My feelings are changeable, but intense
Feb. 11th, 2003 09:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwynSpoilers for Buffy episode First Date, ahoy!
I approached this episode with a lot of trepidation, for a number of reasons: threat to my little stupid Spuffy heart, doubts about Wood’s character, uncertainty about how the changes would affect Spike considering his recent state of being, and mostly, the dating a supervisor thing. ME did a great job of allaying most of those issues for me, although I do still have some doubts as to Wood’s character (more on that later).
This was a classic Jane Espenson episode -- lots of witty one-liners, a definite feel for Spike, an understanding of how the characters interact, a good solid story. Lines like “bidet of evil” and “dress for the ambiguity”, Giles’s ongoing stodginess and his hysterical flashcards (someone once made LJ icons of the drawings he made for Hush; has anyone put these in icons yet? I really want one!), the constant riffing on Xander’s unfortunate attraction for demons, and the lots of little touches of humanity that I’ve always thought Jane did better than almost anyone except Joss himself. And it’s especially gratifying now that the whole thing with Giles is settled so we’re not being teased anymore, and we can get real Giles-like interaction and brilliance. Jane writes wonderful Giles. God I love that man.
His scene with Buffy regarding Spike and the chip, and their relationship, was in some ways everything I’d been expecting and hoping for. While we’d been denied his discovery about Spike’s soul, at least we were allowed to see his reactions to something as important as the chip removal. On some place I play, either a list or a board, I remember at some point saying that I could see Giles having issues with Spike being part of the gang and of him being unchipped, if that’s what would come to pass. Some folks had taken issue with it; however, I felt that Giles would naturally be concerned because of exactly the things he stated. Everything he said was reasonable and from the viewpoint of an advisor and a more experienced adult; what I loved most, though, was that for the first time in a long time, Buffy was as reasonable and prepared in her arguments for her position as he was. She had strong points, not completely based on emotional, romantic feelings, and her line about not having to be evil to defeat it was one of the more profound and affecting things she’s said since... well, forever, to me. This was the kind of insightful and intuitive remark that has often gone to other characters -- others always being the wiser or the more objective, etc. In fact, it’s the kind of remark most often given to Willow in the past, if it didn’t come from Giles, and to hear Buffy say it, especially in defense of Spike not because of a romantic attachment but because of a deeper understanding of what he is capable of, was enough to really hit me in the gut and make this one of my more higher-rated episodes. I’ve always thought the Initiative’s plan was heinous; it was gratifying to hear Buffy put paid to that once and for all, and in defense of someone who managed to rise above what they did.
Xander has come so far in so many ways, with his understanding of what he did to Anya and his willingness to take responsibility now, but what I liked here was that he also was willing to move on. His awkwardness reminded me so much of old season 2 Xander, although I must say he’s not quite the same guy with his shirt off as he was then. ;-) He had a nice rapport with Ashanti, who didn’t do half bad acquitting herself here. Willow and Dawn are clearly in a holding pattern until what looks like next week, but that’s okay, because we know we’ll get there.
I had a lot of doubts about Andrew last week -- his easy corruptibility and his tendency towards being attracted to the worst in people because he had no identity of his own is being addressed, and I’m so grateful to Jane for doing such a nice job of it. He’s believably torn, as he should be, until he clearly makes his own fateful decisions, and it’s long overdue. In some ways I’d have liked to see him after the choices he made, but at least we got to see some development in the strength of his character. Regarding Wood, though, I’m still not so sure I buy into him just being the slayer’s kid and thus on the side of good. Why did he have a bloody knife -- whose blood? A demon’s? We don’t know yet -- and why is he leading Buffy sloooowly down a dark alley where vamps just happen to attack? I can’t help but think there’s something else going on; of course his ease in accepting the FE’s fingering of Spike is understandable, but I also wonder why he might be so willing to listen to that comment of the FE’s, yet not the others. I’m hoping he has more reserves... or possibly that there is something else more complicated than what he’s showing. I liked the fact that Willow isn’t hanging all over Kennedy -- she’s enjoying the flirtation, but clearly Kennedy is the one who’s more intent on the relationship. This works for me because I do think that Will still has mixed-up feelings here, and is probably happy to feel that kind of giddy romance again, but she’s clearly a little more distant, a little more business-like than Kennedy.
And the Spike/Buffyness... I can’t help it, I’m sorry. This is who I am, a big fat sap for them. From her defense of him to the scene on the couch, this left me so happy. In some respects, this is the Spuffyness I always wanted -- friendship, trust, belief, his respect for her, while still unhappy about the date, and his understanding that she may need things from him she’s not willing to admit to (even going so far as to leave town), shows such an interesting side of him. He’s always had that ability to understand when he tried, even when he was mister gleeful killer -- his ability to see things in people probably made him better at being a killer. He often doesn’t get it right, but you can see this subtle shift in him as he moves towards a more complete understanding, especially of Buffy -- and of himself. And if this wasn’t leading up to someday she’ll tell you... geez peez, I don’t know what could. For her to admit she needs him and wants him nearby, and to be more concerned about him after a fight than Xander (not that poor Xander didn’t deserve her concern, just that I felt this action of Buffy’s was hugely telling) made my heart go pitty-pat.
I’m going into next week’s open-minded and eager. If they could win me over after so many concerns this week, I can’t wait to see what they’re going to serve up next week.
I approached this episode with a lot of trepidation, for a number of reasons: threat to my little stupid Spuffy heart, doubts about Wood’s character, uncertainty about how the changes would affect Spike considering his recent state of being, and mostly, the dating a supervisor thing. ME did a great job of allaying most of those issues for me, although I do still have some doubts as to Wood’s character (more on that later).
This was a classic Jane Espenson episode -- lots of witty one-liners, a definite feel for Spike, an understanding of how the characters interact, a good solid story. Lines like “bidet of evil” and “dress for the ambiguity”, Giles’s ongoing stodginess and his hysterical flashcards (someone once made LJ icons of the drawings he made for Hush; has anyone put these in icons yet? I really want one!), the constant riffing on Xander’s unfortunate attraction for demons, and the lots of little touches of humanity that I’ve always thought Jane did better than almost anyone except Joss himself. And it’s especially gratifying now that the whole thing with Giles is settled so we’re not being teased anymore, and we can get real Giles-like interaction and brilliance. Jane writes wonderful Giles. God I love that man.
His scene with Buffy regarding Spike and the chip, and their relationship, was in some ways everything I’d been expecting and hoping for. While we’d been denied his discovery about Spike’s soul, at least we were allowed to see his reactions to something as important as the chip removal. On some place I play, either a list or a board, I remember at some point saying that I could see Giles having issues with Spike being part of the gang and of him being unchipped, if that’s what would come to pass. Some folks had taken issue with it; however, I felt that Giles would naturally be concerned because of exactly the things he stated. Everything he said was reasonable and from the viewpoint of an advisor and a more experienced adult; what I loved most, though, was that for the first time in a long time, Buffy was as reasonable and prepared in her arguments for her position as he was. She had strong points, not completely based on emotional, romantic feelings, and her line about not having to be evil to defeat it was one of the more profound and affecting things she’s said since... well, forever, to me. This was the kind of insightful and intuitive remark that has often gone to other characters -- others always being the wiser or the more objective, etc. In fact, it’s the kind of remark most often given to Willow in the past, if it didn’t come from Giles, and to hear Buffy say it, especially in defense of Spike not because of a romantic attachment but because of a deeper understanding of what he is capable of, was enough to really hit me in the gut and make this one of my more higher-rated episodes. I’ve always thought the Initiative’s plan was heinous; it was gratifying to hear Buffy put paid to that once and for all, and in defense of someone who managed to rise above what they did.
Xander has come so far in so many ways, with his understanding of what he did to Anya and his willingness to take responsibility now, but what I liked here was that he also was willing to move on. His awkwardness reminded me so much of old season 2 Xander, although I must say he’s not quite the same guy with his shirt off as he was then. ;-) He had a nice rapport with Ashanti, who didn’t do half bad acquitting herself here. Willow and Dawn are clearly in a holding pattern until what looks like next week, but that’s okay, because we know we’ll get there.
I had a lot of doubts about Andrew last week -- his easy corruptibility and his tendency towards being attracted to the worst in people because he had no identity of his own is being addressed, and I’m so grateful to Jane for doing such a nice job of it. He’s believably torn, as he should be, until he clearly makes his own fateful decisions, and it’s long overdue. In some ways I’d have liked to see him after the choices he made, but at least we got to see some development in the strength of his character. Regarding Wood, though, I’m still not so sure I buy into him just being the slayer’s kid and thus on the side of good. Why did he have a bloody knife -- whose blood? A demon’s? We don’t know yet -- and why is he leading Buffy sloooowly down a dark alley where vamps just happen to attack? I can’t help but think there’s something else going on; of course his ease in accepting the FE’s fingering of Spike is understandable, but I also wonder why he might be so willing to listen to that comment of the FE’s, yet not the others. I’m hoping he has more reserves... or possibly that there is something else more complicated than what he’s showing. I liked the fact that Willow isn’t hanging all over Kennedy -- she’s enjoying the flirtation, but clearly Kennedy is the one who’s more intent on the relationship. This works for me because I do think that Will still has mixed-up feelings here, and is probably happy to feel that kind of giddy romance again, but she’s clearly a little more distant, a little more business-like than Kennedy.
And the Spike/Buffyness... I can’t help it, I’m sorry. This is who I am, a big fat sap for them. From her defense of him to the scene on the couch, this left me so happy. In some respects, this is the Spuffyness I always wanted -- friendship, trust, belief, his respect for her, while still unhappy about the date, and his understanding that she may need things from him she’s not willing to admit to (even going so far as to leave town), shows such an interesting side of him. He’s always had that ability to understand when he tried, even when he was mister gleeful killer -- his ability to see things in people probably made him better at being a killer. He often doesn’t get it right, but you can see this subtle shift in him as he moves towards a more complete understanding, especially of Buffy -- and of himself. And if this wasn’t leading up to someday she’ll tell you... geez peez, I don’t know what could. For her to admit she needs him and wants him nearby, and to be more concerned about him after a fight than Xander (not that poor Xander didn’t deserve her concern, just that I felt this action of Buffy’s was hugely telling) made my heart go pitty-pat.
I’m going into next week’s open-minded and eager. If they could win me over after so many concerns this week, I can’t wait to see what they’re going to serve up next week.
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no subject
Date: 2003-02-11 10:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-02-12 09:05 am (UTC)The blocking and coverage on the couch scene to me was very telling -- the way Buffy was looking at him but then away when she was admitting to things, the way Spike was keeping his distance but looking over his shoulder, as if afraid to turn fully to her and be more vulnerable. To me, when Buffy only looked down instead of at him, we were being shown that was one of the more difficult admissions of her life, and she is finally at home with her feelings about him. And that she said "Still in love with Spike" -- no one thought that, she never said in love with him, but that's how she thinks people think of her and him. Very intriguing.
no subject
Date: 2003-02-12 03:05 am (UTC)I love you two.
(That is a big ol' kiss for both of you.)
no subject
Date: 2003-02-12 09:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-02-12 04:33 pm (UTC)I appreciated the way Spike's feelings were revealed -- not exactly subtle, but certainly not sledge-hammer, as when, after telling Buffy he was fine with her going on a date, the camera stayed on his face as he watched her walk away and his face slowly dropped expression, leaving him looking flat and lost (or is that just my projection? sometimes I can't tell...).
I was also very pleased with 'Jonathan-slash-First-Evil'. He was so very creepy and UN-nerdy. Who'd have thought it -- the kid can act.
And I don't think RobinWood is ready. He had that little speech in the restaurant about waiting to acknowledge Buffy's slayerness because he 'wasn't sure he was ready' -- I suspect he was right about that. I'm afraid he's going to force the point and Spike will have to kill him. (Poor Spike!) And hey, those ears...what's with those EARS?
no subject
Date: 2003-02-13 09:05 am (UTC)Wow, thank you for finally making this make sense. I hate when you see something about someone and you can't quite put your finger on what's wrong...
I appreciated the way Spike's feelings were revealed -- not exactly subtle, but certainly not sledge-hammer, as when, after telling Buffy he was fine with her going on a date, the camera stayed on his face as he watched her walk away and his face slowly dropped expression, leaving him looking flat and lost (or is that just my projection? sometimes I can't tell...).
Yeah, that was so wonderful. It really hit me, how much he's lost. How he did this thing, whether for the right or wrong reasons, and it didn't turn out at all like he'd hoped, and he's just stuck there... still with those feelings, knowing this is his fate. And it was all just with a look or a movement of the head. So it's not your projection at all.