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Post by William the Bloody on Aug 18, 2003 2:50:08 GMT -5
Written by Rob Des Hotel & Dean Batali
Directed by David Semel
Air date: 3/31/97
While awaiting the arrival of the warrior vampire called the Annointed One, Buffy's big date at the Bronze ends with an assault on a funeral home.
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Jun 27, 2004 19:40:36 GMT -5
Watcher's guide-
Cemetery sequences in season one were shot at Rosedale cemetery in Los Angeles.
All the books in the stacks of the library are real books.
"Dusting" a vampire using computer graphics costs the producers $5,000 a pop.
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Post by Lola m on Jul 21, 2004 5:58:21 GMT -5
Random thought-like things:
* The scene with reading the whole long "And there will be a time of crisis" prophesy, finishing up with the ever popular "here endeth the lesson"? Always makes me wonder how much Angel had to be bored by hearing this kind of dribble when Darla and he were still hanging with the Master. And then of course later we have Spike tossing all this ritual for a bit more fun. Guess that kinda rebel attitude runs in the family. Plus, it makes a nice comparison to the Giles and Buffy dynamic.
* Giles continues to be just so cute in thes first eps. Grading her technique, and then the "what do you want?", "a book", "oh!". So forbidding and stern and then all peppy 'cuz someone actually showed up to read. Loved every time they did a variation on that same idea, the gang all involved in a new crisis and then some kid shows up wanting to check a book out.
* Buffy with such a crush. I tend to forget that she gets like this with each new guy she sets her sights on. Gets kinda dorky and eager. Remember how she was around Riley at first? And Owen is a kinda introspective and broody guy who later turns out to have a thing for danger and violence. Wow. What a surprise.
* "Cute guy! Teenager! Post-pubescent fantasies!"
"..The dark forces are aligning against us . . . Tonight we go into battle!"
Cut to sitting in graveyard bored to tears. "Perhaps I miscalculated."
LOL! Just love that scene. You know, I forget sometimes how much just funny, silly stuff there is in these early eps. Ooh! And "I won't wear my button that says 'I'm a Slayer. Ask me how!"
* Line from song as Buffy shows up at the Bronze to see Owen dancing with Cordy - "just a girl".
* Clever little throw-away bit on the bus to show the creepy guy reflected in driver's mirror, so we know he's not a vamp (at least not yet).
* Just how brain dead is Buffy around a guy she likes? I mean Xander just hands her a great, simple excuse like "flat tire". And yet when she sees Owen is all babbling and then "my watch broke and we don't have any clocks in our house"?! Lordy!
* Poor Xander. The look on his face when Owen hands her the watch? Would be classic enough. But then he looks at his own Tweety watch. Priceless.
* Then we have the wacky hijinks with the date and the gang and Giles and the monsters and trying to make sure the date doesn't figure out the monsters. It's like an episode of Bewitched or I dream of Jeannie - but in a good way!
* "I don't trust that Owen guy. It's the eyes - they're crazy!" LOL. NB is just so funny with this stuff. His gestures and timing are too perfect.
* Owen likes morbid and loss and death. So of course he's gaga over Buffy.
* What is up with Cordy's hair? Jersey, anyone? (Sorry, that was sooooooo catty.)
* For all the goofy silliness and stuff in here, the thing with the annointed one is actually pretty effective. The scary prison guy who gets vamped and everyone thinks it was him and then we see the sweet little big eyed kid. Master's hand on his head all tender and he's the one! With the prophesy words of "the slayer will not know him" stuff repeated - this time not all overdone, but just quietly said so you go "eeep!" and see how this does make things much harder.
Lola
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Jul 22, 2004 9:43:24 GMT -5
Start with grrr face, actually saying grrr. somehow if you can see them treating it like a word it loses the scary. Pretty fighting in cemetery. Stunt lady doesnt look too hugely unlike SMG. But I think the hair was a bit off. /picky Buffy in long sleeved black top and lighter trousers. Difficult to tell color in the funny light. Everything covered up for the slaying. Only one plain ring on her right hand. As always little dangly earrings that shine and distract me. Giles in the only coat he ever wears and wrapped up with a scarf. Compared to Buffy's thin shirt. He looks a little silly. "A bit too bloody for my taste." he's so prissy and uptight and critical "Plunge and move on, plunge and... hello." sounds more than a little silly too I mean I love him but  Uses the pen to do the 'plunge' gesture with, then to pick up the ring. Not wanting to touch it? Like its dangerous or like its evidence? He's standing there with his ring clearly showing and this new ring all meaningful. So I again wander off into my private frustration about what his could mean. okay, back now... His little book has a flippy bit for fastening it closed. Slayer stuff to be sealed up secret. Its all seperate pages. Filofax? mini ring binder. organise, categorise, control. (detail oriented. deal.) Buffy is so flip- "I kill 'em, you fence their stuff." transcript says 'Giles gives her a look'. Giles has quite a lot of looks. And Buffy seems to go out of her way to get them given. Relationship still a tad antagonistic. "I'd best consult my books." and thud, big dusty book. Giles consults books. The Master has *a* book, singular. Its the kind of big huge book that looks a bit like it could fit everything in it. The Master believes in a single truth. Book doesnt seem to have a clasp but its too dusty to be in regular use. Yet it has a bookmark and he quotes from it a ton. The Master might not like the fact that he's trapped in a sacred place but he uses the setting to preach to his people. Cult. The Brethren of Aurelius have matching things round their necks and matching clothes too. Also the rings. Rings=connections explicitly here. New day, Buffy in school wear. I was thinking about the differences in clothing between now and later, and I think one big one is that she dresses one way for school and another for slaying. Later she dresses for school in clothes appropriate for slaying, I think because she learns how overly optimistic she has been trying to seperate out the two lives. She does half her fighting at school. So, always ready. Its a theory I will have to compare to data again later when I've collected more. Buffy in a nasty looking patterned dress with a *lot* of leg showing, lots of big shiny lumpy rings, tall boots again. I think the same tall boots. Green and white top, brown boots, bits of green and orange in the rings. Giles jacket, stripy shirt, stripy tie. Slightly reddish but close to brown, shirt stripes and tie stripes both. I think its a tie we've seen before but I'm not at this minute obsessed enough to change discs to check. Whatever he is wearing under the jacket has a high enough neck the tie only just gets a look in. It adds to the restricted feeling I think. I think the thing has buttons. Giles can walk down stairs whilst reading a book. This is a skill I only intermittently possessed in high school, so I'm impressed. I quite like the symbol for the order of Aurelius, pretty. "Two points for the Slayer while the Watcher has yet to score." she's having fun and all chirpy. And now theres a boy. Stands up, does this little wiggle trying to get her clothes straight, all focused on him and her face turned all up to look at him in a way she just doesnt with most people no matter how much taller than her they are. Buffy is sarky to Giles to a degree that would be difficult to get away with if he were a regular teacher. "See, this is a school, and we have students, and they check out books, and then they learn things." He's an authority figure and therefore to be mocked, and there were a couple of teachers at school we could get away with this at (like the guy who happily ignored kids rollerskating in class), but on the whole teachers would be not best pleased. So she's treating him more like family-authority. um, because you mock family... or just you expect to get away with more. But Giles serves it right back in his own way. "I was beginning to suspect that was a myth." He's funny, but you have to be paying attention to notice. Also not overly friendly to interuptions that get his Slayer's attention like that. I'd say jealous but I dont mean G/B this time. Just, his Slayer. Owen is currently brown, like libraries, over grey. Buffy's body language suddenly has a lot more wiggle, head shaking and nodding along to herself. She is all unsure, flustered. Compare to already confident competent slayage. Interrupting myself because I went to get some lemonade (and also there seems to be thudding repetitive music happening at 2330) its just interesting to me the way they present Giles as an authority figure, as the guy with the power, because really they just dont. He grades and evaluates and criticises and tells Buffy what to do, but she ignores him a lot. And here she is moving in on his area of expertise, knowing more about the symbol than he does. And later when it appears he has calculated wrong. He tries to be in charge guy, but he doesnt try very hard, and he keeps getting undermined. It seems they are making Buffy's grrrl power more impressive by surrounding her with wimps. I think this doesnt work half so well as surrounding her with marines and having her kick all their asses. But they start small. Er, I just called Giles a wimp. Ripper isnt but Giles works hard on being small. I'm five minutes in to the episode and just distracted myself with web pages for about half an hour. no wonder these things take long and long to write. ANYways I like the globe in the middle of the room. shiny. the shape of the railings near the stairs is pretty, but kinda makes no sense. I mean I know why a stage would be built that way but I cant figure why a library would. still, pretty is good. Buffy shiny earrings today appear to be little dangly crosses. either equal armed or upside down crosses. Hmmm, do upside down crosses still burn vampires? When Buffy and Giles are trying to hide the book it ends up looking a bit dodgy with Giles fiddling with her... behind her. I giggle cause I'm mentally about 12. "This one she doesnt love." yup, just is drooling all over. the book machine goes beep. theres a beepy machine as well as an inky stamp. Giles uses a machine for to keep track of books, yet dislikes them a lot. "Buffy, while the mere fact of you wanting to check out a book would be grounds for a national holiday, I think we should focus on the problem at hand." He's always so polite and supportive... /sarcasm "Does this outfit make me look fat?" one, fat is very much not her problem, and two, she is asking Giles to comment on her appearance? Because obviously he'd be good at that. Can I just say I really hate that dress? The trouble with these things is noticing how many truly ugly bits of cloth the gang wear between them. Basic colors, not a bad thing. Lunch time. Mystery food. Ah, memories. Willow in white trousers, pinkish long sleeved top. It seems part of keeping Willow a geek is covering up as much skin as possible at all times. Buffy is showing a lot of skin. Arms all uncovered now. Xander in a short sleeved yellow shirt, arms also uncovered, and kinda furry. Brown trousers. White t. Little round shiny thing as usual. Willow one ring right hand, little round blue bit. Xander ringless on his right hand, I think for the first time. Probably something on the left hand but not seeing it clearly. I really dont like Buffy's little shrug and head tilt and extra little girl trying to be cute bit. Why do I dislike it so much? Because I expect strong take charge Buffy from later on, but its like baby Buffy. The lunch room is big with lots of windows, and actual light. And a lack of snakes or fish monsters right now. Cordelia, blue and vaguely red, bumps Buffy so subtly She just doesnt hesitate to try for what she wants. "At least you don't have to eat your Soylent Green." Okay, now I just fell for Owen. geeking on the mystery food. and poetry. but the poetry is too obviously trying to make him mystery guy, the Soylent Green joke is just fun. (Soylent Green is people. Thats all I know, not having seen. Do I lose geek points?) Cordelia with the nodding, shrugging, head shaking along with her own words, is what she always does, and what Buffy has been doing a more exaggerated version of, but on Cordy it doesnt irritate the same way because same old Cordy. On Buffy its insecure. Is Cordy insecure? Yup. Buffy putting the tray on Cordy's food. Too distracted to be a deliberate bitch, right? But the "Cordelia's hips" line is a very nice bit of bitch on short notice. |
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Jul 22, 2004 9:44:59 GMT -5
Giles: I'm afraid it's very big. Willow: What are you talking about? Giles: What are *you* talking about? Buffy and Willow: Boys! Giles: Yes, well, I'm talking about trouble. so, about the same thing then (I'm giggling cause boys, big. I think I kinda need to go get some sleep. thats juvenile even for me) when W & B (um, Buffy started out on the WB didnt it? /tangent) say 'Boys' its just in such a little girl whine. screechy. but funny. When Giles puts his hands in his pockets he puts them in his trouser pockets not his jacket. Which leaves it all rucked up and untidy looking. Suspect he isnt used to wearing it? "You were spot-on about the connection." praise, but not in a happy voice. Leafy Buffy matches the library plants. Camouflage girl. Willow's shirt has way too much detail going on. Giles' little note book is a mini ring binder. Giles has a filofax. Full of mystical whatsits? Fullomyth  <-- Pratchett funny. "I've looked at the writings of Aurelius himself" so theres more than one copy of the book The Master was consulting? "My calculations are precise." he looks more surprised than offended I think, like 'my slayer doubts me?' whiny little girly Buffy 'Owen'. Boys not bringing out the best in her. "Okay, at this point you're abusing sarcasm." Lol and Giles getting wound up but in such a contained way. Giles leaning forward and knuckles on the table. Big ape Giles "this is no ordinary vampire." intense. Leaning in, so aggressive, but being down at her level, so connecting. "put on hold" he doesnt try and give her the Slayer=alone speech, says on hold, not never do it. Goes into the big speech. Which we now know is an infallible sign of comedy undercut in a minute. Back to the graveyard. Once again Buffy is long sleeved and trouser wearing, plus that odd hooded thing. Furry and not good. Grr, animal Buffy, about to give in to her baser instincts. Nah, daft looking Buffy. Giles concluding he miscalculated, rather than that they seem to be in the wrong place, suggests to me that he figures the error is most likely to be with him, ie doubts himself. Rather than thinking that Sunnydale is a big place. No scarf tonight. "unique condition" not abilities, calling, duty, trust- condition. Like its an illness? Dictionary.com says 1.A mode or state of being: “ The Organization Man survives as a modern classic because it captures a permanent part of our social condition” (Robert J. Samuelson). See Synonyms at state. 2.a.A state of health. b.A state of readiness or physical fitness. 3.A disease or physical ailment: a heart condition. 4.Social position; rank. 5.One that is indispensable to the appearance or occurrence of another; prerequisite: Compatibility is a condition of a successful marriage. 6.One that restricts or modifies another; a qualification. 7.conditions Existing circumstances: Conditions in the office made concentration impossible. 8.Grammar. The dependent clause of a conditional sentence; protasis. 9.Logic. A proposition on which another proposition depends; the antecedent of a conditional proposition. 10.Law. a.A provision making the effect of a legal instrument contingent on the occurrence of an uncertain future event. b.The event itself. 11.An unsatisfactory grade given to a student, serving notice that deficiencies can be made up by the completion of additional work. 12.Obsolete. Disposition; temperament. That is a remarkably well chosen word. Every single part of the definition gives it different layers of spin. Slayer as a condition, specifically relating to romance. I could probably get an essay out of that. If it werent half past midnight and well past my bed time. and then he stands in a cemetery and says 'grave danger' without apparent irony. (I paused overnight. And yet am no more awake now. blah.) Buffy at the Bronze, has a little no sleeves top with deeper than last night neckline on. Dressed for Slaying and dating. Multitasking at its best. Owen seems to still be wearing the same grey t shirt as at school. Guy fashion. Cordy is dancing with Owen, draped all over him, Owen is not always looking at Cordy. Kinda not wanting to be there. And yet, there. Lyrics are again interesting "You're just a girl / Just a girl who knows no shame" Cordy much? Visible in mirror but still scary creepy guy. Annoying but not vamp. How to stop a bus if you are a vampire and *insane*, step out and get hit. I mean vamps feel pain and break too. But apparently can move plenty well enough to kill. Very nice and creepy. Buffy in pretty blue top with circles on it. Xander with yet more circles. Some of them blue. Mostly green, over a white t shirt. You know if he just left the shirts off he'd look much less insane. but look, matching. "Or, flat tire?" Buffy is really really bad at undercover, lying, or excuses. Xander has an excuse all worked out. I can spin that off into character stuff. Also, Xander not stupid. Buffy trousers kinda red, sorta black depending on light. Xander's brown gold. Xander's circles seem to be labyrinths. Mazes. Round and round getting lost. "I can read." And Buffy doesnt notice the hint at all. Because, Owen. Always the timing. Owen today, same t shirt I think. Lighter brown shirt. Buffy same little cross earrings. "I thought I was the only one that happened to." Either he is really sweet and he's just accepting that, or he could be serious. I mean I lose track of the day all the time. "Lend you my watch." The look on Xander's face, lol. er, I sympathise, but still lol. And poor little tweety watch. Nothing wrong with a good cartoon character. But, cheaper and more childish from a certain point of view. Poor Xander *hugs* Reckon if Owen is giving away gold watch, even with reasonable expectation of getting it back, he is likely to be richer than Xander by quite a lot. Also if Cordy is interested he must have money. "we could invite the chess club, but they drink and they start fights..." I actually like Owen. I mean he's insane and would have got himself killed, but aside from that I like him. He geeks. A lot like Xander, only with poetry. The inside of Xander's locker has a very halloween theme. Skeleton, Devil's Night, and I think a bloody hand reaching out up the top there. Which is funny considering later when the ghosty does grab him out the locker. Xander and deliberately spooky things. Odd. Reckon that wears off. Also some cut out people I dont recognise and some random swirly things. But whole cut out people, not pieces like creepy monster. Giles with teacup. And whole tea service in background. And a thermos flask in black and red, presumably for tea. Giles also wearing the red sleeveless jumper again. His wardrobe repeats and appears to have a finite amount of clothing in it. Compared to Buffy, who is all new all the time. Shirt with grid patter, tie with diagonal grid and squares in it. grid pattern = cage Hair all fluffy and had hands run through it a lot. Buffy bounces in. Giles barely has time to react. She leaves. pause. "She is the strangest girl." LOL poor Giles, trying to keep up with that. Giles jacket hanging on back of door. Doesnt just dissapear when he isnt wearing it. The trouble with the Master's place is it is obviously lit. Not just candles, fancy lighting from nowhere. Gold and blue lights, very dramatic. The Aurelian vampires have vamp faces only slightly less extreme than The Master. Not the usual vamp face from later, much more zombiefied skin colors. More like the rich guy in Angel episode one actually. |
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Jul 22, 2004 9:45:36 GMT -5
Buffy has Xander and Willow in her room helping her pick out clothes. How much more 'one of the girls' can she treat him? Poor owie Xander. "shy, coy and naive" I *think* is the cherry dress from the end of The Harvest. The big pink bathrobe covers more than any outfit I've seen her wear to school so far. Willow's top goes from blue to brown and with the light in there the brown matches her hair. Not quite red there. Xander's wardrobe choices... and Buffy doesnt twig why? But Xander is always bringing the funny. Willow stays amused at Xanders "You're not bothering me!" Xander and the mirror... Decides on little gold dress and same brown school boots. Not much variety in footwear so far this season. Somehow unexpected. Pink and gold fluffy girly Buffy with matching rings. Giles at the door. Still the grid shirt and now trying to trap her into her responsibilities. "Buffy's not home." Her skills with lying just do not improve huh  Andrew Borba. Andrew as is total polar opposite to Andrew Wells. Buffy:Giles, why do you wanna hurt me? Giles: I beg your pardon? Buffy phrasing it in typical teenage fashion, ie exagerated to the point of being untrue. Also, blaming Giles the person for the Slayer duties. Making it personal, saying he wants to hurt her. Not just 'why is there always slayage at night', which is like, duh. Giles not really keeping up, trying to be professional and she just isnt having the same conversation. Owen turning up. Black and blue (uh oh) and a new grey t. Also the jacket might even be velvet. Angel much? Buffy with an actually plausible lie! Woah! "This is the first date! There's never been a date, okay? This is my maiden voyage!" Huh. Presumably she means with Owen, since at her last school there were guys willing to crawl to go to the dance with her. Giles: Buffy, maintaining a normal social life as a Slayer... i-i-is problematic at best. Buffy: This is the 90's. The 1990's, in point of fact, and I can do both. My cultural studies teacher said something about feminist backlash that I'd have to look up, but roughly its the idea that feminists say they should be allowed to do what they want and the backlash says they have to try to do absolutely everything at once and will inevitably run themselves ragged and fail. Therefore BtVS wasnt feminist, it was classic feminist backlash. I can kinda see what she means because, tada, trying to do both, but splat. And yet its completely reasonable and plausible, and later she does manage to get things more in balance, so I dont know as I agree. Buffy: Clark Kent has a job. I just wanna go on a date. CK being Superman of course. Buffy comparing herself to male superhero, even tho there are plenty of female examples. But that way is making a pop culture reference so mainstream Giles may even get it. A lot of the time Buffy makes her eyes really big to try and get her way. It irritates me because its classic make yourself more babyish stuff. Xander and Willow having the two seperate conversations. Its kinda depressing when people do that yet very realistic. Willow: Xander, we should go with Giles! He could get in trouble! Xander: Oh, he's gone, uh, it's, he's gonna be alright. He's like super librarian, y'know? Everyone forgets, Willow, that knowledge is the ultimate weapon. Xander knows this which is why he hangs about with smart people. And possibly is smart people. Xander has a view of Giles thats kinda like, he's the grown up, he can handle it. But also has a high opinion of Giles for realistic reasons, cause he knows stuff. And also also just finds people getting romantic with Buffy way more threatening than vampires, so excuses. Xander is so frequently jealous. Like all the time, clumsily possessive. Not one of his best features. Owen and Buffy at the Bronze. Jackets off, so Buffy is just gold. Owen looks more white in the light. They're sitting in the corner at a club with live music from people with actual record deals, and behind them is a scrabble game, a chess set, and another board game. Plus a lot of books. And people thought I was wierd taking a pack of cards to clubs. The lamp is in Sunnydale colors- gold and red- like Cheerleaders and Giles' ties (only Giles is more muted). "There's a lot more important things in life than dating" is a line that can so backfire. And as soon as he says it Buffy gets pouty face and checks her beeper. She is maybe not so happy about her prioritising. Also, shiny gold nail varnish, matches dress. Pretty. Owen: It's weird. Buffy: What is? Owen: You! er, Owen, honey, thats a line that will work on very few girls. I mean I know I am, but really... I guess he isnt judging his words for effect (like, say, Parker) but just saying what he is thinking. Which would be the better way. I like him. Huh. Owen: One minute you're right there. I've got you figured. The next, it's like you're two people. Isnt this practically the same speech Scott Hope gives her when he dumps her? Looked it up and the words arent the same but the reasons are Scott: Buffy, it's just... Before we were going out, you, you seemed so... full of life, like a force of nature. Now you just seem distracted all the time, and... Two people, right there and far away. Have to be on the inside to know the why, to realise when she isnt with you shes still somewhere she needs to be. So dating people that dont know, doesnt work. Also, relative heights while dancing- that looks really awkward. I dont dance with, so I dont know if it would feel awkward, but all that tallness, need something to stand on. Lyrics again, "strong", always relevant, all in transcript. Cordelia and gang walk in. I think its a different gang every time we see them but I'm not quite sure. Big hair. Wierd frizzy hair on Cordy. I guess hair fashions change a lot. Cordy does the big eyes thing pretty much all the time, plus the big smile. so pushy, acting like she is entitled. doesn't lose that until LA? But we know she is less sure of herself than surface seems. Owen has this raised eyebrow face that just makes me lol. Can't believe Cordy. Buffy swinging round Owen, but all about Cordy. Its sort of... disconnected? Like when Xander grabbed on Buffy and Willow last ep to show how manly he was. This is Buffy being girly. Huh. Is that a wacking great mirror on the wall behind Cordy? Very useful at the Bronze, but surely a bit of a giveaway for when vamps come in? I mean would they hunt when theres a big shiny? Actually I was at a convention once, for Buffy, where there were a ton of mirrors everywhere but they werent set quite flat so it was entirely possible to walk off one mirror and not in to the next. So you were at a vampire convention, surrounded by people in full on ubergoth with makeup and teeth, and your reflection dissapeared... UH-oh. ;D (there should be a little vamp teeth smiley) The Bronze has a lot of interesting places in it. Nice set. |
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Jul 22, 2004 9:46:41 GMT -5
Sunnydale Cemetery "We'll take care of the rest." eesh The Giles mobile scapes to a bouncing halt. The car is difficult enough to take seriously in the first place without the dodgy driving. 2GPU947 2Giles? unlikely to be much meaning in it. Giles doesnt stride or take up space in quite the same way he does later. Not physically confident. Always his forward movements have a lot of back in them, he sort of wobbles, doesnt totally commit to a movement. Hesitant. For a highly trained martial artist and former Ripper its sort of odd, but I think its mostly a confidence thing. oooh, scary vampire appears when we arent looking! Complex effects! actually it is pretty scary but in such a standard way it is hard to take seriously. But Giles in danger is always easier to take serious than Buffy in dange. That's such a little "Damn." it sounds almost more like bother. you know, being decorous about the oops. But still, rude word! He pulls a cross, not a stake, and runs instead of fights. Surely pulling a cross & a stake at once would give you an advantage? Stake them while they cower? The running away thing, whilst completely reasonable, does not give a good impression of Giles. That sacrifice thing in The Witch is pretty crucial because without it he would look as big a coward as early Wesley. cuts from Giles in jeopardy to Buffy having fun. "I almost feel like a girl." uses a gendered word here- it isnt that it makes her feel real or feel like a teenager, it makes her feel like a girl. Because kicking ass isnt girly? (lyrics, note) Back to Giles in trouble. Lesson for the day, Buffy being a girl gets Giles in trouble romance=badness (how consistent does that stay?) lovely creepy room with pan for measuring bits of dead people. Also a familiar looking coatstand. Giles rearranging the furniture- so, a normal strength guy can easily lug around an item of furniture that will then block the door so effectively two super strength guys cant get in? having blocked a few doors in my time I very skeptical. Surely it would need to be braced against something or just fall right down? Giles panicky, grabs everything in sight, yelps when W&X arrive. Not the big strong stoic guy. at all. "No phone of course." lack of mobile phones is one of the cornerstones of trapped in a small room horror. How often do we see mobiles on BtVS or AtS? Usually they only turn up to not work. Is it really that difficult to make things scary even when people can be contacted? Buffy & Owen seem to have reached the now what bored stage of the evening. Because they cant just talk a lot? Not that I ever been on a date but with friends there is always talking and rarely vague looking around the room. extreme emperor clothes Cordy er, no, not naked, just, not noticing herself in relation to what she is saying like her words shall dictate what reality should be. "Hello salty goodness." Buffy walks in to Cordy's life and just occupies a lot of space in it without even trying. From C's point of view, not of the good. Angel in a white t and velvet jacket outfit I think we've seen before. And Owen isnt wearing his jacket. Possibly because its the very same one. *looks hard at it* Buffy's reaction to Angel's warning- despite him being a reliable source of info so far, albeit cryptic- is dismissive and annoyed. She takes it personal and makes it personal. Because the world can't end on her night. "You're here on a date?" puppy eyes much? Awww... Angel's movements put him into Buffy's space, and get Owen's attention. He may go all casual after that, but hey, work done. He's part of things now. How did he lose all his social skills? I'm saying hundred years in hell. gold chain on Angel. Always chains on Angel. "Work." pretty well accurate. the 'double date' ploy... well, for short notice invention, not bad. but the funeral home part? the fact that it works is when Owen gets rather worrying. Buffy: (to herself) Bite me! Buffy's way of swearing. hmmm, 'bite' instead of what word? *raised eyebrow sniggering* says 'Bite me' and then *stares up soulfully at Angel*, who returns the look. At this point we still don't know what Angel is, but... Watch Angel in the background while Buffy is promising Owen she'll come back. He gulps. Its noticeable. poor Angel. And then keeping on looking at her as she walks off- and back. And after the kiss when she leaves again theres this little glance B-Owen-B again, all confused like. And sympathy face next to Owen when he says "She's the strangest girl." I love the spooky backlit funeral place. With the light only behind things or seen though bars or grills. All closed in and dark. Scary. I'm with Owen, it is pretty cool. I used to live opposite a cemetery and it was never cool like that. Uh oh, door broke open, bag on table, oh no! "Giles?" Sooo... they got in by bending steel bars? Instead of, say, knocking the file cabinet down? hmmm. Mop and bucket in the background I get. But what is it on the big white roller? Okay, I just laughed real loud when Giles pops out the morgue draw but... how long has he been hiding there? ON TOP OF a dead body? With the smell. And the cold. And the door that would not open from the inside if someone bumped it properly closed. I'm getting shudders. And unfortunately vivid fic ideas. "This chap was good enough to bunk with me til they went away." med students and Watchers, odd sense of humour a necessity. Oddly his stutter seems to be in full effect tho. Nerves of steel, our Giles. "You brought a date?" lol, astounded Giles, maximum disaproval. Buffy immediately does the big eyes, but then gets blinky and tries to explain. Not quite manipulative, more reacting. Giles: Buffy, when I said you could slay vampires and have a social life, I didn't mean at the same time. lol But compare to Kendra, and the no boys official policy, and see how reasonable he is being, because lookit, really really not worky. One moment the whole place is spooky dark, the next they round a corner and there are candle light bulbs and a well lit observation room. In the middle of the night. With no people around. I'm thinking it would hurt the plausibility less to have them maybe find a light switch in the room. I like Buffy's two conversations- inventions at Owen, serious instruction at W&X. "Ewww, parts" There are two layers of morgue draws, yet they opened three with the exact same view behind them. Or, opened one but had actors on boxes so they could be bending down? So, in 6 draws, theres one with parts, one with a body, and 4 empties. And which one did Giles choose to hide in? Could have been on purpose, given the vampire sense of smell. Use the corpse to disguise his scent. Huh. A Giles that would do that on purpose is a scary clever cool Giles. neat. |
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Jul 22, 2004 9:47:12 GMT -5
"Do they usually move?"
you know any cloth covered corpse with a bit hanging out will move in a horror movie. Its just the rules. They dont leave bits hanging out if they arent going to twitch.
Sometimes they just sit up without bits twitching.
Lots of black tattoos. Suspect fakery. You can do fake and colors tattoos but they are fiddlier. And some people have just black ink so they could be real.
Clock says quarter to ten at night.
Smashed the glass with his head. Because he's a nutter.
(okay, okay, bad puns r us)
decorative iron work to shut them in. Why wasnt it shut earlier? Plot.
"What should I do?"
repeat after me, your the Watcher, she's the Slayer, you are in charge, she is not.
Yes, I know, but that is the way he was trained.
But instead he is always waiting for orders.
(pause while visions of sub!Giles wander through my brain. Fairly long pause. Pretty.)
Andrew: They told me about you while I was sleeping.
connected to evil. learn things while dead?
Or, of course, nutcase.
lol
next to the crematorium controls?
"Wash your hands before leaving"
oh eeeeew. People need to be *told*?
also, Giles gets knocked out again! What's the running total now?
He is doing the damsel in distress thing in this ep.
I know they were trying to make Buffy extra strong, but did they have to make Giles all fragile to show it?
Owen charges to the rescue. It doesnt work, but after seeing something rise from the dead he still charges to the rescue.
I *like* him. Surely the insanity part is treatable?
That urn he smashes over the vampire's head- is full of dust. Ashes to ashes. Final rest all over the floor. Oh dear.
Also all the other urns look to be metal. how convenient he grabbed the dramatic one. (I'm not objecting to dramatic, I'm saying there should have been more than one smashable one for plausibility)
For a few moments there Buffy thinks her involvement with a guy she likes has got him killed. Even if it turns out not to be true that stuff leaves a mark.
See in here there's dramatic blue and gold lighting but its from an obvious and plausible source, so works much better.
"Just give her a sec."
Xander already manipulating Buffy by leaving out key information. But he understands the emotion of the moment pretty well. She has focus and anger and is getting the job done, so dont mess with that until it is finished. The exact same choice he makes later about Angel's re-ensoulment. (um, is that a word? Did I make that up or something? Y'all know what I mean.)
And with perfect timing, Giles wakes up and swings the door closed. No fuzzy post concussion where am I's, just straight into battle action. Pretty cool.
Owen: Does anyone have an aspirin? Or sixty?
but Giles doesnt even ask. Or offer, though any sensible person would have some in his big bag. If its anything like my handbag anyways.
Owen: Uh, which way's home?
Concussion confusion = get him to HOSPITAL. People on TV rarely take head injuries seriously enough.
Also its handy for explaining the wierder bits of the evening.
Giles: Buffy, if I might, uh...
Buffy: (cuts him off) Don't! (slowly walks out)
sounded like an attempt at sympathy? Or an attempt at telling her stuff she just learned real well? Either way she doesnt want to hear and he lets her not listen.
Two shades of red and one set of blue. Not exactly a matched set.
but red for love stuff
Xander: No, see, what you need is a guy who already knows your deepest, darkest secrets and still says, 'Hey! I like that girl!' Someone like...
and again with the timing! sooo unfair. Hug the Xander.
Owen in much the same clothes as last night, minus jacket. It might be the grey shirt from earlier. Very limited wardrobe.
Friends didnt happen. awww. But he could have tried to join in. So, it was adrenaline + Buffy = Faith's reaction to slaying?
Giles. thing with buttons looks green in this light. Tie green with red and yellow stripes. Envy? Dont see how that works for the moment. But not newness.
Dangling the case not hugging it today.
He comes up to her and obviously knows what was going on. Watcher, watching. Doesn't start with the told you so song or anything authoritarian. Offers something personal.
Giles: I was ten years old when my father told me I was destined to be
a Watcher. (sits next to her) He was one, and his, uh, mother before
him, and I was to be next.
Buffy: Were you thrilled beyond all measure?
Giles: No, I had very definite plans about my future. I was going to be
a fighter pilot. Or possibly a grocer. Well, uh... My father gave me a
very tiresome speech about, uh, responsibility and sacrifice.
We get so very little personal or history stuff about Giles ever. Usually he is reading something out of a book. Here he offers a bit of himself, to say he understands. And he doesnt give the tiresome speech, but makes the point anyway.
Also, fighter pilot or grocer. Just from that you can really see 10 year old mini Rupert. Just a regular kid.
And I've said before in other places but its from this line that I figure that the Watcher Academy starts at age 11, because back when there was an 11+ exam the 10 year olds would sit it to see what kind of school they would get in to. So Giles would find out that all the plans the other kids were making didnt apply to him. I was also going to say 'or the pressure', but it puts a much larger pressure on the poor kid to say they're going to have to save the world a lot.
Plus we learn that Watchers are hereditary, and some are women- his mother before him.
Giles: I, I went to the funeral home of my own free will.
Being supportive even though, yes, her absence did decrease his chances of survival a lot. I think maybe Giles wants to be self reliant still? Like later in A New Man the issue gets huge, he goes on about having stopped demons by himself before. Maybe the trying not to boss her around is part trying not to need her? I dont know, I dont think that fits yet.
Giles:But I don't have an instruction manual.
retcon makes this a fib. but a nice supportive one.
Why would he chuck out the manual? Because he was Ripper and is Giles and knows life is more complicated than a rule book.
I love Giles' smile lines, make a big fan around his eyes.
yeah, detail focused be
And Buffy and Giles sharing a smile that the bad guys are miserable. sweet happy moment.
but, oops.
creepy kid, yaay. They work their way through all the horror classics.
Little black and dark red clothes on the kid. Color coordinated already.
Looking back, comparing what happened to the prophecy, I still say 'from the ashes of the five' doesnt refer to this kid. Its precisely accurate for Darla, but not right for the annoying one. Also he doesnt do like the rest of the prophecy says. I'd want to read the original and check the translation for if Slayer is even the right word.
Yeah, back then they were just making it up, so it was probably meant to be this kid, but it is still vaguely unsatisfactory.
6753 words. woah. many many. too many? Should I post these in here when it gets this long? anyways, posted now.
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Jul 22, 2004 10:17:24 GMT -5
* For all the goofy silliness and stuff in here, the thing with the annointed one is actually pretty effective. The scary prison guy who gets vamped and everyone thinks it was him and then we see the sweet little big eyed kid. Master's hand on his head all tender and he's the one! With the prophesy words of "the slayer will not know him" stuff repeated - this time not all overdone, but just quietly said so you go "eeep!" and see how this does make things much harder. I deleted all the bits for space but basically all agreeings. |
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Post by Lola m on Jul 22, 2004 18:17:03 GMT -5
<snip> "Plunge and move on, plunge and... hello." sounds more than a little silly too I mean I love him but Very silly, but very LOL I like this theory. If it pans out, it would be very accurate for the changes Buffy goes through. I tend to think they just got a better budget for wardrobe after season 1 (‘cuz some of the outfits in these first eps are just . . . well.) But I like your theory better so I am adopting it and keeping it in a nice warm box in the kitchen and giving it lots of milk and food scraps so that it grows and thrives. Like the kind of . . . back arched sway into his body, adoring look up that she did with Riley at the beginning. Kind of reveling in his being taller than her. |
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Jul 22, 2004 18:26:18 GMT -5
I like this theory. If it pans out, it would be very accurate for the changes Buffy goes through. I tend to think they just got a better budget for wardrobe after season 1 (‘cuz some of the outfits in these first eps are just . . . well.) But I like your theory better so I am adopting it and keeping it in a nice warm box in the kitchen and giving it lots of milk and food scraps so that it grows and thrives. the ooc explanations dont add much to the viewing experience so I try to find in character reasons. Sometimes is a bit of a stretch. Other times they kinda work. (and giggles because theory is purring) oh yes, she really is baby Buffy, but its winding me up some because I cant seem to rewind my expectations of her. Also because my whole attitude to typical teenage behaviour has changed since first viewing. Now its a lot more annoying. And the trying to make herself less so the guys are more thing doesnt work out at all well. Be strong, or they only get to see the fake face and its no fun even if they do fall for it. Its the guys who see the real deal and still like it that are the good ones. Like Xander already. I'm back to my Buffy/Xander hopeful place, even though I know how it works out. They could be living happily ever after right now and us just not seen it yet. |
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Post by Lola m on Jul 22, 2004 18:34:33 GMT -5
<snip> "I've looked at the writings of Aurelius himself" so theres more than one copy of the book The Master was consulting? Huh. Didn't catch that. Thanks, becca! Once again I am amazed at the depth of the watcher's resources, and how they often squander that knowledge with their petty rules and obsession with control. I just loved that goofy furry animal print hood thing! I swear, she looks like she's about 7 when she's wearing it. LOL Yeah, I had the same thought. I mean, OK it worked and vamp guy would know he wouldn't die, but still. Owwww. Kind of fits with the whole cult idea - willing to do insane get hit by a van stuff because the Master wants the kid. Like they couldn't have just carjacked it when it stopped for a light or something? Same here! And poor Xander - he's already being treated like a girl friend by Buffy. Asking his advice on how to date Owen, for heavens sake! I know. More icky then even your standard just risen minion, who are ickier than the regular cast vamps. I can fanwank this to be some inherited thing with minions turned by the Master but not passed along to strong on-their-own vamps he sired, like Darla. And then we could think of the guy on AtS as being on of the Master's earlier gang members who left and made his own fortune in LA. But probably they were still just figuring out what they wanted the vamps to look like. Lola |
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Jul 22, 2004 19:02:25 GMT -5
I just loved that goofy furry animal print hood thing! I swear, she looks like she's about 7 when she's wearing it. LOL yeah, but that is of the good how exactly? I mean disturbing much? baby Buffy hanging out with an old guy in a cemetery. creepy in a non horror way. er, issues showing *sheepish grin* Its just a very silly top. not dramatic enough. important stuff must hurt. maybe vamp demons have as much variation in appearance as humans do and they just press the human body into shapes depending on what they look like. also make the disposeable minions extra icky looking and its real clear Buffy isnt staking humans. |
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Post by Lola m on Jul 23, 2004 21:06:32 GMT -5
<snip> Owen turning up. Black and blue (uh oh) and a new grey t. Also the jacket might even be velvet. Angel much? Really, Owen is kind of a pre-Angel, isn't he? Just like Riley had a lot of elements of a post-Angel. Very real. And not uncommon in season 1 especially. Like we have the parallel of Xander not really seeing, or perhaps not wanting to see, how much of a crush Willow has on him - so this matches how Buffy doesn't see Xander's interest in her. Interesting. I'd agree with you. Yeah, Buffy needs to not have to hide half her life. IMO, means she always needs to be involved with someone who is aware of her slayerness and can deal with it. Maybe not necessarily as a partner in slaying, but at least it has to be understood, not hidden. I can understand her pull to want a "normal" life (what is normal anyway, really?) - but, she's never not gonna be the (or at least, a) slayer. So she needs to build a more realistic picture of what normal is going to be for her. I get the vibe it keeps being different girls. Same generic look, but we're not meant to really learn who they are. Shows that Cordy really doesn't have friends, (until she starts hangin with the scoobies), she has lackeys and hangers on. Lola |
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Post by Linda on Jul 24, 2004 2:24:18 GMT -5
Hi all! First of all:  Lola and beccaelizabeth thank you for your faithful, insightful & entertaining postings on the Buffy and Angel episodes! I am so far behind in watching that I haven't posted any comments on either show, but I notice SOOOO much more if I read your posts before watching. I suppose that I could up my posting totals by saying "Eeetah!" and "Kewl!" and "I didn't notice that!" to all of your posts, but I have a persnickety dial-up setup at home.  Please assume the Eeetah! etc. Random thought-like things: <snipped only for space> * Giles continues to be just so cute in thes first eps. Grading her technique, and then the "what do you want?", "a book", "oh!". So forbidding and stern and then all peppy 'cuz someone actually showed up to read. Loved every time they did a variation on that same idea, the gang all involved in a new crisis and then some kid shows up wanting to check a book out. <snipped for space> Lola Hee! I like that Giles is a combination of Authority Figure and n'ubie (I've been here so long that "newbie" looks unnatural) in these early episodes. And thanks to be for pointing out his numerous not-quite-authoritative gestures. I, too, like the running joke about the surprise the Scoobies always feel when someone actually wants to check out a book. Although Willow did mention back in WTTH that the Library gave most kids the wig. Perhaps they just sensed that there was evil underfoot. But then, what does it mean that Willow loved the Library? Was it only her geek-infested roots showing? Or perhaps Joss was setting up from the beginning that Willow wasn't always repulsed by evil. Eh, there is such a thing as attributing too much prescience to Joss's mighty brain. <snipped only for space> Can I just say I really hate that dress? The trouble with these things is noticing how many truly ugly bits of cloth the gang wear between them. Basic colors, not a bad thing. <snipped only for space> Looking back, comparing what happened to the prophecy, I still say 'from the ashes of the five' doesnt refer to this kid. Its precisely accurate for Darla, but not right for the annoying one. Also he doesnt do like the rest of the prophecy says. I'd want to read the original and check the translation for if Slayer is even the right word. Yeah, back then they were just making it up, so it was probably meant to be this kid, but it is still vaguely unsatisfactory. 6753 words. woah. many many. too many? Should I post these in here when it gets this long? anyways, posted now. Hi be! In answer to your last two questions: No, not too many and Yes, please post whatever you feel like! I've been enjoying your insightful running posts a lot (and your comments - hee!). And I agree with you about some of the clothes in Season One being jarringly yecchh. I think there was a different costume designer for the first season and then Cynthia Bergstrom for S-2 thru S-6 and then someone whose name eludes me for S-7. Eetah with the Prophecy. I think it was intended to fit the Annoying One, but it didn't quite. Perhaps it can be explained as a bad translation into English or something. Wes the language genius always mentions difficulties in picking the best meanings. Or perhaps it was just careless writing on ME's part. Thank you both again for your insightful posts. In case I don't have a chance to post anything for the earlier episodes, "Eetah!"& "Kewl!" & "I did not notice that!" & "Thank you!" Linda, planning to watch this and all the other Buffy & Angel eps this weekend... |
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<-- Pratchett funny.
