Buffy 4/28 - SPOILERS

[Michael Tree]

A slayer-only superweapon? Perhaps. The first thought that popped into my head when they revealed that was: "Hmm. We have no idea why Caleb is so strong. Could he have stolen the dark power that makes Slayers Slayers? Will this inscription provide a clue for how to take that power away?"

It's a bit of stretch, I know, but I have to believe that Joss Whedon has cooler ideas for the series finale than just a big secret weapon.

 

[Michael Tree]

Whoops, double post.

 

[CCamfield]

After all the speeches the slayers-to-be (and we) have had to sit through, you'd think they'd at least have respect for what Buffy is and can do. That they'd go for Faith really showed me that they haven't been learning.

Well, I'd have to disagree with you there. Have you been watching Angel? Faith has changed from who she was on Buffy in previous seasons.

Maybe what happened to Buffy was harsh, but charging in blindly into the vinyard again would have been just plain stupid.

 

[Tsyr]

Long, rambling thoughts on this episode.

A slayer-only superweapon? Perhaps. The first thought that popped into my head when they revealed that was: "Hmm. We have no idea why Caleb is so strong. Could he have stolen the dark power that makes Slayers Slayers? Will this inscription provide a clue for how to take that power away?"

Yes, this is sort of my theory... Caleb is getting his strength from somehow channeling the same power that the Slayer uses. Doesn't explain why he is so massivly overpowered, though, unless he is getting it "pure", whereas Buffy and Faith both have the power that has trickled down through the years. What was the description... "It is not for thee, but for she alone"?

Buffy deserved everything she got, including the exile, IMHO, *but*, the exile wasn't *smart*. She deserved it, but it was pretty stupid to do.

It was good to see Willow finaly take a stand. Of all the characters in Buffy still alive, Willow is basicly the only one of them that really worked to be what they are. I have far more respect for Willow than Buffy, simply because, for better or for worse, everything Willow is today she did for herself. She's not the only one that has suffered... they all have. But Willow is the only one who has earned what she has.

Xander... Xander is broken. And not just physicly. It's... sad. Xander was the rock... the glue... He was the one person who would always bounce back. I'm not so sure now. And he was my favorite character. He tried to put up a good face, and I think his basic underlying "good guy" nature is still there (Evidence his reaction to the 'party'), but I think he's effectivly done as the Ultimate Innocent... he isn't, anymore.

Xander the seer? Maybe, but I think Anya is, in her own way, as skilled in that respect as Xander. Xander is a people person... He can smooth over feelings, patch broken hearts, etc. Anya is sort of the opposite... She won't fix anything, but she'll point out what's broken, in her blunt, vaugly 7-of-9-ish way.

Giles, I think, knows he screwed up with Spike a couple episodes ago. I think he has realized that. I don't think he terribly cares, though. He thinks that, right or wrong, the fact that he was trying to help should be enough to excuse what he did. I don't know that I agree, but I can see his point... He's at least trying something new, other than the old "lets through a few more SITs at this thing and get them killed while I figure things out" trick that Buffy is using.

Speaking of Spike... Spike wasn't bad, what I saw of him, though he seemed a bit too... I don't know, easy going, if anything, with what has happened to him.

Andrew was funny, as always... "breakup sex".

Faith I'm liking more and more. I've been liking her ever since her first appearance on Angel, and I think I'm firmly in the "pro faith" camp after this episode... Faith, if she ever got her problems under control, really would make a better slayer than Buffy, I think. Faith understands what 'the game' is actualy about. Buffy doesn't. People die, people get maimed, and Buffy just breaks further. She doesn't have the stuff to be a leader of people in combat, and she never really has had it... She has always reacted really poorly when forced to consider others. She's fine working on her own, but... Faith, I think, does.

Woods, I'm not sure about. I didn't like that he betrayed Buffy this episode... I honestly thought he was firmly in her camp, even after the spike bit... They might not see eye-to-eye, I thought they agreed on the basics. But the more I think about it... Woods is too nice, really. He hates spike with a vengence, but really, he is a pretty good guy. I think he sees that Buffy is doing too much harm to the SITs.

Eh. My 7 cents (Adjusted for inflation, and the fact this was a bit long and rambling)

 

[Tsyr]

Well, I'd have to disagree with you there. Have you been watching Angel? Faith has changed from who she was on Buffy in previous seasons.

Maybe what happened to Buffy was harsh, but charging in blindly into the vinyard again would have been just plain stupid.

Mmmm. Buffy keeps thinking that everyone is slacking off... When anyone can see that they are giving it everything they can give. They have been killed, maimed, and injured, all because they followed her, helped her, and tried their best. They don't have anything more to give. And she continues to give them crap, and act like she is somehow the best leader, just because she is the slayer and all... (When, by bloodline, she isn't... Faith is... Buffy has the powers, but isn't the Slayer. As I understand it, anyhow... After all, Buffy has died other times, and no new slayers popped up). I think she really had this comming to her.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Re: Long, rambling thoughts on this episode.

(snip)
Faith I'm liking more and more. I've been liking her ever since her first appearance on Angel, and I think I'm firmly in the "pro faith" camp after this episode... Faith, if she ever got her problems under control, really would make a better slayer than Buffy, I think. Faith understands what 'the game' is actualy about. Buffy doesn't. People die, people get maimed, and Buffy just breaks further. She doesn't have the stuff to be a leader of people in combat, and she never really has had it... She has always reacted really poorly when forced to consider others. She's fine working on her own, but... Faith, I think, does.

I agree with you on how cool Faith has become, but a better slayer than Buffy? The Mayor dangled a little paternal attention in front of her, and she abdicated her responsibility to the entire world. She murdered anyone who got in her way. Maybe she did come around to the side of the angels again. But who was saving the world while she was getting in touch with herself in jail? The REAL Slayer, that's who.

Can you blame Buffy for "breaking down" a bit? She's being put through the wringer, and she feels like the friends and allies that she has groomed for years to aid her are coming up short. She's always been the soldier, and now she's forced to be the commander ordering her friends to their deaths. It has been hammered home time and again on this show that her greatest strength is her love for and reliance on her friends, something no Slayer was ever allowed to have before. Remember how unenthused the Council was about the involvement of her friends? Heck, remember how uncomfortable Giles was with the whole thing to begin with? She's shown them all time after time that her way gets the job done better. And if it looks like it's not working now, then join me in a hearty "Let's all wait and see how this plays out." I'll give you better than even money it won't be Faith who does in the First in the end.

And Buffy not having the "stuff" to lead in combat? May I kindly refer you to the episodes Graduation Day and The Gift. Boo-ya.

 

[danzig138]

And she continues to give them crap, and act like she is somehow the best leader

In Buffy's defense about thinking she's the best leader, I seem to recall that not too long ago, people were puching her into a position of leadership, primarily Giles. So while Buffy's behavior hasn't been top-notch, I think that's partially due to her being put in a place she doesn't need to be in, doesn't want to be in, and wasn't built to be in. As for this episode, I liked the way it ended. Buffy has always been different from other slayers due to her support system, but in the end, I think this final battle should be just her. It just seems right to me, she isn't meant to lead an army, she's meant to battle the forces of darkness alone (except maybe with the guidance of her Watcher).

 

[John Crichton]

Re: Long, rambling thoughts on this episode.

It was good to see Willow finaly take a stand. Of all the characters in Buffy still alive, Willow is basicly the only one of them that really worked to be what they are. I have far more respect for Willow than Buffy, simply because, for better or for worse, everything Willow is today she did for herself. She's not the only one that has suffered... they all have. But Willow is the only one who has earned what she has.

I have to disagree with Anya's "earned" statements. Sure, Buffy didn't earn her powers but she has earned the right to continue to wield them, in spades. Xander's speach in the previous ep was much more in line than Anya's. However, because of the recent defeat and utter destruction they saw done by Caleb, everyone is thrown right now. The only ones that are still on target are probably Spike & Faith. Spike because he's attached to Buffy and because he seems to be thinking straight. Same goes for Faith as she is basically being herself at this point. More on her later.

Xander... Xander is broken. And not just physicly. It's... sad. Xander was the rock... the glue... He was the one person who would always bounce back. I'm not so sure now. And he was my favorite character. He tried to put up a good face, and I think his basic underlying "good guy" nature is still there (Evidence his reaction to the 'party'), but I think he's effectivly done as the Ultimate Innocent... he isn't, anymore.

Xander will bounce back. He's just never been this badly hurt before. And not only that but the thing that maimed him planted the heroine in one punch. That's never happened before. The ep I liken to The Empire Strikes Back because of its ominious feel and downer ending.

The whole group is coming apart and they took it out on Buffy because she made a bad judgement call (which is out of character for her, but she is rattled just like the rest).

Giles, I think, knows he screwed up with Spike a couple episodes ago. I think he has realized that. I don't think he terribly cares, though. He thinks that, right or wrong, the fact that he was trying to help should be enough to excuse what he did. I don't know that I agree, but I can see his point... He's at least trying something new, other than the old "lets through a few more SITs at this thing and get them killed while I figure things out" trick that Buffy is using.

Giles and Spike have never truely been at odds but the always seem to know what they have to do. They also know their place, even if it hurts them emotionally.

Faith I'm liking more and more. I've been liking her ever since her first appearance on Angel, and I think I'm firmly in the "pro faith" camp after this episode... Faith, if she ever got her problems under control, really would make a better slayer than Buffy, I think. Faith understands what 'the game' is actualy about. Buffy doesn't. People die, people get maimed, and Buffy just breaks further. She doesn't have the stuff to be a leader of people in combat, and she never really has had it... She has always reacted really poorly when forced to consider others. She's fine working on her own, but... Faith, I think, does.

I've liked Faith from the very start; good & bad Faith. As for her understanding "the game" for what it is, Buffy is still the best. Faith has seen the dark side but she gave in which makes her still weak. As for "breaking" during combat, Faith likes to hurt people. She has to get in that extra blow just for punishment, even now. That is not Buffy's style. Buffy is efficient and just enough to get the job done. Faith still needs to learn control. She teeters from rage to control too easily (witness her fights on Angel and the fight against the cops). She still holds back from time to time because she is scared of herself. This period is just a hiccup for Buffy while for Faith it is a massive adjustment.

Woods, I'm not sure about. I didn't like that he betrayed Buffy this episode... I honestly thought he was firmly in her camp, even after the spike bit... They might not see eye-to-eye, I thought they agreed on the basics. But the more I think about it... Woods is too nice, really. He hates spike with a vengence, but really, he is a pretty good guy. I think he sees that Buffy is doing too much harm to the SITs.

I believe that Woods simply sees that Buffy made an error in judgement by wanting to go back into the fray so quickly. What everyone else but the original Scoobs don't realize is that Buffy has a knack for figuring these things out and always has. However this time her enemy is way too prepared and nasty. Buffy is unnerved, has little to no support and is purely relying on herself.

So going with her guts in a natural reaction and through the life of the show it has gotten her though. But this time she is wrong but she doesn't know what else to do. She is panicked, she hasn't even waited for Spike & Andrew to come back with info just yet. She doesn't trust Giles, Willow has been destracted lately, Xander is injured and Spike isn't currently present. So the support people that have helped her in the past and have made her one of the more successful slayers (Slayers don't typically live that long according to the show) aren't on their game.

Add in all the additional lives that she has to deal with and that she has names (contrary to what Faith said) and faces to go along with them and the pressure just builds from there. I'm also pretty certain that Faith being there hasn't helped her psyche at all. Let's just say that Caleb "gave her a nudge."

We have already seen a small reconciliation between Giles & Buffy as they are now on speaking terms and at least she values what he has to say although she may not agree with it. I attribute the "big talk" as everyone being completely off their game, the SIT's getting fed up with Buffy's attitude towards them plus Buffy's one bad call. If she didn't barge in and bark those orders none of it would have happened. And since her support is gone at the moment she went back to what she has always done and relied on her gut because she is literally scare senseless.

I agree that that whole end talk felt a little rushed and unnatural but the show was building towards it, especially with last ep's massacre. It was designed to demoralize, scare and divide the group and it worked.

Tsyr: I quoted you but I don't disagree with everything you said. Yours was just the post that got me thinking.

:: edited for spelling & grammar ::

 

[KnowTheToe]

I thought this episode was weak, especially the final scene and Dawn's speech. All of these people have depended on and still depend on Buffy, while if written better the group intervention could have worked, but there is no way they would have kicked her out. They could have tryed to come up with their own plan, but Dawn's "You can't be here" crap was really bad and out of character.

Xander also annoyed me, Buffy just saved his life from the bug creature and he already forgot, that whole scene was either written or directed poorly.

Over all very little else happened this episode, the same as all of the previous episodes. This season has moved very slowly and lacks the proper tension for the storyline.

 

[Hand of Evil]

So-so show. Buffy has needed the kick in the pants, she also needed to be be told to go. It was for her own good and the good of the group. While in the past she was telling Xander and Willow she was the slayer and needed to work alone, this time she does. She is having judgement issues, you can see it with the way she is treating Xander, not knowing how to deal with her feeling and injury.

She needs to take some time and be by herself and see some things, not listening to others, not try to protect others, not worrying about them, not leading them.


>>>>>>>>>>>

Side note...found surfing

SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT
David Boreanaz — whose bloody brilliant WB drama Angel has yet to be picked up for a fifth season — has signed on to play the lead bad guy in the fourth installment of the Crow film series, titled Wicked Prayer. "I didn't even know there was a third [Crow movie]," Boreanaz laughs. (Don't feel bad. I didn't either.) Dennis Hopper and Eddie Furlong co-star in pic, which starts shooting in June.