Reviews of s8 issue 4.

[elisi]

Realised that for some reason I forgot to put these up. This time I've ordered them in groups:

I've got a theory...
Excellent summary and analysis by moscow_watcher.

Canon-y goodness yay!

Indepth review by stormwreath

Review and meta by aycheb

*shrug* (a mixed bag...)

Review by beer_good_foamy

Review by yourlibrarian

Review by confusedkayt

Review by shapinglight

Review/rant by ruuger

wtf?

Review by sp23


Um... thedeadlyhook? molly_may? Any thoughts at all? Or are you just paralysed with not caring anymore?


But I have a theory of my own... Because lets face it, Buffy looks *nothing* like she did on the show (who is this round-faced, button-nosed young woman people keep addressing as Buffy?). So, I think the real Buffy (and the real Dawn) are in Rome. This Buffy (and Dawn) are from a parallel universe, where incidents not entirely unlike those in 'our verse' took place, but with the odd differences of course [insert ret-cons]. Oh and Willow mindwiped everyone so they *think* this is the real Buffy. :)

*has brainwave*

When they brought the other Buffy and Dawn through, parallel!Amy and parallel!Warren hitched a ride. That, I think, explains everything! My theory is neat! *g*

Comments

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

This is (almost) totally off subject but are you familiar with 'Elfquest'?

Actually, I'd say that's very on-subject. Yes, I have! It's a fabulous story with a huge cast of characters, an epic storyline, and intense emotions... in other words, everything Buffy Season 8 *could've* been.

[elisi]

Actually, I'd say that's very on-subject.
Well it is if you've read it - for all the reasons you mention. Elfquest was my pre-Buffy obsession (I've spent *so* much money on it! And years trying to draw the characters) and it is still something I adore. (Incidentally, compare Cutter and Spike...)

I thought about it now, because I was introduced to those comics by my cousins when I was... 12? Some time later I found a single issue in a bookshop and talked my mother into buying it, and for 2 or 3 years that was the only Elfquest thing I owned. The issue in question was 'The Forbidden Grove' and I loved it to distraction (and still do). I couldn't remember how the story began or ended, I just knew that I loved these characters and this world. Then they started re-publishing them and I bought them month after month even though I had next to nil money. But - how could I not?

Elfquest has something that I've come to realise is v. important to me: Moments. Single moments that just make you catch your breath because they're so intense/profound/deep/romantic/etc. BtVS and AtS overflow with them. Doctor Who usually has at least *one* every episode, and it'll make even the most throw-away story worthwhile. S8 (so far at least) does not have a single one. And I can't understand it - where have they gone? There are fics that have such moments, and I find myself re-reading them again and again. And as a fic writer, I find myself being struck by such moments myself, and often try to structure my stories around them (of course it's never guaranteed that they work for other people too, but that's a gamble I'm willing to take. *g*).

It just saddens me that Joss has lost... something.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

It just saddens me that Joss has lost... something.

I think it's two things: his plots have gotten more "season-focused" to the point of neglecting individual arcs, and he's stopped slowing down to let us feel the characters' reactions to what they're going through anymore. I've found all the character moments in S8 to be very superficial - either feel-good jokey dialogue, or a brief, confusing glimpse of someone's internal monologue, and then the story moves on. Whereas in the show, you used to get whole episodes about how a single character feels in reaction to an event and those were the big moments. Especially in the early episodes, everything in a single story would support the overall theme - the monsters of the week would back up the emotional saga, such as in, say, "Beauty and the Beasts," where you get Buffy's feelings about Angel's return, Willow's feelings about Oz, and the poor girl with the abusive boyfriend who turns into a monster to tie it all up. But what's the emotional thread in S8 so far? Buffy's vague ennui?

[elisi]

Buffy's vague ennui?
*snicker*

But yes, you're right. So much so that I'm struggling to think of anything to add - you've formulated my thoughts exactly. Joss used to be all about manipulating events to hit you with the ultimate emotional knock-out. (And by Jove it worked - I stopped watching the show for a *year* after Becoming.)

Now he seems to be using Buffy to put across a message about strong women... (her speech really irks me).

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

(her speech really irks me)

Agreed; it makes Buffy look a stereotypicaly shrill feminist. Which is then compounded by then having the general tells her she's wrong, and that his problem is about their having superpowers. So... if it's not about them hating women, why have Buffy bring it up? To point out that she's prone to jumping to conclusions?

But that's the thing - once, I would've been able to follow the emotional thread of what a moment like that meant, because I'd know what the story was shooting for, and where the characters' heads were at. You'd have had mirroring between Buffy's story, and Willow's, or Dawn's... yadda yadda. Now, though? (shrug)

[elisi]

To point out that she's prone to jumping to conclusions?
Well she does tend to turn everything into revolving around *her* problems... *g*

I'd know what the story was shooting for, and where the characters' heads were at. You'd have had mirroring between Buffy's story, and Willow's, or Dawn's... yadda yadda. Now, though? (shrug)
*sigh* Who knows, maybe all will be made clear? The thing is - if only Buffy looked like Buffy everything would be so much easier to get into. But because she looks wrong there's like a screen between the story and me. It's like a story that insists on calling her 'Elizabeth' - it snaps me out of it every single time.

[mikeygs.livejournal.com]

It's like a story that insists on calling her 'Elizabeth' - it snaps me out of it every single time.

:P I thought I was the only with that peeve. You see it *so* much...

BTW, you wouldn't happen to have a link to issues 2 and 3, would you? I don't seem to have them on my drive anymore... possibly due to a bit of a drunken defiance, I don't know. :o)

[elisi]

:P I thought I was the only with that peeve.
Oh no! *g*

BTW, you wouldn't happen to have a link to issues 2 and 3, would you?
Well I was thinking of uploading them all together anyway... give it a while. :)