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Post by Dalton on Aug 5, 2003 23:08:07 GMT -5
I definitely think you are right, Faith was still willing to follow Buffy, but she made the mistake of thinking as a Slayer her vote counted for something. Perhaps Buffy had gotten used to everyone just following her because she was the slayer, they sorta had too, and was not ready to recognize Faith's status as a potential second-in-command, but Faith definitely didn't come across as if she were against Buffy.And Faith was the only one who held onto that status through the night, maybe because she understood the burden and didn't want it, and realized it would be hers to take if Buffy passed the mantle.The Scoobies (including Giles) I think were initially against the plan, like Faith, but more supportive of Buffy. But as Buffy kept going on, talking as if everyone is either behind her plan or they're the enemy, they all fell one by one, as well.The SiTs (including Dawn) were simply tired of being worked to death and being told what a horrible band of buggered they were. They rolled off the battle with the cops feeling a little more confident and thinking maybe even without powers they could still be a pretty decent opponent for the First Evil. If Buffy had shown a little more excitement over their victory and a little more appreciation of their need to get out and blow off steam, rather than berate them for fighting and Faith in front of them for taking them out, they probably would have gelled behind Buffy as a cohesive fighting unit. Instead, they gelled against her in mutiny.
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Post by Dalton on Aug 5, 2003 23:08:54 GMT -5
[qutoe]I think you have it, David. T is the target. I still don't understand the formula because I don't understand some of the (mathematical?) symbols like the upright line (I know it as a "pipe": |), and I still have no idea how the "magical" chip distinguishes infallibly between human and non-human, but I think I've gotten closer for your and Spring's attempt to grapple with it.[/quote] I re-itterate, I'm only guessing. I'm not a math or engineering major, but instead a communications major. I did well to pass algebra. Those symbols mean nothing to me.
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Post by Dalton on Aug 5, 2003 23:09:34 GMT -5
Hi James-Just wanted to say i completely second all of the suggestions made and wanted to add a few.( My kids are both voracious readers- i was disappointed when they informed me that mother they'd rahte do it themselves ) Bambi felix salten Alice in wonderland cs lewis Peter Pan Dr. Rat wm kotzwinkle Watership Down richard adams and absolutely anthing by Roald dahl- he writes for both kids and adults\ make sure to stick with the kiddie fiction for your little ones- his adult stuff is very raw and brutal, wonderful but not for the tender of age. stuff like James and the giant Peach or Willy wonka or the fantastic Mr fox (depending upon the ages ) You mentioned tht fantasy literature was not widely available in your community. Just made me curious- what community is that?
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Post by Dalton on Aug 5, 2003 23:10:21 GMT -5
I can only tell you the ScoopMe policy on spoilers -- anything that has aired on TV, including trailers for the following week, is fair game. Don't know if the S'cubies policy is any different, but that's the ScoopMe policy. And I like it -- keeps it simple.
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Post by Dalton on Aug 5, 2003 23:10:47 GMT -5
Okay, now that I'm starting to see two computer monitors before me, I think it's time for bed.G'night all.
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Post by Dalton on Aug 5, 2003 23:11:38 GMT -5
Xander....Willow....hospital. Just beautiful. Dave, my money's on Willow and Xander getting the killshot on Caleb. Somehow, they'll do it together. It would only be fitting.By the way, I am now officially completely unspoiled. I've managed to do it. Yay me.More moments:Andrew's visual aids behind Anya's lecture...especially about the sex. Hilarious.I love it when Mutant Enemy throws the most dedicated fans little tidbits. Andrew's wearing Dawnie's motorcycle helmet!! Spike kept that thing? Discussion of the flowering onion was priceless as well. Did anyone else wonder if Andrew was copping a feel? Willow's Jedi mind trick. Andrew would be proud.Though I'd like to see sparks between Xander and Faith, clearly we're not getting that. Still, it was great to at least have her acknowledge the fact that she was Xander's First. Dawn's total adoration of Xander. In fact, everyone adores him in this episode. Something awful had to happen to him, but I thought the welcome home, and the deep emotion from Dawn, was beautiful to see. There are certain group scenes in BTVS history that resonate forever. Intense, emotional scenes where everyone gets a turn to shine. The best ones will be remembered forever. A few in the pantheon off the top of my head: The library confrontation over the restoration of Angel's soul in Becoming Part 1. The brutal party confrontation in Dead Man's Party, where Xander is so sanctimonious it makes me want to hurl....and I adore the guy. The scene in Enemies in which Wesley argues that Willow is expendable. Oz says nothing outside of smashing the urn, yet he dominates the scene. Brilliant. Same episode, when the Mayor gives his two cents on why Buffy and Angel cannot work in the long run, eerily handled in a darkened lunchroom. The hilarious group scene in the theater in Hush.The Spike-incited blowout in The Yoko Factor. Willow and Tara's apartment in The Body. It's the only truly great ensemble scene that Buffy isn't a part of. Another funny one: Tabula Rasa, in the Magic shop when everyone is trying to figure out who is who. Season 7 has featured more than one great ensemble scene. The Buffy-Willow-Xander scene in Selfless. This episode foreshadowed a lot of what happened tonight. The riveting scene in Get It Done after the burial when Buffy lets everyone....especially Spike...have it. Tonight, though, was something special. Every actor is featured except Marsters and Lenk, and everyone delivers in an amazing way. Nobody is yelling...not even Anya. It's not just the acting, though...it's the REacting. Sarah's face when Emma lets loose with her devastating attack is just amazing. Alyson puts across Willow's feelings so well. Willow almost can't believe what she's saying. Nicky's delivery of Xander's cruel dig about his eye is gut wrenching. Tony Head is perfect as he puts across his feelings about Buffy's lack of respect for them. Sarah herself runs the gamut of emotions in that scene as Buffy tries anything to get them in line. She's understanding...then she's giving orders....then she's incredibly nasty toward Faith...then she suddenly seeks out input (!)...then she is simply stunned when Dawn ever so gently tells Buffy that she's been deposed. Her final moment with Faith outside is so wonderful. Buffy is so brave and loving that she tells Faith to take care of them and keep them safe, even after her family has betrayed her (at least in her mind). Oh, before I forget...Dawn said exactly what I wanted to say when Rona made her smartass comment after Buffy left. I want a couple of these SIT's to die in the worst way.
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Post by Dalton on Aug 5, 2003 23:12:13 GMT -5
David, which parts are cybernetic? Just wondering...
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Post by Dalton on Aug 5, 2003 23:12:53 GMT -5
Ellie, was it you who asked about the trailer for next week? If so, do you still want to know? Trailers are fair game (not spoilage), I think. Please advise. Nan
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Post by Dalton on Aug 5, 2003 23:13:31 GMT -5
It's darn near impossible to keep up with this gang when you have rehearsals every night! But I'm caught up to the beginning of Part 21 at least!
DIANE U: - Let's meet at Starbucks Saturday and I'll show you pics and fill you in on my new boyfriend, James. ;-) New Buffy Tonight: - I bawled my EYES out about half an hour ago - I'd taped it to watch when I got in tonight and it was SO SAD! I can't stand it ya'll...I'm going to need major hugs and snuggles when ep. 22 is over... Everybody - send a last email or card to the WB about renewing Angel - Andy Hallett asked especially and he sends his love! Convention Report - I worked on it a lot today, and I should have it to Vlad by the end of the week. With pictures. Except for the red eyes, which he will correct, they actually turned out not bad! I've pics of James, Andy, Iyari, and James Leary. And Spike and Dru. Ok, back to reading the posts now. Love you guys! I'll be glad when I can resume my normal responding to every post. :-)
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Post by Dalton on Aug 5, 2003 23:14:10 GMT -5
Episode #19 was EXCELLENT! Beautiful and heartbreaking. It's 11:57 Central time now...surely late enough not to spoil anyone now. And the preview for next week....oh golly oh golly oh golly.
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Post by Dalton on Aug 17, 2003 15:09:46 GMT -5
Have to disagree in a couple of respects with this otherwise capacious listing of fine ensemble moments in the whole of the series, inasmuch as it applies to Empty Places. Rob said, Every actor is featured except Marsters and Lenk. Though there wasn't nearly enough Spikage to suit me, I think Spike has three strong moments: when he questions Giles' motives in sending him off (since Giles recently collaborated in Robin Wood's attempt to assassinate him) but nevertheless accepts Giles explanation and authority, and GOES, and even accepts annoying wannabe Andrew as a companion; the blooming onion moment on the bike; and his treatment of the monk (and ability to read Latin) as mentioned in a previous post of mine. So there might not be much there in terms of total Spike screen time, but as Jimmy Durante might have put it, what's there is "cherce." And Andrew has four moments: whining about fairness to Giles because he believes (apparently rightly) that Faith has "stolen" his last Hot Pocket; his hysterical annotations to the flip-sheet illustrating Anya's lecture; the on-bike blooming onion conversation with Spike; and his attempt to bluster/intimidate information from the monk, information the monk shares willingly when simply, patiently asked. So I think they got their strong moments, too, in this ep.
Nan Dibble
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Post by Dalton on Aug 22, 2003 18:41:27 GMT -5
When I made the exception of Marsters and Lenk I was referring to the final scene. Their characters aren't in it. Earlier in that big ole' post I made reference to the good stuff that came from them on the motorcycle ride to Garlictown.
Rob Sorenson
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Post by Dalton on Aug 22, 2003 18:42:10 GMT -5
Ellie said, "it is as though she sees them all through the scrim of loss and regret" It seems to me that Buffy has always held herself aloof, even from the rest of the Scoobies. It is classic Buffy behavior. It may stem from childhood, parents' divorce, whatever, but she seemed to start the first season with that distance to a certain extent. The only time she lost her distance was with Angel (and I am NOT an Angel fan). As the seasons went on, she kept that distance and even increased it somewhat. It was the rest of the Scoobies that always made the running to keep a relationship with Buffy. The burden she carried was and is immense as she talked about with Holden. Funny that the most internalizing Buffy has ever done on screen was with Holden, not a Scooby. I'm hoping that Buffy being frozen out of her place will actually help her unfreeze her emotions and start relating to the others the way they have always wanted her to. Especially with Spike (I AM a Spike fan - oh, I guess you already knew that). But in the end I don't really hold out much hope for that couple to go off into the sunset together - unless they both fall through the Hellmouth to save the world. I would like to see Buffy really have one good day - full of emotion and loving and joy. Now THAT would be a surreal ending - and really spooky.
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Post by Dalton on Aug 22, 2003 18:43:27 GMT -5
Ellie, your description of Buffy as "frozen" rings true, and it's only an extension of something that's been characteristic of her from at least second season onward. Under stress, Buffy closes up. The invisible armor slides into place. In "The Weight of the World," it assumed its ultimate form: catatonia, paralysis, and a complete disjunction between Buffy and the world. I'll add, however, that the present split between Buffy and everybody on "her" side-- the SITs, Giles, Faith, Willow, Xander--does portend one good side effect: there is one partisan who cares little how this all comes out or even who dies, who will side with Buffy right or wrong, whatever the stakes, with logic or against it. Spike. Conscious of her responsibilities and unwilling to show obvious favoritism toward him except inadvertently (by running to him first to see if he's hurt, in several instances; by insisting she has faith in him against all evidence or even likelihood), Buffy has kept at a civil distance from Spike. He languished in the First's captivity for weeks, it seems, while Buffy dealt with the more immediate threat of the Turok Han. She's felt obliged to TRY to feel and behave objectively toward him, even if she doesn't always succeed. Now, with the burden of leadership lifted from her, however devastating that may be, this requirement for attempted objectivity vanishes. She's only Buffy again, and Spike is still Spike. And it would seem that, next week, we're going to have at least SOME development between them because of that. And IT'S ABOUT TIME, say I! Nan
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Post by Dalton on Aug 22, 2003 18:44:24 GMT -5
David said, "with Dawn on the back of Spike's bike wearing that same stolen L.A. Rams helmet." David - I have never known the Rams to have blue and white as their colors. Certainly not in L.A. That isn't a real football helmet anyway (okay, you could argue that it was meant to be one just for the show), but if that was a cost saving measure, they must have saved a load of money using that toy helmet.
And I, too, kept waiting for Andrew to make some remark about his holding onto Spike or that Spike smelled good, or something. Instead we got the blooming onion and I learned how to make one. How cool is that?
Alexandra K
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