have only seen Spike see them is a red herring, designed to leave some viewers thinking, "Oh, yeah, Spike's crazy," and then some time soon, this being's presence will be confirmed by some other observer, as well. I remain thoroughly unspoiled, however. Total guess on my part.

(On a side note, on my third viewing of the episode, I wondered whether, btw, Spike had thought Buffy from earlier in the episode was one of these "illusions" as well and was playing along with it. It stands to reason that the ending scene was not the first time Spike had come in contact with what I am presently considering to be the First Evil.)

Rob
[> [> An entirely new twist on all these theories (7.1 spoilers) -- cjl, 07:43:02 09/27/02 Fri

I was snooping on the BC&S board, desperately trying to avoid big-time spoilers, when I saw this intriguing theory about the final scene of "Lessons":

When Spike has his hallucination/vision of the Big Bads, you'll notice that the BB manifestations start with Warren pacing behind Spike; then he morphs into Glory, then Adam, then the Mayor, who sidles up to Spike on the (viewer's) left. "Dru" leans in to caress him, also on the left, before she morphs into the Master, who ends up standing in a dim light at the far left of the room. (Cool effect, BTW.)

Here's where it gets interesting...

As I recall, The Master does NOT morph in Buffy.

No, Buffy appears to Spike's RIGHT, and tells him it's all about the power.

What if these manifestations are NOT connected?

Here's the theory: yes, The First Evil (or Satan or whoever the Big Bad is) sent these manifestations to grind down Spike's sanity and convince our favorite blonde vamp to do its bidding. But the BB manifestations ended with the Master. When Buffy appears, it's actually Spike's own subconscious mind telling him what he needs to know to survive and beat his captor: it's all about the power. YOU have the power. You just have to realize it.

What do you think?
[> [> [> Agree with cjl here. -- shadowkat, 07:53:34 09/27/02 Fri

[> [> [> Re: An entirely new twist on all these theories (7.1 spoilers) -- Arethusa, 08:26:18 09/27/02 Fri

The Mighty Morphin' Power Creature becomes the Master, stands, moves a little to the left backstage, then crosses behind Spike, moving to his right a little. Cut to crouching Spike, who turns his head to the right slightly, while the Master says "(It's) not about right, not about wrong." Pan up to Buffy on Spike's right. "It's about power," she says. We never see the Master morph into Buffy, but I think that is what it is doing. So I disagree; the manifestations end with Buffy.

Did I say before how great Tivo is? It took only a minute or two to find the scene and view it three times.
[> [> [> [> Mea culpa: I don't think I got this from BC&S; I think I picked up on Alcibiades' post above... -- cjl, 08:33:04 09/27/02 Fri

...and I simply forgot where I saw it.

Always got to give credit where credit is due.
[> [> [> [> i agree w/arethusa -- anom, 14:42:06 09/27/02 Fri

They just didn't want us to see who it was until she spoke.
Buncha Little Things. (Spoilery) -- Harry Parachute, 02:35:06 09/26/02 Thu

This is gonna be unstructured and messy, but I've never been one for cohesive thought. Violence Pants.

-Willow and Giles-

See, I had an expectation that...well Willow and Giles are BOTH killers, we can't forget. While our pal Ripper was giving Willow the little speech on "We are who we are", I got a little goosebumpy because Giles has a pretty ugly past, and his nature can be...dark at times. We've seen his violent tendencies come out now and again ever since S2's "Halloween". There was our first hand encounter with Ripper in "Band Candy", the unseen but not unheard two-second interrogation of Glory's minion back in "Tough Love", and, of course, the rather chilling execution of Ben in "The Gift". And I'm pretty sure none of the characters even know about that.

But ever since Tara, during her moment of madness/insight in the previously mentioned episode, pointed to Giles and said "Killer"...well...after what happened with Ben, who knows who this guy really is?

So I was betting that Willow might get to hear it first in England. Maybe she still will. Maybe we'll finally get to hear the backstory of where the nickname "Ripper" comes from.

Even still, was a nice lead in to Spiffy!Xander.

-Kit and Carlos-

So, yeah, we all see where this is going. But to me, they don't seem like clones of early Willow and Xander. These kids are...well...not all sweetness and light. We've got the unstable Gothy chick on the one hand who's outfit is a far cry from "the softer side of Sears". Then we have Carlos, a basketball player, a smoker (at 16 no less), and a macho guy who questions his masculinity when he "runs like a girl" from a decomposing monster.

Someone else in chat brought up the idea that where in the First Season, Buffy was the "not-so-innocent" one who exposed the dark underbelly of Sunnydale to her new friends, we'll have a role reversal. It'll be Carlos and Kit who get a little lighter with Dawn...*drums, symbol*

Well, at least I hope Carlos is a tough-guy who whoops some ass. I get the girl-power theme, but I want a role-model too.

-Spike-

Everything I wanted to say about him someone else posted already, Alcibiades I think. If you look back at Checkpoint where Buffy addresses Quentin Travers...well...here's what Alcibiades quoted.

BUFFY
See I've had a lot of people talking at me, last few days. People just lining up to tell me how unimportant I am. And I finally figured out why. Power. I have it. They don't. This bothers them.

Couldn't agree more. Spike's a central figure in the months to come, and that's why the First Evil(?) is trying to put him down so. I can only hope that our Bloody Boy can pull off in a few months what it took Angel 80 years to accomplish: Sanity.

Oh, and I'm betting that what Spike's dealing with isn't just delusion. I'd think that theory would have credence if it weren't for the Buffy Apparition's final claim. Buffy said it herself earlier in the episode. Was the first line and the last line. It's too much of a coincidence. There's something real there talking to Spike. That's what I think made it super-creepy.

Actually, here's an ultra-creepy thought. If this is really SMG's final year, and if it possibly could be the final year of BtVS...and, follow me here, if Buffy becomes the avatar of the Big Bad, will it have to be Spike's...er..."dharma" as the Slayer of Slayers to put her down?

Food for thought. I mean, if the Istanbul-girl was a potential slayer as many suspect...we could have a scenario where the Harbingers are trying to usurp or redirect the Slayer-power and ultimately corrupt and twist it. Faith's gonna be in the season. Don't know where that'll lead. She could die. Possibility. A little Metaphysical hopscotch, switch the tracks, Panama Canal of Doom, some reverse engineered "calling" into the "Not-really-the-Slayer-but-sort-of-the-Slayer-aberration" that is Buffy Anne Summers...

...nah...they wouldn't dare make the star of the show the villain and kill her off...they couldn't...

...

Nevermind then. Big thumbs up to the peeps around and about. You whip the donkey stupid. Mixolydian Scales for everyone.
[> They're subversive, but could they ... ? -- verdantheart, 06:15:12 09/26/02 Thu

Wow! If so, all I have to say is: wow! What guts!

I think that might make a lot of people mad.
[> Re: Buncha Little Things. (Spoilery) -- DEN, 11:28:24 09/26/02 Thu

Re the Istanbul vignette: "Byzantium" was one of Istanbul's earlier names. "Knights of..." in s5? Coincidence?
[> Re: Buncha Little Things. (Spoilery) -- Malandanza, 12:34:14 09/26/02 Thu

I'm wondering if Willow is on some sort of probation. The Coven couldn't remove her powers so they're watching her. Wondering if she can be rehabilitated. Like in Le Femme Nikita (the movie) where there was a moment when Nikita's survival was uncertain -- would they be able to use her, or would they have to kill her?

I don't think we'll see Buffy as the big bad who has to be put down by Spike -- I think that Joss will want to do a Buffy movie or two once the series ends and that'll be hard to do if Buffy is evil and dead. Having Buffy go evil, only to be pulled back from the brink was basically done last season with Willow -- so I doubt they'd go that way either. I think We're going to see Spike spending most of the season as a pawn for the First Evil/Cave Demon/Hell Mouth. I also think that Buffy isn't going to be able to kill Spike (the way Giles would have killed Dawn or did kill Ben to prevent future evil) so Spike will have free reign (in a mind controlled insane zombie sense of the phrase) to inflict evil upon the next generation of SHS'ers.

I do think that the idyllic nuclear family we've been shown with Xander/Buffy/Dawn is all going o fall apart -- either as a consequence of Spike's return or of Willow's.
[> [> Re: Buncha Little Things. (Spoilery) -- mundusmundi, 12:55:40 09/26/02 Thu

Agreed, no "evil" Buffy per se. However, if we've got a shapeshifting baddie on our hands, who can apparently morph into Buffy, it'll be a way to do EvilBuffy (or any other character, for that matter) without actually going that route.
[> [> [> Yeah, you're right. Just crazy thoughts. -- Harry Parachute, 13:53:24 09/26/02 Thu

Spike wouldn't and couldn't do such a thing...and I'm sure Buffy will survive and escape Sunnydale.

But, if OnM is right about Dawn's role in all this and if Buffy DID go bad...t'would be heavy on the irony. Spike upholding his promise to protect Dawn from the very person he made the promise to. Doesn't have to kill her, just has to stop her.

And, being a Spikecentric guy, I can't help but hope the best for him. Sure we'll see him stumble and fall and be swayed by the dark...but I hope to see him stand on the right side at the end of the season and be the hero he's trying to be. After all, Spike's a romantic at heart.

*pause*

Then again, so was Hitler.

*shrug*

Coffins have bottles, not j00.
BtVS dissected by Christians and Humanists -- Simon, 04:18:59 09/26/02 Thu

I'm a frequent lurker here so there's a couple of articles here I thought you guys might be interested in.

http://www.thedoormagazine.com/buffy.html for a Christian look at Buffy

http://www.jsonline.com/news/Metro/sep02/82370.asp
for a Humanist pov

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