buffy s7 cont'd
Apr. 8th, 2009 01:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rivendellroseThe marathoning of Buffy season 7 continues!
The early part of this season is full of the same sort of bleakness that season 6 had, but I feel... less struck down by it, in a lot of ways? I think that's because the characters, in a very real way, have all grown up a lot. In season 6 the main theme seemed to be "welcome to the real world - it sucks." The monsters were often very human, and sometimes they were people we'd come to like - for instance, Jonathan, and, in the end of the 6th season, even Willow. This season, we still get human monsters in the sense that there are still people trying to summon demons and so on, but the characters have come to terms with the ideas of being an adult. Sometimes when you defeat the baddies, people still die. You can't save everyone. And then there's the whole bucket of adult choices that go along with the whole situation surrounding Anya, and likewise with Spike.
Honestly, though, my favorite thing so far has been that all the characters, despite having grown up and changed a lot in the last seven years, are still themselves. Buffy still panics and then buckles down and does whatever she needs, Willow's back to being her off-beat, geeky self, Xander still hates Spike, still jumps to conclusions, and is still occasionally right about them... and there have been fabulous tiny little references all through the first half of the season that jump out to say "yes, we do remember that thing that happened five years ago!" Which makes me very happy. Consistency, both of plot and of character, has always been one of my favorite things about Joss Whedon's work, and it's making me especially gleeful after dealing with a certain show whose name starts with T and ends with -orchwood. :P It's so comforting to come back to writers who know their characters, and write them as definitely growing and changing, but staying the same people. Two years in, I'd still be hard-pressed to list more than a few concrete attributes about any of the Torchwood characters. Here, Willow still slips into her teenage self whenever she's stressed or worried, Buffy still can't lie, Dawn is still the best liar on the show (and, also, still jealous of Buffy), Xander is still absurdly jealous and possessive... And just when I'm thinking "hey, this is like that time Xander got hit with a love-spell that made him irresistible to women," they refer to it. Because they remember. They care, and it's beautiful. ♥
"Conversations with Dead People" = further proof that Jane Espenson is one of the most awesome people ever. I loved this episode.
Let's see... Oh. I'm really glad I'm not seeing this in first run, for the record, because the two full episodes where we're left unsure of whether or not Giles still has his head attached to his body would have driven me totally bugfuck. I was twitchy enough even knowing he'd be coming back. Also, stupidly, I was very sad that Lydia was among the Watchers killed when the building exploded. I really liked her the one other time she showed up. Quentin Travers, however, I was downright pleased to see exploded... Harris Yulin did a lovely job of being unlikeable in that part. :D
Lots of other familiar faces in this season so far - it was great seeing Joyce again, and Dru as well, and Warren and Jonathan. I, personally, detest the character of Andrew - he's being handled well, but he's like nails on a blackboard for me, so... not happy about that.
Speaking of nails on a blackboard, where did Joss' casting director find the girls who play the two "British" mini-slayers? In all of LA, were those really the most convincing accents he could find, or was he just not paying attention? I know they're young, but... sheesh. Get a dialect coach, if necessary, or just, y'know, make them from somewhere else. Because that was annoying as all hell.
Oh, and I hate Kennedy. I know she and Willow get together (can you say "rebound?"), but... blehhh. Bleh, bleh, bleh. So far I've only just met her, so I'm hoping she develops some more likeable characteristics, but... bleh.
Tracy (...okay, fine, Jonathan Woodward. I know his name, I just can't be bothered...) had a nice appearance, playing what I think was probably his most entertaining and interesting character in Jossverse. Ever-so-slightly ruined by the fact that we all know of course he'll be evil - he's Tracy! But I enjoyed it very much.
Massive acting props, as usual, to James Marsters - he's really been carrying the dramatic weight of this season, and every scene has been well-played, very alive and real. Lovely work. Everyone else has been very good, too, of course, but he's certainly had more breadth and opportunity to show off, and he's lived up to every minute of it. The high percentage of shirtless!Spike so far is also nice.
Unfortunately, I'm spoiled on a lot of stuff that happens in this season, so the whole "Oooo, Professor Wood is EEEEEEVUL!!" thing is totally failing to do anything but amuse me. I'm sure I'd usually be totally caught up in it, particularly given the history of the show, but... it lacks something when you already know what's going on.
Anyway. About half a season left to go, I think? Maybe more... I've gotten so used to British TV that I forget sometimes that American seasons are longer. Yay. Anyway, hoping to be all caught up and refreshed by the time we go to the Buffy trivia night next Friday. XD
The early part of this season is full of the same sort of bleakness that season 6 had, but I feel... less struck down by it, in a lot of ways? I think that's because the characters, in a very real way, have all grown up a lot. In season 6 the main theme seemed to be "welcome to the real world - it sucks." The monsters were often very human, and sometimes they were people we'd come to like - for instance, Jonathan, and, in the end of the 6th season, even Willow. This season, we still get human monsters in the sense that there are still people trying to summon demons and so on, but the characters have come to terms with the ideas of being an adult. Sometimes when you defeat the baddies, people still die. You can't save everyone. And then there's the whole bucket of adult choices that go along with the whole situation surrounding Anya, and likewise with Spike.
Honestly, though, my favorite thing so far has been that all the characters, despite having grown up and changed a lot in the last seven years, are still themselves. Buffy still panics and then buckles down and does whatever she needs, Willow's back to being her off-beat, geeky self, Xander still hates Spike, still jumps to conclusions, and is still occasionally right about them... and there have been fabulous tiny little references all through the first half of the season that jump out to say "yes, we do remember that thing that happened five years ago!" Which makes me very happy. Consistency, both of plot and of character, has always been one of my favorite things about Joss Whedon's work, and it's making me especially gleeful after dealing with a certain show whose name starts with T and ends with -orchwood. :P It's so comforting to come back to writers who know their characters, and write them as definitely growing and changing, but staying the same people. Two years in, I'd still be hard-pressed to list more than a few concrete attributes about any of the Torchwood characters. Here, Willow still slips into her teenage self whenever she's stressed or worried, Buffy still can't lie, Dawn is still the best liar on the show (and, also, still jealous of Buffy), Xander is still absurdly jealous and possessive... And just when I'm thinking "hey, this is like that time Xander got hit with a love-spell that made him irresistible to women," they refer to it. Because they remember. They care, and it's beautiful. ♥
"Conversations with Dead People" = further proof that Jane Espenson is one of the most awesome people ever. I loved this episode.
Let's see... Oh. I'm really glad I'm not seeing this in first run, for the record, because the two full episodes where we're left unsure of whether or not Giles still has his head attached to his body would have driven me totally bugfuck. I was twitchy enough even knowing he'd be coming back. Also, stupidly, I was very sad that Lydia was among the Watchers killed when the building exploded. I really liked her the one other time she showed up. Quentin Travers, however, I was downright pleased to see exploded... Harris Yulin did a lovely job of being unlikeable in that part. :D
Lots of other familiar faces in this season so far - it was great seeing Joyce again, and Dru as well, and Warren and Jonathan. I, personally, detest the character of Andrew - he's being handled well, but he's like nails on a blackboard for me, so... not happy about that.
Speaking of nails on a blackboard, where did Joss' casting director find the girls who play the two "British" mini-slayers? In all of LA, were those really the most convincing accents he could find, or was he just not paying attention? I know they're young, but... sheesh. Get a dialect coach, if necessary, or just, y'know, make them from somewhere else. Because that was annoying as all hell.
Oh, and I hate Kennedy. I know she and Willow get together (can you say "rebound?"), but... blehhh. Bleh, bleh, bleh. So far I've only just met her, so I'm hoping she develops some more likeable characteristics, but... bleh.
Tracy (...okay, fine, Jonathan Woodward. I know his name, I just can't be bothered...) had a nice appearance, playing what I think was probably his most entertaining and interesting character in Jossverse. Ever-so-slightly ruined by the fact that we all know of course he'll be evil - he's Tracy! But I enjoyed it very much.
Massive acting props, as usual, to James Marsters - he's really been carrying the dramatic weight of this season, and every scene has been well-played, very alive and real. Lovely work. Everyone else has been very good, too, of course, but he's certainly had more breadth and opportunity to show off, and he's lived up to every minute of it. The high percentage of shirtless!Spike so far is also nice.
Unfortunately, I'm spoiled on a lot of stuff that happens in this season, so the whole "Oooo, Professor Wood is EEEEEEVUL!!" thing is totally failing to do anything but amuse me. I'm sure I'd usually be totally caught up in it, particularly given the history of the show, but... it lacks something when you already know what's going on.
Anyway. About half a season left to go, I think? Maybe more... I've gotten so used to British TV that I forget sometimes that American seasons are longer. Yay. Anyway, hoping to be all caught up and refreshed by the time we go to the Buffy trivia night next Friday. XD
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no subject
Date: 2009-04-08 09:34 pm (UTC)I was so excited to see Lydia, have you seen that thing somewhere online where someone(s) have writen her thesis on Spike, so awesome!
Don't get me started on the 'british' potentials, I mean srsly wtf?!? I was glad one of them ran off so at least it was one less excruciatingly bad accent to listen too. Of course they sound even worse, next to ASH and his real accent! Kennedy is, not as bad as I thought she would be. Having only visions of the fandom as reference before, she was a lot better than expected, but she's no Tara. And it's not fair that she gets to be more involved than the other potentials because she's doing Willow.
But no, season 7 is shaping up to be pretty good IMO, I know pretty much everything that happens, but it's the nice little moments that make it, just the characters goofing out :)
no subject
Date: 2009-04-08 11:21 pm (UTC)Yes! I need to find that thing again - it was a lovely little piece of work. ♥
I just kept picturing poor ASH sitting off-camera after those scenes, head in his hands, rocking and muttering about what an awful headache he had. Because, seriously, they were giving me a headache from gritting my teeth. :P
It really is the little bits that make it all work, when you're spoiled. Even though I know the major points, I'm loving all the little things I wouldn't expect.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-08 11:26 pm (UTC)Oh poor ASH, he was probably feeling like Giles after being forced to the Bronze!
Have you been watching Dollhouse?
no subject
Date: 2009-04-08 11:42 pm (UTC)I keep hoping he'll have some scenes with James Marsters - in interviews they always seem to be something of buddies, and (whether or not that's true) the characters are awesome together.
No... I've been avoiding it, honestly. I'm not the biggest Eliza Dushku fan in the world, and some of the stuff I've heard about the show itself has been scaring me. Have you?
no subject
Date: 2009-04-08 11:48 pm (UTC)Yeah I have. And yeah I read the scary stuff too, and there is some truth in that. I don't know, i've been trying not to look too deeply into it really. It's ok, no where near as good as Firfly or Buffy IMO though. And Eliza Dushku, she's grown on me a little.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-08 11:56 pm (UTC)I can see how she'd grow on you - she's definitely good as Faith, and I can easily imagine she'd be good at other stuff. I just... never quite got attached to her as Faith. I loved her and the Mayor, though - that whole relationship was awesome. Absurdly cute evil!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-09 12:01 am (UTC)I havn't got to the cute evil in s3 yet. But Faith is hard to get attached to, she's written that way, though she has her moments.
oh and I just remembered best Spike thinmg ever, getting hot chocolate from Joyce and romance advice!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-09 12:15 am (UTC)Very true. She's well-written, well-acted, even sympathetic... just... kind of hard to get attached to, exactly.
Yes! Spike and Joyce were so awesome together. I always loved how Joyce hated Angel, but Spike? Spike she adored. Because he was always a perfect gentleman to her... and because he's damned charming when he wants to be. ;)
no subject
Date: 2009-04-08 10:55 pm (UTC)Oh, we might have some others showing up to that as well. Just us girls from the apartment building, though. ^___^
no subject
Date: 2009-04-08 11:22 pm (UTC)