See you in a while...

[elisi]

Since my parents are arriving tomorrow (and staying for a week) I will be scarce around these parts. I'll probably be able to skim my flist most days, but don't expect any comments. So those of you in need of hugs, consider yourselves well and truly squeezed! :)

Also I've been tagged to do at least 3 meme's, which I will try to get round to next week... if I remember. My views on books and films are hardly thrilling reading anyway.

Totally unrelated to any of this, Darcy finished making Impish Girl's bed yesterday, so we're finally on our way to get the girls' bedroom sorted! (He's very clever when it comes to DIY etc. - I don't know what I'd without him.)

And just to leave you with something...



A thought on the alley-beating in Dead Things:
After reading molly_may's recent (and excellent) review of OAFA, I started thinking about the Alley-scene in DT. And about Buffy, motivations, slayerness etc. Now a Slayer is an ordinary girl imbued with 'the spirit of the Demon'... which in some ways sounds extremely close to the definition of a vampire (except she isn't dead). The demon-essence is somehow a part of her, and she uses it instinctively. But is it good or bad - or neutral? That darkness inside, does it come from the demon or is it just the darkness that every human has the potential for? Maybe both. But I think that usually 'the girl-part' holds the reins. Yes Buffy likes to solve her problems by hitting things, but not excessively unless she's very troubled. Her beating of the (*cough*lame*cough*) snake-demon when her mother is ill would be one such instance (I could also go into Faith's story, but I don't have the time).

Now when it comes to that alley-scene, firstly I think that Buffy is very confused and probably not really 'with it' 100%. She's desperately trying to 'do the right thing', to be that girl she wants to be, that she hopes she still is. (And of course it's also a way to escape from her problems.) Enter Spike. Spike who reminds her just by his presence how far from a 'good girl' she has moved. Spike - her accomplice, who has 'taken care of it'. And yes, when she has a problem, she has a tendency to go for a round of 'kick the Spike'... and this time he invites her, asks her to do it. But then - then he says: "That's my girl!" And that's her fear - that she's becoming the thing she should kill. Of course, with every blow she cements the truth - she *IS* his girl, she's letting her demon out, taking what she wants, not caring for anyone else.
She's the Slayer, she has power and strength beyond anyone else, but she's supposed to be guided by her humanity, not her demon. "You always hurt the one you love..." Does she love him? And what would it say about her if she did? If she let herself? Why does an 'evil, soulless vampire' understand her better than she does herself?

ETA: I think Buffy's conversation with Tara was a catalyst. She was telling herself that the whole thing with Spike was 'because she came back wrong' and as such refused to really take any sort of responsibility. But knowing that 'it was her all along', probably made her reasses the relationship in some way. I'm sure there must have been some sort of re-conciliation between DT and OAFA, and she's flirting with Spike rather a lot during her party... I think she's trying to see if it *could* work, probably remembering that she kissed him *before* she knew that the chip didn't work - she was attracted to him *before* it became screwed up. Of course then SGR (Stupid Git Riley) comes along and tramples all over it, but for a while there, she's at least trying to consider a 'real' relationship. Could she be his girl?

No idea if any of that made sense, I've just been pondering this for a few days and wrote it down all in one go. Anyway, I hope there was something vaguely interesting in amongst all the waffling.

Comments

[fishsanwitt]

*Extremely* interesting! ::hugs::

[elisi]

Thanks - it feels like one of those episodes that's been analysed to bits. ::hugs::

[fishsanwitt]

What I really love about *your* reviews is that you work it through the way *I* would, so I *totally* relate to that :)

[elisi]

Yay for shared brains! :)

[marsterslady.livejournal.com]

Have a good week with your parents. I'll miss you!

[elisi]

Thank you - I'll lurk when I can! (And I wish you a bug-free week!)

[molly_may]

She was telling herself that the whole thing with Spike was 'because she came back wrong' and as such refused to really take any sort of responsibility. But knowing that 'it was her all along', probably made her reasses the relationship in some way

Yes, I think you're exactly right about that. When she accepted that it was really *her* doing all these things, I think it changed her perspective on her relationship with Spike, leading to the flirtiness in OaFA and then eventually to their breakup.

Have fun with your parents!

[elisi]

It was a point I'd never really considered before (which is rather strange, really, seeing how much I love those episodes...), but it does ring true.

And I'm sure I'll have a nice time with my parents. Thank you. :)

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

Late as usual but have a lovely time with your parents!
Interesting ideas as ever! It is such a big gap between the two episodes, isn't it? A lot must have happened in a week.
She's desperately trying to 'do the right thing', to be that girl she wants to be, that she hopes she still is.
It might be interesting to compare Spike and Dawn in this episode too; Buffy trying to do the 'right thing' but perhaps she doesn't do the right thing by her sister or him?

[elisi]

Late as usual but have a lovely time with your parents!
Thanks - I am. :)

A lot must have happened in a week.
I must look up and see if anyone's written any good FitB's... except for 'Buffy Summer's Diary' of course.

perhaps she doesn't do the right thing by her sister or him?
Oh dear, I suspect there could be a whole essay in that...