Tonight on Buffy

[rm]

So we just watched "Living Conditions" and "The Harsh Light of Day" and woah, I have a lot to say.

1. Now I know why people write Giles/Xander.
2. Xander's sexual decision making process -- you know, it's funny, but it also sort of annoys me that we've got this male fantasy of dudes just stumbling into the ready availability of sex and then just being random about it.
3. Buffy! Buffy can't catch a fucking break. That shit with Parker was realistic, but will Buffy ever get laid and not get punished for it?
4. Go Willow for being sex positive.
5. Okay, previously Spike's appearances were sort of appealing, even though he was evil. Now he's just an abuser. And he's still sexy. Hi, I'm uncomfortable.
6. OMG THAT FUCKING RING CHANGES EVERYTHING.
7. Okay, not really.
8. I mean, if he wanted to, Angel could still kill himself, but the situation becomes much more Jack-like.
9. Although I suppose one of the main reasons for the ring device is that it would be really nice to shoot in goddamn daylight on Angel.

Over all, I found myself in a funny mood after these episodes. Wistful, sad, annoyed, turned on. Effective, and yet it's hard to say why. They're not exceptional episodes, but they really capture something don't they? Also, great use of music.

Comments

[marcmagus]

You've just accomplished something, in passing, that I'm not sure I've ever seen anybody do before. You've talked about your own arousal without doing so in a way that inherently made it about your reader's arousal or lack thereof. I'm not exactly sure that what I'm getting at makes sense, but I do think there's something there.

So, I'm impressed with your writing. Again.

[ravenskye8.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to say I am enjoying reading about you discovering Buffy/Angel... it's fun... I haven't commented on it because I don't want to spoil it for you with a "oh, if you think that, just wait until you see this", which I have said in my head just about every time you post... :)

[vichan.livejournal.com]

I've been having these exact same thoughts at these posts and have been unable to open my mouth, just out of fear of spoilage.

[sevendayloan.livejournal.com]

Third'd!

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

And again!

Very much enjoying seeing afresh!

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

1. Now I know why people write Giles/Xander.

I still haven't been able to figure this one out.

3. Buffy! Buffy can't catch a fucking break. That shit with Parker was realistic, but will Buffy ever get laid and not get punished for it?

Yes. (And, I was asking myself the same question at that point.)

5. Okay, previously Spike's appearances were sort of appealing, even though he was evil. Now he's just an abuser. And he's still sexy. Hi, I'm uncomfortable.

This is just "the story of Spike".

Personally, the first part of Buffy S4 is my least favourite era of the whole show. All the women suddenly seem to become needy and desperate -- and while all of us (regardless of gender) probably go through periods when we feel like this, having it happen ALL AT ONCE to so many different women just made me unhappy. I liked the first few epiosdes of Angel S1 a lot better.

[deza.livejournal.com]

My favorite Buffy ep of all time is "Silence." I think it really highlights the acting abilities of the cast. My second favorite is "Once More, With Feeling" just for the sheer campiness of it. You'll understand when you get there. ;)

And yes, the Buffy wannabee in the icon is my daughter. There are much worse role models for her out there.

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

Bitty Buffies, unite! :-D

I agree with you on the role model, bit.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Haahahahaha Harmony is one of the Best! Secondary! Characters! Ever! on that show. Seriously. My love for that girl runs deep. Unlike Harmony herself.

[ophymirage.livejournal.com]

two to turn, one for food! She really is an awesome character...

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Haaahaha AND I DON'T NEED YOU TO COMPLETE ME, SPIKE!

[eac.livejournal.com]

5. Okay, previously Spike's appearances were sort of appealing, even though he was evil. Now he's just an abuser. And he's still sexy. Hi, I'm uncomfortable.

That's Spike in a nutshell.

It's really fun watching you watch these. :)

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

EFFULGENT!

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

effulgent icon is effulgent

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

HALFREK! \o/ hee!

[capulet-rose.livejournal.com]

Spoilers, kids, spoilers. ;D

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

So you're not watching Angel, or not at the moment, right? Because at least in the first season things sync up from time to time--like the gem of Amara.

[rm.livejournal.com]

No we are. We started Angel yesterday, and are watching them alternating according to a list some people linked.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool. I wish we'd done it that way when we watched them.

[dabhug.livejournal.com]

This is the best way. Because even when you think they are done syncing up, there are still things that matter.

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

i find myself ridiculously excited for you getting to watch s4 & 5 for the 1st time! OMG WAIT UNTIL "HUSH" !!!

[capulet-rose.livejournal.com]

I love that you're enjoying the series and getting the deeper meaning behind the storyline.

I won't lie-- Torchwood is great but BtVS will always have my heart. <3

I think you might enjoy Herself's fanfiction. Especially Manhattan Nocturne.

I don't think there's any spoilers in Manhattan Nocturne for as far as you've gotten in the series because it's set in the past but you may want to wait if you wish to check out the rest of her work.

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

I will second this rec (and I think herself_nyc is on your flist, aye? her fic is awesome) with the caveat that I think you should wait until the jumping off point in canon (s6) for everything except for "Let's Get Lost," which takes place between s2 & s3 and is my favorite Spuffy fic ever. Hands down. Also, full of all the Old NYC things that you love.

[elisi]

::waits for you to watch 'In The Dark'::

ETA: Now he's just an abuser. And he's still sexy. Hi, I'm uncomfortable.
Poor little lost Spike-y, he's got no one to love.

;)

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

1) Shoot me, stuff me, mount me.

3) Everyone gets punished for sex.
Joss Whedon's philosophy of sex, as set down in the sacred text of Buffy: 1) Sex is bad 2) All vamps are gay. 3) Sexbots are hot.

[paulshandy.livejournal.com]

I didn't think any of the vampires were gay, but a couple did appear to be bisexual.

[firefly124.livejournal.com]

Okay, previously Spike's appearances were sort of appealing, even though he was evil. Now he's just an abuser. And he's still sexy. Hi, I'm uncomfortable.

This would be why I've never been a Spike fangirl despite thinking he's a very intriguing character and is among the reasons I've always been incredibly squicked by Spuffy. It's also one of the reasons why, when fellow Buffy fen were all, "But you have to watch Torchwood now. Spike's on it! Well, he's not Spike anymore, but kinda!" my answer was, "Then you need to give me some reason to watch in spite of that."

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

will Buffy ever get laid and not get punished for it?

My problem with BtVS in a nutshell.

No, wait, I had seventy zillion other problems with it too... but that was a big one.

previously Spike's appearances were sort of appealing, even though he was evil. Now he's just an abuser. And he's still sexy. Hi, I'm uncomfortable.

"Harsh Light of Day" was not his best moment. I sort of retcon it as the writers not really knowing what to do with him without Drusilla, because he's such a romantic normally. (Also a vampire who kills people and has no intrinsic sense of morality, but still a romantic. His cruelty to Harmony seemed OOC to me.) YMMV, of course--people probably still fight to the death over this.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

::squees::

::bites tongue to avoid spoiling::

I can't wait to rec you some Buffy and Angel vids. There's some fantastic stuff out there. BtVS was the fandom that brought vidding into its own, IMNSHO.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Okay, previously Spike's appearances were sort of appealing, even though he was evil. Now he's just an abuser. And he's still sexy. Hi, I'm uncomfortable.

a. There it is. In a nutshell.
b. Oh, just you wait.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

ning what everyone else has said. And yeah - sometimes the insides of our minds aren't PC :/

[sevendayloan.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're onto season four now, nice! I can't quite remember, but I think Anya comes back in one of those episodes, right? I have no idea when I grew to love her so much, but she's one of my favorite characters now.

Also, yeahh, that's Spike in a nutshell.

spike

[(Anonymous)]

As for Buffy getting punished for sex. Joss Whedon actually talks about it in the commentaries for the sex episodes (Angel and Parker) and he even kind of apologizes. Says he didn't really mean for her to keep getting punished for having sex but that the plotlines were in place already. At least I think he says this stuff in commentaries, it has been years since I watched them. Also, I would recommend any of the commentaries that Joss does because they can be informative, and when they're not they are pretty funny.

Sorry for the anonymous post. I don't post a lot on the net, don't like to get involved in the arguing.

[paulshandy.livejournal.com]

I think two things need to be remembered.

First, the Spike-Buffy relationship was intended to be shown as abusive; that was the authorial intent. It was the fans that thought it was a romance. Jennifer Cruisie has an article on this topic in the essays section of her website that I both disagree with and reccommend. I hope I spelled her name right. If not, search "Welcome to Temptation" which was the title of one of her novels.

Second, sex leading to punishment for Buffy is an unfortunate consequence of dramatic requirments, and shouldn't be considered the philosophy of Joss Whedon. Pain = drama. If Buffy was happy, less drama. And I submit that Buffy was not punished for having sex with Riley, lots of sex with Riley. The trouble with their relationship was from other sources.

And for the record, I watched BtVS in this order: Season 4,5,1,2,3,6,7. It was kinda cool watching season 3 and thinking, wow, was that foreshadowing on purpose or not? I watched it in that order because the fan who introduced me thought S5 was her favorite, but we had to watch S4 first to understand it.