Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Ok, this is going to be a Buffy Rant; if you don't care abour Buffy or my views on the show, then skip this entry.

Solomon & Janella came to see me at work Sunday night, which was great. We talked about Buffy, which they will soon be finished with (though they will still have a season of Angel to watch). I asked what episode they were on, and the they told me they were on the episode that I had once referred to as the one in which I wanted the entire supporting cast to die (more on that in a second); and Solomon said that he was sick of Buffy at that point anyways, and Janella pointed out that they (like many cool people) watch the show for Willow anyways.

The episode we were all reffering to was the 7th Season epsidoe: "Empty Places", in which Xander, Willow, Giles, Faith, Anya (bitch), & the slayerettes vote to knock Buffy down a few notches, and then Dawn, Buffy's little sister who Buffy once died to save, kicks Buffy out of her own house, then defends her after she leaves from Rona who I can't stand. Dawn isn't even a real little girl; she's a ball of energy given human form, who Buffy believed in enough to sacrifice her own life, and she's thrown out of her house by this little wannabe human sister. bitch.

And the thing is, Buffy's better off without them. She didn't ask to be a leader, and she was never really meant to be one - they put her in that role - Giles, her once-upon-a-time mentor showed up in Sunnyhell unannounced, with some slayers in training, and told Buffy that she was their "only hope" to fight evil; without offering any suggestions - none. And in fact he was prone to saying things like "I have no idea how anyone could fight this thing - it's all up to you, Buffy." Which is unfair, and just a horrible thing to say to someone! Her former father figure doens't even touch her until several episodes after his return, he just vomits dire predictions, that end in: it's up to you Buffy. And when she does make decisions that he doesn't like, he doesn't stand by her, even though he placed her in charge - he instead goes behind her back and attempts to decieve her & to kill Spike, the one ally she has all season, who actually believes in her, because she believes in him.

The only other character to come through this betrayal without seeming traitorous, is ironically enough, Faith, who doesn't ask to be leader either, and who doesn't push for Buffy to be deposed, and who takes the mantle unwillingly, but as best as she can; she also tries to talk to Buffy, to explain that this isn't what she wanted. Faith has always been written well though, and it was great to see the character written so well, and to come full circle in the end.

Everyone else on the show disgusts me. I wish Giles, Dawn & Anya many bloody deaths; while just one would do for Willow & Xander. The slayers-in-waiting aren't even worth it. blah. lol

And as soon as Buffy is free from the position that she never asked for; the position that they all put her in, and then fired her from when they didn't like her new plan, she finishes that plan on her own, and we see that she was right all along. Some people think that's too conveniant, and it would have been better if she were allowed to be wrong, but it makes sense that she's right. Her plan is based on the experiences she's accumulated over the past 7 years as the Slayer. She's got the experience for that part of the job, and that is actually the job she's supposed to be doing. Faith's view of Buffy's plan is valid, but she lacks Buffy's experience; she doesn't have the same instincts as Buffy. Faith's views as she expresses them are the only ones that don't sound like they are meant to punish Buffy, and are in fact meant to protect her, and the entire group.

It pisses me off when audience members cheer at the thought of Buffy being deposed in this scene. Yes, Buffy sucks as a general up to this point, but it's not something she'd ever done before, or not to this extent, and it's something that she never asked to be; and yet she did the best that she could because those that she loved, and those that needed protection and turned to her for it, expected it of her. And no one thanked her for it. No one offered any suggestions, or help of any significant kind. Willow refused to face her demons, and became essentially, a liability. Dawn wallowed in self pity...until finally trying to fill in for the now, seemingly brainless Giles. Anya was a bitch, and Xander was Xander (rarely if ever a good thing). Faith & Spike (both former enemies of Buffy) become the only two people to support Buffy throughout the entire ordeal; and the only people that seem to notice that Buffy is making the best of a horribly wrong situation.

It all turns out ok, for the most part, and Buffy becomes the general they all imagined she could be, but only by doing things her own way; the way she's always done things. And it's probable that the only reason Buffy get's back into her old role is because of the betrayal & loyalty given her in that horrible scene & it's aftermath, so it's actually integral that it happened. It just had to suck to hear so many people who are alive because of the decisions you've made over the years, people you've saved by giving up your own life (twice), questioning your ability to make such decisions. I know it hurt me to hear them say it. And it angered me. And it made me feel. Which just means that the show continued to rock in it's final season.

   posted by Bald Jason at 12:38 PM
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