With the final episode, "Chosen," comes many questions and ideas to discuss. What is the overarching theme/ideal in Buffy? Kaveney (and one of the featurettes on the DVD) suggest the possibility of Buffy as revisionist feminist mythology. But can a feminist myth be created by a man? Perhaps. Another idea suggested on the DVD featurette intrigued me more, however. That was the idea of community. Throughout the series, we are shown Buffy as a solitary figure, despite her band of loyal friends. Her battles always seem to boil down to just Buffy and the Big Bad. The writers worked so hard to show Buffy as lonely that they did everything but play the sad-going-away-music from "The Incredible Hulk" TV show. Yet with Buffy's realization that much of her solitude was self-inflicted ("Touched") comes a greater understanding: she can do something about it. When the Potentials are empowered as Slayers, Buffy becomes one of many. She is no longer special in the all-by-myself sort of way. She is no longer the one-woman doorstop against the portal to Hell. Ideally, the community of Slayers can work in tandem to defeat evil. Not only is Buffy no longer alone, she is now linked in a very special way to something that is worldwide. Her horizons just got a lot bigger than Sunnydale and its pesky Hellmouth.
I argue for community as the overarching theme because it is the one thing that has been present from episode 1 ("Welcome to the Hellmouth.") Buffy, Willow, Xander, Cordelia, and even Joyce were each looking for community, their own circle of friends and acceptance, a place where they can find identity. Even the monsters that the Scooby Gang faced during the "high school is hell" phase of the series were manifestations of the fears of students who were simply looking for a place to belong. For Buffy, finding community took the entire series. And why shouldn't it? If that was truly her quest as the hero, it seems only right that she only find it at the end of everything.
As for Dr. Berry's suggestion that Buffy is the television version of the Romantic novel, well, I remain unconvinced. For one thing, it seems to me as a writer that each season has its own narrative arc with climax and conclusion. While I realize that the sprawling Romantic novel has many subplots and crests and troughs of conflict, I think there are too many in a seven season series to make one giant novel. Perhaps, Buffy is more of a seven-book set. Another factor that hurts the massive-Buffy novel idea is the number of continuity errors in the series. Buffy has more dates of birth than anyone I've ever read about. If vampires don't breathe, why does The First hold Spike underwater to torture him? Why is there an episode about how The First's rise is all resurrected Buffy's fault, and then it is never mentioned again? While I realize that it is often best not to ask these questions and just sit back and enjoy the fun, I do think that these inconsistencies detract from the whole novel idea. To say that Buffy is Joss Whedon's attempt to televise his great, novel-like vision would be to suggest that he had a clear plan for a seven season series when he wrote "Welcome to the Hellmouth." I find this unlikely. A sprawling, Romantic novel may have many subplots and side characters, but ultimately, it should all tie together.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Cheese Stands Alone
All of the conflict and dissension that has been building amongst the Scooby Gang in Season 7 comes to a climax in "Empty Places." As the town of Sunnydale is emptied of all its residents, the Summers home is going through its own expulsion. After the badly executed attack on Caleb, Buffy proposes yet another open attack on the winery. The Gang and Potentials revolt, and Buffy is kicked out of her house...and out of the club. The scene of the mutiny resembles some sort of Slayer intervention, and in many ways, it is. While the motives of The Gang seem somewhat less than pure, the resulting solitude for Buffy serves a greater purpose. Perhaps the opportunity to be physically alone gives Buffy the chance to contemplate her lonely status as the Slayer ("Touched.")
Once again, we have Spike as Truth Speaker. This is a role that is played by multiple characters over the entire series (Anya, Cordelia, Spike, Andrew, etc.) While Buffy's epiphany about her own culpability in her solitary status is something she comes to on her own, it is Spike who reminds her of the power and nobility in her role as Slayer. After deciding (with Spike's prompting, of course) to return to her Potentials, Buffy finds the Super Scythe (my name for it, anyway) and rescues the remaining Potentials. ("End of Days") Her return to the group seems to equal her return to power and clear-thinking because she is soon full of ideas, a plan not to hold back The First, but to defeat it.
Once again, we have Spike as Truth Speaker. This is a role that is played by multiple characters over the entire series (Anya, Cordelia, Spike, Andrew, etc.) While Buffy's epiphany about her own culpability in her solitary status is something she comes to on her own, it is Spike who reminds her of the power and nobility in her role as Slayer. After deciding (with Spike's prompting, of course) to return to her Potentials, Buffy finds the Super Scythe (my name for it, anyway) and rescues the remaining Potentials. ("End of Days") Her return to the group seems to equal her return to power and clear-thinking because she is soon full of ideas, a plan not to hold back The First, but to defeat it.
Divided We Fall
In the three episodes we watched for Tuesday ("Potential," "Lies My Parents Told Me," and "Dirty Girls"), we see the Scooby Gang and their army of Potentials become increasingly divided. While it may be argued that they shared the same overarching purpose (fighting evil, or at least, The First), they vary widely on methods and motives. The Summers House is so full of anger, jealousy, revenge, confusion, and loneliness that it threatens to implode without any help from The First.
"Potential" focuses on Dawn and her neverending search for identity. When she is told is a Potential Slayer, however, she does not greet the news with joy or relief. Later, when she realizes that it is not her, but Amamda, who is the Potential she seems even broodier. Though Xander tries to soothe her wounded feelings with a heart-to-heart, Dawn feelings about her "nobody" status remain ambivalent. This seems ironic to me. Dawn was very disturbed (understandably) when she was told in Season 5 that she was The Key. She insisted time and again that she was just a normal teenage girl. Now, suddenly, that's no good either. Perhaps Dawn serves a reminder of how all humans crave what they cannot have. Regardless of any deeper meaning her inner conflict may provide, however, Dawn's discontent is just one example of the rising emotional chaos at 1630 Revello Drive.
In "Lies My Parents Told Me," the Scoobies' lack of unity makes its first major manifestation. When Giles is unable to remove Spike's trigger, he allows himself to be influenced by Wood, whose motives are far from pure. Giles lies to Buffy (could Giles be another of the "parents" referred to in the episode's title?) and keeps her occupied while Wood attempts to kill Spike. Though Giles is not always around, he has always been viewed as at least an ally, if not leader. This betrayal of Buffy for what Giles deems the greater good is further evidence of the breakdown of the Scooby Gang in a way we've not yet seen. Unlike Angel, Willow, or any of the other Scoobies-Gone-Bad, Giles is under no spell. He is not possessed by some demon. He simply decides that he is right and Buffy is wrong and acts on it. His actions foreshadow further rifts in the Scooby Gang unity.
"Dirty Girls" serves as a sort of culmination of the deterioration of the Gang and Buffy's status as Fearless Leader. With the Potentials and Giles questioning her judgement and Faith being added to the already volatile mix, Buffy leads her gang of misfits into a fight with Caleb. When the confrontation ends badly, Buffy is left with the blame. But is it really all her fault? Has she become some power-crazed dictator? I think not. Once again, the Gang has forgotten the pressures of being, not only the Slayer, but also the glue that holds the fight together. In addition to those pressures, Buffy has also temporarily lost her biggest supporter, Xander, and by association, Willow. Xander's loyalty will be shaken by his life-changing injury, and Willow, always soft-hearted when it comes to Xander, will go the way of her one-eyed friend.
"Potential" focuses on Dawn and her neverending search for identity. When she is told is a Potential Slayer, however, she does not greet the news with joy or relief. Later, when she realizes that it is not her, but Amamda, who is the Potential she seems even broodier. Though Xander tries to soothe her wounded feelings with a heart-to-heart, Dawn feelings about her "nobody" status remain ambivalent. This seems ironic to me. Dawn was very disturbed (understandably) when she was told in Season 5 that she was The Key. She insisted time and again that she was just a normal teenage girl. Now, suddenly, that's no good either. Perhaps Dawn serves a reminder of how all humans crave what they cannot have. Regardless of any deeper meaning her inner conflict may provide, however, Dawn's discontent is just one example of the rising emotional chaos at 1630 Revello Drive.
In "Lies My Parents Told Me," the Scoobies' lack of unity makes its first major manifestation. When Giles is unable to remove Spike's trigger, he allows himself to be influenced by Wood, whose motives are far from pure. Giles lies to Buffy (could Giles be another of the "parents" referred to in the episode's title?) and keeps her occupied while Wood attempts to kill Spike. Though Giles is not always around, he has always been viewed as at least an ally, if not leader. This betrayal of Buffy for what Giles deems the greater good is further evidence of the breakdown of the Scooby Gang in a way we've not yet seen. Unlike Angel, Willow, or any of the other Scoobies-Gone-Bad, Giles is under no spell. He is not possessed by some demon. He simply decides that he is right and Buffy is wrong and acts on it. His actions foreshadow further rifts in the Scooby Gang unity.
"Dirty Girls" serves as a sort of culmination of the deterioration of the Gang and Buffy's status as Fearless Leader. With the Potentials and Giles questioning her judgement and Faith being added to the already volatile mix, Buffy leads her gang of misfits into a fight with Caleb. When the confrontation ends badly, Buffy is left with the blame. But is it really all her fault? Has she become some power-crazed dictator? I think not. Once again, the Gang has forgotten the pressures of being, not only the Slayer, but also the glue that holds the fight together. In addition to those pressures, Buffy has also temporarily lost her biggest supporter, Xander, and by association, Willow. Xander's loyalty will be shaken by his life-changing injury, and Willow, always soft-hearted when it comes to Xander, will go the way of her one-eyed friend.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Two Men Enter, One Man Leaves
"Him," the episode we watched in class on Tuesday follows Dawn, Buffy, and the Gang as each female member is struck in turn by a love spell. Within a matter a hours, the group is divided and in danger due to the effects of a high school letterman's jacket. In the end, however, Buffy is able to shake off the spell when someone she loves is in peril. This foreshadows the events that follow in the episodes we watched for Thursday.
In "Conversations With Dead People," the Scoobies are visited separately by disconcerting figures, some of whom are sent by the nefarious First. While Willow and Dawn are both tormented by apparitions who know their deepest thoughts and secrets, Buffy encounters a newbie vamp named Webs whom she knew in high school. Though they are all disturbed by their individual experiences, it is Buffy who takes charge. She slays Webs and realizes that she must find out whether Spike is biting again. Buffy's role is about to change from Mother to General, and her ability to adapt to quickly changing circumstances is about to be tested beyond a blast-from-the-past vamp and a few ghostly baddies.
Buffy's transformation from Mother-Guidance Counselor-Slayer to Commander-in-Chief of the Potentials Army becomes complete in "Showtime." In a moment reminiscent of great motivating pre-battle movie speeches, Buffy rouses her gang of misfit future Slayers by promising that while hell may swallow them up, it would choke on her. When Buffy kills the Uber-Vamp in front of the Potentials, she takes a huge step not only in allaying their fears, but in establishing herself as the leader. It is hard to imagine the old Buffy putting her powers on display as she does in Xander's construction site. Apparently the days of secrecy are over. Also crucial to Buffy's new position as Chief-Slayer-In-Charge is complete unity with her closest confidants, Willow and Xander. They are so united, in fact, that they create their plan to defeat the Uber-Vamp in front of the potentials...in front of the potentials. Using Willow's abilities, they literally become "of one mind." If Buffy is going to be the teacher of the Potentials, she must first establish her credibility and authority, which she does with her Uber-Vamp exhibition. It seems that her time mentoring Dawn and the Sunnydale High School kids was merely a warm-up for the tutoring job she is now undertaking.
Side Note: Am I the only person who laughed hysterically at the Thunderdome references?
In "Conversations With Dead People," the Scoobies are visited separately by disconcerting figures, some of whom are sent by the nefarious First. While Willow and Dawn are both tormented by apparitions who know their deepest thoughts and secrets, Buffy encounters a newbie vamp named Webs whom she knew in high school. Though they are all disturbed by their individual experiences, it is Buffy who takes charge. She slays Webs and realizes that she must find out whether Spike is biting again. Buffy's role is about to change from Mother to General, and her ability to adapt to quickly changing circumstances is about to be tested beyond a blast-from-the-past vamp and a few ghostly baddies.
Buffy's transformation from Mother-Guidance Counselor-Slayer to Commander-in-Chief of the Potentials Army becomes complete in "Showtime." In a moment reminiscent of great motivating pre-battle movie speeches, Buffy rouses her gang of misfit future Slayers by promising that while hell may swallow them up, it would choke on her. When Buffy kills the Uber-Vamp in front of the Potentials, she takes a huge step not only in allaying their fears, but in establishing herself as the leader. It is hard to imagine the old Buffy putting her powers on display as she does in Xander's construction site. Apparently the days of secrecy are over. Also crucial to Buffy's new position as Chief-Slayer-In-Charge is complete unity with her closest confidants, Willow and Xander. They are so united, in fact, that they create their plan to defeat the Uber-Vamp in front of the potentials...in front of the potentials. Using Willow's abilities, they literally become "of one mind." If Buffy is going to be the teacher of the Potentials, she must first establish her credibility and authority, which she does with her Uber-Vamp exhibition. It seems that her time mentoring Dawn and the Sunnydale High School kids was merely a warm-up for the tutoring job she is now undertaking.
Side Note: Am I the only person who laughed hysterically at the Thunderdome references?
Monday, April 27, 2009
Death and Taxes
We've made it through six and a half seasons of Buffy, and we're still talking about destiny (or at least, I am.) Buffy's not the only one who struggles with the concept, however. With the three episodes we watched for Tuesday, we see the Scooby Gang struggle with destiny and her close cousin, fate.
In "Beneath You," Nancy is running from a giant, killer earthworm demon bent on her destruction. While the Gang initially thinks that this might be the danger from beneath that Buffy fears, it turns out to be Nancy's cursed ex-boyfriend instead. It could be argued that the Earthworm of Death (my name for it, not theirs) could be a symbol of the inescapability of the Gang's (and Sunnydale's) fate. It seems that it is no longer only Buffy's destiny to protect Sunnydale and the world. The Scooby Gang has become an intrinsic part of the good vs. evil struggle at the Hellmouth. Perhaps their resurrection of Buffy united them in a deeper way than their loose confederation as "helpers" had ever done. Even though Willow is geographically distant from her fellow fighters, she, too, is linked to the battle which is forthcoming.
Buffy gets a very personal reminder about fate in "Help" when she attempts to save precog Cassie from her envisioned death. Though she fights fate at every turn, there is no escaping death. This episode points to the idea that Buffy's "deaths" were not "her time" as she was always resurrected. Cassie died despite every effort made by Buffy and the Scoobies to prevent said death. Ultimately, her heart just stopped, and there was no bringing her back. Perhaps Buffy can find comfort in the idea that she was brought back for a "purpose." There doesn't appear to be anything random about the Buffyverse, and if fate brought Buffy back, then it must be her destiny to do, well, something. I'm guessing it will involve saving the world.
"Selfless" explores the idea, not only of destiny, but also the inevitability of consequences. Anya (or Aud or Anyanka) seems destined from the beginning to become a vengeance demon. She certainly has a natural gift, not simply for magic, but for sweet revenge. As we are shown her history, her decision to return to her previous lifestyle (as Anyanka) and even her choice of M.O. (literally ripping out the frat boys' hearts) seem mitigated (or at least, slightly more understandable.) Ultimately, however, Anya's decision to revoke her magic has a cost, and this cost is inesapable and irreversible: death. Anya watches D'Hoffryn kill her friend, Halfrek, and is forever changed by her actions and their consequences.
In "Beneath You," Nancy is running from a giant, killer earthworm demon bent on her destruction. While the Gang initially thinks that this might be the danger from beneath that Buffy fears, it turns out to be Nancy's cursed ex-boyfriend instead. It could be argued that the Earthworm of Death (my name for it, not theirs) could be a symbol of the inescapability of the Gang's (and Sunnydale's) fate. It seems that it is no longer only Buffy's destiny to protect Sunnydale and the world. The Scooby Gang has become an intrinsic part of the good vs. evil struggle at the Hellmouth. Perhaps their resurrection of Buffy united them in a deeper way than their loose confederation as "helpers" had ever done. Even though Willow is geographically distant from her fellow fighters, she, too, is linked to the battle which is forthcoming.
Buffy gets a very personal reminder about fate in "Help" when she attempts to save precog Cassie from her envisioned death. Though she fights fate at every turn, there is no escaping death. This episode points to the idea that Buffy's "deaths" were not "her time" as she was always resurrected. Cassie died despite every effort made by Buffy and the Scoobies to prevent said death. Ultimately, her heart just stopped, and there was no bringing her back. Perhaps Buffy can find comfort in the idea that she was brought back for a "purpose." There doesn't appear to be anything random about the Buffyverse, and if fate brought Buffy back, then it must be her destiny to do, well, something. I'm guessing it will involve saving the world.
"Selfless" explores the idea, not only of destiny, but also the inevitability of consequences. Anya (or Aud or Anyanka) seems destined from the beginning to become a vengeance demon. She certainly has a natural gift, not simply for magic, but for sweet revenge. As we are shown her history, her decision to return to her previous lifestyle (as Anyanka) and even her choice of M.O. (literally ripping out the frat boys' hearts) seem mitigated (or at least, slightly more understandable.) Ultimately, however, Anya's decision to revoke her magic has a cost, and this cost is inesapable and irreversible: death. Anya watches D'Hoffryn kill her friend, Halfrek, and is forever changed by her actions and their consequences.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Because I Said So
A Side Note: For the past six years, the Buffyverse has been a very dark place. There are no happy endings or hokey hugs in Scooby gang adventures. So why did Season 6 end with Xander saving the world with a "love conquers all" tactic that nearly put me into a diabetic coma? Could it have had something to do with the fact that this was the first season finale not written by Joss Whedon? Just something to ponder. I was also a little disappointed by the whole Giles-tricks-Willow-into-stealing-his-magic storyline. I could see exactly what he was up to, so why couldn't Willow? On the upside, Spike's trials to regain his soul were the right twist to keep the viewer guessing.
With the final episode of Season 6 ("Grave"), Buffy officially takes on her role as crone. As she and Dawn are trapped in the hole fighting demons, Buffy comes to recognize the importance of passing her knowledge (about Slaying and other otherwise) to Dawn, regardless of Dawn's non-Slayer status. Up to this point in the show, Buffy has treated Dawn's education as being either's someone else's resonsibility or as a burden she tries to avoid. As she watches Dawn fight alongside her, she realizes the fulfillment and meaning she could find in her own life, if she were to serve as Dawn's mentor. "Lessons" (7.1) continues this idea as it begins with Buffy instructing Dawn in slaying tactics, even allowing Dawn to fight an actual vamp.
Initially in Dawn's and Buffy's relationship, it would seem that Buffy tried to follow her mother's example in mothering Dawn. Joyce was more about protecting Buffy than she was about listening to or preparing Buffy (I am mostly referring to the time before she realized that Buffy was the Slayer.) Buffy's answer to everything was to keep Dawn at home where she is "safe," frequently leaving her in the care of others, like Spike or Tara, while she goes off and fights evil. With Buffy's epiphany regarding Dawn's capability and her own need to mentor came a realization that she was repeating her own mother's mistakes. With the beginning of Season 7, we see Buffy recognizing Dawn's capabilities and working to help her become more self-sufficient. Apparently, the writers think this style of parenting is more effective because as Season 7 progresses, Dawn improves from her previously whiny, clepto self.
What seems significant to me is that these major changes in Buffy occur while Giles is absent. Even Spike has fled to his soul quest by the time Buffy turns the corner personally. Earlier in the series, I talked about how Buffy was "controlled" by the men in her life. It seemed that her amazing power was something that was simply harnessed by powerful men (like the Watcher's Council.) Beginning with Buffy's revelation in Season 5 about the Council (when they attempt to pump her for info on Glory) and continuing with the self-realization as she dies to protect Dawn and the world, we see Buffy's growth independent of men. Her changes in "parenting" Dawn are something she arrives at on her own, without guidance from some male sage. Buffy is coming into her own, not just making her own decisions, but also basing those decisions on sound judgement...her own.
With the final episode of Season 6 ("Grave"), Buffy officially takes on her role as crone. As she and Dawn are trapped in the hole fighting demons, Buffy comes to recognize the importance of passing her knowledge (about Slaying and other otherwise) to Dawn, regardless of Dawn's non-Slayer status. Up to this point in the show, Buffy has treated Dawn's education as being either's someone else's resonsibility or as a burden she tries to avoid. As she watches Dawn fight alongside her, she realizes the fulfillment and meaning she could find in her own life, if she were to serve as Dawn's mentor. "Lessons" (7.1) continues this idea as it begins with Buffy instructing Dawn in slaying tactics, even allowing Dawn to fight an actual vamp.
Initially in Dawn's and Buffy's relationship, it would seem that Buffy tried to follow her mother's example in mothering Dawn. Joyce was more about protecting Buffy than she was about listening to or preparing Buffy (I am mostly referring to the time before she realized that Buffy was the Slayer.) Buffy's answer to everything was to keep Dawn at home where she is "safe," frequently leaving her in the care of others, like Spike or Tara, while she goes off and fights evil. With Buffy's epiphany regarding Dawn's capability and her own need to mentor came a realization that she was repeating her own mother's mistakes. With the beginning of Season 7, we see Buffy recognizing Dawn's capabilities and working to help her become more self-sufficient. Apparently, the writers think this style of parenting is more effective because as Season 7 progresses, Dawn improves from her previously whiny, clepto self.
What seems significant to me is that these major changes in Buffy occur while Giles is absent. Even Spike has fled to his soul quest by the time Buffy turns the corner personally. Earlier in the series, I talked about how Buffy was "controlled" by the men in her life. It seemed that her amazing power was something that was simply harnessed by powerful men (like the Watcher's Council.) Beginning with Buffy's revelation in Season 5 about the Council (when they attempt to pump her for info on Glory) and continuing with the self-realization as she dies to protect Dawn and the world, we see Buffy's growth independent of men. Her changes in "parenting" Dawn are something she arrives at on her own, without guidance from some male sage. Buffy is coming into her own, not just making her own decisions, but also basing those decisions on sound judgement...her own.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
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