Damn.

[elisi]

So, yesterday I linked to the cover for issue 7 of S8, because it featured a very handsome Giles. I was however v. tired and didn't actually read the summary. (Didn't realise that it was supposed to be Faith next to him either...)

As you probably know, I've been clinging to the Faith-arc, because there was no way Joss could mess *her* up, right?

Faith’s out to kill a Slayer.

Lady Genevieve Savidge is one of the most dangerous women on the planet. If she’s left unstopped, the British heiress will usher in the apocalypse. Faith has accepted Giles’s offer of an early retirement package for this gig — but the wetworks will have to wait till she’s infiltrated Savidge’s mystically protected estate.

THE HELL?? Unless that is some very clever misdirection (which is possible of course and is the one straw I'm clinging to), then I honestly don't know what happened to the character I love. Faith has a PROBLEM with killing people - there was this whole 'going evil and then seeking redemption' thing, right? But I could cope with that - just - if she was doing it 'for the common good'... rogue Slayers are dangerous, Faith knows that better than anyone. There could be interesting things done with that. But doing it 'for early retirement'???? What Faith would that be? The one who loved knitting and dreamt of having a house full of rug rats?

I am so baffled that... well I don't have the words. Maybe it's my cue to just walk away althogether. Sorry S8 lovers, but there's only so much I can put up with.

Maybe Joss got brainsucked by Glory?

*deep sigh*

At least Doctor Who has suddenly become awesome and brilliant and full of layers and themes and stuff, exploring all sorts of fascinating issues. *goes back to SHINY show and CANON Buffy*

ETA: Ok, so maybe it will be more like follows:

Giles: I need a Slayer dead. Faith, I trust you can do it, you have killed before. Also you already have a criminal record.
Faith: 'Scuse me?
Giles: I have prepared a generous retirement package for you, as a thank you for services rendered. If however you decide to decline, the police might just discover where you've been hiding out...

Or, you know, something along those lines. Stupid comics.

Comments

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Agree with stormwreath that this is just a blurb and may be completely off-target, and I'll definitely give it a read, but still...

Last time we saw Faith, she was deeply sorry for what she'd done and deeply committed to atoning for it. IE: she wanted to do LESS bad and MORE good.

ANGEL: Faith, listen to me. You saw me drink. It doesn't get much lower than that. And I thought I could make up for it by disappearing.
FAITH: I did my time.
ANGEL: Our time is never up, Faith. We pay for everything.
FAITH: It hurts.
ANGEL: I know. I know.

Now, according to the blurb, she's being offered to do LESS good and the only thing she has to do is to do a little MORE bad first? I gotta say, as motivations go, "you'll get to kill people AND run away again! Yay!" doesn't seem to be at the top of her list. But hey, we'll have to see how correct that blurb is I guess...

And it would be a good chance for some Dark!Giles, I guess. The few glimpses of him that we've gotten so far seems to suggest that he's still the one making the hard - almost Wesley-like - decisions behind the scenes (and Buffy's back?)

[elisi]

this is just a blurb and may be completely off-target, and I'll definitely give it a read, but still...
As I said, it managed to turn my excitement into dread. Again proving that the less I think about S8 the happier I am.

Now, according to the blurb, she's being offered to do LESS good and the only thing she has to do is to do a little MORE bad first? I gotta say, as motivations go, "you'll get to kill people AND run away again! Yay!" doesn't seem to be at the top of her list.
You're very good at the nut-shell stuff!

And it would be a good chance for some Dark!Giles, I guess.
Oh yes! Ripper is always welcome. :)

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Oh yes! Ripper is always welcome. :)

Agreed, and it would be so easy to make me more interested in this, to have a lot of Ripper AND Faith angst. All it takes is one little change:

Faith has accepted Giles’s offer to not have to take an early retirement package in exchange for this gig.

Giles telling her that she doesn't fit in, but that if she does this, he'll make sure her police records are NOT accidentally leaked or somesuch... Now THAT'S a plot bunny. Let's hope it's Joss's, too.

The 18 months between is a good point, but still, it would be nice if not EVERY SINGLE character arc depended on "well, stuff happened between 'Chosen' and 'Long Way Home' that we're not telling you about." Because at some point, everyone will just start to look OOC if we don't get a good explanation. And after the Amy/Warren thing, I'm not really trusting them to explain stuff.

[elisi]

Now THAT'S a plot bunny. Let's hope it's Joss's, too.
It most certainly is a great bunny! *crosses fingers*

it would be nice if not EVERY SINGLE character arc depended on "well, stuff happened between 'Chosen' and 'Long Way Home' that we're not telling you about."
As I said further down, I *still* don't know why Buffy chose to go live in that castle.

[tessarin.livejournal.com]

God I hope the blurb is wrong as it would be the final straw for me as far as the comics go. Running away is precisely what Faith wouldn't do on her path to redemption its what she spent he whole life up to now doing. The blurb is basically character assasination of both Giles and Faith imho that Giles could be so callous to Faith after grooming her and being sympathetic in S7.

I agree the motivations politely suck and if true just confirm opinion that Joss' ego has gone of the deep end for all that BKV is writing this.