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Post by Kerrie on Mar 26, 2005 13:33:57 GMT -5
Yep - with Angel's "split personality" sort obliquely referred to here and there. Notice how Little Buffy "likes dolls." Angel - tons of "puppet," "artificial construct" imagery flies around for him. And of course, the references to Buffy's "two sides" - by Dracula, by Buffy herself in contemplating what would have happened if Toth had hit her . . . And the view of "the two sides of Spike" we get in "Fool for Love" and throughout the Season . . . Thanks for a marvellous review, Spring! I have just caught up (RL is eating me alive). I didn' t think I would have time to read the reviews as well as the analyses, but I have read the reviews for this analysis and find that they are just as enlightening. This one in particular captured my attention. Little Buffy likes dolls and Angel - now that you mention it I see the overlap. Although I am also beginning to feel bitter all over again about Buffy's role in the last season of AtS. In terms of the other analyses, they were all good and I will be back at some other point to discuss them in a lot more depth (I had one or two minor quibbles).
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Post by SpringSummers on Mar 27, 2005 20:04:42 GMT -5
Thanks for a marvellous review, Spring! I have just caught up (RL is eating me alive). I didn' t think I would have time to read the reviews as well as the analyses, but I have read the reviews for this analysis and find that they are just as enlightening. This one in particular captured my attention. Little Buffy likes dolls and Angel - now that you mention it I see the overlap. Although I am also beginning to feel bitter all over again about Buffy's role in the last season of AtS. In terms of the other analyses, they were all good and I will be back at some other point to discuss them in a lot more depth (I had one or two minor quibbles). So good to hear from you, Kerrie. I know you've been facing some challenging times and hope you are doing OK. Thanks for taking the time to provide a little feedback. I am glad you enjoyed the analyses. Would love to hear your further thoughts if you get the time to pop back in.
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Post by upstNYgrl on Apr 3, 2005 19:53:37 GMT -5
Just finished reading all the analyses....just brilliant. I will be rewatching every episode with new eyes.
I can't wait to read more.
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Post by SpringSummers on Apr 3, 2005 21:34:50 GMT -5
Just finished reading all the analyses....just brilliant. I will be rewatching every episode with new eyes. I can't wait to read more. Hi, upstNYgrl. Welcome to the S3! Feel free to post in this thread, or any of our other threads if you have an interest. First, I love upstate NY. Very pretty! Second, thanks so much for taking the time to let me know you are reading and appreciating. I've been very busy the last two weekends, but am anxious to get started on Season 6. I finally did rewatch Bargaining Part 1 but haven't had much time for processing it. I hope to get it done next weekend. Again, thanks for the feedback. This is really a big project and every little bit of encouragement helps!
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Post by Lola m on Apr 5, 2005 18:18:29 GMT -5
Well. Wow. What a review! The theme of menarche as it links to the circle of life and death, birth and rebirth.
And
You captured the push and pull we feel over this episode. The nobility and the release, the wonderfullness of saving the world and the shadow feeling of escape or desire for death. All the things that will play out in season 6 and 7. (Your thoughts about William when hearing the line "doesn't a fellow stay dead when you kill him" was positively creepily good.)
But I think my favorite image is:
Wow!
And now we plunge into the wacky amusment ride that is season 6! Woo!
Lola
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Post by SpringSummers on Apr 6, 2005 12:19:16 GMT -5
Well. Wow. What a review! The theme of menarche as it links to the circle of life and death, birth and rebirth. And You captured the push and pull we feel over this episode. The nobility and the release, the wonderfullness of saving the world and the shadow feeling of escape or desire for death. All the things that will play out in season 6 and 7. (Your thoughts about William when hearing the line "doesn't a fellow stay dead when you kill him" was positively creepily good.) But I think my favorite image is: Wow! And now we plunge into the wacky amusment ride that is season 6! Woo! Lola Thanks Lola. As always, I appreciate the readership and feedback. Yes, wacky amusement ride ahead! I hope to get a real start on S6 this weekend, but life sometimes has other ideas.
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Post by leftylady on Apr 9, 2005 12:45:07 GMT -5
Spring, I've been meaning to comment on your once again brilliant take on "The Gift" ever since I read your review. How, simple and logical once you put it all together, but I never connected it like that although it is one of my favorite episodes.
quote: "Is the impending release of all manner of hell-on-earth nothing more than snide commentary on menstrual discomfort? Mai non, mon petite cherries. I’m not suggesting that the message is that PMS can cause every living creature, in this and every other dimension imaginable, to suffer unbearable torment and death."
How true, but I would up that to reflect that in many eras, in many cultures, nothing is more to be feared than the fertile female. Hence the veiling, cloistering, rush to marry off pubescent daughters, and even to the extreme female circumcision - at the menarche, the first sign of fertility, all hell does break loose in those societies.
Or on a lighter note, in my friend's household, when her ADHA daughter goes PMS it can indeed get nigh on to appocalyptic without a sturdy sense of humor.
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Post by SpringSummers on Apr 9, 2005 13:15:42 GMT -5
Spring, I've been meaning to comment on your once again brilliant take on "The Gift" ever since I read your review. How, simple and logical once you put it all together, but I never connected it like that although it is one of my favorite episodes. quote: "Is the impending release of all manner of hell-on-earth nothing more than snide commentary on menstrual discomfort? Mai non, mon petite cherries. I’m not suggesting that the message is that PMS can cause every living creature, in this and every other dimension imaginable, to suffer unbearable torment and death." How true, but I would up that to reflect that in many eras, in many cultures, nothing is more to be feared than the fertile female. Hence the veiling, cloistering, rush to marry off pubescent daughters, and even to the extreme female circumcision - at the menarche, the first sign of fertility, all hell does break loose in those societies. Or on a lighter note, in my friend's household, when her ADHA daughter goes PMS it can indeed get nigh on to appocalyptic without a sturdy sense of humor. Thanks for the feedback, leftylady. Yep - I thought the ep did give us a sense of the endless mythology and fears associated with menarche. And yes, PMS can definitely feel apocalyptic, to both the sufferer and those around her!
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Aug 4, 2005 6:53:10 GMT -5
Sorry to have come to this so late, but somehow I never noticed that "The Gift" had been posted. Reading this work, I come to the conclusion that your essays in this series define the difference between a "Review" and an "Analysis". That is, while--like any reviewer--you dissect the story, the players and the action and you critique the performances. You dive headfirst into WHAT IT ALL MEANS! You strip away the story we see and tell us the story we don't see.
Congratulations. "The Gift" is a masterwork.
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Post by SpringSummers on Aug 5, 2005 8:18:04 GMT -5
Sorry to have come to this so late, but somehow I never noticed that "The Gift" had been posted. Reading this work, I come to the conclusion that your essays in this series define the difference between a "Review" and an "Analysis". That is, while--like any reviewer--you dissect the story, the players and the action and you critique the performances. You dive headfirst into WHAT IT ALL MEANS! You strip away the story we see and tell us the story we don't see. Congratulations. "The Gift" is a masterwork. Thanks for the feedback, Diane. I love the latecomers when it comes to the posts on my threads. Definitely, I am going for "analysis" rather than "review." I am glad you enjoyed this one. The show is so well done, I just try to do it justice. I really have to get back to my analyses. But so much going on in RL, and this was a good pausing-point.
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Post by Lisa on Aug 27, 2005 19:01:45 GMT -5
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your analysis, Spikecentricity is my favorite part of this board, and so interesting to read the responses of members also. I thought you did a particularily good one on the Gift, but all of them have "enriched my viewing experience". Like some others here, I did not become a fan until late in S5 (Intervention, and I didn't even see the whole thing, but I was hooked) and I've since caught up but am waiting for you to start S6 (my favorite season, probably since it's the one I first saw in its entirety) before I start watching the DVD. (No pressure, I see you've been busy - Just wanted to say also you're my favorite fiction writer.)
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Post by SpringSummers on Aug 27, 2005 20:14:21 GMT -5
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your analysis, Spikecentricity is my favorite part of this board, and so interesting to read the responses of members also. I thought you did a particularily good one on the Gift, but all of them have "enriched my viewing experience". Like some others here, I did not become a fan until late in S5 (Intervention, and I didn't even see the whole thing, but I was hooked) and I've since caught up but am waiting for you to start S6 (my favorite season, probably since it's the one I first saw in its entirety) before I start watching the DVD. (No pressure, I see you've been busy - Just wanted to say also you're my favorite fiction writer.) Thanks for the feedback, Lisa. Drop in on this thread or any other, anytime, to comment or chat. I do plan to get back to the analyses; it's been kind of a crazy summer. Thanks especially for the positive feedback on the fic.
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Post by Kerrie on Dec 20, 2005 13:26:58 GMT -5
A long, long time ago I promised that I had one or two thoughts about Buffy and Spring's ananlysis. Alas I cannot find the relevant comment that inspired me, but I have thought that I would post my musings anyway.
The 10 most common irrational thoughts that are linked to depression are sources of strength to a slayer. 10 common irrational thoughts 1) Black and white thinking: all vampires are evil. 2) Perfectionism: I should stop the forces of evil. 3) Name calling: Slayers are killers. 4) Mind reading: Slayers rely on their mind reading skills to stop evil plans from happening. 5) Overgeneralisation: 6) Personalising: Dawn was made from Buffy’s blood. Evil seeks Buffy. 7) Mistaking feelings for fact: Slayers rely on their feelings to detect evil. 8) Catastrophising: if I don’t stop this the world will end. 9) Fortune telling: I can’t win this and everyone will die. 10) Magnification/minimisation: Ummm . . .
I think the real challenge for Buffy is to learn wisdom. In this scenario wisdom would be to learn to differentiate where her job finishes and where she starts. I know that Spring has not had a chance to start analysing season 6, but I did wonder whether "Bargaining" referred to the second last stage of grief.
On other matters, Merry Christmas everybody! It is nearly 5am here. It was a scorcher here yesterday (41 degrees C) and today we are going the long way to Melbourne (i.e. by the Great Ocean Road). Needless to say I can't sleep: too anxious about all the house work I have to do before 9 am when we leave. I can't help noticing that it is not that cool even though it is supposed to be only 27 today. Hmmm.
Sorry for the rambling. Happy holidays!
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Post by Queen E on Dec 20, 2005 13:33:50 GMT -5
A long, long time ago I promised that I had one or two thoughts about Buffy and Spring's ananlysis. Alas I cannot find the relevant comment that inspired me, but I have thought that I would post my musings anyway. The 10 most common irrational thoughts that are linked to depression are sources of strength to a slayer. 10 common irrational thoughts 1) Black and white thinking: all vampires are evil. 2) Perfectionism: I should stop the forces of evil. 3) Name calling: Slayers are killers. 4) Mind reading: Slayers rely on their mind reading skills to stop evil plans from happening. 5) Overgeneralisation: 6) Personalising: Dawn was made from Buffy’s blood. Evil seeks Buffy. 7) Mistaking feelings for fact: Slayers rely on their feelings to detect evil. 8) Catastrophising: if I don’t stop this the world will end. 9) Fortune telling: I can’t win this and everyone will die. 10) Magnification/minimisation: Ummm . . . I think the real challenge for Buffy is to learn wisdom. In this scenario wisdom would be to learn to differentiate where her job finishes and where she starts. I know that Spring has not had a chance to start analysing season 6, but I did wonder whether "Bargaining" referred to the second last stage of grief. On other matters, Merry Christmas everybody! It is nearly 5am here. It was a scorcher here yesterday (41 degrees C) and today we are going the long way to Melbourne (i.e. by the Great Ocean Road). Needless to say I can't sleep: too anxious about all the house work I have to do before 9 am when we leave. I can't help noticing that it is not that cool even though it is supposed to be only 27 today. Hmmm. Sorry for the rambling. Happy holidays! Ooh, I like that! #wavey# It's so good to see you, Kerrie! How are you?
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Post by Kerrie on Dec 20, 2005 13:42:52 GMT -5
Hi Erin.
I'm good, but tired. How have you been? I have been wanting to come back to the S'Cubies for ages, but I have just been too busy. I hate being busy. Unfortunately, I am only here briefly until we go on holidays/vacation. I am looking forward having them. I think this year has to have been the worst of my life (and 2004 was pretty crap too!).
Oh well, as my grandfather used to say: what can't be cured must be endured. I am enduring.
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