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Post by Laura on Aug 26, 2004 14:01:28 GMT -5
Wow, Erin. Have to confess, I haven't gotten around to reading your analyses, but I did just read IWRY, and I can only repeat "wow"!
I liked the "balance" theme that you identified in the episode -- I think I've just always focused on the ep (one of my favorites) as being "the end of the affair," but I do now see how Buffy and Angel are "off-balance" with each other.
"Balance" also is picked up by the Oracles -- the trade of information in exchange for gifts, but also of rewarding Angel (initially) with his humanity in exchange for the work that he had done that far. And we'll see echoed at the end of the season the "imbalance" in the struggle between Good and Evil when Voca slays the two Oracles (and later still in BtVS S7, when Cassie/the First tells Willow "I'm done with" the whole balancing of good and evil, and also when the Eye tells Giles and Anya that the Slayer line has become "unstable").
Nice job (and I love your GG signature quotes!)[/size]
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Post by Queen E on Aug 26, 2004 19:11:47 GMT -5
Wow, Erin. Have to confess, I haven't gotten around to reading your analyses, but I did just read IWRY, and I can only repeat "wow"!
I liked the "balance" theme that you identified in the episode -- I think I've just always focused on the ep (one of my favorites) as being "the end of the affair," but I do now see how Buffy and Angel are "off-balance" with each other.
"Balance" also is picked up by the Oracles -- the trade of information in exchange for gifts, but also of rewarding Angel (initially) with his humanity in exchange for the work that he had done that far. And we'll see echoed at the end of the season the "imbalance" in the struggle between Good and Evil when Voca slays the two Oracles (and later still in BtVS S7, when Cassie/the First tells Willow "I'm done with" the whole balancing of good and evil, and also when the Eye tells Giles and Anya that the Slayer line has become "unstable").
Nice job (and I love your GG signature quotes!) [/size][/quote] Thanks, Laura! I really enjoy doing these reviews, so glad to know people find them fun to read! Excellent point about the further issues of balance in the episode (and in both series, too!). I had not even thought of the Oracle gifts in that context, but it makes perfect sense, especially in light of "Parting Gifts" where they talk of doors opening and closing. Not to mention that both genders are represented by the deities, providing balance. I look forward to more thoughts of yours! (Glad you like the quote! That moment makes me giggle every time!) |
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Post by Lola m on Aug 29, 2004 21:02:52 GMT -5
Yay, Erin! Another particularly good analysis. Really appreciated your breakdown of themes, as you helped me to see some that I had missed in my viewing. I noticed the recurring theme of time, but hadn’t thought about the idea of balance. ( And, I didn’t know an off-balance clock runs down more quickly, so, bonus.) Also, I got caught up in the references to the past and missed how often the future is referred to (especially Cordy’s very scary foreshadowing, eeeep!  ) – very appropriate in an episode that is meant to move both Angel and Buffy along on their own paths. You and becca have both caused me to re-review the timeline of the episode and how that reveals the changing feelings of both characters as well as the changed plotline. When you said “with Angel becoming human, all of their realities are shifted, literally and figuratively”, it made me re-review the small divergences we saw in that one brief day and think about the many different futures that could have hovered out there waiting for Cordy or Doyle or Angel or Buffy. Ripples in a pond that could have gone . . . .who knows how far. Your analysis of the difficulty Angel faced in becoming human and finding a place with Buffy is one of the better I’ve read. In particular, because it takes into consideration Angel’s own specific issues and beliefs: But I think my favorite lines are once again in your closing paragraph: Thanks for sharing these insights with us, Erin. Lola |
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Post by Queen E on Aug 29, 2004 21:20:50 GMT -5
Yay, Erin! Another particularly good analysis. Really appreciated your breakdown of themes, as you helped me to see some that I had missed in my viewing. I noticed the recurring theme of time, but hadn’t thought about the idea of balance. ( And, I didn’t know an off-balance clock runs down more quickly, so, bonus.) Also, I got caught up in the references to the past and missed how often the future is referred to (especially Cordy’s very scary foreshadowing, eeeep! ) – very appropriate in an episode that is meant to move both Angel and Buffy along on their own paths. Hee. Learned that one from Mom; she has 2 grandfather clocks. Rewatching these eps so close on the heels of Season 3 really made me take note of some of the things I missed before. Especially since I missed a good portion of both "That Vision Thing" and "Birthday" when they originally aired given the suckiness of my cable company; my connection went kerplooey, cutting off my TV. Or maybe my cable company just doesn't like Cordelia.  Mind blowing, isn't it? And really points out that while Doyle and Angel's destinies are related, they're not the same; hence Doyle not being released from his fealty when Angel was. And I've often wondered if, after she died and was brought back, if Buffy was able to remember that lost day. What an incredible compliment; thanks! It just struck me, as I watched, that Angel really never gave it a chance...he admitted defeat too quickly. If I'd thought about it more, I probably could have also paralleled it with Buffy in "Helpless"; the both of them suffer from thinking that their "otherness" is the only thing that makes them worth anything. Angel's afraid of his own internal weakness, it seems to me; not his actual physical prowess or lack thereof. Thank you for sharing yours too! Your comments always have additional insight into the episode that I've missed. So glad you're reading and enjoying these! |
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Post by Nickim on Sept 1, 2004 13:57:08 GMT -5
You really outdid yourself on this one, Erin. I love the details you pointed out. I never understood why Angel cared whether the desk was level or not, but now it makes sense. The plant being dead later, showing the passage of time.
Just imagine if Buffy had become pregnant from this "perfect day." The child of a slayer and a former vampire. He or she would have had to have some amazing powers.
Please keep writing your reviews, Erin. I love them and look forward to reading more.
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Post by Nickim on Sept 1, 2004 14:02:03 GMT -5
Hee. Learned that one from Mom; she has 2 grandfather clocks. Rewatching these eps so close on the heels of Season 3 really made me take note of some of the things I missed before. Especially since I missed a good portion of both "That Vision Thing" and "Birthday" when they originally aired given the suckiness of my cable company; my connection went kerplooey, cutting off my TV. Or maybe my cable company just doesn't like Cordelia. Mind blowing, isn't it? And really points out that while Doyle and Angel's destinies are related, they're not the same; hence Doyle not being released from his fealty when Angel was. And I've often wondered if, after she died and was brought back, if Buffy was able to remember that lost day. What an incredible compliment; thanks! It just struck me, as I watched, that Angel really never gave it a chance...he admitted defeat too quickly. If I'd thought about it more, I probably could have also paralleled it with Buffy in "Helpless"; the both of them suffer from thinking that their "otherness" is the only thing that makes them worth anything. Angel's afraid of his own internal weakness, it seems to me; not his actual physical prowess or lack thereof. Thank you for sharing yours too! Your comments always have additional insight into the episode that I've missed. So glad you're reading and enjoying these! Never thought about Buffy being able to remember that day after her resurrection. Would have added to her confusion about where she was and what was real. We know she went to see Angel, but we don't know what took place between them. She didn't seem any happier after the big meeting, though. |
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Post by Laura on Sept 1, 2004 15:55:28 GMT -5
Never thought about Buffy being able to remember that day after her resurrection. Would have added to her confusion about where she was and what was real. We know she went to see Angel, but we don't know what took place between them. She didn't seem any happier after the big meeting, though.
We don't know what they did discuss, of course. It could have been as simple as "hey, I'm alive, yay me, and it still won't work between us, have a nice un-life," or it could have been all angsty, complete with "by the way, I remember the day you were human."[/size] |
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Post by Queen E on Sept 1, 2004 23:49:37 GMT -5
You really outdid yourself on this one, Erin. I love the details you pointed out. I never understood why Angel cared whether the desk was level or not, but now it makes sense. The plant being dead later, showing the passage of time. Just imagine if Buffy had become pregnant from this "perfect day." The child of a slayer and a former vampire. He or she would have had to have some amazing powers. Please keep writing your reviews, Erin. I love them and look forward to reading more. Thanks! I'm so glad you're enjoying them, 'cause I love writing them. As to the other, I smell fanfic...and hey! OK, crazy theory time...Dawn showed up a little over nine months after the events in I Will Remember You. Probably completely unrelated, but maybe the monks took advantage of that day. I mean, she was made of Buffy, and did have dark brown hair when everyone else: Joyce, Hank, and Buffy, were all blonde... I know, total fanwank. Never thought about Buffy being able to remember that day after her resurrection. Would have added to her confusion about where she was and what was real. We know she went to see Angel, but we don't know what took place between them. She didn't seem any happier after the big meeting, though. You know, it's kind of cool that it's a big mystery, and kind of annoying as hell. Jane Espenson wrote a comic book for Dark Horse about that reunion between Buffy and Angel (I think they have it posted on the Buffy BBC site), but it's Willow, Xander, and Anya speculating about it. Buffy still never tells. |
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Post by Queen E on Sept 1, 2004 23:51:32 GMT -5
I never thought about whether Buffy got back her memory of that day either, but actually, that makes perfect sense. It would also add to her not being happy after the big meeting, especially if she confronted him about making that decision again.
We don't know what they did discuss, of course. It could have been as simple as "hey, I'm alive, yay me, and it still won't work between us, have a nice un-life," or it could have been all angsty, complete with "by the way, I remember the day you were human." [/size][/quote] Tears were shed, of that I have no doubt. I mean, the time they met before that was after Joyce's funeral... |
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Post by jeff on Jul 12, 2007 22:36:18 GMT -5
the last line of this last paragraph of your review. one word.
PERFECT!
Amazing job Erin. Truly wonderful read.
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Post by Lola m on Jul 13, 2007 7:16:42 GMT -5
the last line of this last paragraph of your review. one word. PERFECT! Amazing job Erin. Truly wonderful read. And now I'm thinking about this ep and your review thoughts in comparison to the Eureka season opener, which also dealt with memory and people making decisions to have someone else not remember the event while they do. The constrast is interesting to me, because Henry used the memory device on Jack in anger and hatred rather than out of love. But now they are in the same place that Angel and Buffy were. Jack is free to move on, live out his life however it goes. While Henry is stuck in his grief and anger. |
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Post by fish1941 on Jan 14, 2009 16:54:12 GMT -5
I cannot be open-minded about this episode. It nauseated me to no end. It also proved why I detested the Buffy/Angel relationship so much. Why? Angel's decision to have Buffy's memories of their day together . . . erased. It smacked of psychic rape and I felt disgusted that the media tends to view Angel's decision as a "sacrifice". All he did was assume control over someone else's life for what he viewed as "the greater good".
I never understood his decision to resume being a vampire in the first place. He doesn't need to be strong to save Buffy. Buffy could take care of herself and Angel was never around during the crisis she ended up facing in the future - except to deliver the medallion that Spike ended up using.
I'm sorry, but this episode really disgusted me. I really don't know how else to say it.
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Post by Queen E on Jan 14, 2009 20:45:34 GMT -5
I cannot be open-minded about this episode. It nauseated me to no end. It also proved why I detested the Buffy/Angel relationship so much. Why? Angel's decision to have Buffy's memories of their day together . . . erased. It smacked of psychic rape and I felt disgusted that the media tends to view Angel's decision as a "sacrifice". All he did was assume control over someone else's life for what he viewed as "the greater good". I never understood his decision to resume being a vampire in the first place. He doesn't need to be strong to save Buffy. Buffy could take care of herself and Angel was never around during the crisis she ended up facing in the future - except to deliver the medallion that Spike ended up using. I'm sorry, but this episode really disgusted me. I really don't know how else to say it. Well, I wouldn't have put it in such strong terms, but I understand what you're saying. If I'm remembering my essay on this one correctly (haven't read it in a LONG time), I read Angel's decision as less about "sacrifice for Buffy's sake" and in fact tied it in with Amends; ie, "It's not the demon that needs killing in me, it's the man." I felt his decision came FAR more from his lack of belief in himself and his humanity...that he would go right back to being dissolute and useless. Kind of like a recovering alcoholic, if you'll pardon the comparison. (Then again, vampirism as a metaphor for alcoholism is not a new idea.) |
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Jan 15, 2009 7:37:25 GMT -5
One other piece of foreshadowing that somehow got overlooked: That cookiedough ice cream.
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) – very appropriate in an episode that is meant to move both Angel and Buffy along on their own paths. 
