![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Buffy, Season 5
This was a great ending to a great season.
I loved the scene before the credits, with Buffy saving Random Dude from a vampire. After being catatonic in the previous episode, it's nice to remind the viewer how much she kicked ass. I particularly loved this exchange:
RANDOM DUDE: Y-you're just a girl....
BUFFY: That's what I keep saying.
I really thought, throughout the episode, that Buffy decided she was going to die in Dawn's stead in the very beginning. When Spike says, "Blood is blood," and Giles makes some comment about life, her facial expression changes, like she has just made a realization and a decision. However, at the end of the episode, it shows her standing next to Dawn, and the viewer is allowed to see Buffy putting the pieces together in that instant, and making a quick decision. I kind of liked the other interpretation better, because it really does seem like she spends the entire episode saying goodbye to people, or at least to Giles, Willow, and Spike.
With Giles, she has a conversation in which she basically expresses her disillusionment with life, and the fact that everything gets taken away. It must be hard for Giles to have watched Buffy grow to be this jaded over the course of the last 5 years. I'm assuming that, given his past, he already was. And it's not as sad for Willow and Xander to be witnesses, as they've grown jaded in the same ways.
But back to these goodbyes. Buffy's conversation with Willow was more love-filled than hers with Giles. She makes sure to press upon Willow that she is the strongest one in the group, the only one who managed to hurt Glory - and I'm interested to see if Willow will have stepped up after Buffy's death. I know that Buffy will come back, but I'm guessing that at least some time has passed, as the show usually pretends that most of a summer passed by between seasons.
Her conversation with Spike also seemed to be a goodbye, and what convinced me most was her pressing him hard until he promised to take care of Dawn. He assumed that she meant during the fight with Glory, but given the way she asked, it felt like Buffy meant much longer than that.
And on to in-episode happenings.
It's taken me a long time to believe in Xander's and Anya's relationship, but when Xander proposed, it felt very right. Still, though, the way it was done in the episode, I felt really happy for Anya, but not sure I feel happy for Xander. I'm not sure what would make me happy with Xander's character arc, though.
I like that Willow kicks ass, but I do think that I liked things a little more when she and Xander were more helpless. It seems too easy to have so many powerful people on Buffy's side. I love her love for Tara, though, and her "I will always find you" to Tara was pretty much the sweetest thing ever. I liked Willow taking charge when Buffy went catatonic, and I'm betting that she will take charge after Buffy's death - I will go out on a limb and say that Giles will be extremely bitter and despondent, unless he moves to be a guardian for Dawn.
Speaking of Giles. Holy shit. I LOVED his killing of Ben. So methodical, no emotion, no badass words. Just the simple recognition that Buffy is incapable of killing a human being, and Giles? Is so not. And is totally willing to do it, if it means protecting Buffy and everyone else from having to deal with Glory in the future. Holy crap. Giles had another moment like this earlier in the season, when one of Glory's grunts (lol those guys were so gross and hilarious) was being interrogated, and he told Dawn to get something from the counter so that she would turn away. I hope Giles stays on the show through the end, because watching him is so interesting.
I loved Spike in this episode. His love for Buffy has moved beyond creepy (and hey, the Buffy-bot ended up being useful!), and I loved him thanking her for treating him like a man. I like that he's gone through lots of physical pain to help Buffy and protect what she loves - Dawn. I know that I am so de-sensitized to violence (Thank you, anime!), but Spike getting stabbed on top of that tower was awesome. Just the sound he made, and yelling "No!" as he got thrown down.
OMG, and him crying after Buffy died?! Willow's face was horrific, and Xander and Giles looked to be more in disbelief, but Spike was just utterly broken at the end, there.
I'm also betting Dawn will be ridden with survivor's guilt, and bitter. EVERY SHOW IS BETTER WHEN PEOPLE ARE BITTER.
Lastly.......BEST TOMBSTONE EVER.
BUFFY ANNE SUMMERS
YEAR - YEAR
*SAPPY THINGS*
SHE SAVED THE WORLD A LOT
I love Joss Whedon.
SPOILERS for post-season 5 start here!
There are some spoilers that I know, and I think I will make a list so that those who have seen the series in its entirety will know what I know going in. I knew most of seasons 1-5, but not all of the little details.
--Obviously, Buffy gets resurrected somehow, as she is in seasons 6 and 7.
--I know that Tara is killed.
--I'm pretty sure that Willow goes evil? Or maybe just super powerful. I highly suspect that she goes evil after Tara's death.
--I know that Buffy and Spike have sex, but to the best of my knowledge, never have a real relationship.
--I know Xander will leave Anya at the altar.
--And I think I read somewhere that Giles goes back to England? That would be so sad, I love him! Especially with how evil he went in 5! So awesome. And now with his magic shop, he has a good reason to stay!
--Oh yeah, and I know that Spike dies, but I'm not sure if that happens on this show, or on Angel.
I just realized that I know nothing about the Big Bads in seasons 6 or 7, so I guess that will be interesting.
I like watching angst and bitter/broken people. I've heard that some people hate season 6, but I'll just hope for the best. It can't be as bad as 4, can it?
I loved the scene before the credits, with Buffy saving Random Dude from a vampire. After being catatonic in the previous episode, it's nice to remind the viewer how much she kicked ass. I particularly loved this exchange:
RANDOM DUDE: Y-you're just a girl....
BUFFY: That's what I keep saying.
I really thought, throughout the episode, that Buffy decided she was going to die in Dawn's stead in the very beginning. When Spike says, "Blood is blood," and Giles makes some comment about life, her facial expression changes, like she has just made a realization and a decision. However, at the end of the episode, it shows her standing next to Dawn, and the viewer is allowed to see Buffy putting the pieces together in that instant, and making a quick decision. I kind of liked the other interpretation better, because it really does seem like she spends the entire episode saying goodbye to people, or at least to Giles, Willow, and Spike.
With Giles, she has a conversation in which she basically expresses her disillusionment with life, and the fact that everything gets taken away. It must be hard for Giles to have watched Buffy grow to be this jaded over the course of the last 5 years. I'm assuming that, given his past, he already was. And it's not as sad for Willow and Xander to be witnesses, as they've grown jaded in the same ways.
But back to these goodbyes. Buffy's conversation with Willow was more love-filled than hers with Giles. She makes sure to press upon Willow that she is the strongest one in the group, the only one who managed to hurt Glory - and I'm interested to see if Willow will have stepped up after Buffy's death. I know that Buffy will come back, but I'm guessing that at least some time has passed, as the show usually pretends that most of a summer passed by between seasons.
Her conversation with Spike also seemed to be a goodbye, and what convinced me most was her pressing him hard until he promised to take care of Dawn. He assumed that she meant during the fight with Glory, but given the way she asked, it felt like Buffy meant much longer than that.
And on to in-episode happenings.
It's taken me a long time to believe in Xander's and Anya's relationship, but when Xander proposed, it felt very right. Still, though, the way it was done in the episode, I felt really happy for Anya, but not sure I feel happy for Xander. I'm not sure what would make me happy with Xander's character arc, though.
I like that Willow kicks ass, but I do think that I liked things a little more when she and Xander were more helpless. It seems too easy to have so many powerful people on Buffy's side. I love her love for Tara, though, and her "I will always find you" to Tara was pretty much the sweetest thing ever. I liked Willow taking charge when Buffy went catatonic, and I'm betting that she will take charge after Buffy's death - I will go out on a limb and say that Giles will be extremely bitter and despondent, unless he moves to be a guardian for Dawn.
Speaking of Giles. Holy shit. I LOVED his killing of Ben. So methodical, no emotion, no badass words. Just the simple recognition that Buffy is incapable of killing a human being, and Giles? Is so not. And is totally willing to do it, if it means protecting Buffy and everyone else from having to deal with Glory in the future. Holy crap. Giles had another moment like this earlier in the season, when one of Glory's grunts (lol those guys were so gross and hilarious) was being interrogated, and he told Dawn to get something from the counter so that she would turn away. I hope Giles stays on the show through the end, because watching him is so interesting.
I loved Spike in this episode. His love for Buffy has moved beyond creepy (and hey, the Buffy-bot ended up being useful!), and I loved him thanking her for treating him like a man. I like that he's gone through lots of physical pain to help Buffy and protect what she loves - Dawn. I know that I am so de-sensitized to violence (Thank you, anime!), but Spike getting stabbed on top of that tower was awesome. Just the sound he made, and yelling "No!" as he got thrown down.
OMG, and him crying after Buffy died?! Willow's face was horrific, and Xander and Giles looked to be more in disbelief, but Spike was just utterly broken at the end, there.
I'm also betting Dawn will be ridden with survivor's guilt, and bitter. EVERY SHOW IS BETTER WHEN PEOPLE ARE BITTER.
Lastly.......BEST TOMBSTONE EVER.
BUFFY ANNE SUMMERS
YEAR - YEAR
*SAPPY THINGS*
SHE SAVED THE WORLD A LOT
I love Joss Whedon.
SPOILERS for post-season 5 start here!
There are some spoilers that I know, and I think I will make a list so that those who have seen the series in its entirety will know what I know going in. I knew most of seasons 1-5, but not all of the little details.
--Obviously, Buffy gets resurrected somehow, as she is in seasons 6 and 7.
--I know that Tara is killed.
--I'm pretty sure that Willow goes evil? Or maybe just super powerful. I highly suspect that she goes evil after Tara's death.
--I know that Buffy and Spike have sex, but to the best of my knowledge, never have a real relationship.
--I know Xander will leave Anya at the altar.
--And I think I read somewhere that Giles goes back to England? That would be so sad, I love him! Especially with how evil he went in 5! So awesome. And now with his magic shop, he has a good reason to stay!
--Oh yeah, and I know that Spike dies, but I'm not sure if that happens on this show, or on Angel.
I just realized that I know nothing about the Big Bads in seasons 6 or 7, so I guess that will be interesting.
I like watching angst and bitter/broken people. I've heard that some people hate season 6, but I'll just hope for the best. It can't be as bad as 4, can it?
no subject
Season six is dripping with angst. I think you will like it. Season seven is full of doom, so I think you'll like that one, too. There are a couple of lame eps in both seasons, but both of them also have really good episodes, too, so.
I don't have season six for you because it's currently being lent out to Heather. Sorry. If you're still planning to drop by the bookstore tomorrow I can try to have Watchmen back for you! Thank you!
no subject
I am so excited that season six drips with angst, too! BWAHAHAHA!!!
It's totally cool that you don't have season six for me. I can utilize Netflix. Also, I do still have your Angel season 3 (just so you don't lose track!). Given the way Buffy season 5 ended, should I wait to watch the first Buffy of season 6 before starting Angel season 3? I know that this is where the shows switched networks, and they can't refer to one another any more, but I'm assuming that when Angel gets back to L.A. in the last episode of season 2, he'll angst out about Buffy, and it'll need to be resolved at the beginning of season 3. Am I correct, or can I just start it? I mean, I obviously know she comes back in *some* fashion.
Also, don't worry about Watchmen - it's cool if you don't finish it by tomorrow. God knows I borrow your DVDs forever, so take as long as you'd like.
no subject